Is Mom’s Beauty Advice Right?

Your Mother Says…

“Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. You’ll look 15 years younger.”

Glaser: A moisturizer plumps the skin and makes it reflect light, so using one will make you look younger, but maybe not 15 years younger. Consistent use of a sunblock will make you look 15 years younger.
 
 Brandt: I used to think moisturizers were a temporary fix. But now the medical literature suggests that by keeping the skin moist, you decrease stress on it, so it produces more collagen. So moisturizing does have an effect when it comes to lines and wrinkles.
 
 Patricia Wexler, dermatologist in private practice in New York City and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City: You have to exfoliate first, then moisturize, then protect your skin with sunscreen. If you do all three, you’ll look 15 years younger. It’s five years for each product!
 
 

“Apply cream to your neck and face in an upward motion to reduce wrinkles.”

Newburger: Applying it in an upward motion won’t reduce wrinkles, but if you apply it in a downward motion, you’ll get more stretching of the skin.
 
 Wexler: By applying it upward, you’ll be going in the direction of the least friction and resistance. It’s not going to reduce wrinkles―it’s just not going to exaggerate them.
 
 Glaser: Most wrinkles are not due to gravitational changes―they’re due to sun damage. So while it’s a good idea to apply products gently to limit friction and trauma, it doesn’t matter if you rub upward or downward.