For Valentine’s Day this year, skip the hearts and flowers; go straight for the wine and chocolate–they’re rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help prevent the damage caused by free radicals, and also help skin tolerate UV exposure and environmental pollutants.
But not all wine and not all chocolate are equally good, so make sure that you get the right stuff.
Chocolate—it’s good for you! Indulge a little.
- Dark chocolate is much richer in anti-oxidants; it has more chocolate liquor and has less sugar. Eat dark chocolate whenever possible–it’s the milk, cream and daily products in milk chocolate that reduce its anti-oxidant value.
- Go for the good stuff. High quality chocolates are generally made from natural ingredients, and contain higher percentages of cacao and less sugar.
- Eat while you enjoy it. It will help reduce stress.
In my clinic, we have a dish of dark chocolates in the front lobby—it’s an ounce of prevention!
Wine—propose a toast to your health!
- Red wine—it doesn’t make any difference if it’s merlot, cabernet or pinot noir—all red wine is rich in anti-oxidants, because the skin and the seeds ferment in the grapes’ juice during the fermentation process.
- Stick to one glass per day—120 calories is plenty. If you have two glasses, you’re getting more calories, not more anti-oxidants.
- Moderate amounts of red wine may help protect against estrogen depletion.
- Sit down and enjoy your wine—especially with a good friend. Reducing stress is good for your heart and for your skin!
Happy Valentine’s Day—it’s a perfect excuse to enjoy some dark chocolate and red wine. Remember, it’s Doctor’s orders! For the other 364 days–be sure to also use skincare products that are rich in anti-oxidants!
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO COMBINE ZO WITH THE NU DERM LINE OF GENTLE CLEANSER, TONER,CLEAR,EXFODERM,BLENDER,TRETINOIN 1%,SPF32,SPF35.I’M AGE 51. LOVE THE PRODUCT
Dear Dorothy,
The ZO Skin Health product line and Obagi Nu-Derm system were both developed by Dr. Obagi. The ZO Skin health products are different than the Obagi Nu-Derm system as they are over-the-counter strength (OTC) and not as strong as the Obagi Nu-Derm system. ZO Skin Health is Dr. Obagi’s newest product line that provides individualized skin care products with a focus on prevention and maintenance.
This line bridges the gap between Dr. Obagi’s therapeutic, Nu-Derm line and daily skin care. You should not replace your Nu-Derm program for products of ZO. What you can do is incorporate the ZO Skin Health products into your Obagi Nu-Derm regimen. For example, you can
incorporate the Ossential Growth Factor Serum in the evenings on top of your Retin-A® & Blender step, and alone on the nights you skip Retin-A® & Blender, once you are on maintenance.
You should still use a Cleanser, Toner, Sunscreen, and Eye Cream (optional) during maintenance on a DAILY basis. 2-3 times a week you will use the Clear, Blender & Tretinoin, and your Exfoderm step. On the other days, you can use the ZO creams recommended below to enhance and maintain results, and to complement your Obagi Nu-Derm program. I will outline a tentative schedule for you below, that can obviously be adjusted to suit your own individual needs.
Monday-Wednesday-Friday–AM
NuDerm Cleanser OR Exfoliating Cleanser from ZO, if you are Normal to Oily. If you have skin on the more dry or sensitive side, utilize the Hydrating cleanser.
Toner
Clear
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense
Exfoderm
Olluminate (ZO) or ElastiDerm (NuDerm)
Oclipse (ZO) – OR your Obagi SPF 35/SPF 32
Monday-Wednesday-Friday–PM
NuDerm Cleanser
Toner
Tretinoin and Blender
Olluminate (ZO) or ElastiDerm (NuDerm)
Growth Factor Serum
Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday–AM
NuDerm Cleanser or ZO Cleanser
Toner
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense
Olluminate (ZO) or ElastiDerm (NuDerm)
Sunscreen
Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday–PM
NuDerm Cleanser or ZO Cleanser
Toner
Olluminate (ZO) or ElastiDerm (NuDerm)
ZO Skin Health Ossential Growth Factor Serum
ZO Skin Health Ommerse Overnight Recovery Crème OPTIONAL. This can be used day and night
Ommerse This is a functional moisturizer, meaning it will hydrate your skin, reduce redness/inflammation, and promote the growth of new and healthy skin cells)
I am interested in knowing what is the best treatment skin care line to use for ridding myself of hair growth and dark spots on the throat and neck area. I have been plagued with the dark spots for years and find it to be quite embarrassing.
