With the plethora of beauty products flooding the market, how can you possibly make the right pick? Top pro Morise Cabasso, president of Mario Badescu Skin Care, in New York City, offers some points-and counterpoints.
Old vs. New trends
Seaweed is not just still popular but getting more so. It's rich in iodine, calcium, zinc and all those natural minerals from the sea, as well as vitamins A, B, C, D, E and even K. When it first came out, it was used as a body wrap, but now they're using it for a face mask as well. We've started to use oxygenating facials, which pump oxygen and maybe 80 to 90 minerals into the skin. This tones and tightens the skin, and with time could also soften wrinkles.
Glycolic vs. Alpha-hydroxy acids
The alpha-hydroxy acids come from an acidic fruit such as lemons or grapefruit. The glycolic acids are made from sugarcane. Both are used for helping banish wrinkles. But the glycolic acids, which are probably the biggest thing in beauty nowadays and are also used for problem skin, are stronger and should be recommended by an expert.
Masks vs. Facials
Masks are part of a facial and, as their name suggests, cover the entire face. There are different types of masks: masks for sensitive skin, masks for oily skin, masks for blackheads, whiteheads, acne. Some peel, some exfoliate (remove the top layer of dry, scaly, dead skin cells). You should have a facial every four to six weeks, if you have normal skin; every six to eight weeks, if you have sensitive skin. If you get one before your wedding, go 10 to 14 days ahead of time to make sure that no redness remains.
Toners vs. Astringents
Both are cleansers, but toners should have no alcohol and are used for more sensitive skin. Astringents may contain a small amount of alcohol, and are designed for oily skin or combination dry/oily skin.
Sensitive vs. Sun-sensitive
Sensitive skin is usually found in very fair-haired people. The skin sunburns easily, gets dry and chapped in winter, reddens quickly and reacts to products that contain alcohol. Sun-sensitive skin is something totally different. Some drugs, such as Retin-A, cause skin to become sun-sensitive, meaning it burns more easily when exposed to the sun's rays, and, if you're using these medications, you should take extra precautions when you go outside.
Moisturizers vs. Moisturizers
Admittedly, there seem to be "hundreds" on the market, and it's hard to make up your mind. When picking a moisturizer, you have to consider a number of factors: What type of skin do you have-is it dry? Is it oily? Do you wear a ton of makeup or just a bit? If your skin clogs easily, you should use a moisturizer with little or no oil. You also have to consider what time of the year it is. Is it winter? Are you in a cold, dry climate? A cold, wet climate? A hot, dry climate? In the summer, you can have a moisturizer with more water (up to 75 percent). If you're going into the sun, get a moisturizer with SPF [sun protection factor]. There's a difference between a day and a night moisturizer, too. One for day might be lighter. One for night might have more oils.
Scrubs vs. Washes
A scrub exfoliates, gently buffing away the dry, dead cells on the surface of the skin. A wash cleans the skin. And, speaking of cleaning, one of the biggest mistakes a woman can make is to go to bed with any makeup on. That doesn't make her wake up in the morning looking beautiful. That makes her wake up with bad skin!
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