Top 6 Budget Anti-aging Skin Care Brands For Mature Skin

Although it's never too early or too late to take care of your skin, you probably think more about doing so as you mature, let’s say after you hit 40. But as I always say, what good is skincare with efficacy if it's too expensive to use every day? Luckily there are several budget brands dermatologists recommend based on science with effective ingredients that are also affordable and widely available at drugstores, Walmart and Target. Some affordable drugstore brands have more effective ingredients such as retinoids, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants like vitamin C, and optimal delivery systems than higher priced products because they were developed by dermatologists!

6 Top Dermatologists Recommended Budget Brands are:

CeraVe

Its Daily Moisturizing Lotion was a top pick in testing for instantly smoothing dry skin and fast absorption. Moisturizing your skin makes you look years younger instantly! CeraVe’s many formulas contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid to repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture, which is vital for aging skin. Its cleansers for sensitive skin rank high with skin doctors.

La Roche-Posay

Known for its testing and evidence-based results on sensitive, dry and acne-prone skin, this brand tops leading dermatologists' lists. Its Lipikar Balm AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream is a top choice for sensitive skin. Its Redermic R Retinol Cream forcefully targets aging.

Neutrogena

A top affordable brand hailed by dermatologists for its retinol creams and serums at lower costs, Neutrogena's wide range of products target all skin types and have a long history of clinical efficacy.

Gold Bond

The Gold Bond the Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion is a top-rated drugstore brand for both -- you guested it -- the body and face. It contains retinol to help tighten and lift skin for a more youthful appearance by treating fine lines and wrinkles. Shea butter and coconut butter hydrates the skin for 24 hours.

No7

The Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Face Cream is cited as an effective anti-aging moisturizer that includes hyaluronic acid and collagen peptide technology to help erase fine lines and wrinkles.

Cetaphil

Very effective on dry and sensitive skin, it contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), vitamin E, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Some formulas have added almond oil and ceramides.

If you know which budget brands are favored by dermatologists because they really work, you’ll have the knowledge and flexibility to save some major moola when one of them goes on sale. When discounted buy 1 + 1!

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The Oriental Circlet Tiara

The Oriental Circlet Tiara in the British Royal Collection was created by royal jeweler, Garrard, for Queen Victoria in 1853 under the direction of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, who had a magnificent eye for design. Over Queen Victoria’s reign, Prince Albert designed many jewels for his wife and daughters. The Oriental Circlet Tiara is an Indian-inspired design of lotus flowers and Mughal arches.

Originally it was set in opals with 2,600 diamonds forming a complete circle before it was altered in 1858 to make the small space in the back. When Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law, Queen Alexandra (Princess Alix of Denmark), inherited the tiara in 1901, she replaced the opals with Burmese rubies that had been given to Queen Victoria in the 1870s by the ruler of Nepal. Queen Alexandra only wore the tiara once in public on a state visit to Germany.

The Oriental Circlet Tiara wasn’t seen again until the reign of King George VI. His Queen Consort, Elizabeth, wore it in 1936 and thereafter on many occasions. It became one of her favorite jewels paired with a gorgeous ruby and diamond neckless and dangling ruby earrings. When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952 she let the Queen Mother continue wearing the tiara. I can’t help thinking , wow what a huge collection of jewelry the British royal family has, as we can see QE II wears an entirely different ruby necklace and earrings than her mother wore with the tiara. The rubies in both sets are spectacular!

After the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II only wore The Oriental Circlet Tiara one time ... on a trip to Malta in 2005.

Twenty years later on December 3, 2025, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, stepped out wearing The Oriental Circlet Tiara to the German State Dinner held at Windsor Castle. It was only the 5th tiara from the Royal Collection, Catherine has worn, and she looked dazzling as always.

Photo: Getty. The other photos are everywhere on the web.

Kate, as we Americans affectionately call her, was a tad more understated in the jewelry she paired with The Oriental Circlet Tiara, but I bet Prince William would tell us that Catherine, herself, was the main jewel in the crown that evening!

