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

Classy Wedding Favors

Getting married or planning an event?  Its lots of work and lots of fun! But, its often hard to be original - especially in your party favors.  They should be a nice thank you to your guests and reflection of you and your style.  One new idea is personalized Mini Facial Favor Bags. They look elegant, are totally original, and give your guests a relaxing treat after the big day.  Even better, Mini Facial Wedding Favors highlight your style and beauty.  Each favor bag is $6 and includes a personalized card, macrodermabrasion paste, lip renewing serum, and facial renewing serum. Your guests will appreciate the gesture and their skin will look and feel great!  Message me for orders and check out the Ageless Rose facebook page. 

Putting Your Best Face Forward

The latest Skinpact by Dr. Kathy Fields has some great advice on looking your best:

Social media is making it easier to be found and harder to hide from connections and social commitments. When connecting with Facebook online brings you “face to face” with old friends offline, don’t shy away from being seen. It can be intimidating to reunite with someone you haven’t seen in a few years, but instead of stressing, remember that you have control over your skin’s future.

First, give your skin a healthy head start by selecting a regimen designed to target your top skin concerns such as aging or acne, and then use it daily and as directed. It’s incredible what a noticeable difference over-the-counter daily skincare can make in your skin’s appearance.

Starting Small with Skincare

The best anti-aging skincare products can be expensive.  Many brands charge over $100 for one serum bottle alone.  It better be magic in a bottle if you ask me!  At Rodan+Fields Dermatologists, you can get the REDEFINE Age Assault Regimen for $334.  It has everything you need, is a 60-day supply, and will give you visible results. But, not everyone wants to put that much money into a new skincare system.  I am one of them. 

Aging Eyes

This week we are targeting the eyes and anti-aging solutions.  Thanks to Rodan+Fields for this recent post:

Puffiness. Dark Circles. Expression lines. The eye area can tell all, revealing our daily, even hourly, ups and downs. And it’s no wonder—as the body’s thinnest and most delicate skin, the fragile eye area is continually bombarded with potential agers. Everything from sleep deprivation, dietary changes, pollution and the sun’s rays to aggressive pulling and tugging (as we put in contact lenses and take off makeup) and even our everyday movements of smiling, frowning or just blinking, take a toll.

What do you do to keep your eyes looking youthful?

Retinoids and Peptides – Your Anti-Aging Arsenal

One of the major causes of aging is sun damage.  It’s just not fair, but it’s true.  Retinoids and Peptides should be in your anti-aging skincare arsenal.  This is because they are both effective in treating sun damaged skin AND reducing fine lines and wrinkles.  While Retin-A (retinoid) is the only FDA-approved topical treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, both peptides, Retin-A, and Alpha-hydroxys are shown in many studies to provide a boost to your skin. 

Retin-A (prescription form) and Retinol (over the counter cousin) are about as close to a silver bullet as you can get for fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage.  Retinoids normalize cell function, shrink pores, improve cell turnover, and affect the retention and production of collagen. These attributes combined provide you with a powerful tool for improving skin texture, fading sun spots and freckles, and reducing fine lines, acne scars and wrinkles. 

Alpha-Hydroxys and Anti-Aging Skincare

While you can’t control all the elements and how they impact your skin, there are things you can do to postpone the effects of aging and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.  If you simply moisturize and use sun protection, some wrinkles will naturally soften or disappear.  The next step is to look to cosmetics and cosmetic procedures to reduce wrinkles.  At the top of the ingredient list are products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), Retinoids (including Retin A), and Peptides.  This post focuses on Alpha-hydroxy acids. 

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) – AHAs are typically derived from food products including glycolic acid (from sugar cane), lactic acid (from sour milk), malic acid (from apples), citric acid (from citrus fruits) and tartaric acid (from grape wine).  Products made from glycolic acid may be more effective as this AHA does a better job of penetrating the skin. 

Aging Benefits of Antihistamines

From the Rodan+Fields DermRF:

Along with April showers and May flowers come allergies, which has most of us battling runny noses and itchy eyes. But allergies don’t just affect the way you feel, they can also affect the way you look. And that’s because over time, constantly rubbing your nose and eyes will accelerate the appearance of wrinkles. The most iconic? The “allergic salute,” otherwise known as the wrinkle that appears across the bridge of the nose due to years of rubbing.

