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!

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!

Laser skin resurfacing with Fraxel: strange to see MY answers coming out of someone else's mouth

It is definitely weird to hear the same exact answers I would give (except for the pricing, we're less), coming out of a person who is very much NOT me.

The recent interview on Good Morning America shared great information about Fraxel laser skin resurfacing, and in a few minutes, they covered all the most important facts: what kind of results to expect for acne scarring, surgical scars, wrinkles, melasma, etc., how the device is being utilized for people in their teens, versus people in the 50's, and how Fraxel treatments can actually help prevent skin cancer. 
 
Kudos to Dr. Rohksar, definitely one of the best Fraxel videos I've seen:

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.

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.)

Secrets to looking younger with makeup

It's a double edged sword in every aspect of your appearance-- any change can improve your appearance, but there is also the risk that the change might end up detracting from your looks. 

While makeup can be your biggest ally when it comes to changing or improving your appearance, there are some common mistakes you should avoid so as to prevent yourself from inadvertently making yourself look older.

Consider the model pictured to the left. Obviously she is a beautiful girl-- and yet her makeup application significantly ages her. 

To avoid some common aging makeup pitfalls, follow the tips below to enhance, and preserve your natural beauty.

Makeup techniques to avoid:

Harsh, dark eye makeup: As witnessed on Sharon Stone at the 2011 Oscars, there comes a time in every woman's life where thick, black eyeliner ages you, and makes eyes seem tiny-- the exact opposite effect desired. (In fact, looking at this picture more closely, Sharon Stone might be a poster child woman for all of the antigaging makeup "Don'ts".)

Thick foundation: When the foundation is visibly caked into your pores, it gives an overall impression of unhealthiness. It's ok to utilize makeup in an attempt to make the skin look uniform, but a lighter touch, and lighter formula of makeup, will make skin look more natural and healthy. (Extra bad if you can see the makeup sitting on top of fine facial hairs.) 

Thick lipliner: Similar to the heavily applied dark eyeliner, defining your lips is supposed to make them look larger, even though the opposite is what occurs. In addition, this is an outdated look, and any fine wrinkles around the mouth, or thinning of the lips, will be more apparent.

Blue eyeshadow: Unless you are very careful, blue eyeshadow can quickly send a message of "bad makeup." Neutral colors, such as copper, champagne, and peach, are much more flattering for maturing skin. 

Glitter: Makeups with subtle shimmer are fine for daily use, however try to avoid makeups (usually eyeshadows) that have a more distinct glitter component. The heavier glitter particles are prone to settling into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more obvious. 

Anti-aging Makeup tips to try: 

Let Mascara define your eyes: Properly defined eye-lashes are a more natural looking way of making your eyes pop. (Eyeliner is fine, as long as the color and usage are appropriate.)  Makeup artist Cindy Joseph offers the following application advice; "With mascara, you don't want to apply in a rush. Do one good coat, keeping the lashes perfectly combed so they are separated. A second coat will make them look longer and thicker." 

Go for dewy skin, as opposed to matte: Multitasking makeup that lends color and moisture can help make the skin look younger. Fresh, dewy looking skin is much more natural looking than matte, cakey looking foundation. 

Shimmery makeup can be used for multiple purposes: Shimmery creams and powders can be used for eye-shadows, liners, lip color, and high-lighters. A soft champagne color can be applied right underneath the brow-bone, in the inner corners of your eyes, and along your clavicle. The light will reflect off all of these areas, for a subtly eye-catching effect.

A cheeky way to prove seriousness of sun damage

Take a good, hard look at this image. Can you determine which derriere belongs to a 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65 year old? 

Now take a look at this image. Can you identify which face belongs to that of a 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65 year old?

 

My patients often tell me that their friends make fun of them for being so diligent about sun-protection, and to those that don't know-- I suppose applying SPF 50 all winter long can seem silly? However, to brilliantly demonstrate the subversive effects that sun damage has on our skin, day-in and day-out, Julie Kenner, M.D., PhD recently constructed a very simple experiment that was published in Cosmetic Dermatology. 

The "Cheek Quiz" consisted of five women, each in different decades of life (20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's) that agreed to have both their faces and their bare buttocks photographed. 

The sets of pictures were randomly mixed, and then 50 participants were asked to look at the pictures, and identify which picture went with which age. 

