Vanising Varicose Veins

By Dr. Katie Rodan

As temperatures rise so do our hemlines, so it’s no surprise that each spring I suddenly see a lot of patients eager to make their varicose veins vanish instantly. If you too find yourself wishing away those pesky veins, you are not alone … an estimated 80 percent of women have them.

Unfortunately, treatment options are few and far between (and not to mention costly). In my office I treat spider veins with special injections designed to make veins collapse and disappear. These can be quite effective over time, but it takes multiple visits to achieve results.

While there’s no current at-home therapy available, you can camouflage the appearance of your varicose veins with a sunless tanner. Sunless tanners can do wonders for hiding veins, bruises and even cellulite, and nothing says “hello spring” like a healthy, faux glow.
Achieving that perfectly bronzed, streak-free look isn’t as easy as it sounds. But after a few years of trial and error, here are my tricks of the trade:

1. Start with a foaming formula that builds color gradually to create a more even, natural-looking glow.
2. Before applying the product, exfoliate skin to remove dead skin cells. If you shave your legs, do so before applying your sunless tanner; shaving afterwards will reduce the life of your glow.
3. Apply lotion to your knees, elbows, toes, toenails, heels and ankles to prevent your sunless tan from concentrating in those areas where skin is thickest. To avoid orange palms, wear protective gloves or wash hands with soap and water immediately after applying.
4. If you do make a mistake, use acetone or nail polish remover to remove any unintended color. Let skin dry at least 15 minutes before getting dressed and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing for the next three to four hours to allow color to develop evenly.

Put these tips to work for you and you’ll be ready for the fashions of summer in no time.

Order Rodan+Fields Foaming Sunless Tan to keep your legs (and all your body parts) glowing year round. 

Better Skin CAN Start Today

While “slow and steady wins the race” when it comes to improving the look and feel of your skin, it is possible to get better skin tomorrow. Whether you have months, days or hours, here’s how to make the most of the time you have:

2-4 months: Develop or tweak your daily skincare regimen to target your unique skin concerns. Whether you’re concerned about wrinkles, dullness, brown spots, sensitivity or blemishes, intelligent daily skincare adds up over time to make a major impact on the appearance of your skin. Complement your daily routine with once-weekly macro-exfoliation to sweep away dead skin cells and reveal a younger-looking, more radiant complexion.

24 days: If you haven’t already, incorporate macro-exfoliation for five minutes once a week to sweep away dead skin cells and allow a smoother complexion to shine through. Unlike an in-office microdermabrasion treatment, macro-exfoliation can be done at home and requires no downtime to heal. Even one use will go a long way to improving the look of your skin.

24 hours: Procrastinators rejoice –you can improve the look of your skin in one day. Use a mineral peptide product to perfect your complexion and diffuse any facial redness, and an eye cream with optical filters to brighten the eye area. Boost your complexion from the neck down by applying sunless tanner at least four hours before your event. Even a subtle faux glow is a known red-carpet secret for masking imperfections (redness, bruising, varicose veins), disguising cellulite and helping you look slimmer and more toned. These are quick, but effective, fixes. Post-event, start on a daily skincare routine so that you’re not scrambling before your next event.

Start with a full regimen or start small.  We have something for every skin concern and every skin type.  Get more info and order at www.agelessrose.com

Source:  Rodan+Fields Derm RF

The Base Tan is Bad, Bad, Bad

By now, you know that sunburns are bad. But so is getting a so-called “base tan.” The “base tan” is a term popularized by tanning salons and refers to the practice of slowly and gradually developing a sun tan through sun exposure or a tanning bed, often before a tropical vacation or other sun-soaked event. The thinking is that somehow, this can prevent sunburn or sun damage.

Unfortunately, this just isn’t true. The UV rays that tan your skin in a tanning bed are identical to the UV rays that come from the sun. And while years of advertising have taught us to love the look of a tan, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Sun exposure damages skin, and the pigment you see as a tan is the body’s reaction to this injury. And there’s nothing “healthy” or pretty about damaged skin.

Going out into the sun with a “base tan” will not prevent sunburn nor minimize damage. And although that bronze look might be nice, it can also disguise the signs that skin is burning. If you want to sport a healthy-looking glow for your next vacation, trade the tanning salon for a sunless tanner, and use a broad spectrum sunscreen when you go out in the sun.

You can find Rodan+Fields lotion and powder based sunscreen on my site – just click on the links below: 

Broad Spectrum Lotion – Use ESSENTIALS Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
Powder Based Sun Protection –ENHANCEMENTS Mineral Peptides Broad Spectrum 20
Need an Anti-Age Boost – Use REDEFINE Triple Defense Treatment SPF 30
Sensitive Skin – Use SOOTHE Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Sun Damaged Skin – Use REVERSE Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

Thanks to Rodan+Fields DermRF for this great article!  Check out the Ageless Rose website for deals, before and after pics, and more great products.

Why Microdermabrasion is Your Solution

Microdermabrasion uses tiny exfoliating crystals that are sprayed on the skin. It works best on problems such as dull skin, brown spots, and age spots.   Because it is non-invasive and does not use aggressive chemicals like peels, microdermabrasion is best used for surface skin rejuvenation.   

The technique also helps to thicken your collagen, which results in a younger looking complexion. Collagen is a protein in your skin that's abundant when you're a child and makes skin appear taut and smooth. Collagen production declines as we age, resulting in looser, uneven skin.

Are you Reunion Ready?

Quick: Your 20-year high school reunion is in a week. Which compliment are you hoping to receive?
A. You have such a nice car!
B. I wish my job was as neat as yours.
C. Wow. You look amazing!

Did you pick “C”? If so, you’re not alone. For most of us, looking great trumps cars and jobs, but it’s also a lot harder to embellish. July hosts almost a quarter of all high school reunions, yet attendance usually tops out at about 30 percent of the graduating class. One reason? Although reconnecting is exciting, the “long time/no see” microscope can be downright intimidating. (And, let’s face it: Carefully cultivating your Facebook appearance is a lot less scary than reconnecting in real life.)

The good news? You have more control over how you look than you think. Sure, nature plays a part in how you age—but only 20 percent. Our environment and our daily skincare and lifestyle habits account for 80 percent of visible aging changes. So whether you’re looking to refresh your complexion, minimize the appearance of aging, reverse brown spots, fade blemishes or calm red skin, it is possible to look better today than you did yesterday. 

Here is what you can use to take care of your skin concern before the big day:

Fine lines and wrinkles - Redefine Regimen - Can't do the whole regimen? Start with the Night Renewing Serum.
Dullness, Acne Scars and Fine Lines - Redefine MACRO Exfoliator - 5 minutes, once a week and your skin will look better than it has in a long, long time.
Blemishes and Acne - Use the Unblemish Regimen. Want to start small?  Get the Unblemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash. You can also use it in the shower to clear up back acne.
Brown Spots and Sun Damage - Use the Reverse Regimen.  It fades brown spots and evens out your skin tone. 
Sensitive Skin - Use the Soothe Regimen to get rid of blotches and skin irritation.  It works fast.

Source: Rodan+Fields DermRF