Archive for September, 2010

Skin Care by Molly M

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

From Summer to Fall. Does my skin even know the difference?

You bet your brown spots your skin knows! Seasonal transition is definitely something our skin will have an effect from. Due to the weather, free radicals, UVA, UVB, air pollution…etc., our skin can become extremely dull and dehydrated and start showing more signs of the damage that was caused during our summer days in the sun. Cooler, dryer weather is undoubtedly the time to start preventing any further damage to your skin, and start repairing what damage has already been caused. Even if you protected your skin throughout summer with sunscreens and hats, damage still occurs. This is the perfect time to revitalize and rejuvenate your skin.

The holidays are just around the corner, now is the time to start amping up your skin care regimen and feeling great about your skin! Don’t wait until the last minute! Give yourself plenty of time so your skin can adjust and have optimal results by the time your holiday parties come around. There are so many fun and exciting treatments out right now for all skin types! You can’t turn back time, but you can definitely get on the road to healthy skin!

I’ve always said, “The most important thing you will wear all year is your skin, make it Healthy Skin!”
Scheduling an appointment with your licensed Esthetician is a great way to start the seasons right. By doing this your skincare specialist can help you determine your skin type and recommend products that best suit your skin needs. Ingredients are key, and your esthetician is trained to help you maintain beautiful, healthy skin not only in the treatment room, but at home too!

From Summer to Acne. Why don’t I breakout this much in Summer!?

Summer is pretty much over. The transition of the seasons has begun causing a noticeable effect on your complexion. The chaotic pressures of school starting again, having to get back to fighting traffic, dry cold weather, all these things cause stress, and when the stress is high, the skin reacts. It’s easy to overlook the fact that along with the crazy traffic and stressful work and school schedules your skin will suffer causing you even more stress resulting in acne breakouts.

In some instances the UV rays from the sun can actually help to control breakouts. It can be a little pimple or it can be several big ones! Most people just can’t resist taking matters into their own finger tips. You’re only human. We look for the quick fix, not thinking of what the consequences can be! I’ve had patients that pick, use needles, use safety pins, or whatever other sharp objects they can find, and about 95 percent of the time when they come to me, there is still bacteria stuck under the skin! We just cannot extract ourselves properly it doesn’t work! Picking causes trauma to the skin, from redness and dark spots to inflammation and scarring. It can even cause the acne to spread. Don’t self treat! Self treating with some home remedies can be risky and damage your skin. Like toothpaste! Big NO NO, unless you want a nice red or dark mark left on your face. Toothpaste can burn the skin. Don’t do it! There are hundreds of home remedies you can try, but be sure to use caution and research any reactions or side effects that can occur. Don’t be afraid to call your skincare specialist, dermatologist or esthetician for any remedies you can try at home. (You may not get an answer over the phone if you’re not already established with her/him)

The solution? Think about it.

The amount you spend on creams, cleansers and soaps looking for something that works for you can add up quickly! You try one cleanser after another, one moisturizer after another, Sun Screens, mask’s, pads, spot treatments, remedies, everything adds up! Has is treated the problem? Maybe? Has it made it worse? It’s possible.

You can see a licensed professional, trained to extract properly and that can recommend the products that can work for your skin type. By seeing your licensed Esthetician/Skincare Specialist and Dermatologist, and getting the proper topical treatments as well as facial treatments you can help fight acne breakouts. Acne treatments will focus on controlling inflammation and preventing or addressing issues of hyperpigmentation and scarring , treatments that get you back to healthier, clearer , more stress free skin. No matter what your age, gender, or skin type, professional acne treatments can work for you and improve your over all skin health. This goes for all parts of the body. Acne isn’t just on your face. It can occur on the back, chest, arms and other unmentionable places.

Don’t be afraid to interview your esthetician first. Best to get a referral to someone trusted by a friend or Doctor. Not just any esthetician is qualified at doing proper extractions!

Follow Molly M on Twitter http://twitter.com/SkinByMollyM

ShopSmart October, 2010

Monday, September 27th, 2010

How to Change Your Diet Now for Better-Looking Skin
(from the October 2010 issue of ShopSmart.)

• Load up on antioxidant-rich produce: Think dark and leafy and colorful—kale, bell peppers, spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, berries, oranges, and pomegranates. They’re rich sources of vitamins A, C, and E and other health-promoting phytochemicals (plant-based compounds). Besides helping to reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells, antioxidants help keep the skin cells healthy and protect collagen and elastin from being degraded.