Whereas over 75% of the participants were able to correctly identify the women's age group based on their facial pictures, less than 5% were able to guess the women's age based off the appearance of their buttocks. (Can you? Answers are at very bottom.)

The organizers of this experiment were pleased with their findings, because it provided such a clear example of the importance of sun protection. The faces, which are exposed to UVA and UVB radiation all year long, showed the distinct passage of time, whereas the skin of the rear-ends look almost indistinguishable from each other, despite the chronological age, because that skin is always covered up and protected from the sun's damaging rays. (The presence of cellulite provides the only clue about the age of the rear-ends.)

This goes to show that the signs of aging are mostly caused by sun damage, and it is a unique concept to think that we'd all be better off if our face's looked more like our buttocks... 


It probably goes without saying, but daily sun protection is vital-- whether it is winter and you are in the office all day, or it is summer and you're spending time at the beach. Your skin is being exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays all the time, whether you're cognizant of it or not. It is in your best interest from both a health and aesthetic stand-point to nip the danger in the bud(dock?) and simply protect your skin. Solise sun-wash is a body wash with built in SPF, (so that once you're dried off from the shower or bath, you're already covered in a mineral based physical sun block) that makes your first step towards sun protection something you barely even think about, and SkinCeuticals makes an array of wonderful sunscreens that can be used year-round with no greasy/shiny/bad-smelling after-effects.

Age of buttocks, clockwise: 45, 65, 55, 25, 35

Age of faces, clockwise: 35, 25, 55, 45, 65

Botox proven to improve quality of life

It's no surprise to hear that Botox has been proven to increase a person's self-esteem-- who wouldn't feel better about themselves after having their fine lines and wrinkles erased?

However, it is interesting to hear that aside from self-esteem improvement, new studies show that Botox actually increases a person's quality of life, across the board...

In November 2010, researchers for the journal of Dermatologic Surgery conducted an experiment where 100 patients were given either Botox injections, or placebo saline injections. The participants were surveyed before the injections, and then again 2 weeks, and 3 months later. Questions asked were related to quality, satisfaction, and happiness of the participant's lives.
 

Once the results of all three surveys were tabulated (before injection, immediately after, and a few months after), the patients who received the real Botox injections showed statistically significant improvements in a wide variety of emotions related to self-esteem and quality of life; such as physical health, mood, household activities, overall life satisfaction, body satisfaction, self-consciousness, intelligence, self-worth, appearance, comprehension, weight satisfaction, attractiveness, and sense of well-being.

These findings tie into an idea suggested more than a century ago, when it was first suggested that facial expressions can send a message to the brain that influences emotions. For example, if the simple act of smiling can help make you feel happy, than frowning can negatively affect your mood. If the patients that were injected with the real Botox were physically unable to make the faces associated with stress/anger/upset, perhaps they were likewise spared from feeling those according unhappy emotions? 


For all of the good that Botox can accomplish, (anti-aging, anti-sweating, anti-migraine, perhaps anti-depression, etc.) it is definitely time for Botox to lose it's negative social stigma. Instead of looking at Botox like it's something to be ashamed or embarrassed about, it should be seen as the new Band-Aid or Tylenol, with a useful application for many a variety of ailments.

Was Cher's hit "If I could turn back time?" really an ode to her plastic surgeon?

With the release of feel-good, but guilty-pleasure, musical/dancing extravaganza that is Burlesque, Cher is suddenly back on everyone's radar. Even though she doesn't get tons of screen time in the movie, her performances were wonderful. 

And her appearance...?

Unbelievable! 

Look at the picture above, and then consider: Cher is 64. (And her mother, Georgia Holt is 84!!)

64 and 84!?! Unbelievable.

Granted, Cher has the kind of "too perfect" countenance that usually is the tell-tale giveaway of someone having had work done, but overall she looks like a very well maintained 40-something... and not at all like a women in her mid sixties! 

And her mother-- to my eyes-- looks completely natural, which I know she can't be at 84 years old! She instead looks like a well-kept 50-something instead of a women in the midst of her eighties! 

But, both of their faces reveal a similar secret: Cher knows an AMAZING plastic surgeon.

Considering this is a mother and daughter duo, genetics surely also play a role in their looks, but take a look at a picture of the pair from over 20 years ago. (There is no date associated with the picture, but judging from their clothing I am estimating the picture was taken during the early 1980's.)

