Thursday, August 31, 2006
Help, My Skin is Aging!
I just want to jump in here and say something. I would say it is granola uncensored, but I'm not capable of writing without editing at least a little bit. I would say totally unresearched, but I couldn't control the urge to grab a picture and quote. But it is a rant, and it isn't really researched very well. So if I'm wrong, it's my misconceptions that are showing, and I won't mind if someone tells me to hike my slip up a bit.
I don't really like dermatologists very much. They are out to prey upon the insecurities of women. The local one here runs advertisements all the time about erasing the devastating effects of aging. Oh the horror, the absolute horror. What is this disease, this aging? I'm scared doc, make it stop!
Luckily, they quickly present us with a solution to that which stalks every poor woman out there: come in for dermabrasion.
Ever since this service came out, I've thought that dermabrasion was one of the silliest things. How can it do anything really lasting? All dermabrasion does, correct me if I'm wrong, is take off the dead skin cells. Maybe the treatment is a little better than a good facial scrub. But after a week, what has your 100 dollars purchased you? I would say, nothing much. But this comes to us from a source that should be respectable.
Alternative health sources really aren't any better.
I once had a Prickly Pear Facial, which is a cool name even if it says nothing but "naturally, this will irritate you". Most people aren't supposed to use it more than once a week, and some people (like me) should really keep usage down to two times a month. My face looked convincingly red for quite a while - longer really than they said it might on sensitive skin. The next day my skin looked pretty nice. Not "Wow, I'm a new me!" nice but not bad. And the next day it was normal. I have actually wondered if the effect of it was inflammation rather than anything restorative or protective or whatall the effect was supposed to be.
I recently found a good quality moisturizer at a big corporate arm bender retail store that gave me about the same effect. It lasted me about 6 weeks and cost a lot less than the facial. Plus, I didn't have to mess around with it for about 30 minutes, get all red faced (unless the Milk comes in to admire my deft skill at applying lotion), and I could use it every single day. Like all of my facial moisturizers have been since they came out with such products, it is SPF 15, but for some reason it seems to do an extra special job than the last stuff I had. Dove Deep Moisture Day Care.
At Bath and Body Works, there is this new Patricia Wexler MD line of products. Her picture and her name upon the product is one of the reasons I dermatologists kind of bother me. There is a lot of medicotechno garble that I haven't heard about anywhere else but in this line of products. Of course, I don't research the latest in "Trying to look 16 years old when you're really 60", so I might be wrong. They are going to give me a free sample of "Wexler MMPi*20(tm) Skin Regenerating Serum, Professional Strength" so I might try it. I wonder if it comes in any strengths other than professional? Maybe there is a "aphrodite strength" for the really rich woman, or a "too-pathetic-to-pay-for-professional regular strength" for regular gals like me. Anyway, at 27 bucks for a .5 oz jar, it is going to have to go really, really far to get me to give up my current favorite, which is only $7 for 1.69 oz (that's 50 ml to you sane metric users out there).
Of her prices, Wexler, who wants to be my 'daily dermatologist' says "I believe great skin shouldn't be a luxury." To which I ask, "Does this count towards my deductible? Or maybe even my cafeteria plan, that would be okay too." No? Hmmm.
Girls, we don't need anything fancy to keep our skin healthy. Just do all the things we should be doing to keep the rest of our body healthy, moisturize, and protect from the sun. Oh yeah, and remember to let a doctor give your skin the once over on occassion.
Wrinkles will come. Let them come. We're still strong and beautiful. Now, go out and compliment someone. ¶ 12:18 PM
I just want to jump in here and say something. I would say it is granola uncensored, but I'm not capable of writing without editing at least a little bit. I would say totally unresearched, but I couldn't control the urge to grab a picture and quote. But it is a rant, and it isn't really researched very well. So if I'm wrong, it's my misconceptions that are showing, and I won't mind if someone tells me to hike my slip up a bit.
