Hello moms - a lot of women I know swear by Retin A (or it's generic form for less $). I would love to minimize the aging process in this not too invasive way. I asked my old school (male) dermatologist and he poo-pooed the idea - "Too expensive! Too irritating!" He recommended over the counter options (like Neutrogena, etc.). Have any of you used a prescription form and have feedback? Worth the price? I'm assuming the extra $ and Rx = more effective. But would appreciate anyone with experience to share. Thanks!
Best way to minimize the aging process is to avoid being out in the sun too long.
(And to quit smoking if you smoke')
A good sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, or umbrella to shade you will prevent more damage than any cream/serum can repair.
I've kind of taken a cross-section approach to my skin care. Like others, I wish I would have paid more attention at an earlier age to my skin - especially my face. However, that ship has sailed. I have really impressed upon my kids the need for good skin care at a young age, and my daughters (not really the boys - they don't seem to care) have taken it to heart. Their gain is worth every wrinkle and sunspot I have :)
I do use some dermatologist items (RX) and some over the counter items AND I do purchase a few things from Rodan and Fields. I have also done some laser zapping of a few brown spots. I picked two things to focus on - skin spots/discoloration and slowing down the aging process. I don't think I can "turn back the clock" without spending some serious money on invasive procedures so I am working on just minimizing the damage going forward. The spots were bothersome so I chose those to work on - if it was the wrinkles that bothered me, I would have picked those.
I will say that for my efforts, my face isn't getting younger. HOWEVER, when people look at photos of me 5 years ago vs. today - I get a lot of "you haven't aged a day." And honestly, my face looks very much the same wrinkle-wise and spot-wise.
Good luck!
My skin can be sensitive and I would not use Retin-A. I tried a tester with a tiny bit of Retin A and it looked like I burned myself!
I began my skin care regime as a teen and I'm still on top of my daily skin care routines. I don't have wrinkles and I don't look my age. I use sunscreen daily.
That said, I've loved Dr Kaplan essential oils, Trish McEvoy vitamin C creme. Both are pricey. Both work.
My favorite the last couple of years has been a small bottle of vitamin e oil from Big Lots for $2.80. Its oil not creme. I love it, I use it on my neck, chest and arms.
I've had more compliments on my skin since I've started the $2.80 Vitamin e oil than when I used the creams I paid $100+ for.
I also drink lots of water infused with lemon and other fresh fruits daily.
If you choose to go that route, start slowly.
i would try mary kay first. its pricy for my budget but i have never seen a wrinkly mess of a mary kay rep...
I've heard lots of people swear by Roden and Fields. It's spendy, but I guess they have a money back guarantee. I haven't tried it. I'm too cheap and don't care about aging.
i've never used a px anti-aging cream, but i can honestly say i wish i'd been paying attention a long time ago. years of being an Outside Girl without bothering much with sunscreen or moisturizers has certainly taken a toll.
i wouldn't trade a single day in the sun for softer skin, but i sure could have minimized the damage.
but now that that particular horse has left the barn, i do treat my leathery old face better these days. i have a few favorites, but the best of them are products from DHC. they're pricey, but not px. and with consistent use i've noticed some improvement.
at this point i know better than to expect miracles.
khairete
S.
Retin A can be very irritating to the skin, even in it's weakest strength, so I would not use it for what I consider to be vanity reasons without a doctor's supervision.
The over the counter creams contain retinol which is a derivative of Retin A. It is less irritating, but I have not used it for wrinkles so I can not comment on its usefulness. ROC makes a version that they sell at Target for less than $20.
Yes, I think prescription retinol is worth the money. I've seen people look younger than they did 10 years ago after using retinol consistently. I would love to use it except I have very sensitive skin. A dermatologist may help you get adjusted to it.
Do you use a good moisturizer? I just recently found a good moisturizer that doesn't irritate my skin and it's made a world of difference. No prescription ingredients.