• Mind your minerals: Zinc, found in particularly high levels in oysters, crab, beef, poultry, kidney beans, and fortified cereals, has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, facilitates cell regeneration, and protects against collagen degradation. Selenium, plentiful in Brazil nuts, fish, poultry, couscous, and oat bran, has antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from wrinkles, sagging, and sun damage. Iron, found in clams, soybeans, lentils, spinach, beef liver, and fortified cereals, is important for skin repair.

• Get your omega-3s: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, walnuts, canola oil, flaxseeds, and omega-3-fortified eggs, can bolster the skin barrier and decrease inflammation in the skin. Chronic, low-grade inflammation, which is invisible to the eye, can destroy collagen and elastin. So have fish for dinner tonight: stick with low-mercury, high-omega-3 species such as sardines, wild salmon, herring, and pollack.

• Eat less sugar: Downing lots of highly processed or sugary foods can cause a spike in blood sugar and insulin, which can trigger chronic, low-grade inflammation at the cellular level. You don’t have to give up sweets, just eat them in moderation. And if you crave something sweet, eat a small piece of dark chocolate, which is loaded with protective antioxidants.

• Choose the right proteins: The protein found in lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and low-fat dairy products provides your body with essential amino acids, the building blocks for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. Different amino acids help construct collagen, the scaffold that gives skin its structure, or create lubricating ceramides, which help the skin hold onto water.

• Think about your drinks: Staying optimally hydrated by drinking enough water so that your urine is light-colored is important. Since it’s not always easy to gulp down enough water every day, one strategy is to sip green tea. Research suggests that the epigallocatechin gallate green tea contains offers some protection against DNA damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays and triggers anti-tumor activity by the body’s immune system.

Fake Bake…

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Ginger Root with Aloe Vera & Green Tea (both are anti-oxidants) and Vitamin E are just some of the ingredients in Fake Bake’s Mistifier Oil-Free Moisturizer Spray. This smells so good! You use it just like you would a lotion but you spray it on instead. The formula penetrates and dries really fast. It soothes and smoothes skin and did I say…it smells great! Fake Bake has a lip gloss that I recently tried and like a lot. It’s called the Beachy Babe Lip Gloss. fakebake.com

XOOPII, a “Fave”

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

For about a year now, I have been obsessed with cool, funky reusable bags. I do a lot of shopping so I need a lot of reusable bags! XOOPII has some fun ones. They even have limited edition designs…ok…gotta’ have one each of those! My “Fave” is the Yorkii bag. It folds up into its own pouch, just a small one about the size of a men’s wallet. I have one in my suitcase and one in my glove compartment…ok…I have one in the car trunk too (I love the Montage design the best!) . XOOPII has other stuff too and has a blog coming soon.

The best at-home peel ever!

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Hoping to achieve my dream of great skin, I have done it all..fraxel, pixel, injectables, peels and so on. I recently tried the Advanced Home Actives Brazilian Peel. It’s an at-home Glycolic Acai facial treatment. I am intrigued by it. A box includes 4 weeks worth of product. You use it once a week for a month. Each applicator contains a gel and a neutralizer. You simply mix them together in the palm of your hand and feel the formula warm up. Simply apply it to your face with your fingers, leave it on for 10 minutes and wash it off. It’s $78 for the one month supply. I pay more than that for a one time Glycolic peel at the medi-spa!

Women’s Health mag. hair news…

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Who knew that looking like a hot mess could look so good? Well, believe it. Disheveled hair is so right now and Women’s Health magazine gives you three styles that you can try to rock an effortlessly sexy look.

Let’s try the MESSY BOB…

1) Let hair air-dry, then make a center part. Mist dry shampoo through your hair from roots to ends to create a piecey look.

Try: Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, $5, at drugstores.

2) Loosely gather your hair at the nape of your neck, then roll and tuck your ends underneath the rest of your hair to create a faux bob. Secure the rolled-under section with randomly spaced bobby pins or small claw clips

Try: Goody StayPut Slide-Proof Hold Mini Claw Clips, $4.49, at Walmart.

3) Pull a few random two-inch face-framing sections loose and use a one-inch-barrel curling iron to tousle the ends. Spritz with medium-hold hair spray.

Try: Mark Mega Volume Hair Spray, $6, meetmark.com.

If you want to see more of these styles and what stars are pulling them off, visit WomensHealthMag.com or pick up the October issue on newsstands now!

Casio’s Baby-G

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

This Casio Baby-G square vivid pink watch is a fun piece of wrist candy! It’s got a pink resin band with a Ana-Digi dial code and a pink face. It’s shock resistant, water resistant and tells world time in 29 time zones! It offers a stopwatch and auto calendar pre-programmed until the year 2099 plus more. For just $89 this is a true bargain for such a head turning quality item. What a fabulous holiday gift! baby-g.com

I HEART YOU by Crocs!

