The hairstyle that looks good on everyone? (Virtually try it out yourself!)

It is extremely interesting to me (and perhaps me alone?) that despite our focus on skin care-- it is the blog posts about hair (namely how to grow hair faster, and glitter extensions) that seem to be the most popular.  Although people are definitely interested in celebrity skin and anti-aging tips and secrets, it seems that skin interest doesn't hold a candle to the over-whelming display of celebrity hair interest. 

While it is hard to rationalize why this might be (perhaps "tinsel hair" is just having a moment...) but far be it from me to not give the people what they want. 

InStyle Magazine, the utmost experts at informing people about what they want before they even know they want it, has an awesome tool on their website that allows you to upload a picture of yourself in order to test-drive the hairstyle of your favorite celebrities. 
Want to see what you would look like with Katie Holme's Suri-esque bob, or Ashley Olsen's bleach-blonde fringe? Or, perhaps you want to see what Jennifer Aniston's perfectly-perfect hair would look like on you? With the click of a button, your curiosity can be sated.

Recently declared THE haircut that flatters everyone, Jessica Alba's collar length bob is supposed to cover all of the major hair concerns. Long enough to pull back, but short enough to get rid of any damaged ends, this length elongates the neck while slimming the face. The creator of this haircut, hair sensei Fredeic Fekkai, explains another major selling factor to this hair-style: the ease with which it can be styled! He claims it takes about 5 minutes, however for those with thick, curly hair, this would be a very time consuming (possibly impossible) look to replicate. 

Curious about what you might look like with this haircut? Just go here and upload a picture of yourself. If Jessica Alba's particular haircut doesn't do it for you-- there are ample other choices to try out. When you find the one you love, print it out and bring it with you to your next hairdresser appointment. Having a concrete image of what you are looking for will make both your stylist's job easier, and improve the chances of you ending up in love with your final result. 

After playing around on the site, which haircut do you think looks best on you? (Glitter extensions, perhaps?)

Winning! Solise Sun Wash and the doctor

As previously mentioned, Dr. Sobel is wonderful when it comes to taking care of other people's skin, yet never took the time to do anything for himself... 

...until now. 

Solise Sun Wash is a body-wash that you use as normal in the shower, but once you've toweled off-- you're left with a physical sunblock of SPF 15. As a devoted father, Dr. Sobel was happy to take this fresh-smelling body-wash home for his family to benefit from, and after putting it in the shower... he inadvertently found himself using it as well. (As an absolute sunscreen fanatic, this was a personal coup for yours truly.)

Suddenly finding himself covered head-to-toe in sunscreen everyday, Dr. Sobel was surprised at how nice the experience was...

Face of a 20 year old, body of a 60 year old?

The 80/20 rule is used all the time, and seems like a universal ratio that (somehow) can be used to attribute a mathematical equation to almost every relationship in the world. 

For example, in business they say things like 80% of your time is spent on 20% of your clients, and 80% of your profit comes from 20% of your clients. In social media, they say that 80% of your comments/interactions will come from 20% of your fan-base, and the equation can applied to such trivialities as 80% of the time you are wearing the same 20% of your wardrobe, etc., etc, etc. 

Since it is the 80/20 rule that is heard over and over, it was almost jarring to recently hear of the phenomenon called the 20/60 rule. 

At first I thought it must have been a typo, but then I read on to discover that the 20/60 situation is something actually occurring ALL the time. "20/60" refers to people-- female or male-- that have young, wrinkle-free faces, with bodies (hands, necks, and chests) that make them look decades older-- so that overall the face of someone in their 20s is on a body that looks at least 60. Certainly not a desirable combination...

It is great to be applying sunscreen daily to your face, but while your face is protected from the premature aging that comes with sun exposure, the rest of your body is left exposed. Skin experts across the world agree that it is vital to be diligent about applying sunscreen to the neck, hands, and any other body part that might be exposed to the sun throughout your daily activities (even for things as mundane as driving or a quick walk).

For easy all-over protection, Solise Sun Wash is a soap used in the shower that leaves behind a physical sunblock of SPF 15, or Eucerin makes a light-weight SPF 30 lotion called "Everyday Protection" that can be applied after the shower, is absorbed quickly. (Take advantage of current Solise special, and use coupon code 73483 to get 10% off all online orders.)

YOU can't pop pimples, but SHE sure CAN!

Despite her mantra of "DO NOT POP PIMPLES!", when it comes to treating acne Naomi is definitely a "do what I say, not what I do" type of individual. 

