I came across some information recently that I wanted to share with you. These days, we all seem to be watching our pennies a little more closely. So, in the interest of our skin, where should we spend on beauty and where can we save? Dermatologists Susan H.
Weinkle, M.D. and Heidi A. Waldorf, M.D. have put together a list of their expert tips on getting the
most out of your beauty budget. According to the doctors, the keys are to invest wisely and to arm
yourself with knowledge about where you can compromise and where you can’t. They tell us that the
three essential items to keep skin in top shape now-- in order to avoid expensive
corrective procedures later--are sunscreen, an antioxidant moisturizer, and a product
containing retinoic acid. Here is more advice from doctors Weinkle and Waldorf:
Products – where to
invest and where you can save money
Worth the Price:
- Prescription retinoids (tretinoin,
tazarotene, adapalene) – nothing else has been shown to do as much for
photoaged skin; and one tube should last several months
- Certain cosmeceuticals (idebenone,
coffeeberry) – your dermatologist knows what works and what you’re more likely
to tolerate
- Cleansers – if you need to save, a
gentle over-the-counter non-drying lotion cleanser will do the job.
- Sunscreen – drug store options with
appropriate ingredients abound, and you need to use a lot of it.
- Eye cream – if you’re trying to save,
you can use your face cream for your eye area too.
Augmenting in-office
treatments at home
- Get more bang for your buck – use a
home microdermabrasion system between professional treatments
- Non-invasive treatments work best when
accompanied by an effective at home regimen of sun protection and some
combination of retinoids, anti-oxidants and/or peptides.
- Don’t work against your treatment: avoid cigarettes, tanning, and picking.
- Ask your dermatologist for a prescription to slow hair growth while you’re undergoing laser hair removal
- The current long-lasting fillers are
cost-effective. A recent study of
hyaluronic acid showed that once you achieve your optimal correction, keeping
it up requires only half the original volume used once or twice a year. For patients who can’t pay for full correction
the first visit, there’s the option to gradually achieve correction over
several months – each treatment builds on the last because the prior filler
isn’t gone and new collagen has been formed.
- Tightening procedures utilizing lasers
and radiofrequency cost far less than surgery, can put off the expense of a
surgical lift for several years and don’t require a lot of time off from work.
- Botulinum toxins continue to be a safe and effective way to look fresher without downtime and for about the cost of hair and nail maintenance.
