Dr. Zein Obagi
Sunscreen and Vitamin D: The Controversy
Eggs are bad for you; no, eggs are good for you.
Carbs are bad for you; no, carbs are an important part of a healthy diet.
Coffee is bad for you; no, frappuccinos with double whip are bad for you, coffee is actually good for you; it reduces the risk of diabetes and Parkinson’s.
You need to apply sunscreen every day. No, sunscreen limits your body’s exposure to Vitamin D, which is important for strong bones and auto-immune functions.
Wait a second. Which way is the wind blowing today?
Here’s my opinion. UV rays are an important—and very efficient—source of Vitamin D which helps prevent osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cancer. But you can still apply sunscreen every day, and get all of the Vitamin D that you need.
- You only need about 10-15 minutes of exposure per day, and that can come through any part of your body—your hands, your arms, etc. If you’re going to be outdoors, you still need sunscreen on your face!
- That UV exposure doesn’t have to be between the hours of 10-2. Go outside during off-peak hours.
- You can get vitamin D from a variety of sources—including salmon and eggs. Milk, OJ, yogurts and cheese are also frequently fortified with Vitamin D. You can get Vitamin D from vitamin supplements.
- Looking for a good facial sunscreen? I like ZO Skin Health’s Oclipse SPF 30. For body, dermatologists like Neutrogena sunscreens.
There are things that we all need to be concerned about. Getting sufficient amounts of Vitamin D doesn’t need to be one of them.
Stick with the sunscreen!
ZO Skin Health
Oclipse Sunscreen was Voted one of the Best in the US!
Total Beauty, the online beauty authority, gets its 13 million readers to submit product reviews on their most favorite (and least favorite!) skincare products. And guess which sunscreen was voted the #2 favorite??
Oclipse Sunscreen SPF30. You can read their editorial at:
http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/best-facial-sunscreens/p60442/page11
Let’s party! No, let’s wait. Look out next week, we’ll have a special Gift with Purchase, so you can celebrate too!!
If you want a free sample of Oclipse, contact our Customer Service department at Sue Munz–smunz@zoskinhealth.com.
ZO Skin Health
Free (well, almost!) Samples!
Like to try before you buy? So do we. Women–much more so than men–like to see, touch, feel, smell a product before they buy it. That’s why we are now offering free samples of ZO Skin Health products, as well as a brochure which gives an overview of the anti-aging line.
Sampling is especially valuable for people who:
* want to try the new Radical Night Repair Plus. Note that the sample jars are not totally occlusive to light or air–so the sample will have lost some of its potency.
* may be sensitive or allergic to certain ingredients. Dab a little behind your ear to test sensitivity.
* want to test the product under cosmetics or before a workout.
* can’t afford to buy every product, so want to determine which products should take priority.
* want to try something new–like applying the product to your neck or decollete.
You can order your free samples at https://www.zoskinhealth.com/free-samples.html. We’ll give you up to five free samples of whatever products you want (pay only $4.95 to cover the costs of freight and shipping). Each sample is enough for 2-3 applications.
Help yourself!
ZO Skin Health
What’s Your Skin Age?
We all know how old we feel (and some days we feel younger than others!), but how old do we look? It’s harder to be objective about that.
That’s why Dr. Obagi developed the Skin Age test, a 5-minute questionnaire that enables you to assess your skin type, concerns, lifestyle, genetics, etc., and make an accurate projection of whether your skin makes you look older–or younger–than you really are. Immediately you’ll get an assessment of the factors that influenced your score, as well as some recommendations. There are some things that may surprise you–like the role of ethnicity, HRT, anti-depressants, diet, etc. Based on your input, there is also a proposed regimen–what you need to do to correct or maintain your skin. If you wish, you can print a copy of the regimen for your records. And if it looks really, really good, you can show it to your friends!!
The test is free, and so is the evaluation. Check it out at: http://www.zoskinhealth.com/skin-age-test.html
Have fun! And tell us what you think!
ZO Skin Health
Help for Yo-Yo Dieters, when the Yo-Yo is stuck in the “up” position
Gina Tutino has been a yo-yo dieter for most of her life. But for the past 10 years, that yo-yo has been stuck in the “up” position.
When she lost her husband, she stopped cooking, and ate junk food. Then she went through menopause, and weight loss became even more difficult. Eventually she gave up, and chose not to deal with the daily frustration of a stupid scale and relentless zippers.
One day she met Dr. Obagi and he focused on Gina’s face—not the rest of her body. She always had good skin; she just hadn’t taken care of herself in a long time. He recommended that she get started on ZO products.
