When sunscreen isn't enough...

Much like the Skin Cancer Foundation, we at Cosmopolitan Skin Care Solutions are all about sunscreen usage, ALL.year.long.

However, as the Skin Cancer Foundation constantly tries to remind us; even though sunscreen application is incredibly important, it is not enough to completely protect us from the risk of skin cancer.

Read on for the Skin Cancer Foundation's full list of skin cancer prevention tips:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.

• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. (For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.)
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming, or excessive sweating.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should only be used on babies over the age of six months.

• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

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...

Sunscreen for bath-time?

Honestly, for those that are fastidious about SPF application, or for those that never take the time-- Solise Sun Wash is hands-down the easiest way to get your initial sun protection: in the shower (or bath)!

Solise Sun Wash is a soap that contains a built-in SPF 15, so once you are done washing with it and have dried off-- all clean areas are now protected by a physical sunblock of SPF 15!

Hypoallergenic, FDA approved, PABA free, safe for kids, moisturizing, non-greasy, recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation, inexpensive, and smells good-- Solise Sun Wash has all the components of a dream sunscreen, not even including it's unique application process.

But, it's really that simple: wash yourself as regular with Solise Sun Wash, dry off, and you're protected!

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. 

Is tanning the real culprit behind Britney's beauty fade?

I love Britney Spears, and despite her tabloid drama, there is no questioning that she is undeniably talented. (Whether you like her genre of music or not, her albums are consistently financially successful.) 

Breaking onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager with the release of "Baby, One More Time," Britney immediately established herself as a sex-symbol. With a pretty face, perfect body, scant clothing, and enticing dance moves, she had both the boys and girls crushing on her. (Her charm knew no sexual boundaries, a hetero girl-friend from college was almost as obsessed with the boys of AEPi as she was with Ms. Spears, and a homo-sexual male has been one of her biggest supporters.) 

When she combined her genetically blessed appearance with a clever costume designer; Britney ingrained herself into pop-culture with numerous unforgettable looks:

And then, after a couple years worth of wear and tear, this happened to our Britney (isn't it crazy to think that such drastic changes occurred in a little over 5 years?!): 

Yes, drinking, drugging, smoking, and taking horrible care of herself certainly all contributed to her beauty demise, but I think the biggest factor in Britney's sudden, rapid-fire aging, has been her devotion to tanning. 

Never one to hide this obsession, from the very beginning Britney admitted to having a tanning bed on her "Baby One More Time" tour bus, and during all of the shaving head/Kevin Federline/mental break-down drama, the first thing Britney allegedly did after having her children taken away from her-- was go tanning.

Proven over and over again to be the #1 controllable factor when it comes to aging, the popularity of tanning has been extremely detrimental to the health of our society. A "tan" indicates that sun damage was occurring to your skin, and your skin changed color as a result of trying to protect itself. Years of this practice leads to thick, wrinkled, leathery looking skin, and significantly increases the odds of contracting potentially fatal skin cancer. 

Decades of fake and bake has certainly taken it's toll on Britney Spear's once enviable countenance. As she finds herself approaching her 30's at the same time she is poised for another smash album release, she looks far older than her physical age. Repeated hit songs do not occur by accident, and I wish that the people managing her could look at her as more than just a cash cow, and recommend good practices for her personal life too. Namely; stop tanning, put on a hat, always wear sunscreen, and for gods sake-- hire Nannies that will do the same for your children!

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.

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.

Wealthy women at biggest risk for melanoma

What slice of the population would you guess is at the highest risk for contracting skin cancer? 

Obviously, as the title of this article would indicate, we know the answer to the question... but before you read this, who would you have guessed is at the highest risk? 

As I try to mentally compartmentalize the study described below, part of me wants to say that I would have guessed lower class Caucasians-- both male and female-- as being at the highest risk.  This is based purely on assumption, but I would peg them to not be educated correctly about the important benefits of sunscreen, nor would I think that they have the expendable income to spend on something like sunscreen, which doesn't deliver a benefit that can be immediately seen. (Lower-income families of any other ethnicity most likely have darker skin-tones, which naturally provides a better defense against the sun.) 

