Wednesday, June 26, 2013

REPOST: Great Skin: Look Younger from the Neck Down


Most women have spent years pampering their faces but forgetting to take care of some areas of their body. This Health.com article provides some tips on taking care of one's body from head to toe.



Image Source: health.com
Sure, your face looks young, but what about your hands? Your neck? Your chest? Erase years with these smart strategies.

Wise to the sun’s evil ways, you diligently coat your face in sunscreen every day. Nice work. But as you slather on the sunscreen, you may notice that the skin on your hands doesn’t look quite as ageless as your complexion. “Your hands, along with your neck and chest, are what I call give-away areas,” says Kenneth Howe, MD, a dermatologist in Brooklyn, New York. “They can show your real age, even if you have a youthful-looking complexion.” That’s because these three areas get almost as much damaging sun exposure as your face—but they get a lot less care. Remedy the situation with these strategies that will keep you looking gorgeous from head to toe for years to come.

Take time off your...hands

“Most women notice the first signs of aging on their hands in their early 30s, as the skin begins to thin and lose moisture and sunspots come to the surface,” says Robin Ashinoff, MD, chief of dermatologic and Mohs surgery and cosmetic dermatology at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey. In your 40s or 50s, you may also notice a loss of fat, which makes tendons and veins more visible beneath skin. There are ways to remedy the problem, but the easiest fix is to prevent it from happening in the first place by applying a thick layer of moisturizing sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) immediately after washing your hands.

Simple fixes: Improve the look of your skin by smoothing a retinol cream, like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum, on the backs of your hands every night. Retinol “minimizes fine lines while stimulating cell renewal to even skin tone,” Dr. Howe says. For darker spots, ask your doctor about pre­scription Tri-Luma, a blend of the bleaching agent hydroquinone and the retinoid tretinoin; a 30-gram tube costs $188 and lasts about six months (apply at bedtime for several months).

Intensive solutions: If you still see discoloration, head to your derm for a series of one to three treatments with an Nd:YAG or Q-Switched Ruby laser ($300 to $500), which can erase spots. Injecting hands with a hyaluronic-acid filler like Restylane will restore lost fullness; one to two syringes (costing about $850 per syringe) are usually needed to treat both hands, and results last about six months. If your skin is thoroughly dappled and has a crepey texture, fractional lasers can “sweep the area clean while stimulating a good deal of collagen production, making skin look healthier,” Dr. Howe explains. Unfortunately, the treatments aren’t cheap—you may need up to five at a cost of $1,000 each.

Take time off your...chest

“I often see women in their early 20s who have blotchy, freckled chests—a clear sign that their skin has gotten too much sun,” Dr. Howe says. Eventually, the broken vessels and brown splotches will be joined by wrinkles, loose skin, and white spots, which appear when pigment-making cells sustain so much damage that they simply shut down.

Simple fixes: The best way to keep your decolletage from deteriorating? Cover it with clothing or sunscreen during the day and a lotion that contains antioxidants like co-enzyme Q10 and vitamin E at night; try Gold Bond Ultimate Restoring Skin Therapy Lotion. “The combination of these two ingredients neutralizes sun-induced free radicals and helps reduce wrinkles,” Dr. Ashinoff explains. To improve skin tone and texture, dermatologists often prescribe retinoid creams, like Renova and Avage. If the skin on your chest is too sensitive for these, over-the-counter retinol or retinaldehyde lotions work similarly but not as quickly; try Avène Eluage Cream ($39; www.spalook.com).

Intensive solutions: Glycolic peels ($300 to $500) can lighten spots and improve texture on large areas of skin. Fractional lasers also “do a good job of correcting most aspects of sun damage: freckling, blotchiness, rough texture, and deep lines,” Dr. Howe says. Each treatment costs a bundle (about $1,000), though, and you’ll need between three and six. If discoloration is your main concern, intense pulsed light can wipe out brown spots and red vessels in three to six treatments and is slightly less expensive ($500 to $900 per treatment).