While she emphatically reminds her patients to not even think about attempting extractions at home (its the number one cause of preventable acne scarring!), what she really means is anyone aside from herself (or Dr. Sobel) should refrain from at-home pimple-poppings.

Naomi's weapons of mass acne destruction consist of a metal extractor and the Isolaz acne laser. Ironically, these two tools are as different from each other as night and day. The Isolaz acne laser is a large, expensive photoneumatic device that can only be operated by a specialist, and the extractor is an inexpensive, simple little tool sold over-the-counter at every drugstore. 

The biggest similarity between the two?  Both should be left to the professionals. 

If an ill-equipped person tried to use the Isolaz, they wouldn't even be able to figure out how to power it on. If an ill-equipped person attempted to use a metal extractor, it is very easy for them to unintentionally worsen their existing acne, while marring and scarring their face for the future.

After personally attempting to use a metal extractor on myself years ago, I can vouch for it's deception... that unforgiving piece of metal does NOT want to do what you want it to! However, my own personal experience makes watching Naomi in action that much more impressive-- because she just makes it look soo easy. 

Should the #1 Prom accessory be banned?

In the full midst of prom season, this is the busiest time of year when it comes to dress shopping. Many of those bodies wriggling into pastel-colored beaded gowns haven't seen the sun since last summer, and while beautiful porcelain skin is the rage right now amongst celebrities (picture Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, Amanda Seyfried, just to name a few!), some teenagers still envision a tan as the perfect, finishing touch to their black-tie attire. 

Recently banned in the United Kingdom, tanning bed usage before the age of 35 has been shown to raise risk of deadly melanoma by 75%, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation.

In the United States, there are currently 12 states that are working on laws that restrict teenagers from using tanning beds. 

If being tan is a must-- the only safe glow is one that comes from a bottle. St. Tropez makes great, user-friendly options that can be applied right in the privacy of your own home, or you could search for local spray-tan businesses and for a special occasion-- such as prom-- employ an expert to perfectly bronze you.

What do you think-- should teenagers that have the right to smoke, vote, and drive, not have the decision to tan?

Mad-Lib quiz to find skin care needs

EVERYONE, at some point, has insecurities about what they see in the mirror. But, how do you know if your various issues are passing, or if they are worth seeing a professional about? 

To determine what you think is bothering you, versus what is really bothering you, print out this quick skin-care Mad-Lib type questionnaire to help identify your unique skin goals and priorities:

• Skin Goal: My goal is to ________________________________________________.
  
• Currently: I am happy with my (area of face/skin description/etc.) __________________________, but I'm curious about treatments for my ______________________.
  
• Possible (known) Solutions: I'm willing to try (prescription/peels/lasers/injections/etc.) ____________________________________________, but I prefer to steer clear of (prescription/peels/lasers/injections/etc.) ________________________________________.
  
• Pain: On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being easy, 5 being nearly unbearable), I want to keep the pain below a ________.
  
• Time: I would like to spend no more than (an hour/a day/3 days/week/etc.) __________ recovering and (would/would not) _______________ be willing to have (and/or pay for) treatments that require multiple sessions.
  
• Finances: I don't want to spend more than $______________ total, or spend more than (an hour/2 hours/ 3 hours/etc.) __________________________________ receiving treatments.
  

After completing this, you should have a more pin-pointed idea of how much something aesthetically is bothering you, and how far you are willing to go to correct it. If professional intervention is needed, feel free to bring this along with you as it will provide a clear and concise snap-shot of your views and feelings, that can then be shared with your skin care expert. 

Taking care of a manly-man's skin

He may be annoyed that I am revealing his trade secrets here, but Dr. Sobel does so many Botox injections that he has developed an entire comedy routine around the procedure, which he has finessed to the point that it can be easily altered depending on the mood of the patient. However, despite mastering the art of "Vitamin B" injections, Dr. Sobel himself has lines across his forehead when he raises his eyebrows. 

Even though he is insistent that his young daughters use as many SPF-rich products as possible, he goes on 75-mile bike rides without a stitch of sunscreen on his body. 

When it comes to skin care, Dr. Sobel is a perfect case of "practice what I preach, not what I do." Excellent at advising skin care plans for others, he is incredibly remiss in the way he takes care of his own skin. (Being genetically blessed with an eternal baby face has allowed him a lot of slack in this area... so far.) 

As frustrating as this might be (for me especially), Dr. Sobel represents a whole sub-group of men: for every one well-publicized man that embraces taking care of themselves and following a good skin care regimen, there is another man that abjectly rejects any notion of pampering him-self. 

