Posts Tagged ‘skin care’

Sleeping Beauty-24 Hour Anti Aging Cycle

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

 

Putting away the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale many years ago, I never looked back at the fountains of wisdom it contains. 

Who would have guessed that it is filled with skin saving advice and beauty tips for all girls, big and small?

Sleeping Beauty is really a tale of how to take care of your skin to stay young and beautiful forever. 

The magic is not in the wands of the Fairy God Mothers but in the power of sleep.

Nighttime is the optimal time to slow down and reverse the signs of damage done during the waking hours. 

The sleeping hours are the true secret to slowing aging, and choosing the right ingredients is as important as when you use them.

If you are not getting enough of the “vitamin zzz”, the first place the signs will appear is on your skin.

Healthy skin needs a good night’s sleep.  During the hours of sleep cortisol and insulin production peaks and collagen production is accelerated. 

At night, the skin is hard at work reversing the damage inflicted from the day.  The circadian rhythm of skin has been studied and sleep is essential for skin renewal and proper skin function. 

It is during our sleep cycle that cell renewal occurs and blood flow is elevated, leading some experts to believe that active ingredients are better absorbed into the skin at that time and continue to work long after they’ve penetrated.

When there is increased circulation and greater oxygen and nutrient exchange and lymphatic circulation, metabolic waste is cleared away and the skin will look and feel healthier and younger.

Save products with the ingredients listed below for night time shift:

-RETINOL-increases cell turnover, works on molecular level in terms of skin repair, reduces fine lines and wrinkles

Retinol is the most abundant form of Vitamin A and should always be used at night since it’s unstable in sunlight.

-ANTIOXIDANTS-help regenerate skin, protect against oxidative damage by absorbing free radicals

Antioxidants should be used at night so they are properly absorbed into the skin.  Sun will destroy an antioxidant before it can be absorbed by the skin’s cells.

-HYALURONIC ACID SPHERES-keeps skin hydrated, collects moisture and creates plumping effect

Moisture levels drop as we sleep, which can leave skin dry.  Layering on a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid spheres will help sustain hydration

-GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID-stops lines from forming, temporarly controls muscle contraction

Night time use of gamma amino butyric acid containing products help to minimize the look of wrinkles

-MELATONIN-helps cells relax, relaxes the skin puts it to sleep

Melatonin not only acts as an antioxidant, but puts cells to rest so that their functions are enhanced

The ideal night time routine:

-cleanse skin with a pH balanced cleanser

-apply retinol to clean, dry skin

-apply a serum or gel

-moisturizer with hyaluronic acid rich hydrator

If you follow these few simple steps and take an example from your good childhood friend the Sleeping Beauty and utilize the time you rest to do some serious “Skin Work” you will surely be living happily ever after…

By Sabina Kozak of Sensitive Touch – NYC Laser Hair Removal & Skin Treatment MedSpa


STOP THE FIRST SIGNS OF AGING – EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE YOUTHFUL LOOK

Friday, April 9th, 2010

“IT IS THE EARLY BIRD THAT CATCHES THE WORM”, THE FAMOUS QUOTE PREACHES.  I SAY  “IT IS THE EARLY BIRD THAT CATCHES THE YOUTHFUL LOOK” THAT WE ALL WANT.

SMOOTH, FIRM AND SPOT FREE COMPLEXION IS DESIRED BY US ALL.

WHILE THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH HAS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED, PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO YOUNGER LOOKING SKIN.

ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS AT THE NEW BEAUTY MAGAZINE,IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PREVENTING AND CORRECTING THE FIRST SIGNS OF AGING.

READ ON TO FIND WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY TO LOOK YOUNGER TOMORROW.

