Thursday, January 28, 2010

What's the best way to improve skin texture and smoothness?

Exfoliation. Skin exfoliation is a natural process associated with the constant regeneration of skin cells in the epidermis. Skin cells generate in the deepest layer of the epidermis, move toward the surface, shed invisibly, and the cycle continues. This natural process of skin exfoliation slows down with age. Babies renew their cells every 14 days, teenagers every 21-28 days, middle-aged adults every 28-42 days and it takes up to 50 days to renew cells by age 50 or older.

The best way to improve skin texture and smoothness is by accelerating this natural process of exfoliation. There are two ways do this and both are extremely beneficial:

Mechanical Exfoliation - This involves physically sloughing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Examples of physical exfoliation include microdermabrasion, brush machines, or granular scrubs made with synthetic materials or natural materials like the jojoba spheres found in SkinMedica Skin Polisher.

Chemical Exfoliation - This involves chemical agents that are applied topically. Common examples of chemical exfoliants are alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids which can be found 15% AHA/BHA Cream, and chemical peels such as Vitalize Peel®. Chemical peels are a more advanced form of chemical exfoliation and must be performed by a trained aesthetician or medical professional. Both have acids that dissolve the intercellular glue that binds dead skin cells together. Retinols, like those found in Retinol Complex, work a bit differently. They essentially accelerate the skin cell turnover and renewal process.

Although exfoliation is imperative in maintaining healthy skin, it is important to avoid over-exfoliation, which can lead to skin irritation, increased sensitivity and damage to the protective skin barrier. Consult your skin
If I could use only one anti-aging product, what should it be?

Sunscreen. I'm still troubled by the number of my patients that don't use an adequate amount of sun protection. Even if it's cloudy and you are running one quick errand, you still need sunscreen. Consider these lesser-known facts:

* Windows (e.g. automobile) will not protect you. Windshields are laminated for safety reasons and filter most UV radiation. However side and rear windows allow as much as 79% of UV radiation to pass through1. UV radiation also passes through most residential and commercial architectural windows.
* It takes up to 30 minutes for sunscreen to work. Even with a newly-applied layer of sunscreen, you're still vulnerable to the sun's harmful rays for the first few minutes since it takes about 30 minutes for common ingredients in sunscreen to kick in. It's a good idea to apply sunscreen a half hour before stepping outside.
* Sunscreens with antioxidants are even better. Anti-oxidants provide further protection against cellular insult and help to repair some of the damage induced by UV radiation.
* It's ok to re-apply over make up. Sunscreens containing physical barriers to UVA and UVB rays such as zinc oxide can be reapplied directly over make up. Keep a tube of sunscreen in your bag for regular touch ups.
* Don't skimp! Most people don't use a sufficient amount of sunscreen. The guidelines I've been seeing in the dermatology industry are to use about a shot glass full of sunscreen for body and one half teaspoon full of sunscreen for face to get the full affect.

Skin cancer is serious but can be prevented with adequate protection. So be sure to speak with your dermatologist if you have any questions related to sunscreen and skin cancer prevention.

Aging Benefits..??

What are the anti-aging benefits of using topical antioxidants with retinols?

Our skin - the largest organ in the body - performs many important physiological functions and is particularly susceptible to free radical damage. Skin acts as the primary barrier against fluid loss and environmental abuse, and is constantly exposed to ultra-violet (UV) light and other oxidative stressors. This free radical damage causes wrinkles, loss of skin tone and elasticity, hyperpigmentation and aging. The face, neck, décolleté and hands are the most exposed and vulnerable parts of the body. Therefore, they require additional, targeted antioxidant protection considerably more than the unexposed areas of the skin.

It is particularly important to apply topical antioxidants to the exposed areas to prevent and reverse sun damage, and to improve the overall health of the skin. Countless studies demonstrate that topical antioxidants protect the skin from UV damage, reduce inflammation and increase collagen production. The use of topical products that contain Vitamins C and E, the most well known and effective antioxidants, are essential for skin's health, and together they provide extraordinary antioxidant protection.

But using only a topical antioxidant may not be enough for optimum skin rejuvenation. Retinol, a biologically active form of Vitamin A, plays an important role in that the skin rejuvenation process. As a result of chronological and environmental aging, our skin's ability to renew itself slows down significantly. Retinols accelerate exfoliation and stimulate epidermal turnover by replacing the damaged cells with new cells, therefore, increasing epidermal thickness. Studies have shown that retinols and Vitamin C are equally important in the production of new collagen since they use different mechanisms to synthesize it. In addition, retinols and Vitamin C help to reduce hyperpigmentation and age spots, and improve overall skin tone and texture.

As you can see, both topical antioxidants and retinols have a specific role in an anti-aging regimen. When combined, they produce the most comprehensive and effective results.