Oh, I’d love to spend the day with her and maybe she’d be good-hearted enough to show me all of those beautiful tiaras so rich in British history. Let’s pretend she would! Which are your favorites?

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Have You Heard Of Haymaker’s Punch?

Photos: iStock

Haymaker’s Punch is a homemade hydration drink familiar to Colonial Americans that throughout the years farmers continued to drink during long hot days of working out in their fields. Also called Switchel, its benefits in addition to hydration are electrolyte balance, aiding digestion, boosting antioxidants, probiotics, and energy, plus managing blood sugar. It’s easy enough to make:

Haymakers Punch

Ingredients:

4 cups of ice cold water

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (I think organic has a better taste, so I’ve switched.)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon dried ginger (or juice)

3 tablespoons of sweetener - Use honey, dark brown sugar; or Stevia to taste, i.e., whatever you like.

Optional: Sparkling water to top it off. Try 1 to 3 parts.

Directions:

Toss all the ingredients into a pitcher. Mix thoroughly and chill for a couple of hours for flavors to marry (as chefs say) before serving.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac recipe of Haymarker’s Punch is here. More old-fashioned natural hydration drinks are here.

Cocktail: FC-here

So I tried it. Although I don’t dislike it, I think it’s an acquired taste. For such as old drink that goes back 250+ years, it’s new to me! 

Healthier than soda, better tasting than lemon and hot water or vinegar and water (2 morning drink fabs). It has a tang but I don’t taste vinegar as much as ginger and lemon, so its more like a ginger-lemon ale. 

Sometimes we want a drink that is more than plain ole water, so I’m willing to give it a few tries. Certainly, I don’t hate it, and it may grow on me. How about you?

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Greek Yogurt + Fixings For An Easy Breakfast

I know the importance of a good breakfast but don’t have an appetite in the mornings due to busyness. 

With coffee I’ll just eat 2 Digestive Biscuits before getting my elderly mom up, freshened up, dressed, then microwaving her morning meal, either an omelette with cheese or ham and whole grain bread; or (2) a bowl of oatmeal with milk, peanut butter, a handful of chopped walnuts, fruit and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top. She has a good breakfast, but mine lacks the protein I need to start the day.

Many of us get extra busy in December so here’s a better breakfast that’s easy to eat and easy to cleanup with no pots or pans needed to make it:

Greek Yogurt Bowl

1 cup of Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of peanut butter
fruit -- various to select throughout the week such as a handful of blueberries or strawberries. Half of banana. Chopped peaches, pears, or apples. (like the fruit I add to my mother’s oatmeal.)

3 walnuts

3 almonds - whole or chopped
1 teaspoon of one minute oatmeal

1 teaspoon of ground flaxseeds

a sprinkle of dark brown sugar or honey when I feel like it.

BTW, protein drinks are a decent fast breakfast, but are no substitutes for real food which is always the better choice. Protein shakes can be too heavy in minerals if consumed daily.

Greek yogurt with the addition of nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), seeds (flaxseeds, sunflower, chia, pumpkin) and whole grains (oatmeal, millet, quinoa) is a healthy no fuss breakfast with enough protein and fiber.

When we know better, we really should do better. I will! With only one bowl to wash this breakfast gets the job done. 

On Friday, I’ll post a recipe for the perfect energy-hydration drink that’s been around since the time of our Founding Fathers! Do you have any guesses?

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Ovico Wearable Cashmere Scarf

I spotted a wearable 100% cashmere wrap from Ovico Scarves that I’d be thrilled to find under my Christmas tree. It makes a fabulous gift and without a doubt is an investment wardrobe piece that will be worn for years to come.

Made of superfine 100% Mongolian cashmere for its exquisite softness and smoothness, it’s perfect for travel, casual wear or formal wear.

What makes this piece so desirable is its versatility. It is knitted with armholes! Yet due to the softness, lightness and fluidity of pure cashmere you could still tie it around your neck or wear it just like a regular scarf without armholes.

