Washingtonpost.com: Live Online

Join washingtonpost.com Shopping editor Janet Bennett and her guest, beauty expert Paula Begoun to talk about how to be smart about shopping for cosmetics.

Paula Begoun

Paula Begoun

Begoun is the author and publisher of several best-selling books on the beauty industry including the latest edition of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." With over 20 years of experience and research in the beauty industry, she is also a syndicated columnist for “Dear Paula” and has appeared on programs such as Oprah, The Today Show, 20/20, Dateline NBC, The View, and Primetime.

Below the transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Janet Bennett: To someone who finds it hard to pass a cosmetics department without at least pausing to buy a lip gloss, I am delighted to welcome guest Paula Begoun, whose latest edition-the sixth-- of her comprehensive guide, "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," has just been published. Like me, I suspect many of you are impulse buyers and often make a purchase based on packaging and hype rather than contents. However, as the state of our pocketbooks has become of increasing concern, I think we all want to get the greatest bang for the buck, and judging by the questions in the queue today, most of them have to do with the issue of price vis a vis quality. Here's my question: of all the over-the-counter lines of skin-care products out there, is there one moisturizer for dry skin that you would recommend above the rest?

Paula Begoun: Hi Janet,
There are lot of great moisturizers in all price ranges. But there isn't one that's the best, it all depends on your skin type. However, for dry skin and fighting wrinkles (other then a sunscreen of course which is mandatory 365 days a year) L'Oreal Line Eraser ($12) is great (identical to Lancome's Resurface for $55 or Olay's Restorative.

Rockville, Md. : I'm 27, and wondering if it is worth it to splurge on a more expensive moisturizer (for example, one from Aveda or Estee Lauder) when Neutrogena is so cheap, and has Alpha-hydroxy stuff in it already. What are your thoughts on expensive vs. cheap cosmetics?

Paula Begoun: Expensive does not mean better in the world of skin care. For example, jar packaging renders ingredients like antioxidants and plant extracts unstable, so that would be a waste of money in any price range. There are great products in all price ranges and bad products in all price ranges, basing your decisions on price will hurt your skin and budget.

Northern Virginia: I loved Revlon's ColorStay Lite SPF15 foundation, but I recently ran out, and can't find it anywhere. Have you heard any buzz about this in the make-up world? Is there anything else out there like it? I have very oily skin, and I love the Ultra-matte feel, especially one that means I don't have to bother with a separate sunblock.

Paula Begoun: I loved that foundation too. It is being discontinues, however Revlon's Mattifying Foundation and Natural Foundation (both with excellent sunscreens) are good substitutes for normal to oily skin.

Washington, D.C.: Paula, a couple of quick questions for you:

- What type of moisturizer should I buy if I have typical T-zone oiliness and a flaky chin in the winter, but normal in all other seasons? I'm not a wealthy woman and want to get good value out of my cosmetics and skin care products.

- Do those skin smoothing lotions really do anything or are they a waste of my hard earned dollars?

Thanks so much!

Paula Begoun: Actually, moisturizer isn't probably as important as what you are doing to clean your skin. Soaps and irritating toners are serious problems for kin and can cause flaky and drying. A gentle cleanser (Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser or Cetaphil Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin)is essential.

To choose a moisturizer (assuming you are wearing a well-formulated sunscreen during the day in your foundation) it should be extremely lightweight and do not apply it over the oily areas. Neutrogena's Healthy Defense moisturizers are great options.

Washington, D.C.: Does the product, pro-active, really eliminate acne when used as directed? Also are all oil-free foundations the same giving the same look and keeping the face free of oil. Some foundation I've purchased has cost $30.00 and others $4.99. Honestly the only difference I can see is a variation in the same color. Do the more expensive brands provide better coverage?

Paula Begoun: There are no topical cosmetics that can cure or eliminate acne (only the oral medication Accutane can do that for about 70% of the people who take it). Well-formulated topical products can help a great deal but cure is a stretch no matter what the claims state. Pro Activ has some good options, however, there is nothing in the Pro Activ line that is not easily replaced by Persa Gel at the drugstore for far less.

Reston, Va.: Hi Paula,

Finally bought my own copy of your book instead of checking copies out of the library. This is the last time you're doing the book !? What will we do without you? You've revolutionized how I purchase cosmetics -- my pocket book and face thank you.

What is next for you after the annual printing of "Take Me With You..."?

Paula Begoun: While I'm not going to write another cosmetic book (though I am updating my hair book) I am planning on my making my web site more dynamic (putting the book online) and using that as a way to update the book rather then a massive rewrite every two years!

