Skin Care

It's too late. Sorry.

OP, young guys in their 20s (teens, even) have a skincare regimen now. It's not enough just to use soap and water every now and then. You need to block out UV rays, scrub out pollutants, cleanse your pores, and moisturize. Everyone gets this.

Best of luck, anyway.

Well, it's good you are starting to take care of your skin but you must realize that the worst damage has already been done. You've been alive for 61 years and that's 61 years of damage from the sun. You probably got about 20+ years left of life. I would still urge you to take care of your skin but the aging effects of sun damage will probably be too much for any moisturizer to overcome.

Why bother? You've made to 61 with very few wrinkles. Keep doing what you're doing.

OP, use only honey on your face and neck for cleansing. You may also use oil before bed (rub in with fingers, then wash off with wet cloth - use olive or coconut). No soap touches your face.

For daywear, use jojoba oil for natural sunscreen of SPF 15. For days of real exposure, go to cosmeticsdatabase.com to enter in your various sunscreen brands to see how they rate in terms of cancer-causing ingredients, etc. Badger is known to be a safer brand of sunblock.

The "Regenerist" line from Olay is supposed to be good - it's also inexpensive.

Your skin is significantly thinner than it was when you were younger. You need sunscreen every day, inside or out, rain or shine. I'd go with a gentle cleanser, an eye cream, a day moisturizer, a heavier night moisturizer (or just use the day one again) and a separate sunscreen. You may also want an exfoliating scrub.

If you have very few wrinkles at 61, you have good genes, OP. Word to your mother.

Awwww, want to look good for your 60ish crush, OP?

I'm 60... I go out in the sun. I only occasionally use sun-block. I don't fry myself but I do get some sun. I go to the beach. I'd rather have a light tan than look like a cadaver. To look healthy, vital and masculine you need some sun.

You can use all the skin care products you want but if your diet is crappy you'll have crappy skin. If you eat well, you can handle a some sun.

Eat lots and lots of fresh in-season vegetables and fruit. Eat beans and whole grains: rice, barley, millet, farro. Cut out meat. Eat sardines, mackerel, salmon. No sugar. No dairy. Eat kale, black cabbage, swiss chard. Eat 2 apples a day. Learn how to sauté using water and no oil. Dress things with raw ex-virgin olive oil.

Believe me: do the above and in a couple of months people will be making comments about how great you look.

r8, Amen.

.

I've been using a blend of argan oil, baobab oil, and rose hip seed oil. It seems to do some good, though I wonder if drinking a lot of water and just moisturizing does just as much.

I know I look like death on a cracker when I'm even slightly dehydrated.

Oil of Olay products are cheap and good.

cetaphil gentle face cleanser followed by their moisturizer.

I bet R8 throws great parties.

I use NOTHING but coconut oil on my face and people simply rave about how young I look. Just slather it on.

[quote]You can use all the skin care products you want but if your diet is crappy you'll have crappy skin. If you eat well, you can handle a some sun.

Bullshit. My diet is full of bad food and I have great skin. I believe that staying out of the sun, not smoking, and having oily skin have kept my skin looking great. But I can guarantee you that the eating good food shit is a myth when it comes to good skin.

R8 has it. Inner health shows on your face, for better or worse. Genes plays a part but if you treat yourself badly it will show sooner or later. Eat what's in season locally, don't smoke, don't drink to excess - a glass of red wine with dinner is good, a bottle is bad. Red meat will age you, the carbonisation that takes place when it's cooked releases free radicals which are bad for your skin.

Free radicals? Are we talking skin care or staging a coup?

R14

LMAO a classic DL post!

For what it's worth, I'm in my 80th year. I have Old Irish skin. Smoked 2 packs a day until I was 60. Then cut back to one pack, where I am now. At around age 30, I noticed some rough scaly skin on my forehead. Dermatologist slathered some vile stuff on it and it stung and later itched for weeks.

No more of that nonsense until I was about 70. Had some pre-cancerous skin removed from arm.

Now, at 79, I have two cancerous spots on my face (basal cell) & will have surgery shortly.

If one thing doesn't get you, something else will.

My gravestone will say "He Never Understood Any Of It."

OP - skin is 95% genetic.

Do not wash your skin with anything but hot water in the shower. Do not soap. Don't even exfoliate. The more you do to your skin, the more it works to correct the imbalance. Skin might feel nice stripped of its oils, but that just makes it work that much harder to produce more oils to compensate, requiring more cleansing, etc.

A super high SPF moisturizer, daily.

Fatty meat and eggs are also good for the skin.

Good luck.

Skin is a gift.

Are you a great big fat person, OP? Lots of moisturizer.

Vitamin C powder mixed into your moisturizer.

Avocado oil. Love the stuff. Added bonus: it makes your lips really pink and healthy.

You can also rub it on your nipples to make them a rosy healthy pink.

R24, perhaps you should stipulate: If you're white.

What type skin do you have?

Botox - Seriously. No wrinkles because I don't make the expressions that cause them! Spent Thanksgiving looking at my younger brothers and I can tell a major difference!

Is your post supposed to make any sense, R27?

R16 Thanks for pointing out that many people eat badly but still have great skin. Additionally, I know very healthy people who have poor skin.

People with dryer skin tend to age more quickly according to a dermatologist I spoke to.

