Consumer Reports recently did a survey of 9 facial serums ranging in price from $20 to $65 per ounce. Their findings? None made any improvements to speak of after a use period of 6 weeks. According to the online article:

“Results were inconsistent

After six weeks of use, the effectiveness of even the best products was limited and varied from subject to subject. Every serum we tested produced a visual change in wrinkle length or depth for at least one person and did nothing for others.

Improvements were minor

When we did see wrinkle reductions, they were at best slight, and they fell short of the miracles that manufacturers seemed to imply on product labels. We don’t know whether using the serums for longer than six weeks would yield a greater improvement. But the dermatologists we consulted said our findings weren’t surprising, since the Food and Drug Administration, which oversees cosmetic safety and labeling, doesn’t require manufacturers to test the products for efficacy, let alone test for whether they meet their claims, though claims must be “truthful and not misleading.”

Natural didn’t cut it, either….Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum contained a laundry list of essential oils and no parabens or phthalates. And with a tiny bottle (less than one-half ounce), it was among the priciest products tested in terms of cost per ounce.”

In case you weren’t aware, as a Medical Doctor, I can prescribe a number of different creams that have proven results for efficacy. Ask me about it at your next visit…..

Got last minute notice today that a segment that I taped for The Today Show was about to air. This is a piece that features a friend (and patient) named Leslie Adler.

Take a look at this interesting piece that explores honesty in relationships and how much information we exchange with our partners versus keeping some information personal. Here, Leslie takes a day to go shopping and get a little Botox. She takes the position (as many of us do) that there is nothing wrong with avoiding the days’ events when it comes to her spouse.

Here’s the clip. What do you think? In my line of work I see many couples who do not share their visits to my office with one another, and incidentally, those are “secrets” that stay in the confines of the Doctor/Patient relationship. As I state in the segment, there have been instances when I see one spouse in the morning and the other in the afternoon and both ask me to keep their visits in confidence….a favor I will of course honor without even being asked.

Certain subjects like cosmetic injections, plastic surgery and a day of shopping are ones that people view differently. Sneaking new clothing items into the house may be more difficult than smuggling in your newly injected  Juvederm.

As far as your visits to your favorite boutique, I will leave that to you, but you can rest assured….your visits to Schlessinger Eye & Face are a secret that is safe with me!

Oh, and for the record, I am an Ophthalmologist specializing in Oculoplastic & Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery, NOT a Dermatologist as stated in the segment.