    AS EARLY AS YOUR MID 20S AND INTO YOUR 30S YOU MAY START TO NOTICE THE VERY FIRST SIGNS OF AGING, WHICH ARE USUALLY SUBTLE BUT STILL BOTHERSOME.  WHAT WAS ONCE A SMOOTH COMPLEXION MAY NOW BE HOME TO SMALL SUN SPOTS, CORW’S-FEET, DARK UNDER-EYE CIRCLES AND UNEVEN TEXTURE.  INSTEAD OF LETTING THE SIGNS OF AGING GET THE BEST OF YOU, TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS AND CORRECT THE CHANGES THAT YOU ARE SEEING-YOU MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO PREVENT THEM FROM PROGRESSING AS YOU GET OLDER WITH THE PROPER PLAN OF ATTACK.

1.  UNDER-EYE BAGS, DARKNESS AND PUFFINESS-WITH AGE, THE AREA UNDER THE EYES BECOMES DARK AND PUFFY.  MAKEUP CAN HELP CAMOUFLAGE BAGS AND CIRCLES, BUT INJECTABLES AND PROPER SKIN CARE CAN REVERSE THEM.

THE EYES ARE USUALLY THE FIRST AREA OF THE FACE TO AGE, AND CROW’S –FEET CAN DEVELOP AS EARLY AS YOUR LATE 20S.  THESE SMALL, DEEPLY INDENTED LINES START AT THE OUTER CORNER OF THE EYE AND EXTEND OUTWARD AND CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOOK OLDER THAN YOU REALLY ARE.  PREVENTION IS KEY:  MAKE SURE TO LIMIT SUN EXPOSURE AND WEAR SUNGLASSES AND SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY.

IN YOUR EARLY 20S, YOU SHOULD USE BOTOX(R) AS A WAY TO PREVENT CROW’S-FEET AND SOFTEN ANY LINES.  IT’S FANTASTIC FOR PREVENTING WRINKLES FROM EXPRESSIONS, BUT NOT THOSE FROM SUN DAMAGE.

REGULAR USE OF HIGHLY MOISTURIZING EYE CREAM HELPS KEEP THE DELICATE EYE AREA SUPPLE AND LESS PRONE TO LINES AND WRINKLES.

DARK CIRCLES AND UNDER-EYE BAGS DEVELOP WHEN THE FAT BENEATH THE LOWER LIDS PROTRUDES AND THE MUSCLE BECOMES LOOSE. WHEN YOU ADD IN EXCESSIVE DRINKING, SUN EXPOSURE, LACK OF SLEEP AND EATING TOO MUCH SALT, IT CAN ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE.  WHETHER THE RESULT OF GENETICS, A MEDICAL CONDITION OR ALLERGIES, THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT DARK CIRCLES AND UNDER-EYE BAGS IS BY REPLACING LOST VOLUME AND USING PRODUCTS THAT REDUCE PIGMENTATION. 

PATIENTS WITH DARK CIRCLES AND BAGS, FOR WHICH SURGERY IS NOT AN OPTION, THE BEST MODE OF TREATMENT IS WITH HYALURONIC ACID FILLERS, WHICH FILL IN HOLLOWS TO GIVE THE ILLUSION OF FEWER BAGS.  THERE WILL BE NO SHADOWS, AND THE DARK PIGMENTATION WILL BE DIMINISHED.

CHEMICAL PEELS, IPL OR FRACTIONAL LASER CAN ALSO HELP TIGHTEN THE UNDER-EYE AREA. 

2.  ONCE A WRINKLE HAS MADE EVEN THE FAINTEST EMERGENCE ON YOUR SKIN, IT’S HARDER TO GET RID OF THAN IF IT WERE TREATED WHILE IT WAS FORMING.  BOTOX(R) CAN BE USED TO INHIBIT WRINKLES FROM OCCURING, ESPECIALLY IN WRINKLE-PRONE AREAS, LIKE AROUND YOUR EYES AND FOREHEAD.  IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. 

