9 Fast-Track Beauty Fixes
By Didi Gluck
Photo Credit: Greg Delves
#3
You want: Perfect pearly whites
Speedy solution: A "Snap-On Smile," $1,500 for uppers only; $3,000 for top and bottom teeth
Marc Liechtung, D.M.D., a cosmetic and restorative dentist in NYC, has created the Snap-On Smile, which can immediately beautify dingy, cracked, gapped and even missing teeth. The snap-on teeth — no drilling or adhesive is required for use — are made from a flexible resin that covers each tooth like a jacket; a little hole at the bottom of each one allows you to bite down. The teeth can hold their shape and color for three to five years (provided you take them out before bedtime and brush them after every meal with a commercial whitening toothpaste). A minor drawback: Your speech might be impaired for the first few minutes you wear the teeth, while your tongue adjusts to them. For information, see snaponsmile.com.
Road-tester remark: "I feel more confident when I wear my Snap-On Smile; no one knows what changed my face, but everyone loves the results!" —Danielle, 30
Lower-cost option: Although they can't alter the shape of your teeth, using Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus, $37.99, for 10 days will boost brightness.
#4
You want: A line-free forehead
Speedy solution: Botox, $400 and up per treatment
"It's not exactly instant — it could take a week to show — but it's definitely the quickest way to achieve a visible difference," says Skin Klinic's Tierney, who acknowledges that Botox can also yield a "frozen look." "Injecting Botox is not a science, it's an art," she adds. The success of the product relies largely on who administers it and how. Your best line of defense is to flash the person injecting you a big smile, so he or she can take into consideration the way your face normally moves and proceed accordingly. Also, if you're a first-timer, err on the side of under-injecting: "You can always get more," says Tierney. Results last up to four months. For information, see botoxcosmetic.com.
Road-tester remark: "I looked less angry, and consequently felt less angry, and I generally had a more refreshed appearance." —Amy, 32
Lower-cost option: Check out Chanel Precision Micro Solutions Wrinkle Neutralizing Treatment, $185. The ingenious new product comes with a roller device that smooths lines, as well as an invisible liquid adhesive you apply to keep them flat.
#5
You want: A clearer complexion
Speedy solution: The Zeno Zit Zapper, $225
The Zeno, a handheld, rechargeable medical device, works by driving a very precise amount of heat through your pimple — painlessly — for two to three minutes. The heat destroys bacteria, shortening the pimple's life cycle, and reportedly increases blood flow to the affected area, prompting faster healing. "I've found it to be perfect for my clients with mild to moderate acne that resists topical treatments," says Mona Sappenfield, owner of Mona Spa and Laser Centers in Jackson, MS, and Memphis, TN. In clinical trials, 90 percent of blemishes treated with the Zeno disappeared or were significantly reduced within 24 hours. For information, see myzeno.com.
Road-tester remark: "Five minutes after zapping my pimple — one of those deep-down, painful ones you can feel coming on for days — it was less red and considerably less sore. By the next morning, only a minuscule red mark remained." —Genevieve, 33
Lower-cost option: Apply Skindinavia Akne-Oil-Pore mask, $39; rinse after 10 to 15 minutes to reveal dramatically diminished redness.
