Fashion & Beauty
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Do you think expensive skin care serums work?
I was walking through Macy's yesterday and was offered a free makeover at Lancombe. I decided to try it and of course they were pushing their skin care line, including the Genifique Youth Activating Complex. It's like $65-100 a bottle! I didn't end up buying anything because I was not impressed with their cosmetics or the way the artist did my makeup but I did get a sample at Sephora of the Genifique. I've used serums from Prescriptives in the past for redness and anti-aging and honestly don't think they really do anything. I use my rx rosacea treatment, a good moisturizer, drink lots of water and stay out of the sun and I think my skin is pretty good. I think I will try Retinol if I have wrinkles but I don't really think those lotions and potions work. Thoughts?
Re: Do you think expensive skin care serums work?
I believe my Prevage serums work, but I can't say if it's for certain. I think it's also a person's genes. And lifestyle choices.
If it ain't broke....
Blog: Call Me Imelda
This answer is probably waaayyy more than you wanted and you also will probably think I'm insane, but here I go
I am a total sucker for expensive cosmetics and skincare products. I love the pretty packaging, the scent, the texture. However, over the past couple of years I have really forced myself to learn about different ingredients and read up on different products and not let myself be swayed by the pretty packaging and the marketing of the high end products.
Over the past year I've become pretty obsessed about skincare, especially focusing on anti-aging, and have read a sh*t ton about it. I am 100% convinced that the best skincare products are not the most expensive. What really has me convinced is that dermatologists do not recommend Lancome or other expensive products from high end cosmetic companies. They recommend products like CeraVe, which can be purchased at the drug store, and other brands that you typically only hear from your dermatologist that is often sold in their office, like Neova (which can be expensive, but is not the stuff you see at the mall).
A dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic dermatology will tell you that the key to good skin is using spf 30+ every single day, using a product with antioxidants every day, using Retin-A at night (OTC retinol products are only going to have very minimal results, but Retin-A results can be significant), and many will recommend using a copper peptide product. Of course a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water is important as well, but as far as lotions and potions, these are the key products.
The only product in this list that is expensive are products that contain copper peptides, because this is simply an expensive ingredient. Retin-A can also be expensive if not covered by insurance, but it's sooooo worth it. I sometimes use a vitamin C serum as an antioxidant, and it blows my mind that companies bottle up vitamin C and sometimes other ingredients like vitamin E and other antioxidants and then sell it for like $60+. I use a serum called Beyond Belief Vitamin C serum, which is less than $10 at Sally's. An antioxidant is an antioxidant, and the difference is just the fancy packaging, added ingredients that don't change the effectiveness but might make the product glide on the skin smoothly or smell nicer, and marketing.
My routine, which I have spent really an insane amount of time researching (and talking to a dermatologist) to come up with, is this:
Morning: Wash with CeraVe, apply an all in one product that moisturizes, has spf 30+, has antioxidants, and also has a tint so I can skip foundation. I was using a fantastic Physicians Formula tinted moisturizer, but the shades didn't work for me. I just switched to the Clinique BB because it has the spf, antioxidants, and actually matches my skin. I used my vitamin c serum under it since reviews said it goes on a bit dry, and the serum helps moisturize a little. I choose to spend more on the Clinique so I can get everything in one product, but I absolutely could use drugstore products and use more than one to get all of the ingredients I need.
Night: Wash with CeraVe. Let dry for 20 minutes, then apply Retin-A. Wait 20 minutes and apply Neova Night Therapy (copper peptide product). Sometimes I do the vitamin c serum instead of the Neova just because Neova is so freaking expensive and I want it to last a while. CPs and Vit C can't be used together, btw.
Copper peptides are a wound healing agent, and studies have shown that it has helped heal UV damage. I had some really nasty irritation as a side effect from Retin-A and had a bright red face for about a week, then my Neova came in the mail. I am not one to rave about a product and claim that it did something amazing overnight, but this is one product that really did make an immediate difference. After one night of use, the redness that I'd had for a week was practically gone, and it was 100% gone after two nights of use. So I'm convinced that copper peptides help with healing, so I'll definitely use this product any time I have some sort of irritation on my face.
Two things that I plan to add to my skincare routine are the Clarisonic and using a Derma roller. Oh, and TCA peels (hoping it will lighten my freckles), but I haven't been brave enough to live with skin peeling off my face to do it yet.
If you aren't very fair, also consider the Physician's Formula Healthy Wear tinted moisturizer, which was highly recommended to me by another Nestie. I loved it, but the lightest color (fair to light) looked orange on me. It's 1/3 of the price of the Clinique BB, so I hate that it didn't work for me. The Clinique definitely has a dryer feel on the face, and some complain that the PF feels oily. I have combination skin, but actually liked the finish of the PF because it was sort of dewy.
I believe that the antioxidant in the Clinique BB is Vitamin E (which is a powerful antioxidant), and the antioxidants in the PF tinted moisturizer are tomato and licorice.
Blog: Call Me Imelda
True, and my understanding is that some people with super sensitive skin never adjust to even the lowest strength and can't use it at all.
This is just what I was thinking. Even if you aren't actively ttc, don't use retin A if you will be trying soon or could become pregnant (i.e not on birth control and sexually active)
Cool, thanks. I will check out the physician's formula as well. Thanks so much!
I think it's mostly BS. The best moisturizer I've used is plain old Ponds Cold Cream and coconut oil.
But I'm kind of crappy to my skin, too. I fall asleep with makeup on a lot. Still, I'm 36, and I think my skin is pretty good.
Updated September 2012.
Hi there, in response to your question..basically you get what you pay for. Now keep in mind that each of us are different--we are truly all individuals, so what works for me may not work the same way for you. Some of us are more sensitive to the ingredients used. I've done a lot of research on the effects of aging on our appearance. There is just too much to list here so you might want to look at my website http://glamourandskincare.com. I've taken a lot of the medical jargon and made it, shall we say politically correct for the rest of us. Basically, as we age certain biological changes take place. A lot has to do with our skin slowing down oil production and renewal of new cells. The fat in our face decreases, our pores look enlarged, our skin changes color and yes...there are wrinkles. A lot of the creases, wrinkles, crows feet and liver spots (nothing to do with our livers) are due to genetics, sensitivity of our skin to sunlight (exposure to UV-A and UV-B), pollution, lifestyles, etc. Now, because we are different, my website also recommends several products in different price ranges for specific conditions. There are products out there that do cost upwards of $300 to $500 and there are products for a lot less. These products will not work overnight (think of all the years it took to get those wrinkles) and do require a regular regimen. I suggest that you purchase from a reputable company, within your budget and try it for a while. That way, if your results aren't satisfactory you have not lost a bundle (over spending and worrying about it won't help those wrinkles). Some of the more expensive stuff are that way because of the ingredients, research costs,etc. but again your results and expectations may be different. Find something that works to your satisfaction and apply a regular regimen
.Now, I must be honest with you I do receive a small commission on whatever product you purchase on my website. You don't have to buy anything and some products may be available at your local store. However, my site also offers information that most cosmetic websites don't...it doesn't cost you anything to read it. If you've never knew why you look the way you do as you age...you might find out that some things are beyond your control and others may be repairable. The best way to avoid it is to start taking care of your skin as soon as possible...the younger the better. Take care of it now so that 10 years from now you won't have too many problems. Remember, we all want to stay younger looking longer. Thank you for having me and for your time. I hope you much success.
http://glamourandskincare.com