Brown spots, age spots, sun spots, liver spots – whatever you call them, they can make you look older than you really are. These spots can appear on people younger than 40, but are more common in our 40s and up. While bothersome and unattractive, they are generally harmless.

So what should you do if you have brown spots? First, prevention! Keep your skin healthy and protected with a good sunscreen. Second, treat the spots. Age spots can be lightened or even removed with a daily routine using exfoliating and pigment-blocking products. AHA Face Cream and AHA Body Smoothing Lotion contain alpha hydroxy to remove dead skin cells and leave skin rejuvenated.  Use the AHA products in combination with Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Formula, to lighten brown spots and even out skin tone. The Pigment Formula uses a combination of kojic acid and plant extracts of thyme and arbutin with soothing cucumber to reduce skin discolorations, and zinc and vitamin E for cell renewal. These natural ingredients block the production of melanin, which is the cause of the discoloring.

Through June 20 we are giving away 1 oz Pigment Formula with every purchase over $100.

We all know that tanned skin is unhealthy skin, yet it’s hard to resist the glow that a little sunshine gives the skin. Did you know that it’s possible to have a healthy glow without exposing yourself to harmful cancerous UV rays with my Sunless Tanning Bronzer? It is the only sunless tanning product with SPF-15, antioxidants and vitamins to leave your skin smooth and supple. You can achieve radiant skin within an hour that will last approximately one week.  For best results, first exfoliate the skin with AHA Body Smoothing Lotion and then apply the Sunless Tanning Bronzer. Your friends will wonder where you got your golden glow and you’ll have the benefits of a winter tan without the risks.

Here is a recent success story I’d like to share with you. A 52 year old patient came in with some sagging skin around her face that really aged her and made her feel less confident about her looks.  We decided to use Threadlift, a minimally invasive “non-surgical facelift” to address the signs of aging in the face, including droopiness of the skin of the brow, cheeks, jowls, and neck. Threads are inserted painlessly under the skin to lift and contour the tissues, providing an immediate tightening with no incisions or scars. The procedure can be performed using local anesthesia, and most patients can return to normal activities the next day. Although I see great results from Threadlift all the time, I am always impressed when I see photos like these that show such a dramatic result after only six days. My patient couldn’t be more pleased with her refreshed and revitalized face.

It’s exciting to read in the Wall Street Journal that recent studies on Resveratrol (which is also known as grapeseed extract and is found in red wine) are supporting its early promise. In 2006, I was one of the very first leaders in skin care to recommend this ingredient, and I’ve included it in Rewind Age-Defying Cream and other products in my skin care line ever since.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Resveratrol has found been found in animal studies to prevent or slow progression of illnesses from cancer to cardiovascular disease—and even to extend the life span of some organisms. Since 2008, at least five human studies have been presented at scientific meetings showing human benefits, ranging from improved blood flow to the heart to better control of diabetes.” Read more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704304504574610151045580782.html

I’ve seen how Resveratrol, as an active ingredient in my products, can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and I’m pleased to see that research is proving that the ingredient may also help people live longer, more active lives.

Kellie Stone is an online skin care product reviewer who wrote about one of the downfalls of her job: “product hopping.” It’s a bad habit we can all fall into. Here is an excerpt from her article.

“One of the perks of writing for my own women’s blog and several others is I get to try a lot of health and beauty products for free.  Though I appreciate this job, I’ve noticed one downfall of subjecting my face to various formulas: My skin hates it!  The glowing, creamy skin that I once had is breaking out, lackluster, and downright dry. 

What gives? According to Dr. Michelle Copeland, M.D., D.M.D, author of  The Beautiful Skin Workout: Eight Weeks to the Smoothest, Healthiest Skin of Your Life and Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, if you frequently hop from one product to the next in search of something better, you won’t be happy with the results.  “Daily or weekly alternation of your topical serums and lotions is a form of skin abuse.  The tissue reacts by becoming irritated or breaking out.  All that back-and-fourth shocks the skin; it gets revved up because it’s not sure what’s going to hit it next,” says Copeland.”

