Posts Tagged ‘cetaphil’

In an ideal world, every woman and man would have a customized skin care routine. However, most people don’t have the time, resources or motivation to develop a skin care regimen that is specific to their individual skin care needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of product testers (like myself), who are more than happy to try out hundreds of skin care products in order to discover which brands deliver on their promise of clearer, healthier, younger looking skin.

Although my experience as a product tester allows me to try out high-end skin care products free of charge, I can’t bring myself to recommend expensive products unless they provide really amazing results. Therefore, with the exception of a few “splurge” items, the products on the following list are generally affordable and can be found at your local discount retailer or drug store.

As I mentioned earlier, the best skin care routine is one that is customized to your individual skin care needs, which means that not all of the products mentioned below are the right fit for every skin type. These products are recommended for combination skin (because that is my skin type), but because combination skin is a mixture of oily, dry and/or sensitive areas, some of the following products could be beneficial for these skin types as well.

Before you spend your hard earned cash on expensive skin care products, read the following list of affordable products that offer some pretty amazing results.

* Best cleanser: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Recommended to me by my dermatologist, Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is the best cleanser that I have found for my combination skin. It’s hypoallergenic and soap-free so it doesn’t clog pores or dry out your skin. Purpose also lathers and cleanses better than Cetaphil, another cleanser brand commonly recommended by leading dermatologists. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash also received Allure magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award in 2008.

Average retail price in 2009 for a pump bottle (6 fl. oz.): $6.29

* Best toner or astringent: Sea Breeze Fresh-Clean Astringent for Sensitive Skin

I have tried tons of expensive toners and astringents over the years and always find myself going back to Sea Breeze. I have found that the regular Sea Breeze formula can be too harsh for the areas of my skin that dry out easily, but the sensitive skin formula is just right for my combination skin. Simply apply a squirt to a cotton pad and smooth over a freshly cleansed

In an ideal world, every woman and man would have a customized skin care routine. However, most people don’t have the time, resources or motivation to develop a skin care regimen that is specific to their individual skin care needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of product testers (like myself), who are more than happy to try out hundreds of skin care products in order to discover which brands deliver on their promise of clearer, healthier, younger looking skin.

Although my experience as a product tester allows me to try out high-end skin care products free of charge, I can’t bring myself to recommend expensive products unless they provide really amazing results. Therefore, with the exception of a few “splurge” items, the products on the following list are generally affordable and can be found at your local discount retailer or drug store.

As I mentioned earlier, the best skin care routine is one that is customized to your individual skin care needs, which means that not all of the products mentioned below are the right fit for every skin type. These products are recommended for combination skin (because that is my skin type), but because combination skin is a mixture of oily, dry and/or sensitive areas, some of the following products could be beneficial for these skin types as well.

Before you spend your hard earned cash on expensive skin care products, read the following list of affordable products that offer some pretty amazing results.

* Best cleanser: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Recommended to me by my dermatologist, Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is the best cleanser that I have found for my combination skin. It’s hypoallergenic and soap-free so it doesn’t clog pores or dry out your skin. Purpose also lathers and cleanses better than Cetaphil, another cleanser brand commonly recommended by leading dermatologists. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash also received Allure magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award in 2008.

Average retail price in 2009 for a pump bottle (6 fl. oz.): $6.29

* Best toner or astringent: Sea Breeze Fresh-Clean Astringent for Sensitive Skin

I have tried tons of expensive toners and astringents over the years and always find myself going back to Sea Breeze. I have found that the regular Sea Breeze formula can be too harsh for the areas of my skin that dry out easily, but the sensitive skin formula is just right for my combination skin. Simply apply a squirt to a cotton pad and smooth over a freshly cleansed

The key to proper skin care as a teen lies in routine and consistency, as well as using the proper products. If order to see any improvement at all in your skin, you must develop a skincare ritual and stick to it every day. This routine can be broken down into three main parts: opening the pores, cleansing, and spot treatment if necessary. Various products are available for cleansing of the face as well as spot treatment of acne, with many levels of effectiveness.

Mild products are generally best for daily skin treatment: natural astringents like lemon juice or a strawberry mask can be very useful if you are concerned about absorbing artificial chemicals into your skin. Many of these treatments can be made easily at home with little effort or money required to prepare them. Although these treatments do not provide as immediate results as artificial treatments, they may be safer and more effective to use in the long run.

Alternatively, there are numerous artificial products available for skin treatment. Popular acne treatment systems like Proactiv and Clearasil use harsher chemicals like Benzoyl Peroxide and Salycic Acid as the active ingredient to get immediate results. The downside to using these harsh chemicals is that they often cause peeling and dryness of the skin, and may even contribute to further acne breakouts as the skin becomes resistant to the treatment. If you wish to use systems like these ones, you should either purchase a good facial moisturizer, such as Cetaphil, or use products with concentrations of active ingredient 5% or greater only sparingly.

In addition, there are acne care solutions that can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. Prescription Azelex is a highly effective treatment for moderate to severe acne that uses Azelaic Acid as the active ingredient. Azelex has the same type of effectiveness as Proactiv and Clearasil, without the negative side effects of dryness, peeling, and further breakouts. The downside to Azelex is that it is only available from the prescription of a dermatologist, and is fairly expensive to purchase if not covered by your insurance policy.

