1. $40 Manicure & Pedicure at Wynn Nails
6317 Bee Cave Rd Austin, TX 78746
(512) 329-8288
This fairly new, nicely decorated, walk-in nail salon in Westlake has great massaging pedicure chairs and a large selection of OPI and Orly nail lacquer. They also have an abundant supply of current trashy tabloids and fashion magazines. I have been going there for about three years now, and every technician I have seen has done a great job on my nails. Splurge on a “deluxe” pedicure, which includes a salt scrub and hot towel wrap in addition to the usual mint scrub and massage, for $5 more.
*Out-of-Austin tip: visit www.yelp.com to search for the best mani/pedi in your area. Look for reviews about cleanliness, product selection, service and price.

2. $10 Eyebrow Wax by Heidi at Wynn Nails
6317 Bee Cave Rd Austin, TX 78746
(512) 329-8288
I’d like to point out that I wax a fierce eyebrow myself, and am a former client of the famed Anastasia in Beverly Hills. That said, I hate doing my own brows, and I first came to Heidi in 2007 with regrettably low expectations and actual heart palpitations. Boy, was I surprised! She’s amazing. I can’t believe her expertise costs only $10. Tack it on to your mani/pedi and you’ll be hot stuff for a full three weeks. Make sure to stop your Retin-A for one week prior to any facial waxing.
*Out-of-Austin tip: Ask your girlfriends and colleagues with great brows for referrals to their brow stylists. Once you find a gem, make sure to write a www.yelp.com review to pass on your good fortune!

3. $30 Dermalogica Ultimate Facial at Avenue Five Institute
8620 Burnet Road, Suite 300 Austin, Texas 78757
(512)968-2835
www.avenuefive.com
It’s hard to believe this gorgeous space, designed by famed architect Joel Mozersky, is actually a beauty school. The high quality of products, the dark and comfortable treatment room, and the talented esthetics students would definitely suggest you’re in a high-end spa. This is a thorough and indulgent facial that will leave you glowing with the satisfaction of having saved about $100 over comparable facials in town.
*Out-of-Austin tip: visit www.avedainstitutes.com to find a quality cosmetology school in your area.

4. $12 Shampoo/Haircut/Style at Avenue Five Institute
8620 Burnet Road, Suite 300 Austin, Texas 78757
(512)968-2835
www.avenuefive.com
Yes. I said $12. Have a cosmetology student at Avenue Five give you a heavenly Kevin Murphy shampoo ritual, followed by a Vidal Sassoon precision haircut and a blowout, all under the close supervision of teachers certified by the acclaimed Sassoon Academy. In fact, make your appointment in the evening or on a Saturday with yours truly!
*Out-of-Austin tip: Once you’ve found a great school for facials, ask your esthetician to recommend a cosmetology student for your hair services.

5. Donation-Based Yoga at Black Swan
1114 W 5th St Ste 202 Austin, TX 78703
(512) 826-1887
www.blackswanyoga.com
This hot new studio is located downtown, within walking distance of Whole Foods. They have tons of classes to meet all schedules and yoga practice preferences. While the requested donation is $10-$15 per class, you are free to contribute what you can. You can also rent a mat for $2, and they have showers and beverages for patrons. Try “Sweaty Yoga,” to detoxify, heal your mind, and skinny-up for the summer.
*Out-of-Austin tip: Google “donation-based yoga” or visit www.yelp.com to find studios in your area. Also, look at your local periodicals for classes in area parks or at community centers.

6. $34 60 minute Massage by Brooke at Massage Harmony
3300 Bee Caves Road Ste 100 Westlake Hills, TX 78746
(512)306-0900
www.massageharmony.com
This recommendation is specific to Brooke at the Westlake location of Massage Harmony, which is very close to Mopac/Zilker Park. While there may be other great therapists at Massage Harmony, I struck gold with Brooke and have no desire to cheat on her. She is amazing, strong, personable and she will massage the life into you for a full 60 minutes (none of that “ten minutes to get dressed” baloney you find in some spas). Plus, after my first visit, Brooke mailed me a postcard for $5 off of my next massage!
*Out-of-Austin tip: Massage schools are another great option for supervised bodywork at very reasonable prices. Once you find a student you like, request them until they graduate, and then ask them to recommend a newer student or follow your therapist to their new job!