If you're dealing with this sort of rugged, dogged, type of man, a little intervention can go a long way... by making teeny little changes to the inventory of his bathroom, he can go on with a very simple routine while protecting and nourishing his skin.

Problem: He washes his face with whatever hand-soap is closest. 

Solution: Place a facial cleanser within easy reach, that is packaged very simply (bright colors and flowers are not going to make this an easy transition) and make sure that the face-wash contains ingredients that provide the biggest bang for the buck. 

Depending on his skin-type, look for something that will solve as many issues as possible. If he has oily/acne-prone skin, find a cleanser with glycolic-acid-- it will help prevent ingrown hairs, and promote the natural exfoliating process. If he has dry skin, look for a "gentle" wash that will clean the skin without overly drying it. Spend time finding the right product, because if he doesn't like how it makes his skin feel or look, he's going to revert back to his old habits.

Problem: He hates using sunscreen. 

Solution: Swap the bar of soap in the shower, with a bottle of Solise Sun Wash. A body-wash with SPF built-in to it, while washing himself he will be protecting every inch of his body from sun damage without even thinking about it. Solise is safe enough to also use on the face, this non-greasy, hypoallergenic body-wash makes daily sun protection a no-brainer. (Plus, it has a light, fresh smell to it, so if he also hates cologne... this helps out with making him smell nice too.) 

Problem: He won't get Botox. 

Solution: Solicit every patient to ask him before a treatment, "Umm, so why don't you get Botox?" until he get's the message... (Just kidding!)

When it comes to things like Botox that are done purely for aesthetic reasons, not wanting to partake is a personal decision that can be 100% respected. Not using sunscreen however, which is paramount to future health and livelihood, is a completely different scenario that is worthy of a little manipulation. 

A manly man is not going to convert his ways easily, but with a little well-planned help from you, he can be encouraged to do the barest minimum to get the biggest return.

DIY: Uni-sex aftershave

Even though it smells lovely, the initial association my brain makes with aftershave is this: 

However, despite my early-90's pop-cultural associations, aftershave is used because it does do good things for the skin. Used after shaving, the appropriately named "aftershave" usually includes the following ingredients: 

• Anti-inflammatories to soothe irritations
• Antiseptics to sterilize any nicks or cuts, and prevent razor-burn (Alcohol is sometimes used for this, which is what causes the stinging sensation that Kevin's face exemplifies above.)

Typically used by men for their faces, aftershave is also a great addition to a female's beauty routine, as all of the benefits can also be  reaped when shaving legs, underarms, or the bikini area.

Aftershaves are a dime a dozen at the drug-store, but if you have the following ingredients on hand, you can easily whip up your own DIY, Unisex Aftershave.

• 1TBSP Dark Rum (alcohol kills bacteria and germs)
• 1 TBSP Aloe-Vera Juice (soothes the skin)
• 3 TBSP Witch Hazel (extra germ killing)
• 2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar  (prevents in-grown hairs)

Mix ingredients together, and apply to skin with a cotton ball. Whether applied to his face, or your legs, the skin will be left silky smooth with nary a chance of razor-burn or dreaded in-grown.

The city of Brotherly Beauty? (Or, 3 new Philly make-up lines to check-out)

Philadelphia may currently be known for cheese-steaks and sports' teams, but New York's little neighbor is starting to make some moves into the more girly of genres...

To wit, Philadelphia has been the home-base of three new emerging make-up lines, each receiving acclaim from local beauty experts.

1. Carie Brescia Cosmetics (Ardmore, PA)

After working as a professional make-up artist and beauty product consultant for years, Carrie Brescia recently decided to put her vast experience to work for herself by developing her very own line of cosmetics, now available to all through e-commerce. 

Local hairstylist and makeup artist Liz Jacobs, who was invited to test all three of these new Philadelphia makeup lines, shares that Carie Brescia "is my favorite of the [new Philly makeup] lines. It has just the right amount of neutral color for a nice, wearable result." 

2. Tenshi (Northern Liberties, PA)

The Tenshi Beauty Bar is located right in the heart of Northern Liberties at the Piazza. Featuring hypo-allergenic makeup in fun colors and patterns (love the cheetah print bronzer!), this line received great endorsements from all the local experts. 

 In particular, the eye-shadow quads were recommended for their high quality pigmentation. Whether applied heavily, or more natural looking, experts agree that however you put it on-- it will look pretty. And the cheetah bronzer? Jacobs gives it a glowing recommendation, saying that matte finish tan is excellent for a change, as women don't need shimmery products all the time...

