Luxe vs. Less Skin Care

You don't have to spend half your paycheck on skincare products to stay wrinkle and pimple-free. That said, slathering household condiments on your face to avoid paying for the good stuff isn't necessary either. Dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban and P&G scientist Mary Begovic Johnson helped us compare products with similar ingredients that are very different in cost. Here's what we found....More

By Emily Kate Warren

Is Your Eye Cream a Rip-Off?

We tracked down dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf, aesthetician Olga Lorencin-Northrup and natural skincare specialist Liz Earle to help identify the most effective ingredients to address your eye-area concerns. So whether you're ready to dump your current eye treatment or still testing the water, take this quiz to find out whether your product fits their recommendations....More

By Charli Schuler

Your Makeup Products Could Be Causing Acne

Stress, the environment and hormones all contribute to unsightly blemishes ... but could part of the problem be your makeup? Even seemingly acne-friendly products can clog your pores if they're not right for your skin -- or if you're combining them with not-so-skin-friendly habits. Take this quiz to see if your makeup products and practices put you at a higher risk for acne...More

By Charli Schuler

Get rid of acne & wrinkles

While reading Elle Canada magazine, I came across an article about acne treatment. Dr. Benjamin Barankin, from the Toronto dermatology center, answers readers questions and offers solution on how to get rid of those annoying, nasty acne.

1. What acne solution can you use to get rid of acne scars? The type and severity of scarring needs to be assessed based on a number of factors including age, skin colour, presence of ongoing acne, etc. A dermatologist is the best person to discuss this with. Acne treatment options include laser (the new Fractionated Lasers have shown nice results, or you can use smoothbeam or another resurfacing laser), subcision or punch excision of scars, and a more modest benefit with chemical peels (remember, the deeper the peel the better the outcome, but it will mean more downtime) and microdermabrasion. Injectable fillers such as Restylane are sometimes used as well to plump out indented scars. It's critical to make sure that any acne is cleared up before going after the scars. You need to stop the fire in the house before rebuilding.

2. What's the best way to treat discolored skin? It needs to be determined by a dermatologist why the skin is darker or discoloured in that particular area. We need to know if there was a rash or eczema, or another problem in that area. What medications have been used, (some medications can darken the skin.) The skin can be lightened with hydroquinone creams or Vitamin A acid creams (Tretinoin, Tazarotene), or a combination cream. Other times, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser treatments can be beneficial. The use of a good daily sunscreen (minimum SPF 30, ask your dermatologist for which ingredients to look for) is also important as the sun keeps pigment from fading.

3. I have what is called milia under my eyes (tiny white pimple like bumps). Is their any product that will cover them without damaging under my eyes? Milia seems to be more common in people who have dry skin and while it is difficult to cover up any bumps on the skin, COVERFX and Dermablend make great cover up solutions. Milia are also easily extracted with no scarring by a dermatologist with special extraction tools and minimal discomfort.

4. I started getting small bumps on my face, which appear to be kind of like blocked pores and they won't go away. How can I get rid of them/prevent them from happening? What you're describing sounds like comedones (whiteheads and/or blackheads). Salicylic acid washes that are available over the counter can be beneficial, but often a topical Vitamin A acid (Tretinoin, Tazarotene, Adapalene) is required to keep the spots at bay. If there are numerous lesions and they are slow to respond to creams, oral Isotretinoin (Accutane) is usually successful, but usually reserved for moderate to severe acne. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion can help as well.

5. I'm still young but I have a lot of deep lines and wrinkles. I've tried many creams but they don't work. What can I do? Most over the counter creams are only modestly beneficial. Prescription creams with Vitamin A (for example Tazarotene, Tretinoin) in particular have been shown to help with fine wrinkles and other signs of sun/photo-damage in numerous studies. Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) is very popular, effective and safe, and it is particularly helpful for dynamic wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. As well, fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are very useful for lower face, static wrinkles, especially the smile lines. Resurfacing lasers can also be tried. Surgical options are less in vogue, involve more downtime and have more potential risks.

Again, a dermatologist, the only skin expert, is your best bet for more information.

À bientÔt

Top-Rated Acne Fighters

Top-Rated Acne Fighters
These beauty products by Prescriptives, Avon and more left skin zit-free. By Charli Schuler
The only thing worse than a painful pimple is a product that can't cure (or worse, irritates) a painful pimple. We scoured your reviews to find the top acne fighters, from drugstore favorites to high-end formulas. Find out if your acne treatment is really the best one out there by reading these product reviews. ...More

À bientÔt

Is Botox for you?

Are You Ready for Botox?
Fillers, peels, lasers -- find out if one is right for you. By Mary Rose Almasi
Choose the best answer to each question to find out whether you really need treatments. ...More

À bientÔt

Right skin care for your age

The Right Skin Care for Your Age
How do celebrities get that youthful glow? Probably with a little help from these products. By Kristen Oldham Giordani
Getting ahead of yourself when it comes to skin care is easy to do. With so many products containing beneficial ingredients like antioxidants, retinoids, peptides, acids, etc., it's easy to think that you need to use them all -- now! But pace yourself; different ages have different skin issues and sometimes (most times) less is more. We talked to dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf and Kinara Spa owner, aesthetician Olga Lorencin, who both agreed. Here's the scoop on what products you should think about using in your 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s to keep your skin looking great. ...More

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