7. $3.95 Palladio Herbal Lipgloss (among other treasures) at Nordstrom Rack
9607 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759
(512) 651-6180
This place has become my mecca for Current/Elliot jeans, Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Alexis Bittar jewelry, and the aforementioned Palladio Herbal Lipgloss. Merchandise changes regularly, and this new outlet store is always well-stocked and well-organized. Nordstrom has a generous rewards program ($20 for every $100 spent) that includes a debit card so you don’t have to add another credit account to your shopaholic’s arsenal.
*Out-of-Austin tip: for great fashion bargains online, visit www.bluefly.com or search for Nordstrom Rack, Off Fifth (Sak’s Fifth Avenue), or Last Call (Neiman Marcus).

The term “chemical peel” is often misunderstood to mean the use of harsh, synthetic solutions on the skin. However, the peeling acids used on the face are often naturally derived. The word “chemical” differentiates from “physical” exfoliation, which involves rubbing an abrasive over the skin to remove debris and damaged tissue. Types of physical exfoliation include scrubs, microdermabrasion, and the somewhat old-school dermabrasion (a surgeon’s use of a wire brush to slough off scars, tattoos, or wrinkles while the patient is under general anesthesia). While there is certainly a place for physical exfoliation in the realm of beauty treatments, many people are not good candidates for it. If you are prone to broken capillaries, have rosacea, take certain medications, or are generally super sensitive, you’d be better off with chemical exfoliation. Chemical peels involve applying plant, sugar, and milk-derived extracts to the skin to either dissolve loose skin cells or lift layers of the epidermis away. The more complex the peel, the more significant your results will be. A chemical peel can be as simple as a home-use fruit acid cream which will gently brighten your skin for about a week at a time, or as substantial as a multi-layered blend of 5 or more acids which damage your top layers of skin and cause 3-7 days worth of “peeling.”

The former is great combined with a home-use microdermabrasion cream, and can be done as frequently as every week if your skin is resiliant. If this treatment causes prolonged redness or irritation, or broken capillaries, you should discontinue the microdermabrasion and use only the peel. A great over the counter microdermabrasion scrub is Kiehl’s Epidermal Retexturizing Microdermabrasion $40, and my friend Sara swears by Mychelle Apple Brightening Peel $31.70. Be sure to follow your home treatment with a redness-reducing moisturizer containing ceramides (which coat the skin, restoring its lipid barrier). Right now I love CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM $12.99, which contains Niacin to calm inflammation. For under $100, you can enjoy many month’s worth of weekly “micropeels,” which will slowly, gently and very effectively improve your complexion.

If you prefer pampering, or are afraid to attempt home-exfoliation, most spas offer a micropeel treatment for anywhere from $75 to $150. At a spa, a skin therapist will use a microdermabrasion machine, followed by higher concentrations of peeling acids than what you can buy at the drugstore. Therefore, you’ll need these treatments monthly instead of weekly. In Austin you can visit my friend Sarah Valentine at Mecca Spa for a Quickie with Acid $100. At my office, Westlake Dermatology in North Austin, I offer an Illuminating Facial $150, which boasts 45 minutes of cleansing, microdermabrasion, glycolic peeling, and intense hydration. It’s a wonderful results-oriented alternative to monthly deep cleansing facials.

Some of you seek more bang for your buck, however. Some of you are brave, and willing to spare no expense for a gloriously healthy and youthful complexion (Katy Keenes to my diligent readers). Some of you are battling deep wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, or brown and white spots. Some of you have had actinic keratoses, or precancerous lesions. Some of you have finally gotten acne breakouts under control, only to find postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, or dark purplish brown spots all over your now-smooth faces. And some of you have the telltale leathery skin texture of a tanning bed tanner, or the dullness and deep lines of a smoker… There is hope for you! Deep, complex, in-office chemical peels can take years off your face and restore your youthful radiance and vitality. Not only will you look better, but if sun damage is your nemesis, these treatments will slough away mutated skin cells and reduce your chances of developing skin cancer on your face. The peels you require are performed in a dermatologist’s office. I like the SkinMedica peels best. At my office, a Vitalize Peel is $150 and can be repeated every three weeks for a total of 4 treatments. The more intense Rejuvenize Peel (my current favorite) is $250. You can have 2-4 Rejuvenize peels at one month intervals, for the deepest rejuvenation available from a chemical peel. Both of these treatments cause about one week’s worth of redness, peeling, and mild irritation. They are extremely predictable peels, and once you have one, you will be able to anticipate how each subsequent peel will affect you. I generally begin to peel two days after the treatment, and continue peeling for 3-7 days. During that time, my skin is slightly pink and a bit itchy. At the end of a week, however, the results are amazing and well worth the hassle.