Hello Denise,
The condition you described is quite common. First, to minimize the growth of ingrown hairs and the irritation that goes with them, use the ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish. Wet skin, (ideally in the shower), and gently massage the polish on your face and neck for ONE minute (each area-for one minute). Do not apply any pressure. The magnesium crystals warm-up naturally to dissolve the excess dead skin and stimulate the growth of healthy layers. Rinse thoroughly. After doing so, wash your skin for ONE minute using the Exfoliating Cleanser. Remember, ONE minute to the face and ONE minute to the neck. Once you rinse off thoroughly and dry, you then will use TEPADS. For the TEPADS, remove ONE pre-soaked pad from the container and swipe the entire neck and face area. Tepads are presoaked anti-bacterial pads that also shrink pores and oil glands, and reduce the bacteria contributing to this condition.
This is the protocol we give all patients with this true medical condition at our clinics. This will IMPROVE and PREVENT any additional in-growns and inflammation within 10 days of use. Do this daily…
For the hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin tone) it will require use of the medical components in the Obagi system. That is the Obagi Nu-Derm “CLEAR” and the Obagi Nu-Derm “Blender” mixed with Tretinoin cream. The Tretinoin & Blender step are used about 3 days a week on the neck and face. The CLEAR, daily, AM and PM after the Tepads. Apply a great physical block like the OCLIPSE during the day, if you go out doors. This will NOT leave the white film conventional sunscreens leave behind, and EXCELLENT for your skin type since it is tinted with natural melanin. The Medical components are optional, the ZO components will correct the source of the in-growns. Medical components require an MD prescription. A doctor can be found at obagi.com
I am a flight attendant and typically spend 8 – 10 hours a day, 3 days at a time on the plane. My skin gets so shriveled by the end of the 3-day trip. I have tried so many products. Retin-A just makes my face red. What do you recommend?
Hi Pamela,
I can completely understand how Retin-A cream would dry your skin, even more so than it naturally does given your profession.
The air on “planes” is very dehydrating and harsh on skin. Given that you are already naturally more on the “dry” side, being up in the air 3-days at a time, will certainly take a toll on your skin.
Healthy skin begins with cleansing, followed by a good Exfoliator (I know seems counterintuitive) about 3 days a week, and some hydrating creams that will hydrate your skin and allow for stimulation of healthy skin cells.
Given your skin type, life style, and goals, I would recommend the Hydrating Cleanser, Ommerse Daily Renewal Cream, Exfoliating Polish, and the Growth Factor Serum. The Oclipse is also highly recommended as a great Sunscreen and Primer… It can be drying when used on the plane, so maybe on days you travel, don’t apply it.. You can try the Oclipse once while on the plane and see how you like it. It is a far superior physical block than anything else on the market.
The Hydrating Cleanser is used to cleanse your skin twice a day (if possible)- try washing your face when you land and not using the water on the airplane. This cleanser locks in moisture, by replenishing natural moisturizers, improves skin health, and boosts collagen production. It contains lipopeptides to stimulate collagen from the cleansing step.
Make sure to use it for ONE minute minimum.
The Exfoliating Polish is used 3 days a week PRIOR to cleansing your skin, when you are in the shower (either the AM or PM). The Exfoliating Polish utilizes smooth magnesium crystals (as opposed to jagged ones, which can nick the skin) to gently and effectively exfoliate dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells. It contains Vitamin A, C, C-Esthers & E to smooth and refine skin as well.
The Daily Renewal Cream: Apply AM (before Sunscreen) and PM (Last Step)
A functional “moisurizer” as it hydrates skin, soothes redness/inflammation, and nourishes skin without slowing down the process of regenerating healthy skin cells. It contains Retinol to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone, and increases epidermal thickness and firmness. So, basically a great collagen booster that also hydrates.
The Growth Factor Serum: PM ONLY
Growth Factor Serum is the most effective advanced lipopeptides serum I’ve experienced in 16 years as an esthetician. Two proprietary lipopeptides help boost collagen production and increase epidermal thickness. Also, stimulates cellular function and evens tone as a result of the Retinol. You apply this product as your LAST step at night (nothing else on top of it). You use about 1 pump every night after you cleanse your skin
Oclipse:AM before going out doors.
It is a physical block that will NOT leave the white film conventional sunscreens leave behind AND is the best primer to even your tone. It is marine derived so it will not clog pores. Regardless of skin color, you will get an even tone with the Oclipse. It is an spf 30 physical block.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician
I am 29, African American male, nyc businessman and i have used a product called Tend Skin which has removed all of the major acne on my face after several topical treatments.
I have a brown skin complexion. One problem is I have some dark spots on my forehead where the acne was removed.