Scrubbing all the natural oil away or overcleansing to achieve squeaky clean skin is overkill as it disrupts the natural acid mantle of the skin.

The acid mantle is a very thin barrier on the skin that is acidic. It's a protective layer that keeps our skin moisturized and keeps bacteria out. The acid mantle is comprised primarily of the skin's natural sebum (oil our skin secretes) and sweat. This barrier protects from the elements, pollution, dust and other things that can negatively impact our skin.

Most drugstore products, even products that are considered high-end tend to dry the skin out because they strip the skin of that protective layer.

Many people who search for products tend to look for oil-free or non-comedogenic (a dubious term because it can mean anything) labeling. Rarely do you see people look for info on pH nor do most products it.

I've run into many people who improved their skin dramatically not by a magic product but by scaling back their routine and keeping it simple. Some merely use warm water on their face and their fingers and that is all. There are many people out there with acneic skin who might benefit greatly by simplifying their skincare regimen.

My own testing (I purchased pH testing strips) showed that the products I had been using were far too harsh, very alkaline with a high pH. My skin would still be dry in places, even in summer.

The skin's natural acid mantle is a pH of 5.5. Most skincare product cleansers are very alkaline with a pH well above 7 (neutral). Bacteria thrive in an alkaline environment. If you like your cleanser but it's a bit too alkaline, try to get a toner with a good pH to restore the acid mantle.

Sunscreen is important but most people are too frugal with it and don't reapply. Or some use one with SPF 60 which is unnecessary and doesn't give you greater protection. SPF 30 does not give you twice the protection of SPF 15, it's not even a 5% difference. SPF 50 is a gimmick.

We're r27's younger brothers and we have to say our older brother has absolutely no clue how ridiculous he looks with his plastic face. But we get a kick out of him, poor old fart.

I'm Caucasian, thank you very much, r25. A rosy hued Caucasian with rosy pink lips and rosy pink nips.

Tomato paste masks and pumpkin pulp masks.

[quote]Do not wash your skin with anything but hot water in the shower. Do not soap. Don't even exfoliate.

That's just ridiculous. Water your face in the shower, but use a *gentle* face cleanser. You need to exfoliate if only to get rid of dead skin cells and stimulate collagen growth. Personally, I do weekly glycolic acid peels; you can find it on Amazon. And yes: ABSOLUTELY moisturize. Personally, I clean my face every night with cold water and a Clarisonic, which really cleans up your face. I then put on Kiehl's Facial Fuel Anti-Wrinkle Cream, which works great, along with their Midnight Recovery eye serum, which leaves me with zero bags in the morning. For a daytime moisturizer I use Kiehl's Facial Fuel SPF 15, along with their Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate under my eyes, which has helped with both my sagging eyes along with my pariorbital (under the eyes wrinkles).

I refuse to do the cliche "I look ten years younger than my age" bullshit, but people generally assume I'm younger than my years. A lot of the skin stuff is generic, I'll admit (I have a moderately oily face, which helps retain elasticity, and I take Propecia (or, rather, proscar, the generic version that's 4x as strong and generally used to treat enlarged prostates but has proven to work on hair as well -- since it's generic it costs a fraction of Propecia's price. At 42 I still have a full head of hair (unlike my younger brother, who has a huge bald spot on the back of his head), and it hasn't started graying yet.

Finally, as for inexpensive products: try the Boots line at Target. They're British and a top seller in the UK, but only available in the States at Target or online. The No. 7 line is what you need - see link.

What works to get rid of dark areas under the eyes? (Short of actual makeup.)

R34 -- you'll have to use something that lightens pigment over time. Basically, bleaching, but a mild form. Some products use Vitamin C to achieve this. Actual makeup is not a bad option. A little, used right, goes a long, long way. Kiehl's has some stuff that will help.

A lot of good advice. I agree about keeping it simple, too many products confuse the skin. I also agree about good diet with a lot of vegetables and exercise and I'll add sleep and water.

I put my dad (who doesn't care about how his skin looks but was becoming overweight and pre-diabetic) on a no sugar or wheat diet and made him cut back on his long lunch cocktails. plus I got him a vitamix and made him make one big green smoothy a day cause he can't cook. His skin looks A LOT better for 73. More importantly, he's no longer pre-diabetic and his cholesteral is much better and lost a bunch of weight. I can't believe he did it but he's so proud of himself it's cute.

If you are going to use an spf, or really everyone should get their vitamin D checked. most people living above florida are low and it's important for a lot of things like cancer, bones, immune and nervous system.

If you want the theraputic effects , aim for 50-70 range. it's totally safe at high doses but the only way to tell if you are taking enough is to retest whenever you go to the doctor.

just take care of your sleep, sleep is very important for your skin, skin can be adjust itself from sleep, so just have a good sleep, and you will be have a good skin!

r6, I find that Walmart and Target's versions of the Regenerist line is just as effective as the original. And very inexpensive.

GNC makes a fantastic Vitamin C cream that is very very cheap.

Oil of Olay

The only things that REALLY work are a good sun screen and good genetics. All the rest is BS.

Read the article at the link. It's an interview with a cosmetic chemist. It's an honest look at it all. The thing that stands out for me is this:

[quote]Truthfully, any product that really works and has some form of efficacy is technically a drug and no longer a cosmetic.

If it works it is a drug and not anything Sephora or Nordstrom sell.