A bit about sun protection: yes, any type of deep exfoliation will make your skin more sensitive to burning. Children, who have yet to develop years of thickened, damaged epidermal layers, burn very easily. Your newly-exfoliated skin cells are younger, newer and delicate. If you protect your exposed skin every day with a moisturizer containing sunscreen, you will protect your investment. I love Neutrogena Healthy Defense Untinted SPF 45 $12.99 and Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30 $58, available at Sabia. If you are diligent about daily sun protection, there is no reason to avoid peels in the Summer. After you’ve applied your sunscreen, put on a big hat and channel your inner hippie.

I have a friend who owns “veteren” underwear. When he was a small town high school football star, his mom bought him Fruit of the Looms in bulk. They were his lucky skivvies, and when they become threadbare, he retired them to a “rag” drawer. My friend hasn’t tossed out a pair of tighty whities in 16 years. You might call him a Stubborn Minimalist, a guy who once used one detergent (in his case, Lava soap) for everything: personal, household, automotive… But a few Christmases ago, I presented said friend with a heavenly smelling bottle of cologne: The Art of Shaving Eau de Toilette in Sandalwood $70. Suddenly, Mr. Minimalist had two products! He enjoyed the ritual of putting on his new signature scent in the mornings or before a date. He ventured into a local apothecary on his own one day, and walked out with a bagful of Art of Shaving products. He has since become one of the better-groomed, and nicer-smelling fellas in my life.

Whether you’re like my friend Mr. M, or a fussy ablution authority, the following suggestions aim to inspire an effortless regimen.

In the Shower
Most of the guys I know have a bar of soap, and a bottle of shampoo in their showers. I know a few who keep their toothbrushes and toothpaste in there, and fewer still who shave in the shower (great idea, though). Bar of soap I like a big, triple-milled, scrubby soap like this sage scented bar from Pre de Provence $5.69. Local Austin readers can find it at Central Market. These soaps are oversized, super-exfoliating, and smell absolutely delicious. There’s no washcloth needed, as the scrubby bits should be rubbed directly into your skin. If you’re a $.99 bar soap guy, consider that this dense French bar will last you 6-8 weeks with daily use. Some nice liquid alternatives are Kiehl’s Liquid Body Cleansers $15.50, if you like a variety of scents, 365 Everyday Value Shower Gel in Citrus Grapefruit $2.99, or Dr. Bronner’s Magical Soap in Peppermint $5.99, which cleans everything from the hair on your head, to your dog/car/floors/teeth! Shampoo My hands-down, undefeated favorite shampoo for guys is Kevin Murphy Luxury Wash about $25, available at Sabia. Please don’t balk at the price tag gentlemen, this cedar-smelling bottle of lathery yumminess will last ages. You only need about a dime-sized amount for short hair, a nickel-sized for longer hair. Also, if your hair is in good condition and “virgin” (not chemically processed), you can skip the conditioner. If your scalp is oily, however, or if you fight flakes, you’ll want a more theraputic product like Aveda Scalp Benefits shampoo $13, which soothes itching with softening babassu nut oil.
Toothbrush & Toothpaste I have three favorite toothpastes. If you have sensitive teeth or are whitening your teeth with bleaching trays or whitestrips (by the way, Boys, do this), try Sensodyne IsoActive $7.99 to minimize tooth pain. For a saccharine-free, daily-use toothpaste, you can’t beat Tom’s of Main Peppermint paste $4.99, and I love the unique flavor and stylish packaging of Marvis Aquatic Mint toothpaste $10.50, also available at Sabia. While choosing a toothbrush is a very personal thing, my friend and future dentist Suzanne will tell you to buy one with ultra soft bristles. Follow your brushing with an alchohol-free mouthrinse, as the ones with alcohol can cause dry mouth (= bad breath). I like Crest ProHealth Enamel Shield.
Shaving While, I’m no expert on face-shaving, I have picked up a few tips around the dermatology office. For one thing, if your facial hair is curly, or you are prone to ingrown hairs, do not use multi-blade razors. The closer you shave kinky hair, the more likely it is to spring back below the surface of your skin and curl back in on itself. Embrace that manly scruff, I suppose! I also highly suggest starting your shave routine with a pre-treatment like The Art of Shaving Pre Shave Oil $11. Massage this into a dry face, and follow with shave cream or a frothy shave soap. If you prefer fewer products, try AESOP Moroccan Neroli Shaving Oil $32.50 instead. You’ll get a much closer, smoother shave with an oil than you will with a supermarket foam, and these products smell so good! A final tip: install a fogless shaving mirror in your shower. The shower’s steam will soften your beard, you’ll have ample rinsing water, and you might also save time.