I need a product that will remove the dark spots from this one section on my forehead. The rest of my face is just about all even. I guess the dark spots are acne scarring or officially called Hyperpigmentation.
Does your product work at the forehead? If so, I will be purchasing asap to try it out..
thanks
Hello Monti,
There are aspects of the ZO Skin Health program that are going to immediately help to reduce your breakouts, prevent breakouts, and enhance the medical program that your physician will place you on. To address the hyperpigmentation regardless of source on your skin, the stronger Obagi Nu-Derm system is necessary. It is best to utilize the doctor locator at obagi.com and locate an MD in your area that will incorporate medical components (in your case the Clear, Blender and Tretinoin) into your system with the ZO products I will recommend. The ZO products recommended will prevent and reduce any acne breakouts. They will also improve the overall quality, texture and tone of skin.
I will first discuss the ZO products I recommend to begin immediately using, and then direct you to see a physician for portions of Dr. Obagi’s “Prescription/Medical” line to use in conjunction with my recommendations.
If your breakouts are accompanied by scars, pigmentation, or they are very consistent, then these products should be used in-conjunction with an Rx topical program. There isn’t an over-the-counter system that’s going to sufficiently address medical concerns.
The four products are the Exfoliating Cleanser, Tepads, Exfoliating Polish, and the Oclipse.
The polish is used daily (one time), whenever you are in the shower (AM or PM) PRIOR to washing your face. You wet your skin and gently massage with your fingertips for ONE minute. The polish as SMOOTH magnesium crystals, a KEY element especially for acne prone skin. If polishing agents (as in most scrubs) are NOT smooth, then you will overly irritate the skin and get microscopic nicks all over your face. The polish features potent ingredients including the polishing aspect to slough away dead, damaged skin cells, and to begin stimulation of healthy skin cells. You need to shed the damaged cells in order to regenerate new cells.
The Exfoliating Cleanser, is a pH balanced cleanser that has several features beneficial to your skin type. It does NOT induce breakouts or overly strip the skin. It contains salicylic acid, an effective agent to reduce oiliness, blackheads, and white heads. The blue beads in the cleanser dissolve and deliver Vitamin-E to the skin, after about 1 minute of use. The white beads do NOT dissolve. However, these round and smooth beads further help to stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells, and provide deeper cleaning. The cleanser is used 2x’s a day for ONE minute minimum. Use only your finger-tips to cleanse skin. The cleanser is used AFTER the polish on days you utilize the Exfoliating Polish.
The Tepads are by far our most popular item in Dr. Obagi’s clinics. They are VERY effective at killing the p-acnes bacteria, the bacterial source of acne, reducing sebum for approximately 5 hours after use, shrinking pores, and preventing NEW breakouts (KEY in your skin type). They are used after the cleanser. You remove ONE pad and swipe your entire face until the pad is dry.
The LAST step you will perform on your skin in the morning is the Oclipse Sunscreen. An effective sunscreen with primer that does NOT induce acne breakouts. The natural melanin in the Oclipse (the primer effect) will help to cover up acne lesions. It will protect your skin from damage, including pigmentation where your breakouts are present. You can read more about this excellent product and the others mentioned on the http://www.zoskinhealth site.
The above 4 products can be used in conjunction with the topical, oral, or combination of both that your doctor prescribes you. If you need assistance locating a doctor in your area (especially, one that carries the Obagi Nu-Derm system) you can go to the doctor locater at obagi.com. You definitely need a stronger topical medication such as Retin-A (Tretinoin) cream 0.1%, Blender, and Clear part of the Obagi Nu-Derm system) to effectively restore your skin to a clear and healthy state.
Once you go see your doctor, if you have specific questions, please email me. Thanks.
Best,
Sandra Obagi
My skin is always dirty and nasty looking no matter what I do. I’m using Paula’s anti-oxidant serum and Olay Face Wash. I’m in that 25-34 age group and have dry skin.
Hello Mike,
The feeling of your skin always looking/appearing dirty is from the wrong products. You are not using the right products given your skin type and your age. Also, you need to be taking steps such as, cleansing your skin for ONE minute – not 20 seconds. The recommendations below will improve the overall quality, look, feel, and appearance of your skin.
For example, shaving AFTER your cleansing step, and before applying an antibacterial soaked pad such as, the Tepads, is key to making sure you don’t breakout, get in-grown hair, or irritation.
The four products are the Exfoliating Cleanser, Tepads, Exfoliating Polish, and the Oclipse.