OP and r6, next to Regenerist on the shelf at CVS is their brand with the same ingredients as Olay and much cheaper.

[all posts by tedious troll removed.]

[all posts by tedious troll removed.]

I'd recommend Genifique serum, which retards aging at the genetic level.

This is followed by Absolue Precious Cells, which stimulates stem cell production. Both can be found at your local Lancôme counter or at the Lancôme Boutique on NYC's Upper West Side.

I'm a beautiful young man and intend to stay that way. I've been stunning since I was a boy but I feel that Lancôme is helping me attain perfection.

[quote}cetaphil gentle face cleanser followed by their moisturizer.

That's what my dermatologist recommended years ago. I have sensitive skin though. I usually get some kind of eye cream for extra help.

We sell stem cells in a bottle, too.

'I'd recommend Genifique serum, which retards aging at the genetic level'

'..while the FDA aggressively investigates pharmaceuticals and medical devices before they hit the market, requiring extensive laboratory and clinical testing to demonstrate safety and efficacy, cosmetics (including cosmeceuticals) completely escape their regulatory purview.

As long as a product’s packaging and marketing materials don’t claim to mitigate, treat, or cure disease, or otherwise affect the structure and function of the body in any way, it is considered a cosmetic and therefore relieved from its burden of proof. In essence, cosmeceutical firms have exploited a semantic loophole to create an enormously profitable subcategory of quasi-drugs that circumvent all government oversight.

In the absence of meaningful regulation, anti-aging skincare products are now overrun with unproven or controversial “active” ingredients, at times even eschewing the FDA’s language restrictions with impunity. Most major manufacturers are careful to use tempered phrasing when advertising their products, guaranteeing only to “reduce the appearance” of wrinkles and sun damage, or, vaguely, to “promote” and “boost” the production of skin-firming collagen.

Bolder products claim to reverse and correct aging by actively repairing DNA damage(...) The Federal Trade Commission, government watchdog for truth in advertising and partner to the FDA in policing health and fitness claims, has largely ignored the cosmetics industry, choosing instead to focus on the overwhelming number of fraudulent and sometimes dangerous weight loss foods and dietary supplements. When it comes to cosmeceuticals, in other words, consumers are on their own.'

RetinA, retinoids are scientifically proven in peer-reviewed research literature to treat the signs of skin ageing. Beware of the pseudo-science which markets products such as Lancome's Genefique. Most serums are mainly water, slip agents and preservatives.

Oh, Paula Begoun @R48, go back to hawking your own line of overpriced, copycat crap and leave the science of skincare to those who know how to do more than read an ingredient label and theorize how those chemicals work in concert.

You're a bigger grifter than Estee Lauder. At least Esther from Queens had R&D. You don't, do you Paula?

Jack Black makes a great skin care line for men. I use that and Retin-A every night (I worked myself up to the strongest for face- 0.1%) Cetaphil is great gentle face wash.

If you can afford it, laser skin resurfacing is fantastic. Gets rid of sun damage, fine lines, tightens and promotes collagen. As we age our collagen depletes so anything that promotes collagen is going to help your skin look more youthful.

It takes some work and you've got to stick with a program, but my dermatologist just told me I had the best skin for a 51 year old he'd ever seen.

Best of luck to you OP!

Jack Black as in the sort of fat guy from School of Rock?

R49 , you seem mighty angry at this Paula person whoever the fuck she may be, probably American, but I am not.

And you continue to buy ridiculously priced cosmetics which do little more than temporarily smooth and tauten the upper layer of the skin if that makes you happy. Cosmetic skin care is not called 'hope in a jar' for nothing. If it had any significant effect on the skin, it would have to legally be classified as a drug, and would be subjected to rigorous drug testing. It doesn't, and it isn't.

Those who are interested in scientifically researched anti-ageing will turn to retinoids and sun protection.

Older skin has less layers and is easier to injure so be cautious about exfoliating or using any other product that might irritate it. There's a fad now for not washing your face with anything but water but that's flying in the face of logic. Bacteria grows on your face just as it does on the rest of your body and you need more than water to remove it. A wash with a gentle skin cleanser every night before you go to bed is all you need. Then in the morning just before you go out, put on a moisturizer with sunscreen.

I was lucky in that I am olive complected and I used skin care products in my youth. I look my age,but my skin is still relatively wrinkle free. Its everything else that's gone to hell ! Once I hit my 40s I pretty much stopped using facial products,and for the life of me I cant imagine why a 61 year old would give a flying rats ass about something so superficial ! Unless your wealthy,your out of the game honey ! Great skin isn't going to make a whit of difference.

[quote]If it had any significant effect on the skin, it would have to legally be classified as a drug

Well, you got one thing right.

In former times, cosmetics firms had to resort to puffery to sell what were essentially just moisturizers.

However, cosmetics have advanced so much that the best companies can't legally even describe each product's benefits. According to the FDA, cosmetics, by definition, sit on the skin and do nothing. If the product makes changes to the skin structure ***and the firm mentions it in their advertising*** it can be seized as a misbranded drug and removed from the market.

As a result of this bureaucratic idiocy, cosmetics firms now are often in the unenviable position of having to downplay how efficacious their products are in order to avoid wasting millions of dollars and many years in drug testing.

Is there any point in buying a separate cleanser and exfoliator, or should I get a cleansing exfoliator instead?

