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
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?
ZO Skin Health
What’s Life, without a Wrinkle or Two??
Hands with age spots and wrinkles… are you concerned about them, or proud of them? Here’s something to think about–it was sent to us by one of our friends. We hope you’ll enjoy:
–
Grandma, 90+ years old, sat on the patio bench. She didn’t move… just sat with her head down and stared at her hands.
Finally, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. ”I’m fine,” she said. ”Have you ever really looked at your hands–I mean, really looked at them?”
No, I guess that I never had.
Grandma then smiled and told this story:
“My hands, though wrinkled and shriveled, have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and embrace life. They caught my fall when, as a toddler, I crashed to the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. My mother told me to fold them when I prayed. They tied my shoes. They held my husband, and wiped the tears from my face when he went off to fight in World War II.
“When I was engaged, they wore a diamond–and I thought that it was the most beautiful ring in the world. When I first held my baby, they were clumsy and awkward. Soon they learned to hold all of my children, and eventually, my grandchildren. They shook when I buried my parents, and they trembled when I buried my husband.
“They have covered my face, combed my hair, wiped babies’ bottoms–more times than I can count. And to this day, when not much of me works the way that it used to–my hands still know how to dry a tear and fold in prayer. These hands tell the story of my life. And someday, God will reach out to these hands when he takes me away.”
Now, when I look at my own aging hands, I remember my grandmother. And I hope that my hands will someday will have lines and wrinkles that tell the story of a rich and wonderful life.
ZO Skin Health
TIP: A 10-second trick to make your skin look younger
Putting on an eye cream? Tap, tap, tap is for the birds, birds, birds! Your skin is meant to be strong and tolerant, and babying your skin is like spoiling your kids—they grow up to be weak and lazy.
Instead of tapping your skin with your pinkie, Dr. Obagi recommeds that you pat your skin firmly. You’ll be stimulating your skin cells—keeping them awake and vibrant. Don’t overdue it, though—stretching and pulling and tugging will over-stress the elastin fibers.
ZO Skin Health
Preposterous Anti-Aging Skincare Claims–They’re Getting Kind of Old!
When it comes to anti-aging skincare claims, who can you trust? Good question, and the FDA wants you to know. So they have published a list of companies that are making false and misleading claims. In our opinion, it’s long overdue. While the industry was not regulated, companies began making more and more unproven claims and publishing misleading photos.
And the companies that they’re naming–well, it’s a who’s-who list of skincare–Helena Rubinstein, Guerlain, L’Oreal, Lancome, Coty, Lancaster, Avon, Chanel, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Shiseido–the list goes on and on!
Dr. Obagi is in favor of increased regulation–he has always been a great proponent of ensuring that skincare claims are fair and honest.
For more information, check out the following link:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_188.html
ZO Skin Health
Under a Lot of Stress? It Shows!
Stress. There’s just no getting away from it. Women have more stress than men at least partially because they’re so hard on themselves and try so hard to please others. All that stress shows–in fact, it’s written all over your face!
Problem: Chronic stress triggers a hormone called cortisol, which reduces the ability of the skin to retain water. The result: a dull, dry complexion.
Solutions:
1. Although it seems counter-intuitive, reduce the amount or frequency of moisturizer. It causes your skin to stop collecting water from the food and water that you consume.
2. Avoid the use of hot water and highly fragranced skincare products.
3. Don’t use cleansers that strip your skin of its natural oils.
Problems: A furrowed brow, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. All of this may be caused by a decrease in the amount of collagen and elastin fibers, as well as increased dryness (which exacerbates the appearance of wrinkles)
Solutions:
1. Stimulate the production of collagen and elastic with active Vitamin A (ZO Skin Health’s Radical Night Repair Plus) or Rx Retin-A.
2. Drink more water.
Problem: Chronic stress causes or complicates other skin problems, including rosacea, acne, eczema and psoriasis. There’s a new term for this–psychodermatology–skin disorders that are related to your thoughts or feelings.
