Skimping on Skincare? Think Again!
By: Kyle Rogers
Updated: May 13, 2010
Skimping on Skincare? Think Again!
by Meredith L. Phillips
Many skin care products promise visible results, wrinkle decrease, more even skin tone, and other turn-back-the-clock effects. Choosing which ones are worth the money and which are just overpriced potions and lotions can be an overwhelming task, so we have taken several for a test run, so you don't have to tie up your money in useless items. Skin care specialists usually recommend using a product for at least 90 days to see improvements, so we give an accurate picture of what daily skin care can offer. We have chosen from a plethora of products available at local retailers including Walgreens, Sephora, and Walmart that are marketed as some of the best outside of the high-dollar department store counters. Average prices are provided to give a comparison of value and quality. Our testers, one in her 30's and one in her 50's, have engaged in routine use of the following Olay, DDF, and L'Oreal skin care products for 120 days and report the following results.
Olay
NO! Olay Regenerist Deep Hydrating Mousse Cleanser is marketed as a creamy foaming cleanser that deeply penetrates to clean while hydrating and regenerating. Instead of leaving skin feeling fresh and hydrated, both our 30-something and 50-something testers agree that the cleanser leaves behind a slick residue and leaves skin feeling far from clean. $8.99
NO! Olay Definity Eye Illuminator is touted as an intensive treatment for treating under-eye circles, illuminating and defining eyes with "all-around brightness." A gel that offers hydration combines with "smart particles" that are supposed to "emit white, luminous light from skin's surface." Our 50-something tester gives this product a failing score, describing it as being more like a frosty eye shadow gone awry, settling into creases and drawing attention to problem areas. $25.99
YES! Olay Definity Color Recapture is described as being between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation that hydrates and smoothes skin. It comes in three shades for more flexibility of sheer coverage, allowing it to be used with or without traditional foundation. Providing SPF 15 protection and the moisturizer we have come to expect from Olay products, this product seems to live up to its claims. Our 50-something tester says Color Recapture provides smooth coverage when used with foundation, keeping it even and preventing cracking. $24.99
DDF
YES! DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer claims to renew at the cellular level, regenerating collagen while hydrating and exfoliating to reduce fine lines over time and shrink pore size almost instantly. Our 30-something tester is quite happily reporting the disappearance of fine lines at the eye area and corners of her mouth, as seen in her before and after photos. She also loves the fresh, citrusy scent of this gentle, lightweight product. Though she has not noticed any difference in pore size, she is pleased with the visible wrinkle reduction. This tester says she will continue daily use of Wrinkle Resist despite its hefty price tag, as a little seems to go such a long way. $85
YES! DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15 is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Its broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection helps to prevent future hyperpigmentation, while its "Micro Radiance" complex is formulated to fade brown spots, correct discoloration, and give a "translucent, healthy look." As the 30-something tester reports with the Wrinkle Resist, the visible results of Protect and Correct are not something she notices in the mirror but are quite obvious in her before and after photos. Her skin tone has evened, spots and discoloration have disappearing, and the dull look of her skin has been overtaken by a healthy glow. $60
L'Oreal
MAYBE?! L'Oreal Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Gel Cleanser promises to minimize pores while gently cleansing and removing impurities. It is recommended for all skin types and age groups for improving cell turnover and maintaining a youthful glow. This gel is a gentle cleanser, even around the eye area, with a refreshing, not overpowering, scent. Our 30-something tester reports clean pores with no overdrying, though we are not sure about the "pore minimizing" or "cellular renewal" it promises. What we like most is that, with or without the extra promises, this is a good basic cleanser in a handy pump dispenser at a great overall value. $7.99
NO! L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate is promoted as a "high-potency serum" that has been proven in clinical trials to help reduce wrinkles. It promises smoother, firmer skin. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula is supposed to absorb quickly to minimize fine lines and increase cell turnover. Our 50-something tester's photos show no apparent results, and she does not see or feel any signs of improvement in firmness. This is yet another product we can live without. $16.99
We recommend using an affordable cleanser, as any anti-aging benefit would literally go down the drain, anyway. Though, it seems using a higer priced leave-on treatment is more effective. After review of the before and after photos, our testers agree that only the DDF products seem to produce visible results. Though these products are more expensive than a typical drug store regimen, maybe the old saying is true: you get what you pay for!
BEFORE AFTER
