• Sweating is your body’s way of regulating temperature.  Wear fabrics that allow your skin to breathe properly—like linen and cotton.  Spandex, lycra, etc. are comfortable, but they may trap sweat, congest pores and cause breakouts on your back or neck.
• Hold off on facial waxing, glycolic peels, microdermabrasion, etc.  Avoid or reduce the use of products that contain high concentrations of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinoic acid or retinol.  They all work to expose new, younger, healthier skin cells, but in so doing, shed the dull, dry skin cells that have been blanketing your skin.
• Drink plenty of water or a sports drink.  When your skin is not properly hydrated, it will appear more wrinkled, dry and damaged.
• Apply a good sunscreen  (like ZO Skin Health’s Oclipse SPF30) about 30 minutes before going outside—it can take that long for it to be fully absorbed by your skin, and reapply it throughout  the day.  Sunscreens with physical blocks (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are better than chemical sunscreens.
• Avoid the use of products that are fragranced.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat.  Not only will it shelter you from the UV rays, it will provide some welcome shade (and protect your hair color!)
• Opt for a treadmill instead of your favorite jogging path.  Now is the time to enjoy an air-conditioned fitness center.

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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?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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I want you to forget everything you’ve been taught about moisturizing your skin. From the lady behind the cosmetic counter to the dermatologist on your TV — forget what you’ve been told. It’s high time you know the truth about hydrating your skin and I’m going to give it to you.

First, you need to consider where your information has come from. Think about your skincare sources and the key piece of advice they’ve drilled into your head: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. How many of these people were trying to sell you moisturizer?

It’s not rocket science, friends. They tell you what they have to in order to get the sell. And, you like what you hear — that your skin will look younger — so you oblige.

I’m not trying to sell you anything. I have a bevy of skincare products, yes, but I won’t mention one of them in this writing. I just want you to know the truth. Even if it means purchasing less moisturizer. And, that’s what it will mean because your skin doesn’t need it. That’s right, your skin — get this — hydrates itself.

When the skin cells are strong and healthy, a natural delivery system of hydration takes place. But when the cells recognize an outside source has already hydrated the skin, there’s no need for the natural hydration to take place. They consequently become inactive and stop the moisture production process. That leads to dry, dull, aging skin.

Ever noticed the more moisturizer you apply, the more your skin seems to need it? It dries out, right? That’s because your skin is becoming addicted to the outside source of hydration: the moisturizer you’ve been piling on.

Look, I’m not recommending you swear off moisturizers. I realize tightness and dryness call for it sometimes. But, you need a functional moisturizer to keep your cells active and healthy. Look for moisturizers that contain Retinol so skin is hydrated, but cells are simultaneously stimulated. The higher the concentration of Retinol, the better. Otherwise, you’re creating more problems for your skin, including accelerating the signs of aging.

So, there you have it: The truth about moisturizing. Not quite the same information you’ve been given over the years, I know. But, remember, I’m not selling you anything. I’m giving you something: knowledge. And, knowledge is power.

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“Keep your eye on the ball.” It’s such a simple concept, but the words are repeated from the little leagues all the way up to major league baseball. Why? Because focus is crucial, not just with sports, but with any industry in which excellence is sought. So, why trust a skincare company that’s got its eye on five other balls, from fragrances all the way to fashion? Dr. Zein Obagi’s focus is your skin. Always has been, always will be.

You won’t ever find yourself browsing the cosmetic counters and coming across a hot new mascara with the ZO Skin Health logo on it. Nor will you stumble across our new shampoo and conditioner at your corner salon. We respect the two fields, but prefer to play the game for which we’re known. The game Dr. Obagi transformed.

If a skincare company has real integrity we’d think they would want to do the same. That’s why we’re left scratching our heads when we see supposed reputable skincare brands manufacturing makeup brushes, eau de parfums and nail polish.

What’s even more insulting are those who trespass into our territory from a department that doesn’t share a single common denominator with skincare. We can’t count how many fashion designers have woken up one morning and decided to stamp their name on a collection of skincare products. The most comical to date, however, would have to be the luxury jewelry brand that recently put out everything from eye cream to cleansers. We’re still trying to figure out the four C’s of skincare.

If you’d rather not deal with brands that are distracted by potential profits in other industries than you’ve come to the right place. We always have our eye on the ball: your skin.

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Certain skincare tips, like drinking plenty of water, are now common knowledge. But, every once in a while you come across a true treasure. The kind of rare tip you haven’t heard before but wish someone told you years ago. They usually come up when you least expect it, but we decided to go looking for them. We asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers to share the best, rarely-heard-before skincare tips and they answered with some treasures. Take a look:

1. Liz says DON’T drink with a straw. When you tighten your lips to suck from a straw, you’re using the same muscles it takes to smoke a cigarette. And, we all know what smokers’ lips, and the wrinkles around them, look like.

2. Victoria recommends you DO use a hands-free headset for your cell phone. Think about it. If your cell phone is ridden with makeup and oils after a long call, guess what transferred to your face? Bacteria, acne’s faithful ally.

3. Dawn advises you DO apply more sunscreen to the left side of your face and upper body. Not because she has something against your right side, but because she realizes we spend a good chunk of time in our cars. And where does the sun hit us when we’re behind the wheel? You guessed it, our left sides.

4. Teresa suggests you DO cut your TE Pads in half. The faithful ZO Skin Health customer does this to make them last longer and thus gets more bang for her buck. You know what they say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Kudos to Teresa for coming up with this one.

5. Xavier thinks women who DON’T own a magnifying mirror are doing their skin and themselves a favor. Looking at our pores that close-up can cause unnecessary obsession and, in many cases, lead to picking, prodding and popping. Put the magnifying mirror away. Your skin, and sanity, will thank you.

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Oh, and we love Anita Renfroe’s sense of humor about her aging skin, but — if you’ve used the ZO Skin Health products than you know — IT’S NEVER TOO LATE FOR WRINKLE PREVENTION!

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If you had heard the words “anti-aging” five years ago you probably would’ve thought of protesters outside a retirement home before you thought of the beauty industry. Today, however, it’s a household term. Personal care and cosmetic brands are hailing the anti-aging bandwagon and will do anything to jump aboard. But, how many of them deserve a ride?

We recently came across an anti-aging fragrance — yes, fragrance — that claims to make you SMELL youthful. Like us, you’re probably wondering what youth smells like. Well, pink grapefruit, mango, pomegranate and musk, of course. The same ingredients half the fragrances on the cosmetic counters contain.

There isn’t a personal care or cosmetic item too far-fetched for the anti-aging stamp. Nail polish has thrown its hat into the ring. Mascara wasn’t far behind. We’re waiting for deodorant, lipstick and mouthwash to get in on the game.

Those are just flat-out ridiculous examples, but other products trying to encroach into the niche we’ve mastered make a more convincing case. For instance, toothpaste. We all know teeth lose their strength and whiteness as we get older. Hair care products also have some legitimacy. Your mane slowly becomes a mop over the years. But, guess what? People who have the misfortune of aging teeth and aging hair have the good fortune of veneers and Raquel Welch wigs.

Let’s face it: Skin is the hands-down most telltale sign of aging on your body. Unlike your hair and teeth, you can’t put on a new face. Not even with the best plastic surgeon money can buy. That’s why skincare lines with ingredients recognized by the FDA to fight signs of aging are legitimately entitled to the anti-aging label.

Dr. Zein Obagi and ZO Skin Health can help you fight aging, but we can’t help you sort through all the anti-aging claims. Exercise wise consumerism. Your skin will thank you for it.

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