To address this growing dilemma, Fretobu asked Camille Meyer of Camille Cosmeceuticals NY and Color by Camille Mineral Makeup, a series of strategic questions designed to enlighten you, the consumer, with regards to the confusing world of skin care.  Camille is founder and owner of the infamous Tribeca Medspa in New York, New York.  They specialize in designing skin care treatments that rejuvenate and revitalize your skin while preventing future damage.

Fretobu:  Camille Cosmeceuticals is the up and coming leader in the world of skin care. What should be the ultimate goal of a skin care regimen?

Camille:  The ultimate goal of a skin care regimen is to be good to your skin.  You must keep the skin clean, hydrated and protect it from pollutants, free-radicals, and most importantly, the sun.

Fretobu:  Many product lines outline several complicated steps to their regimen.  What are the standard components of a good skin care line?

Camille:  A proper skin care regimen should simply cleanse, correct, hydrate, and protect.

Fretobu:  We have all been at the cosmetic counters surrounded by multiple skin care lines.  It can be overwhelming.  Can you outline common problems or misconceptions regarding current popular skin care lines?

Camille:  The most common misconception is that these lines work.  People spend thousands of dollars on products with no results.  These products are mass produced and contain so many ingredients that are not healthy for the skin.  Be careful about what you are being led to believe.

Fretobu:  It seems that the trend today is for products to be labeled “all natural.”  When a skin care line is marketed as all natural does that mean it is pure and healthy for the skin? 

Camille:  No.  Unfortunately, the FDA does not oversee the production of beauty products.  Ingredients listed on the back of the product label go in order of the percentage of that ingredient.  Ingredients included in a product are listed on the bottle.  The ingredients are listed from highest to lowest in concentration.  The issue exists that the last ingredient to be listed can potentially contain .01% of a natural ingredient and the manufacturer can call the product “all natural.”  The product can then be listed as all natural, but in actuality have negative effects on your skin.  Look at ingredients thoroughly.  All natural ingredients should be listed FIRST on the bottle.

Fretobu:  So…We are standing at Macy’s looking at the popular skin care lines….What should we look for in a good skin care product?

Camille:  When looking for a good skin care line, there should be very few ingredients listed.  You should be able to pronounce them and know what they do.  Always look for products that do not contain waxes, silicones, artificial coloring, and fragrances.  Your product should be pure, simple, and give you excellent results.

Fretobu:  We have all been guilty at times of falling into bed at the end of a hard day without washing our face.  Can you tell us what the negative side effects of not cleansing your skin properly?

Camille:  The negative side effect of not regularly cleansing your skin properly is that the pores get clogged with dirt, pollution, and sweat.  This, in turn, makes your skin work harder to take care of itself.  This can cause premature aging.

Fretobu:  Do all skin care products reduce the signs of aging?  Can some products actually increase the signs of aging?

Camille:  That is a difficult question.  I think any skin care regimen is better than doing nothing at all.  We need to remember that our skin is always changing and there are many factors that contribute to this.  The aging process, stress, hormones, changing jobs, moving, and illness for example all affect our skin.  Your skin is the window to what is happening in your life.  As our lives change, so does our skin.  As our skin changes, so must our skin care regimen.  A proper skin care line will be able to accommodate these changes.  If it can, it will effectively reduce the signs of aging.  If we continue to treat our skin the same, despite new changes, products can actually increase the signs of aging. 

Fretobu:  There are so many products, so many different price ranges.  When it comes to skin care products, do you get what you pay for?

Camille:  This is a tricky question!  There are $400 bottles of moisturizers out there that aren’t any better than a bottle off the shelf at the local drug store.  Again, your goal is to cleanse, correct, hydrate, and protect.  For example our basic skin care line for aging skin includes the following products that accomplish that have the before mentioned effects:

Cleanse (Camille-please add product and why it’s beneficial)

Correct (Camille-please add product and why it’s beneficial)

Hydrate (Camille-please add product and why it’s beneficial)

Protect (Camille-please add product and why it’s beneficial)

Always look at the bottle.  Educate yourself.  If you do not know what the function of the products listed, you most likely should not be applying them to your skin.

Fretobu:  Many feel facials are a “luxury” only to be indulged sparingly.  In your opinion, how often should one receive a medical grade facial and why?

Camille:  Men and women should receive a medical grade facial at least 4 times a year.  A good rule to abide by is to receive your facial at the change of the season. Your skin isn’t the same in January as it is in July.  It needs different things and your medical aesthetician will make sure that your skin gets what is needed.

Fretobu:  Thank you Camille for your time and professional insight.  If you could leave us with 3 vital key points to remember with regards to skin care, what would they be?

Camille:  1) It is very important to cleanse your skin before bed.  As you rest your body and mind, your skin needs to rest as well.  When you go to bed with dirty skin you are not allowing it to rejuvenate.  This will cause pre-mature aging.

                     2)  Choose products with the lease amount of ingredients and make sure you understand what each ingredient’s job is.

               3)  Always wear sunscreen.

In summary, when faced with the ever increasing skin care lines on the market, remember the fours essential skin care components:  cleanse, correct, hydrate, and protect.  Look for product lines that do not contain waxes, silicones, artificial color, or fragrances.  Always wash your face daily to prevent clogged pores and pre-mature aging.  Most importantly, pamper your skin.  It is not an indulgence, it is a necessity.  Your skin is a direct reflection of your inner health.  Radiant skin means a radiant YOU!

 ~ Please feel free to contact Camille directly with any skin care or makeup concerns you may have.  She can be reached by email at camille@tribecamedspa.com or by telephone at (212) 925-9500.  Her products can be viewed directly on Fretobu at: http://www.fretobu.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_P.asp?idCategory=87