The extension of the well known brands into the market, together with a few specialist cosmetic skin care products, who mainly just deal with skin has dramatically changed the way we treat our skin. No more are we lucky enough to have a bar of soap to soften the apparent harshness of the water we use to wash in. No, today it has to be the brand we are cajoled into spending our affluence on, whenever we walk into a store.

The challenge for the manufactures of cosmetic skin care products is to ensure that not only is it a really nice thing psychologically, to wear expensive products, but also that these things do not only good, but better than the standard, or even budget ranges.

Truth is that we are more likely to be confident when we wear good products that have cost us a pretty penny, than something that cost us single digit prices.

Now it is possible that the cheaper stuff does just as much good, so the makers of cosmetic skin care products have had to wield their magnificent marketing machines to prove the price is worth it. Rarely can you watch a TV show these days, without some glamorous actress expounding the value of the latest new wrinkle cream or anti-aging serum in the volume-up adverts.

Bottom line though, is that expensive products do enable manufacturers to invest in their next development. One that will enable even better resolution of problems that generation ago we didn't even know we had. Such is the way that western economies have evolved creating new markets and products to satisfy them.

Although overuse of anything we put on the skin can lead to problems, when used properly even the most extravagantly priced cosmetic skin care product will do a good job - although whether that is worth the price might be a different matter, depending on who is picking up the bill. Many would say they are worth it; swear by their own particular investment, of course.

There are a several major areas where the big houses have sought to target.

Anti-Aging Products

This has proven a really big market for the major brands with virtually all of them having their own exclusive range of cosmetic skin care products, often with strange and exclusive sounding products and ingredients. Added to the cost, is the potential for competition in the form of products like botox, which cannot simply be bought off the shelf.

Dry Skin

This is not a new issue, of course, yet the products serving the market have become ever more exotic (think emu oil, for one!). Longer lasting; simpler and gentler; color co-ordinated etc.

The old 'cold cream' products still hang in there, but multi-million (billion even) dollar budgets in the hands of the big cosmetic players have been an investment that has paid off handsomely.

Skin Firmers & Wrinkle Products

Available for all parts of the body, these are most commonly (although not exclusively) used on the face and is really a part of the anti-aging group. These products tighten the skin (a sort of non-invasive botox) and leave it wrinkle free.

Of course there are specific products for all the tiniest areas of the face, so your purchase, likely as not, will be for several items. After all you wouldn't want to tighten up one bit, and shift the problem somewhere else now, would you?

That's a starter look at the cosmetic skin care products available today. More will be on there way to us as newer ideas and ranges are developed. And the truth of the matter is that there is a value in treating yourself to some of these, so take your time, find some products that suit you and dive in.

Time to look good and feel good!