New York, N.Y.: What department store products do you recommend for an over-50 woman with dry skin? Would Creme de la Mer be the best choice?

Paula Begoun: Creme de La Mer is owned by the Lauder Corporation and they sell lots of moisutrizers. There is nothing in La Mer that will get rid of your wrinkles any more then anyother Lauder product making the same antiwrinkle claims. Think about it this way, the Lauder company sells over 300 antiwrinkle products from their various lines, is only La Mer telling the truth and their other products fibbing? If you want a Lauder product consider Clinique's Stop Signs or Antigravity. Well formulated in stable containers (meaning not jars) and have a lot of the buzz ingredients found in La Mer only far less expensive.

Arlington, Va.: What eye makeup remover would you recommend? My eyes are sensitive, as is my skin (which is dry). I want something gentle yet effective. Thanks!

Paula Begoun: Almay has a great eye makeup remover for $3 and it is virtually identical in every way to Bobbi Browns for $18. However, you can also use plain olive oil or mineral oil and get good resutls too if you have dry skin (that wouldn't work for oily skin).

New York, N.Y.: Are there any over-the-counter products that are as good or better than the products sold at your dermatologist's office?

Paula Begoun: You're assuming that doctor's are making better products and the research doesn't show to be the case. For example, many so-called derm lines have products with poorly formulated sunscreens, moisturizers in jars which means the ingredients won't be stable, and irritating cleansers. There are lots of great products at the drugstore that easily replace what is available at a dermatologist's office.

Fairfax, Va.: Hi Paula,
Just recently bought your book and I love it! Thank you for sharing your opinions with us today, for free!
My question is what is the most mosturizing lipstick out there? Especially during the winter, I have such a hard time with my lips getting chapped even with lipstick on. Thank you,
a fan!

Paula Begoun: The best thing you can do for your lips is to wear a lip gloss at night (clear of course). Naked lips at night is a problem! That is when the most drying time is for lips because they have nothing on them and the dry air for hours is zapping the moisture out of your lips. Chapstick doesn't work because it is just wax and doesn't contain emollients or lipids that help dry skin and products like carmex contain irritating ingredients. Neutrogena's Moisturizing Shine (for lips) and L'Oreal Glass gloss are awesome. Wear those every night and you won't have dry lips. Great lipsticks for day try Revlon's Absolutely Fabulous and it has sunscreen!

Arlington, Va.: What is the point of toner? I have fair, sensitive skin and use cetaphil cleanser and oil of olay moisturizer. Is toner necessary?

Paula Begoun: Toners can't "tone" anything but when they are well formulated they can remove last traces of makeup and place some good antioxidants and water-binding agents on the skin. All of these are great options that I excerpted from my book:
Avon beComing Get Supple Hydrating Mist ($12 for 5 ounces) and Get Vital Rejuvenating Mist ($12 for 5 ounces);
Beauty without Cruelty Balancing Facial Toner for All Skin Types ($7.95 for 8.5 ounces);
BioTherm „Ïƒº Biosource Softening Toner ($14.50 for 8 ounces);
Bobbi Brown Soothing Face Tonic ($22 for 6.7 ounces); Clarins Extra-Comfort Toning Lotion Very Dry or Sensitized Skin ($23 for 6.8 ounces);

Washington, D.C.: How long can you keep facial wash and moisturizer for? I have some products that are two years old. Could these be harmful to my skin?

Paula Begoun: Preservatives in cosmetics don't last more then a year or two after opening. If a product is something you touch with your fingers then the preservatives are pretty much useless after a few months. Keeping cosmetics for more then a year or two is not good for skin.

Washington, D.C.: I love the shades of Bobbi Brown cosmetics, formulated for yellow-toned skin, but they're so expensive! Any less expensive alternatives?

Paula Begoun: Lots of less expensive alternatives but it depends what type of cosmetics you're referring to. For foundation Revlon is superior but Cover Girl has excellent options too, only it is hard to match the color on skin, so for foundation Clinique has great options too and is less pricy then Brown's For blush L'Oreal has awesome quality and Jane as well (especially for eyeshadows).

Somewhere, USA: jars?: What the deal with jars and moisturizer instability? My thought would be that be it a tube, jar or pump, air's gonna get in (if that's the cause), or plastic is gonna react (if that's the cause). Am I missing something?