They should be separate because you shouldn't be using an exfoliator every day. Too abrasive on the skin if using daily. Once a week for exfoliation.

Even if it's a gentle exfoliant this?

I hated the Pore Minimizing stuff that Neutrogena makes.

I don't know how hardy your skin is, but I (olive and oily) used to use this great Neutrogena exfoliator for years.

If you have acne-prone skin, you especially want to avoid over-doing it with any exfoliator, even the gentle ones because it's too harsh on acne-prone skin.

I use this stuff:

r50, what type of laser did you use? How many treatments? Cost? Did you have acne scars that were improved?

Cheers R60. So once or twice a week at the most, even with a gentle exfoliant?

My local store doesn't stock Boscia but they have Clarins. Will this cleanser do the trick?

BTW, what's the deal with toners? I get cleansers, exfoliators, moisteners, tanning lotions and suncreen, but what am I missing out by not using a toner?

HSN and QVC have skin care stuff on the TV. Hollywood starlets are their clientele, allegedely.

L'Oréal Youth Code is identical to Lancôme Génifique.

.

R62, unfortunately, there's no cookie cutter solution for everyone. Clarins is a good product. It's trial and error. If you have severe acne, nothing otc will be enough.

Toner isn't a must. Some swear by it, others think it's unnecessary. I use it on occasion.

I have rosacea so I really have to be careful. I just stopped using Accutane so my skin is really dry and prone to sunburn,

I like Cera V as a base sunblock on my face and wash it with either olive oil soap or Cetaphil. At night I GOOP it up with Aquaphor just to lock the moisture in. Coconut oil at night is nice too.

Another idea for facial sunblock is the Badger brand stick. It's just zinc and olive oil and it doesn't run into your eyes. This is good stuff if you exercise outdoors!

r58 Im using that now because I have seborrheic dermatitis and that is the only exfoliator with salicylic acid that does not aggravate the condition.

SD is a huge pain in the ass. I exited my acne years in my early 20s, and shortly after got my first flare up of seborrheic dermatitis on my dick. Looking back, I almost wish it was an STD, considering the small fortune I have spent on skincare products for dealing with SD in its many forms.

Creme de la Mer it's wonderful. After a certain age, you have to be willing to make an investment in your skin care.

The product was originally developed by Max Huber who was a physicist for NASA to treat his severe chemical burns which he sustained in an accidental explosion during an experiment. Dr. Huber sold and marketed this product himself. After his death, his daughter continued selling the cream until Estée Lauder purchased the rights to manufacture and distribute it.

Estee Lauder has expanded the product line but the original moisturizing cream is the best. It's expensive, about $160 an ounce but it goes a long way, and I can usually make an ounce last from four to six months. You can buy small sample sizes on eBay for $10 - $15. If you just rub it between your fingers, you'll immediately realize that it's the lightest, most non-greasy moisturizer you've ever felt.

I'm curious if OP is still reading this old thread and what worked for him.

Though I agree with R45 that Lancôme is [italic]sans pareil[/italic] I'm going to try a light Clinique product this summer. Heavy crèmes melt off my face in the summer heat so my friend convinced me to try Clinique's Moisture Surge.

I tried their "heavier" version today--MS Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator--and so far, so good. It's oil-free though it feels richer than the standard Moisture Surge. It's certainly much less expensive than most Lancôme products. I'll post later in summer to report on the results.

Since I don't know your skin type, it's hard to give a recommendation.

Judging from your age, I would say keep on using SPF, keep moisturizing, I would suggest something aloe vera based. If your skin is really dry I would suggest also using natural oils such as avocado, grape seed, olive, or almond.

Exfoliate your skin gently and not too often.

I don't know your budget, but if you can afford it I would suggest seeing an esthetician and getting LED treatment or some type of galvanic/ultrasonic treatment.

Good for your for maintaining your skin. Best of luck.

Oh and also,avoid any products with Sodium Laureth/Laural Sulfate in it, or alcohol in it.

Sleep, drink lots of water, eat healthy food and exercise daily. Avoid spirits and fags.

If you do the above you can get away by using Nivea products.

This skin-care kit is available at a site that sells Brazilian health and beauty products. It consists of two drugstore skin creams; using them together as a "cocktail" was supposedly first recommended by Ivo Pitanguy, Brazil's godfather of plastic surgery.

Bepantol (dexpanthenol) is a all-purpose cream used to heal sunburns, cuts, and scrapes; Hipoglos is a diaper-rash cream made with retinol, almond oil, cod liver oil, and vitamin D.

I've just started using them together with Retin-A, and my skin feels amazing -- soft as a baby's butt.

Unless you have a latex allergy, raw shea butter. Get an old facecloth and mild soap, wash your face then dab on some raw shea butter. It never looks oily but will give you an incredible glow. I use the Vermont Soap one and I like their soap, too. I'm also a vegetarian so that might help with my having good skin, too.

R75 You want an old, rough cloth because that provides gentle exfoliation.

[quote] I don't fry myself but I do get some sun. I go to the beach. I'd rather [bold]sustain a low-intensity radiation burn that will permanently damage my skin[/bold] than look like a cadaver.

Fixed it for you.

Baby got a skin tape session!

The "magic" ingredient in Creme de la Mer is biofermented sea kelp. The rest is an old 70's moisturizer formula that is very similar to German Nivea in a tin, at least according to people who had it analyzed.

