Okay, which product will bring me the best results? How do they even work?? How can a cream remove wrinkles from your face? The skin under my eyes is starting to look like crumpled tissue paper....very fine crisscrosses of lines....fragile looking....UGLY!! And I don't mean just directly below my eyes...it's a good 1.5 inch ways down. In other words, I'm not talking about crow's feet or anything, although I'm sure those will be an issue soon. Help!!

By Colette on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 10:12 am:

I don't think any cream will actually remove wrinkles. You might be able to hold off any more by using a good moisturizer. I think that there are some that somehow diminish the appearance, of them but doesn't make them go away totally.

By Hol on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 01:07 pm:

Collette is right; there is no cream that will REMOVE wrinkles. If there were, then the Hollywood stars wouldn't be spending all that money on face lifts. Wrinkles are just part of the aging process. First, as we age, the fat and collegen (The connecting tissue beneath the skin surface that keeps the skin firm and gives it shape), becomes less abundant. Also, the skin becomes drier and thinner. Our skin is also exposed to the natural elements everyday; sun, wind, cold, heat, etc. Lastly, wrinkles show that you are alive...certain lines and creases are formed by the expressions you make with your face, much the same as if you kept folding a sheet or tablecloth the same way all the time. "Crowsfeet" are from smiling, squinting, etc. The lines around your mouth are from smiling, frowning, etc. Our face is literally a map of our life's experiences. I personally (maybe because I HAVE wrinkles) think that that part of it is kind of cool. LOL!)

The best thing that you can do is keep your face moisturized and protect it from the sun. While sunlight is nessecary for life, too much of it speeds the breakdown of collagen. You don't have to spend a fortune either. There are so MANY moisturizers on the market and they all do basically the same thing, despite the marketing. A good moisturizer (preferably fragrance free - less irritants) with at least an SPF 15 in it is all you need. Olay has one, Neutrogena has one, etc. You can get both in Walmart. Moisture doesn't erase wrinkles, but it plumps up your skin so they are less noticable.

By Kym on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 03:05 pm:

First you have to start with a clean slate, meaning exfoliation. Women spend sooooooooooo much money trying to repair dead skin cells, they have to come off, after the age of 30 we don't slough the thousands of skin cells that die every day so we constantly have a layer of dead skin on our body. The gentlest most effective way is a good manual microdermabrasion. You can also find "tightening" masques that pull skin taut, I personally use one under my eyes almost every day as I have "allergy" looking eyes, not bags or wrinkles, just a bit tired/irritated. Anything with clays and collogen are good for healing properties and have longer lasting effects.

Than look for products that will add collagen to the skin, that "plumps" the skin and helps with the appearence of fine lines/wrinkles.

Than move onto your diet, lots of water, lots of EFA's like Olive Oil, avocados, fish oils etc.

And like above, a good sunscreen, making sure it's broad spectrum, they have great ones now with clear zinc that's my favorite, I know I'm getting a good natural sunscreen without the white film remaining.


I have found with aging that a simple skin care regimen is warranted EVERY day, I used to do facials about once every two weeks, now I really spend a bit of time each day.

By Hol on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 03:25 pm:

I do exfoliate, too, twice a week. I have used white Dove soap on my face for forty years (now they have the unscented one. I LOVE it!) Twice a week, I lather up my washcloth and then open three packets of "Raw Sugar". That's the brand name. You can get it in the grocery store. It is less refined, course sugar and it is brown. I sprinkle the sugar grains on my washcloth with the Dove soap and scrub away. It is natural, and if you get a little in your mouth, it's JUST sugar. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and fresh. Then I put my moisturizer on after my shower while my skin is still damp to hold in the moisture.

I suppose you could use regular granulated white sugar, too, but it is not as course. The raw sugar makes a great foot scrub, too, and it is a lot cheaper than some of the "scrub" products.

Refrain from using salt as an exfoliator, as it will dry the skin terribly and sting, too, and you DON'T want to get it in your eyes!!

