Sunscreen - a warning of things to come

Remember to wear sunscreen every day.

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Dark Chocolate and Caffeine

Caffeine and Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate is great for your skin! German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of special extra-flavonoid-enriched cocoa every day. After three months, the women's skin was moister, smoother, and less scaly and red when exposed to ultraviolet light. The flavonoid, fisetin, inhibits UV radiation-induced oxidative stress and the activation of NF-кB and MAPK signaling in human lens epithelial cells. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.

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Blueberry Antioxidant Face and Body Mask

Glycolic Acid Peel 70% and Vitamin C

Today I made a new face and body mask for myself. I combined a few things that I know to be very good for the skin. Glycolic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), and plain yogurt. Yogurt and milk products contain lactic acid, also great for chemically exfoliating the skin.

The black cherry contains vitamin C which is great for the skin. I added my own L-Ascorbic Acid as well. Blueberries are powerful antioxidants. I eat them almost every day.

Here is how I made the blueberry black cherry glycolic acid vitamin C face and body mask. (that is quite a name!) I think I need to shorten it.

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How To Make a Banana Mask

Bananas are an excellent base ingredient for face masks because they are high in Vitamin C, A, B6 and B12. They also contain potassium and magnesium. This recipe will take you approximately 30 minutes.

1.  Puree one fresh banana

2.  Mix 4 tbs milk

3. 1 tsp Grapeseed Oil

4. 1 tsp Honey

5. .5 tsp L-Ascorbic Acid (powder form)

Mix the ingredients very well. Keep them in a dark jar so light cannot penetrate. Light and oxygen will deterorate the mixture and its goodies. 


Next .....

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Sculptra - fuller face

Image from Dr. Goldbert

Sculptra® is approved by the FDA for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss, or lipoatrophy, in people with human immunodeficiency virus. I think that it is one of the better treatments a person can receive because the results are gradual and last longer. They also give the patient that fuller chipmunk face that we have as children. One of the signs of age, is that our face loses volume. The solution is injected under the area of fat loss. It will provide a gradual increase of fullness.  


People with HIV are not the only people to get sculptra. Any person who has lost volume in their face because of age can get sculptra. The cost is anywhere from $500 to $1000 dollars. The effects last over two years.




Before investing in sculptra, please read what the FDA has to say about this product. FDA SCULPTRA REVIEW


Here are some videos and photos. Enjoy!

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Eating for Beautiful Skin

¨I have never known a sick person to have beautiful, radiant skin.¨ - Dr Perricone

 Eat the right kinds of foods and you will have perfect skin.Choose foods that have bright colors. Eat plenty of fish and omega-3.

Here are some Youtube Videos to watch about anti-oxidants. Enjoy!

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
Video 7
Video 8
Video 9
Video 10

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Perlane filler

When I started this blog, I intended it to be only for skin care related topics. I wanted to write about DIY masks, lotions, creams and such. I also decided to write about advanced cosmetic skin care, such as injections and laser treatments. There are very few blogs out there dedicated to affordable skin care treatments. I did not want to write about things like face lifts, implants and things that involve blood, staples or general anesthesia. This blog entry will discuss a cosmetic injectable, Perlane, as it is used to plump up the cheeks and other areas of ones face. 

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Make your own Glycolic Mask

Glycolic Acid is one of the best substances to combat wrinkles and premature aging. I like to use Retin A at night. When my skin starts to become flakey, then I make a glycolic peel. The acid dissolves the bonds that hold layers of skin cells together, so that the outer layer of dead skin cells can be stripped away revealing younger, smoother skin.

So, I am going to teach you how to do it.

1. one tbs Raw Sugar. (I prefer Muscovado Sugar.)

2. one tbs Plain Greek Yogurt

3. Glycolic Acid 70% peel – 3 to 5 drops

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Remove Pigmented Birthmarks

I know many of us have unsightly birthmarks and scars that we would love to remove. My mother had a faint scar down her face from an injury she sustained when she was born. It was never fixed and it bothered her for the rest of her life.

My mother died when she was 45 years old. Anyway, this blog entry is about scar and birthmark removal. I have included the video below. If you continue reading, you will find photographs of other birthmarks that can be removed by various laser procedures.

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Rosacia -

This is a common skin disease for people, such as myself, with Celtic ancestry. It begins with a tendency to blush more frequently than others do. Rosacia progressively gets worse. To treat Rosacia, dermatologists must divide it into four subtypes. This Rosacia is type #1 ( visible blood vessels) and type #2 ( acne like breakouts). Type 3 Rosacia shows thicken skin while type 4 Rosacia is only in the eyes.

