What Actually Works in Skincare (And What's Snake Oil)
It’s easy to look at celebrities who appear to be aging backwards and think, “what’s wrong with me?” But I think us lay-ladies don’t appreciate the time, money, and recovery those stars of the silver screen are investing in their appearance. We get stuck in the classic comparison trap that social media has made rampant among women of all ages, where we compare our rolling-out-of-bed face with their highlight reel.
This becomes an important disconnect, because if (when!) you book yourself for consultation in my office, and you hear the treatments available to you, including their required investment of finances and time/recovery, many balk. They’ve been sold snake oil on the internet promising “lifting” and "plumping" with “no downtime” and “no needles,” and they ask me to decipher which are for real.
Unfortunately too often the answer is none of them. The things that really work are few, and begin with the basics. First: sleep, hydration, exercise, and minimal alcohol, are the absolute minimum requirements for confident aging. So many of us feel overwhelmed by just that list, but I promise that a small bit of investment into any one of those will pay dividends in ways you haven’t even thought of yet.
Second, if you want it to work, you either need to be consistent with a low-intensity treatment for a long time (like topical skincare), or have a few more intense treatments with a period of down time (like chemical peels, microneedling or CO2 laser). There’s not really an in between.
No skincare product is going to transform your skin in a month…or three. It takes years of consistency to have an impact with skincare alone. Vitamin A (aka retinol or tretinoin) is the gold standard for anti-aging and anti-skin cancer, reducing all signs of aging including pigmentation, sagging, and dullness, as well as treating acne. But you can ask anyone on tretinoin and they’ll tell you their skin doesn’t look that different for a long time–like 6-12 months.
If you want a more impressive pick-me-up while you wait for your topical skincare to do its thing, skin resurfacing treatments like peels and lasers will give you a noticeable improvement in a few days of downtime. While “downtime” sounds like a dirty word, if you time it right it’s actually a lovely little vacation. I had a deep CO2 laser treatment on new year’s eve last year and the following 5 days of recovery were absolutely glorious. I read books and watched TV and didn’t feel guilty for anything. Plus, I think my skin has aged backwards this year.
Fall is the ideal time for these conversations. You’re refreshed from the summer and reenergized as you enter a productive phase of the year. You’re wanting to feel your best for the holidays, and your sun exposure will be lower, making the next few months ideal for skin improvement.
If we haven’t met yet, here’s what you can expect from me: I’ll always tell you the truth. This fall, my blogs, podcasts, and social posts are going to focus on giving you clarity. In the meantime, if you’re looking for personalized recommendations, you can book a free consultation on my website. I hope to see you soon.
Want to hear more from Jen? Check out these other blog articles…
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