Paula Begoun: You can't keep air out 100% even in a pump or tube, but anything you can do to reduce the presence of air you will keep ingredients more stable. Jars are the worse kind of packaging, not to mention that touching the product with fingers contaminates the product.

Alexandria, Va.: Since L'Oreal is owned by Lancome, would you say that most of their products are similar? I like Lancome mascara very much (different formulas for different degrees of thickness and length), but haven't found a L'Oreal product that I liked as much.

Paula Begoun: More so for L'Oreal and Lancome, as is true for Lauder and Clinique and Origins. But every line has their own formularies and good and bad products.

Alexandria, Va.: How do I go about finding a foundation that evens out the redness in my pale skin and controls shine, without looking caked-on? Is my best bet the high-end department store cosmetic counter? Many thanks!!

Paula Begoun: Matching color is so important and because of your special situation I would stay at the department store so you can try it on before you buy it. As I said Clinique has some good options but so does Lancome and Prescriptives. The trick is not only to get the right color but to blend it on with a sponge, not fingers, they streak the product on the face, and to dust it lightly with light pressed powder. Sonia Kashuk at Target has one of the most silky pressed powders you'll ever feel.

Mystic, Conn.: Wow did this discussion happen at the right time! I hope you can help- I was married back in September and splurged on some expensive makeup. I wore it for the next week or so and then had some truly awful breakouts as a result. Needless to say, I do have sensitive skin and got rid of it immediately. Should I have asked for a refund? In addition, I went and tried a brand known for sensitive skinned people, but I did not check the label carefully and again had the same breakouts which I attribute to it not being oil-free. Finally I just tried yet another brand that is non-everything (hypoallergenic, no oil, non-comedo, the works) and again was horrified to see the breakout again. What gives? I was able to wear makeup 6 months ago and now I can only wear powder! Any advice?

Paula Begoun: You're believing the hype about hypoallergenic or being good for sensitive skin as having meaning. According to the FDA cosmetics companies don't have to prove their claims and those terms are meaningless as you have unfortunately found out. Lots of products claiming to be good for sensitive skin contain irritating ingredients. Every product with irritating ingredients recieved a poor rating in my book. And yes, ask for a refund.

St. Louis: Hi, Paula. I'm really enjoying the chat. I notice you've repeatedly warned against moisturizers in jars. I use Almay's Kinetin (sp? Sorry- I don't have it with me and can't quite recall). It was offered in jar or tube form, and I bought the jar because it seemed easier to use. Would I have been smarter to get the tube? Or should I abandon this product altogether in favor of the moisturizers you've suggested?

Thanks for the advice (today and over the years!!)

Paula Begoun: Yes, the tube is the only option. I have issue with the claims around the ingredient kinetin, but for efficacy tubes are it.

Virginia: Is there an easy way to tell which products are/are not tested on animals? Or is there a list somewhere that I can look at?

Paula Begoun: PETA is considered the definitive organization for listing companies that don't test on animals. My issue with PETA is that their listing is benefical for companies claiming to not test on animals but nevertheless sell products containing ingredients and formularies that are based on other company's animal testing (particularly what we know about sun protection or antioxidants). That hypocrisy is galling.

Arlington, VA: I love your books, and have older versions.

Could you provide me the latest scoop on good SPF 15 creams for dry to normal skins? I like Aveda, Body Shop and most brands available at your average malls.

Thanks!

Do you also have any input on Body Time products from SF?

Paula Begoun: Actually, expensive sunscreen can be dangerous because you need to apply sunscreen liberally to get the benefit of the SPF. How liberally is anyone going to apply a $50 1 ounce container of sunscreen.

Here's what you need to know about sunscreen and this information is vital:
SPF numbers are crucial (SPF 15 or greater), but they are a measurement that only pertains to sunburn (UVB rays). Higher SPF numbers, over 30 are useless and the FDA is making those illegal (probably by 2004). There are no numbers to tell you about protection from UVA radiation. For that protection you have to check the active ingredient list. Make sure that either avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane)or, outside of the United States, Mexoryl SX is one of the active ingredients. If one of these doesn’t appear in the active ingredient list (it doesn’t count if it is just part of the regular ingredients) you will not get adequate UVA protection.

Washington, D.C.: I'm at that tender young age where I need to reduce the darkness around my eyes, moisturize and reduce puffiness. However, nearly every product I've tried gives me these little white bumps that won't disappear. What can you recommend?

