Are you ready for a skin-care splurge? (I know that some of my American readers are eagerly awaiting those government stimulus checks!) Even for those on a tight skin-care budget, the occasional professional treatment is more accessible than you think - moreover, if you choose well, one treatment can have a dramatic impact on your appearance!

Professional dermatological procedures don't all cost a fortune - in fact, there are many highly effective treatments in the $300-500 range that will give you great bang for your buck. Just don't waste your money on treatments that you could do at home or that only have short-term benefits (microdermabrasion or a single chemical peel, for example). If I were to recommend the top most cost-effective procedures, they would be:

• Botox, which costs about $300 per treatment area, works great and lasts four to six months. By relaxing the facial muscles that repeat wrinkle-causing motions, Botox not only minimizes existing wrinkles - it prevents new ones from forming, too. I promise you'll enjoy this more than a new pair of shoes!
• At about $500 per syringe, the latest generation of dermal fillers (most of which use hyaluronic acid, a particularly natural-looking option) can improve lines or augment thin lips. Click here to learn more about the various fillers out there!
• Speaking of dermal fillers, do your earrings droop and not stand up like they used to? Restylane can be injected below your piercing hole to plump the earlobes and help support your earrings. This treatment typically lasts four to six months and is so affordable (depending on the doctor, as little as $200-300), you can even do it twice and still be within your "splurge" budget!
• If you're bothered by broken blood vessels or dark sun spots on your face, then Intense Pulsed Light treatments (IPL) are the splurge for you. While more than one treatment might be necessary to see maximum results, even one treatment (typically around $500) will leave your skin tone much more even and radiant. Better yet, results are permanent (although the aging process, unfortunately, keeps marching on...).

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book," The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com. 

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.

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