My skin care strategy is:
Sunscreen/Moisturizer
Drink lots of water
Vitamins (E and specific ones to hair and nails)
Sushi
Sleep
And for existing lines I use Hydroderm. It’s advertised all over the internet, but you can also get it at GNC. It’s great stuff.
Well, if you have good insurance now, and any sort of drug plan I would. While you can get all of the products I’ve described over the counter in Canada, I think in the US a lot of them have to come from the Dr. Personally, I would probably ask about the Neostrata line. Their line for normal skin comes with a cleanser and a moistrizer that has between 4% and 10% glycolic acid, buffered at 3.5pH - it makes your skin look and feel really fresh and soft. It will help minimize fine lines, help fade some lighter age spots, and can be tolerated by most skin types.
Additionally, if you’re not super sensitve, Retin-A has made a huge difference to my skin. I actually use an SPF 60 everyday, so I have really minimal sun damage, and I still saw a great improvement with the Retin-A. However, for the first couple of weeks your face peels, so you probably shouldn’t start using it right before a big night out or something.
Around these parts, doctors are very cautious about prescribing Retin-A to women of child-bearing age (even though I don’t consider myself a candidate for child bearing any longer). But, in the next few months, I’m going to get permanent surgical sterilization, which means I ought to be able to get a scrip for Retin-A after I have that done.
Retin-A? I wonder why?
I know that Acutane is a huge no-no for anyone who might ever, under any circumstances get prgnant, but I’ve never heard of Retin-A.
Heck - you can buy the active ingredient in over the counter products here…
You are right; I was confused. :smack:
You’re probably getting it in your eyes, somehow (easier than you think!).
I’d highly recommend Olay’s Complete daily moisturizer with SPF30 for sensitive skin. Another good one (but harder to find) is Eucerin’s SPF30, I can’t remember the exact name, but it comes in a pump-bottle with a pink & white label.
I’ve got very sensitive skin & eyes (I’m a pale redhead with blue-gray eyes & freckles), and I’m just fine putting either of these (and other sunscreens that have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their main active ingredient) all over my face, even on the eyelids and under the eyes, with no stinging or burning. But I still wouldn’t guarantee it won’t sting if you sweat it into your eyes.
FWIW, I ordered the “free” trial of Hydroderm and returned it prior to the trial being up. I didn’t think it was worth the price and saw no response.
Thanks! I’m going to try these. I really want a sunscreen, but it’s very unpleasant going to work looking stoned every day! 
I, too, have very sensitive skin & eyes. Just thinking about certain chemicals makes me start turning red. I’m a pale blonde with blue eyes. My husband accuses me of having transparent skin and is fascinated by being able to see all my veins. ::mutter mutter swarthy Mediterranean types mutter mutter :mad: ::
Hey! You can get a free sample (probably miniscule, but still free) of Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum . That’s quite a mouthful. Oh wait… for external use only…
Okay I have a question.
I am 29 and am worried about wrinkles which thankfully aren’t really bad - yet.
But lately I have also been breaking out badly again.
AHHHHH
Now what?
Oh yes, agreed! The best thing is to stay out of the sun as much as possible. I don’t plan on using any products when I age, just simple soap, water, and facial moisturizer.
Aside from good diet, lots of water, sunscreen, and enough sleep, I like prescription strength Retin-A. I use 10%, which is for acne. I buy it online at a pharmacy where I don’t need a prescription. The one I used to use in Thailand was closed so you’ll have to google around. The cream is best vs. gel. After you wash your face let it dry about 30 minutes before you apply. Do this before you go to bed. The 5% is for cosmetic purposes so use that if your skin is at all sensitive.
You have to be patient, but after a couple of weeks any whiteheads will just pop out and your brown spots will start disappearing and your skin will look more even and fresh. It takes about 6 months to achieve the maximum effect and you will have to use it about once a week to maintain. Sometimes after swimming when I put on moisturizer it burns but I just suck it up. It only lasts about 30 seconds. I’ve actually never had any problem with the sun sensitivity thing, but just be sure to use a moisturizer with sunscreen.
For the last month I’ve been using Neutrogena anti-wrinkle intensive serum. It has a silky feel and it makes my skin look translucent.
I’m being reminded by these threads as to more of the products that I’ve tried to no avail. I bought some Neostrata through Kaiser, don’t recall being thrilled with it. IIRC, it kinda smelled funny.
