Here is how I look at it : though I love Cindy Crawford, she lost a lot of credibility with me when it became public that she has been seeing an international plastic surgeon or specialty dermatologist since she was 28 or 29. She’s had a lot of procedures done over the last 15 years. Though to be fair to Cindy, I don’t think that any of the procedures were surgical, but there was some really high maintenance and modern technology that wasn’t even available in the US at the time. Cindy, because of her profession, also had the foresight of preventative measures at a very young age : no sun, no tanning, moisturizing, etc. I learned all that a bit late, like many women. So I can’t take those claims very seriously.
And remember, repeating something over and over to people who are somehow vulnerable (hello, insomnia and menopause ! ), is how people are brainwashed !!! DON"T DO IT : ) Give up the infomercials !
Additionally, after lots and lots of research, even Consumer Reports finds that ROC, Olay Regenerist and Avon’s Anew are the best skincare products out there. The heftier prices don’t mean better product - and I have tried them all ( except Cindy’s). Many times the active ingredients are exactly the same.
I have done the really expensive routine and now ( just in time for the recession ) I have eased into a much cheaper and equally good -if not better - routine. I am 44 and I finally have it down ( for now ) after ALOT of experimenting.
I wear sunscreen every day : on my face, neck, and back of my hands. I use Neutrogena face cream with SPF 30. In the summer, I move to a physical block too - Blue Lizard is great or LaRoche Posay ( which is expensive ). I also moisturize year round with Clinique’s dramatically different lotion ( also expensive, but it really works for me ), the whole Clinique system didn’t work for me. The soap and toner were too drying for my jowls and cheeks. Otherwise, I am a drugstore girl - I wash with Noxema and as follows :
I use Roc retinol eye cream, Roc retinol night cream. And my biggest discovery : I used to use Murad glycolic acid and Paul Thomas Roth skin lightner on some some sunspots on my face and hand : to the tune of $100. Well, I found that Esoterica cream has the same acitve ingredient ! You can buy it at any drug store. I have been using it twice a day for about 3 weeks now, just on my sun spots and they are already fading ! And a jar costs about $7.00 and will last a life time.
I also make a sugar paste to exfoliate and in the winter I put a little olive or sweet almond oil in the mix because my jowls and cheeks get so dry.
This is what works for me - I have no idea if it will work for others. All I can say is that I get compliments on my skin - don’t know if I look my age or not, but my skin looks good and this allows me to not wear much make-up. Finally, whatever you do try, it takes a least 3-4 months, sometimes 6 months to really see if it works - and most returns are for only 30 days - except Target. They will take anything back up to 90 days. So this gives you a really good window of time to try out the drugstore brands they sell.
I would also recommend that you go to www.allure.com and see the reader’s choice awards for products. Very few are fancy or expensive and most of the respondents have been using the products for years ( unlike many magazine reviewers who try it for a couple of weeks before the article is due. )
Anyway, I am sure you are beautiful…...don’t get distracted by the hot flashes or Cindy !