CeraVe...over-the-counter, word from my dermatologist.

[quote]The "magic" ingredient in Creme de la Mer is biofermented sea kelp. The rest is an old 70's moisturizer formula that is very similar to German Nivea in a tin, at least according to people who had it analyzed.

Yep, you can make your own La Mer with German-formula Nivea and sea kelp bioferment from a source such as SkinActives.

I miss Mr. F and his skincare tips.

Has anybody tried Lotion P50 by Biologique Recherche? It's an exfoliating toner that some beauty bloggers have called "the best skincare product ever made" and "Jesus in a bottle."

me no like n atu r al

"I'm Caucasian, thank you very much, [R25]. A rosy hued Caucasian with rosy pink lips and rosy pink nips."

EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWW...

This product contains something called "human fibroblast conditioned media," a growth factor obtained from the cells of -- wait for it -- the foreskins of circumcised newborn boys.

There needs to be a thread about skin care products for men over 40.

This is a great all-purpose moisturizer.

I caution against using a physical exfoliant like a scrub. They can cause small tears in the skin and bacteria can get in that way causing blemishes. I learned this the hard way. I suggest using a chemical exfoliant. My favorite is the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta pads. However, there are great ones at all price points. These particular pads work best for me and my acne prone skin.

A very, very light application of emu oil.

"As we grow older our skin thins and loses elasticity. For already fragile skin around the eyes this translates to lines, puffiness and dark under-eye circles. Emu oil is made for this challenge. It penetrates deep into underlying tissue to deliver bio-nutrients which enhance the generation of new skin cells making skin thicker and stronger. Clinical studies indicated Emu Oil thickened skin an average of 14% when applied twice a day over a two week period. Some members of the study saw a 33% increase. A plumper, more elastic skin layer can better support both the blood system, bringing in more oxygen and nutrients; and the lymphatic system, draining away toxins and waste. Your eyes will show you the difference very quickly. "

Stand back, girls, I handle this. OP, you are in luck. I've decades of experience with skin and can get you in top shape in a hurry. First, congrats to you, for taking the first step to saving your hide! Literally!

All you need is a quart of 30, not 40, not 35, weight motor oil to slather on your skin right before you go to bed. Then take a sheet of aluminum foil--aluminium to the Brits--and press against your oiled skin as you lie on your pillow. As you sleep, the aluminum retains the heat that builds up between the oil and your face. Wrinkles and imperfections will slowly burn off. Within 120 days your skin will look as dewey and soft as a 48-year old.

Good Luck!

A couple of months on R8 diet plan and I would kill myself. With crap food like that why bother living.

As I mentioned upthread, I'd recommend Advanced Génifique serum, which retards aging at the genetic level.

This is followed by Absolue Precious Cells, which stimulates stem cell production. Both can be found at your local Lancôme counter or at the Lancôme Boutique on NYC's Upper West Side.

I'm a beautiful young man and intend to stay that way. I've been stunning since I was a boy but I feel that Lancôme is helping me attain perfection.

Use the same oil cleansing method as Cleopatra. . Just buy pure food grade nut oil at a health food store near you, water, and a wash cloth. It works, Don't buy cheap, chemical crap from China.

Lancôme is French, not Chinese.

R90 : I love you. The Emu is my arch-nemisis in any petting zoo or hillbilly farm. I fucking HATE prehistoric birds. I'm delighted to know that they can be used to fuel the mineral and nutritional content of my moisturizers. *warm fuzzy feelings*

Side note : Whoever says "crèmes" or types it should be publicly flogged. It's fucking CREEEEEEEAM because we're speaking ENNNNNNNNGlish, you pretentious diminutive twatbag.

Asian skincare products are the latest rage, in particular Japanese sunscreens.

Excellent advice. I hear an avocado scrub does a lot of good.

Avocado oil is great

I think I won the genetic lottery, my skin looks really good for my age. My partner and I are both the same age, but I get all the complements from strangers about not looking my age. All I do is wash with soap and water or whatever liquid soap is in the shower, and exfoliate once or twice a month, that's it. My partner has a whole shelf of expensive cosmetics, wrinkle creams, moisturizes, face masks etc and his skin is starting to look like shit. (shhh, you only heard it here) He is white, Irish/English decent, I am southern Italian decent. I had oily skin growing up I had to wash my face 3 times a day to look normal, so my guess is that is really what kept me in good shape now that I am much older.

Most Asian skin care products are sketchy. Only the South Korean have known, lasting benefits.

R100 FTW - it's all genetics. My cousin has great skin and looks much younger than 55. He tans regularly and his skin care regimen is pretty much limited to drug store moisturizer (Nivea, Neutragena) that his wife buys for him. But I asked and he washes his face with whatever bar soap is in the shower. He always looked young for his age though-- I've seen photos of him when he was 25 and he looked like a teenager.

All those expensive potions DLers use are placebos-- it's all in your head, but if it makes you feel better, great.

Diet obviously helps too, especially drinking enough water. But that helps a lot more than just your skin.

what about ceraVe? I am using this now and i like it and it's not too expensive, can be found in cvs.

Skin Care is what you should think about at 20. At 60+, the cervical facelift would be the option but easy on the pull. You don't want to look like Jean-Claude Jitrois.

