Drugstore Deals For Your Skin
Back in the day, the occasional dab of Clearasil was about all we’d need to keep our skin looking fresh. Skin cells turned over faster than a new shipment of Wii’s and all was right with the world.
But there comes a time in every woman’s life when she no longer recognizes the face in the mirror. And if she does recognize it, it’s that of her mother’s.
From dry skin and wrinkles to sun damage from youthful days spent slathered in baby oil, tanning in the back yard, we all too soon realize that a little dab will no longer do you.
In fact, beauty editor and author Charla Krupp, in her new book, “How Not To Look Old”, tells us that the days of slapping on moisturizer and foundation are over. She suggests five simple (and they really are simple) skin care steps for the low, or medium, maintenance woman.
We took Charla to task and tested her regimen with products readily available at our local Shoppers Drug Mart. Here’s what we found….
Step 1 – Cleanse
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A friend who works in theatre tipped us off to Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. She and her colleagues love it for gently removing makeup without drying their skin. Another friend who has sensitive skin swears it’s the only thing she can use. And at $10.49 for the 250-ml. bottle, it’s a great deal. |
Step 2 – Exfoliate
When we reach our 40s, dead skin cells hang around longer than an obnoxious guest at a New Year’s party. Exfoliating sloughs off dead cells, making your skin look fresher and younger.
As far as products go, we love Olay Regenerist’s Thermal Skin Polisher.
This stuff is hot – literally. It warms up when it comes in contact with water and feels wonderful. It’s gentle enough to use every day and it feels like you’re having a mini-spa treatment in your shower each morning. |
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Step 3 – Restore with Serums
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Serums are concentrated liquids packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients. Interestingly, there is a fair body of scientific evidence that indicates Vitamin C really does make a difference in slowing the visible signs of aging.
We’ve been testing Clarins Double Serum Generation 6 and are thrilled with the results. After using this for a month, we can report that our skin seems firmer and smoother. With the richness of oil but no oily feel, it smoothes and softens the skin. |
Step 4 – Moisturize (with sunscreen)
If you’re in the market for a new moisturizer, check out Reversa UV Anti-Wrinkle Cream. This Canadian product kept getting rave reviews in all sorts of places. Then we learned that it comes with an SPF 15 rating and contains 8% Glycolic acid, which piqued our interest even more since, according to Best Kept Secret contributor, dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki-Grant, sunscreen and products with 8% or higher Glycolic acid really do work. |
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Step 5 – Prime
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As the name implies, primer gets your face ready, or primed, for foundation. The main ingredient is silicone which smoothes over wrinkles and pores. Your skin feels as smooth as glass. Makeup glides on without settling into pores and fine lines. We love this stuff!
Two drugstore buys worth taking a look at are Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Cover FX Skinprep. |
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And in The Best Kept Secret Blog, Does She Know Who Rosa Parks Is?
Plus, check out the Open Minds Speaker Series. The February 21st event features Dr. Jane Philpott speaking about the outrageous and solvable AIDS Pandemic.