3. Tu by Claudia Seyler (Northern Liberties, PA) 

In order to best supplement the demand for makeup at the Tu Belleza Studio (also in Northern Liberties), makeup artist Claudia Seyler decided to develop her own line. All of her products are organic, and are meant to be easy on the skin so as to not cause any unwanted irritation or break-outs. 
The Tu line is supposed to make the skin itself look perfect, as opposed to just adding pigment or shimmer on top. By appointment only, the Tu Belleza Studio strives to be a peaceful, relaxing place to go, for all beauty needs.

Seeing as Philadelphia is already the home-base of fashion retailers Urban Outfitters (and ergo Anthropologie and Free People) and Lily Pulitzer, musicians (Pink, Will Smith,  and actors (Tina Fey, Bradley Cooper) here's hoping that the city of Brotherly Love is in the process of becoming the East Coast's second most glamorous city. (Or at least, switched over from the top contender of UGLIEST American city, to Most Attractive American city...!)

Rosacea App launches for iPhone

In order to maximize the Rosacea publicity that comes on the heels of April being "National Rosacea Awareness Month", a new Rosacea App is being launched for all Smartphones (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, etc.). 

Although it is not well-known, Rosacea is a prevalent skin disorder that currently affects 16+ million Americans. Causing redness on the cheeks, nose, chin and/or forehead, broken blood vessels on the face (particularly around the nose), and even Acne-like break-outs, those that suffer from the condition admit to the toll it takes on their lives. 70% of sufferers report that it lowers their self-confidence, and 41% admit that it has caused them to avoid social interactions and situations.

Despite the prevalence of this skin condition, 78% of Americans report having NO knowledge of Rosacea... which is exactly where the new Rosacea App comes in handy. Offering a wide variety of features, this Free app is intended to educate, support, and guide those who have (or think they might have) Rosacea.

For those that know they have Rosacea, this app has some cool interactive features that are meant to make life easier. The "Trigger Tracker" lists common culprits of a redness outbreak, and allows the user to record their own entries as they come across their own unique triggers. The "Substitution Finder" allows users to find the best replacements for those things that may be a trigger, and "Weather Alerts" keeps the user updated of the local weather conditions, so they can prepare accordingly for weather that might aggravate their skin condition. 

For those that aren't sure if they have Rosacea, the app allows the user to research the disease, and utilize a feature that enables the user to compare and log their symptoms against those most commonly associated with the disorder. 

Finally, for anyone using the app-- there is a feature called "Finacea" which allows users to sign-up for alerts and coupons regarding local treatment facilities. As mentioned, this Rosacea App is free, and hopefully it will accomplish what it set out to do: improve the lives of those affected by Rosacea with education and empathy.

The first [official] unretouched makeup ad!

In a world dominated by completely random acts attracting unprecedented amounts of free publicity via the inter-webs (for example, please consider that phenom Justin Beiber was discovered on YouTube), every company is vying for the popularity (and financial gain) that comes with a marketing campaign going "viral". 

Despite the many failed attempts, it is nice to see established companies attempting to actually produce "viral" material that is beneficial and relevant to their brand, and the masses.

As our lives become more and more computerized, there are pros-- increased ease for keeping in touch with people, getting news, making on the spot restaurant decisions, etc., ... and there are cons. 

With the proliferation of HD televisions, and rampantly air-brushed magazine and beauty ads, the expectation for a perfect appearance has increased to unattainable proportions. An increase in self-consciousness about one's appearance, combined with standards that can never be met (no normal person walks out of their house looking as perfectly air-brushed, styled, and coiffed as the Kardashian clan would make it appear), means a verified financial boon for the beauty industry: demand keeps increasing and can never fully be sated. 

It is in this vein that Makeup Forever's new campaign is so refreshing; even though the model is undoubtedly a natural beauty, a notary has certified that the ad below has NOT been retouched at all.

Despite the beauty/perfection of the model's face, look at the arm holding the camera-- that skin actually looks real?! And under her eyes? Faint traces of dark-circles can still be detected... It is so nice though, to look at a make-up ad, and see results that you could actually be able to recreate on your own face. (A stark contrast to the "Evolution of Beauty" video that Dove soap created a few years ago, which documented the photo-shopping that takes place to turn an ordinary girl into a billboard model-- before and after images shown at the top left of this article.)

It's a brilliant concept, and one that Makeup For Ever is surely hoping will go "viral". Promoting the results a real person can achieve is an ideal way of introducing Makeup For Ever's new line of HD Invisible Cover Foundation, which is meant to emphasize that women can look flawless without digital enhancements... they just need to use this foundation.

