Finding The Perfect Skin Care Cream

It seems like every week a new skin care cream hits the shelf. Products for frown lines, laugh lines, crows feet. For dry skin, sagging skin and spotted skin. For oily skin, skin with acne and flaky skin. The wealth of choices is a dual-edged sword for consumers. On one hand, it’s amazing to have so many choices for your skin. On the other hand, the choices can be overwhelming. With so many choices how do you choose the cream that is right for you?

Well first you want to identify your skin type and the problems or challenges you face concerning your skin. For example, you have dry skin and you want to avoid wrinkles. Or oily skin and you want to erase wrinkles. Narrowing your criteria down to meet specific needs will greatly aid in finding the right product for your skin.

Once you narrow it down set a reasonable price limit. If you end up finding a cream that will work but is out of your range, find its key ingredients and look for all or some of those in a lower price version.

Check to see if you can get a sample of the products before you buy it. At department stores or specialty stores like Sephora, you can test out the products or get a sample. If you are buying a drugstore version or there is no way to get a sample then check out reviews online for your item. What do the positive reviews highlight? What do the negative reviews say?

After deciding on a product to buy make sure to follow the directions (use day cream during the day, night crème at night). Then give the product about three weeks before you come to conclusions on how well it works. Most quality creams provide results much sooner but changes in your skin due to stress, weather and hormones can effect how the cream works. Take note of how the skin appears and feels each week. At the end of three weeks, ask yourself if you can see and feel differences in your skin. If the differences are positive you have found your new skincare cream.

3 Skin Creams to Try:

1. Transform by SleekSkin ($78, sleekmedspa.com) A light-weight cream that relaxes facial muscles, nourishes skin cells and moisturizes, Transform helps to achieve the appearance of youthful, healthier skin. Daily application can dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thanks to the presence of muscle-relaxing Hibiscus Extract, as well as increase collagen production, improve elastin and skin firmness. Skin looks younger and more vibrant.

2. Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturizer ($34, evabeauty.com) Many top skincare experts recommend Dermalogica for women of color. Active Moist is an oil free moisturizer that absorbs completely leaving no excess residue. Silk Proteins join extracts of Burdock, Sage and Cucumber to calm and hydrate the skin. Perfect for normal to oily skin conditions.

3. SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture ($55,skinstore.com) This easily absorbing cream contains antioxidant vitamin E and other minerals and amino acids to nourish the skin. The formula is based on botanical extracts, including burnet, thymus, greater burnet, witch hazel, St. John’s Wort, glycyrrhiza glabra and stinging nettle. Super calming and moisturizing makes this cream is a real stand out.