Need advice on skin care regimen/products

[beaglette]

I guess I should start out describing my skin and current routine

I have very, very, very, very, very fair skin. I am the seriously the palest person I know. If a foundation looks white in a bottle, it is my color. The only exception to this is when my lupus flares up and then I get the infamous butterfly rash. I have normal to dry skin-- leaning more towards the dry end, I would say but not terribly dry! (Although living outside of Chicago on Lake Michigan, the winters here *do* get harsh-- was -25 below wind chill last night!) Also, I have sensitive skin and cannot handle fragrances in my cosmetics-- I am allergic. Also, I do not breakout, have no blackheads/whiteheads (knock on wood because as soon as I type this, I'll start having them!)

Here's my current regimen:

Olay microdermabrasion 1-2 times weekly

Olay Regenerist Serum, fragrance free

Olay Total effects moisturizer, fragrance free

Philosophy Purity Cleanser, for makeup removal

Aveen Daily Brightening Cleanser in the shower (mornings)

My skin care concerns are:

1. Wrinkles around my eyes.

2. Dark circles under eyes.

3. Laugh lines.

4. Hydrating skin properly.

5. Prevention of UV damage.

I would like to venture into an AHA, particularly this line:

The Original - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc.

and here's what I am considering:

The Original : Foaming Face Wash - BUY 1 - GET 1 @ 1/2 PRICE - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc. to replace Aveeno Daily Brightening Cleanser, in the shower

The Original : 10% AHA Enhanced Cream - BUY 1 - GET 1 @ 1/2 PRICE - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc. after cleansing with Purity cleanser, in the evening

The Original : Night Replenishing Cream - BUY 1 - GET 1 @ 1/2 PRICE - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc. after the above for nighttime

New Generation : Eye and Upper Lip Cream - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc. for eyes, before makeup and at night (anyone have any experience with this eye cream or can recommend and outstanding one for my crows feet!!??!!??)

My thought was to continue to use the Olay Regenerist Serum and Olay Moisturizer under my makeup.

I have also purchased some emu oil which I have used in the past and love! I would like to try this, as well:

Buy Lac-hydrin Five Moisturizing Lotion Online at drugstore.com (any experience here?)

Also, do I need a toner and why/why not?

I'm wondering where I fit all of this in and if it's overkill and, if so, what is overkill, exactly? Any suggestions for product elimination, addition, order in which to use, frequency, etc. would be MUCHO appreciated! (Also, opinions on products or substitutions too!!)

TIA!

Warmly,

Brandi

aka beaglette

 

[Dragonfly]

One of the way to protect yourself from dark circles under eyes is to use sunscreen religiously. Do the Olay products also have sunscreen?

I am a HUGE Retin A fan. The active ingredient in Retin A is Tretinoin. Several clinical studies have shown that Tertinoin not only helps acne but also reduces or even removes wrinkles. You need a doctor to prescribe Retin A so it might be worth while to make an appointment and talk to your doctor further about Retin A.

By the way, Retin A can be prescribed for both acne and cosmetic reasons.

IMO toners are only necessary for oily skin. But I have oily skin and I don't use them.

Hydrating skin - what I have heard, make sure you apply moisturizer or serum right after you wash your face, while skin is still wet. The moisturizer/serum will help look in the moisture. Don't wash/bath in hot water. Don't sit in a bath for more than 7-8 minutes. These don'ts can make your skin dehydrated.

AHA products are exfoliants. They do nothing to reduce or remove wrinkles.

They are a chemical exfoliant as oppose to a granual exfoliate that you apply to face, rub in, then rince off immediately.

I'm not knowledgeable with regard to the products you mentioned.

This is what I do:

Wash face in morning with gentle cleanser

2 x week, mix cleanser with baking soda and give my face a good scrub

Apply Retin A daily, either am or pm

- but I wait 20 minutes after washing face to apply Retin A

I use RevlonColorstay foundation and concealer - both have sunscreen.

This way, I don't need to apply any more.

And I wear my sunglasses everywhere - prevents squinting and helps protect the skin around my eyes.

Hope my thoughts help

 

[Solimar]

When it comes to a skin care regimen, I promise, simple is always the best. If you cut down on the BS, you cut down on the problems, that is what helped me and many people I know. If you want hydrated skin, you need to start by not drying out your skin further Aveeno makes a good no nonsense skincare line, but have you considered Cetaphil or Purpose cleanser? Fragrance free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, you name it. I use Cetaphil and have for years -- I would not think of using anything else...ever. You need a good moisturizer, and you can find quite a bit that do not have any fragrance and are non-comedogenic. I use Complex 15, and used a whole plethera of moisturizers before, and this was the best I could find.

As for AHA's, let me tell you right now that that is not stuff that is nice and gentle on your skin -- it exfoliates your skin, but is not exactly the stuff a person with sensitive skin should use everyday or in every product. Can AHA's help with wrinkles? YES, they can, because they can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. HOWEVER, Retinol is much more effective, and more powerful, so if you are looking into anti-aging, retinol is the way to go. I am 21, so I don't need those products, but my mom and mother-in-law are both 47, my grandma is 80, and many of my mom's friends are around 40-50, and they use "Green Cream", and when I say it seriously improved their aging issues, I mean that whole-heartedly.

You don't need a toner, but a lot of people like to use it to make sure they have all their makeup off, or for their face to feel fresher.