<p>Consumer Reports rated face creams in the January 2007 issue. The results were somewhat surprising:</p>
<p>[Consumer</a> Reports Ranks Top Face Creams - ABC News](<a href=“Consumer Reports Ranks Top Face Creams - ABC News”>Consumer Reports Ranks Top Face Creams - ABC News)</p>
<p>Skineffects…it’s sold only at CVS. I LOVE it…but of course have NOT seen any reduction in facial aging! It’s not all that expensive ($15.99) and they often have buy one get one 1/2 off.</p>
<p>I tried Strivectin (got a freebie…don’t ask)…it actually burned when I put it on my skin. So I didn’t use it after I washed my face after that first application.</p>
<p>All very interesting. First, we all now know who among us is over 50! Ha ha…</p>
<p>I am. </p>
<p>I’m constantly told that I look younger than my age or that I have nice skin. However, I do not buy women’s cosmetics (I seem to be alone here! and am not even familiar with many named on this thread). I used to tell my husband how much money we save as he doesn’t have a wife who buys all this stuff like other women do like cosmetics! I don’t think he is aware of what many women spend on things of this sort and I buy none. For several years, I have used a regular moisturizer, Lubriderm, from the supermarket…costs…not sure…$5? Just use it after the shower.</p>
<p>Maybe I should worry that I am not using any sorts of treatments or night creams, etc. like you all are.</p>
<p>^probably one of the benefits of living in green Vermont.</p>
<p>soozievt,
Unfortunately, way older than 50+. Oh, well, aside from skin and hair, still incresing my exersice routine, so it is OK, I suppose.</p>
<p>For the smug among us ( 
), I will say that while I am conscious of the beauty industry ( I used to work in it), up until a year or so ago, I was pretty haphazard with what I washed with, what kind of sunscreen I used, shampoos etc.</p>
<p>Didn’t have a problem.</p>
<p>But then overnight I was dehydrated, I got bladder infections, my eyelids practically stick to my eyeballs and to stand underneath a florescent light was like a horror show.</p>
<p>I will agree that there are many products in the grocery and drug stores that work well and aren’t expensive- but as the bards say * Time waits for no one*.</p>
<p>You too may be contemplating something that is $200 to wash your face!</p>
<p>( I’ll let you know how it works)</p>
<p>emeraldkity4,
But there is always Olive Oil alternative. I would use it before I spend $200 to wash my face. $200 sounds out of reach.</p>
<p>Well, Costco shoppers, I’ve been using the Kirkland Signature by Borghese facial care line – daily moisturizer; wrinkle defense serum; eye cream/night cream which come packaged together. Daily moisturizer has nice consistency but is only SPF 15 so I don’t use it during the “bright” months. Wrinkle defense serum goes on like silk and leaves my skin feeling really nice – not sure exactly what it does, but I am a fan. I use the eye cream morning and night. I have had difficulty with eye products irritating the skin around my eyes in the past, but not this one. Night cream is a good balance of fairly rich cream that absorbs nicely, but I am not crazy about the fragrance. It dissipates quickly, though. Prices are low-mid $20 range and the coupon booklet has featured specials in the past. Of course, if you don’t like the Kirkland products you can always get your money back.</p>
<p>I know $200 sounds high- but considering I have been spending lots of money on scrubs and masques to try and get the dirt & goo out of my skin that either irritate it or clog it up- if it works better than what I have been using ( and from the amount of review I have found it seems that it does), then it would be * as they say* a bargain at twice the price</p>
<p>Anyway- when my mother was 10 years younger than I, she had a face lift- so I figure I have a long ways to go, before I have spent that kinda money on my appearance.