My second guess would have been wealthier Caucasians, again-- male or female-- because of the outdoor leisure activities extra-wealth would allow them to do, combined with the fragility of pale skin. (Plus, the have the money and desire to invest in indoor tanning, in order to succumb to the "tan" peer-pressure.) 

Interestingly enough, it is my second hunch that is the accurate one, with occurrences of melanoma being much higher in affluent Caucasian women than men. 

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, killed an estimated 8,700 Americans in 2010 alone. Unfortunately, according to new research just published by the Archives of Dermatology, being a wealthy white female indicates a higher risk for contracting the deadly cancer...  

Researchers discovered that Caucasian females living in the most affluent California neighborhoods were almost six times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than those living in the poorest California neighborhoods. 

The amount of ultraviolet radiation each geographical location received was also taken into consideration. Even then-- the females with the higher socioeconomic status were 73% more likely to develop melanoma than the poorer women living in areas that received equally high amounts of ultraviolet rays.

Previous studies suggest several possibilities for these findings, which neatly coincide with exactly what you would expect: greater access to outdoor recreational activities increases the risk of melanoma.

“Affluent women have been reported to have more leisure time, during which they may pursue outdoor activities such as gardening, playing sports, or walking,” noted the researchers. Visits to indoor-tanning salons, and tropical vacations are also leisure activities that well-off white women may be partaking in that potentially could increase their risk of melanoma. (It is speculated that melanoma occurrence is higher in women than men, because affluent men are usually working indoors during the day.)

Despite a woman's economic status, data shows that all females had significant increases in melanoma incidence. Between 1980 and 2004, the occurrence of melanoma amongst young American women increased by 50 percent!

  

Everyone, regardless of wealth, location, age or skin color, needs to take precautions to help protect themselves and their loved ones from melanoma. 

• To learn more about your risk of skin cancer, take The Skin Cancer Foundation's Fitzpatrick Skin Type Quiz to find out your skin type.
  
• For information on how to protect your skin every day, see The Skin Cancer Foundation's Prevention Guidelines.

Spring cleaning your make-up bag

For some reason unbeknownest to me, the Spring season has become infamous as the time of the year to properly clean-out everything. Along with the clothing/bedding switch and excessive cleaning that is most likely to be taking place at this time of year, it is also a great opportunity to tackle a more insidious, under-the-radar mess: your make-up drawer. 

Despite the fact that these products are constantly coming into contact with your face, most women hardly ever think about the cleanliness/shelf-life of these products. The following is a just quick check-list of things to consider as you go through beauty products: 

• Any lotion based make-up product with an SPF in it (such as a foundation) has an especially limited shelf-life. After about 6 months, the active sunscreen ingredients begin to break-down, so that although the make-up appears to work as usual, your skin is not receiving the same amount of sun protection that you intended. If you want to hold on to these products, please be sure to apply another form of sun protection first.
  
• Time to wash all make-up brushes-- including mascara wands. If the brushes (mascara wands included, if older than 3 months) have not been washed regularly, they are most likely bacteria receptacles. You can either use wash made specifically for make-up brushes, or a gentle shampoo, to cleanse the brushes. Once clean, allow to air-dry.
  
  
• Go through and inspect everything you use on a regular basis. If anything appears to have changed consistency, color, or smells strange-- toss it.
  
• During the normal wear-and-tear of being tossed into a drawer or bag, it is likely that loose debris from the multiple colors inside a compact will have shifted onto each other, and possibly coated the interior mirror. Use a tissue to clean the powders off the mirror, and use a butter-knife to gently scrape the discolored layers off to make your compact look like new again (and prevent bacteria from growing).
  