However, by taking antihistamines to reduce the itchy symptoms that trigger all that scratching, you are actually doing your skin a favor and preventing those wrinkles from ever forming. So take a hands off approach to your skin and start thinking of your antihistamine as not only an anti-allergy solution, but an anti-aging one as well!

To fight existing fine lines and wrinkles order Redefine products today from Rodan+Fields or visit our website for more information on products and results.

The Real Deal on Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a fact of life, a sign of maturity (for most of us) and add beautiful character to your face.  Getting them too early or getting too many, however, is something many of us try to avoid.  In order to reduce and reverse the effects of aging, you first need to understand why you get wrinkles and fine lines in the first place. 

Aging and Wrinkles
Although genetics plays a major part in how your face ages and when, environmental factor such as sun exposure, pollution and smoking are major contributors to wrinkles.  The outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis, is the “protector” of the inner layers of your skin.  However some environmental elements, like sun exposure, reach through the epidermis to the inner layers of your skin. The Dermis, the second layer of your skin, is the foundation for your face.  It plays an important role in connectivity, firmness, and elasticity. Over time this layer thins, produces less collagen, and loses its ability to “spring back”, causing the face to wrinkle and sag. As your skin ages, it doesn’t do as good a job at retaining moisture which gives it a double whammy to the wrinkle process. 

The Solution for Blemishes and Acne Scars

Breakouts? Unpredictable? Unreasonable? Unfair? Take control with our UNBLEMISH Regimen. Clinically proven to combat the entire acne cycle, this sophisticated regimen helps unclog pores, clears breakouts and calms your complexion to keep pimples, blackheads and post-acne marks from making an unwelcome appearance on your face—and in your life.

Since many acne sufferers have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), the remnant red/brown marks following  a healed blemish, we offer UNBLEMISH Spot Fading Toner. However, if you are one  of the lucky few who does not experience PIH, use our UNBLEMISH Clarifying Toner as an alternative.  Order you R+F Unblemish Regimen today or try our Solutions Tool to find the best products for your skincare concerns.

Summertime - Get Control of Oily Skin

Here is a recent post from the Rodan+Fields DermRF page that you may find helpful -especially if you are looking for ways to get control of oily skin in the summer time: 

As we spring into warmer weather, you might notice that your skin is producing more oil than normal. It’s not uncommon—hot weather triggers an increase in natural oil production. This change is welcome for some, but if you already struggle with oiliness or acne, it’s not exactly the glow you’re going for.

The good news is that you can impact your skin’s oil production with the right skincare. For acne-prone skin, switch from a heavy cream to a light lotion as the temperatures rise. If your skin is oily, switch to an oil-control lotion. And for best results, anticipate your skin’s needs and start the transition early, before your skin has a chance to respond. Now is the time to start preparing for the warm days of summer. - Rodan and Fields DermRF

For a light lotion that works well for any skin type, try Essentials Daily Body Moisturizer.
If you need an oil-control lotion in the summertime, I recommend our Unblemish Oil Control Lotion.
Feel free to browse our site for more information and Rodan+Fields Skincare Solutions.

Treat Mom to Beautiful Skin

This year treat yourself and your mom to a gift your skin looking and feeling younger.  Just about every woman over 40 worries about the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles and for those with sun damage, it’s also the time those age spots start to appear.  With a little help from our skincare regimens, you can redefine the look and feel of your skin.  Here are our top picks that beauty magazines are raving about. 

Redefine Hand Treatment Regimen ($67)- To defend against the telltale signs of skin aging, we created the REDEFINE Hand Treatment Regimen. It visibly brightens, diminishes visible redness and reduces the appearance of brown spots, wrinkles and thin, crepey skin. Regimen includes REDEFINE Hand Brightening Treatment and REDEFINE Age Shield Hand Balm. 50 mL/1.7 fl.oz and 30g/1.0 oz.

