ZO Skin Health
TIP: If you want to feel good, try this cocktail
Dr. Obagi has little patience with people who want a sweet-smelling, feel-good cream and expect it to improve their skin. So he has simple advice for those who just want to feel good: have a martini.
“If you want to look good,” he says, “use products with a high concentration of retinol.”
Then again, there are people who want to do both! For 2008-2009, sales of luxury cosmetics and skincare were up 63%. Sales of vodka were up 81% , and sales of rum were up 226%! Of course, if you drink too much, everyone else will look better too!
productsimple advice for anyone wanting to feel better: have a martini.
ZO Skin Health
TIP: Get “Smiling” Eyes!
Want to save some money? Get your skincare products to multi-task. A good eye cream can work very well for the fine lines around your lips. That’s a good reason to smile! And when your lips smile, your eyes will too!
Here’s what to look for:
For anti-aging, nothing beats retinol. It stimulates cellular turnover and revs up collagen, reducing age spots and fine lines. Just be sure to wear a sunscreen, because retinol does make your skin more photo-sensitive.
Ingredients that hydrate your skin (ceramides, hyaluronic acid) will plump the fine lines quickly. No eye cream–even the most expensive one–is smart enough to know the difference between the lines around your mouth, and the lines around your eyes. If it works for your eyes, it will work for your lips!
Then smile–you don’t need to tell anyone your secret.
ZO Skin Health
TIP: Get Smart about Fillers
If you’re in your 40′s or 50′s chances are you’ve noticed some vertical lines in your face–not wrinkles, but loss of volume.
To the rescue: facial fillers. There are several on the market now, some of which you’ve probably heard about. But which one is right for you?? Your doctor may be the best judge of that, but here are some things that you should know.
After you have lost collagen and elastin, fillers help the dermis return to a more youthful condition. They work underneath the skin to trap water, plump the skin and restore volume that has been lost. They’re frequently used in the naso-labial folds (on the sides of the nose), the “marionette lines” (around the corners of the mouth). These areas are particularly susceptible to breakdown because there is so much chewing, talking, smiling. But facial fillers can also be used to raise scar depressions, plump the lips, enhance the temples, cheeks or lower eyelids.
With fillers there is little pain, and not much downtime (although swelling and minor bruising can last for up to a week). Your doctor will use a fine needle and may use a numbing cream or local anesthetic to reduce the pain.
Fillers are made from synthetic compounds that are safe for your skin. There are lots of different brands, including Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Sculptra, Radiesse and Prevelle. Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Prevelle are all made from hyaluronic acid, which is a natural sugar compound and provides fullness to the skin. Radiesse is made of tiny crystals that contain calcium hydroxyapatite, a substance found in our bones and skin.
Here are some of the pro’s and con’s of each:
Restylane: particularly good for nas0-labial folds, smile lines, forehead wrinkles, lips. You can expect it to last for about six-twelve months.
Perlane: injected deeper, so typically recommended for the cheeks, chin, eyebrows and around the mouth. The manufacturer claims it lasts 9-12 months. Not as popular as it used to be.
Juvederm: you’ve seen this advertised–for the “parentheses” folds. It’s the leading brand and from the company that brought us Botox. Lasts for about 6-12 months in the naso-labial folds; about 3-6 months in the lips.
Radiesse: recommended for smiles and nas0-labial folds. Lasts for up to one year.
Prevelle: recommended for fine lines, naso-labial folds, lips, lines around the mouth. Lasts for only 2-6 months, but is generally less expensive. Has lidocaine added to reduce discomfort.
Sculptra: generally multiple treatments are performed over a period of several months, but then it lasts for 2-4 years. Has lidocaine added, to reduce discomfort. Generally more expensive.
At the Obagi Skin Health Institute, Dr. Obagi uses Juvederm, Prevelle and Sculptra. Ask your doctor to explain his/her recommendations. It’s your face and your money, so make an informed decision–and be sure to select a provider who is well-qualified.
ZO Skin Health
TIP: Get Better Results with this 10-Second Tip
Skincare products that sit on the surface of your skin have little to no benefit. Massage the creams/lotions into your skin until they have vanished. Here are the added benefits:
1. Dr. Obagi recommends applying products vigorously in a circular motion. You’re giving your skin added exercise to stimulate dormant cells.
2. You’ll enhance the activity of the functional ingredients, because you’re increasing penetration and absorption.
It only takes a few seconds. Give your skin a little extra exercise today!
ZO Skin Health
The Ten Most Vain Places to Live in the US
Where would you expect that the most vain people –the ones who believe in better living through surgery– live??
Forbes and Total Beauty found out what ten cities have the most plastic surgeons, tanning salons and spas/salons per capita. Here’s the countdown:
#10 Louisville, Kentucky. Go figure. People there spend more on hair/skin/nail care. Louisville also has more than its fair share of plastic surgeons.
#9 Minneapolis, Minnesota. The winter cold there is brutal, and wreaks havoc on the hair and skin. It’s understandable that they have so many spas and salons. They need a little extra pampering.
#8 Charleston, West Virginia. No kidding! Charleston has more tanning salons per capita than NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Miami—combined!!
#7 San Diego, California. Sure, Californians are consumed with their appearances. But they also spend too much time outdoors during beautiful sunny weather. So they have more wrinkles and skin laxity! Advice from Dr. Obagi: wear Oclipse SPF 30 Sunscreen!!
#6 Dallas, Texas. Don’t mess with Texas! People there spend more time and money in salons so that their hair and nails look good.
#5 Los Angeles, California. This one was a no-brainer. The folks who live in Lalaland have more cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. All of the nose jobs, lip plumping and breast enhancements add up.
#4 Salt Lake City, Utah. There are more plastic surgeons here (per 100,000 people) than anywhere in the US. Who knew?? One theory is that because Mormons have large families, women there opt for tummy tucks and liposuction—also dubbed “Mommy Makeovers”.
#3 San Francisco, California. It’s a city best known for herbal and homeopathic supplements. So they probably like to go au-naturel on their skincare, haircare and nails as well. And they pay more than most anywhere else, too!
#2 Miami, Florida. People who live in Miami are rumored to eat too much, drink too much and smoke too much. Now we know that they spend too much on manicures, pedicures, facials and hair color, too!
#1 New York, New York. Everything there just costs more. Facials, haircuts and massages help to relieve stress in the Big Apple. Until they see their credit card bills… Then they need to start all over again.
How about in your hometown? Where do you think people are particularly vain?
ZO Skin Health
TIP: The best way to start your day
Want some breakfast food that works for your waistline as well as your skin? It’s so good you may even want to have some for dessert.
It’a a mango, and although it’s relatively new to the American diet, it’s been around for 4000 years. Not only are mangoes low in calories and high in fiber, they have some very interesting properties.
* Mangoes are powerhouses for anti-oxidants (like beta-carotene) that neutralize free radicals that damage skin cells and lead to premature aging. Just one mango contains 1-3X your minimum daily requirement of Vitamin C.
* They’re a very good source of silica. Never heard of it? Our bodies hold a small supply of this important mineral, but that reserve diminishes as we grow older, causing dry skin, wrinkles, brittle hair and nails. Silica retains 300 times its weight in water, so it helps your skin stay hydrated and plumped. .
The only problem with mangoes? It’s a little difficult to cut the fruit away from the stone. But the best things in life aren’t easy, are they?
