It’s easy to dismiss cosmetic procedures as ‘too expensive’ for you … and keep plodding away, buying the ‘latest breakthrough in anti-aging derived from ancient Amazonian herbs!’, getting no real results. Times have changed from the ’90s, when cosmetic surgery was a major operation. Now there are plenty of procedures that can have you looking fabulous, for little more than pocket change. Today we show you how you can start your journey to a fabulous look, on less than $1000.
Step 1: Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal for facial areas is ultra-affordable, and ensures you have a smooth base to show off once you’ve started on pigment removal or skin tightening procedures. For example, laser hair removal on the upper lip starts at just $19 per pre-paid treatment.
Step 2: Pigmentation removal (if necessary)
Most people, even those with few visible freckles, will see a noticeable improvement in skin tone after laser pigmentation. However, if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to prioritise your cosmetic treatments. Pigmentation removal costs around $240 for three treatments over both your nose and cheeks – nose only would be around $60 for 3 treatments. Make this your second step if you have noticeable areas of freckling, or are starting to develop age spots. For the rest of you with fairly even skin tone, move onto step 3…
Step 3: Skin needling, laser wrinkle reduction, dermal fillers or anit-wrinkle injections
All of these treatments will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, and your cosmetic clinician will be in the best position to advise you on the ideal treatment for your level of wrinkling and skin type. The ‘average’ price to see good results from your treatments would be:
• Skin needling on the full face: $560 for two treatments
• Laser skin tightening over ½ the face: $300 for 3 treatments
Step 4: Retin-A
Your doctor will need to provide a prescription for Retin-A, but for those of us with skin that is mildly acne-prone this cream can be a godsend. In addition to clearing up acne, age spots and minor pigmentation, it also thickens your skin and makes it more resistant to wrinkling.
Final Step: Moisturiser and sunscreen
Staying out of the sun is vital for maintaining the results from your pigmentation removal procedures, especially. Sun exposure will also gradually erode the benefits of laser wrinkle reduction treatments … so keep your sun exposure to 10 minutes a day, outside the highest-UV times of 11am to 3pm. Pick a quality moisturiser or skin health product that includes sunscreen, so that you don’t feel like you’re walking around with an oil slick on your face. Mineral makeup is also a fabulous way to protect yourself from the sun without the grease factor.
Moisturiser also provides a physical barrier to stop the wind, sun, air conditioning and life in general robbing your skin of moisture and creating further fine lines.