Miracle work of Retin-A for Wrinkles and Acne

Not only does Retin-A drastically reduce and prevent wrinkles but it fades brown spots, reduces pore size and renews skin cells. It doesn’t just claim to make your skin look smoother and younger. It actually does it by increasing collagen, cell turn-over and exfoliation.

I’ve had people ask me what my secret is and I tell them that I’ve been using Retin-A for over 10 years now. I had acne into my late 20’s and 30’s. Nothing helped like Retin-A not even birth control pills. After experiencing the other positive effects, I wouldn’t dare stop using it. Ask any dermatologist and they will tell you that nothing works like Retin-A.

The best and most concentrated form of Retin-A is acquired by prescription only. There are much smaller concentrations and derivatives put in over the counter creams but it’s just doesn’t provide the same effect. I find that my gynecologist or dermatologist is open to prescribing Retin-A especially if you have bouts of adult acne. The catch is, insurance plans won’t pay for it if you’re over 40. They don’t believe people can have acne over 40. It’s really not that expensive to pay for it yourself. A 6 months supply for the generic version costs about $40. Or, if you’re visiting Mexico any time soon I think you can get it without a prescription there.

Don’t be shy about asking your doctor to prescribe this, tell them all your skin concerns. Be very careful in the sun though. Using Retin-A is like putting a magnifying glass on your skin so wear 50 SPF and a hat. You will experience light skin shedding. Just make sure to slough it off in the shower and you’ll begin to have absolutely healthy glowing skin in just a couple weeks.

The Truth about Resveratrol

Every since Oprah and Dr. Oz discussed the benefits of Resveratrol in red wine, I've seen a plethora of ads on the internet each one stating "only our formulation," is effective. Obviously, they can't all be right and the question is, do these supplements really work? After looking at countless ads and researching clinical trials on this powerful antioxidant said to protect against diabetes, heart disease and cancers, I've come to a few conclusions.

First, I do believe Resveratrol and not just alcohol, as previously argued by medical professionals has the ability to reverse the clock. A CBS 60 minutes video (link below) which aired May 10, 2009 convinced me of that. It's a must watch. Second, there is no guarantee that the current vitamin form will work in humans as it does in test animals. However, a large pharmaceutical company is currently putting big bucks into a research trial. And third, you have to down at least 200 bottles of red wine a day to gain benefits for general health and up to 1000 to fight cancer as tested in clinical trials. But manufacturers have been able to pack dose equivalents into vitamin form.

If you want to take Resveratrol supplements, it's important that the brand you choose contains enough milligrams to be effective. Anything lower than 150mg when taking this for general health is not that potent. It may take years before tests are conclusive so, if you want to get a jump start there is no down-side to adding Resveratrol to your health regimen. I found Resveratrol Select, to have the high levels needed for efficacy. If you can get past the over-the-top advertising this might be a good brand choice. Their site also provides links to clinical trials.

Watch 60 Minutes Online

Get Longer, Stronger Eyelashes

Thick, dark eyelashes are thought to project beauty, youth and sex appeal. It’s obvious that women find this a basic in their beauty routine with the millions of tubes of mascara sold each year. Wouldn’t it be great to get thicker, longer eyelashes without having to cover them in layers of mascara? The newest craze on the market is products that claim to grow long-strong, thick lashes in about 4-6 weeks. Here’s a guide to the current products.
The entire range of lash promoting products can be separated into two categories. Those that require a prescription and those that don’t. The only product in the prescription category is Latisse, made by Allergan. The active ingredient in Latisse is called Bimatoprost. It's part of a class of drugs called prostaglandins which are contained in glaucoma drugs. Not all physicians are willing to prescribe this for eyelash or eyebrow growth and there are some risks. Of most concern is the possibility of darkening eye color and eyelid where it is applied like eye liner. However, Allergan’s package insert states that the eye color change has only been seen in patients treated for glaucoma which require a much higher percentages of Bimatropost. Other side effects include redness, mild stinging and itching when new hair grows. The cost for 100% increase in thickness and 25% longer-darker eyelashes is a visit to a willing doctor and $120 for a 30 day supply.
If you’re looking for something that does not require a doctors visit and is drug free, there are several options. These products state a 20-35% overall improvement in thickness, length and darkening. They can not claim to grow lashes since Allergan is the only company owning the rights to say that and are approved by the FDA. The cost ranges from about $60 a month to $120 a month. There’s no standard size so make sure to compare the amount of fluid and not just the price of the tube. I would also look for independent clinical trials on the claims. So what’s the ingredient that makes lashes grow if there’s no drug? Each product varies widely but here’s a sample of some ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, biotin, hydrolized glucosaminoglycans and vitamins. Some of the brands I’m familiar with are: NeuLash, MariniLash, Revitalash and LiLash. NeuLash, which is sold in a .2 oz container lasting 4+ months, sent me a free trial tube which I’ve been using for 3 weeks. It’s too early to tell if it’s working but I’ll let you know what happens in another 3-4 weeks.
If you’ve had experience with a lash promoting product please let me know. I’d like to include your comments in a follow up article. Personally, I’d love to not worry about mascara, well maybe I’d still put a coat on for special occasions.