My dilemma would be selecting one color. Black to go with everything? Or fuchsia, cornflower blue, navy, or rose because they are so beautiful? There are 15 colors in all. I can understand splurging to get more than one color, yet as an under buyer, I’d try to stop at one wearable wrap. But ... perhaps next year, I’d add another color. 

How about you? Are you tempted too? Maybe we need to buy ourselves a holiday gift? A cashmere scarf with armholes is so practical and ingenious!

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Black Friday Scores

Photo: Uniqlo

Black Friday is THE DAY to score big on fantastic basics. Sure you could buy designer names, but why not save on good quality basics for less in order to splurge on expensive merch that never goes on sale?

Between Old Navy and Uniqlo, you’ll rarely settle for good enough. Paying $50+ for leggings, t-shirts or socks isn’t necessary! The following are Black Friday scores that seem too good to be true, but they’re not! These basics are super stylish and durable without breaking the bank. As a bonus, many of the articles can be machine washed and dried with abandon!

Old Navy offers 50% off --

Leggings - $19.99 for the High-Waisted PowerSoft Full-Length Pocket Leggings + other styles, lengths and colors. I started with one pair last year, now I have 5!

EveryWear Crew-Neck T-Shirts - $6.49 - $7.49 for the Crew Neck with short sleeves. + other choices of styles, sleeve-lengths, neck shapes and colors. Old Navy’s 100% cotton t-shirts feel slight to the touch, yet last for many seasons. Every manufacturer is selling neutral colors, so I was thrilled to find pops of bright colors, namely medium blue and hot pink!

First Layer Tank Tops - In store $5 - Soft jersey, 95% cotton, 5% spandex in 7 colors. I bought my senior mom these in all colors. She wears them to bed, then under all her dresses and t-shirts. They’re very soft.

Quarter Crew Socks 3-Pack for Women - $4.99 - $6.99 - A choice of sock styles, fabrics, lengths and colors. Unlike the socks from H&M, ON’s black will not bleed on your toes! I like a percentage of cotton in my socks, but you do you!

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👚👗🎩👒🧦👚👗🎩👒🧦👚👗🎩👒🧦👚👗🎩👒🧦👚👗

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪𖤐.𖥔 ݁

Now let's move onto another manificent retailer for quality basics! As great as Old Navy is, Uniqlo is a tad more upscale with Japanese innovation, but the sales can be just as good!

Uniqlo has so many basics from outerwear to underwear, from dresses to cardigans to skirts and blouses to accessories like hats, scarves and gloves. Its offerings are too numerous to mention! Customers get quality and style at unbeatable prices. Make a list of needs and chances are good, you’ll find tremendous bargains.  

Warm down winter coats for $199 or less - from short to long

In season’s past at Uniqlo, I bought down coats, down compact vests, merino wool cardigans, HEATTECH hats, scarves and gloves. I wear a rain resistant BLOCKTECH long parka as an ultra stylish raincoat. Before it's cold enough for a winter coat, I like to wear a cardigan and PUFFTECH Compact Vest under my Uniqlo parka. The HEATTECH woven gloves are nearly as soft as cashmere, and they last longer than cashmere. The gloves have touchscreen tips so you can use your smart phone outdoors in winter without removing them. Unlike cashmere gloves they are machine washable, a reason I like them. Still cashmere gloves are also offered. Priced at $14.90 on Black Friday for HEATTECH gloves makes stocking up affordable. You could get gloves for every coat and jacket you own so you never have to remember to switch them!

Before Old Navy and Uniqlo burst onto the apparel scene consumers had to pay 3 - 4 times more for similar quality and style. Not anymore. Go for basics on Black Friday for less! You’ll find all your essentials without emptying your wallet.🛍

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Sweet Potato Pie

We made a sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving. Very easy and likely a tad healthier than store bought pie. I used this pie dough recipe previously shared. Mostly I buy pies at Fairway, but if I do bake a pie, I go all the way by making the crust too. If I go to the store because I don’t want to make a crust, I don’t return with a frozen shell but a delectable finished pie from Frairway, never going near the freezer. Done and ready to eat!

After making my crust, I made the sweet potato filling.

