skinny dipping

01Jul09

In these lean economic times, the most common question I get is, “What’s the least I can do to keep my skin looking good?” Since “least” is a subjective term lets split up into groups, shall we? Group One: The Bettys you are the true minimalists who can’t or won’t spend much time or money on your skin. The good news for you gals is that your complexion is about 50% determined by your genetics. The less-good news is that you’ve got to take responsibility for the other 50%! Group Two: The Veronicas You are invested in looking good, and you’ll treat yourself to the occasional must-have potion, but you’re too savvy to waste time and pennies on fluff. I hear you sisters loud and clear (I’m definitely a Veronica)! Finally Group Three: The Katy Keenes Like your illustrated inspiration, you’re the “Queen of Glamour.” You’ll spare no expense and you are my favorite customer!

Whatever is in your pocketbook, one fact applies to all of us: our skin loooves consistency. If you follow a regimen morning and night your face will reflect your TLC. No matter how tired you are, where you’re laying your head that night, or who might happen to see you without your makeup, fierce girls take care of themselves and everyone can tell!

So, here is a basic recession-regimen for each of you, contingent upon a bit of extra scrimping. When the economy turns around, however, I hope to see at least one more item in each of your powder rooms!

Bettys

1. Cleanse your skin every morning for at least 2 minutes. Use nice warm water, and a foamy cleanser if you’re not too sensitive. For dry or irritated skin, try a creamy cleanser with natuural exfoliating acids.
foamy SkinCeuticals Simply Clean $29
creamy SkinCeuticals Cleansing Cream $29
drugstore option Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser $6.59

2. Apply an antioxidant. Antioxidants are combinations of vitamins that keep environmental stressors from damaging your healthy skin cells. When nasties called “free radicals” stick to your healthy skin cells, they damage them. When the newly-damaged cells replicate, you end up with wrinkles and brown spots. Popular antioxidants include Vitamin C, coffeeberry and idebenone (which is synthetic). An affordable antioxidant is Remergent Antioxidant Refoliator $55. It’s a little rich, so if you have oily skin try this tip: purchase an antioxidant moisturizer with SPF like Revale Day Cream $99. The price tag may seem steep at first, but it’s got your antioxidant + SPF in one! Cleanse, rub some on and go!

3. Apply moisturizer with SPF every single day, whether you plan to be outside or not. Here’s a tip: all sunscreen lotions are moisturizing, so there is no need to apply a separate face cream. I like Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 $29.50.
drugstore option Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 45 $12.99.

4. At nighttime (EVERY nighttime. Some of you are default-Bettys because you’re still in college. If you don’t want a severe case of party face in the morning, wash up before bed!), cleanse your face for a full two minutes. You can use most cleansers right over eye makeup. There’s no need for a second eye makeup remover.

5. Apply a retinoid. These are vitamin-A derived microexfoliants that cause a bit of peeling at first. A retinoid will cause your skin cells to turnover rapidly, minimizing acne, brown spots, large pores and fine lines. Long-term use of a retinoid will also stimulate collagen production. Collagen supports your skin, keeping it firm. I like SkinCeuticals Retinol .05% $50.
drugstore option RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream $21.49.

Total products: 3-4
Total price: $115+ for a three-month supply
Post-recession add-on: Clarisonic facial cleansing brush (see Veronica’s regimen)

Veronicas

1. Like Bettys, you’ll need a good cleanser. Foamy for most skin types, Creamy for dry and sensitive skin. A cleanser with mild exfoliating acids (like glycolic or alpha hydroxy) are best. Try Betty’s SkinCeuticals Simply Clean or Gentle Cleanser. If you’re a Veronica, though, you’ll love the deep-cleaning power of the Clarisonic facial cleansing brush $195. Run your Clarisonic for two cycles. For more on Clarisonic, read He Loves me, He Loves me Not.

2. Nope, step two isn’t toner. Toners came about in the eighties when women cleansed with residue-depositing cold cream. Most toners were alcohol based and stripped your skin dry. Today’s toners promise to “restore your skin’s Ph balance,” however I feel that a proper cleanser shouldn’t knock your Ph out of whack in the first place. If it does, your skin is made to self-correct anyway. Step two is the same as Betty’s: antioxidant serum! A Veronica likes the best, and might be willing to spend a little more. I love SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF serum $150.

3. Apply your sunscreen next. Try The aforementioned Kiehl’s, or splurge on Jurlique Age Defying Day Cream SPF 15 $45.

4. Wash up at night, running your Clarisonic for two consecutive cycles.

5. Apply a retinoid, like SkinCeuticals Retinol .1% $56.

Total products: 5 (including your Clarisonic)
Total price: $309 for a three to six-month supply + your Clarisonic $195
Post-recession add-on: growth factor serum (see Katy Keene’s regimen)

Katy Keenes

1. Lucky for you, Hotstuff, a good cleanser is a good cleanser. You don’t need anything fancier than the ones I recommend to Bettys and Veronicas. You’ll definitely want a Clarisonic, though. Spruce it up with a Delicate replaceable brush head $25.

2. Apply your serum. The ultimate serum is SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum $237, which combines antioxidants with a growth factor solution. This not only protects your face from free-radical damage, it is proven to regenerate new, healthy skin.

3. Apply a plumping serum like SkinMedica Hydrating Complex $76 in Winter, or if you live in a dry climate. This hyaloronic acid product will attract water to your parched skin cells.

4. Moisturize with an SPF, like the one by Jurlique.

5. At night, fire up that Clarisonic for another two cycles.

6. If you’re using a simple antioxidant serum in the morning, you’ll need a growth factor serum at night. Try NeoCutis BioGel $145. This heavenly formula spreads easily and was designed by doctors for wound healing. If you’re using TNS Essential Serum in the morning, you can skip this step.

7. Apply your retinol. If you want something with a little extra umph, ask your dermatologist for a prescription for Tazorac, Retin-A Micro, or Differin. If you are over age 25, your insurance probably will not cover these medicines. Expect to pay $150 to $200 for a six month supply.

Total products: 7-8 (including your Clarisonic)
Total price: $700 for a three to six-month supply + your Clarisonic $195
Post-recession add-on: eye cream, prescription hydroquinone for lightening brown spots

There you have it. SkinCeuticals, Clarisonic, Kiehl’s, & Jurlique products can be ordered from Sabia.

SkinMedica, NeoCutis, Remergent & Revale products can be ordered from iDerma.

Neutrogena products are found in most drugstores, or online at drugstore.com.

Filed under: beauty tips, skin care   |  1 Comment
Tags: Clarisonic, SkinCeuticals, SkinMedica, NeoCutis, Jurlique, Kiehl's, Neutrogena, Remergent, Revale, Sabia, iDerma, drugstore.com, recession, skin care, beauty, retinoid, Tazorac, Retin-A Micro, Differin, antioxidant, growth-factor, SPF