Tag Archive for: Dr. Oz

Winter is here and as temperatures and humidity levels drop, it is important to have your winter regimen in place. Whether you live in a freezing cold climate or a mild balmy one, skin needs more hydration during the winter months. With just a few minor adjustments and additions you will be able to ensure a dewy, glowing complexion all winter long.

Winter truths

  • Humidity levels drop during the winter
  • Hot showers dry skin out
  • Covering your face with a scarf will protect against environmental elements (wind, snow, sun)
  • Oil is a friend to your skin
  • Hydration after bathing is imperative for soft, healthy skin
  • Switching your regimen up is a good thing

Ideas to try

At home or office

Invest in a humidifier. Humidity levels drop during the winter months, thus drying out skin, eyes and hair. Add in artificial heat and you’re doomed. By adding humidity back into the air, you can reverse some of the damage. Cool vapor is the best bet to not only feeling better but looking better too. We recommend leaving it on all the time so that your home maintains an even level of humidity, but if that is not possible, at least sleep with it on!

What to drink

Staying hydrated from the inside out is also crucial. Make sure to increase your liquid ingestion during the winter. Think teas, juices, water and healthy soups.

NO hot showers 

Try to take warm showers instead of steamy hot ones. If you’re thinking a hot shower will feel good after a brutally cold day, a good trick is to turn the shower on very hot and let the bathroom steam up. Then step inside the bathroom and get warm. Then turn the shower back down to a warm temperature. Hot water will dry skin out more.

Post shower

Always apply moisturizer to damp skin. Post bath or shower; try moisturizing your skin while still damp. This allows the skin to capture and seal in moisture.

Switch up your regimen

Take a look at your cleansing and exfoliation regimen. If you’re an exfoliation junkie particularly with physical scrubs, decrease the frequency of use during the winter. Instead try a chemical exfoliator once a week, like Fresh-A-Peel, a favorite of Dr. Oz! On the other days, try introducing a creamy, milk based cleanser like First Aid Beauty or a gentle oil cleaner like Tatcha.

Try trading your Retinol product for our NEW Brightening Elixir, a medley of super charged ingredients to attack pollution and provide superior anti – oxidant protection. Ferulic Acid, which increases the blood flow of superficial tissues, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), which reduces the appearance of brown spots and boosts collagen production while reducing inflammation. Vitamin B, which increases the production of ceramides and fatty acids (two important components of the skin’s outer protective barrier and Vitamin E, which increases overall hydration to the skin while aiding in healing.

Try adding oil into your winter regimen to get extra hydration and protection. Look for cold pressed, pure oils, such as Baobob, Kalahari, Mongogo and Marula, which all contain Vitamin A, C, E and essential fatty acids and omegas. Our Fleuressence Native Botanical Oil offers all these and more.

If hydrating luxurious creams are more your style, try our Plant Profusion Regenerative Night Cream. This rich cream provides hydration and anti-oxidants that nourish, rejuvenate and plump the skin.

Don’t forget your lips

Chapped lips are a serious issue during the winter for many people. As with your winter skincare regimen, the lips need a winter plan too. Did you know that the lips are the driest place on the body? Lips have no sebaceous glands and zero sweat glands. Here are a few tips to get ahead of the game.

  1. Sleep with a humidifier on as this adds humidity to the air (hydration)!
  2. Exfoliate the lips. Try our favorite Bite Beauty’s Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub. A delicious lip mousse that conditions, fights free radicals and exfoliates by utilizing Resveratrol, Fruit acids and Rice Bran. Do not exfoliate chapped lips.
  3. Wear SPF on the lips even during the winter. UV rays are still prevalent during the winter months.
  4. Do not lick or bite your lips.
  5. Stay hydrated. Humidity drops during the winter so drink fluids and lots of water.
  6. Cover Up! If it’s windy or cold wear a scarf around your mouth and nose area.

Happy hydrated winter!