The polish is used daily (one time), whenever you are in the shower (AM or PM) prior to washing your face. You wet your skin and gently massage with your fingertips for ONE minute. The polish has SMOOTH magnesium crystals, a KEY element especially for acne prone skin. If polishing agents (as in most scrubs) are NOT smooth, then you will overly irritate the skin and get microscopic nicks all over your face. The polish features potent ingredients to slough away dead, damaged skin cells, and to begin stimulation of healthy skin cells. You need to shed the damaged cells in order to regenerate new cells.
The Exfoliating Cleanser is a pH balanced cleanser that has several features beneficial to your skin type. It does NOT induce breakouts or overly strip the skin. It contains salicylic acid, an effective agent to reduce oiliness, blackheads, and white heads. The blue beads in the cleanser dissolve and deliver Vitamin-E to the skin, after about 1 minute of use. The white beads do NOT dissolve. However, these round and smooth beads further help to stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells, and provide deeper cleaning. The cleanser is used twice a day for ONE minute minimum. Use only your finger-tips to cleanse skin. The cleanser is used AFTER the polish on days you utilize the Exfoliating Polish.
The Tepads are by far our most popular item in Dr. Obagi’s clinics. They are VERY effective at killing the p-acnes bacteria, the bacterial source of acne, reducing sebum for approximately 5 hours after use, shrinking pores, and preventing NEW breakouts (KEY in your skin type). The are used after the cleanser. You remove ONE pad and swipe your entire face until the pad is dry.
The LAST step you will perform on your skin in the morning is the Oclipse Sunscreen. An effective sunscreen with primer that does NOT induce acne breakouts. The natural melanin in the Oclipse (the primer effect) will help to cover up acne lesions, hydrate skin (without needing a moisturizer) and even skin tone. It will not leave the white film conventional sunscreens leave behind.
SUMMARY of PROGRAM:
AM: 1) Exfoliating Polish (1 minute min) 2) Exfoliating Cleanser 3) SHAVE 4) Tepads 5) Oclipse
PM 1) Exfoliating Cleanser 2) Tepads
Best,
Sandra Obagi
I have been on the Obagi skin care regimen since Jan10, have been using it faithfully, and following the directions to a T. Here is my list of products I am currently using:
Obagi Foaming Gel; Obagi Toner; Obagi 20% Vitamin C serum; Obagi Clear; Obagi Exfoderm Forte; Obagi Action, Elastiderm Eye Cream; Obagi Tretinoin 0.05%; Obagi Healthy Skin protection.
However, I have had no peeling to shed my “old skin” to make way for the new skin. I have noticed no difference in my skin…do I need a stronger dose of trentoin, or should I try a stronger skin care line? I cannot afford laser treatments, and the line at $700+ was a stretch on my budget. A
One more question, on the evening regimen, I have been blending the tretinoin with the Blender. Is that the correct thing to do? It is how I was instructed.
ny suggestions? HELP
Hello Nancy,
Thank you for emailing. Provided that you are using the system correctly, it is NOT always necessary to undergo redness, peeling, sensitivity etc. Your skin may just be able to tolerate the system well.
It appears you are using the correct products for your skin type. However, Dr. Obagi does prefer the stronger 0.1% cream form of Tretinoin. The 0.5% is fine to use until you finish the tube and can increase your dose.
Also, a “Standard” approach is 1/2 gram of Tretinoin mixed with 1/2 gram of Blender EVERY night. The stronger “Moderately Aggressive” program is 1 gram of Tretinoin mixed with 1/2 gram of Blender every night.
One gram is the amount of toothpaste you would put on a toothbrush in Thickness and Length. It is a one inch line with that thickness.
You should be cleansing for one minute AM and PM, Applying the Toner AM and PM, Applying about 8 drops of the Pro-C 20% in the AM only.
AM: 1 gram of Clear, 1/2 gram of Exfoderm-forte, followed by ElastiDerm and Sunscreen
PM: After Toner apply ONE gram of Clear, then the Tretinoin and Blender….
You are able to incorporate aspects of the ZO Skin Health system into your program.
If you are using the Obagi Nu-Derm creams you can incorporate the ZO products to enhance results OR to maintain skin. You can use the Obagi Nu-Derm system and the ZO products together for a perfect Maintenance Program.
The DNA kit has all of the products I would recommend for you to try in a one month supply at a great price. The Growth Factor Serum is the most effective advanced lipopeptide serum I’ve experienced in 16 years as an esthetician. You apply this product as your LAST step at night (nothing else on top of it). You use about 1 pump every night after your Tretinoin & Blender step, and on your off days, as your last step.
