Skin Care Products
(Image found here. I did a search for ‘skin care’, and I was so horrified by what I found, that I couldn’t do anything but take a generic looking graphic. What was so offensive? Dozens, hundreds really, of pictures of white, mostly blonde, women in their 20s. One black woman, also in her 20s. One white man, also in his 20s. Skin care in your 20s is sunblock and zit creme. Totally not what I’m talking about here, in my mid-40s.)
In your teens, your beauty regimen is all about nice hair and what color of eye shadow matches your top. But as you get older, it turns into skin care. As I inch up into my mid-40s, I haven’t been thrilled with my skin. Wrinkles are creeping across my face, my complexion looks a little dull, and dare I say it, things are starting to sag a bit. I’ve been taking decent care of my skin for awhile, so this is frustrating. If you’ve ever gone to the make-up counter at a department store, you know that some of these products can cost a LOT. Like >$200. Easily. And that’s for one part of a 3 or 4 part ‘system’. Ugh. I’m not rich. Not even close. So, when I read this article in Oprah magazine at the doctor’s office, I was happy to read the tips. The article is annoying on the website, with all the clicking from one product to the next and so on, but it seemed like good information.
Since the online version of the article is kind of annoying, I’ll list the items here, along with their suggestions, then I’ll tell you what I decided on, and why. I love how they give both high end and lower end versions, so you can see the difference in price.
The essential products, and then the optional extras, that you need (according to Oprah Magazine), along with suggestions and prices, are:
- Moisturizer with Sunscreen – Great Bets: Aveeno Positively Ageless + Antioxidants SPF 42 ($20; drugstores); Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer Very Dry to Dry ($43; Clinique.com).
- Moisturizer with Retinol – Great Bets: Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Night ($42; VichyUSA.com); Dermadoctor Poetry in Lotion ($75; Sephora.com).
- Body Moisturizer – Great Bets: Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Skin-Fortifying Body Lotion ($10; drugstores; Nivea Happy Sensation Body Lotion ($6; drugstores).
- Concealer – Great Bets: Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer ($70; department stores); CoverGirl Smoothers Concealer ($6.50; drugstores).
- Lip Balm – Great Bets: Burt’s Bees Medicated Lip Balm ($4; drugstores); Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter ($4; Walgreens).
- Lip Color – Great Bets: Maybelline New York Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in Cherry Bloom ($6; drugstores); Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick in Stay Cranberry ($22; EsteeLauder.com).
- Blush – Great Bets: Revlon Cream Blush ($10; drugstores); Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cream Blush ($24; ElizabethArden.com).
- Mascara – Great Bets: Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara ($7; drugstores); Lancome Hypnse Drama ($25, Lancome-USA.com).
- Eyelash Curler – Great Bets: E.L.F. Studio Eyelash Curler ($3; EyesLipsFace.com); Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($19; ShuUemura-USA.com).
Extras:
- Exfoliator – They recommend Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream ($75; Sephora.com ); C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Orange Blossom Moisture-Rich Body Scrub ($15; BathandBodyWorks.com ).
- Eye Cream – Great Bets: RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream ($22; drugstores); Philosophy Eye Hope Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream ($48; Sephora.com ).
- Tinted moisturizer or foundation – Great Bets: Sonia Kashuk Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($13; Target); Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer ($21; Sephora.com )
- Eyeliner – Great Bets: Avon Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner in Brown Sugar ($6; Avon.com ); MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy ($14.50; MacCosmetics.com ).
- Bronzer – Great Bets: Jane Iredale So-Bronze 3 ($41; JaneIredaleDirect.com ); Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Pressed Bronzer ($15; drugstores).
- Self Tanner – Great Bets: Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel ($32; Clarins.com ); Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer ($9; drugstores).
- Deep Conditioner (for your hair) – Great Bets: Nexxus Humectress Hydrating Treatment ($15; drugstores); Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Reparative Hair ($26; Kiehls.com ).
- Teeth Whitening Strips – Great Bets: Rembrandt Whitening Strips ($24; drugstores); Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips ($15; Drugstore.com ).
So…what have I done, and has it worked? Well, I bought or already had the essentials. Moisturizer with sunscreen, I have a sample of a Clinique version, and my foundation also has sunscreen. I confess to walking in the mornings without any sunscreen on my face. The sun isn’t very high in the sky, and for some reason, it just makes me feel good. Maybe it’s the vitamin D? But the rest of the time, I have either the moisturizer or the foundation, or both.
Moisturizer with Retinol. I bought the Vichy product, and I really like it. They have it at CVS. It isn’t cheap, but compared to the stuff at Macy’s or Sehpora, it’s not bad.
Body Moisturizer, I don’t think this matters. Use one. I use Olay Total Effects 7-in-1, which I really, really like, but I would also say that it will clog up your razor if you use it as a combo wash and shaving product. Not good for the shaving. But it’s great for the skin. I also use Eucerin, but not the Daily Skin Balance.
Lip Balm. Chapstick is fine. Or Vaseline, which is probably better for your lips.
Concealer. I got the CoverGirl, and it’s fine. Don’t love it, but it’s fine. I’ve never been a huge fan of the concealer.
Lip Color. Mostly I can’t be bothered. But when I do use it, I use the ones that I get for free with a purchase at the department store, when I buy my foundation, which is not cheapo stuff.
Blush. Again, I use what’s free.
Mascara. That’s a biggie for me. My lashes are blonde and sparse. I have always been hooked on the definition and lengthening properties, not the thickening properties. I bought some Rimmel, which I really like. I got some Lancome for free with my foundation purchase, and it’s even better. I hate when spending more makes things better.
Which reminds me of the other product I really like, that isn’t mentioned. Collagen filler for the wrinkles. I have the free gift, from Lancome, and I’ve bought the Loreal version, which is OK, but not as good.
Eyelash curler. Very good.
When it comes to the extras, I use the RoC Retinol eye cream, which I like. Also, a tooth whitener. Sadly, I have sensitive teeth, so I used a sensitive teeth formula, which is not as effective as the regular stuff. Not sure I saw any improvement.
So, that’s it. Not a ringing endorsement, but I will say that since I’ve been using these products, I’ve been happier with my skin. Not so dull. Not quite as wrinkly. Not much better, but some better. Which makes me think, um, the 50s will probably be even worse for the skin. Sigh.
5 Comments
Nance
My biggest thing isn’t wrinkles, it’s the guzzly thing at the front of my throat, like a turkey neck. Nothing for that but the knife, I’m afraid, so FORGET IT. Who knew that 50 would be so disheartening? And years and years of offering myself up as a Bronze Goddess has now given me the borderline reptilian arm skin. I have always had naturally olive skin, so rarely do I burn, but now that my hormones are changing, dryness is more of a problem on my arms and legs, and I hate lotion. HATE IT. No matter what kind I use, I always feel lubed up and greasy. And we all know that in order for it to really work, it has to be a greaser. Sigh. Why do we have to suffer so?
Barbara
This is a great post. I have been struggling with my skin all summer! The products that I have loved for the last several years seemingly no longer work on my skin! So discouraging. I’m thinking the combination of lots of stress and maybe hormones is at fault. I’ll check into the products you’ve mentioned. Thinking I might have to see a dermatologist too. If I get any good product tips I’ll pass them along.
Peace!
CG
I discover 3 products that work for me. For my face I use Olay Regenerist regenerating serum, for the body Eucerin dry skin therapy with SPF 15 or CeraVe moisturizing lotion. The latter goes on silky smooth and not greasy. I try to wear a hat most of the time when I am in the sun. I have 3 in the back seat of my car.
Cherry
I finally gave in and once again bought the cleanser I love. It’s $$ but it just works so well for my skin.
I haven’t been taking care of my skin since I got pregnant since it became like no skin I had ever known and they warn you of what products to use during that time.
Now I suddenly have a much harder time justifying the cost of the products I used to use, but man I see the difference!
V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios
I have been vigilant about skin care forever. I sold cosmetics and skin care in my early 20s, so I’ve always been into it. Have tried lots of stuff over the years and have been diligent with sunscreen.
Here’s the truth (recently confirmed by Consumers’ Reports): The anti-aging treatments might moisturize your skin or make it feel nice to the touch, but they don’t do a damn thing for wrinkles or sagging or any of that.
I have finally abandoned ship on anti-agers, after 25 years of retinols, collagen boosters, etc. I had used Clinique, Neutrogena, Olay, Avon, RoC, and others.
I just wash it with Cetaphil and apply sunscreen in the morning, a moisturizer at night in the winter.
My skin is creamy and not too lined, but it does sag and have a tendency toward redness. I think the best thing for my skin has been staying out of the sun all these years and taking high-quality Omega III supplements, which seem to make my skin healthier.
The big plague of my life is spider veins on my legs. I was spared my mother’s horrible varicose veins, but the spider veins are nasty, nasty, nasty. They depress me and I think about having them professionally treated. I live in a hot climate and refuse to bare my legs in public (unless I’m walking the dog in the neighborhood.) I’m very self-conscious about them. Won’t go to the pool either!