Read more at http://www.chic-critique.com/2009/12/product-hopping-blues.html

I promised more quick fixes for the holidays and here are some that do require a trip to my office, but can be done in time to welcome the New Year with a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. Botox injections, fillers, microdermabrasion and a variety of safe, quick and effective non-ablative laser sessions help smooth and tighten areas that have wrinkled or sagged. Thermage (touted as the “non-surgical” facelift that requires no downtime) or Threadlift to rid your face of sagging skin, are feasible even for those with heavy schedules. I perform these treatments many times a week for people who are in the public eye and have no time for downtime. Of course, starting with the basic steps I outlined earlier this week: staying hydrated, moisturizing and taking care of the eyes and lips, will give you a head start.

I promised you some quick fixes for the holidays, and I have many. Here is one that can help year-round, but particularly this time of year when we are bundled up for the outdoors, yet often find ourselves in overheated spaces indoors. It is possible to treat excessive underarm perspiration, and the clammy hands that can also become problematic, with BOTOX^® injections. I’ve treated patients this way when topical medicines have not been effective.  BOTOX^® neurotoxin treatment helps control severe underarm sweating by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops. One successful patient said, “sweating is not something that’s controlling my daily routine anymore. Now I can do things like standing up in front of a group of people at work without having to look down to see if I’m sweating under my arms.”  After just one office visit, patients are able to go about their lives with less stress and more confidence.

Yesterday we discussed the effect of cold weather on skin and I promised some tips for the season’s other big assault on beauty: holiday parties. Of course we want to look our best but sometimes with all of the stress and running around, we are not feeling it! As always, hydration is key. It’s typical to become dehydrated during the holiday season if you are attending parties where you will be exposed to dry air, smoke and any spirits you may enjoy. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated beverages. Use moisturizer frequently and remember to first cleanse, tone, and exfoliate – now is not the time to skip any steps. A good regimen to follow is to use my Daily Cleanser, followed by AHA Face Cream and Daily Moisturizer.

Finally, focus on eyes and lips. Sleep deprivation and stress can lead to dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. There are many fine topical products with ingredients like argireline and biopeptide (or pentapeptide) that help reduce wrinkles and promote firming of these sensitive areas. To protect lips from chapping, use a good moisturizing product with high SPF protection. Lip enhancing products with  argireline and pentapeptides reduce fine lines; and nicotinic acid and cinnamon provide immediate plumping to give your lips a fuller look. My three holiday season must-haves contain these ingredients and are formulated to show improvement immediately with long-lasting results when used on a regular and frequent basis: REWIND Eye Formula, Ageless Skin Undereye Concealer, and Lip Enhancer. Follow these steps to look your festive best!

Tomorrow I’ll have some last minute quick fixes in time to welcome the New Year…

The cold weather we had this past week reminds us that we have to be extra attentive to skin in the winter, when cold air outside and hot air inside can wreak havoc on our faces. Staying hydrated and using moisturizer are critical steps to protecting skin during the winter.

You may have read about mountain climbers smearing their faces with Vaseline to protect their skin. While making your way down a windy street may feel as cold as ascending Mount Everest,  skip the thick goos. Petrolatum-based ointment works by forming an occlusive layer on the skin – nothing gets in or out. Even if you apply Vaseline only to your chapped lips, the product can spread and fill up the pores outside the lip line, causing breakouts. So except in the most extreme cold (like climbing Mount Everest) use a quality moisturizer that will protect and hydrate allowing pores to “breathe”. Look for products with non-oil-based moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants, such as lipoic acid, and Vitamins A&E to keep skin soft and supple. To protect lips from chapping, use a good moisturizing product with high SPF protection.

There are 3 essential products I recommend to “winterize” your skin: Daily Moisturizer with SPF 20, Lip Protector, and Body Moisturizing Lotion. If you use these three faithfully, you can brave the winter winds with confidence.

The other challenge to skin during the winter is all of the holiday parties we go to. Tomorrow I’ll have tips for keeping skin as radiant as the holiday lights – but for now – keep applying that moisturizer!