Course Offering: Anti-wrinkle Creams 101May 29 '01 (Updated Jul 29 '01) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Educate yourself. The sun is not your friend.
Listen up and save [your] face (not to mention a bit of cash). Why try to take action after the damage is done when you can take such an unbelievably easy measure to avoid wrinkling in the first place? The single most important thing you can do for yourself to avoid wrinkles is to religiously slather on a broad spectrum (one that provides UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen product with one of the following active ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or Parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone). Whichever you choose, be certain it provides an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Anything less is simply not adequate. There's new information available on sunscreens and which ingredients provide adequate protection and much of this information has only come to light within the last 2 to 3 years. Now, quite a few companies make inexpensive options for you to consider. Here are a few to try: Olay Complete - A good, rather sheer, in-part zinc oxide formula. Try the cream version if your skin is more on the dry side. Two sizes available for the lotion: 4 ounces (about $6) and 6 ounces (about $9). Basis - Face the Day Lotion SPF 15: Another in-part zinc oxide formula, but personally, I can't get past the smell. Under $7 for 4 ounces in most drugstores. **And for those of you out there who simply love to spend more money than you need to, here are two you can find in just about any department store: Daywear SPF 15 - Estee Lauder: About $40 for 1.7 ounces!!! Light gel-cream consistency with an in-part titanium dioxide formula. Clinique Sun-Care, SPF 30 for the Face: About $14.50 for 1.7 ounces, with an in-part titanium dioxide formula. NOTE: The processing of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have come a long, long way. These naturally occurring earth minerals are now micronized by most cosmetic companies so they go on very sheer. This advance is excellent news to people of color and anyone else looking to avoid that pastey, ghost-like appearance you'd get from sunscreens of yesteryear. Don't be stingy with your application because to get the protection listed on the product's packaging, you'll need to apply one full ounce of sunscreen from head to toe. That's enough product to fill a shot glass. "How much did he just say?" One FULL ounce. This is exactly why you shouldn't (and don't need to) spend a lot of money. If you do, you're less likely to apply an adequate amount. Let's do the math together. We'll use Lauder's Daywear from above as an example. If you applied enough to get the protection you should from head to toe, a single jar of Daywear wouldn't even last you two days. Of course, this example is an extreme one (this product is marketed for facial use only), but all things considered, will you use what you should when this stuff costs $23.53 an ounce?! It's my guess that you wouldn't. But hey, if you decide you don't want to use a good sunscreen, that's cool too. Just start looking for a good plastic surgeon 'cause you're sure gonna need one. That's the only real way to rid yourself of your wrinkles. -Kamal **If you think your skin knows or cares how much you paid for all that pretty packaging, drop me an email. I've got some super-cheap swamp land in Florida that I've been trying to unload and you may be interested in taking it off my hands... P.S. You ever notice how companies always use the tag line..."reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles..."? Ummmm, hello? Any moisturizer can do this. It's exactly this sort of carefully worded mumbo-jumbo that leads you to believe their product is something special when, chances are, it's really not.  |
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