• For your collection of lipsticks and lip-gloss tubes, rubbing the surface with a paper-towel soaked in rubbing alcohol is a great way to clean and disinfect the areas that are coming into contact with your mouth.

Are there any make-up cleaning tips that you would like to share? If so, please do! We love hearing your feed-back! 

The skin type most likely to die from skin cancer

It seems almost morbid to pose the question, but... which of the two cutie-pies featured here do you think is more likely to die from skin cancer? 

Since the answer seems like it would be obvious, you're probably guessing this is a trick question. 

It is. 

Even though your first guess would most likely be to pick the redheaded baby (after all, redheads are known for extremely delicate skin), it is actually in fact the African American baby that is most likely to suffer from a fatal case of skin cancer.

Pale skin inherently has less natural defense against the sun, as opposed to the already melanin rich skin of a person of darker color. (It is estimated that an African American's darker skin provides them with a natural SPF of about 13.) However, with the advent of sunscreen, smart marketing has directed the importance of sun safety primarily to those that need it the most-- Caucasians-- which has left those with darker skin under the impression that they don't need to worry as much about sun protection. Due to this type of thinking, Latinos, African Americans, Asians, etc., are unknowingly exposing themselves to the deadly UV rays of the sun on a daily basis. Which, leads us to the startling reality: African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, are much more likely to die from skin cancer than a Caucasian.

The problem stems from multiple causes. Firstly, darker-skinned people are under the false impression that they don't need to be as vigilant as sunscreen, which is true... but protection is still needed. The issue is compounded by the fact that since they don't view skin cancer as a risk, they are less likely to check themselves out for suspicious moles or lesions, and even less likely to go to a doctor regarding a suspicious spot. (To their defense, cancerous lesions can be difficult to spot on darker skin.) Because skin cancer on darker skin is usually diagnosed on the late side-- they statistically experience a much lower survival rate than their pale, early detecting counter-parts.

While it is true that those with darker-skin have a lower risk overall of getting skin cancer, sun safe practices (such as wearing sunscreen, or even bathing with a Sun Wash) and annual skin exams should still not be ignored because the fact remains-- nobody is immune to skin cancer.

The premature aging that is occurring during your manicure...

Despite having to engage in activities that wreck my nails all day long, I love getting manicures. It's such a pleasure to sit back, and let someone else take care of you. 

Plus-- no matter how hard I try, it is impossible to ever get my nails to look as perfect as the professionals.

I enjoy every moment of the actual manicure process, the color choosing, the gossip, the hand massage, but despite all the extra frills, obviously the point of going for a manicure is to attain nice looking nails-- and to that effect I try to be as compliant as possible to the nail drying rules. 

If they tell me to put my hands under the drying UV fan for three sessions, even if I'm bored out of my mind and jumping out of my skin with pent-up energy-- I keep my fingers exactly where they're supposed to be for the recommended time-span. 

Three cycles? No problem. As soon as the one session ends, I dutifully tap the restart buttons, and wait until I can leave with my perfect, completely dry nails. 

And then, a horrifying thought occurred to me... what's the difference between the UV rays I willingly expose my hands to under the nail dryer, and those that I daily try to protect myself against from the sun? According to some experts-- none. 

Hands are the number #1 victims of premature aging, because unlike the face, they are not constantly being covered in makeup that has an SPF in it, or, if you are one of those that does take the time to sunscreen your hands year-round, chances are that you don't reapply after each time you wash your hands throughout the day. Because of this, the skin on the backs of your hands are extremely vulnerable to the environmental damages they are constantly exposed to, and are usually the body-parts that show the most signs of aging; with brown-spots, wrinkles, and rough, leathery looking skin.

Willingly subjecting your hands to 20 minutes of direct UV rays during a manicure just adds insult to injury... However, instead of giving up your self-indulgent self-maintenance (because I know I'm not!), the prevention against this abuse is easy-peasy: click off the UV light and only use the fan to dry your nails.