 Cher's mother looks almost younger now, than she did 20 years ago! Whatever they're doing, (and I'm sure it's a well-advised, carefully planned mixture of fillers, lasers, sunscreen, nips & tucks and the right skin products), it's definitely working for them. 

It almost seems ironic in retrospect that one of Cher's hit songs was titled "If I could turn back time," because in regards to her (and her mother's!) appearance, it seems that she has been able to accomplish just that.

What would you rather: slim body or young face?

A recent nation-wide study shows that the fanny is mightier than the face... When asked to choose between a slim body, or a young looking face, 60% of people chose a slim body. This is an interesting question for many reasons, one being that until rather recently having a "slim body" or a "young looking face" were mutually exclusive of each other.

Sources attribute French actress Catherine Denevue (pictured at left)for famously first stating this major conundrum many women of-a-certain-age face, when she said that at a certain point, women "have to choose between your fanny and your face."

Wise beyond her years, she succinctly describes the dilemma still faced by women today. 

By keeping a lean body, your face is more susceptible to the signs of volume loss that come with aging. If you keep extra weight on your body, your face benefits from an extra fullness which lends itself to a younger countenance, however your body might not be satisfactory to your liking. 

As Kathie Lee and Hoda discuss, thankfully there are now ways to manage never getting caught in this paradoxical rut. Due to the amazing advances of aesthetic medicine, people of all ages and sexes can now control their weight and their faces. (Thank you Botox, Fraxel, dermal-fillers, good skin-care products, etc., etc...)

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It's complicated: celebrities aging "naturally"

 

This is a world where appearance counts for a lot, and because of that, beauty and anti-aging technologies are constantly advancing and evolving.

As the procedures and techniques get better and more sophisticated, it is interesting to watch how the faces of the people who have the means and the desire, change (or stay the same, as the case may be) as a result of the best-of-the-best nips, tucks, zaps, and injections available. 

While there are countless celebs who look like freakish, plastic versions of their former selves (just off the top of my head, Mickey Rourke, Renee Zellweger,Meg Ryan) there are a number of celebrities who are aging beautifully. Whether it's due to great genes, or a great team of derms and aestheticians,  the celebrities featured here still look amazing despite the passing of time that just won't quit...

Julia Roberts (pictured above) still looks as beautiful today as she did 20 years ago when "Pretty Woman" came out, regardless of what she may, or may not, be doing to herself. Judging by the color of her skin then, and now, it appears she is doing herself a great favor by staying out of the sun.

Jennifer Aniston is known for being fanatical about her appearance, and lord knows her diligence is paying off. With the departure of her baby fat, I think she looks better today than she did 20 years ago. 

Whoever does her work is a treasure.

There's something about Ellen Barkin... despite having a look about her that betrays the fact that her appearance is NOT au naturel, she still looks good. (And, after divorcing billionaire Ronald Perelman, she is certainly a woman with the resources to have the best of anything done.)

Cindy Crawford belongs in the same, "Did she? Didn't she? Probably did, but jesus christ it's good work!" category as Sharon Stone, Sheryl Crow, and Andie McDowell. 

She looks too good, in a natural way, to be true-- which ironically is what gives her away. There's just no way she looks so perfect at age 44, due wholly to good genes. 

See, doesn't Sheryl Crow also look too amazing?

Sharon Stone too... amazing, but in the world of Hollywood there's no way she looks so flawless naturally. (Again, please note the clear avoidance of the sun. There might be a pattern here?)

Andie McDowell looks amazing. 

And then there's the men... 

Even though there are the plastic-fantastic Bruce Jenners and Nicholas Cages of the world, there are also the George's and the Johnny's that only seem to get better NATURALLY with age.  

In my humble opinion, George Clooney looks a million times hotter now than he did 20 years ago, gray hair, wrinkles, and all. 

 

While Johnny Depp's dirty, scruffy aesthetic is not my taste, there is no denying that his face looks only minutely different than it did 20 years ago. Since he has never cared about following the conventions of society, he is someone that I really do think is aging naturally. All I can say is-- his children are lucky to have those genes.

It was only while watching "It's Complicated" on TV the other day that I noticed how lovely something is about Meryl Streep. She is definitely not classically pretty, and even though it is my job to look at and improve skin all day, everyday, I couldn't help noticing how beautiful her skin looked despite the fine lines and wrinkles. When she smiled, the skin underneath her cheekbones crinkled and wrinkled, and on her I thought it looked beautiful; delicate, feminine, and the antithesis of what I strive for everyday. Weird. 