In a few weeks, she began to see a difference. After 8 weeks or so, she began to like herself. And then she began to believe in herself again. That was the turning point.
She started a medically supervised diet, and began working with a personal trainer. No drugs or surgical intervention–just good old-fashioned diet and exercise. Over the next 18 months, she lost about 9 lbs per month—total, 165 lbs! Gina is now a slim, trim 136 lbs!
Congratulations, Gina—you know how to fight aging, and fight hard! You look terrific!
Dr. Zein Obagi
Really?? Sunscreen is Bad for You??
Eggs are bad for you; no, eggs are good for you.
Carbs are bad for you; no, carbs are an important part of a healthy diet.
Coffee is bad for you; no, frappuccinos with double whip are bad for you, plain coffee is actually good for you; it reduces the risk of diabetes and Parkinson’s.
You need to apply sunscreen every day. No, sunscreen limits your body’s exposure to Vitamin D, which is important for strong bones and auto-immune functions. Wait a second. Which way is the wind blowing today?
Here’s my opinion. UV rays are an important—and very efficient—source of Vitamin D which helps prevent osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cancer. But you can still apply sunscreen every day, and get all of the Vitamin D that you need.
- The National Institute of Health reports that it does not take much sunlight to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D: perhaps as little as 30 minutes of exposure (without sunscreen) twice a week.
- That UV exposure can come through any part of your body—your hands, your arms, etc. If you’re going to be outdoors, you still need sunscreen on your face!
- That UV exposure doesn’t have to be between the hours of 10-2. Go outside during off-peak hours.
- You can get vitamin D from a variety of sources—including salmon and eggs. Milk, OJ, yogurts and cheese are also frequently fortified with Vitamin D. You can get Vitamin D from vitamin supplements. Eat more of the good stuff!
There are things that we all need to be concerned about. Getting sufficient amounts of Vitamin D doesn’t need to be one of them.
Stick with the sunscreen!
Donna Queen
A Day in the Life of Zein Obagi, MD
Dr. Obagi doing one-on-one consultations at one of his Personal Appearances
I learned something new on Saturday; in fact, I learned a lot.
There were 600+ women who began lining up outside a Nordstrom store at 7 am to see Dr. Obagi and a few other celebrities like Kate Somerville and Deborah Lippman. It’s a big show, but that’s not what impressed me.
Sitting next to Dr. Obagi, while he visited with people was a great experience. Even for me, and I’ve known and worked with him for a while. What made it most interesting was not what he said, but the people with whom he met—some of whom had traveled thousands of miles to see him. A few of the surprises:
- Many people told him that he had changed their life—given them self-confidence and happiness, because he treated difficult skincare problems that other dermatologists refused. We’re not talking lines and wrinkles here—we’re talking very serious and debilitating skin diseases.
- The mother who brought her son, who had severe nodular acne. Dr. Obagi asked this woman why she had not taken her son to a doctor before this. She said that she wouldn’t let anyone else treat him, because she herself had the same condition 25 years ago, and only Dr. Obagi was able to correct her skin. So she waited—and waited—until she could see Dr. Obagi. He gave her his card, and asked her to bring her son to his clinic right away.
- The number of different races and ethnicities that were represented. Part of the reason is because Dr. Obagi led the dermatology profession in the treatment of different skin colors. Only about 25 years ago, many dermatologists treated skin like it came in only two different colors: fair-skinned and slightly tan. They were color blind; they didn’t understand anything other than Caucasians. Dr. Obagi changed all of that. Now he’s a hero to people with skincare problems, all over the world.
- The number of different languages that they spoke. And he talked right back–in four different languages.
- There were some women whom he admitted that he couldn’t help—they had diseases for which there was no treatment. One woman left in tears, because he said, “I don’t want to mislead you. My products won’t help you.” Understandably and unfortunately, she was desperate for a solution. But at least he was honest.
- His 18-year old daughter, who sat and listened, so very proud of her father. She has heard it all before, I’m sure, but she wanted to hear it again.
- The number of people who came to him because they were disillusioned with skincare products that didn’t work. They left feeling stronger and optimistic, that this time will be different. They left with hope; but more than that, they left with solutions.
- Scores of women who use the Obagi® Nu-Derm® products that Dr. Obagi developed, and just wanted to thank him, personally.
It’s not very often that Dr. Obagi makes a personal appearance, but if you have the opportunity, join him some time.
For me, it was a day that I’ll never forget. For him, it was just another day.