Thoughts from Skin Medica....

What makes the skin around the eyes so fragile and vulnerable to the aging process?

You may have noticed that the first signs of aging are typically seen around the eye in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and even puffiness.

Here are a few reasons:

* Skin thickness: Skin varies in thickness depending on the location of the body. The thinnest skin is on the eyelids (0.05 mm thick) and the thickest skin is on the palms and the soles of the feet (1.5 mm thick). As we age, skin loses its elasticity and becomes even thinner due to a natural decrease in collagen production.
* The amount of oil glands: Skin around the eyes and the eyelids contains fewer oil glands, which makes it dryer and more prone to losing moisture faster than any other surface on the body.
* Skin motion: The skin around the contour of the eye is constantly moving. Repetitive facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting and blinking, create fine lines and "crow's feet," or lines that appear on the outer corner of the eyes.
* Environmental factors: Pollution and excessive sun exposure can contribute to free radical damage and early signs of aging.
* The last reason is - gravity: We all know the natural - albeit unwelcome - effect gravity has on our bodies.

Considering all of these factors, what can be done to reverse any damage and improve the appearance of the skin around the eyes?

One way is to use skincare products specifically designed for the delicate skin around the eyes. Most importantly, products that have been tested for skin sensitivity and ocular irritancy.

When choosing an eye cream, use products that contain potent antioxidants, such as topical Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which protect the skin from free radical damage and enhance collagen production for firmer skin.

Other important ingredients to look for in a topical eye cream:

* Growth factors: These proteins are naturally present in healthy skin and are responsible for tissue repair. For example, SkinMedica eye creams - TNS Night Eye RepairTM and TNS Illuminating Eye Cream® - contain Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media, a combination of multiple growth factors including soluble collagen and antioxidants clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
* Sodium Hyaluronate: A derivative of hyaluronic acid that immediately smoothes the surface of dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. Try SkinMedica's TNS Night Eye Repair, a luxurious anti-aging treatment that helps increase skin firmness and elasticity, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and minimizes dark circles.
* Peptides: Known to stimulate cell growth and connective tissues, peptides help reduce the depth, length and volume of wrinkles and increases skin thickness. Both TNS Night Eye Repair and TNS Illuminating Eye Cream contain peptides.
* Botanical extracts: Extracts such as licorice root, algae and green tea leaf, found in SkinMedica's Uplifting Eye Cream, help reduce redness, suppress skin inflammation and irritation and can produce a brightening effect.
* Kojic acid: A fungal (mushroom) product and skin-lightening agent that treats dark circles under the eyes. Kojic acid, found in the Uplifting Eye Serum, inhibits the activity of enzymes responsible for the production of skin pigment cells.
* Chrysin: Helps to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles by eliminating excess iron and other pigments that cause them. Both the TNS Illuminating Eye Cream and TNS Night Eye Repair contain chrysin.

In addition to using appropriate skincare products to take care of the fragile and delicate skin around the eyes, don't forget to ALWAYS use sunscreen and wear sunglasses whenever you go outdoors to prevent future damage.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Is smoking really worth the weight?

It’s hard to believe, with so much information available on the risks of smoking, that many women are unwilling to quit. However, a study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors shows that fear of gaining weight still plays one of the biggest roles in carrying on the harmful habit.

A University of Michigan research team discovered several years ago that an incredible 75 percent of female smokers would not quit if it meant gaining more than five pounds, and nearly half consider just one extra pound too much. Study leader Cindy Pomerleau, PhD, recently followed up that research with the discovery that women who smoke are, in general, more dissatisfied with their bodies than women who don’t smoke, and that they are more likely to diet and binge than non-smokers.

Pomerleau also deduced that women who are concerned about their weight, smokers included, are typically very interested in maintaining other aspects of their looks. Ironically, while smoking may suppress the appetite and boost metabolism, it can sabotage the rest of one’s appearance. The trade-offs include face and body wrinkles, yellow teeth, thinning hair, and foul breath; not to mention all of the life-threatening side effects that make gaining a few pounds pale in comparison.

How the FDA handles beauty

According to the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetics are defined as anything "applied to the human body" for the purposes of "cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance." The ingredients used in products that qualify as cosmetics must be individually deemed appropriate for human use by the FDA. However, the individual products that contain these ingredients are not subject to the pre-market approval that drugs and devices require.

In some cases, drugs appear in cosmetics. Active ingredients defined on a cosmetic label are those ingredients classified as drugs, such as a sunscreen agent or hydroquinone. According to the FD&C Act, a drug is "for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease." Furthermore, drugs are "intended to affect the structure or any function of the body."