Over the counter acne treatments are available at a fairly reasonable price, and many can be as effective, if not more effective, than more expensive treatment systems. Stridex pads use a lower concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide and Salycic Acid (2%) that seems to be very effective in treatment of acne. In my own experience, I find that a daily ritual of cleansing with Safeguard Antibacterial Soap, use of a Stridex pad, and moisturizing with Cetaphil is the most effective skin care treatment. It is important to note, however, that everyone’s skin is different, and that this approach may not work for everyone.  

There are countless acne and skin care treatments on the market. Since everyone’s skin is different, only you can decide what works the best for you. If you have concerns about skin health or potential side effects of products, you should talk to your family physician or a licensed dermatologist. Remember that any acne regimen will require time to work properly. The best solution lies for your acne lies in establishing a skin care routine and sticking to it.

The key to proper skin care as a teen lies in routine and consistency, as well as using the proper products. If order to see any improvement at all in your skin, you must develop a skincare ritual and stick to it every day. This routine can be broken down into three main parts: opening the pores, cleansing, and spot treatment if necessary. Various products are available for cleansing of the face as well as spot treatment of acne, with many levels of effectiveness.

Mild products are generally best for daily skin treatment: natural astringents like lemon juice or a strawberry mask can be very useful if you are concerned about absorbing artificial chemicals into your skin. Many of these treatments can be made easily at home with little effort or money required to prepare them. Although these treatments do not provide as immediate results as artificial treatments, they may be safer and more effective to use in the long run.

Alternatively, there are numerous artificial products available for skin treatment. Popular acne treatment systems like Proactiv and Clearasil use harsher chemicals like Benzoyl Peroxide and Salycic Acid as the active ingredient to get immediate results. The downside to using these harsh chemicals is that they often cause peeling and dryness of the skin, and may even contribute to further acne breakouts as the skin becomes resistant to the treatment. If you wish to use systems like these ones, you should either purchase a good facial moisturizer, such as Cetaphil, or use products with concentrations of active ingredient 5% or greater only sparingly.

In addition, there are acne care solutions that can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. Prescription Azelex is a highly effective treatment for moderate to severe acne that uses Azelaic Acid as the active ingredient. Azelex has the same type of effectiveness as Proactiv and Clearasil, without the negative side effects of dryness, peeling, and further breakouts. The downside to Azelex is that it is only available from the prescription of a dermatologist, and is fairly expensive to purchase if not covered by your insurance policy.

Over the counter acne treatments are available at a fairly reasonable price, and many can be as effective, if not more effective, than more expensive treatment systems. Stridex pads use a lower concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide and Salycic Acid (2%) that seems to be very effective in treatment of acne. In my own experience, I find that a daily ritual of cleansing with Safeguard Antibacterial Soap, use of a Stridex pad, and moisturizing with Cetaphil is the most effective skin care treatment. It is important to note, however, that everyone’s skin is different, and that this approach may not work for everyone.  

There are countless acne and skin care treatments on the market. Since everyone’s skin is different, only you can decide what works the best for you. If you have concerns about skin health or potential side effects of products, you should talk to your family physician or a licensed dermatologist. Remember that any acne regimen will require time to work properly. The best solution lies for your acne lies in establishing a skin care routine and sticking to it.

In an ideal world, every woman and man would have a customized skin care routine. However, most people don’t have the time, resources or motivation to develop a skin care regimen that is specific to their individual skin care needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of product testers (like myself), who are more than happy to try out hundreds of skin care products in order to discover which brands deliver on their promise of clearer, healthier, younger looking skin.

Although my experience as a product tester allows me to try out high-end skin care products free of charge, I can’t bring myself to recommend expensive products unless they provide really amazing results. Therefore, with the exception of a few “splurge” items, the products on the following list are generally affordable and can be found at your local discount retailer or drug store.

As I mentioned earlier, the best skin care routine is one that is customized to your individual skin care needs, which means that not all of the products mentioned below are the right fit for every skin type. These products are recommended for combination skin (because that is my skin type), but because combination skin is a mixture of oily, dry and/or sensitive areas, some of the following products could be beneficial for these skin types as well.

Before you spend your hard earned cash on expensive skin care products, read the following list of affordable products that offer some pretty amazing results.

* Best cleanser: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Recommended to me by my dermatologist, Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is the best cleanser that I have found for my combination skin. It’s hypoallergenic and soap-free so it doesn’t clog pores or dry out your skin. Purpose also lathers and cleanses better than Cetaphil, another cleanser brand commonly recommended by leading dermatologists. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash also received Allure magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award in 2008.

Average retail price in 2009 for a pump bottle (6 fl. oz.): $6.29

* Best toner or astringent: Sea Breeze Fresh-Clean Astringent for Sensitive Skin

I have tried tons of expensive toners and astringents over the years and always find myself going back to Sea Breeze. I have found that the regular Sea Breeze formula can be too harsh for the areas of my skin that dry out easily, but the sensitive skin formula is just right for my combination skin. Simply apply a squirt to a cotton pad and smooth over a freshly cleansed