Increase Collagen to Reduce Wrinkles

When it takes several hours instead of 20 minutes to get that line out of your face from sleeping on your side, you know your youthful collagen is being depleted. Collagen levels deplete at a rate of 1.5% every year after the age of 25. It's estimated by 40 years of age, your body stops manufacturing it altogether. Collagen can be injected into wrinkles and facial folds, to firm and plump the skin. But if you want Angelina Jolie lips or Eva Longoria’s skin you’ll have to part with $450-600. If you don't have the extra cash or can't stand injections there are non-invasive ways to increase collagen for the face and body.

From the inside out there are vitamins, certain foods and hormones that help produce collagen. From the outside in, there are creams and potions you can apply directly to the skin but I’ll devote an entire article to that in another post. Subscribe to posts with your email and be alerted when that information arrives.

Vitamins - Vitamin C's prime function is to make collagen. Some people can’t tolerate straight C because of the acidity. Luckily there’s C Ester which provides the same benefits as regular C. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a noteworthy ingredient that boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin C nutrients already in your body. I have found a couple creams containing C and Alpha Lipoic Acid and I’ll post those in the follow up.

The recommended dose for adults varies widely from 120 to 2000 mg. I take 1000 and have no side effects. It is not recommended to go past 2000 mg as you may experience nausea, heartburn, intestinal cramps or diarrhea.

Food - While increasing collagen tissue, you should remember that overall protein intake - both quality and quantity - is important. You may need to go beyond the RDA protein level of 46 grams (for adult women) and 56 grams (for adult men) to achieve this goal. Samples of quality protein are: egg whites, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy and nuts. You can go to “Worlds healthiest foods” to get a complete list. http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php

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Hormones - Estrogen increases collagen and skin moisture and promotes wound healing. When skin is estrogen-deprived it thins, loses collagen, and slows down its cell renewal. By the time a woman becomes perimenopausal (35-45) estrogen levels start to take a nose dive. Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy or seek out over the counter estrogen. Dosing is extremely variable depending on the individual. BodyLogic MD http://www.bodylogicmd.com/ can point you to a doctor in your state who specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Not all physicians practice this.

Of course, I need to mention that getting enough sleep and 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week supports the body’s ability to make collagen. So bust a move.

NeoCell Super Collagen + C Type I and III - 350 Tablets
Omnilux New U - LED Light technology to stimulate collagen & improve skin tone, clarity
MyChelle The Perfect C Serum, 15 ml

Get rid of under eye bags and dark circles

Get Rid of Puffy Under-eyes

On a recent episode of “The Doctors,” they gave advice for reducing puffy under-eyes by applying frozen green-tea bags. I wanted to find more information on an ingredient in green tea they mentioned called ECGC.

So, I googled it and found pages and pages of more questions on exactly how to use this method. And some people were pretty upset about the lack of detailed information. I gathered the top questions and have answered them through extensive research. I also put this method through the test myself. Here’s what I found works best.

The tea bags need to be boiled only for a minute to activate the anti-inflammatory properties of ECGC, which by the way is an antioxidant with anti-skin cancer properties. Also, caffeine in tea is an anti-inflammatory. I find that half a cup of water works for 2 bags. But don’t steep them because you don’t want all the antioxidant to end up in the water. Immediately freeze them.

Roll each bag in a small piece of t-shirt material or paper towel so the frozen bag does not burn the delicate under-eye skin. Lay down for about 15-20 minutes with you back propped up or else more fluid can collect under your eyes. As the tea bag melts it will release the ECGC onto your skin and most of the brown tea color will be absorbed in the cloth it’s wrapped in.

As far as dark circles, those are usually caused by leaky capillaries that in essence are like bruises. Sorry, but this method does not get rid of the blue baggage but you might notice a slight reduction. I’m doing some research on a couple of promising products so if you subscribe to post on the left hand side and become a follower you’ll be alerted to future blog posts.

Lastly, rub some almond oil which contains vitamin E under your eyes to re-moisturize and use a thin concealer with light reflecting properties. Heavy concealers tend to cake up. I hope you have enough detail. See how it's actually done in this video version.

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener