Only use your FSA to pay your deductibles? Amateur watch.
There’s a lot those pre-tax dollars in your flexible spending account (or health care spending account) can pay for — especially if you overestimate how much you’ll need and how much money you have to burn before it expires.
And if you’re not in the market for some antacids or Band-Aids, now’s a good time to stock up on skin care, from sunscreen to SPF makeup to acne treatment—and you might be surprised at what’s covered.
If you’re lucky, your FSA may still be available until March 15 — but if you’re among those who need to spend it before the end of the year, time is running out.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can swipe that debit card for.
“You’d be surprised at all the ways you can spend your FSA and HSA dollars,” Rachel Rouleau, chief compliance officer at Health E-Commerce, the parent brand of the FSA Store and HSA Store, previously told the New York Post.
Not sure what’s covered? Everything on FSAstore.com is and many products on Amazon are marked as FSA or HSA eligible – and you can still get reimbursed for some that aren’t.
Read on for some of the best skin care buys you can snag, including makeup, high-tech gadgets, SPF, and dermatologist-recommended spot treatments.
A stick that fights wrinkles and blemishes
The line between “cosmetic” and “medically necessary” can be a little blurry, so while some of those fun laser and red light therapy devices are covered, others aren’t.
The $169 Solawave 4-in-1 Skin Care Stick Gets the Seal of Approval from Your FSA — and Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, who recommends it to The Post readers.
It combines red light, galvanic current, warmth and facial massage for a laundry list of benefits: The brand says it softens fine lines and wrinkles, fades blemishes, whitens dark circles and dark spots, de-puffs and boosts potency of your serum.
It also comes in several colors including rose gold, matte black, pink/blue ombre and charcoal.
A makeup primer with SPF
SPF is a “non-negotiable” for skin protection and cancer prevention, according to Dr. King, and that’s true whether it’s in traditional sunscreen or makeup—so many tinted primers and moisturizers actually cover up.
All that FSA money burning a hole in your wallet also provides a good opportunity to buy high-end products that you usually can’t even treat yourself to.
One of the favorites of Dr. King is Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer, $55, because it also has moisturizers and emollients, “so it will hydrate the skin and support the skin barrier.”
“I think it’s a good choice for people who generally don’t like to wear sunscreen because it just works it into your skincare routine and because it’s a primer, it’s easy to set makeup on top. Spreads nicely, has good texture. It won’t be the pill,” she told The Post.
A little lipstick, a lot of sun protection
Yes, you can get some lip color with your FSA. COOLA’s Mineral Liplux SPF 30, $18, is available in several different shades, combining beautiful makeup with sun protection.
And MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm Trio, $64, has you covered with three shades and SPF 30 — and might also make a nice Christmas gift, paid for with pretax dollars.
Prefer a clear and shiny look? You can also put it on your FSA card, with Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Pop Sunscreen Lip Gloss, $11.99, which also has SPF 30.
Vitamin C – with a little SPF thrown in
Your antiaging skincare favorites like vitamin C serum, hyaluronic acid, and retinol aren’t covered by the FSA—but SPF is, so make your sunscreen do double duty by choosing ones with those other ingredients. thrown away.
Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter SPF 30, $14.99 at Amazon, is one of Dr. King.
“This contains moisturizing ingredients so it’s easy to use, but also contains lipohydroxy acid to gently exfoliate and help reduce the appearance of sun damage. And it contains vitamin C and vitamin E for added antioxidant protection from free radicals,” she said.
A painted compact
Healthcare, but make it beautiful.
There are plenty of tinted moisturizers to add to your shopping list, including Avène Mineral High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50, $42.
Will it add a nice light makeup? yes. But it also has broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, checking the cancer-fighting box.
Sunscreen that won’t make you break out
Face Reality Daily Lotion SPF 30, $33, is a “great choice for oily and acne-prone skin.”
“It’s hydrating yet sheer and non-comedogenic, so great for oily skin. It provides broad-spectrum protection, and also contains antioxidants for that extra protection from free radicals,” said Dr. King.
Regular sunscreen also has a long shelf life—three years, according to the FDA—so you can stock up on a few bottles now to last you a while.
Fig.1 Mineral sunscreen, SPF 50
For lovers of mineral sunscreens, Dr. King likes Fig. 1 Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50, $30.60, which she also notes doesn’t have a white cast — making it great for a variety of skin tones.
“It also has C algae derivatives, which provide DNA repair, so that’s an added bonus. And then there are humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate the skin; emollients like squalene, triglycerides and meadowfoam seed oil to support the skin barrier,” she said.
Acne spots
The fight against acne falls under the umbrella of the FSA and Dr. King likes spot treatments like Face Reality’s Sulfur Spot Treatment, $33, to fight inflammation and soothe redness.
She also recommends acne patches — but only for superficial acne that’s coming to a head. When they’re sitting deeper in the skin, she warned, those drops of hydrocolloid won’t do much.
For patches, her picks are Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Spots, $9.99, and Peach Slices, $8.99.
Acne Cleansing Wipes
Practice acne prevention by cleansing your face every night.
While most dermatologists recommend a face wash, using a cleansing cloth as the first step to remove makeup is a good first step.
Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes, $21.98 for a two-pack, are also formulated with acne-fighting ingredients.
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Image Source : nypost.com