Costs of Skin Care - Worth It?

[Deleted]

I am thinking about trying the Clarisonic Opal to help tame the wrinkles decorating my eyes, but it is a little bit of an indulgence.  The system costs $185 and then the serum, which I guess I would need to buy every couple months is $65.

I'm only considering this because I got the Clarisonic Skincare machine a while back & now that I am using their cleanser with it the skin on my face looks a lot better. 

I feel like I have been having an argument with my skin my whole life!! I try different products (inexpensive and expensive) and find few that don't cause additional problems.  Clinique gel moisturizer is the only one I found that doesn't clog up my skin and make it a disaster, but it does not seem to slow the wrinkling process one iota.  

Most of the time I am in a bah-humbug mood because I am sick of buying products that don't work.  But now I find myself bothered with the amount of wrinkling going on 

Do you think it is worth it to spend $600 a year trying to combat eye wrinkles?

What do you spend on skincare?

Would you give up part of your Wine/Alcohol budget to fund wrinkle reduction

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I like most Clinique products. What I found most helpful is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Once you cleanse your face (a good astringent cleanser will do), then use a toner to 'tighten'. But moisturizing at night is pretty much a necessity at my age. Plus the climate here (due to altitude) is dry.

Even a "drugstore" product such as Ponds seems to help me. I don't know if that'll cause you any problems since I don't know what your skin issues are - if it's irritation, breaking out, etc.

2nd Debut or Olay also aren't bad and a bit less pricey than Clinique or Estee Lauder, etc. Olay has some good moisturizers/toners/eye creams for different types of skin.

[milee]

IMHO, the topical products (serums, moisturizers, etc) have only been proven to have small, temporary effects on the appearance of wrinkles, so although I like to use some of them, I wouldn't consider them as necessarily creating a huge impact in stopping wrinkles.  They can make your existing wrinkles look less visible by plumping the skin and they may be able to help prevent future wrinkles, depending on ingredients and sun exposure (but they may not, if you have had years of sun exposure, you're probably going to get wrinkles from that no matter what you put on.)  But there isn't a cream out there that will make existing wrinkles go away, unfortunately. 

If I had $600 a year to spend on wrinkle reduction, here's how I'd prioritize the money in terms of effectiveness:
Botox
High quality sunscreen with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and/or avobenzone (also called Parsol) blocking UVA and UVB
Serums and moisturizers


BTW, I really really like the Paula's Choice products.  She started out as a "Consumer's Reports" type reviewer of cosmetics - reviewed them for years and was great at making recommendations that were low cost and highly effective - and a few years ago, started her own line of products.  The products use the best quality ingredients that are scientifically proven (that was one of her beefs in her reviews, that very few of the products have decent ingredients that are backed by well designed studies) and are incredibly reasonable in price.  Here's a link to her website:  www.paulaschoice.com/who-we-are/

Oh, and if you try some of her stuff and don't like it, the customer service is fantastic and will refund or exchange it.  But her literature will tell you the same thing I did about nothing you rub on is going to make wrinkles magically go away, unfortunately.

[Deleted]

I've been using two products the past month or two and I feel like my skin looks a lot better and that the wrinkles are less noticeable. The Clinique laser eye cream and Estée Lauder visible night repair. I have sensitive skin and neither of these have made me break out or have any other bad effects. I want to say that the Clinique stuff was about 45 and the EL was about 70. Both will last several months.

Regular cleansing for me is Mario Badescu glycolic cleanser 3x per week (15 for a bottle that will last you a year!) and the other days its the cucumber wash...another 15, I think. Mousiturizer is Kiehls with SPF at about 40/bottle.

I don't think I would spend that much on a system, but I also don't have really bad wrinkles (yet). I don't think, once they are there, you are really going to get rid of them much short of Botox or another filler. And, personally, I'm not up for Botox. I would say do a cream and see if you can find one that works. I hear good things about the Olay products as well as Garnier if you are looking for a drugstore brand.

I used Paula's choice to narrow down which ones I wanted to try and, so farm have been pleased with the results.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I don't buy her products but I second Paula's Choice for  information.  I've learned A LOT from her reviews and information on skin types.  

It really helped me figure out it isn't just about hte price tag.  It's about the ingredient list.  I have sensitive skin and she has a list of ingredients/chemcials to avoid and they're in every price range.   I'm using plain old Pond's and my skin looks A LOT better.

[NancysSummerSip]

I wondered about the Clarisonic and I'm considering it.

I use the entire Oil of Olay line and love it. It helps that my genetics are outstanding. But good skin care does not hurt. I also use Pond's (as a makeup remover) and an astringent made of filtered water and rosewater (no alcohol) and it all works together very well.

[whoami]

I own a Clairsonic and while I love it for cleansing, I dont think it really does much for wrinkles etc.  