Another very easy way to protect your hands from future sun damage is by using Solise Sun Wash. It's the first of it's kind, and combines a moisturizing hand-wash with an SPF. By using this product, you're coating your hands in an FDA approved, non-greasy, hypo-allergenic, nice smelling sunscreen, every single time you wash your hands. Makes your life a lot easier, and will help keep your hands looking as pretty as your nails. (Use coupon code #73483 at check-out to receive 10% off purchase.)

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.

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.

[insert drumroll here] And the best skincare products of 2011 are...

It always warms the bottom of my heart to see that the beauty experts of the world agree with my product selections. 

Year after year the products that win the "Best of ...." categories are usually the same ones that can be found lining our shelves-- and the validation this gives my product choice is priceless. 

This year is no exception, as both Obagi and SkinCeutical's skincare products won New Beauty's 2011 "Beauty Choice Awards", as picked by readers, editors, and experts. 

The lofty title of "The best OVERALL SKINCARE BRAND SOLD IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE" was awarded to Obagi Medical Products.

Why it won: Obagi is a time-tested skincare line that combines the most powerful skin ingredients in an easy-to-follow numbered skin care system, which provides dramatic results. 

The experts like it because: "This is a great line that's been around for a long time. The brand continues to reinvent itself and utilizes clinical studies from dermatologists to show its benefits." says Nashville, TN dermatologist Michael Gold, MD. 

The editors like it because: "This supercharged skincare line works over time to really deliver dramatic results!"

We like it because: "They make certain products better than anyone else. Their gentle cleanser works well on every skin type, their Metrogel is better than anything else on the market, and I couldn't live without their hydroquinone-- it's used by every single one of my darker complected patients before a laser treatment." says Naomi Fenlin, co-owner of Cosmopolitan Skin Care Solutions.

And Obagi chalked up another win for it's "Nu-Derm Clear" product, under the category of "The best OVERALL DARK-SPOT ERASER" 

Why it won: Obagi Clear gets rid of dark spots on the skin, while also fighting the other signs of aging.

The reader likes it because: "I believe that Obagi Clear is a superior product because it repairs my damaged, aging skin."

The editors like it because: "Active ingredients in a strong concentration tackle common discoloration problems to achieve perfect, evenly toned skin."

We like it because: "Hydroquinone is a tricky chemical, that can provide great results when used properly. Obagi makes it the easiest for patients to safely and correctly use, with their 'Clear' product." 

 

SkinCeutical's line of anti-aging and antioxidant products won the Best Choice Award for "The best ANTI-AGING ANTIOXIDANT LINE."

Why it won: SkinCeuticals is always on the forefront of cutting-edge science and ingredients-- their products deliver what they promise. 

We like it because: Simply put, our skin looks and feels better after using these products.

The time machine in your makeup bag...

 The woman below has changed nothing about her face, except her makeup. 

Just a few simple changes took her from looking middle-aged in the 1970s, to looking significantly younger in 2011.

The thing with makeup is, it can either be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Generally speaking, people use makeup to look better. (I'm not including the Marilyn Mansons and Lady Gagas of the world, whom use makeup more to shock, than flatter.) However, sometimes people with good intentions are unknowingly sabotaging themselves, so that their makeup application actually detracts from their looks instead of improving them. 

Take our featured model above, her makeup both ages her, and hides her inherent prettiness. Her overly thin brows, garish makeup colors, and bland foundation make her look way older than her true years. 

Eyebrows are a key component to your appearance, as they frame your facial features. (The rest of her makeup could have been beautifully done, and yet her overly plucked, drawn-in, wrong colored brows would have ruined the look of her entire face.) They are completely unflattering, and very unnatural looking. Even though the new brow was drawn-in thicker and darker, the more realistic shape softens her features, and nicely frames her pretty brown eyes. 

