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The hype is out there, so it takes a little practice and sleuthing to cut through the fantasy and get to the real deal when it comes to face and hand creams. Ladies, we need facts, not fictitious marketing stories with promises of instant facelifts and magically disappearing age spots. Don't let the money grubbers prey on your desire to look and feel good. Smooth, beautiful skin results from regular, sensible daily care using simple, effective.
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You don't have to spend your hard-earned cash on products to clean and moisturize your face and hands. In fact, even the docs at the American Academy of Dermatology say some of the best hand and face creams on the market are the least expensive, because they don't contain exotic fragrances that can irritate your skin. Most skin care manufacturers do their homework, because they want you to see results and tell all your friends. Even name brand over-the-counter drugstore producers put considerable research into their product lines; they include the active ingredients needed to get results and make your skin softer or rid you of wrinkles and lines.
Check the Label
Mild skin creams found over-the-counter in drugstores are the most effective to treat dry skin. Look for the least amount of ingredients on the products labels and use those sparingly. Doctors at the National Institutes of Health recommend Dove, Neutrogena, Cetaphil and Aveeno to treat dry skin. You don't have to give in to wrinkles just because your face wants you to do so. Fight back against aging skin and look for ingredients likes retinol, copper peptides, tea extracts and hydroxy acid. If you're fightin a bout of zits, check out the labels on acne creams that contain sulfur, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Your grandma probably had the best idea when she smeared her lips, face and hands at night with Vaseline. You can still put petroleum jelly to good use. It's one of the most effective (and cheapest) moisturizing products on the market.
Timing
How and when you use your skin care products has as much to do with the results as what's in it and how much you paid for it. For example, the best time to apply any kind of moisturizer is immediately after you get out of the bath or shower. Apply creams to your skin when it's still damp to seal in the natural moisture and oils that nature planted in your pores. Slather your feet and hands with thick petroleum jelly; cover them with some cheap cotton gloves and socks, before you go to bed. Get one of the best skin makeovers for free while you dream of running smooth silk over them -- and not feeling a single snag.
Double Duty
Save money and secure the healthiest skin on your hands and face. Do so by using products that are quickly becoming commonplace on drugstore shelves. Just about every skin care product--from hand lotion to cheek bronzer--contains sunscreen. Let it do its double duty and skip the extra sunscreen. Don't even think about leaving off the sunscreen, though. The number one enemy for smooth youthful skin is the darned sun. Sunscreen is not just for cancer protection; it will serve you well as your skin stays smooth.