Another plus of a world filled with Social Media is that companies are being forced to be more transparent and honest with consumers. As this goes on, hopefully beauty expectations can come back down to a level that is realistic. Makeup For Ever received wonderful praise for this campaign, and hopefully other makeup companies will follow suit to prove what their products can actually do.

Have you noticed any other campaigns that celebrate real, natural appearances? If so, which ones? (I'm also partial to Levi's "All asses were not created equal" campaign...)

Natural* ways to get rid of cellulite

Hate to be the bearer of bad news... but as of right here... right now, there is NO proven way to getting rid of the sexist Cellulite affliction. (Life can be so unfair: despite rarely occurring in males, cellulite is estimated to effect 80-90% of females throughout their aging process.)

BUT before you leave disgruntled about being brought to this article by dubious means, please let me explain: while there are no methods of getting rid of cellulite, there are some natural ways you can go about minimizing the appearance. (And by natural, I mean methods of minimizing cellulite that do not involve surgery, lasers, or injections.) 

These simple tricks can help your skin look smoother, tighter, and younger: 

1. Build muscle mass: Counter to what you would initially think, skinny people can still have cellulite, because cellulite is made up of fat. If a body is thin, but has no muscle mass, the fat on their bodies can still manifest as cellulite. A simple remedy to this is to add some strength-training exercises into your daily schedule, especially targeting any problematic  cellulite hot-spots (thighs, rear-end, etc.). Building muscle will help smooth out any little lumps and bumps as your new muscle mass will lie on top of your fat layers, giving your skin a flat surface to rest upon. 

2. Consume less salt: By reducing your salt intake to less than 1,500 milligrams a day, you will cut down on water retention which some skin experts believe helps to improve the appearance of cellulite.

3. Self-tan: Giving yourself a faux-tan helps create an optical illusion that helps to hide the presence of cellulite. (Please note: by self-tan, we mean a tan that comes from a bottle, absolutely NO tanning-beds!) Multiple skin-care companies, such as Nivea and Philosophy, have been marketing "firming" self-tanners-- feel free to experiment with these, but keep expectations realistic. 

4. Use Moisturizers That Irritate Your Skin: Again, it sounds counter-intuitive to think that applying something that causes irritation would be recommended for your skin, but by applying a skin cream with skin-irritating ingredients such as pepper, caffeine, or retinols, the irritation caused to the skin makes it mildly swell, which camouflages any cellulite presence. The effect only lasts for a few hours, but is good to use before a special event or outing.

With warmer weather and bathing-suit season right around the corner, we would love to hear your opinions on any of these-- or other-- cellulite fighting tricks.

70 years of sun damage, undone in 2 minutes

Granted it will take a few weeks for the skin to finish healing and look perfect, but this video encapsulates the entire treatment time needed to removed every last speck of sun-damage off this guy's weathered hands. (A die-hard golf enthusiast, these hands have spent at least 6 hours in the sun, every weekend day, for the past 70+ years. Much to my extreme disapproval, no sunscreen has been used, ever.) 

Viviscal Part III: Verdict is in about the hair growing phenom

A pill that makes your hair grow faster, reduces the amount of hairs you naturally shed, makes nails grow quicker, AND increases eyelash growth?! 

The benefits of taking Viviscal sounded too good to be true, so before we decided to literally buy into the hype and stock it on our shelves, we had five very different, very willing participants test-drive it for a couple of months.

The feedback we received substantiated the large order that just arrived, however if you're interested in the specifics; read on...

Our cynical beauty guinea-pig #1 had super thick hair to begin with. However, although she is not 100% sure that she sees a difference in her hair length (although everyone else does), she reports that her nails are now growing so quickly that they have to be filed twice a week. 

Beauty guinea-pig #2 recently had a baby, and was experiencing the massive hair loss associated with that major hormonal change. A devotion to gel-tip manicures had left her nails a disaster, and she was basically praying for a cure to help with the weak, painful nails, and thinning hair. A few months into her Viviscal program, she happily shares that she loves her hair now-- feels and looks thicker, healthier, and shinier, and her nails have regrown so that she is able to enjoy regular manicures again. (Her manicurist is in constant shock upon seeing her fingers. "They grew this much in 1 week?!")

Beauty guinea-pig #3 has been a slave to her extensions for the past four years. Depressed by the damage she has seen the extensions do to her natural hair, she has been looking for a way to painlessly transition herself from extensions back to her natural hair... but didn't see a good way to do it. After taking Viviscal for two months, she happily confided that thanks to the abundance of new hair she sees growing, she is feeling much more confident about weaning herself off the extensions.