What about so-called "cosmeceuticals"? Presently, the FDA does not recognize this term, so it doesn't come into play during review and classification. However, the FDA is starting to pay closer attention to this kind of product, the claims, safety, and whether or not—and how—cosmeceuticals should be regulated.

This does not mean that cosmeceuticals are unsafe; it simply means the FDA needs to decide whether the claims they made about affecting the structure of the body (typically skin) warrant pre-market approval.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

How stress can steal your beaut

Under extreme amounts of ongoing daily stress, the hormone cortisol rises, causing an increase in oil production. Once the skin harbors excess amounts of oil, your pores can become clogged with sebum, giving way to acne.

Heightened levels of cortisol can have adverse effects on other parts of the body, too. This stress hormone affects fat metabolism, as well as fluid and salt retention, making you lose fat from areas where it's desired and store it in unwanted areas like your arms and back.

Since everyone responds to stress differently, it's important to identify which stresses—ranging from daily work to insecurities to fear of illness—have a negative effect on your complexion and body. Once they've been identified, control them with a regimen that works best for you—be it exercise, more sleep, or eating better—so they don't manifest.

Even if stress doesn't show outward symptoms, it doesn't mean it's not lurking elsewhere in your body. Often, those who don't display stress in the form of acne, redness, excess oil production or weight gain actually produce more free radicals internally, which can lead to premature aging.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Dont be mislead by other inferior competitors..By..JENN

DON’T BE MISLEAD BY OTHER INFERIOR COMPETITORS!

* All Bronze Biologic tanning solutions are MADE RIGHT HERE IN THE USA. Many spray on tan companies have attempted to come to the US from other countries such as Australia and the UK with limited results and can never offer the service and quality of Bronze Biologic.
* Better tanning solution that is botanical, safe, and has an incredible color. Bronze Biologic is the first company to introduce a cosmeceutical spray on tanning solution. Our premiere tanning solutions are formulated with beet and cane sugar extracts and DO NOT contain any toxic chemicals, dyes, perfumes, alcohol, oils, or artificial colors.
* Bronze Biologic solutions are manufactured with a proper ph and contain only natural occurring preservatives, for stability and shelf life, which is an important factor that many companies overlook and may be the reason why many of them turn orange, green, or some other un-natural looking color. Our solution is compatible with all other spray on equipment but will work best through our Bronze Biologic equipment.
* Fresher tanning solution that is made consistently and regularly here in the USA and created in climate controlled facility in our warehouse right up until the time the bottles are sent to you, our valued customers. Many foreign companies ship their tanning solution from Australia and the UK and other countries which can take several months for the bottles to reach the USA and then eventually to you place of business because they are manufactured, shipped, stored, and imported from other countries very far away. This can create a rancid, unstable product with a very short shelf life that may result in the tanning solution turning bad and not delivering a good, bronze color.
* Bronze Biologic is NOT an ordinary airbrush system and can be applied in just a few minutes. Our revolutionary delivery system will prevent over-spray, streaking, discoloration, and lost profits. Our system delivers a perfect tan every time.
* Better technology that is unsurpassed by any other company. Our tanning machines are designed with the latest research and most efficient technology in the world and our tanning solution has been highly researched and tested. You may visit our equipment page to get more information.
* Stronger company with years of experience. Bronze Biologic is a fully integrated company with headquarters, warehouses, and offices in Dallas, Texas. We control and manage every aspect of our business from manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, shipping handling, order entry, and customer service. This allows us to provide not only the best quality of products but also an excellent customer service relationship with all of our valued clients. We have taken advantage of all our key contacts and assembled a team of corporate professionals that excel in every department they oversee. Bronze Biologic has access to several large warehouses and fulfillment centers throughout the USA utilizing all major shipping carriers for quicker, more reliable delivery to any location throughout the country and the world. We have relationships in many key territories and major cities, which allows us to offer much better customer service, training, marketing, and follow up.
* Superior skin care products and accessories with proven and results and safety. Every product that we offer has been extensively tested and meets the highest of customer satisfaction.

Body Bronzing By.....JENN

About Bronze Biologic

The formulators of several successful health and wellness products developed by a professional team of doctors, nutritionists, biochemists, and leading health experts have focused their attention on the natural tanning and skin care industry. As leaders in the development of all natural health supplements, our focus has always been placed on purity, safety, high quality ingredients, and state of the art technology.

We have taken those same core values that created success in the wellness industry, and combined that with the most effective ingredients we could find and the expertise of the same professional team of formulators. We diligently applied these resources and vast knowledge of all natural nutrition to the formulation of a botanical, safe, and advanced cosmeceutical spray on tanning solution that we are proud to call Bronze Biologic.