The lipstick color and the eyeshadow together give an overall clownish impression. If they were used independently of each other... it would still be bad. The particular shade of lipstick used draws attention to the yellowness of her teeth,  and makes her upper lip look noticeably thin and asymmetrical. The blue eyeshadow is much too loud for daytime, and seems haphazardly applied. A more natural looking lip and plum eye-color emphasize and flatter her features as opposed to overwhelming them. 

Her skin is in beautiful condition, but her uniformly applied foundation washes her out. (Aside from her brows, eyelids and lips, her face is devoid of any color.) A light pop of blush on her cheeks makes her skin look bright and glowing-- and immediately younger.

Feel free to experiment with your makeup routine in the privacy of your own home, you may be surprised to find that the more natural something looks, the better. (If you have any good before & afters, or tips, please feel to share!)

Is your acne treatment causing premature aging?

Every new acne patient invariably leaves our office with the follow products: a great face wash, a great sunscreen, and... a bottle of Benzoyl Peroxide.

Our acne sufferers adhere to their prescribed skincare regimen so devoutly, that we often find ourselves shipping our products to them across the globe. However, it's easy to understand why-- after trying everything else to fix their acne, they want to stick with what works.

BZP (my Benzoyl Peroxide abbreviation) devotion is not unusual-- in fact it is the single most commonly prescribed ingredient for all acne treatments. However, the reason it is so effective at curtailing acne is because of it's innate drying capabilities. BZP dries acne out by reducing the amount of oxygen in the skin, which thereby reduces the acne causing bacteria and infections. 

It is this amazing drying capability that has earned BZP it's reputation as the ultimate acne fighting cream, however some doctors are starting to wonder about a possible darker side to BZP's magic. With all of this excessive drying taking place, is BZP inadvertently causing pre-mature aging? 

The rule of aging usually goes like something like this; anything that dries the skin out, usually causes the appearance of more fine lines and wrinkles, thereby making the skin look older. Since BZP is by nature drying out the skin, reason lends that it would therefore be prematurely aging the skin. 

However, if BZP is being applied properly*, the uncomfortable, tight, dry, burning feeling shouldn't occur. Even anti-BZP California dermatologist Debra Luftman, MD admits that if the right moisturizer (i.e. a formula appropriate for your skin type) is used regularly, the skin will bounce right back to normal. 

BZP is now available in all sorts of strengths and formulas, so no matter what your skin is like-- there is a formula to help keep your skin pristine and clear. 

The one BZP precaution you do want to take to prevent premature aging is the avoidance of sun exposure. (We recommend all of our patients use their BZP at night so as to bypass this complication all together.) The light and heat of the sun amplify Benzoyl Peroxide's drying effects and can leave you with severely dried out, sun damaged skin. (Some experts even think that BZP cancels out the effect of SPF, which lends more reason to skip BZP application during the day.)

When used correctly, Benzoyl Peroxide is a must have in your anti-acne arsenal (if you look at the ingredients of the products you are currently using, you may be surprised to see you are already employing the benefits of this hard-working pimple buster.) Make sure to moisturize your skin properly, and enjoy your clearer skin-- Benzoyl Peroxide is not causing any premature aging. 

If you have any Benzoyl Peroxide experiences or questions you would like to share, please let me know. I'm always happy to hear skin related thoughts, inquiries, and stories.

* Benzoyl Peroxide should be applied in the thinnest layer possible, evenly covering the entire face, before bed. If you can see it on your skin, you've applied too much. Do not attempt to load-up an area for spot-treating, excessive drying (with peeling and flaking) is likely to occur.

Making people confident in their own skin: Brian

CBS cut out the best part of Brian's post-acne treatment (Isolaz and Fraxel) interview during the editing process.

When "Talk Philly" host Pat Ciarrocchi asked Brian about the best part of having clear skin, Brian paused for a second, then looked at her smiled. As honestly and simply as a 19 year old male could say, he answered "The girls."

Obviously more comfortable and confident in his skin after getting rid of his acne and acne scars, it is a delight to see the new twinkle in Brian's eye, and the extra spring in his step.

Ladies-- watch out.