I'm a superficial girl when it comes to my looks and now that I'm getting older I know I only have until I'm 20 before my skin starts to lose collagen. I've been adding up the costs of the new skin regime I'm formulating but it's beginning to look costly and I'm wondering if anyone else has invested in anti-aging creams or supplements and are they worth it?

There's a book called Save Your Money, Save Your Face. It's several years old, but it helps you distinguish what's good for skin, and what tends to age or irritate skin. Don't be confused by Madison Avenue marketing, and big name brands.

Belive it or not, many women who have aged beautifully simply use Dove or Ivory, and maybe follow up with a little witch hazel or horse chestnut on a swab. And baby oil goes a long way, too.

Since I have been 20 years old (I am 73 now) I use an inexpensive face moisturizing lotion under my make-up, (about $4., or $5. for four ounces - lasts a long time), and after washing my face before bedtime I apply the same moisturizing lotion. It has served me well all these years.

I remember reading an article many years ago about the fancily- packaged and well advertised "beauty regimens" that are sold. Of course, a 20 year old beautiful model, perfectly made-up has her face on the advertising for the product.

In the article it stated that crisco can do the same thing for your skin that all that expensive stuff does.

I don't opt for the crisco , but the inexpensive moisturizing lotion is great. And, at my age, for a face-lift I remember to keep smiling!

Huge waste of $$.

A cake of Pear's soap and some inexpensive moisturizer (good old Ponds cold cream or olive oil), wear a hat when in the sun.

And the word is 'regimen', a 'regime' is a government!

You have not gone through some of these skin care treatments. What some women practice IS a regime

There was a movie or show or something in which a skin care counter woman is going on and on to a customer about free radicals and skin damage. The counter woman says to the customer, "What's your skin regime?"

The customer says something like, "My regime? The regime from which the radicals are trying to break free? Am I buying face cream or staging a coup?"