Meryl looks great for her age, and if she's doing anything cosmetic it appears to be the barest minimum. (Yet again, note her paleness.)

 

Susan Sarandon is another example of a woman that allows aging to occur, and looks great.

Nicole Kidman was so angelically pretty. 

Maybe I've just been looking at this picture for too long at this point, because although she usually does have the plasticky, fish lipped, too-much-Botox look, I think she looks pretty here? 

 

The celebrities featured here are all people whose livelihoods depend on their faces, and therefore I am not passing judgment on any treatments they may elect to have done. 

If anything, looking at pictures like this is inspiring because it shows that with the proper taste level, skill, and resources, it is possible to advance in age and still look like yourself... fabulously. 

P.S. Not to kick a dead horse here, but if you look closely at all the pictures, George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston seem to be only ones sporting natural looking tans. (Cindy and Nicole look like recipients of a good spray tan.) Practicing good sun health is clearly the easiest, do-it-yourself way to stave off premature aging for as long as possible. 

Botox "frequent-flyer-miles"

Not that I needed any sort of incentive to keep up with my Botox, but leave it to the geniuses at Allergan to concoct a way to incentivize us to stay on top of our Botox treatments, anyway! (Even though it's a bit hard to discern feelings in print, I am not being sarcastic at all. They really are very smart marketers!)

Allergan recently launched a rewards program, dubbed "Brilliant Distinctions". Akin to a "frequent flyer mile" situation, you are rewarded for every Botox/Juvederm treatment. 

Here's how it works; upon signing-up for the program, you are awarded "points" for every Botox or Juvederm treatment you receive. It doesn't matter how much of either consumable you use, just going through the act of the treatment qualifies you for points, so you are rewarded for frequency, not size. 

The points you are awarded translate into a dollar amount (200 points equals approximately $25.00) which can be saved up, or applied piece-meal to each treatment moving forward. (All of the legal fine-print and specific details can be found on the Brilliant Distinctions website.)

Although points are only given for Botox or Juvederm, the points can be redeemed on any Allergan product; including of course Botox or Juvederm, but also Latisse, or any Vivite skin care product. 

Depending on the timing, either Botox of Juvederm can be on special promotions where double or triple points are awarded for getting a treatment. 

Considering that Botox and Juvederm injections are treatments that are needed repeatedly, it is smart of Allergan to develop ways to incentivize  people to keep up with it.

DRY skin vs. DEHYDRATED skin

Almost like a garden, your face needs constant tending...

Facial skin needs almost all the same maintenance required for growing any kind of plant; you have to make sure it gets the proper nutrients, receives controlled exposure to the sun*, unwanted pests need to be kept at bay**, and in some cases... frequent clippings may be necessary. Bumt, most importantly of all, in order to thrive and look it's best, adequate hydration is a MUST.

This is especially true as the weather starts to noticeably change from summer to fall, to winter. You may already be noticing that your skin feels dryer and tighter than it did just a few weeks ago? 

It's this time of year when skin regimens have to be updated in order to accomodate the changing seasons-- and the biggest change from summer skin care to winter skin care is the needed addition of extra moisture. 

During the summer months there is typically a lot moisture in the air (humidity), and the heat encourages your oil glands to be extra active, both factors providing natural hydration for your skin. However, as the temperature starts to cool down and the humidity dissipates, you are left with a dryer, tighter feeling face.

Dry skin not only feels uncomfortable, it also takes a toll on your appearance. Dry skin tends to look dry and dull, which in turn makes lines and wrinkles more noticeable. Dry skin is also more problematic for makeup application,  as the skin's dryness can cause makeup to crease and emphasize what you were trying to conceal.

However, there is a difference between "dry skin" and "dehydrated skin" despite the fact that the two terms are often used interchangeably. 

Dry skin is actually a condition where your skin is lacking essential oils and moisture. This can be caused by the absence or malfunction of sweat or oil-producing glands.

Dehydrated skin is skin that has been stripped of too much moisture, which can occur from improper diet, sun, wind, heat, certain medications, and misused skin products-- in addition to not drinking enough water.

Although they are innately different from each other, both dry skin and dehydrated skin can be remedied in similar ways:

Drink plenty of water: Make sure you get at least 8 glasses a day, and by avoiding diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine, you can prevent additional dehydration from occurring within.

