Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

For a long time after many friends and co-workers who are the same age as I am (and sometimes even younger) were showing signs of aging in the face, I was not. I've just turned 30 though, and it seems like I've developed lines around the eyes overnight. They're fine lines and only visible up close, but of course it's only the beginning and will get worse in the years to come.

I thought of just waiting until the lines get bad enough to be easily visible and go to a cosmetic surgeon, but what I'm most interested in is keeping my face as smooth as possible as well as the skin on my face looking as young as possible; cosmetic procedures like Botox keep you wrinkle-free, but you still have aged skin.

I don't spend much money on creams and whatnot (I put aloe vera gel on my face after shaving and that's about it) because I've never been convinced, even by cosmetics salespeople, that they're worth the money. Have you ever had a conversation with them about why their products are worth so much? I have, and it went like this:
"Please don't take this the wrong way because it's an honest question: Why is this cream worth so much?"
"The ingredients are high quality and it works."
"What do you mean by 'high quality'? How are they effective? And if they're so powerful, are there any risky side effects?"
"High quality means high quality. This cream works and it's safe."
(I never push it past this point because I expect that if they have a satisfactory explanation, they'd offer it up right away)

I know this is not a forum of dermatologists or anti-aging experts, but maybe someone will have some insight: Are there any cosmetics that actually work at staving off signs of aging? Is there anything else I can do? I do not plan to age gracefully; I will fight it to the death! Help me do so.

[kardisa]

Retinol (or a retinoid) at night and sunscreen during the day. I used to have tiny wrinkles at the corners of my eyes and a rather deep one on my forehead. I started using a retinol cream from IOPE about 3 months ago and the small wrinkles are gone and the deep one is barely noticeable. One tube is about $80 but it seems to last 5-6 months. I believe that retinoids are the only anti-aging creams that are proven to work. The downside is that you have to use sunscreen anytime you go outside in order to protect the new skin cells.

Some reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/fashion/30skin.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/the-return-to-retinol/#1

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I use these every night:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MVG48Q/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

http://www.kiehls.com/Midnight-Recovery-Concentrate/819,default,pd.html?cgid=face-night-care&cm_vc=Search&start=1&q=midnight%20recovery%20concentrate

http://www.kiehls.com/Ultra-Facial-Cream/622,default,pd.html?cgid=face-moisturizers&cm_vc=Search&start=1&q=ultra%20facial%20cream

In the morning I use this:

http://www.kiehls.com/Ultra-Facial-Cleanser/714,default,pd.html with a small buffing loofa that I got at Body Shop then I use

http://www.kiehls.com/Cucumber-Herbal-Alcohol-Free-Toner/263,default,pd.html followed by the Ultra Facial Cream again, and, if I'm going out without a hat, I add an SPF 50 sun screen. The Ultra Facial Cream, cleanser, and cucumber toner last me from between 4 and 5 months. The glycolic acid toner maybe 3 or 4. The midnight recovery is a recent addition, so I can't say how long that lasts, but, considering you're supposed to use 3 drops (I use 4) every night, it should last 5 months at the least. When I used cheaper products, I had to reapply the moisturizers a few times throughout the day. Now, it's after I shower at night, and again in the morning after I wash my face.

To answer your questions about price: I have really sensitive skin, and have tried too many products to count. Kiehl's seems to work the best for me. My dermatologist back home agreed that the products are some of the best non-prescription ones on the market, especially for people with sensitive skin. The glycolic acid toner was just a lucky find, as I used to use a different brand, but the company wouldn't ship to Korea and this one would. It turns out that it's far gentler than the other, and I can use it every night.

I'd rather spend my time and money on prevention and maintenance and not need make up (well, maybe a little eye make up to doll myself up when going out for dinner) or surgery. Botox hurts (I've been told,) and costs more than this stuff anyway.

[Zackback]

I am really glad to see that keeping pretty is important to you.
Just put Blistex underneath the eyes and also don't forget about the part of the face next to the eyes. Over time crows feet will appear. Try not to squint a lot as well.

This:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?p=crow%27s+feet&back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dcrows%2Bfeet&w=665&h=499&imgurl=www.nwwls.com%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2Fcrows_feet_before.jpg&size=33KB&name=crows_feet_before.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwwls.com%2Fbotox-and-juvederm-injectables&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwwls.com%2Fbotox-and-juvederm-injectables&type=&no=2&tt=112&oid=9a23bc55b42ff4f79d893fd0404d1424&tit=Crows+Feet+Before+Botox+Treatment+Crows+Feet+After+Botox+Treatment&sigr=11jjpendo&sigi=11iq3pr1b&sigb=11k8nb83s&fr=yfp-t-701

[highstreet]

I second Kiehls stuff. Slightly overpriced here, but not by much.

[young_clinton]

For your skin Retin A is very powerful for reversing aging especially due to sun damage. It can reverse aging on your sking years by up to 15 years maybe more.

[12ax7]

Quit smoking if you do, and don't start if you don't.

[JustinC]

I never clean my mirrors, that seems to work pretty well.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[young_clinton]

Use a less powerful prescription 0.025 % creme for damaged skin. Higher concentrations are for acne and are not signicantly better for use in sun damaged skin.