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

I HEART YOU by Crocs! The women’s YOU by Crocs line is unbelievable! I am especially fond of the Mimilita with a cork wedge platform that we Floridians can wear all year long! The cushioning in the foot bed gives me very happy feet and the leather is so supple! I have gotten through summer in their fabulous flip flop Tress and Pheebs, their classic biker boot, really rocks! youbycrocs.com

Molly M

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Molly M. is a licensed skin care specialist that has been working with patients and clients for over 10 years. Originally from Northern California, Molly moved to Los Angeles and started working in dermatology and has been in the skin care industry ever since. During Molly’s career, she has worked with celebrities as well as behind the scenes with primetime makeover shows, entertainment news shows, and at multiple red carpet events. “The most important thing you will wear all year is your skin! Make it Healthy Skin!” Molly M.

It seems like once you hit 30 your skin starts looking blah. You notice dullness to your skin, Brown spots where there were none, unevenness in your skin tone and even a loss of smooth texture in your skin.

The reason for this is sad, simple and true. As aging occurs our skin will slow down its production of oil & collagen, and slow down the process of cell turnover. These changes keep the proteins from doing their jobs properly and the results are wrinkles and loss of elasticity as well as uneven skin tone.

How do you reverse this process, or just slow it down?
That’s easy. But are you up for the small yet age defying commitment? The basics to healthy skin aren’t difficult at all. And the commitment is even easier. Lifestyle choices can make all the difference and delay the natural ageing process, as well as prevent future skin problems, and all you have to do is simply follow these simple steps.

Protect your skin…

SPF 30 or more everyday
The sun’s rays are at its strongest around 2pm, although avoiding the sun between 10-4 is ideal.
Sun Protective clothing is a great way to block ultra violet rays and stay cool (try Solartex sun gear)

Manage your Stress…

Make time to do the things you like to do. It’s you life don’t let stress control it
Stress can cause acne breakouts
Stress can cause you to frown which cause wrinkles.
Stay away from cigarette smoke…

Smoking depletes your skin of oxygen which decreases blood flow causing skin to look older.
Smoking causes a slightly pigmented grey appearance of the skin

Eat your fruits and veggies…

Foods high in antioxidants promote younger healthier looking skin
Fruits, vegetable, nuts, seeds, beans and teas are all high in antioxidants

Treat…

All it takes is 1-2 relaxing hours a month
Consult your skin care specialist/esthetician for a treatment that will give you the results you so deserve!
Contrary to what people may say, facials are not a luxury. Professional facials can help skin problems, whether on the face, back or other parts of the body. Getting a facial treatment once or twice a month will do what your skin cannot do on its own; help encourage cell turnover and rejuvenation.

Facials performed by licensed skincare professionals should be as follows:

A proper Cleansing: to remove makeup and dirt (after this process your skin specialist can recommend the treatment that is best for you i.e.: peels, microdermabrasion etc.}
Steaming of the skin: to open up the pores to prepare the skin for the exfoliating/hydrating process
Exfoliation: a light glycolic, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acid to rid skin of dead skin cells
Proper extractions: to remove build-up in pores, as well as remove blackheads, whiteheads, and milea.
Masking: a customized mask to treat the problem or concerns
Moisturize: the perfect moisturizer and/or sunscreen that works with your skin type and hydration needs
Home regimen: you should always leave with a skin care regimen that will help you maintain your treatment results until your next appointment. Included should be any recommendations for your next treatment as well as anything else that can better your overall results, such as lasers, fillers, treatments etc.

Do you have questions about skin care treatments or want to schedule an appointment? Email Molly at SkinByMollym@aol.com & Follow her on Twitter.com/SkinByMollyM

Essentious hair care products…

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

The Essentious product line is organic, natural and dye-free — everything a girl with ‘challenged’ hair is looking for!

Essentious offers you four products in order to achieve that ‘camera-ready’ hair!

1. Gently moisturize your hair with ‘Exonerate’ – a shampoo with a fresh, clean, gentle lather which rinses clean without stripping or drying the hair.

2. For those girls with very dry or damaged hair — ‘Hydrate’ is the product for you! A conditioning, moisture treatment, Hydrate leaves the hair soft and smooth without weighing it down and perfumes your hair with a sweet, butterscotch scent.

3. ‘Rejuvenate,’ is a strengthening protein treatment with a delightful melon scent. It really helps mend slplit ends.

4. Everyone gets a case of the ‘frizzies’ now and then, but with a daily use of ‘Shine,‘ your hair is smooth, non-greasy and non-frizzy! ‘Shine’ also has a great butterscotch scent.

Thumbs up on the Essentious product line!