Remember in the “old days” when you would see lifeguards’ noses covered in a thick white cream? It wasn’t just to look cool…that opaque white film was how you could spot sunblock. Now with new technology, sunblocks are created where the opaque film is no longer noticeable.

Sunblocks reflect UV rays and act as a wall to protect your skin. The main ingredient is Zinc Oxide. Sounds good right?  Actually this is where sunblock comes up short. With sunblocks that  “wall of protection” is only against UVB rays and not the “aging ray” UVA.

On the other hand, sunscreens, instead of blocking the UV rays, absorb them. Most sunscreens are made with chemical compounds such as Parsol 1789 that absorb not only the UVB rays but some of the UVA rays as well!

SUNSCREENS win!

Okay, but you may ask is there a better chemical compound that absorbs those UVA rays?

Back in 2005, 20/20  ran a story titled “Why Is the Best Sunscreen Blocked by FDA?"  In the story Dr. Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University stated,

"Ultraviolet A light ages your skin. And the reason it does that, it's a longer wavelength, so it can penetrate deeper into the skin, and instead of attacking the upper layers of the skin where skin cancer often forms, it attacks the layers that give your skin its tone, its elasticity, as we call it. … You get the lines, the wrinkles, all the things associated from aging."  Mexoryl  "is the No. 1 individual ingredient in terms of protection from Ultraviolet A radiation," Rigel said.

But even though doctors agreed Mexoryl offers better protection, back in 2005 the FDA would not approve it.

That turned around in July 2006 when the FDA  approved Anthelios SX, made by L’Oreal.  Anthelios SX contains a mix of three active ingredients, one of which is ecamsule, marketed in Europe and Canada as Mexoryl SX since 1993. L'Oreal sells Anthelios SX, as a daily moisturizing cream with sunscreen.

Click here for more information about this product..

Have you tried it? Let us know what you think!

Okay! I have been faithful in my morning and evening skincare program! I use an antioxidant cream containing Vitamin A ( vitamin C works well too).  I won't walk out the door without sunscreen and give myself an in-home facial once a week. But still I just feel it is not enough!  What else can I do?

If you find yourself in this situation there are skin rejuvenating programs that can “boost’ your skin care regimen and give your face a lift!

Skin rejuvenating programs can  include Skin Tightening,  Photo Facial, Skin Resurfacing, BOTOX® Cosmetic, Collagen, Restylane®, Microdermabrasion,   and Facial Treatments These treatments are designed to work over time to prevent, heal or correct sun damage, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, rosacea, large pores, and uneven skin texture.

These Non-invasive skin treatments have far less risk of complication than surgery but can offer similarly positive, life-changing results.  However there still are risks. Poorly performed procedures can result in serious injury.    
 
These skin treatments are performed by dermatologists specializing in cosmetic dermatology and are offered at medical spas.

Medical spas are gaining in popularity but are not federally regulated, so you will need to do your research in choosing a good medical spa.
According to the NCEA “A medical spa is a facility that during all hours of business shall operate under the on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional operating within their scope of practice, with a staff that operates within their scope of practice as defined by their individual licensing board if licensure is required. The facility may offer traditional, complimentary, and alternative health practices and treatments in a spa-like setting.”

Be sure your treatments will be administered by highly trained medical professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants, who are supervised by physicians and  ask about the type of training they received.

If you choose a medical spa have a consultation (they should be complimentary) to review your needs and to gather more information about the spa and their services.

What has your experience been regarding non-invasive skin treatments? Let us know!

There comes a time when many women look in a mirror and ask …

• When did those fine lines get so deep?
• When did those age spots become so dark? 
• When did my skin start to sag so noticeably ? 

And then the question comes to mind…Is it Time for Surgery or Injections??

Although expensive, I believe a bit of Botox or perhaps a mini-facelift maybe just the thing to raise your spirits (and your face!). BUT WAIT!
Before you make that decision, with all the costs and risks that go with it, make sure you have tried the “the Make up Lift” first.

On the oprah.com website there is a great article about women in their 40s and 50s who with the right make up and the right application of make up literally looked as if they had surgery to correct their specific problem areas. (To see the before and after photos click here. )

A great make up that can really help take years off your face, is the Lauren Hutton make up line. Along with the make up comes some great application tips that can really make a difference.

Perhaps a make up lift will just not be enough for you,but for sure try it first before any surgery or injections!  For some women it can be just the thing to correct their problem areas. 

Have you tried the Lauren Hutton line? Is there a make up you have used that has given you great results?

Let us hear from you…

Many dermatologists believe in a serious nighttime regimen and yet it may be the most commonly overlooked. Why is a nighttime beauty regimen so important?

According to an article in prevention.com,  "Repair occurs best when skin isn't stressed by free radicals produced by the sun and metabolism--during sleep, your body can undo some damage." says Mary Lupo, MD.

Lise Jorgensen, vice president global skincare product development for Estée Lauder says “Far from being dormant at night, the skin is doing a great deal of repair work. We now know that the optimal time to maximize the skin’s natural repair mechanisms is at night.” (found at notebookmagazine.com)

Although the specific regimens suggested by dermatologists and beauty advisors can be as diverse as the beauty products on the market, there are fundamentals that all seem to agree on.

• A good cleanser and sun block for daytime care and a good cleanser and repairing serum or moisturizing cream for evening care are essential for healthy and youthful looking skin.
• Consistency is key. If you only brushed your teeth from time to time, the health of your teeth would be in grave danger. Same with your skin!  It will be in grave danger without daily proper care.

There is such an alternative called the LifeStyle Lift. Founded by Dr. Kent the LifeStyle Lift is a one-hour procedure with, apparently for some, great results.
It was designed exclusively for jowls, frown lines, wrinkles, loose neck (turkey neck) and facial skin. This kind of mini-lift is especially good at addressing issues around the lower third of the face and the neck.

The patient is given local anesthetic, similar to the dentist. Then small incisions are made along the side of the face. Through these incisions the surgeon can tighten the underlining layer of muscle.

Patients can be in and out in 2 hours and the recovery time can be just a few days.

The best part is that it’s safer than a facelift. It is safer because harmful general anesthetics are not used during the Lifestyle Lift. You are never asleep at anytime during the procedure and never at that risk. It’s the complete opposite of extreme facial plastic surgery.

The cost is about a third of a facelift, approximately $4000.00 for the procedure versus the facelift that can be $15,000.00 or more.

In researching the procedure mostly positive feedback was found, although results do vary from minimal bruising to more severe depending on the individual.