Young Women Getting Surgery/Botox Prematurely?

There was a great article that I recently read about how the age for “youth enhancing” types of procedures, surgery and things like Botox and peels is being pushed lower and lower. The incredible pressure that we feel as women to maintain a youthful, fresh appearance often weighs so heavily. 

I’ve found myself looking at my ever increasing wrinkles in the mirror, which I’ve largely been able to help reverse or at least keep at a standstill for a couple years by using the best anti aging and wrinkle products.  I often think about what they would look like if I had some radical procedure (NEVER would I get a facelift – EVER).

But of course my mind has gone the way of Botox. I’m still really leery of Botox though. I know that thousands of women and men get Botox every year without incident, and no side effects, it’s just that the long term safety of it is what scares me. I do think it’s a great way to freeze wrinkles where they are, but I have serious questions about the safety of injecting a toxin underneath the skin.

A toxin is a toxin.  Period.  And what kinds of other things are in the shot? No doubt preservatives and other delivery type of chemicals.  I just don’t know what all is being injected. Plus there have been studies that Botulism may migrate to the brain and stay there. What are the long term effects of getting this done a couple times a year, built up over the years?

We really don’t know yet. And Botox isn’t something that you just get done once and then you’re done. You don’t maintain your results if you don’t keep getting the injections 2-4 times per year.

The age for women who are getting Botox often now is starting in the twenties!  This is when your skin still looks its best naturally!  Yet some doctors are recommending it this young so that you can have a sort of “preventive” measure against wrinkles. 

In Hollywood, take the pressure that us normal women feel to look young and beautiful and multiply it by a hundred. Women in the entertainment industry are incredibly pressured to look young forever.  It’s unfair, but the media really crucifies women when they start to look old.

Fox News does a segment that’s particularly cruel where they compare two stars of the same age.  Obviously, one looks older and one looks younger. It’s this type of constant comparing that women need to get away from, and yet we’re faced with it, both self imposed and outside-imposed every day!

Glycolic Acid Peels and UV Damage

I love to do the occasional chemical peel on my face. I prefer more natural acids, like fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxies, but those can sometimes aggravate my skin since it is oily, so I will often opt for a lactic acid peel or glycolic acid peel. Lactic acid is a gentle acid peel that is excellent for those with acne or oily skin.  Speaking of acne and oily skin, here is an all natural acne soap you may want to check out.

It’s not as harsh as glycolic, and it doesn’t go as deep below the surface skin cells like glycolic does, so you can definitely not feel the same burning sensation, although you will feel a bit of that tingle that’s signature of the acid peel.

Glycolic acid is a pretty serious peel, and if you are administering it to yourself, you should definitely take precautions and make sure you are not too sensitive that you will have a reaction to it. I would recommend some sort of small patch test before you go ahead and slather this one allover your precious face.

Glycolic acid is superior for aging skin, because rather that physically exfoliating the excess dead skin cells on the outer layer of your facial skin, it actually dissolved them, and then moves on ot the next several layers of the skin and works on those as well. This is why the burning sensation occurs.

You should never leave a higher concentration glycolic peel on your face for more than three minutes. To do so, you are risking over doing it, and actually irritating the skin so bad that you could end up with some swelling and even scabbing. However, glycolic peels are excellent for really rejuvenating the skin and getting the collagen production ramped back up, so I’d recommend them every once in a while if you have aging skin.

Lactic acid and other more gentle fruit based acids may be better for those that are younger and are more or less trying to make their skin look fresher or help keep acne at bay. They are also good for softening acne scarring and helping to smooth out the complexion and make it appear more even toned and colored.

Glycolic is great when mixed with lactic acid. One of my favorite acid peels is the Glycolac (the lac standing for lactic). It is a mix between these two very powerful acid peels, and although my skin may look like hell right after I use it, it looks fabulous in about one to two days.

