Avoid the Hype -- REAL Skin Care

I've studied skincare products now for more than twenty years. 98% of
skincare products is unadulterated hype and b.s. And I now see why the
number of skincare lines have multiplied. Where else can you charge
$100 for something worth about $5? The actual ingredients are worth
even less.

SUGGESTION: Follow this simple, inexpensive strategy:

1. Wash skin with a good toilet "soap," which is actually a
"detergent," such as Dove, Lever 2000, Olay bars. Nothing works
better, and clean skin is essential to healthy skin. All of these
great cleansers can be bought in bulk at Costco for very little.

2. Tone skin with cotton (no substitute) and witch hazel. The
smell isn't great, but it's the best astringent toner on the market.
This step isn't necessary if you don't use makeup. REAL cotton
actually works and costs more than the synthetic stuff. Buy a roll of
cotton (about $5), and tear off what you need. 16 oz. of witch hazel
retails for less than $5.

3. Exfoliate: (a) mechanically, with scrubs, or (b) chemically,
with alpha hydroxy acids. Nivea's Scrub for Men is great for both
genders M.D. Forte's Glycare Perfection Gel 15% is one of the best
AHA. Both are simple, yet effective, products. The Nivea product is
about $4; the M.D. Forte is about $15. It can be purchased on the web
at: http://www.medi-spastore.com/

4. Apply a SPF 15 sunscreen, or higher SPF if very sensitive to
sun, every morning, including one's ears and neck. Gels are better
than lotions for men, youthful, and acne-prone skin. Apply generously.
There's a company who touts large 24 oz. bottles of SPF 15 in several
different forms for less than $6. It works great.

5. Moisturize according to skin type: (a) for most complexions
Dove Moisturizers are about as perfect as it gets; (b) for extremely
dry skin only, try Moisturel, Curel, Eucerin, or DML. If acne-prone or
oily skinned, use Neutrogena Clear Pore Treatment at night, and do NOT
moisturize during the day. Dove products are about $6. Ditto the
Neutrogena product. The others about twice the price, but come in much
larger packaging.

MYTHS

1 The more ingredients the better; WRONG

2 The more it costs the better it works: WRONG

3 Herbs and botanical extracts help; WRONG

4 Topical use of Vitamins helps: WRONG


QUESTIONABLE INGREDIENTS

IF one has extremely dry skin, THEN and only then, use products that
contain (i) mineral oil, (2) petrolatum, and (3) lanolin. Otherwise,
AVOID these ingredients at ALL cost. They're highly comedogenic (cause
acne and keratosis), including white and black heads. But for really
dry skin, products containing these ingredients works best.

AVOID fragrances and topical herbal extracts and topical vitamins

Squalene is NOT Squalane. One letter makes a BIG difference. The first
is fish oil, actually salmon oil, which is extraordinarily similar to
sebum, the natural oils of the skin itself. The latter is a cosmetic
JOKE of different vitamins. The first DOES have therapeutic
properties; the latter does not.

Squalene is exceptionally beneficial to non-acne-prone skins. It's a
key ingredient in a Clarins' product that sells for over $50 for less
than quarter-an-ounce. You can buy Squalene in most health food stores
in capsule form, often a hundred capsules for about $15. Pierce the
capsule, and apply the oil to dampened skin BEFORE moisturizing.

Talc is a widely-used ingredient. Men especially, but women also,
detest the "shiny face" syndrome. Solve it easily: Shake talc onto a
large cosmetic brush, and lightly brush over skin. Instant "matte"
finish. Pinaud, a man's talc, actually makes a "skin colored" talc
that works great. About $4 for 16 oz.

CLEANSE - EXFOLIATE - PROTECT - MOISTURIZE all for pennies on the
dollar


D. Stephen Heersink
San Francisco