Beauty guinea-pig #4 has naturally thin hair, nails, and lashes. After only a couple of weeks of taking Viviscal, she excitedly noticed that there was much less hair in the drain after her shower, and much less hair in her combs and brushes after styling. Now, after completing a few months worth of Viviscal, her nails, eye-lashes, and hair are are noticeably longer, thicker, and healthier looking. 

Handsome guinea-pig #5 is a young-man in his mid-20's who has been increasingly self-conscious about his beginnings of a receding hairline. Extremely skeptical that a dietary supplement would be able to do anything, he kindly acquiesced to participating in our practice-run in the slim hope that Viviscal might do what it promised. And, sure enough-- a few months later, he was ecstatic that the hair loss seemed to have stopped, and instead, a crop of new hair was visibly growing. The biggest skeptic of the group turned out to be Viviscal's biggest cheerleader.

The ingredients appear simple enough; Viviscal only consists of fish cartilage, cherry extract, and horsetail extract, and yet-- somewhere amidst the production process there must be a little magic sprinkled in, otherwise there is simply no explanation for why Viviscal works as well as it does. 

Fortunately for Philadelphia, this magic hair-growing potion can now be found on the shelves at Cosmopolitan Skin Care Solutions.

Hard to decide which one is cuter...

Both of these products have a place safely ensconced in my make-up drawer, so while I love them both, I am having a very hard time choosing between the two in a matter that is based purely off superficial aesthetics. 

Specifically, as a sucker for anything cute/witty, I am having a very hard time choosing a favorite between these two advertisements. 

There's the Teamine Eye Cream "Because dark circles are only cute on pandas...." ad:

And then there's my champion of cuteness, EOS, with their new "a touch of delight" ad for their hand cream:

Both are totally cute, totally informative, and both represent products that totally work.

I can't choose. Which one do you like better?

The life-saving, smile inducing lip balm...

Despite the variety of amazing smelling choices, such as Sweet Mint and Summer Fruit, Dr. Sobel recently hand-picked the lemon variety of EOS's lip balms for his brood of young daughters at home-- because unlike the others, Lemon Drop has an SPF 15.

His youngest daughter, Chloe, is 8, and came home from the school the next day, all atwitter because of her new lip-balm, and in fact--credits the lip-balm with saving her life. 

"Really Chloe," he asked her bemusedly,"The lip-balm saved your life?!"
"Yes Dad." This was serious. "On the playground, my lips were so dry. It. Saved. My. Life." 

And that's the thing about EOS. Aside from the fact that their packaging and marketing is the cutest thing ever, the product itself is really good, and can be appreciated by any age, or sex.

The ergonomically designed packaging fits easily in a pocket, keeps the lid in place, it cannot get twisted up too high and crushed in it's own cap, and since you don't need to stick your fingers in it-- you're not spreading germs everywhere. (An extra bonus when dealing with kids.)

Like the little bursts of sunshine they resemble, the Lemon Drop flavored EOS lip balms are the only ones of the EOS line-up with an SPF 15. At first hesitant at the idea of covering my own lips in a lemon scented balm (was nervous my mouth would smell like a kitchen cleaning product), the fragrance was much more delicate than expected; almost like the smell of a lemon-chiffon cake, and despite the sweetness it remains a product that a heterosexual male could also use...

...which is the perfect segue for Dr. Sobel to make another appearance in this little lip-balm story. A self-respected "man's man" that bicycles from the suburbs into the city on any day where the weather is permissible, and wakes up at 5am to work-out before coming to work, this is a lip balm that does in fact make me smile-- every time I walk by his office-- and see the sunny little yellow orb of EOS lip balm sitting prominently on his desk, right where he needs for it any life-threatening, dry-lip situations.

Long hair over 40?

There used to be all sorts of silly fashion/appearance rules that were once strictly upheld, and have now fallen by the way-side. As long as some taste is involved, navy can be worn with black, white can be worn in the winter, and yes-- women over the age of 40 can have long hair.

Once determined too girlish, many women of a certain age are now embracing the long-haired styles that used to be deemed inappropriate for them. Bo Derek (age 54), Diane Lane (age 46), Iman (age 55), Jane Seymour (age 59), and a slew of other recognizable celebs over the age of 40, look younger, and better than ever by sporting a hair-style that is synonymous with youth, vitality, and health. 

Hair experts agree that as long as your hair looks healthy and is worn in a style flattering to your face, your age has no impact on the length your hair should be. Things to keep in mind (regardless of age) to guarantee healthy looking long hair: 

Long hair is old hair-- anything past your clavicle is at least two years old, and has already been exposed to it's fair share of heat damage, environmental damage, and natural wear & tear. To protect this fragile hair, serious TLC is needed, starting with the way you brush. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, it is imperative to brush your hair starting from the bottom up. It reduces hair breakage to untangle any knots at the bottom of your hair, as opposed to starting at the top of your head and pulling the hair through knots, breaking and ripping your hairs in the process. 

