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Get Great Skin in Two Weeks

Radiant, smooth, and blemish-free skin: Can new face creams deliver big improvements in just 14 days?

Oct 21, 2009

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: La Roche-Posay Effaclar AI Intensive Acne Spot Treatment, $29
THE CLAIM: Reduces acne by 31 percent in three days and blackheads by 55 percent in 10 days.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "I like this combination of benzoyl peroxide and an exfoliant to treat acne. But if you don't have a bad breakout, a pimple could go down on its own in 10 days, even if you don't use any treatment."

Fabio Pettinari

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "Within three days, the two enormous zits on my chin were barely visible. But after using this product for two weeks, my skin got red and irritated, and I still had new breakouts."

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: Kiehl's Açaí Damage-Repairing Serum, $46
THE CLAIM: Improves radiance by 12 percent, skin tone by 8 percent, and smoothness by 5 percent in 14 days.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "Açaí is the antioxidant du jour. Topical use is theoretically protective, but there's no long-term data that proves it works."

Fabio Pettinari

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "After one week, the fine lines on my forehead and the acne scars on my chin were less noticeable. By day 10, my rosacea had all but disappeared, and the pores on my nose looked smaller and tighter."

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: ROC Multi-Correxion Skin Perfecting System, $49.99
THE CLAIM: Improves fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and skin roughness after 14 days.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "This three-step system is on the right track, but it contains retinol, a weaker version of prescription-strength retinoids, which takes six to eight weeks to improve brown spots and skin texture."

Fabio Pettinari

Skin A to Z

U, ULTRASOUND You don't have to be pregnant to reap the benefits of ultrasound. High-frequency sound waves have been found to revitalize skin tissue, producing a tightening effect, and also to dissolve fat in specifically targeted areas. Think of it as incision-free liposuction.

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: DDF Advanced Moisture Defense SPF 15, $105
THE CLAIM: Increases skin firmness and elasticity by over 10 percent in five days.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "The turmeric in this cream is yet another antioxidant, but it's not proven that it firms the skin. It's a great idea to mix an antioxidant with sunscreen, but I'd recommend a higher SPF — at least 30 for every day."

Lee Jenkins

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "This cream did a good job of hydrating, but after the first week, it didn't seem like my skin got firmer, so I decided to supplement with extra antiaging products."

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, $16.99
THE CLAIM: In just two weeks, 86 percent of testers said their skin felt firmer.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "If your skin is very dry, you can get firmer skin just by moisturizing. But for a permanent improvement, even retinoids take six months to increase firmness by building collagen and elastin, and they're prescription-strength."

Image Source Photography

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "I typically moisturize every morning and night. This particular cream penetrated quickly and definitely made my skin a lot softer, but I looked shinier and oilier than usual when I woke up in the morning."

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: Dr. Denese Wrinkle Rx Extreme Retinol Eye Gel, $49.50
THE CLAIM: 80 percent of testers felt their eye area looked firmer and that fine lines were smoother.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "Putting retinol around the eyes will firm and improve elasticity, but that takes months. This gel also contains silicone, which is a temporary skin smoother."

Fabio Pettinari

Skin A to Z

X, XANTHELASMA These tiny bumps under the eyes are actually fat deposits and a sign of high cholesterol. Not to be confused with milia, deposits of calcium that also appear in this area but are less serious. "Milia are usually caused by heavy pore-clogging creams," explains Wexler.

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: Caudalíe Premier Cru, $150
THE CLAIM: Visible increase in collagen production and skin thickness after 10 days.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "This study was done on cells in a petri dish, not on real faces. The cream contains resveratrol, which is a very promising antioxidant, but we're not sure if we should just be drinking a little more wine to get more resveratrol or if we need to smear it on."

Robert Chizzola

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "The day after my first use, four different people asked me what blush I was wearing, but it wasn't blush — my skin just glowed. Now after two weeks, my skin looks fresh and bright, and even the blackheads on my nose cleared up."

Jeffrey Westbrook/Studio D

Great Skin in Two Weeks

THE PRODUCT: Neutrogena Total Skin Renewal Starter Kit from Ageless Restoratives, $27.99
THE CLAIM: Reverses one year of sun damage after just three uses.
DOCTOR'S DECODING: "How do you measure a year of sun damage? This exfoliating device will make your skin smoother, but if you have sensitive, dry skin, using it three times a week [as recommended] could irritate."

Robert Chizzola

Great Skin in Two Weeks

TESTER'S FEEDBACK: "After the first use, my skin glowed and was supersoft. I'd never gotten these results from any other exfoliator or face scrub I've tried before. But by day 10, I started getting little rashlike bumps on my nose and chin. I think three times a week is too much for my sensitive skin."

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