Sweet Potato Pie

30 ounces - about 4 cups microwaved, peeled and mashed sweet potatoes. {Feel free to use 2-15 ounce cans of sweet potatoes.  If using fresh mashed sweet potatoes you can add 2 teaspoons of white sugar. Canned ones are usually sweeten. If in light syrup, pour out the liquid.)

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie seasoning (or cinnamon)

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

A sprinkle of dried ginger

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon butter, softened - Use 2 - 3 tablespoons if you wish.

1/2 cup milk - I used 1%, but cream or evaporated milk is creamier.

2 large eggs

Optional: I tossed in 1/2 cup of applesauce for moisture and mass since I didn’t use the cream and lightened up the butter.

 

Directions:

1) One by one, I tossed the ingredients into a mixing bowl and incorporated them with an electric mixer.

2) Pour into your prepared pie shell. I didn’t do it, but if you put foil on the dough/crust edges after it bakes for 1/2 hour, it stays moisturer while the rest of the pie finishes baking. I could eat my crust fine but would have taken this extra step for guests. Heck, I’d have used cream for them too. We try to lighten up desserts for just ourselves.

3) In a preheated 350 degree F oven, bake for 50 - 55 minutes.

Remove, cool and slice. Enjoy!

image: Google

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Thanksgiving In Manhattan

All photos except where noted: Dreamtime

I’ve spent all my adult life in Manhattan. My 1st Thanksgivng here I spent with my friend, Chris, a Julliard gratuate from New Orleans and met his lovely Louisiana Mama in his apartment. He lived in Hell’s Kitchen at the time, and after dusk, walked me back to Penn Station for safety. Other mutual friends attended his Thanksgiving dinner too, and we ate scrumptious food and exchanaged many amusing stories at the dinner table.

The next 8 Thanksgivings I walked across Central Park to spend Thanksgiving Day on the Upper West Side with the same friends, Don and LeAnn and their ballet friends. Don and LeAnn were together for 15 years before sadly divorcing. 

Then I accepted various Thanksgiving invitations ... 3 times spending it on the Upper East Side, once on the Lower East Side, once going to Princeton N.J. by train, once traveling by train to a N.J. town I no longer remember the name of, and a few times spending Thanksgiving with my friends, Sheila and Ken, who lived in Clifton Park, N.J. Sadly they are both deceased now. Sheila’s death was a shock! I’ve accepted her loss, but still think about it. A couple of years I also hosted Thanksgiving dinners in my apartment with different New York friends who have since moved away to other cities. We had wonderful times with none of us having to worry about long commutes home at night.

Truthfully, life is bittersweet and always influx. It never stands still, not for past, present, or future generations. Change is a certainty.

This year I’m again spending Thanksgiving Day in Manhattan. I’ll be with my senior Mom in my apartment. As a younger adult I always went to see my parents for Christmas, but thought I should establish my own Thanksgiving traditons. The two holidays are so close together also.

But life comes full circle, and now as my senior Mom’s caregiver this will be our 4th Thanksgiving spent together (not counting my childhood). I’m happy she’s healthy enough to walk indoors on a walker and can stay with me in my home. I’m grateful to be able to keep our dwindling family (we miss the ones who have passed) together. I learn new things about old people daily.

When I do have dinner guests to prepare for I enjoy having them over, and yet this year I’m thankful to have a more relaxing Thanksgiving without travel or the cleanup. Four days without any appointments of any kind sounds like bliss to me. We’ll likely order-in our turkey dinner and supplement it with more sides or desserts if we desire anything. We’ll watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on televison (I went to it twice) followed by the National Dog Show. This year, it’s exactly how I long to spend Thanksgiving Day. If we feel like it, we may bake the first batch of our Christmas cookies ... or not! We’ll let our Thanksgiving Day unfold and spend it exactly as we wish, in the moment; well-fed; and perhaps some of it horizontially.😁

Photo: Istock

Our friends and family will visit us one or two at a time from Advent to New Year's, and we’ll love seeing them as we’ll be fully rested. We love❤️ New York City where you’re never bored or truly alone!🗽🏙🎄

🍁Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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