I don't really like dermatologists very much. They are out to prey upon the insecurities of women. The local one here runs advertisements all the time about erasing the devastating effects of aging. Oh the horror, the absolute horror. What is this disease, this aging? I'm scared doc, make it stop!
Luckily, they quickly present us with a solution to that which stalks every poor woman out there: come in for dermabrasion.
Ever since this service came out, I've thought that dermabrasion was one of the silliest things. How can it do anything really lasting? All dermabrasion does, correct me if I'm wrong, is take off the dead skin cells. Maybe the treatment is a little better than a good facial scrub. But after a week, what has your 100 dollars purchased you? I would say, nothing much. But this comes to us from a source that should be respectable.
Alternative health sources really aren't any better.
I once had a Prickly Pear Facial, which is a cool name even if it says nothing but "naturally, this will irritate you". Most people aren't supposed to use it more than once a week, and some people (like me) should really keep usage down to two times a month. My face looked convincingly red for quite a while - longer really than they said it might on sensitive skin. The next day my skin looked pretty nice. Not "Wow, I'm a new me!" nice but not bad. And the next day it was normal. I have actually wondered if the effect of it was inflammation rather than anything restorative or protective or whatall the effect was supposed to be.
I recently found a good quality moisturizer at a big corporate arm bender retail store that gave me about the same effect. It lasted me about 6 weeks and cost a lot less than the facial. Plus, I didn't have to mess around with it for about 30 minutes, get all red faced (unless the Milk comes in to admire my deft skill at applying lotion), and I could use it every single day. Like all of my facial moisturizers have been since they came out with such products, it is SPF 15, but for some reason it seems to do an extra special job than the last stuff I had. Dove Deep Moisture Day Care.
At Bath and Body Works, there is this new Patricia Wexler MD line of products. Her picture and her name upon the product is one of the reasons I dermatologists kind of bother me. There is a lot of medicotechno garble that I haven't heard about anywhere else but in this line of products. Of course, I don't research the latest in "Trying to look 16 years old when you're really 60", so I might be wrong. They are going to give me a free sample of "Wexler MMPi*20(tm) Skin Regenerating Serum, Professional Strength" so I might try it. I wonder if it comes in any strengths other than professional? Maybe there is a "aphrodite strength" for the really rich woman, or a "too-pathetic-to-pay-for-professional regular strength" for regular gals like me. Anyway, at 27 bucks for a .5 oz jar, it is going to have to go really, really far to get me to give up my current favorite, which is only $7 for 1.69 oz (that's 50 ml to you sane metric users out there).
Of her prices, Wexler, who wants to be my 'daily dermatologist' says "I believe great skin shouldn't be a luxury." To which I ask, "Does this count towards my deductible? Or maybe even my cafeteria plan, that would be okay too." No? Hmmm.
Girls, we don't need anything fancy to keep our skin healthy. Just do all the things we should be doing to keep the rest of our body healthy, moisturize, and protect from the sun. Oh yeah, and remember to let a doctor give your skin the once over on occassion.
Wrinkles will come. Let them come. We're still strong and beautiful. Now, go out and compliment someone. ¶ 12:18 PM
Comments:
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Admittedly, I am biased as I sell and use Mary Kay.
I am a believer in Mary Kay's microdermabrasion set. I only use mine once a week, but when I do I am incredibly happy with how my face feels and looks to me.
I also use the entire skincare line. Trust me, I feel a difference when I don't use it. Plus, if I don't like something or a customer doesn't like something--all of the money is returned.
I am a believer in Mary Kay's microdermabrasion set. I only use mine once a week, but when I do I am incredibly happy with how my face feels and looks to me.
I also use the entire skincare line. Trust me, I feel a difference when I don't use it. Plus, if I don't like something or a customer doesn't like something--all of the money is returned.