Take time off your...neck

Smoking, genetics, sudden weight loss, the sun—you can blame any or all of these for the current state of your neck. Horizontal grooves and blotchy tone are a result of too much time in the sun without sunscreen. Far more troubling, however, is the dreaded “turkey neck” that may appear thanks to a combination of sagging skin and protruding neck bands (caused by the tightening of a thin sheet of muscle called the platysma).

Simple fixes: Since the skin on your neck is thin and sensitive, all-star ingredients like retinoids and alpha hydroxy acid may be too irritating. Instead, doctors suggest applying face creams that have gentle anti-agers like copper peptides, which boost collagen production and tighten skin over time; find them in Dr. Jeannette Graf, MD, Copper Collagen Infusion.

Intensive solutions: Unfortunately, creams are no match for ultra-lax skin and rigid bands. Botox ($500 to $1,000 a visit) is the best solution because it weakens the platysma muscle, relaxing the tight cords so skin lies flat for up to six months. The radio frequency treatment Thermage can tighten the neck in just one visit, but it’s really pricey, costing upwards of $5,000. It’s a relatively new treatment, so doctors aren’t sure how long results will last. But the company that developed the technology estimates at least several years.

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Sunday, June 16, 2013

REPOST: How does vitamin C benefit skin?

How does vitamin C help rejuvenate the skin in such a way that its glow and health are maintained? This Fit and Health article reveals the answer.


It's been centuries since British sailors discovered the key to avoiding scurvy: vitamin C. You probably grew up being told that getting enough vitamin C would ward off colds and other ailments, but now the word is out that vitamin C may not play a big part in staving off the sniffles. However, it does have a vital role in maintaining the health of your skin.

Those sailors and others who couldn't get fresh fruits and vegetables suffered bleeding under the skin, ulcers and joint weakness. That's because vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmness and strength [source: WebMD]. Vitamin C also helps create scar tissue and ligaments, and it helps your skin repair itself [source: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center].

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage -- free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. New research shows that ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a derivative of vitamin C, not only neutralizes free radicals, but also reverses DNA damage [source: University of Leicester].

Research suggests that vitamin C may also reduce sunburn caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and prevent the consequences of long-term sun exposure, which can lead to skin cancer [sources: University of Maryland Medical Center, Bouchez]. This doesn't mean you can take vitamins or apply topical vitamin C and then bake safely in the sun, but you can help keep your skin healthy and supple by making sure you get enough of this antioxidant vitamin [source: Bouchez]. Keep reading to learn what foods you can incorporate into your diet to make sure you get the vitamin C your body needs.

Vitamin C Foods Vitamin C can improve your skin, strengthen your immune system, protect against cardiovascular disease and reduce your risk of stroke, and doctors say it's one of the safest and most effective nutrients [source: Zelman]. Vitamin C is water-soluble, which means it's easily absorbed through the water in your body. Your body doesn't store vitamin C, so you must replace your supply every day -- excess amounts are flushed out through your kidneys [source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration].

There are plenty of foods that can help you boost your consumption of vitamin C. If you get the recommended nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables, you're probably meeting the minimum daily recommendations for vitamin C -- in addition to many other vitamins and minerals [source: Zelman]. To ensure your diet includes plenty of vitamin C, eat citrus fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, collard greens and tomatoes [source: Bouchez]. Although opinions differ on how much vitamin C your body needs, many doctors suggest taking 500 milligrams a day, which can often be found in daily multivitamins or vitamin C supplements. However, don't exceed more than 2,000 milligrams per day -- too much vitamin C may cause stomach irritation [source: Zelman]. 

You can also apply topical vitamin C to your skin to encourage collagen production and fight free radicals. Look for a facial cleanser or moisturizer that contains the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C to ensure the vitamin penetrates your skin layers [source: Bouchez].