I’ve had a script for both Retin-A and the lighter version, can’t remember the name right now. Had to stop using due to pregnancy. I think they were effective on the sunspots particularly.
Estee Lauder has a product Idealist, used just prior to makeup that will make your skin an excellent canvas.
I lurve this thread! Let’s keep it going forever. We can make a better board than just about anybody out there, right? 
Just as a warning, this is a little like saying “my kids will never watch TV” before you have them. Or “when I get to college, I’ll spend five nights a week in the library and make sure to study at least six hours a week per class - and I’ll never put on the freshman fifteen.” A noble goal. Print this out so you can laugh at yourself later.
I hang with a group of granola-noshing-feminist-didn’t-shave-our-legs liberals. Every one of us firmly believes a woman is beautiful just as she is. We have (and have always had) a few with weight issues in the group, not everyone is stereotypically beautiful (but we do have a few that turn heads) and I think we’ve all had a pretty good sense of self esteem. As we’ve all hit our late 30s and 40s, its amazing. Women who made fun of people who colored their hair admire each others highlights (and the all over color covering the grey). We’ve all come to admit plastic surgery doesn’t sound so bad (we used to be horrified by the thought). Perfectly intellegent women in healthy marriages who really aren’t the vain type say “anyone consider botox?” I wouldn’t have believed it ten years ago of these women (I’ve known some of them for twenty years).
In my own experience, drugstore brands are as good as anything you buy at a department store or salon (haven’t stooped to the dermatologist myself — yet). I like Neutrogena and Oil of Olay. Though I have a sample of the Lancome microabrasion stuff and their wrinkle cream, and I don’t think it works better, but its is nicer. (Should be if you are spending $100 for it!)
It’s a cruel world when one has both zits and wrinkles on the same face.
I am trying to be diligent about using a moisturizing/sunblock lotion daily, and good washing at night.
Now, to quit smoking… again. 
That’s one of the worst things, I do know, that one can do to one’s face. (I know, along with all the other body parts like lungs…)
Lots of good stuff here, I also am a fan of Paula Begoun. One thing I would emphasize that was mentioned is chemical exfoliation, such as alpha-hydroxy acids. Beta-Hydroxy acids (salicylic) is also a good exfoliant, especially if you have acne. For some reason, alpha dried out my face, but beta did not.
And of course sunscreen can’t be mentioned enough, with the appropriate sun-blocking ingredients as previously mentioned.
One thing I would recommend (it certainly would overwhelm me with all this advice) is to try one product at a time, then add products as needed.
You know, find a face wash you’re happy with that doesn’t dry out or irritate your face, then add a sunscreen/moisturizer, then exfoliant. You want to use as few products as necessary.
For the acne prone here, just want to share my routine that really helped me after years of frustration…
**Morning: **
Cleanse with either Paula’s Choice or Cetaphil for oily skin
Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Lotion
Sunscreen (my favorite right now is Dove Moisturizing Sunscreen b/c my skin’s a little dry this winter)
Evening:
Cleanse with either Paula’s Choice or Cetaphil for oily skin
Paula’s Choice 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Solution
Any ol’ moisturizer (if I feel my skin is dry, otherwise I just skip it)
I’m not a Paula’s Choice employee . This skin care route has worked for me for 6 or so years. Lastly, keep in mind that what works for someone else simply may not work for you, so all you can do is experiment and trust your own judgement.
Wait a second - are you telling me that Paula Begone (PLEASE BE GONE!!) now has a skin care line? Well, of course she does.
That woman is a total nutter. And half the stuff she discusses as “fact” is actually garbage.
sheesh.
Oh well - if her products are working for you, great. It was really only a matter of time before she came out with her own products.
Oh great. Just when I’ve bookmarked her site and gotten her book out of the library.
I just realized a whole market that I’d forgotten to mention. Tooth whiteners. Again, marketer’s dream.
But in my vast research which involved every single OTC product, I found one that works. So well, in fact, that while at my dentist he held up the color-chart used to match crowns and such and he told me that I was at the top of the scale. He even went to far as to tell me that I would probably be disappointed with the Zoom process that he shilled.
This wonderful product is drumroll please Ionic White. This stuff is fabulous. I got two kits off eBay for considerably less than the pricing on their website. Initial application takes like an hour, but maintenance is really easy in spraying on their hydrogen peroxide “Whitening Rinse” and their “Whitening Rinse Accelerator” and then using the blue light for 2 minutes. Veerrrry cool product.
Wait…
Paula Begoun is a nutter?
Details…