I have bought a few things over the years from a well known cosmetics company. In my order once, I got these "washing grains" as a sample. I tried them and they worked just the same as my sugar. but were a LOT more expensive.

By Colette on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 04:20 pm:

Hol, I love the sugar idea. I never thought of using raw sugar.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 06:44 pm:

Colette & Kym are right. Period.

Hol, I've never tried sugar as an exfoliator, but I've heard of using it.

I've used some pretty pricey skincare products in the past - my favorites were by Estee Lauder and Philosophy. However, I decided to scale down on what I spend on certain things and that was one of them. I've been using Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew and a couple of their other products. It's hard to find, I purchased mine online. MUCH cheaper than Lauder or Philosophy. I really like it, and I've actually gotten some compliments recently on my skin - which, believe me, is a 50-something face, to be sure. LOL

By Kate on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 07:40 pm:

I guess I didn't word that quite right...I know nothing will get RID of them, but I see commercials for creams that supposedly 'reduce the appearance' of fine lines and plump up the surrounding skin, and that's what I was after. Actual products you've used and had good results with so I'm not so clueless in the store...

By Hol on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 05:18 am:

Karen, I've never heard of Boots, but I get a catalogue and samples from a comapny called DHC. It is a Japanese company and their skin care products are made from refined olive oil. I have tried the samples, and they are very soothing and natural, and not as pricey as some.

There are a lot of wonderful things right in your own kitchen that are wonderful inexpensive, and natural products. Every month or so, a good vinegar rinse does wonders for your hair. Put two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a pint of warm water. After your final shampoo rinse, pour it slowly through your clean, wet hair and work it through. (It will sting if it gets in your eyes because it is acidic). You can feel how sqeaky clean your hair is getting because it removes all build up of product, etc., and closes the cuticle of the hair shaft, so it makes it really shiny. You rinse with cool/tepid water and towel dry. The vinegar smell does not linger. It's like exfoliating your hair, and starting with a "clean slate" as Kym said.

Also, when I was in cosmetology school, we used to make fruit facials. They were great fun, and SO good for your skin. You put small amounts of any fruit in the blender. Most of the time, we used strawberries, bananas, melon,and cucumber. You can even add a litlle yogurt and a tiny bit of honey. You cut a piece of cheesecloth to fit over your face. Lie down and pile on the fruit mix onto your face. It's more fun if you and a friend help each other. You just lay and rest with your eyes closed for at least fifteen minutes. It smells yummy and if it drips into your mouth, it tastes yummy, too. The fruit acids are SO good for your skin. After you remove the cheesecloth with the mixture, rinse your face with cool water and pat dry. You will GLOW!! Seriously.

By Eve on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:58 am:

Target sells Boots now. (I was happy to see that since my trip to London.) I hear a lot of good things about Lush products too, which are from the UK, but there are stores here now. It's all natural. But, I love the idea of making your own products.

On a strange side note: A family of a girl in DD's class eats a Raw food diet. (Nothing at all cooked, no milk, no meat...only raw organic veggies, nuts and beans and fruit) Anyway, I met her yesterday and her skin....OMG...it was the *best* skin I have ever seen in my entire life! I could no way eat a raw diet, but I guess food does play a part. So, maybe eat more salmon. LOL

By Karen~admin on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 08:42 am:

Hol, I received a sample & brochure from DHC the first time I ordered Boots. I never bothered with it though.

Eve, I had no idea Target sells Boots now!

I heard about Boots when our local news did a segment on it several months ago. Apparently it was all the rage in England and had sold out everywhere. It's hard to find, I haven't seen it in any stores here, but I'll check Target, for sure.

By Eve on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 09:01 am:

The weird part is, Boots is just a drug store-nothing special. LOL But, I guess being from the UK makes it cool. Yes, Target had a huge selection! If you can't find it, let me know and I'd be glad to pick some up for you.