Let’s face it, we women love celebrity magazines. We love to read about what they’re doing, and we love to look at pictures of them. It seems like they must have access to the best that money can buy- things that us mere mortals can’t even imagine. So let’s take a look at what kinds of skin care treatments they are pursuing and if they are ridiculous or fabulous.
Fabulous
According to Glamour Magazine, there is a trend amongst celebrities to stop doing crazy cosmetic procedures such as plastic surgery and to start taking care of their skin. That means that they are no longer baking in tanning booths, but instead are using sunscreen to shield their faces from the damaging UVA rays of the sun. In addition they are using face care products chock full of antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin A. This is great news. As a society we are apt to want quick fixes to problems instead of taking preventative action to prevent a problem from occurring in the first place. Taking steps to care for our skin and prevent problems is a great step in the right direction.
Ridiculous
And now for the ridiculous. Some procedures may inherently work, but for their price points, they are getting a vote in the “ridiculous” category. One of them is an acne treatment called photodynamic therapy and it costs a whopping $2,500 to $4,000 per session! Of course no one likes to have acne, but paying thousands of dollars to zap a few zits is outrageous. The process involves spreading an amino acid gel on the face and then zapping it with a blue light. It can take up to an hour to activate the amino acid, so this isn’t a quick five minute procedure either.
Another procedure that seems utterly unnecessary is microdermabrasion. These treatments costs hundreds of dollars and must be done in a dermatologist’s office. They use tiny crystals to polish off the top layers of skin of the face, and sometimes follow it up with creams and serums. I’m not inherently against microdermabrasion, but unless you’ve got a lot of cash to throw around, it’s just not worth it. Instead, try using a simple Buff Puff every day with your favorite cleanser. It will get rid of the dead skin cells on your face and encourage new growth. Consistent use will not only keep your face fresh and youthful, it will also help keep it blemish free.
There are lots of other treatments out there costing hundreds of dollars, but really, is it necessary? A little prevention will go a long way. Don’t smoke, wash and moisturize your face daily and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Remember that skin health doesn’t just happen on the surface of the skin, it happens from in the inside out.