Friday, August 16, 2013

Today's Choices In Skin Care Products Can Be Overwhelming...And Potentially Harmful

by Andrea Algar
Contributing Author

It’s hard to resist the lure of beauty product and their promises. We are all in search of the product that will give us youthful, healthy looking skin. So you purchase a product you've heard about, thinking that this will be the solution. Then the next hot product comes along, and it looks even more promising so you purchase that. In fact, you probably shelf the other product before it's had much of a chance to start showing much benefit. Then you end up repeating the cycle again and again. This can be frustrating and expensive!

Psychology experts call this pattern a hedonic treadmill. According to clinical psychologist Richard Raynard, Ph.D., author of books on emotions, “You basically believe the better is just around the corner, despite advances you may have already made.” You derive pleasure from purchases you make, hoping that each new one will bring you more happiness. These goals may or may not be obtainable, but the impulse to satisfy the desire is very strong.This pattern leaves you on a constant and sometimes unsatisfying quest for the perfect product.

Having a makeup counter bursting with beauty products may also encourage you to slather on more than one skin care product at once. Many think that if applying one product is good, then using three or four must be better! This can be a big mistake. Most professional grade products you obtain from a plastic surgeon's office are armed with ingredients more powerful than those you would find over-the-counter in a drug store or even at the counters at expensive retailers. It is best to use these products as instructed by a professional such as your plastic surgeon, aesthetic nurse or esthetician.

“It's harmful to go overboard with skin care products daily because it can cause skin sensitivity,” explains dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, the author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist.

Sometimes when you begin a new skin care regimen, your outer layer of skin can become irritated with redness and peeling. It's usually best to slowly introduce new products into your daily routine, following the instructions for use closely. Also use the products in the morning or at night as directed for best results, and speak to your skin care professional if you have any problems or concerns.