I really like Algenist Retinol firming and lifting serum.  Its $98 but I think worth every penny.    I have been using Peter Thomas Roth Retinol fusion and its also made a huge difference.

I have resorted to Botox in the past but using the retinol has significantly reduced my Botox visits.

[goldensam]

Aug 28, 2013 5:58:02 GMT -5 milee said:

IMHO, the topical products (serums, moisturizers, etc) have only been proven to have small, temporary effects on the appearance of wrinkles, so although I like to use some of them, I wouldn't consider them as necessarily creating a huge impact in stopping wrinkles.  They can make your existing wrinkles look less visible by plumping the skin and they may be able to help prevent future wrinkles, depending on ingredients and sun exposure (but they may not, if you have had years of sun exposure, you're probably going to get wrinkles from that no matter what you put on.)  But there isn't a cream out there that will make existing wrinkles go away, unfortunately. 

If I had $600 a year to spend on wrinkle reduction, here's how I'd prioritize the money in terms of effectiveness:
Botox
High quality sunscreen with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and/or avobenzone (also called Parsol) blocking UVA and UVB
Serums and moisturizers


BTW, I really really like the Paula's Choice products.  She started out as a "Consumer's Reports" type reviewer of cosmetics - reviewed them for years and was great at making recommendations that were low cost and highly effective - and a few years ago, started her own line of products.  The products use the best quality ingredients that are scientifically proven (that was one of her beefs in her reviews, that very few of the products have decent ingredients that are backed by well designed studies) and are incredibly reasonable in price.  Here's a link to her website:  www.paulaschoice.com/who-we-are/

Oh, and if you try some of her stuff and don't like it, the customer service is fantastic and will refund or exchange it.  But her literature will tell you the same thing I did about nothing you rub on is going to make wrinkles magically go away, unfortunately.

I've really liked her reviews of cosmetics and skin care items.  She proves it isn't always about cost, but rather what is it in the product that matters.  She speaks highly of Botox.  Sunscreen is an absolute must. 

[kittensaver]

www.epicuren.com/#

I really like this line of products. YMMV.

[Deleted]

I wish for you guys to get older and less vain.    I am sort of kidding, but wrinkles will come.  You don't have to look like a grape (moisturize, moisturize, mositurize!).

But I wouldn't spend $600 for skin products.  I use L'Oreal moisturizer.  I put it on at night and under the small (very small) amount of make-up I wear every day.  I do it as much for the SPF protection factor as anything else.  It is not the cheapest, but it isn't particularly expensive.

But I guess wrinkles don't worry me.  I want to look nice, but the particular age I look doesn't bother me.  I only color my hair because DH makes me.  I have a few (very, very few) gray strands at 59.

Part of it is probably that a student once described an almost thirty-year-old teacher as "really old."

That makes me older than old.  How do you fight that?

[Deleted]

Thanks All - You have given me a lot of options to check into.  Maybe I am in age-denial at the moment!!

whoami - The clarisonic opal is a totally different machine than the cleansing system.  opal is just for the eye area & applying serums or moisturizers so they get deeper into the skin.

I have tried a lot of products: olay, garnier, loreal and they all give me zits, even the ones that say non comedogenic give me deep down bumps.  My sister even gave me some fancy serum that was almost $100 bottle & that gives me bumps too     I've been using the Clinique moisturizer for a long time, but it isn't doing anything preventative as far as I can tell, so now I am mad at it too!!  That's why I'm looking for alternatives now.

My DD relies on Paula's Choice a lot and is trying some of her products, so I'll check that out as well as some of the recommendations above.

wrongside - how often do you have to do laser resurfacing?  Is that like an annual treatment?

[sarcasticgirl]

I fought with my skin for years and finally turned all hippie and use all natural products on my face. My skin has never been happier! Coconut oil is like my new best friend! 

[Deleted]

I started using coconut oil on my arms/legs a couple of weeks ago.  It's okay - no better or worse than other name lotions.  Maybe better than other naturals - shea butter is okay, but greasy - almond oil did nothing.

One of the GKids developed a sudden nut allergy (almonds), so I decided to stop the nut based naturals until we know what is going on & what his level of sensitivity is.

[happyscooter]

I saw a picture of 'Jeannie-I Dream of Jeannie' the other day.  Did she do something to her mouth?  Why can't people (women) just age?  I hardly ever wear makeup (and just a few things) unless I am working.  Sunscreen outside.  I do like the sunshine.  I color my hair to a lighter shade only because the darker color washes me out so bad, I  usually have someone ask me if I am feeling well.    But 'no' I wouldn't spend that much money on skin care.

[Deleted]

"Aging" for me means I look tired all the time.  Its not good for my career to look tired or wretched 

I am a little frustrated to realize that the products I have used for years really aren't preventing anything.  Damn my rotten skin!!!