Sea Buckthorn Oil Skin Benefits

I was starting to see a few all natural and organic types of skin care products pop up with an ingredient that I had never heard of before. So naturally, I got curious and wanted to know more about this new ingredient in skin care, and started to research it.

Turns out, sea buckthorn essential oil, which is the concentrated essence of the sea buckthorn berry, is an antioxidant powerhouse, and has many skin care benefits, as well as therapeutic benefits for skin trauma.  It has actually been used more for skin trauma than anything before its additional anti aging and skin beautifying effects were really discovered.

Sea buckthorn berries are a yellowish orange color.  The essential oil from sea buckthorn berries is a very beautiful, deep orange color, that saturates a cream when it is added to it with a vibrant orange color.  You know that this must be loaded with lots of goodies if it is that deeply pigmented in nature, and it certainly is.

The shrub that the berries grow on is actually native to Siberia and areas of the Himalayan mountains.  Sea buckthorn oil has been used for helping the skin to quickly heal burns from radiation, heat, and the sun, and has also been used to help heal bed sores, wounds, and also to tame eczema.

Obviously, this powerful oil has a lot of anti inflammatory capabilities as well as high antioxidant value if it helps to calm and heal burns and abrasions, and can also help eczema, which means it has some excellent abilities when it comes to every day skin care as well.

The naturally high antioxidant value of sea buckthorn oil as well as the high essential fatty acid content is valuable when it comes to anti aging skin care. This is because it helps to seek out and destroy free radicals, as well as to minimize the effects of sun damage on the skin by helping to neutralize those free radicals which cause such cell damage.

The oil has a high concentration of beta carotene as well, which helps with age spots, and helps to even out skin tone.  It is very well received by most types of skin, and of course it’s all natural, so it is preferable to layering chemicals on the skin.

The high concentration of beta carotene though, does warrant a warning. Do not wear this on your face when you are going to be exposed to sunlight, as it could increase your UV sensitivity.  Sea buckthorn is probably best utilized at night, as an intensive, restorative anti aging skin treatment.

Dysport Superior to Botox for Crows Feet?

Dysport is the long lost cousin of Botox, the more well known facial muscle relaxer that is used to the tune of millions and millions of dollars in revenue every year by men and women alike who are looking to cheat father time by freezing or relaxing facial muscles.

This relaxation of the muscles actually helps to reduce facial wrinkles because first off, it doens’t allow someone to make certain expressions (at least fully) that would make wrinkles appear worse in the moment.

Second, it helps reduce the formation of further wrinkles since it doesn’t allow these facial expressions to be very pronounced, which results in wrinkles over time from constant facial postures.

The anti wrinkle and anti aging skin care industry is a huge one, as both women and men become more savvy as to what can help them stall the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and all the other stuff that comes along with getting older and being exposed to all the elements (and stress) for so long.

Dysport is the competitor of Botox, and they both basically do the same thing. Both Dysport and Botox can help to relax facial muscles and other muscles in the body for a certain temporary period of time, which can be useful for anti aging, but can also have other medical implications in other areas as well.  Dysport vs. Botox may need a round two when it comes to one area though.

Recently, a study, that admittedly was not wide reaching or large in scope, showed that Dysport may have an advantage over Botox in smoothing a specific type of wrinkle that is a real concern for many of us – the dreaded “crows feet”.

That’s the area around the side of your eyes that crinkles up when you laugh, squint or smile really wide.  It’s one of my biggest problem areas, but I’ve so far refused to get Botox or any other sort of dermatological intervention. I want to still try my luck with anti aging and wrinkle creams and topical products.

The concerns and side effects of Dysport pretty much mirror those of Botox. The medication may migrate away from the site of injection and can cause paralysis of the throat, drooping eyes, and other fairly serious side effects, up to and including death if breathing is affected.

Dysport treatments last about the same amount of time as Botox treatments do, so know that you do have to go back for repeat treatments to keep the results up. The only other thing I don’t like about Dysport or Botox for that matter, is the fact that there are really no LONG term studies on these medications effects on the human body.

