SKINCARE routines couldn't vary more from woman to woman.

While some maintain that Nivea Visage or a pot of Astril cream is all their skin needs, others rely on stocks of the 3 Cs: Clarins, Clinique and Cr�me de la Mer to keep their skin looking good.

But how much do you really have to spend on your skin to feel the benefits? It's always reassuring to hear that high-street brands work just as well as the Euro200 Cr�me de la Mer process, but the trick is knowing when to pull in the purse strings and when to splurge.

There are definitely still skincare bargains to be had out there - it's time to find out exactly how much we should be spending on what? When it comes to cleansing, shopaholics will be glad to hear that scrimping is actually not the way forward. Facial cleansing is the most important part of your skincare routine, as it removes grime and clears and tightens pores. Many cheap products can be quite aggressive, especially on sensitive skin. So get your wallet out and go shopping.

Our favourite: Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk (�30) This creamy, lemony milk feels gorgeous on all skin types and leaves skin glowing and refreshed.

Toner SKIMP Do you know, that toning isn't strictly necessary in your skincare routine? Water is the most natural toner, meaning toners are a bit gimmicky really. The one good use for it is if your cleanser leaves residue on your face but if you buy a decent cleanser (see above) that shouldn't happen, now, should it?

Our favourite: Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner (�6.49) If you still determined, try this one.

Nice and gentle.

Moisturiser SPLURGE The moisturiser you choose should be a quality one for several reasons. It sinks into your skin and stays there, so you want to be sure you're using the right kind. It's also an important base for your foundation. And of course, it needs to be a good anti-ager and protector from the elements. So what should you do? Splurge of course. Just don't get too caught up in gimmicks - once you find the right one for you, stick with it. Just because Nasa technology has come into beauty-cream fashion, it doesn't mean you have to have it too.

Our favourite: Elizabeth Arden Intervene Pause and Effect Moisture Cream (�55)You can always trust Elizabeth Arden to get it right, and this cream has the right amount of anti-aging, SPF and moisturising elements to make it a keeper.

Face scrub SKIMP Skin should ideally be exfoliated twice a week to remove dead skin cells and tighten pores. The good news is that, unless your skin is mega sensitive, there are a number of excellent scrubbers on the high street. All the best ingredients are there:

salicylic acid for blocked pores, peptides and anti-oxidants for anti-ageing and botanicals to decrease redness. Nivea, Simple, L'Oreal and Biore all have good products on the market.

Our favourite: St Ives Apricot Scrub (�5.99)This lad has been around longer than your granny - and for good reason too.

Eye cream SPLURGE The bad news for everyone over 25 is that you should be using an anti-ageing eyecream already. Because the eye area is so delicate, you need a light product with the right ingredients to keep wrinkles at bay. Using your facial moisturiser will only give you dark circles, so don't bother.

Our favourite: Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream (�97)This luxurious brand from Hungary has just arrived in Harvey Nichols and we're loving it. This eye cream contains vitamin K, cucumber and arnica - what you normally put on bruises - to minimise dark circles.