ZO Skin Health
What’s Hot in Skincare for Fall (and what’s not!!)
Want to know what is supposed to be hot (and what’s not) in cosmetics/skincare departments this fall? According to the beauty experts at Nordstrom, look for new anti-aging products for boomers and Gen X (born between 1974-1980)! Here’s what these women want–and what they can look forward to:
* Brighteners–they used to be called lighteners, but the new ones target hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. Remember the good old days of using baby oil and aluminum foil reflectors, and toasting your skin? Now all of that damage is really surfacing.
* Treatments–with some of the new technologies, you can enhance the penetration of active ingredients and stimulate muscle tone with microcurrent technology. This is a big advance in the state of the art.
* Retinol–it’s now bigger than ever, and better than ever. Everybody is jumping on the bandwagon for Active Vitamin A. But can they catch up with Dr. Obagi’s ZO Skin Health? Well, he’s already one step ahead. We’ll tell you more later! But the beauty experts at Nordstrom said, “Awesome”!
And what has lost popularity with boomers? Natural and organic products. Botanicals are good, but when it comes to anti-aging, people want what really works.
ZO Skin Health
One Minute, That’s All We Ask (twice a day!)
Anything that makes your life easier and your skin healthier gets four stars around here. That’s why we like the Clarisonic cleansing brushes. The best part: they’re programmed to operate for one full minute, which is the amount of time required to break down sebum, which Dr. Obagi calls “the enemy of healthy skin”.
A lot of ZO users like to use the Clarisonic with our Hydrating Cleanser. Used in combination, the two get 5 or 6 X as much dirt, cosmetics and oils off of your skin. For fighting acne, blackheads, whiteheads and large pores, that’s powerful.
The Clarisonic is pricey–about $150-$225. If you want to save some money–make it a habit to cleanse with your fingertips for one full minute–AM and PM. Rub your face vigorously–it stimulates the skin cells.
If sebum and dirt are the enemy of healthy skin, Clarisonic (or a self-timer) and our Hydrating Cleanser may very well be your best friends.
ZO Skin Health
Skincare. Use It or Lose It
Why do so many skincare companies put products in 1 to 6 ounce containers? Why not supersize them, like some discount retailers do?
In case you’ve missed the evening news recently–and Dr. Obagi has been quoted on many of the networks–the problem is that supersized products may be false economy. Here’s why:
1. Just about all personal cosmetic products have a shelf life. You can see that date printed on the jar–it’s called the PAO (Period After Opening)–an illustration of a little open jar, with a number inside–like 6M, 12M, etc. That stands for 6 months, 12 months, etc.– how long the product will stay fresh after it has been opened. Skincare companies are not required to include the PAO on the package, but ZO does.
2. Some products will lose their potency after repeated exposure to light or air. Vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acid and hydroquinone–curiously, they’re some of the best and most effective ingredients–all are particularly vulnerable. Airtight, opaque packaging helps, but it’s not fail-safe. As someone told me once, “it’s impossible to make anything fool-proof, because fools are so ingenious.”
3. Products that are applied directly to your face–for example, lip gloss, lip balm, eyeliner and mascara, become breeding grounds for bacteria. You’re not doing yourself any favors by keeping them long past their expiration date. That’s why so many skincare products are sold in airtight pumps–to reduce the possibility of contamination.
4. Cosmetics and skincare products need to be stored properly–away from direct light or heat, and with the jar firmly closed. Don’t keep them in your car–especially during the summer.
5. Loofahs and sponges are frequently the host for bacteria. All of those nooks and crannies, and the moist bathroom environment, are conducive to bacterial contamination. According to Dr. Obagi, the bathroom is “a fertile ground for mold, bacteria, fungus and streptococcus, and these things make you vulnerable to acne and infections.
Here’s what Dr. Obagi recommends for the useful life of skincare and cosmetics:
- Cream and gel cleansers: One year
- Serums: Six months
- Liquid foundation: Six months if it is in squeezable packaging, two months in any other form
- Concealer: Three months
- Loose powder: Two years
- Pressed powder: 18 months
- Eye shadow: Two years if powder, two months if it’s cream, unless it is in a squeezable or airtight container
- Mascara: Three months (but discard sooner if it dries out)
- Eyeliner: Up to three years for regularly sharpened pencils, two months for cream or liquid eyeliners
- Blush: Two years for powder, two months for cream
- Makeup sponges: Wash after each use and throw away after two weeks
- Lipstick: One year
- Lip gloss: 18 months
- Lip liner: Up to three years if sharpened regularly
- Nail polish: One year
Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