Solutions:
1. For acne–use products specifically for oily or acne-prone skin. Dr. Obagi’s favorite cleanser is ZO Skin Health’s Exfoliating Cleanser. Cleanse twice a day, but avoid the use of hot water. Slough off the surface skin cells that trap debris–try the ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish. Apply a product that has salicylic acid–like Dr. Obagi’s TE pads, which help to break down the sebum. Once a day is sufficient for maintenance; twice a day if you have active or persistent flare ups.
2. For rosacea, or if your skin appears red in the nose, cheeks, forehead–there are lots of OTC that claim to reduce redness, not as many that really work. Dr. Obagi is a fan of Growth Factor Serum to reduce redness. If a prescription is required, he frequently recommends baby-doses of Accutane.
For advanced medical conditions or persistent problems, see a dermatologist.
This is a stressful time. You can’t take care of all of the problems, but you can take care of yourself. Physicians are now saying that strict dieting is very stressful–so take it easy; don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a walk, put a slice of cucumber over your eyes and close your eyes for a few minutes, have a glass of wine, enjoy some me-time.
ZO Skin Health
Skincare Products at the Academy Awards. And the Winner is…
In case you ever had any doubt, celebrities sell skincare products.
Case in point: about 8 years ago People magazine reported that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt ”slathered Kinerase all over their beautiful bodies.” Sales of Kinerase soared.
Now, no one knows whether Jennifer and Brad actually used Kinerase (and they are not talking to each other, let alone the media!). But after packages of Kinerase were given away at a big celebrity event, Jenn and Brad took them home. A good PR firm did the rest!
(one thing to note about Jennifer Aniston–she’s one of the few celebrities in Hollywood that refuses to endorse any product–no matter how much $$ is offered!)
Hey, even though they make $$$ millions, celebs are like the rest of us; they like free stuff. They just get a lot more free stuff than the rest of us do. And at these award shows, the give-aways are pretty lavish–expensive watches, trips, and jewelry, all valued at about $30,000 per gift bag.
The give-aways at celebrity events (like the Academy Awards, the CMA Awards) aren’t as lavish as they used to be though. That’s because the IRS sent out letters saying that the recipients would be responsible for paying income taxes on the freebies. So many of the celebrities graciously said, “uh, thanks, but no thanks”.
So is it wrong or unethical to give away free products to celebrities? In our opinion, no. We just thought you might like to know that that’s the way the game is played. What brought all of this to mind was an infomercial that said that “many of the celebrities who went to the Academy Awards already have it”.
The next time you see that a celebrity has a particular skincare product, you have to wonder–did they get it for free?
Dr. Zein Obagi
What Does SPF Stand For? Your Sunscreen Probably Flunked!
SPF = Sun Protection Factor. Or SPF = Your Sunscreen Probably Flunked. That’s right. Even though physicians have been preaching for years the importance of wearing sunscreen, one bunch of treehuggers now claims otherwise.
Two years ago, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) challenged the safety and efficacy of sunscreens, claiming that the chemicals used in it can cause or accelerate cancer. In fact, they claim that 80-some percent of sunscreens flunked–claiming that they are not safe and/or effective That’s worrisome.
So let’s face the facts:
* EWG’s studies were done only on laboratory mice, and mice are much more susceptible to cancer than people.
* One of the ingredients that they claim is responsible is retinyl palmitate, which is a form of Vitamin A–which in fact is used in the treatment of cancer.
* the EWG generally prefers titanium dioxide and zinc oxide–two physical sunblocks. On that particular point, dermatologists generally agree that physical sunblocks (which block the sun’s rays) are preferable to chemical ones (which absorb the skin’s rays). So we agree. But what should you do about it?
Remember the column that was first published in the Chicago Tribune, with advice for new grads?
“Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.”
Sunscreen is still your best protection again skin cancer and skin aging. Just reapply it frequently, use a minimum of SPF30 and use it every day.