Rosacia can be treated in several different ways. The way each doctor treats it depends entirely on the type of  Rosacia, and many other factors.

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NIA24 Skincare Products C6H5NO2

Many dermatologists sell NIA24 skincare products to clients after having fraxel laser resurfacing. I have heard some very positive reviews from people about this line. NIA24 is a cosmeceutical product. This means that it has  biologically active ingredients purporting to have medical or drug-like benefits. Dermatological research suggests that the bioactive ingredients used in cosmeceuticals do indeed have benefits beyond the traditional moisturizer (e.g., Chen et al., 2005; Zettersten, Ghadially, Feingold, Crumrine, & Elias, 1997).


However, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act "does not recognize any such category as "cosmeceuticals." A product can be a drug, a cosmetic, or a combination of both, but the term "cosmeceutical" has no meaning under the law" 

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Fractionated Laser CO2 Lazer - Fraxel or SmartXide Dot Therapy?

The Fraxel laser is a cosmetic treatment for fine lines, sun damage, uneven skin tone and skin discoloration. The frazel laser is often used to treat stretch marks and acne scars. According to the young woman in this video, the fraxel laser is somewhat painful.

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Thermage - skin tightening on the Face, Arms, Thighs

When I think of Thermage, the first person I think of is Brigitte Bardot. One of the most beautiful women in the world made a decision long ago that she did not want to grow old gracefully.  This is Ms Bardot´s decision. 


Ms Bardot would have been a great candidate for Thermage, if it had been available to her twenty or thirty years ago. 

Through the use of radiofrequency energy, Thermage can tighten loose or sagging facial skin, or loose body skin due to the effects of age or significant weight loss. Thermage treatment typically lasts for 30 to 90 minutes depending on how much area is being treated.

The radiofrequency energy is directed just below the surface of the skin, stimulating the the collagen into regeneration. There is no surgery, injections, or incision required. As the procedure is performed, a cooling spray is used to keep you comfortable and protect the skin. A mild sedative may be used to reduce discomfort.

Over the next 6 months, your skin will slowly begin to produce more collagen, filling in the lines and grooves in your skin and producing a younger, more vibrant appearance. Many patients who have undergone Thermage have been thrilled with their new younger look. Results can begin to appear in as little as 3 weeks.

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Topical Antioxidants - Use only at night

As chemical compounds are oxidized, they produce free radicals at a cellular leval. Antioxidants react with, and neutralize free radicals. When this happens the destructive properties of the radical is eliminated. A free radical is simply a chemical compound that contains one or more unpaired electrons. One of the ways free radicals are produces is by sun exposure. It does not matter if you lay on the beach for 20 minutes unprotected, or if you walk to work five minutes per day unprotected. Your skin does not know the difference. All sun exposure causes free radicals.

The step that produces a free radical is called the initiation step. Radicals are represented in chemical formulas by a single dot. Below is an illustration of three initiations steps that produce free radicals

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Should you use cleansers with Glycolic and Salicylic Acid

As I was working out my formulas for face wash, I thought about using a glycolic or salicylic acid in the formula. After watching this video I will instead use them in lotions only. 

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Essential Skin Care in Your Forties

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ILP Laser - Red Blood Vessel Removal

ILP lasers are claim to be better at removing red blood vessels while Fraxel lasers tend to be better at removing scars, fine lines and tattoos. Many people are claiming that ILP causes permanent damage to the skin. There are some forums where people post comments, I recommend reading the complaints people have before investing in this product.


"Photofacial is just another name for the use of an IPL or intense pulsed light source.Intense pulsed light sources are used throughout the country for the treatment of facial redness, as well as brown spots and unwanted hair, but most commonly for redness. The effectiveness of an IPL treatment is determined by the machine used and the experience of the user of that machine. Note, however, that IPL works best on fixed redness but has very little result on the blushing and flushing response that many rosacea patients have." 

David Goldberg, MD

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Trichloroacetic Acid - Where to get it an how to use it

Trichloroacetic Acid is the active ingredient in the Blue Peel. It is very powerful and must be used with caution.

The lady in this video looks pretty bad. She has clear improvements after getting the acid treatment. 

You can buy this acid online. But remember - BE CAREFUL!!!

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Obagi Blue Peel - for acne scaring

This is a face mask a lot of high grade spas are offering to clients. A lot of these products you can buy online, instead of spending hundreds of dollars at a spa. Watch this Blue Peel Video for instructions.

http://www.odiscountstore.com/

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Favorite Skin Care Blog

Check out this blog. Well organized, easy to use! It is well designed, easy to use and factual.

TotalBeauty.com

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