L’Oreal Future-e Day Time Lotion Review

As I talked about in my last update, I got hooked on the Revlon liquid liner, when I had been using L’Oreal’s liquid liner for a long time. I recently decided to try yet another one of L’Oreal’s facial care products, this time a day time cream called Future-e (it contains vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant for the skin) with SPF 15.

It looked like the perfect light day time lotion for me, and I was also looking for something with an SPF in it as well to protect my skin from the daytime sunlight and ward off premature aging sun rays.

It came in a very generous 4 oz. bottle size. Most creams for the face come in 1-2 ounces, so I felt I was getting a good deal on this Future-e cream for around $12. I use a TON of day time moisturizer on my skin so that my skin doesn’t dry out during the day and show wrinkles and imperfections more.

I am a firm believer that intense and constant hydration of the skin is one of the biggest ways to fight off the signs of aging like wrinkles and sun damage.  So, I knew that although this was a 4 oz. bottle, I would do some pretty good damage to it in a fairly short amount of time.

I really like the lotion. It has a pleasant, unoffenisve scent to it, and a velvety sort of texture that isn’t greasy and absorbs pretty well. When I put it on, I layer it, so I let the first layer sink in, then I apply a second and a third. My skin looks fresh and dewy when I’m done, and it creates a great surface for my foundation to adhere to.

I like the way the lotion makes my skin feel, but I have a few complaints.  I wish this product did not contain artificial scents and the preservatives that it has in it. I prefer to use natural lotions with SPF that have no parabens, pthalates, sulfates, petrolatum and other potentially toxic chemicals.

However, I was sort of a slave to the grocery store at the time since I couldn’t run to a natural food store and buy something without all the chemicals in it.  This is, however, a good product from L’Oreal, and I’d recommend it to anyone who isn’t concerned about chemicals.  I will use it here and there after my chemical free stuff comes in the mail.  I do like the way it makes my skin feel and look.

What is the Lifestyle Lift?

I had never even heard of this procedure before, then it seemed like I suddenly started seeing television ads all over for it one day, during my fitness regimen which I record from Fit TV. It was on almost every break, so I had a chance to get lured in every time it came on.

Not because I’m anywhere near doing anything so dramatic, I’m still in my thirties for goodness sake!  But part of what I do is remain abreast of the latest cosmetic procedures, and it’s always fun to see the way the world of beauty and self improvement is evolving. Plus hey, you never know, one day I may try one of these noninvasive procedures.

Oh wait, this is an invasive procedure – actually it’s pretty invasive, so it’s curious that it’s advertised as not as invasive as a full on facelift. I must admit, one different between the Lifestyle Lift and a full tilt facelift is that the results do look much more natural.  The women in the before and after photos for a Lifestyle lift do look much more natural, and not all pulled back and plastic like women who have had traditional facelifts do.

Then there is the price. Lifestyle Lifts are less expensive than the traditional facelift, which tends to run anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000, depending on where you live and who your surgeon of choice is. For something like this, which can dramatically alter your face, I’d certainly say you should treat it like money isn’t the  most important aspect, but results.

The Lifestyle Lift, from what I can tell, runs about $6,000 and up, depending on your area.  I read some scary stories on the internet about how painful it was for some women who’d had the procedure, but these are always so subjective. Apparently, with the Lifestyle Lift, you are not fully put under like in a traditional facelift, but instead you are given injections of anesthetic as well as valium or some other sort of tranquilizer.

The shots in and of themselves can be fairly painful, especially if you do no like needles, so that is something to consider. There is cutting involved, since they typically target the jowl area and pull the “turkey neck” up to make the chin side view much more sleek and pronounced, like it is in your youth.

As we age, our necks tend to droop, and we get what’s often affectionately referred to as a “waddle” of skin under our chins.  The Lifestyle lift definitely targets that piece and also the jowls, and can even be combined with laser rejuvenation for toning and wrinkles reduction.