Final Steps, or what I like to call the Fluff ‘n Fold
Once out of the shower, many guys make the two biggest grooming mistakes of all: too much cologne, and too much hair product! Start out by lightly moisturizing your skin with an oil free product containing SPF. This step will keep you looking younger by smoothing fine lines, and filtering out harmful UV rays. I love Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 $26.50. Scent I’d like to suggest cologne (eau de toilette) over aftershave, for two reasons: the scent is lighter, and the alcohol in traditional aftershaves is murder on your skin. Once you are dressed, mist one to two sprays of your scent into the air about one foot above your head. As the mist falls, stand under it. Now put the bottle down and step away until after your next shower. I promise, fellas, that’s all you will need. You’ll smell subtly sexy and clean, not desperate. My current favorite men’s colognes are YSL L’Homme $55, and Givenchy Play $71, but I’m also partial to the aforementioned Art of Shaving Sandalwood, and Kiehl’s Original Musk $38.50. Hair Styling For casual, tousled hair with a little bit of texture and shine, towel or blowdry your hair first to get all of the water out. Next, take a tiny dab of styling cream like Kevin Murphy Easy Rider $25, available at Sabia, and emulsify it in your palms (rub the product together until it looks clear and glossy). Now rake the warmed product through your hair and finger style, adding more product if necessary. Special Jon Gosselin Advisory: Absolutely do not apply gel of any kind to wet hair, and air-dry.

Perhaps the nicest result of thoughtful grooming is the way even two or three products layer to create an inexorable scent that’s thoroughly tempting. Finish up by chucking that 5 year old bottle of AXE, balling up those veteran underpants and drying off your mirror, so you can take a look at your handsome self.

There is a red lip color for everyone. This bears repeating: there is a red lip color for everyone! Red lips can convey good health, strength and sophistication, playfulness, or firey sex appeal. A sheer red balm or gloss like Lip Fusion Color Shine $38 in “Ripe” makes my best girlfriend Sara look pretty and polished. It’s the only makeup she wears. A rich matte red like TRUE pure lip color $24 in “Muse” gives my petite friend Elizabeth a powerful, high-fashion look. The right reds flatter women of all skin tones and age groups. Here’s an easy rule of thumb: swipe a little of the color onto the back of your hand and check for pinkness or an orange tone. Now, if you turn your wrist up and look at the veins along your inner arm, they’ll appear mostly blue or purple (cool skin tone) or mostly green (warm skin tone). If you have cool skin, choose pinky reds, also called “blue” reds by makeup artists. If you have warm skin, stick to orange-red or brown-based lip colors. There are also neutral reds that stay true to the color they appear in the tube, and all of us can wear them, but they are few and far between. You’ll want to be aware of the whiteness of your teeth, as a very blue (cool) red will emphasize yellow tones. Pick up a box of Crest Premium Plus Whitestrips $32 and a tube of Jemma Kidd Classic Couture Lip Color $16 in “Siren” for a sultry combination at a great price.

There are a lot of popular rules about red lipstick, most of which I feel are total hooey. For example, “Never wear red lipstick during the daytime,” or, “Emphasize your eyes or your lips, but never both.” I wholeheartedly disagree with both statements. Red lips look clean and youthful against clear, glowing skin and nothing says “cheerful” to me like great skin and a happy smile in broad daylight! And while a very precise, light-colored eye makeup application looks fresh with red lipcolor, a smoky, heavily lined eye with a sheer berry gloss can be dead sexy.

I do subscribe to the age-old advice that if you try on a lipcolor in a department store, you should wear it around for a few hours outdoors before you buy it. The fluorescent lights in said stores dull bright colors, and add unnatural greenish tones (the real reason your Makeover Specialist is wearing orange foundation!). If you buy your products in a discount or drug store, ask about their return policy. Many such stores will take back an undesired shade and exchange the item or even give you a full refund. Save your receipts!

While there’s no harm in projecting a little hooker-chic from time to time, remember there are several ways to make reds work for you, without making you look like you’re… ahem, working, wink wink.

