Good Grooming is a Plus for Men

Men have found the beauty isle. It's been there for a long time, but only recently have men discovered that looking great helps them compete in the business world.

They don't have to be obsessed with their appearance to care about roughened cuticles, regular hair trims, and moisturizer to make their skin look youthful. The national beauty director for Nordstrom says looking your best is more important in our image-conscious world. It's true that they are in the business of selling products, but their ideas could give you a leg up on looking good.

* Add a face scrub to your regimen twice a week. It will slough off oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. Use it in the shower, and you'll find you get a closer shave afterward.
* Hydrate your skin with a moisturizer. Everyone needs hydration, they say, even a man with oily skin. Apply it after shaving and it will feel good.
* Use an eye cream. A great eye cream hydrates the skin around the eyes, reducing puffiness and minimizing the signs of wrinkles, which is a step toward preventing them. Use men's cream, not women's.
* Pay attention to the condition of your hands and fingernails. Have an occasional manicure and otherwise maintain finger nails.
* Invest in a good shampoo, conditioner and hair styling product.

Remember, I have several treatments available that are specifically designed for men - be sure to ask!

~Sandy

Got Chapped Lips?

The bleak, shortened days of mid-winter aren’t the only tough part about January.

This time of year, your lips are probably crying out for attention, too.

Winter air can lack moisture, making skin and lips drier than usual. Combine cold, dry air with a wicked winter wind, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for dry, chapped lips.

Yet, often, we overlook the fact that the skin on our lips is just as sensitive to the environment as any other area, even prone to skin cancer. And with cold, wintry air now the norm, you’ve got to do more than, well, just pay lip service to this neglected area.

Old standbys like Vaseline, made with petrolatum, work well as a barrier against indoor and outdoor dryness, says Dr. David E. Bank, director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco. Dimethicone, an ingredient in many lip treatments, is also effective, says Bank, as is Aquaphor, an all-purpose ointment.

Estheticians prefer to use products made with protective plant oils or beeswax. Weleda Skin Food, a multitasking moisturizer that works well on the lips, contains organic pansy, chamomile and sweet almond and sunflower-seed oils, which can nourish dry skin. The company also offers Everon lip balm and Weather Protection Cream.

To get the best effect from any kind of balm or treatment, be sure your lips are moist first, ideally with a few drops of water, suggests Bank. But resist the urge to lick them.

“Obviously it brings immediate relief, because you’re adding moisture, but it’s a double whammy, because as saliva evaporates, it takes even more of the water from the lip with it,” says Bank. Even worse, he says, saliva contains digestive enzymes that work like a solvent.

“It’s better to reach for your lip balm, and if you feel you want to moisten them, reach for some water, but don’t do it by licking.”

Keep in mind that sun damage remains a threat year-round — and that while skiiers need to be extra-vigilant about skin and lip protection, so does everyone else who goes outside.

Rosacea

 Rosacea is an increasingly common condition that affects men and women alike.  While women are more likely to have this condition, it's men who have the more severe symptoms.

Symptoms include red, blotchy, sometimes "pimply" areas of the face, which is why many mistakenly refer to it as adult acne.  Most who suffer from this will notice certain things that will trigger a flare-up - alcohol, spicy foods, wind, sun exposure and more.  There's a really good article on WebMD that gives some good information about flare-up prevention and treatment.

Regular treatment by a dermatologist can help control the symptoms, as well as regular care of the face.  I have specially designed treatments that are safe to use, and can help with keeping the flare-ups at bay.  Give me a call to see how I can help!

~Sandy

10 Skin Care Resolutions You Need To Make For 2012

What's your skin care resolutions for 2012?  Even the best of us do things we know we shouldn't... we sleep in our makeup, we skimp on sunscreen, we skip our regular appointment with our dermatologist.  There are many things we can be doing to help make us look and feel younger, and many of them are as simple as moisturizing regularly!

Check out this great article I found on Allure.com for the top 10 things you can do for your skin this year, and let me know what you think!

~Sandy

Avoid the Holiday Blues

Top 10 Ways to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain Blues

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is just ahead — the time for parties, shopping, friends and family and lots and lots of eating! What can you do to ensure that while your blessings overflow, your waistband doesn’t? 

First of all, don't try to actually LOSE weight during the holidays.  Your priority should be to maintain as healthy of a lifestyle as possible so that once you pass New Years you can jump right back into your healthy habits.  

Here are My Top 5 Ways to Maintain Weight During the Holidays

1. Put down the chips, pastries and ice cream
2. Put down the remote
3. Get off the couch or off the computer
4. Get outside and get some exercise
5. Walking is good; jogging is better and active sports are great – just keep moving for at least 1/2 hour every day.

While you are outside exercising, don’t forget your broad-spectrum sunscreen!

Five More Ways to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain Blues

1. Eat smaller portions and skip seconds
2. Snack on nuts, fruits and raw veggies
3. Save desserts for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas and avoid them at all the parties and meals in between
4. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages
5. Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can trigger wight gain - and wrinkles!

~Sandy

Holiday Treats that Affect Your Skin

We all know that holiday treats bring on the dreaded December bulge... but did you know that many of the treats you have during the holiday season can actually be bad for your skin?

I found this great article on The Real Style Network's website that talks about just this.  All the fun parties with alcohol, processed food, sugar and sweets can really take their toll.  Add that to the winter weather, and your skin really needs extra attention.  Give me a call and we can schedule a facial or I can make some recommendations on some products that can help get your skin back into shape!
~Sandy

QUIZ: What is your skin's age?

So, I know we all want to have young looking skin, and I certainly see my fair share of men and women who wonder "how old do I look??"  The thing is that there are lots of things that affect your skin's age.  Sunscreen, diet, healthy habits... you get the picture.

I found a fun quiz on Women's Health Magazine's Website that walks you through and helps you deterimine your skin's age.  It's definitely not the last word in skin, but it's a fun quiz to check out!

Remember, I can always help erase those little missteps and issues you may be battling yourself.  I have a ton of facials, chemical peels, and more that can (in the words of the beautiful Cher) "turn back time."

Take a look at the quiz and see what you think - then give me a call and let's get to work!

~Sandy