If it were me, I’d just be doing facial exercises for the jowls, and continuing to use the best anti aging and wrinkle skin care on the market – that way you don’t have to worry about the results of some procedure – you just keep improving on what you already have!

Review : Dermatouch Oxygen Eye Serum

I found this brand of skin care at TJ Maxx in their skincare and perfume section, one of the favorite places to go scouting for inexpensive new anti aging skin care and beauty products that I’ve never tried. It’s called Dermatouch skin care, and the product that I chose is called Oxygen Eye Serum.

It says on the label that it is environmentally conscious (bonus) and paraben free (even better).  I was sold!  Plus it was just under ten bucks, not bad for an ounce of higher grade anti aging serum at all.

One thing that confused me though about these oxygen labeled products is why they are called what they are.  Do they contain some form of oxygen? Are they supposed to increase oxygen?  What is the deal?

I could find no clear cut answer, but the advertisement for the oxygen line of products says that it promotes protein absorption and instantly firms and tightens the skin where it is applied.  Both things sounded good, so I figured I’d give it a whirl.

The thing that’s great about trying marked down products at discount stores is that if you’re really not a fan of the product, you’re not out much money, and if you found a great product, then it’s like finding a great treasure at a cheap price.

The product is in a one ounce opaque bottle, and is a clear, thick gel that you apply. I used it only for under my eyes. Let me tell you, you feel and see an immediate difference in the under eye area. I don’t really have a sagging problem under my eyes, but I could tell that my under and over-eye area was much tighter and lifted instantly after applying this stuff.

I think that someone who suffers puffy or saggy eyes would love this stuff.  I also noticed that it instantly “brightened” the eye area as well, making it look more youthful and vibrant – another great bonus!

Even cooler was the fact that I did not have to apply much to see a huge difference in the skin around my eyes. The gel is so thick that a little bit goes a long way. In fact, some times I was mad at myself for pumping out too much product, as it seemed that I had too much for just the small area I wanted to cover.

Because this is an eye serum, it should last you a while.  I’ve used it several times and don’t notice much of a dent out of the bottle. The only downside is I can see having difficulty getting the product to dispense after it gets down to the bottom, since it’s so cohesive and thick, it may actually stick too much to the bottle and have to be coaxed out.

By the way, this stuff retails over twenty bucks, so I got quite a steal at TJ Maxx!

“Housewives” a Showcase in Too Much Plastic Surgery

I don’t watch the the many “Housewives” shows that are on TV now. It seems that every year they are adding more and more of these shows to the TV schedule.

There’s New Jersey Housewives, Beverly Hills, Orange County, and Football wives, you name it.

It seems they are cashing in on all of us being obsessed with the rich and bored women who are the other halves of rich men.

These shows are also a showcase for what not to do to your face as you age. Plastic surgery is a rampantly over done thing on these shows. These women all look pulled back, surprised, disproportionate, unnatural, and anything but “naturally pretty”.

Unfortunately, if they had just used the right ant aging and wrinkle skin care products, stayed out of too much sunlight and followed a healthy and active lifestyle, their skin would still look great, and they wouldn’t have that awful “alien” look that women tend to get (and men too), when they’ve had too much work done on their faces.

They’ve been pumped full of dermal fillers and collagen, and they have had more incisions than they can count. They’ve been pulled back, peeled, scraped, prodded and more in the name of staying young looking, only to look like a warped version of themselves afterwards.

It’s really quite sad that they keep going, perhaps in a bid to perfect the look and make it look right. But unfortunately most of those attempts are in vain, as facelifts really have not been perfected yet and it is rare that you see one that is truly undetectable.

Face lifts are not only very expensive and potentially dangerous and rife with potential complications, but they are also painful and difficult to recover from. You often cannot go out in public for weeks after a surgery like that.

You certainly don’t feel comfortable for a while, at the very least. Often times facelifts result in unsatisfactory results, which makes patients keep going back to attain the way they looked in their youth.

