Friday January 5, 2001

Skin Moisturizers

Even in the warmer climates, winter dryness can do a number on your skin. Lots of people try to save face by spending big money on moisturizers. But hydrating doesn't have to be so high-priced as we found out from the experts in today's RXtra.

It's winter, your hands are dry, your lips are chapped, and your legs belong in the Florida everglades. Soap star Sharon Case is in the business of looking good so she fights the winter skin blues with a little help from the Dee Bartolo Skin Institute in Beverly Hills.

She says, "I do end up wearing a lot of sexy slinky dresses on the show so I like to look as good as I can."

The "Young and the Restless" star uses designer moisturizers. But dermatologist Debra Luftman says you can have soft, smooth skin by using products right off the drug store shelf. She says, "The most important ingredients are oil and water."

Dr. Luftman says choosing a moisturizer is easy. She helped us sort through some popular moisturizing myths.

True or false: Expensive lotions have better quality ingredients? False! Dr. Luftman says, "When you're buying an expensive lotion or cream you're buying the packaging and advertising."

She says that a $10 bottle of Neutrogena hydrates as well as a $35 dollar jar of Este Lauder face cream.

True or false: You need different formulas for eyes, face, hands, and body? That's true and false! Luftman says we do need a face cream with an SPF of at least 15 and a body lotion. But don't waste your money on separate hand and foot creams.

You can use your face cream for eyes. But you do need a lip balm, with a built in sunscreen. And finally true or false: It's better to buy lotions with aloe, vitamin e, and anti-oxidants. False again! Luftman says none of these ingredients penetrate the skin enough to make a difference.

Luftman says, "These ingredients topically really mean very little in changing the skins texture or dryness."

So bottom line: Buy face cream and lip balm with an SPF. And a body lotion that feels good on your skin. Then go ahead, slather it on just like Sharon and you too will have soft, smooth, sexy skin.