Budget basics for beautiful skin

These may be tough economic times but our specialist dermatologists want to remind you that healthy skin does not require a major financial investment. There is no scientific evidence to support the notion that the more expensive a facial cream is the more effective it is. In fact, some of the cheaper brands far out-rank the more expensive brands in safety and performance.

Here are some practical tips to help you look your best without breaking the bank.

1. Keep it simple.

   Good skin care does not need to be complicated. By following the principles of "cleanse, treat, protect" you can have an extremely effective skin care regime with only three products.

2. Clean and clear

   Choose a water soluble, rinse-off, soap-free cleanser. Use this as a make-up remover and then use it as a face wash. Wash your face twice a day to remove dirt and impurities. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser 500ml costs less than $28 and is suitable for all skin types. We also like Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, available from most supermarkets.

3. Save the toner for your photocopier

   Toners do not 'tighten pores' or 'alter the skin's pH'. At best, the toner removes debris you haven't rinsed off after cleansing; at worst it can irritate and dry the skin and waste your hard earned cash.

4. A little goes a long way

   Choosing the right cleanser eliminates the need for a toner and can reduce your moisturising needs. Only a pea-sized amount of moisturiser is needed per application.

5. Seeing is not always believing

   Eye creams are not necessary. Don't believe the hype that says you need a 'special' cream for the 'delicate' skin around the eyes. The skin around the eyes has exactly the same cellular structure as the skin on your cheeks, although it is thinner. Many eye creams irritate the eye area and can cause allergic reactions. A gentle fragrance-free moisturiser such as Cetaphil Moisturising Cream can be safely used over the entire face and under the eyes.

6. Read the fine print

   You've seen those advertisements for remarkable new anti-ageing products that produce dramatic, visible results in just 7 days. But read the fine print! In print media, a tiny asterisk usually follows such claims as these and at the bottom or side of the page you will discover the actual number of people involved in the trial of the new product. The number is astonishingly small and the results are not statistically significant.

   If you already have one of these 'miracle' products, have a look at the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in order of their greatest concentration. If your Vitamin C cream has Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) listed at number 23, than you can be fairly sure there isn't terribly much Vitamin C in your cream and you'd be better off eating a kiwifruit with your breakfast while saving yourself a lot of money.

7. Less is more

   You don't need a moisturiser and an eye cream and a neck cream and all those vitamin-enriched-liposome-peptide-hope-in-a-jar anti-ageing creams. Over-use of skin care products on a daily basis can cause skin problems such as peri-oral dermatitis, acne, and milia. The best product for daily use is a sunscreen SPF30+ or higher. Modern sunscreens are non-greasy and have moisturising properties so your skin is protected and hydrated throughout the day, saving you a lot of money and giving you healthy, dewy-looking skin. We like Sun Sense Daily Face which retails for less than $20.

8. Don't sweat the small stuff

   Stress results in the adrenal glands producing more cortisol hormones which can set off acne and other skin problems.

9. Get healthy

   Looking after yourself means that you feel good on the inside and the outside. There are numerous benefits to eating a healthy balanced diet and getting regular challenging exercise. Your skin becomes more supple, less prone to break-outs and you radiate good health.

10. Embrace your age

    You can't turn the clock back. Ageing is part of the human condition and it happens to all of us. Whether you plan to grow old gracefully or disgracefully, as you age your skin will become thinner and looser as collagen and elastin fibres slowly break down. Anti-ageing creams cannot reverse this process.

    Photo-ageing is premature ageing caused by sun-damage. In photo-ageing, the skin thickens, becomes more coarse and blotchy with pigmentation. While this can be treated, the myriad of anti-ageing skin care products available over-the-counter rarely contain high enough levels of active ingredients to significantly alter the appearance of sun-damaged skin.

    At Auckland Dermatology we have a range of specialist treatments and products that can help refine and rejuvenate sun-damaged skin and can be tailored to suit your budget.

    Your #1 anti-ageing product is a sunscreen SPF30+ or higher.