:)</p>
<p>( I agree with the Costco line- I also like when they have trials of Smashbox cosmetics)</p>
<p>i use the cheap dove daily moisturizer, and garnier regenerist cerum</p>
<p>Not only don’t I buy cosmetics other than the basics, my husband is allergic to fragrances and is not too happy when anything has one. But even so, I have never looked into any of these products. It all sounds costly. But maybe I should be using stuff?</p>
<p>I’m not quite to the age of this thread, but I was wondering if any of you had seen a reduction in dark circles under your eyes with the various moisturizers? I’ve read that one of the leading causes is poor hydration in that area. I’ve tried a few and haven’t seen much improvement. My mom also has this problem and we would love some improvement!!</p>
<p>I don’t think anything you can apply externally helps dark circles, except for concealer. The darkness is usually caused by blood vessels just beneath the skin, which gets thinner as we age. The puffiness (if there is any) can be temporarily reduced with cool compresses, but the actual darkness stays. Here’s an article about them from the NYT last year: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/fashion/12SKIN.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/fashion/12SKIN.html</a></p>
<p>Fragrance is a problem for me. I tried the Oil of Olay products after reading the Consumer Reports article (noted previously by mapesy) but couldn’t handle the fragrance of those products. I don’t have an allergy…just a sensitive nose, I guess, and most fragrances are a turn off. I would be interested if anyone is using a fragrance free product they like.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4,
What you’re describing sure sounds like an allergy to me. Before you invest in an expensive skin buffer, which may make the flakiness worse, do yourself a favor and just try some benadryl, cortaid, or walmart-brand hydrocortisone cream. Most of them have aloe, vitamin E and other natural moisturizers. Can’t hurt. Might help.</p>
<p>Everyone in my family is ‘rashy’, and tinkering with the diet can help. I can’t use latex gloves, and similarly can’t eat bananas, also never touch anything in the nightshade family – cucumbers, peppers, etc. I know I am allergic to our pets, but will put up with the itchy dry eyes and sinus issues if it means we don’t have to get rid of them. </p>
<p>Also, I don’t use lotions, etc. w fragrances, and I’m wildly allergic to most kinds of bug sprays and sunscreen. I stick pretty closely to Clinique, Almay, and Aveeno, and life becomes simpler.</p>
<p>What’s strange is that many dermatologists don’t diagnose skin issues as allergies, and might just chalk it up to “aging skin”.</p>
<p>Oil of Olay regenerist here. Add in the endlessly humid climate and you get some pretty nice skin.</p>
<p>This is going to quickly become the most popular thread. </p>
<p>For eyes, I use eye patches. They don’t sell them at too many places in the US. They sell them in Asia more, even men use them. Estee Lauder makes it, as few other companies. They run from 50 to a few hundreds. They make my eyes look less tired and puffy. Try sasa.com. They will ship to the US. I have also found them at Sophora.</p>
<p>Fragrance is a problem for me also, it makes me nauseous. everything in household is smell free. Otherwise, I love Costco, my favorite store. Oil of Olay is not oily enough. Any expensive staff that I have tried is not oily enough, still leaves skin too dry. Aside from Olive Oil, only cheap body lotions will do what I need them to.</p>
<p>The expensive face wash I use (Neostrata) costs $24, and lasts half a year. More expensive than the Dove bar soap I used until a year ago, but it has helped my skin. I don’t use any makeup at all, except mascara (Maybelline Full and Soft, cheap and great), and taupe soft pencil eyeliner from any drugstore brand. I also have lip gloss with SPF. So I save some money that way.</p>
<p>I have learned that the older I get, the more time and money I have to spend on maintenance. I never colored my hair until a few years ago, when I started getting too many grays for my taste. Now I go in every 4 weeks, at great expense, and I resent the time it takes.</p>
<p>I cannot use any makeup, including mascara and nothing at all on lips or anything on my face. Just $3 lotion several times a day. Hair color is $3 or $7 at Dollar store. I mixed only half, leaving half for next time, so it is either $1,50 or $3.50 per application. Professional coloring takes too long time, I have no patience to wait in salon, at home I can find something to do for 35 min. wait.</p>