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Erase Signs of Aging With Retinoids

Research points to retinoids — vitamin A derivatives — as the best age erasers out there. Retinoids can smooth fine lines, fade dark spots, and help make pores look smaller. However, retinoids can cause skin irritation. Here are some tips for using retinols in your skin care. Start slow — choose an over-the-counter product with retinol. These products contain retinoic acid that works more slowly but irritates skin less. Give it time; improvement may take up to twelve weeks. Choose a period of time when you have no major events coming. You might not want to risk the irritation around … Continue reading →

Stepping Over the Line

Have you ever seen Botox gone badly? Last week my daughter and I were watching Celebrity Apprentice. It is now down to rocker Bret Michaels and actress Holly Robinson Peete. However, first they had to undergo some tough interviewing by a former Apprentice winner and comedian Joan Rivers. My daughter was shocked at what she saw. She wanted to know what was wrong with Joan Rivers’ face. I had to explain what too much plastic surgery can do. She is not the only one to go too far in an attempt to look younger. Cosmetic procedures that have gone over … Continue reading →

Your Skin in Your 50s

Once menopause hits, you can expect your skin to change dramatically. The average age at which a woman reaches menopause is fifty-one… so your fifties is a time for big changes! Some changes you can expect in your skin in your fifties: The cell turnover slowdown that started in the forties continues into the next decade and beyond — the dead skin cells are slower to leave and the new cells are slower to replace them. This can leave skin looking dull and feeling dry. Skin is much dryer, thanks to the body’s hormonal changes and continuing cell turnover slowdown. … Continue reading →

Help for Uneven Skin Tone

A few years ago I started noticing my skin didn’t look quite right. I developed these splotchy dark areas on my cheeks, my upper lip, and on my forehead. Maybe dark isn’t the right word. Discolored is a better one. A neighbor of mine in our current neighborhood here in Nashville told me she’d had the same trouble in her 30s. (Which I am. She’s 50.) She told me hers was due to hormones and the sun. (Which I suspect so is mine. When we lived in Florida I spent a ton of time outdoors. Also, I notice around that … Continue reading →

Looking, Feeling, and Living Younger

Aging is natural. Cell turnover slows down, collagen production slows down, and your skin starts to dry out. External factors like too much sunlight and exposure to pollutants can speed up the aging process. Here are some tips to help your skin look younger. You might have heard some of these before, but they bear repeating: Avoid direct sunlight. Wear SPF 30 sunscreen and cover up to protect yourself against UV rays. Get your beauty sleep — it isn’t just a clever name. Skin cells regenerate more quickly while you are sleeping! Drink plenty of water! The more you drink, … Continue reading →

Sugar and Your Skin

Sugar can be good for your skin on the outside — in the form of an exfoliating sugar scrub. However, the sugar you eat may be ruining your skin! Sugar in your bloodstream can attach to protein molecules to form advanced glycation end products (or AGEs). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs that form in your bloodstream. As these AGEs accumulate, they damage nearby proteins — think of dominoes. Knock one down, and the rest start to fall. The proteins that are most vulnerable to damage from AGEs are collagen and elastin — the protein fibers that keep … Continue reading →

The Rainbow of Antioxidants

The more colorful your diet is, the more antioxidants you get. Antioxidants help repair and reduce cell damage all over your body, for a laundry list of beneficial effects: Keep your skin plump and firm. Keep your memory sharp. Prevent disease. Prevent arterial hardening that can lead to heart disease or stroke. Every different color of fruit and vegetable offers the body a different type of healthy antioxidant and other nutrients. Inside and out, antioxidants are good for you. Red fruits and veggies, like tomatoes, red kidney beans, red onion, red bell pepper, radicchio, and watermelon, are full of lycopene. … Continue reading →

Beauty Dos and Don’ts

Here’s a list of quick and easy things you can do in your beauty routine — they won’t take much time or effort, and they can make you feel more confident and more beautiful. Makeup Dos Wash makeup off before bed. Wash makeup off before you hit the gym. Don’t stress about people seeing you without your “face” on — your skin will benefit from the effort. Swap your face powder for blotting papers if you want to cut down on shine. Powder can clog pores; blotting papers won’t. Use a hint of shimmer to give your skin a healthy … Continue reading →