Dermatologists, estheticians and plastic surgeons all have a surprising array of tools and techniques to beat back the signs of time. For some of us, that sounds really scary! We enlisted Dr. Goldfaden to tell us about five ways in which we can look younger longer, without any invasive in-office procedures and altering much in our daily lives.

Screen Shot 2014-09-23 at 10.24.49 AMPhoto via Makeup.com

What are your top tips for keeping skin young? Exfoliation is key – You would be surprised how much smoother and brighter just one exfoliating treatment can do for your skin. Regular exfoliation also allows topical products, particularly super potent treatment serums, applied onto the skin afterwards to penetrate deeper, increasing the overall treatment. Never leave home without applying a sun screen – it is essential to keeping ourselves protected from free radical damage and skin cancer. ”  Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

When should we begin focusing on an anti-aging skincare routine? “Protecting your skin from UVA and UVB damage through the daily use of a sunscreen and starting a proper and preventative skincare regimen – exfoliation, cleanse, anti-oxidant rich serum, moisturize and eye cream – in your mid-20’s is a vital step towards keeping fine lines, pigmentation and sagging at bay. The skin is at it’s healthiest state during your 20’s and it is also when most of your habits begin and stick when it comes to proper caring of the skin. It makes all the difference in the world for obtaining proper skin health and appearance. By the time 30 rolls around, you will be thankful that you started proper skin early.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

What are some effective ingredients to look for? “Some of the ingredients that I often lean on to incorporate into our formulas, due to their potent benefits on the skin, include skin plumping hyaluronic acid, anti-inflammatory vitamin K and Arnica, skin brightening alpha arbutin and gooseberry berry extract, skin exfoliating ruby crystals, collagen boosting retinoids, antioxidant rich tea extracts. Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD”

What about supplements and our diet in general? How can those help? “Clear and glowing skin starts from the inside. Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, the most beneficial is Salmon, can greatly reduce inflammation, reduce dryness and increase circulation – a key attribute to healthy, youthful-looking skin. Daily consumption of vitamins specifically my favorite vitamin – Vitamin D and an overall multi-vitamin greatly impacts your overall health.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Can you share some of your favorite anti-aging products? Loaded with vital nutrients, vitamins and a higher concentration of topical skin treatment ingredients, serums – either oil or water based – penetrate deep into the dermis levels of the skin for the ultimate topical nourishing skin treatments. Serums offer a potent jolt to the skin that typically target specific problems to offer the highest levels of treatment in a topical product.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

What do you do when the pain is not going away? You’re stretching and icing and popping Advil like it’s candy but the pain still comes back….. It may be time to get acupuncture. Western and eastern medicine have long debated over the validity of this traditional chinese medicine practice. Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles into the skin’s surface that stimulates and allows the energy flow, as well as, the rebalance of the Qi(energy flow or life force).

Acupuncture is used to prevent or cure existing pain. After a bad fall while skiing, I developed a neck pain that would not go away. I went to chiropractors and doctors, but no one could heal me. After being introduced to an LA based doctor who happened to also practice acupuncture, I was cured.  The cure didn’t happen overnight, in fact it was long and uncomfortable at times. But so worth it. When one decides to get acupuncture, you must surrender to the belief that it is going to work. 50 tiny needles in your skin can be jarring at first. It does not hurt, in fact it feels soothing. The needles are strategically placed in pressure points to relieve pain and tension. After insertion you are left to relax, close your eyes and even meditate if you like. If you have ever had acupuncture then you know what a hotspot it.  A hot spot is an area that a needle awakes or aggravates, causing a ‘hot feeling’ or surge of energy.  This spot may be tender after a treatment  session but will also alert you to here you hold tension.

Acupuncture can be used to treat an enormous amount of health issues from depression to PMS to chronic back pain. If you have never had it and have always wondered about it, try it! It does not hurt and you will feel so much better! Get your energy flow back on track!