The higher end of the beauty industry fascinates me in that they've done such an amazing job of marketing these products so as to justify their price.

I was in Aveda the other day and the saleswoman was trying to talk me into some new shampoo and conditioner they had that thickened hair and "prevented hair loss." How much? Over $120 for a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner. and some "treatment" - a "3-step process"

I just laughed. Nothing from Aveda is going to prevent hair loss, but lots of guys will spend $100 on the myth.

Similar vein-- there is some very high end brand of skin care products that has stores in the international lounges of airports. They hand out samples and then try and lure you in to let one of their "technicians" seal the deal. Being jet lagged and buzzed on day, I gave in and allowed the "technician" to apply some sort of anti-aging eye cream that reduced puffiness. He assured me that Anderson Cooper used it. While my eyes were definitely puffy from lack of sleep, I really did not see a noticeable difference and the cream sort of stung my eye. Again, how much? $400 for three tiny jars -- I think one was for morning, one for night and I forget what the third was for.

I laughed again.

(Cannot remember the name of the company expect that it is a couple of words strung together like LoveMySkin = I am sure some DLers will know.)

Here's a thought - I recently bought a pot of Reviva 5% glycolic acid, soon to purchase the 10% version, on www.iherb.com. Very inexpensive, and I am having great results! It is clearing up decade-old blackheads on my nose that years of Retin-A did not budge. I also bought Nature's Way Hydroplenish serum, which is 88% hyaluronic acid from them. The jury is still out on that one.

For R93:

[quote] The bigger issue when talking about treating symptoms or effectiveness in product use has to do with drugs versus cosmetics. The FDA plays a big role in making that call; they define a drug as a substance that claims to diagnose, prevent or treat a disease, or alleges to affect the structure of your body. When you start talking about products that clear up acne, prevent wrinkles or lighten your skin, you’re potentially crossing the regulatory line that separates you making a cosmetic from you making a drug. At that point, it gets a bit hairy because you’re no longer making a product that you can sell anywhere.

Complete article at link (Interview with a Cosmetic Chemist. The bottom line is cosmetics, by law, can NOT change your skin at a cellular level. If it did it would then become a drug.

R93 - you may have beautiful skin but you don't seem too bright. An OTC skin product that works on a genetic level and another that stimulates stem cell production?

Rosehip seed oil

[quote]What about CeraVe? I am using this now and i like it and it's not too expensive, can be found in cvs.

CeraVe is good stuff. I use the cream in the big tub for my face and body. Dermatologists recommend CeraVe for people with eczema and sensitive skin, but it can also cause breakouts if you're prone to acne.

The SkincareAddiction and AsianBeauty subreddits have a lot of good info.

You either have good skin or you don't. You either smoke and drink too much or you don't, you are either out in the sun too much or you aren't. A little oil of olay is really all you need. If you have bad skin, maybe a dermatologist could help?

Hey guys, what about those placenta pills and collagen pills? do those work?

Today I learned on a BBS elsewhere that the head of Olay said "all one needs are Vitamins A, C, E, and glycerin" in a product, whether priced at $5 or $500, for it to work. Someone in the same BBS topic suggested retinoltreatment.com and when my skincare products run out I'm going to try some of these. Product line is unisex, although some products have fragrance.

There is no cookie-cutter skincare routine.

R114, I don't agree with so-called experts who say the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff are the same because I've used the drug store products and I've used the high-end ones and I've always gotten the best results with the latter.

Drink plenty of water.

Yes. R83 , Biologique Recherche's P50 is awesome. BR products are hard to find and somewhat pricey. Since they use yeast and seaweed, their products can smell quite funny.

r113, do not waste your money on a product that is actually labeled "collagen". It won't do anything. If you want to increase collagen, take the building blocks that form it, certain amino acids, vitamin c, silica.

Here's another tip - Botox works on wrinkles in a way that skincare doesn't. You don't have to make your face a frozen mask. You can just use a little and stretch out the time between renewals. It can obliterate corrugator and eleven lines if you have them and prevent them from forming or deepening. Also, for both men and women, bio-HRT works to keep you young. However, there is an increased risk of prostate cancer with bio-testosterone.

Paula Begoun, who usually reads to filth products other than her own, raves about this $12 after-shave serum from Dollar Shave Club.

How about the theory that Preparation H is good for under eye bags? I've read a few models say that they use it for that purpose supposedly because it's an anti-inflammatory.

What's the best skin care product for men over 40?

R122...here ya go: clean diet with minimal refined carbs, lots of mineral water, no smoking or alcohol. Take nutrients that nourish your skin. Sunscreen 365/365; gentle moisturiser eg Avène, alternate nightly use of retinoic acid, AHA and BHA, vit C serum in daytime.

La Mer is a scam - a scheme invented in 1991 by Pamela Baxter, who was an executive at Estee Lauder at the time. There never was a Max Huber who worked at NASA, but Pamela didn't anticipate that the newly-emerging internet would allow easy fact-checking.

r121- it has to be the Canadian Prep H- it has the yeast compounds (biodyne) that shrink swelling.

More on Dr. Huber and La Mer -

[quote]The bottom line is cosmetics, by law, can NOT change your skin at a cellular level. If it did it would then become a drug.

Wrong. A cosmetic can make changes in the skin that would qualify it as a drug. The manufacturer simply cannot acknowledge this efficacy in advertising or promotional materials.