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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

REPOST: 8 Asian Beauty Secrets to Incorporate into Your Routine

This Yahoo! Shine article shares some steps that American women can incorporate in their beauty regimen.

Some of the biggest beauty trends in recent memory (BB creams, anyone?) have originated in 
Asia, which is way ahead of the West in the skincare game. "Korean women, on average, use 26-27 steps in their beauty regimen, versus American women who only use six to seven," says Global Aesthetician and Skincare and Beauty Expert for Korean skincare brand Amorepacific, Dana Nicolette. What is it that these women know about beauty that I'm missing? I went in search for some of the best Asian beauty secrets to learn how to incorporate them into my current routine. 

1. Brush your skin. While Francine Gingras, VP Global PR for Elizabeth Arden, lived in Japan as a teen (she grew up in Canada), she learned the importance of brushing her face every day with a soft-bristled brush. Gingras, who continues the ritual even today, says it is responsible for keeping her skin toned all these years. It's also said to help prepare your skin, so the serums and creams you put on actually sink in. It seems Americans have caught onto this trend; now almost every beauty buff owns a Clarisonic or a similar face-cleansing device.

2. Slap it on. Gingras also learned a very specific way of applying moisturizer (today she opts for Prevage Anti-Aging Moisture Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($129, elizabetharden.com)) and makeup. She starts from the bottom of the chin and applies it going up, so her forehead is the last part of the face to be covered. And instead of rubbing product into her face, she slaps it on, another tip she learned from her time in Japan. Most surprising is that Elizabeth Arden herself had a machine with spoon-looking objects attached that gently slapped cream onto women's skin, and that was 102 years ago!

Esther Dong, senior vice president of sales and marketing for 
Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo, says that women in Korea also believe in slapping their faces to stimulate circulation and elevate the energy level of the skin. 

"They do this seriously and with considerable consistency," says Dong. "Don't be surprised next time you travel to 
Korea and see Korean ladies padding their face with force in the washroom. To them, it is so important that it should not be missed, even when they are on the road." 

3. Make SPF a priority.
 Another huge skin care consideration in Korea is sun protection. 
 "Have you ever seen pictures of an Asian lady with an umbrella under a clear sunny sky?" Dong asks. "Keeping away from the sun is skin care 101 in Asia." 

Whether you use a foundation with built-in sunscreen or you opt for a stand-alone product, like Sulwhasoo Age-Veil UV Protection Cream ($70, sulwhasoo.com), make sure to protect your skin, no matter the weather. 


4. Hydrate throughout the day.
 "Asian women hydrate often throughout the day, and lightly mist facial sprays over the face to refresh their foundation post lunch," says Nicolette. 

Facial mists are starting to catch on in the US, so try Amorepacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System ($35, sephora.com). It was created with bamboo sap to keep skin hydrated for up to 8 hours. 


5. Make sure to polish your skin.
 Victoria Tsai founded skincare line Tatcha after discovering a 200-year-old manuscript that described the daily beauty regimen of a Japanese geisha. She based her products on traditional geisha beauty secrets. One example: Instead of cleansing, toning and moisturizing the skin, like many of us do, a geisha's routine would include polishing, brightening and moisturizing steps. Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65, tatcha.com) exfoliates without harsh abrasives. 

6. What's good for your body is good for your skin.
 "When you want your body to be healthy, you seek out unprocessed, nutritious and natural foods," says Tsai. "The same goes for your skin." Green tea, ginseng and kimchi are all ingredients that are often infused in Korean skin care. Dr. Jart+ uses these key ingredients in their Detox 02 Cleansing Foam ($24, sephora.com), Renewalist Melting Cream ($38, sephora.com), and their Waterfuse line.
Tsai also points to a home remedy from 
Japan, in which some women save the cloudy water used when washing rice to wash their faces, giving their skin a youthful glow. 