Paula Begoun: Some women have a problem with milia (the white bumps you describe) when they use heavy moisutrizers or thick concealers. These are difficult to get rid of and you may want to talk to a dermatologist who can easily remove them. For concealer try L'Oreal Visible Lift, for cover up. For moisturizer don't use thick eye creams (the thickeners can cause the problem of white bumps). A light lotion would be far better.

Maryland: sunblock

help me out here . . . given that I'm outside for approximately 10 minutes every day in the winter (running to and from the car for a five minute drive to work), what's the point of the sunblock. I realize it is VERY useful as a product, but isn't overdoing the chemicals just as bad for you (ie: using 45 SPF)

Paula Begoun: The sun's UVA rays, the silent rays of the sun that don't cause sunburn but are now believed to cause wrinkles and even most skin cancers come through car windows and office windows. Further, sun damage is cumulative and that 10 minutes days after day adds up to the very things that cause the skin to look older.

Besides you don't need an SPF 45 and there are sunscreens that use inert sunscreen ingredients (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) which are more gentle and less irritating on skin.

Arlington, VA: So...what are your favorite SPF 15 brands for face protection?

Paula Begoun: Lots and lots, the issue is more formulary (SPF 15 to SPF 30 with UVA protecting ingredients of titanium dioxid, zinc oxide, or avobenzone) and then what texture do you prefer. For example, for me, I don't like layers of products on my face so my foundaiton and pressed powders are both SPF 15s with only titanium dioxide as the active ingredient.

Washington, D.C.: Do you recommend getting a makeover from a department store cosmetic counter? If so, what do you think about the Bobbi Brown brand? I've been thinking about getting my makeup done and starting fresh with Bobbi Brown (friends have told me good things about BB products). I've used Clinique for several years and am ready for a change. Please advise!

Paula Begoun: I think it is great to get lots and lots of makeovers a cosmetics counters. The lines that I have found to have the best training are Bobbi Brown, Trish McEvoy, Prescriptives, and MAC. Take the best of the information you get from each one, new techniques, tricks, ideas, and ignore the ones that don't work for you. Tip the person nicely because you aren't going to buy anything until you see how it lasts or check my book for inexpensive alternatives!

Janet Bennett: Hi, Paula,

Janet here. Another burning question. A friend of mine just loves Armani makeup. But I can't help but think it is overpriced just because it's associated with Armani name. What's your opinion?

Paula Begoun: Tell your friend to stop loving any cosmetic any more then another. They have some beautiful products (and a few disappointmetns) but if money isn't an issue then great stay with Armani. But lots and lots of lines have beautiful products and she'd probably be far better off putting the savings in a Roth IRA then into makeup that won't make her any more beautiful than products costing half as much!

Arlington, Va.: I recently borrowed an older copy of your book from a friend and was very disheartened to learn that many of the 'natural' brands I liked were as bad as all the rest. I'm curious about some brands I don't recall seeing in the earlier edition - got any dirt on Burts Bees or Bloom Cosmetics (an Australian company)? Also, in the newest edition, are there any companies that have dramatically improved?

Paula Begoun: The new edition of my book is radically different from previous ones. The new one has over 1400 pages, 300 lines, and 50,000 thousand products and an extensive dictionary of cosmetic ingredients. Lots of lines have improved there are better products then ever before, but there are also more flagrantly misleading or erroneous claims and almost a competition for who can launch the most expensive product, a trend Lauder started with their Creme de la Mer line of products.

The new edition has Burt Bees (it wasn't rated great) and I haven't reivewed Bloom.
However, your notion that "natural" is better is one to let go of. There are lots of natural ingredients that are bad for skin and lots of derived ingredients that are far better.

L

Washington DC: Can you recomend a good drug store mascara? I always have a hard time finding one. .

Paula Begoun: Lots of excellent ones in all price ranges. L'Oreal's Le Grand Curl or Voluminous and Maybelline Volum are terrific. Stay away from Maybelline's pink and green container this dated formulation smears and flakes. The mentions it gets in fashion magazines are making advertisers happy they aren't based on real information from makeup artists or consumers.

potomac, md: Hi Paula,

Thanks for your books! What do you think of Dr. Perricone and his products/lifestyle approach to skincare?

Paula Begoun: Perricone's work is interesting, but not unique. His comments about skin care in his books are based on his opinions and single patient experience not documented research. Plus, a physician that only recommends his products is circumspect at best. Nonetheless, antioxidants are indeed great for skin (not just the ones in his products) and there are a handful of studies showing that a healthy diet (based on low fat and no meat--high in antioxidants and fish) can be helpful (it definitely can't hurt).