Also, to prevent the ends of these older hairs from splitting and breaking, trims are recommended every other month. (According to an old French tradition, it is believed to strengthen the hair when its cut on the day of a full moon.) 

Deep conditioning treatments should also be used regularly to help protect the more fragile hair-ends. Hair experts recommend applying a deep conditioner at least once a week. Allow it to really sink in by either sleeping with the conditioner in the hair, or by blow-drying the hair to let the heat open the hair follicle and really absorb the conditioner. The more moisture added to the hair, the shinier, healthier, and stronger each strand looks. 

Stress, diet, and even hormonal changes can all impact the way your hair grows. The average person experiences a half inch of hair growth per month, however  Viviscal diet supplements contain a unique blend of fish cartilage, vitamins, and cherry extract that promise to grow your hair longer, faster. (As a bonus, Viviscal also reduces the amount of hairs that are lost on a daily basis, and strengthens your nails and eye-lashes.) 

Women from all walks of life, throughout history, have embraced the idea of long hair, and this is a hair-style that will never go out of fashion as it is a timeless symbol of femininity and beauty. When it comes to long hair, your age isn't the issue-- the health of your hair is. Nurture and nourish your hair, and you can have shiny, luscious locks cascading down your back forever. 

The 5 factors (YOU CAN CONTROL) that cause unhealthy skin

Genetics aside, there are many aspects that you do have control over when it comes to the appearance of your skin.

The following list details daily changes you can make to your lifestyle to help ensure the clearest, youngest, healthiest looking skin possible, and yes-- you can do them all!

1. Sun Damage

The TOP skin offender, the sun is a major contributor to unhealthy skin. "Repeated sun exposure depletes collagen and elastin from within [the skin], making the skin less elastic, and thinner, which leads to premature wrinkles," says Dr. Callahan, a Florida based dermatologist.
The sun is a known contributor of dark-colored spots and leathery, wrinkled skin-- an obvious sign of unhealthy, aged skin. 

"The effects of the sun begin as soon as we are exposed to it at an early age. Years later, we start to see the brown spots, red spots, and wrinkles, and, if there is extreme damage, precancerous patches and skin cancer can also occur" shares NY dermatologist Dr. Michael Kurzman.

In addition to premature aging, the sun can also worsen acne-prone skin. As the surface of the skin becomes inflamed in response to the sun's rays, your skin is unable to properly shed and exfoliate itself, leading to debris trapped within pores. While a tan might momentarily even out your skin tone to camouflage the presence of acne, in the long run sun exposure makes problematic skin that much worse. 

To prevent against all forms of sun damage, a sunscreen should worn daily. (Solise, a new bodywash with sunscreen built-in, is a great solution, as it covers every body part you would wash in the shower or bath, leaving you protected without the application time.) 

2. Smoking Cigarettes

As you've undoubtedly been told for years, smoking is extremely bad for you in many aspects-- although we are just going to concentrate on the skin related side-effects here. 

Smoking is the antithesis to skin-care, as it depletes the body of Vitamin C and accelerates the break-down of collagen and elastin. In addition to breaking down the skin from the inside out, the chemicals in cigarettes also suck the moisture out of your skin, leaving it feeling and feeling dry. 

The solution sounds easier in theory than it probably is in practice: quit smoking. 

3. Dehydration

When the body is dehydrated, your organs become dehydrated too-- and as your body's largest organ, your skin is no exception. If your body is dehydrated, your skin will feel very dry and inflexible, your overall skin color will be flat, and fine lines and wrinkles may be prevalent than normal. 

Drinking plenty of water is the best way to keep the body hydrated. (If you don't like the taste of plain water, add some lemon or cranberry juice to it-- which will improve the taste, while giving you the extra benefit of some anti-oxidants.)

4. Poor Diet

The skin is essentially a mirror for the overall health of your body, and because your skin is so sensitive to internal functionings-- if you are putting bad stuff into your body, it will show on the outside. Since the skin is a functioning organ, when not enough vitamins and minerals are ingested, the skin suffers.

Try to frequently eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, or if your lifestyle absolutely cannot support a healthy diet-- at least incorporate some Vitamins into your daily routine.