Why Wax?
Most of us prefer some hair-removal method in our bikini region. Whether we’re trying to look groomed in a modest swimsuit, or muito sexy for our sweetheart, there are several options. I personally prefer laser hair removal, or for girls on a tighter budget, waxing. Waxing will leave your skin completely bare and smooth for 3-6 weeks and regular treatments will make your regrowth finer in time. You’ll avoid razor burn, stinky chemicals, and blunt stubble.

Why a Brazilian?
Brazil has given us Jesus Luz, Giselle Bundchen, and the world’s tiniest swimwear… ’nuff said. A Brazilian wax keeps you cooler, and looks impossibly chic. I wax and laser women for a living, and at least 90% of my clients are taking it all off. The remaining 10% are working up to it. “All of it?” you say? Mmm hmm. That’s a Brazilian, Baby.

What if I want to leave a little up top or in the middle?
Well, first I’d like to know why? Because if you wanted to shave your head, but were feeling conservative, you wouldn’t choose a mohawk instead, right? And if you’re concerned about looking “prepubescent” keep in mind that the Brazilian has become so commonplace that you’d need a magnifying glass to find a single hair among most women under 30, Hollywood starlets, New York fashionistas, or the pervasive Playmate population. Mores have changed.

So what should I expect from a Brazilian Wax? Won’t that hurt a lot?
Waxing, in general, smarts. The great thing about the Brazilian is that a proper waxing is done with a type of wax called “hard wax.” Hard wax is applied to cleansed and powdered skin and pulls off in a quick motion (which stings), without first sticking to the skin. If you have ever had your eyebrows waxed, you’ve most likely experienced “strip wax,” so-called because the waxer lays a strip of muslin or paper over the soft wax and then pulls the whole mess off. It’s stickier and takes a light layer of skin cells with it. While strip wax is great for tiny areas on the face, hard wax makes for a much more tolerable Brazilian.

You should make sure your hair will be about the length of an eyelash on your appointment day. You can achieve this by using a trimmer with a guard, or shaving completely about 3 weeks beforehand. You’ll schedule your follow-up waxes every time your hair reaches this all-important length. Fully-grown shrubbery is a nightmare to wax, and will lead to undue pain and bruising. The day before your Brazilian, exfoliate with a microdermabrasion scrub like Khiel’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. This will fluff up your hair follicles and remove and dead skin cells that could cause ingrown hairs. About 30 minutes prior to your appointment, pop 400-600 mg of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). This will help dull any discomfort and prevent redness and swelling. When you arrive at the spa, your aesthetician will probably ask you to fill out a brief questionnaire about your health history. Then you’ll be given a spa wrap to change into. I usually offer a hand towel to drape with because you will need to remove your undies. Personally, I cover all of your private areas except the few square inches I’m working on. A good aesthetician will work quickly, and about the pain… Let’s look at this logically: ladies are built to push babies through their nether region. In all honesty, waxing your innermost, undermost bikini area is less painful than waxing the areas adjacent to your hips and tummy. If your wax is unbearably painful, causes bruises, bleeding, or short broken hairs, change providers por favor. After your treatment, a wax-removal product is used to whisk away any bits of wax that have been left behind. I like Dr. Hauschka Birch Arnica Body Oil for this. You can keep some at home in case you find yourself needing a more thorough cleanup. Arnica prevents bruising, and once you’ve oiled up the area, any remaining wax will come right off in the shower. In my experience, a proper waxing with hard wax and a quick hand leaves you only slightly red. This effect calms within an hour. If you have an extreme reaction to your treatment, try a little over the counter cortisone cream for a night or two.

Finally, a word about modesty. I will never ask you to climb into an embarrassing body position to complete your treatment. If you keep up with your yoga or pilates, or are generally fit, I’ll be able to access all of your hair with a few bends of your knees. If you don’t feel comfortable with the way your waxer conducts your treatment, don’t give up on Brazil! Express your concerns at the time of the treatment (humor usually helps diffuse any tension) or tell the spa manager that you’d like to try a different aesthetician next time.

The bottom line, hee hee, is that a Brazilian wax is nothing to be afraid of. At $35-$75 a pop, it’s a good investment during the blazing hot swimwear season. Afterword, you’ll feel dishy, groomed, and muito quente… Blame it on the Bossa Nova!

Austin readers can see me for a Brazilian wax at Sabia. $60.

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.