KNOWN AS NASOLABIAL FOLDS, THESE UNPLEASANT LINES THAT STRETCH FROM THE NOSE TO THE MOUTH, RESULT WHEN FAT IS LOST FROM THE AREA AROUND THE MOUTH.  ALTHOUGH NASOLABIAL FOLDS DON’T TEND TO BECOME REALLY DRAMATIC UNTIL YOU 40S OR EVEN LATER, SOME WOMEN ARE AFFECTED BY THEM AS EARLY AS THEIR 30S.  WITH AGE COMES CHANGES IN FACIAL FAT, AND THIS LOSS OF VOLUME RESULTS IN NASOLABIAL FOLDS.  THE MORE FAT THAT’S LOST, THE MORE PROMINENT THEY ARE.  HYLAURONIC ACID FILLERS LIKE JUVEDERM OR RESTYLANE(TM) ARE BEST FOR FILLING IN THESE LINES, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN IN THEIR LATE 20S AND EARLY 30S.  FOR PATIENTS THAT COMPLAIN OF SOMEWHAT DEEPER FOLDS, FILLER IS INJECTED IN THE CHEEKS TOO, TO LIFT THE FOLD.

3.  SUN SPOTS, WHICH ARE MORE COMMON ON THE LEFT SIDE, OR DRIVING SIDE, OF THE FACE, ARE CAUSED BY DAMAGE INCURRED FROM YEARS SPENT IN THE SUN-THE AMOUNT OF SUN YOUR SKIN WAS EXPOSED TO IS PROBABLY SHOWING UP NOW.  IT SEEMS LIKE THE SUN SPOTS MAY APPEAR ALL OF A SUDDEN, BUT IT TAKES YEARS FOR THE DAMAGE TO ACCUMULATE.  IF NOT ADDRESSED, THEY MAY TURN DARKER AND MAY ONE DAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY CREPEY SKIN.

WHEN TREATING SUN SPOTS, THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IS ALMOST ALWAYS HYDROQUINONE, WHICH STOPS THE PRODUCTION OF PIGMENT IN ITS TRACKS.  HYDROQUINONE-FREE GELS LIKE KOJIC ACID OR VITAMIN C ARE OPTIONS, TOO.  THEY HELP DISPERSE MELANIN EVENLY.  IF YOUR SKIN IS STILL DISCOLORED, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO USE A LIGHT LASER, LIKE IPL, OR FRACTIONAL LASER FOR MORE SEVERE SPOTS. 

    THE WAY YOU CHOOSE TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN PLAYS A ROLE IN HOW QUICKLY YOU WILL AGE, BUT THERES’S ONE AGING FACTOR THAT THERE’S NO CONTROLLING:  YOUR GENES.  YOUR GENES DICTATE AT WHAT RATE YOU WILL AGE AND WHAT AREAS OF THE FACE WILL AGE FIRST AND BE MOST AFFECTED.  EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THAT CAN BE DONE TO GENETICALLY ALTER HOW YOU WILL AGE, THERE ARE MANY-SKIN-CARE PRODUCTS THAT PURPORTEDLY ANALYZE YOUR DNA AND USE THAT INFORMATION TO PRESCRIBE A SOLUTION TO STAVE OFF THE SIGNS OF AGING.  KEEP IN MIND THAT MOST OF US TEND TO AGE SIMILARLY TO OUR PARENTS.

    WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT GENES OR NOT, TODAY YOU CAN PREVENT WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE ON YOUR FACE TOMORROW.  LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT AND THOUGHT IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR YOUTH AND BEAUTY.

By Sabina Kozak of Sensitive Touch – NYC Laser Hair Removal & Skin Treatment MedSpa


Time to love your face

Monday, November 16th, 2009

In the superficial world we live in, surrounded by air brushed perfection, we forget to appreciate our own not-so-perfect beauty.

Looking in the mirror we find countless reasons to hate the way we look.

Where is the love?

In order to wake up from unrealistic and unnecessary expectations, we need to be shaken up by the images of unfortunate victims of evil husbands and vicious chimps. We need to see the faces of women who have to face a life without a face.

Where is the love?

All of a sudden not-so-perfect is just perfect. Your face is beautiful and you found the love.

But for how long will it last?

Each time we look in the mirror will we always wish to see another, “prettier” face?

By Sabina Kozak of Sensitive Touch – NYC Laser Hair Removal & Skin Treatment MedSpa


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