Bronze Biologic is a fully integrated company with headquarters, warehouses, and offices in Dallas and Irving, Texas. We control and manage every aspect of our business from manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, shipping handling, order entry, and customer service. This allows us to provide not only the best quality of products but also an excellent customer service relationship with all of our valued clients. We have taken advantage of all our key contacts and assembled a team of corporate professionals that excel in every department they oversee. Bronze Biologic has access to several large warehouses and fulfillment centers throughout the USA utilizing all major shipping carriers for quicker, more reliable delivery to any location throughout the country and the world. We have relationships in many key territories and major cities, which allows us to offer much better customer service, training, marketing, and follow up.

Bronze Biologic is the first company to introduce a cosmeceutical grade natural spray on tanning solution. Bronze Biologic is continually raising the bar in the industry and committed to providing the finest products and services in the world today.

A familiar face formula's effect on stretch marks

While dermatologists frequently prescribe retinoids, like Retin-A, to treat acne or fine lines and wrinkles, they can also prescribe them to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Retin-A and other prescription retinoids applied topically to stretch marks for a few months may work to increase cellular turnover to reveal a smoother, less pigmented surface. It can also stimulate collagen production in the epidermal layers to restore skin's smoothness and elasticity.

Retin-A works most effectively on reddened (not colorless or white) stretch marks that are under a year old. Additionally, pregnant or nursing women should refrain from using it.

Are you eating antioxidant foods fast enough?

Are antioxidant-rich foods part of your anti-aging regime? If so, you may want to consider their age.

According to recent research, the antioxidant benefits of many foods touted for their free-radical defense do not last as long as the food itself. Examining eight different teas from the U.S., Korea and Japan, the Department of Agriculture's Western Regional Research Center found that the level of immunity-boosting catechins depleted by more than 30% within six months in each kind, regardless of proper storage.

"We found that among the teas we looked at there seems to be a progressive decrease in the amount of antioxidants as a function of time," reported the lead author of the study, which appeared in the Journal of Food Science.

The same goes for olive oil, they found, showing a 40% antioxidant loss in half a year. Although these were the only two types of foods involved in the study, experts have reason to believe this reduction would be true in numerous foods and drinks.

So how can you ensure you're getting what you want from your nutritious choices? Experts suggest purchasing antioxidant-rich foods that can be consumed within a short amount of time in order to optimally benefit from them.

Do lips deflate when you stop using fillers?

Some women are under the impression that, should they discontinue using injectables to plump their pout, their lips will deflate or sag once the filler wears off. This, however, is not true.

Fillers do not damage the existing tissue in any way; they simply add volume by allowing the material injected to be interspersed among the fibers and cells already there. As fillers gradually disappear, volume returns to its previous condition, but not less voluminous.

Keep in mind that lips get a little thinner with age, so if you do volume-enhancing treatments for quite a while and then quit, you're going to see the change that would have occurred over time.

Also consider that you may have forgotten just how thin your lips actually were before treatment.

New Year... New You?

When a new year begins, it's not unusual to pledge major self-improvement. However, the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery cannot be made as casually as a resolution to eat healthier or stop biting your nails.

Is 2010 the year you'll be ready for cosmetic enhancement? Before you embark on your quest for an appropriate doctor, you must be sure you're seeking your potential procedure for the right reasons. Test your motivations and how you rate as a candidate by making sure each of the following statements are true for you.

1. I am choosing to enhance my appearance because I want to. Others support me, but no one is influencing, pressuring or forcing me.

2. I am realistic about what I want to achieve. I'm not looking for radical results, and I don't want—or expect—to change who I am.

3. I understand that cosmetic enhancement can improve my appearance, but it cannot change my life.

4. I accept that the results of my treatment may be permanent, and I will have to live with them for the rest of my life.

5. I know that surgery comes with potential risks and that no result is guaranteed.

6. My physical health and emotional health are stable. I am not being treated for any chronic health disorders or serious mental health conditions.

7. I can afford all surgery costs, including non-monetary costs such as recovery time.

Surgery Vs.NonInvasive antiaging treatments

Surgery vs. noninvasive anti-aging treatments


As helpful as sunscreen, exfoliation, and medically-based surface treatments are in the fight against aging, it's not realistic to expect noninvasive procedures and products to cure 40 or 50 years' worth of biological and environmental tissue damage.

Viable options include limited-incision facelifts and necklifts, which can reduce visible aging symptoms by about five years. Full facelifts and browlifts can provide more dramatic, longer-lasting results, enhancing one's overall youthfulness. Facial implants may add instant depth. And even rhinoplasty can rejuvenate an entire facial appearance by reshaping the nasal structure.

There's no one answer that can improve the signs of aging for all people, however, so patients and plastic surgeons must discuss the available options that will lead to good outcomes for your specific face and skin.