Cleansers, exfoliators, and sunscreen can be bought at the drugstore, said Ivona Percec, a plastic surgeon at Penn Medicine's Center for Human Appearance.
A $65 consultation with an aesthetician in Percec's practice provides a skin-care regimen based on skin type and budget, using over-the-counter products, she said.
Her office sells medical-grade products that have a higher percentage of active ingredients in them - some are prescription medications, such as Retin-A, that require FDA approval. Over-the-counter products contain these same ingredients in lower amounts, Percec said.
Here are some general skin-care tips along with affordable products recommended by experts:
Do some homework. Look up a cosmetic ingredient online to find out more about it, or use a guide such as A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter, recommends Betsy Rubenstone, director of the medical skin-care division at Deme, a center that offers plastic surgery, skin-care, and nutritional counseling in Philadelphia and Wayne.
Consumers can also find useful information on the American Academy of Dermatology's website, including reviews on how to treat certain conditions, said Guy Webster, a clinical professor of dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University.
Learn what works. Retinoic acid has the most evidence when it comes to fighting the signs of aging. It's most commonly known in prescription strength as the brand Retin-A, and over the counter as a less active agent, retinol, Percec said.
Alpha hydroxy acids and antioxidants - Vitamins C and E - can also work to slow or reverse the effects of aging. Other antioxidants work well, but not as much evidence on those is available as on Vitamins C and E, Percec said.