Washington DC: You said that there's nothing in ProActiv that can't
be found in many products at the drug store, but I
have had a very hard time finding a cleanser like
ProActiv's that has micro-beads to exfoliate and
2.5% benzoyl peroxide. All the cleansers at the
drug store use salicylic acid to combat acne, but
that just gives me red, irritated skin. I would love
to use something cheaper than ProActiv but can't
find anything with the same active ingredients.
Any specific ideas?

Janet Bennett: Hi, DC, Paula has said that Persagel and Oxybalance are good acne fighters and you can find both at the drug store. By the way, they're less expensive than ProActiv.

Paula Begoun: Pro Activ's cleanser isn't the best for skin (it isn't one of their products I rated highly). A cleanser with benzoyl peroxide would have that beneficial ingredient rinsed down the drain before it could really have an effect and the microbeads are ground up plastic. You can eaily replace that cleanser with Cetaphil Cleanser for normal to oily skin and then use a tiny amount of baking soda as your scrub! That will work great and save you money.

Alexandria, VA: I use Kiehl's products for skin care (moisterizers, eye cream, lip balm, the works). Are Kiehl's products worth the money?

Paula Begoun: Kiehl's (owned by L'Oreal) has some good and bad products, but defintiely a fair share of poor ones.

Avon: I think Avon makes some of the best moisturizers around, particularly Retroactive and Force Extra. What do you think of those?

Paula Begoun: I agree, Avon has some great moisturizers loaded with antioxidants and state of the art water-binding agents.

Here is my review of the two products you asked from excerpted from my book:
Anew Retroactive Eye Age Reversal Serum ($18 for 0.4 ounce). The claim that this is a “revolutionary eye serum deliver[ing] powerful age-reversing ingredients” is great marketing but simply not true. There is nothing particularly unique about this Serum that separates it from other well-formulated moisturizers in this line or others. It is a very good moisturizer for normal to slightly dry skin. It contains mostly water, film former, glycerin, slip agents, antioxidant, water-binding agents, and anti-irritants. That’s great but not age-reversing.

Anew Force Extra Triple Lifting Day Cream SPF 15 ($22 for 1.7 ounces) comes with claims that your face “will see a 60% improvement in fine lines and wrinkles in one week.” If that happens in just a week, in two to three weeks you should be wrinkle-free! Aside from the hype, this ends up being a decent moisturizer with a good SPF that includes avobenzone as one of the active ingredients. What makes this product unique, along with a few other Anew products, is Avon’s trademark ingredient trioxaundecanediouc acid (also known as oxa acid). A patented ingredient, oxa acid is supposed to be effective as an exfoliant and to perform better than AHAs without irritation. The only research supporting this notion is a very long, rambling patent held by Avon. What makes it confusing is that while one complaint about AHAs is that the low pH required to make them effective for skin can cause irritation, it seems that oxa acid, according to the patent, has the same problem: “…in treating skin conditions [oxa acid] has been found to be affected by the pH of the composition… preferably in the pH range between 3.5 and 4.0.” That’s the same range that makes for effective use of AHAs. Nonetheless, if you wanted to give another exfoliant a try, this is one to consider, though the pH is definitely higher than the patent for this ingredient suggests. It also contains mostly water, glycerin, vitamin C, thickeners, silicones, water-binding agents, vitamins, plant oil, film former, preservatives, and fragrance.
Anew Force Extra Triple Lifting Day Cream SPF 15 ($22 for 1.7 ounces) is almost identical to the version above, only in lotion form, and the same basic comments apply. It does contain fragrance.

Washington, D.C.: Paula-
You have a fabulous web site!
I use it freqently and recommend it to friends and family.
Is there any reasonable way to minimize the size of the pores on my nose?
Thanks!

Paula Begoun: That's a hard one and requires a long discussion of options. Here is an excerpt from my book The Beauty Bible that can be a great start:

Once a pore is emptied and the unsightly blackhead is removed it can take a period of time for the pore to heal and close up. Maintaining the regimen of gentle cleansing, exfoliating, and absorbing oil can go a long way toward making this happen. If your skin can tolerate Retin-A, Renova, or Differin, these products can help promote healing by further improving cell production in the pore. However, even after all this, an empty, open, but permanently damaged, pore can be an unattractive, leftover by-product of the original problem. If you have patiently adhered to all the “right” steps, there is very little else that can be done to change the damage. Time will tell if the effects of improving pore function can shrink a pore, but it does take time, and not everyone will have the same results. Microdermabrasion, AHA or BHA peels, and laser resurfacing can improve the appearance of pores, but these are considered temporary fixes and are not noted for actually changing or correcting the problem. Most likely the improvement is caused by the skin’s swelling which makes the pores look smaller. Again, it is hard to determine success rates because there are no published results from long-term studies available.
The struggle to cover up large pores is nothing less than maddening. The very nature of a depression in the skin makes it difficult, if not impossible, to keep the indentation from showing. Especially if your skin is still oily, and even if you use
an extremely matte foundation, such as Revlon’s Skin Mattifying Makeup or regular ColorStay, Lancome’s Teint Idole, or Estee Lauder’s Double Wear or Double Matte, the oil can still cause some shifting, creating a look of pooled foundation in the pore.
I apologize for sounding dismal about this, but when there are limitations in the skin and in the world of makeup, searching for better options or alternatives can waste money and only increase your frustration. Here is a game plan to tackle the problem. It isn’t foolproof and it won’t work for everyone, but these are the best options available.
1.Avoid moisturizer over the open-pore areas of the face before applying makeup—even if you have dry skin. Any extra “slip” on the skin will cause makeup to pool in the pore. If the skin is dry and flaky, be more diligent in
the evening about treating your skin. Then in the morning use a toner with water-binding agents that can help soothe skin and reduce any dry feeling, yet not add anything that can make skin feel slippery. That means it is essential that your foundation contain your sunscreen, because an additional sun-screen under the foundation will almost certainly cause slippage.
2. Do use a matte or ultra-matte foundation. Even if you have dry skin, these stay on far better than other foundations, are somewhat impervious to oil production, and, therefore, prevent the foundation from slipping into the pore.
3. Consider wearing a tiny amount of milk of magnesia under your foundation over the open-pore area. This is a bit like applying spackle that has minimal to no movement. It can absorb oil at the same time and the foundation glides
over it, creating an even surface. This works better under matte foundations than under ultra-matte foundations.
4. For more stubborn problems, touch up your makeup several times during the day with oil-blotting papers. Then dust the face with a pressed powder designed to be worn as a foundation. Pressed powder foundations apply a slightly
thicker layer of powder than normal pressed powders do, and can better hide the pore. But do this only with a brush; never use a sponge or pad to apply powder because they can place way too much product on the face, making things look cakey and thick.

Alexandria, Va.: I know it's expensive, and I know I'm probably wasting my money to some extent, but I love Borghese moisturizer with Vitamin C in it. The texture is what they call a "gel-cream" and I love it for my combination skin, as it is absorbed quickly and feels so good going on. Do you know of any drugstore product that's comparable?

Paula Begoun: Without knowing exactly which Borghese product you are using its hard to know whether or not it is worth the money. Vitamin C (in some forms) is a great antioxidant but there are lots of great antioxidants. For the money you would be far better off consider Olay Restorative, Neutrogena Healthy Defense, or Clinique's Stop Signs, I know these are less expensive then Borghese's and loaded with good ingredients for skin.

Janet Bennett: Janet here. What's the scoop on this new line called Lab 21? Is it just a gimmick?

Paula Begoun: Mapping the human geonome is barely complete, is a multi-billion dollar, ongoing project, and cosmetics companies are already jumping on the bandwagon to suggest they can map your DNA to reveal your skin care needs. What a joke! It isn't possible and even if it were, your DNA wouldn't tell you that you need sunscreen, shouldn't smoke, are using cosmetics that can cause your skin to breakout or react negatively, or that there are less expensive products with similar formulations and on and on.

Columbia, Md.: Hi Paula, I am looking for information on body moisturizers. In the winter my skin gets very dry and it's hard for me to find a body moisturizer that will keep me soft and smooth all day and smells good. What's a great body moisturizer? Price is no object, and I don't want an unscented product. Thanks!

Paula Begoun: As I said before, for dry skin it's often more about the cleanser you are using then the moisturizer. Stop using bar soaps and cleansers (regardless if they claim to be good for dry skin or are moisturizing, they aren't) and your skin will do far better. Body shampoos are the best and your skin will be far happier. Any body moisturizer will do, Eucerin, Lubriderm, or Cetaphil. But then take a tiny amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (a great antioxidant and skin lipid) and apply it over very dry areas! Just a little your skin will do better then ever before!

Janet Bennett: Thanks, Paula for giving us the straight skinny on Creme de la Mer, among other expensive products that have great promotion but don't actually accomplish much. I for one will be checking Paula's website for more informative tips on how to save money and my skin.

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