As a Mary Kay enthusiast myself, I must admit that I am also biased. I much prefer the macrodermerosion set as it is the only product on the market that restores my skin to the alabaster perfection I enjoyed as a young man galavanting around Belvidere, a young girl on each arm, without a care in the world.
Sarabeth -
I have no problem with microdermabrasion as part of a skin care regime. The Mary Kay set is $55 and lasts quite a while. As you said, to be really effective it should be done weekly. But I don't think that Mary Kay has something specifically better to offer than the higher end products I can get at a store.
However, once upon a time microdermabrasion was called exfoliation. It is my opinion that this new term appeared in order to charge more for a service that women could do for themselves at home. Mary Kay, I'm sure, changed the name of their exfoliation regime to stay in tune with the market. But check out this day spa where the procedure, touted as more affordable and, of course more gentle and effective than those mechanical/chemical/laser medical procedures (that y'all know I think are hyped up anyway).
http://www.inspirationdayspa.com/services/micro.html
For just the face, it costs $110. With a neck, it costs $125. It is recommended that you come in for several treatments.
I have no problem with microdermabrasion as part of a skin care regime. The Mary Kay set is $55 and lasts quite a while. As you said, to be really effective it should be done weekly. But I don't think that Mary Kay has something specifically better to offer than the higher end products I can get at a store.
However, once upon a time microdermabrasion was called exfoliation. It is my opinion that this new term appeared in order to charge more for a service that women could do for themselves at home. Mary Kay, I'm sure, changed the name of their exfoliation regime to stay in tune with the market. But check out this day spa where the procedure, touted as more affordable and, of course more gentle and effective than those mechanical/chemical/laser medical procedures (that y'all know I think are hyped up anyway).
http://www.inspirationdayspa.com/services/micro.html
For just the face, it costs $110. With a neck, it costs $125. It is recommended that you come in for several treatments.
Spooner -
I once macroabrased my knee. Actually, I did it quite a few times growing up. Even did it to my face when I was four. I'm told I look young for my age, so maybe there is something to it!
I once macroabrased my knee. Actually, I did it quite a few times growing up. Even did it to my face when I was four. I'm told I look young for my age, so maybe there is something to it!
Mary Kay added the microdermabrasion set in addition to the gentle exfoliation in the daily cleanser. It wasn't just a name change/marketing ploy.
Second, it might not be different from what you can get at higher priced stores, but will those stores give your money back if you don't like it?
Second, it might not be different from what you can get at higher priced stores, but will those stores give your money back if you don't like it?
Hey, I read your comment on Flea's blog--you really hit the nail on the head!
About aging skin . . . I agree with you, but try to convince the single men in their 40s who are wanting women in their 20s . . . I'm single and 40--those men are making me feel old. A 40 year old just can't compete with someone in her 20s . . . I've dated men in thier 50s, but I really don't have much in common with men who are over ten years older than I am. *sigh* On that note, some of those age reducing programs are sounding tempting these days . . .
About aging skin . . . I agree with you, but try to convince the single men in their 40s who are wanting women in their 20s . . . I'm single and 40--those men are making me feel old. A 40 year old just can't compete with someone in her 20s . . . I've dated men in thier 50s, but I really don't have much in common with men who are over ten years older than I am. *sigh* On that note, some of those age reducing programs are sounding tempting these days . . .
# posted by 
: 9/03/2006 8:05 AM
: 9/03/2006 8:05 AM
Sarabeth,
I'm not trying to put down Mary Kay. She isn't a dermatologist. Mary Kay didn't invent the word 'microdermabrasion', but they do have a marketing department whose job it is to name their product.
I would say that there are probably very comparable products even at stores like Wal-mart though, which does have a 30 day no questions asked return policy.
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I'm not trying to put down Mary Kay. She isn't a dermatologist. Mary Kay didn't invent the word 'microdermabrasion', but they do have a marketing department whose job it is to name their product.
I would say that there are probably very comparable products even at stores like Wal-mart though, which does have a 30 day no questions asked return policy.
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