Anyone who’s talked to me about skincare knows I love a bargain. My beauty stash mainly consists of affordable products from brands like The Ordinary (I particularly love the Natural Moisturising Factor + HA, £4.90),
The Inkey List (Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser, £10.99.
Great for breakouts) and Aldi’s skincare brand Lacura (their latest Vitamin C serum has worked wonders for my pigmentation). I don’t think you have to break out to get effective skincare. Of course, luxury products have their merits too.
Many contain expensive and rare ingredients, are formulated and tested by the best dermatologists in the business, and are packaged to last longer (not to mention look great on your #shelf).
Despite my experience with expensive buys as a beauty editor, I always seem to go for the cheaper option – but there’s one luxury brand that still stands out.
If you’re a skincare enthusiast with an Instagram account, you’ve probably spotted the little blue bottles, tubes and capsules. Google searches for the brand have increased by 180% in recent weeks, with TikTok users
incorporating the products into their popular skincare routines.
So what’s so special about it? Decree is signed by Dr. Anita Sturnham, a GP with a special interest in dermatology and aesthetics. She often shares valuable skincare tips on social media, from her morning to evening
routine to finding the best ingredients when buying products.
It’s fair to say that Dr. Steenam knows her field – including what her patients want: clearer, healthier skin. I first heard about Decree from other beauty editors, who praised the plumping benefits of the Peptide Moisturising Veil+
(£115) and Treat Tincture (£130) for brightening dull skin.
Admittedly, the prices are a bit shocking, with some products costing hundreds of pounds. But I have to say, there are some real gems in the range. First up we have Decree Light Cleanse, £44 (£15 for 30ml). According to Dr.
Sturnham, your morning cleanse should be nourishing, hydrating and non-drying.
Excess oil can build up overnight and night cream residue can clog the skin. However, morning cleansing should be much gentler than evening cleansing, as you don’t need to remove the day’s dirt or makeup (unless you wear it to bed)! I really love this cleanser.
Not only does it smell luxurious (like rose water), but it cleanses without drying it out, leaving my combination skin glowing (it contains hydrating glycerin and rose seed oil). The sealed pump means you don’t get splashed in the shower or the ingredients are exposed to the elements, which means they last longer.
If you don’t want to buy separate products, you can double cleanse at night (cleanse, rinse and repeat), as this will also remove heavy foundation and mascara. If your skin type is oily, acne-prone or combination, and you’re looking for a moisturiser that provides plenty of hydration without clogging your pores, you’ll love the Peptide Moisturising Veil (£115). It’s one of the more expensive products in the range, but I agree with all the five-star reviews (and there are a lot). The main ingredients are peptides (essentially proteins) that repair the skin and give it elasticity. Although there’s no tint, the skin instantly looks more vibrant, radiant, healthy and youthful. It’s also great for sun protection and makeup, although I find I can skip foundation altogether if I use it regularly morning and night. You’ve probably heard a lot about Decree’s serums, but the Treat Tincture (£130) is the most popular because it contains this year’s popular ingredient: retinol, more specifically hydroxypinacol retinyl ester.
Don’t let the complicated name put you off. Supposedly, the ingredient works similarly to prescription retinol, without causing the typical irritation that manifests as skin irritation, flaking, redness and sensitivity that keep you forever turned off.
When my Differin (a drug used by dermatologists to treat acne, pigmentation and fine lines) ran out, I added it to my skincare routine and the results were impressive. While it’s not as effective as the prescription version, using it every other night prolongs the smoothing, plumping and cleansing effects.
My only criticism? I wish the bottle was three times bigger. Finally, I recommend the Weekly Decree, £120, two-step acid peel and nourishing mask. In my opinion, this is the next best alternative to a professional facial (according to
Given the prices in London, it’s much cheaper in the long run).
The Express Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) treatment is very effective and can cause a tingling sensation in the skin, making it look very red. But it first exfoliates the top layer of skin, making it look brighter and fresher.
If you are sensitive or dry, I would recommend avoiding this product altogether (perhaps opting for a gentler skin acid), but if your skin is oily or congested, or you want to treat a rough skin texture, this is a great product.
Applying the mask afterwards feels like a treat, and together they give the skin a glow that other acid treatments on the market don’t have. Although I am a big fan of Decree, I know it is expensive. If you are looking for similarly effective skincare products with dermatological qualifications (just a little cheaper),
I recommend the CeraVe skincare range. The Hydrating Cleanser (£9.50) is great value for money and has the same smart formula as the Light Cleanse, with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to repair and moisturize dry skin,
while removing makeup, oil and everyday grime.
You might also like Face Theory, especially the Regena C20 Vitamin C Serum (£19.99), which is affordable and effective.
You can also try the skin cosmetics brand Pharmaceris, which offers a wide range of skin care products from cleansers to serums to sunscreens (including high-quality retinol) at affordable prices.