As long as the ingredients in a cosmetic are generally recognized as safe, the FDA couldn't care less what's in it unless there are complaints about side effects. If however the manufacturer adverises that the cosmetic is capable of making changes in the skin that would qualify it as a drug, the FDA will insist on one of two things: The company submits a new drug application and the product undergoes lengthy and expensive clinical trials; or, the advertising is changed to eliminate the problematic claims.

In practice, the FDA only demands changes in advertising claims not in product formulation.

From R126's article:

[quote]The superlight, silky lotion features tiny gel-encapsulated moisture spheres; upon application, the gel dissolves, transporting the vital ingredients deep within the skin, where they deliver plumping, smoothing, and hydrating benefits.

Everything old is new again, I guess. Lancôme introduced this delivery system in their Niosôme treatment back in 1986, a full 30 years ago.

Make-your-own-La Mer kit:

Tea tree soap and an almond-oil based moisturizer have been godsends, because my face can be zitty and oily in the summer.

The best tea tree is Dr. Bronner's. It smells a little strange but it doesn't linger and it works well as a deodorant soap too.

If you work outdoors or run, the Badger face stick sunscreen is amazing.

Very cool, R128.

Some great advice here, thanks!

Do you actually use these skinactives products? How come a 20% vitamin c serum is so cheap? On the MUAC site, it's around $44.

SkinActives is good stuff. My favorite product of theirs is the Every Lipid Serum -- great for counteracting dryness from Retin-A, plus it's a great shaving oil.

I've never heard of SinActives.

On a slight tangent, are the bulk powders on Amazon legit? I think it's called Bulk Supplements? A lot of that can be used in DIY skin care.

I would be careful buying cosmetics or skincare on Amazon, unless it's from a large vendor. A lot of what they sell, and most of what private people sell on Ebay, is counterfeit from China.

[quote]Here's a thought - I recently bought a pot of Reviva 5% glycolic acid, soon to purchase the 10% version, on www.iherb.com. Very inexpensive, and I am having great results! It is clearing up decade-old blackheads on my nose that years of Retin-A did not budge. I also bought Nature's Way Hydroplenish serum, which is 88% hyaluronic acid from them. The jury is still out on that one.

Curious about Nature's Way Hydroplenish serum. Let us know how it works, or not.

I have had some good results with Reviva 5% glycolic acid as well. Not sure I want to jump to 10%, though.

[italic]Do you want Marie Antoinette's beauty secrets? Here they are:[/italic]

Marie Antoinette...each morning, cleansed her face with Eau Cosmétique de Pigeon (yes, it was really made with pigeons!). The Toilette Of Health, Beauty, And Fashion shared the recipe, first used by Danish women, with their readers:

“Take juice of water-lilies, of melons, of cucumbers, of lemons, each one ounce; briony, wild succory, lily-flowers, borage, beans, of each a handful: eight pigeons stewed. Put the whole mixture into an alembic, adding four ounces of lump sugar, well pounded, one drachma of borax, the same quantity of camphor, the crumb of three French rolls, and a pint of white wine. When the whole has remained in digestion for seventeen or eighteen days, proceed to distillation, and you will obtain pigeon-water, which is such an improvement of the complexion.”

After cleansing her skin, she would apply Eau des Charmes, an astringent, and finally, Eau d’Ange, a whitener. To keep her hands soft, the Queen slept wearing gloves infused with sweet almond oil, rose water, and wax.

Unlike most people at Versailles she bathed frequently, but always wearing a flannel chemise to protect her modesty. Once in the bathtub, she would wash herself with a scented (bergamot, amber and herbs) soap, exfoliated her skin with muslin pads filled with bran, all the while sitting on a large pad filled with pine nuts, linseed, and sweet almonds.

r8 I bet your skin is beautiful. Do you also wear a too small coral colored bikini on that scrawny overly tanned body?

R138 Since there are no photographs of Marie Antoinette, does anyone know if the beauty treatments worked?

Well, you certainly took your time, OP.

Perricone m.d.

Can anyone recommend a brand of Vitamin D that actually proved to raise your levels?

Collagen supplements - yea or nay?

I have heard conflicting reports on whether they are effective, or if the body even absorbs them.

On one of the previous skin care threads, someone recommended Cerave Facial Moisturing Lotion. Tried both the AM and PM and am amazed at the results. The enlarged pores on my nose are gone, my skin tone is more even and freshened. Excellent value and results for the price.

Hi R137, I moved on to the 10% glycolic acid and it is working fine, no stinging or redness. But ymmv, it depends how resilient your skin is. I actually found the HA to be drying instead of moisturising, and I have stopped using it.

Alpha skincare glycolic serum is great.

MUAC makes a product that is 50% HA/ 15% Glycolic mix. Has anyone tried this?

OP: Please give us an update. Which of these tips worked? How many did you try? Are you happier with your skin now?

R146 Instead of hyaluronic acid, it's best to use the low molecular weight buffered version, sodium hyaluronate. It's found in L'Oréal Youth Code Serum Intense, Lancôme Génifique, as well as Lauder's Night Repair.

R142 Beware of Perricone products which contain DMAE which actually kills skin cells.

More info on toxic chemicals in Perricone products.

I thought products labeled "hyaluronic acid" were all sodium hyaluronate?

