I LOVE this article I found on Totalbeauty.com.
http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/unnecessary-beauty-products
It's about 9 unnecessary skin care products. I don't agree with everything the author says, but for the most part, my beauty philosophy is always less is more. You don't have to buy a skin care system, you don't have to spend a million dollars to get the best skin care, you don't have to use products just because the beauty magazines tell you to use them. You do however have to: go to a facialist regularly, use high quality facial products, and wear sunscreen every day.
Here are the 9 "unnecessary" skin care products and my thoughts:
1. Separate creams for face, neck and chest: Most women forget that they even have a neck and chest when applying moisturizers and SPF. I would be thrilled if my all my clients remembered to put their creams on their face, neck and chest, let alone get them to buy a separate cream. There is a great separate cream for neck and chest problem areas that Revision makes called Nectifirm that is targeted for that specific area. If you have a problem in that area, then by all means, you can buy a specific cream for that area. Sure, your facial moisturizer will work there. But targeted creams will work better. Just like eye creams work better around the eyes.
2. Super expensive skin care products: I don't think you need to buy crazy expensive skin care products, especially if you are in your 20s and have normal skin. But if you have problem skin (acne, dry skin, rosacea) or are over 30, you should invest in, at the very least, a great moisturizer with SPF 30, a fabulous night time cream with Retinol and a face wash that doesn't irritate your skin. Sometimes the more expensive products are less irritating, because they use higher quality ingredients. Unfortunately, a lot of skin irritation is trial and error.
3. Toner: Ha! No on toner. Unless you have oily skin or enlarged pores (then it's an astringent). Or you need a little light hydration. My war on toner continues....
4. Hydrating serums: I just discovered that I'm not really a serum person. Either you are or you aren't. They are great for people with really dry, dehydrated, aging skin. But if you have combo, normal or oily skin, serums probably aren't for you.
5. Creams for specific body parts: This one I disagree with, only because there are lotions that work on my legs, but just aren't strong enough for my feet. LacHydrinFive. That's the most amazing lotion I have ever found for my cracked dry heels. You can use it on your legs, it's fine, but it works best on your super dry feet and elbows.
6. Age-reversing products: I love this point because it talks about how products aren't really going to work wonders, unless you have a strong active ingredient, like Retinol.
7. Body firming products: Okay everyone knows that these products are bunk and don't work right?
8. Sunscreen over SPF 30: It's okay to wear something that's higher than 30, just don't be fooled into thinking that it's amazing stuff. SPF 30 is the most effective SPF that you can get.
9. Facial masks: Here's the only point where the author and I really disagree. Facial masks are great at a spa, especially after a chemical peel, as a soothing treatment. As at home treatments, they can be crucial for clients with problem skin, especially acne clients, to help them maintain their skin in-between visits to the facialist. Kinerase makes a great mask specifically for acneic skin called the Kinerase Clear Skin Regulating Mask.