Exfoliating often : No matter how much extra moisture you put onto your skin, your moisturizer cannot penetrate through dead skin cells. Exfoliating regularly unblocks your pores, which allows your skin products to penetrate deeper, and work better. 

Protection: As should always be the finishing touch with any good skin care routine, make sure to always protect the skin with a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. (Kill two birds with one stone by using a moisture-rich, oil free sunscreen, such as SkinCeuticals Ultimate Defense SPF 30)

With due diligence, you can easily make sure your face suffers from neither dryness nor dehydration, regardless of the season.

* In the case of skin, the only sun exposure should be protected exposure!
** Pimples, black-heads, white-heads, etc...

Connect the dots: the REAL attribute that makes you look old

Think fast: When you think of signs of physical aging, what is the first thing that comes to mind? 

 If this was Family Feud, the person who slammed the buzzer quickest and blurted out "wrinkles" would certainly be the winner. “Gray hair” might be next on the list, followed by perhaps “glasses”, and then maybe “balding”, with possibly a “cane” or “dentures” coming in last. 

What was your first mental association with aging?

Because of society’s deeply ingrained notion of what “old age” looks like-- a combination of wrinkles, glasses, and gray hair-- it comes as a surprise to learn that a recent study done in Austria proved that NONE of the above things are the leading cause of an aged appearance. Any revised guesses on what the culprit might be?

For the Austrian study, photographs of middle-aged women were photo-shopped into two distinct sets: one version with extremely uneven skin tone, and one version with an abundance of deep wrinkles. Both sets of pictures were then showed to a group of people who had to rate the attractiveness and youthfulness of the women's faces. Across the board, it was the women with the uneven skin tone that were voted less attractive and older than their wrinkled versions. The consensus of this study: brown spots age you even more than wrinkles.

Brown spots, age spots, sun spots, (previously also called  “liver spots”) all refer to the same thing, and that speckled discoloration is the skin’s natural response to long-term sun exposure. The spots you see today didn’t occur from your sun exposure this past summer; instead, they are the result of skin being exposed to too much UV rays over the course of years and years. (On average, it takes about 10 years for sun damaged areas to pigment and manifest as “brown spots”.) The fairer the skin, the more susceptible you are to visible brown spots, but even those with darker skin need to be wary of damaging UV rays too. According to Dr. Susan Taylor, director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, EVERY skin tone is susceptible to UV-induced discoloration, which is why sunscreen is a must, no matter how dark your skin color is. “In fairer skin, you get freckles or sun spots, and in darker complexions, an uneven skin tone,” she says. 

Thankfully, today’s science enables us to be able to prevent future damage (with proper diligence) and get rid of the unwanted marks currently showing. 

A high SPF is very important when trying to prevent future sun damage. Skin experts across the board pretty much agree that a broad-spectrum physical block sunscreen provides better protection than the chemical versions. Whereas chemical sunscreens have to be reapplied often, the titanium and zinc oxide in a physical blocking sunscreen actually sit on the surface of your skin and deflect UV rays until they are washed off. (SkinCeuticals makes a version that our entire office, AND Oprah, love!) 

When dealing with pre-existing pigmentation, different treatments are recommended for different skin colors. The fairer your skin, the more receptive it is to laser treatments, whereas the darker your skin is; the greater the risk of burning, darkening, or hypo-pigmentation (spot bleaching). Asian skin is especially tricky, as it can look pale, despite there being a lot of underlying pigment that risk discoloration during laser treatments. (To prevent against unwanted side effects, darker skin usually has to be pre-treated for up to two months before laser treatments.)  

Photorejuvenation laser treatments target the areas of concentrated pigment in your skin, and destroy it. After treatment, the brown spots darken and shrivel up, before sloughing completely off your skin. Once the healing process is complete, the skin has returned to it's original state: clear and pristine.

The only way to prevent more sun spots though, is to make sure your skin is constantly protected (i.e. sunscreen!) regardless of the season, temperature, or current weather. (UV rays are present even while it's cloudy or raining, and can affect your skin even while you're indoors through windows or driving.) Make sure to always cover your face, and apply a dab or two into the backs of your hands. 

Taking a few extra minutes in the morning to make sure your skin is safe can end up saving years from your appearance. (Not to mention, help prevent against skin cancer!)