The Daily Power Defense is an anti-oxidant and retinol based cream that hydrates, repairs damaged DNA and stimulates collagen. Apply this product in the MORNING only right before your sunscreen. So on some days, it will be after your Obagi Nu-Derm cream application (BEFORE SUNSCREEN), on others it will be applied right before Sunscreen (during Maintenance).
The Oclipse totally hides redness, reduces oil and by far one of my patient’s favorite items. It is a physical block that will NOT leave the white film conventional sunscreens leave behind AND is the best primer to even your tone. You can interchange this with the current Obagi Sunscreen you have.
The Exfoliating Cleanser (great for normal to oily skin) can also be interchanged with your Nu-Derm cleanser.
The Olluminate and Obagi Eye Cream, such as the ElastiDerm are interchangeable as well. The Olluminate provides the additional benefit of treating dark circles and puffiness. It is a matter of personal preference. They are both great Eye Creams and it is up to you to see which one you prefer for your skin type.
Best,
Sandra Obagi
I am confused about product usage…
I am using the following in this order in the AM:
Daily Power Defense
Growth Factor Serum
Ommerse
Sunscreen
PM:
Ommerse
.1% Tazorac
Growth Factor Serum
…should I be using the Growth Factor Serum both AM and PM and in the order I have been?
…how to incorporate the new Nightime Repair ( if at all) since my doctor has me using the Tazorac every night (which I have been handling well)?
Thank you..
Hi, Marianne:
It’s perfectly OK to use the products in the order that you have listed. Some people prefer applying the Growth Factor Serum before the Daily Power Defense, but that is a matter of personal preference.
As for whether you need Growth FActor Serum both AM and PM, that’s optional. If you want to apply it just in the PM, that’s OK.
Tazorac is a retinoid treatment product, so we would not recommend the use of Radical Night Repair together with it. You’re already stimulating and exfoliating your skin–Radical Night Repair should not be used in combination with prescription retinoids.
Thanks!
Donna Queen
I had a scratch on my face that became infected. The infection is gone, weeks ago, but it looks like I may have a small scar, or it is just healing very slow. I use all of the Nuderm Products and some of the Zo, which I love. Is there one of the products out of these two that would be especailly good to use in this area? I hope it is just slow healing. Thanks
Hi Sue,
I really think you should see a dermatologist as he or she may need to examine the severity of this scar. Yes, the scar can be red and sensitive/swollen for a period of 6 months. To help heal the scar faster, make sure you are using the Retin-A Cream & Blender on it. The Retin-A Cream (0.1% Tretinoin/generic) will help to stimulate healthy skin cells to accelerate healing. The HQ in the Blender will ensure you don’t hyperpigment. If it is raised you may need other procedures such as injections or laser. That is why it is imperative you go see your MD. The sooner you correct it (the younger the scar) the more responsive it will be.
Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician
When will your Radical Night Repair product sell at Nordstrom?
It should be available on our website approximately March 15, but it takes longer to move through Nordstrom’s distribution system and even longer to get to Hawaii!—so I’m guessing that it will make it to Honolulu about mid April.
Thanks for your interest!
Donna Queen
Do you recommend using the Clarisonic Skin Care System on your face? I am using Obagi NuDerm.
Hello Lanette,
If you are using the Foaming Gel (Obagi Nu-Derm) and NOT the Exfoliating Cleanser, you can use the Clarisonic Brush.
Two things… I like the concept of spending 1 minute minimum washing your face and the concept of helping to exfoliate dead skin. The Clarisonic Brush makes sure that you do that. However, I don’t like the Clarisonic Brush, because it is a safe harbor for bacteria. No matter how much you wash the brush head prior to using it, it is always going to retain a certain amount of moisture, which is a refuge for bacteria.
The better way to obtain “exfoliation” of dead skin cells and assurance of the 1-minute rule is the Exfoliating Polish. This is used either daily or 3-times a week (one time a day) depending on your tolerance. You spend 1-minute gently exfoliating your skin in the shower prior to washing your face. It is far more effective at removing dead skin cells and ensuring proper cleansing of your skin. It will NOT harbor bacteria either.
The polish as SMOOTH magnesium crystals, a KEY element especially for stimulating healthy skin cells. If polishing agents (as in most scrubs) are NOT smooth, then you will overly irritate the skin and get microscopic nicks all over your face. The polish features ingredients including Vitamin-A, C, C-Esthers and E to provide antioxidant protection and boost collagen.
It will enhance the penetration of your Obagi Nu-Derm system as well.
Follow, by washing your face for ONE minute with your Obagi Nu-Derm or ZO Skin Health Cleanser.
Remember, this is solely my opinion with respect to your question regarding the Clarisonic Brush… Thanks
Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician