gmhTODAY 30 gmhTODAY April June 2020s | Page 70

Your Life, Your Style Karen La Corte Karen La Corte is an etiquette and manners expert trained and certified by the Emily Post Institute in Vermont. Karen is happy to answer your questions — email her at [email protected] How Much Does Your Face Cost? I f you’re like me, you probably have tried every new anti-aging cream out there. I have a drawerful. You buy one, use it for a while, are disappointed, and then move onto the next “hot” cream or serum on the market. Television, magazines, Facebook, Instagram, your derma- tologist and your local drugstore all promote the latest and greatest products to reverse the signs of aging. The anti-aging market has exploded. It is now a billion-dollar industry. We are inundated with everything from what Dr. Oz suggests to Oprah’s favorites. But, let’s face it (no pun intended) putting your best face forward can be expensive. The first signs of aging begin in your 30’s. This often appears first in the eyes, forehead and the mouth and lip area. It’s not about what’s happening on the surface of the skin, it’s what is happening in the deeper layers. We can’t completely stop aging, but we can slow it down. You probably don’t want to hear this, but diet is a very important factor in slowing the aging process. The best diet for anti-aging is a diet that is good for the health of your body. Combined with exercise, this includes eating foods that are high in phytonutrients and antioxidants which include orange and yellow fruits and vegetables; berries such as rasp- berries, blueberries and blackberries; and green tea. Nuts and fish, which contain omega fatty acids, can have anti-aging benefits in the long run. Do I need to mention that sugar and alcohol should be consumed in moderation if you want to keep that youthful glow? Keeping your skin clean is the next important thing. Again, there is a plethora of skin cleansers out there. You don’t have to break the bank here. You just need something that’s gentle but will cut through pore-clogging makeup, oil and dirt. I use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It’s only $6.39 at Target. I’ve tried them all. This does the trick, morning and night. And if I feel I need a little more, I use Biore deep pore cleansing cloths. I like to travel with these too. Amazon sells a 60 count for $8. Next is sunscreen. I’m not going to judge you here or give you a whole paragraph on the damage that sun alone can do to your face including skin cancer, but I will tell you what I use and I think you’ll like it too. This product is hydrating enough that you can skip your daytime moisturizer and it doesn’t feel greasy. It is packed with good broad-spectrum protection. This is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF55. And it is only $8.49 for 3 oz at Rite Aid. Cha Ching! I love love love this stuff. 70 GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN Keeping your face moisturized is also key in keeping those fine lines from appearing and to help skin from losing its elasticity. This is again your choice. I’ve used everything from Chanel’s Sublimage La Crème at $400 a jar (because scientists traveled to the farthest reaches of the island of Madagascar to find the key to the best anti-aging skincare product)—Eye Roll here—to what I’m using now. I use Anew Reversalist Complete Renewal by Avon. Yes. Avon. I use the night cream for both day and night. I use it also because Cathy Shostle that works for me sells it. I not only want to support Cathy, but this is only $35 a jar. I have found that if it’s rich in emollients, it’s good enough for me. Don’t forget to moisturize your neck and décolletage as part of your moisturizing ritual. Your neck can really give your age away if you don’t take care of it. For those of us “of a certain age” who feel we need some type of wrinkle and age spot treatment, I like ProX Deep Wrinkle Treatment by Olay. I like it because it has a high concentration of retinol, niacinamide, and peptides. I use it morning and night for an effective all-around anti-aging product to tackle wrinkles, sunspots, and dryness all at once. This is $45.99. My last tube I got at Walgreens. My Aunt Delphine who lived to be in her nineties swore by olive oil. She never had a wrinkle, but I’ve shied away from putting olive oil on my skin as I have oily skin to begin with. And at my age that’s all I need is break-outs due to clogged pores and overly oily skin! Hey, I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on dermatologist’s skin care systems only to be disappointed. So, these are my thrifty little secrets I’m shar- ing with you. Then we need to talk about whether to wear foundation or not to wear foundation. Some of you don’t. That’s fine. If nothing else, please practice my simple skin care regi- men. But if you like to wear foundation, try to match your skin tone or one shade darker. Truth is, we can all wear about three different shades. Decide if your skin tone is cool or warm and then find one you like. Again, the makeup counter at Macy’s or Nordstrom is great, but so is your local drugstore. I read an article once that Elizabeth Taylor bought her everyday makeup at Woolworths. Concealer, blush, highlighter, eye liners, shadows, mascara and brow pencils are all personal choices. And they all take practice with trial and error. But the one thing that a woman cannot do without is her LIPSTICK. Try to find a lip color that you can rock. If it’s fire-engine red, then wear it proudly. Even SPRING 2020 gmhtoday.com