A lot of people actually get addicted to plastic surgery and end up looking nothing like their original selves.  There is a disorder name for this – it’s called body dysmorphic disorder, where you never think you look perfect, and you get addicted to things that may change your appearance for the better.

Jason Red Elements Day Cream with SPF Review

It’s no secret that I’ve been on the lookout for good, natural skin care products lately. The more I learn about the hazards of using chemical and preservative-filled skin care products, the more I want to use anything natural that I can get my hands on that actually works.  If you think about it, everything that you put on your skin eventually ends up in your blood stream. Not only that, it also affects your SKIN as well.

So, your deodorant that you put on every day near a very sensitive part of your body where there are a lot of lymph nodes, the lotion you slather all over your body as a moisturizer every day, the soaps you use on your body and your face, those all add to your “toxic load” that your body takes on every day. So, you can see why it’s best to use the most natural, chemical free products you can on your skin every day.

Think about using natural products like this on your skin like eating organic, wholesome foods, because essentially these products do get into your body via absorption.  Now that I’m done “preaching” about the glories of natural skin care products, let me tell you about my experience with an organic, natural skin care line’s day cream with SPF. It’s JASON Red Elements day moisturizing cream with SPF 15 in it.

I replaced my former anti aging and wrinkle day cream because when I read the label, it had all kinds of long chemical names I did not recognize, in addition to parabens and other bad chemicals that I really didn’t want to be putting on my face any longer. Since I’ve converted to all other natural body products, I thought, why should my facial creams be any different?

Red Elements by JASON is an anti aging day cream with a high SPF in it so you’re protected from the sun all day. It does smell a bit “sunscreeny”, but that’s be cause it really doesn’t have any artificial fragrances to cover up the smell of the natural SPF, like other products do. I had a hard time getting past that, but once I did, I noticed that it really did make my skin look better during the day, and helped it to retain moisture all day long.

The added ingredients that help retain moisture all day long are red tea (hence the product name) as well as polypeptides – one of my favorite anti aging ingredients, which help increase collagen production. I’m glad I bought two bottles to save on shipping, because I won’t mind using this for a while!

Is 50 the New Forty, Forty Really the New 30?

Every day that I see women in the media, I’m amazed at how well some of them have aged, and many of them without nary a touch from a surgeon’s knife or injection from a Botox needle.  You can usually tell who’s gone under the knife or had a lot of Botox, because there are giveaway signs.

Botox, after years of use, tends to result in what’s called “Botox brow”.  Botox brow is where the brows tend to look overly arched and higher on the head, resulting in a sort of angry or surprised look, all the time.

Women who I think have aged fantastically without anything (I’m guessing here, by appearances) are Valerie Bertinelli, Kyra Sedgewick, Julia Roberts (who recently proclaimed her disdain for Botox and other anti aging surgeries and extremes), Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston.

Now, some of you may disagree with my assessment that these beauties are au naturelle, but I think they look very natural, and they don’t “look” like they’ve had anything done.

Which leads me to the question, is 40 really the new 30?  And then, is 50 really the new 40 also?  It seems like women are able to age so well now with all the nonsrugical products at their disposal. Also, knowing what to eat and how to live your life to maximize your skin’s beauty for a long time is key well.

There are so many anti aging and anti wrinkle products that really make a big difference in our skin’s appearance and help our skin to maintain moisture so much better than products of yesteryear and were minimal on technology. Ingredients like idebenone, hyaluronic acid, potent vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid, DMAE and various hydroxy acids really can make a difference in skin over time.

Daily exfoliation really helps too, because it keeps the skin cells new on top, and refreshes the older dead ones, resulting over time in less fine lines and wrinkles, and making the skin appear fresher, more toned and more taut and even.

We are lucky to live in an age where these types of products are at our easy disposal – it really does make you look younger than your years, and it’s no wonder that so many women get mistaken for much younger than their bio