1.20.2009

How Much is Your Moisturizer?




Winter is definitely time to think about skin care because of the dryness in the environment. Especially here in the desert.

To adequately moisturize dry skin, you should apply nearly an ounce of cream or lotion to your body each day. Most moisturizers come in 8 to 12 ounce containers; therefore, you should be using up your moisturizer within about 2 weeks. This can get expensive, especially if you use the fancy schmancy types. So, here is some info from a dermatologist that I found helpful:

Skin Care Secret #1: All Moisturizers Are Created Equal.

The most important factor in how well a moisturizer works is not its special berry-juice-fish-oil-rare-tropical-flower-$15-dollar/ounce-ingredient. The most important factor in how well a moisturizer works is how you use it.

True, some moisturizers contain alpha hydroxy acids, humectants, or silicones which help soften, moisturize, and protect the skin respectively. However, any moisturizer, even simple mineral oil, can accomplish the basic tasks: 1. lock moisture in your skin and 2. provide a layer of oils to protect it. The important thing is to use it correctly.

1. Take a shower with warm (not hot) water. Use only non-soap cleansers, such as Dove, to wash. Real soaps strip natural oils off your skin unnecessarily.

2. Dry off by patting your skin with your towel.

3. While your skin is still damp from the water that has soaked into its absorbent outer layer, apply a thin coat of inexpensive moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly.

4. Repeat everyday for two weeks. You should go though at least one jar of petroleum jelly in that time.

5. After two weeks look closely at your skin. You will notice that it is smoother, healthier, and even younger looking (dry skin will wrinkle more easily and dull skin always appears older).

Using generic petroleum jelly will cost $4.00 each month. Compare this to other popular moisturizers, such as Aquaphor, which would cost about $43.00 each month. Over a year that amounts to a savings of $468.

If you happen to have been using Creme de la Mer, ($130 / ounce) using Vaseline would save you $40,560 a year. You could buy a new Mercedes with that kind of money.

How much is your moisturizer?

Info from Dr. Benabio @ The Derm Blog

6 comments:

MaMa eNCHaNTeD said...

This post reminds me of what Alyssa said to at church, she was holding my hand and said, "WOW! Mom your hands are old". Yup, I fit into the dry hands syndrome. I love the pic of the guy with the remote, perfect.

Mrs. Olsen said...

Avon Moisture Therapy is the best stuff for hands. It keeps them good for 2-3 washes.

LoriPhdinme said...

Personally, I think bacon grease keeps the deramal layers supple and your husband chasing through the meadows...Annie Oakley

LGH said...

I'm thrilled to know that I've been saving forty thousand dollars all these years!

Anonymous said...

http://thedermblog.com/2008/12/05/get-the-most-out-of-your-moisturizer-and-save-money/

You have PLAGIARIZED.

Ms. Fish said...

I have not plagiarized. If you go back and read the posting again, you will see that I gave full disclosure and credit to Dr. Benabio of the Derm Blog.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...