5. Lack of exercise

Similarly to how smoking negatively affects multiple aspects of your health, exercise has multi-fold benefits. In addition to keeping your heart and lungs healthy, you are also stimulating the lymphatic system which keeps everything moving in your body-- including your blood. Proper blood flow is crucial as it provides a healthy glow to the skin, while also giving your underlying cells the fuel it needs to function properly. 

It goes without saying that you should try to exercise as much as possible, but in regards to your skin-- make sure to wash your face as soon as you can afterward to prevent any sweat-induced break-outs.

Cleanliness vs. sunscreen? It's a wash!

Time and time again skin care experts extol the importance of applying daily sunscreen to your hands. The rationale is easy to understand; your hands are consistently exposed to environmental damage, and after years and years of exposure the fragile skin of your hands can look years older than the skin on your face. (Especially with the new trend of SPF makeup formulas, sun protection of the face is much more prevalent than hand or decolletage protection.) 

For those that do take the time to sunscreen their hands everyday(such as myself), the simple act of hand-washing becomes a more time consuming ordeal. Especially in a job industry where frequent hand-washes are required (medical, food, or small children related, to name a few...), washing your hands, and reapplying sunscreen 15x a day easily becomes a burden too time and product-consuming to maintain. 

With much genius, Solise has come up with an elegant solution. Intent on figuring out a way to safely protect his young children from sun damage, at each seeming dead-end Dale Lillard reminded himself of Thomas Edison's famous quote "I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that don't work."

Finally teaming up with an inventor/engineer neighbor, a product that could clean and provide simultaneous sun protection was born. 

Solise is available as either a hand wash or a body wash. It won't clog pores, is hypoallergenic, moisturizing, anti-aging, never tested on animals, and non-greasy. After you wash your hands or body with Solise, your hands/body are protected with an SPF 15 sunscreen. Gentle enough to use on your face, or on children, your first defense against sun damage is now as easy as washing your hands, or taking a shower. (Imagine if after every morning bath, your baby was automatically covered in SPF 15, and every time you washed your hands-- you were protecting yourself?)  

Since Solise only provides an SPF of 15, they classify themselves as your "first step against sun damage," meaning that if you are going to be spending time outdoors additional sun protection will be needed. However, for the kids playing outdoors during the winter, or the adults that spend a lot of time driving, or a million other applicable situations, Solise seems like a perfect time-saving skin-saver. (Not to mention it won the 2010 Skin Cancer Foundation's most prestigious Seal of Recommendation award.)

Does it sound like I'm hyped about this product? Currently only available on the West Coast, Solise will be hitting Philadelphia shelves very shortly, and at about $15 per 8 oz., it is a steal considering it is a body/hand wash AND a sunscreen. (Or, if purchased online at www.Solise.com, use coupon code 73483 to save 10% off any purchase.)

The key to glowing skin that's in every kitchen cupboard?

Baking Soda is the king of reinvention, and one of their latest incarnations has put this kitchen product square in the middle of at-home skin care.

Initially a seldom used product that non-the-less could be found in every kitchen cupboard, a household could buy one box of Arm & Hammer baking soda and have it last for years on end. In order to increase the frequency of sales, marketing geniuses began to promote the product as a way to keep your refrigerator odor-free. Sales sky-rocketed. 

Then, once every refrigerator in America had an open box of baking soda in it, sales flat-lined again. The marketing force then decided to advertise the product as a way to keep your freezer odor-free too, and sales again shot through the roof. 

Baking soda is a very inexpensive product, that can be utilized for a plethora of uses. In order to keep the company profitable, Arm & Hammer's marketing team has to constantly evolve and promote the different ways that baking soda can be useful to a wide variety of people.  

One of their most recent forays is currently being advertised amongst the glossy pages of In Style magazine, as a cheap, miraculous skin care product.

Apparently Secret #33 amongst the countless ways that Baking Soda can benefit you, is that Arm & Hammer Baking Soda can allow you to have healthy-looking glowing skin. By exfoliating your entire face and body with Arm & Hammer, you can allegedly remove your dead skin-cells and expose the healthier skin underneath, courtesy of baking soda. 

Their on-line description of this practice is as follows:

Are you a fan of the self-tan? Before applying products that give you a ‘glow’, give yourself an invigorating, yet gentle, facial and body scrub with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Removing dead skin cells will leave your skin soft and smooth, perfect before application. Make a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean.

If anyone has tried using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda as an exfoliator,  please share your findings. From personal experience, baking soda is not abrasive enough to physically slough off skin cells, and all that will occur is a messy shower... with a need to buy* more baking soda for the kitchen.

*Ding, ding! The real reason Arm & Hammer wants you to cover your body with their product is revealed...!