A moisturiser TV legend Joanna Lumley, 78, says she’s used for 40 years is only £5 in Superdrug. In an interview with The Sunday Times Style magazine, she revealed that using it helps her get compliments from people commenting on her ‘youthful’ appearance.
She said: “It comes in a little blue pot, cheap as chips – adore. It has never been tested on animals and is about the only thing I’ve never developed an allergy to. People say I look much younger, and I put it down to good genes and moisturiser. For people with dry skin and wrinkles it’s definitely worth a try… I don’t usually buy expensive products because I’m mean.”
The face cream the Absolutely Fabulous star swears by is the Astral Intensive Face and Body Moisturiser. It comes in a little blue pot and Joanna calls it her favorite bargain buy she’s used for years. Currently, it is available for only £5.49 at Superdrug.
Astral is an all-over moisturiser. It can be used on hands, faces, and bodies for “intense skin moisturisation and protection”. A description of the cream on Superdrug’s website reads: “Astral original is all the intense moisturising care your skin needs. The nourishing and protective formula is so effective, it’s never had to change.”
The moisturiser has an impressive customer rating of 4.8 stars out of five, with 96% of buyers saying they would recommend it to a friend. In one five-star review, a customer said: “It is the cream your mum and nan wore and why they had such peachy skin in their old age. It works for me so well as for countless others that I have entirely stopped buying ‘high end’ skin care.”
They added: “I apply this religiously twice a day. I am constantly getting compliments about my skin being luminous and looking 10 years younger and have done for years since I began using Astral. This stuff is magic I tell you. I have suffered with acne in my younger years but Astral cream does not appear to induce flare ups.”
A shopper called Nellie wrote: “This product goes on smooth and leaves my skin feeling good, can’t always find this item very easily so always buy 2 or 3 at a time love it.” Cerise said: ” Astral is still a light-feeling cream that glides on even mature skin without pulling yet with the impressive moisturisation mature skin needs – and all without palm oil. An all-round winner for face and neck as well as hands.”
Gilly put: “Have been using Astral for years – absolutely fantastic moisturizer, never fails to keep my skin smooth and silky.” Erlyn added: “I have been using Astral for many decades. Soft and smooth, leaves my skin feeling good. Would recommend anyone buy this product, you will not be disappointed. THE BEST.”
One more wrote: “Used this on my dry skin on my face since I was a teen only thing that works!! Good all rounder! People say I look 30 when I’m 45 but think that’s genetics or maybe cream has helped? Best value for money my favourite cream of all time!!!”
However, Mary said: “It used to be a good moisturising cream, it’s not like before. And the price gone too high, just wondering why.” Another put: “I have been using astral for years and I ordered astral moisturiser from Superdrug but it doesn’t have its usual scent and smells different. Delivery took forever so I wouldn’t recommend for reasons stated above.” A third said it is “a bit greasy”.
There are several other retailers that sell the Astral Intensive Face and Body Moisturiser. You can get a 50ml pot of it for a slightly less price of £4.49 at Amazon. A 200ml pot is also available at Savers for £3.99.
If you are after a new “intensive” moisture to add to your skincare routine, there are plenty more on offer. LookFantastic is selling TikTok-famous Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream for £29.99. It is a “multi-tasking, all-natural cream for skin and hair, created with six moisturising and reparative ingredients”.
Boots stocks Curél’s Intensive Moisture Facial Cream for £22.50, which has a customer score of 4.6 stars out of five from almost 1,300 reviews. Or, CeraVe’s Intensive Moisturising Lotion, which comes with hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides is on Amazon for £15.