Redefine Age Assault ($334) - Combat the visible signs of aging with our new Age Assault collection, clinically proven to give Father Time a run for his money. Featuring our top selling REDEFINE products at an incredible savings, this comprehensive skincare arsenal can help stop the visible signs of aging in its tracks. Collection Includes:

• REDEFINE Regimen for the Appearance of Lines, Pores and Loss of Firmness (REDEFINE Daily Cleansing Mask 4.2 fl. oz., REDEFINE Pore Minimizing Toner 4.2 fl. oz., REDEFINE Triple Defense Treatment 1 fl. oz., REDEFINE Overnight Restorative Cream 1 fl. oz.)
• REDEFINE Multi-Function Eye Cream (.5 fl. oz.)
• REDEFINE Night Renewing Serum (60 capsules)
• REDEFINE Lip Renewing Serum (60 capsules)

Get a Great Sunless Tan

We all know too much sun is not good for us.  And, I know that sunless tanning can be a real pain, a real mess, and its real hard to get natural looking results.  This is especially true for fair skinned people (like me) where even the 'light' shade is about 4 shades darker than my natural skin color.  Don't worry and don't put yourself at risk getting ready for summer.  You can significantly improve your self- tanning experience and outcome with a few tips.

 

1.       Get some sun first whether it’s natural light or a short stint in a tanning bed. Some will be mad at me for recommending this but if it helps you start a nice color for the summer so that you’ll use more sun protection all year, then I’ve just lowered your overall exposure and your risk. 

2.       Exfoliate before doing any indoor tanning.

3.       Get a spray tan before you use self-tanner at home. I love the Mystic tan. If you are light skinned, stay with the light. 

4.       Touch up at home with a self-tanning lotion or foam daily.

5.       Moisturize on a daily basis.  This will help your skin to look vibrant and will help your tan last longer.

6.       REPEAT steps 2-5 every 10-14 days.

Enjoy your sun-kissed tan and your much improved skin health!!!

Check out my full article on Sunless Tanning and give our sunless tanning products a try.  

Great Skin - Choose Low Impact Exercise

Good news for all your exercise avoiders out there. You know that working out regularly is good for your body, good for your mind, and good for your skin. Keep up the good work!!!  A regular exercise routine will improve your stress level, your energy level, and your overall health.  But...if you are over 40, you might want to rethink that high impact aerobics routine.  The constant jarring of high impact cardio isn't the best choice for your face. As you age, the collagen production decreases and your skins texture and elasticity lessens as well. The jumping movements with high impact cardio can cause increased loosening and sagging of your face.  Instead, choose walking, the elliptical, and other low impact exercises such as Pilates, strength training, and yoga.  Your skin will thank you! 

Purchase the skincare regimen that is right for you today. For more great skin care tips, sign up for the Ageless Rose newsletter.

The Key to Beautiful Skin

An anti-aging skincare routine doesn't have to be super expensive or complicated.  The first and most important thing you can do is drink lots of water.  I know you hear this all the time, but it is so true!  Your body is an organ – the largest organ – and it is made up of 70 percent water.  Flaky, scaly skin an dry skin patches are unattractive, can hurt and irritate, and leave your skin prone to infection.  There are many skin problems that originate with dry skin so it is very important (1) to hydrate and (2) moisturize without suffocating your skin. 

The last point is very important because many moisturizing lotions actually clog pores and keep the skin from breathing. Your skin is a dynamic organ with anywhere between 2-4 million sweat glands. In an area the size of a quarter, you have around 600 pores. That puts the number of pores on your face alone in the 30,000 to 50,000 range. If you consider the impact of thick moisturizers, foundation, and other make-up, then it is easy to see why we have skin issues, and why they get more pronounced over time.

To give your skin the breathing room it needs, wash your face twice a day, keep the make up to a minimum if possible, and use a light moisturizer. Look for a moisturizer where the main ingredient is a natural oil or extract like sunflower seed or macadamia oils. Natural oils and extracts will lubricate your skin without clogging pores and it could make all the difference in the look, feel and health of your skin. Try our Redefine Hand Brightening Treatment and the Soothe Moisture Replenshing Cream. You'll notice the difference - satisfaction guarenteed.   See the full article on the key to beautiful skin.