7. Opt for an oil, instead of a cleanser.
 While "oil-free" products rule in the US, oil-based skincare is a popular category in many parts of Asia. "Cleansing oils work so well because oil dissolves oil - makeup, sunscreen and sebum literally melt away when you use a cleansing oil," says Tsai. " The trick is to use one without mineral oil so that it doesn't break you out or leave residue that you have to use another cleanser to remove. Had I discovered these earlier in life, I think I would have saved myself a lot of breakouts and dry patches long ago." 

For a cleansing oil that doesn't contain mineral oil, try Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil ($26, sephora.com). 


8. Don't underestimate a good facial.
 "Korean women spend a large sum of their dispensable income on facials," says Dong. "Beyond indulging in high-end beauty products that deliver great results, they also go to the spa every other week!" 

The spa tradition in Japan goes back hundreds of years. "Geishas used to use a complex device called an alchemical still to capture the essence of botanicals," says Tsai. "They would boil water underneath beneficial flowers or leaves, then capture the steam on a swatch of kimono silk. This silk was applied to the face for a nourishing mask, long before masks became known to the wider world."


Do you incorporate any of these secrets into your daily routine?

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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

REPOST: Saving Face: Six Fashion Week Models Share Their Skin-Care Survival Secrets

This Vogue.com article reveals some of the skin care secrets from six of your favorite super models.


Clockwise from top left: Karlie Kloss; Lindsey Wixson; Liu Wen; Cara Delevingne
Image Source: vogue.com


They may spend their days playing dress up in the industry’s most beautiful clothes, but models endure wear and tear on their skin during Fashion Week that is anything but glamorous. In the makeup chair, they’re dabbed, dipped, and smeared with product, only to be stripped clean and done all over again at the next show. “You might have makeup put on and taken off seven times a day,” says Karlie Kloss, perched backstage at Carolina Herrera. Like many of her peers, she has developed a survival strategy that revolves largely around cleansing, calming, and hydrating her sensitive skin. Here, six of our favorite backstage faces share their guide to complexion perfection—along with a few of the all-around beauty products they won’t leave home without.

CARA DELEVINGNE:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I’ve been using a lot of natural products. There’s a really amazing shop called Live Live & Organic on East Tenth Street that sells all-natural products. They have this stuff called Bee Yummy Skin Food cream, which just has honey, bee pollen, water, and St. John’s Wort oil. It’s very natural, which is what I need for my skin.”

What’s in your bag?

Anastasia eyebrow gel and a Tangle Teezer hairbrush

JOURDAN DUNN:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I like to use Sisley’s Radiant Glow Express Mask. I also like to use their radiance serum, which you can put on top of your makeup or under your makeup and it just instantly gives you a glow.”

What’s in your bag?

Hair brush, Johnson’s facial wipes, and Vaseline to use as lip balm

KARLIE KLOSS:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I have a Clarisonic brush that I use every night to clear out my pores. And I always have dry skin, so moisturizer is really important. I use a drop of Caudalie oil and mix it with my face cream.”

What’s in your bag?

Smith’s Rosebud salve and a packet of hot chocolate

LIU WEN:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“During Fashion Week, you’re using a lot of makeup and it makes your skin really dry. Normally I do a face mask once a week, but during Fashion Week, if I have time, I do one every day. I have some Korean face masks, and sometimes I make them myself, using egg whites and water.”

What’s in your bag?

Estée Lauder lip balm and hand cream

COCO ROCHA:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“The best thing is just to make sure to take off all that makeup at night, and cleanse, and in the morning do the exact same thing. I always try to let my face breathe as much as I can. If I’m hanging out at home, then there’s no need to put on makeup just for the sake of it.”

What’s in your bag?

Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer

LINDSEY WIXSON:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I drink lots of water and use Himalayan bath salts to relax.”

What’s in your bag?

Tropical Traditions coconut oil and Weleda Skin Food moisturizer.

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