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.

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.

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!

Taking off dead skin cells makes the newly exposed tissue fuller and more brilliant. Your body sheds this top layer naturally, but the regeneration process slows as we age. You need to sweep away loose layers of dead skin cells in order to ensure that whatever you rub into your skin afterward sinks in deeper. Exfoliation signals the body to generate fresh, new, plump, healthy skin cells, replacing what you’ve just sloughed off.

How often should you exfoliate? The answer depends on your skin type and the exfoliation method you choose—either physical or chemical. Physical exfoliation, with a scrub, should take place once or twice a week, three times a week at most. In terms of chemical exfoliation, mild cream or serum formulations of up to 10% acid concentrations are safe to use twice a day, assuming your skin can tolerate this. But stronger peels should be used at most once a week. Your skin should not flake or peel after you exfoliate. If your skin is extra oily, use salicylic acid to stimulate cell turnover.