Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me...

A good friend of ours used to teach skin care to girls who were working to become models. He told me about this book and about how he learned most of his skin care knowledge (product-wise) from it.

I've toyed with the idea of purchasing it, but hadn't had a chance to sit down and read it. After all, I read six to eight industry magazines (American Spa, Skin Inc., Massage & Bodywork, etc.) each month and about ten consumer magazines (such as Allure, Glamour, and Shape). The majority of consumers get their beauty info from these magazines. Just look at the tiny little beauty section in Barnes and Noble and the overwhelming section of women's magazines, all claiming to have the latest secrets.

Jay and I had a coffee date at said bookstore this evening. It was one of the few nights that neither of us had an appointment and it was nice to spend some time with him just gabbing and looking at books.

I picked up five new May magazines to start with, he picked up a new copy of Dune, and then we wandered. I spent about fifteen minutes perusing Don't Go. I flipped first to the section, of course, that related to my own line of skin care products.

The introduction laughs at those of us who puff up with each positive recommended product and then proclaim the author knows nothing when one is said to be useless, potentially harmful, and--in short--a waste of money. I don't like to think that this is my reaction, and here are the logical reasons why:

The thing that struck me most is that the book is way outdated. The most recent version (cross checked with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the author's website) was printed in 2003.

There have been many cosmetic and skin care breakthroughs in the last four years.

Even searching on her website (which has the most update information, supposedly), the company name is still incorrect. Physician's Choice changed their name from Physician's Choice of Arizona to PCA.

No big deal.

The products listed in the book are incorrect. A handful of them are no longer made. Many current products are not listed at all. The ingredients listed for the products that are currently available are incorrect.

Example:

"pHaze 33 Acne Cream ($14.95 for 1 ounce) . As a topical disinfectant with 5% benzoyl peroxide this may be an option, but the castor oil in it can leave a tacky feel on skin and the cream base can be too emollient for those with breakouts. The lemon oil and jasmine make this product a poor choice for sensitive skin. It also contains 5% lactic acid (an AHA), but the pH of the product isn't low enough for it to be effective as an exfoliant"

Here is PCA's list of ingredients for this same product:

Benzoyl Peroxide
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Lactic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract

Jasmine? Lemon? I don't see either of those in this list. And furthermore, the product is not designed to be an exfoliant.

The product is designed to:

"This active 5% benzoyl peroxide acne spot treatment effectively delivers oxygen into the pores to help kill the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. L-lactic acid and tea tree oil also work to inhibit breakouts while keeping the skin hydrated and smooth."

I read the book on the shelf and noted that the ingredients for almost all of the products were incorrect. I'm assuming that the company has made formulation changes due to improved knowledge of products and available technology since then. I doubt that the author would go to print without better fact checking.

If you do have this book and are concerned about trying the line that I carry due to the review, please visit www.pcaskin.com for updated information. You can find information for both professional and home care lines as well as ingredients, intended usage, and directions.

And, when in doubt, I do have sample sizes for sale.

To schedule a consultation and learn about what skin care products are right for your skin, call Lizz at 941-321-5311 or visit www.lightweavermassage.com. Schedule your facial in Sarasota today!