What is the DL opinion on using facial oils instead of a moisturizer? Does anyone use argan oil?

The first sentence of the OP's post is the funniest thing I've read in a while.

They say most of your sun damage is before age 13 so you're either fucked or good to go, OP.

LOL OP you're at the age where you don't have to give a shit anymore. Enjoy it. You're never going to have another prom date.

I absolutely LOVE Skinn!!!!!!!!

You can also buy it on Evine. There are some great deals there.

I've heard there are collagen smoothies. Which one is the best?

Pomegranate oil is the new rage.

Attn Clarisonic hos - is it worth it to buy the new model? I still have the original one which works pretty well and still holds a charge.

BUMP

Any DL opinions on Mario Badescu products? specially the glycolic cleanser?

A good, lower concentration glycolic acid pad/serum will work wonders if used on a daily basis.

I like The Ordinary product line. Super cheap and it has all the active ingredients I want. My fave is the vitamin C cream (which is far superior to my diy attempts).

What is the best skin care product for men in their 40's and 50's?

Raw local honey (not clear/filtered kind), used as a cleanser at night (take off with a soft cloth or tee).

It will diminish pores, antibacterialise & smooth/soften skin. Also stops redness/soreness from any acne.

[quote]What is the DL opinion on using facial oils instead of a moisturizer? Does anyone use argan oil?

I cleanse with oil(s) at night and moisturize afterwards with jojoba oil. My skin loves it.

Nivea Skin Firming and Smoothing Concentrated Serum is getting quite a bit of buzz on YouTube. It's marketed as a body-care product that reduces the appearance of cellulite, flabby inner arms, etc., but evidently it works well on the face too.

I'm about to turn 35, and I notice that I have a couple fine lines under my eyes when I wake up (nowhere else, thankfully). They fade after an hour. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from turning into actual fine lines? They say the eyes are the first area to age, so maybe this is just the beginning of the end. Do I just accept it and move on? Laser them away?

I think I was in some kind of delusion, believing I would never develop any signs of aging. At least until these temporary fine lines showed up.

Collagen supplements. Helps thinning skin, gives back some elasticity. Only thing that has made a difference for me.

The problem with collagen supplements is general lack of absorption as well as a lot of shitty brands.

R167 Collagen supplements for fine lines? Or is that just general advice for everyone in the thread? I read the article you linked, and there doesn't seem to be much evidence to support what you're saying.

I was thinking that some kind of topical would be best for promoting collagen growth in the skin. Is lack of collagen/elastin what creates fine lines?

R169 - "Is lack of collagen/elastin what creates fine lines?"

That's what I believe.

Against a lot of conventional wisdom, I've added more fat and protein to my diet (mostly through animal products), and my skin looks more youthful than when I was a low fat vegan. I avoid sugar, flour, and fried foods. I believe that they cause inflammation and blotchy skin. But maybe different things work for different people. I've never had good results from moisturizers. They seem to plump out the skin temporarily. But I like to let my skin breathe without anything on it. And have a little bit of sun (not too much, definitely not to the point of sunburn.) And I try to keep my face relaxed and not hold wrinkled expressions. I catch myself when I wrinkle my forehead.

Above all, restful sleep every night. A bad night's sleep and I wake up looking five years older. And drinking disrupts sleep, and can also make you look like crap the next day. So I try to limit drinking to just a few glasses of beer or wine on the weekend. I should cut down on coffee too, but I love it.

Boraxo

R166, accept it and move on.

I see "Timeless" skincare is recommended here a lot. I had tried their Hyaluronic acid serum but it seems quite watery compared to others. Is this brand legit?

Collagen smoothies?? I bought a tub from Whole Foods but am too grossed out to use it.

Just don't do what I did.

A gentle cleanser, prescription retinol (Musely, etc), vitamin c (a good one like Cellex c, which actually gets to your skin) and a daytime moisturizing sunblock. Everything else will drain your wallet with nothing to show.

Unless you have great genetics, NONE of the over the counter stuff will work. Period.

Get your doctor to you prescribe Retine-A, the only FDA proven treatment to reduce wrinkle. Everything over the counter is just snake oil. But you DO need to use a moisturizer/sunscreen - so look for a good product to slather on your face when you leave the house.

For hair loss, again the only thing that the FDA has approved is Propecia which is about $40 to $60 a month which is expensive. However, the active ingredient which prevents hair loss is Finisteride a generic pill and i get it for $4 a month with a Rx.

I’m on both and have had great results. Good luck to you.

Finisteride all the way and also Rogain is now generic and you can get a 6 month supply from Costco or Amazon for about $30. It won’t bring your hair back but if you’re starting to see a tiny bald spot on the top of your head, it will creat hair akin to pubic hair (eck) but it will fill in that small spot and hide it. Almost like the 1970’s “hair in a can”, the bald spot will disappear because there’s a tiny short layer of hair but you will not become Samson with just Rogain. Again you need to get on Finisteride.

I’m very happy with my results using both. I’m 57 and have a lion’s mane of hair due to this regimen. BTW, my husband is 10 years younger than me and when we first started dating he was balding fast (it runs in his family) i told him to get on Finisteride tout suite and within a few months he was amazed how much his hair line changed. He now has thin but full hairline. When we look at photos pre-Finisteride, it is shocking how much older he looked back then.

If you are a woman do not take finasteride.