Your kitchen is a veritable treasure trove of health and beauty staples. Have some plain yogurt with a “sell date” that was two weeks ago? Don’t throw it out! It’s the perfect treatment for a common skin condition. Is there an extra sprig or two of parsley leftover from your stew recipe? Chew on a few leaves to handle a social faux pas. These items are probably in your home already … so why not use them for better health and beauty without spending any extra money? (more…)
Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category
The Only Three Must-Haves for Perfect Summer Legs
Monday, June 27th, 2011
Having legs that are summer-ready are a lot easier than you think. All you need are these three things:
Sugar: Exfoliate your legs by putting a little bit of plain white sugar in a washcloth and gently scrub. This will remove the dead skin cells and get your legs ready for the next step.
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Simple Summer Skin Care That Really Works
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
I started paying attention to my skin when I hit 50. Before that I would slap on whatever was around, used sunscreen only when I was at the beach, and figured “Oh well . . . I’ve already damaged it by spending countless hours in the sun, slathered with baby oil mixed with iodine, speeding up the damage by using a reflector, listening to Creedence Clearwater Revivial.”
Hmmmm. Smart. (more…)
SKIN CARE MADE EASY (AND CHEAP!)
Friday, August 13th, 2010I started paying attention to my skin when I hit 50. Before that I would slap on whatever was around, used sunscreen only when I was at the beach, and figured “oh well . . . I’ve already damaged it by spending countless hours in the sun, slathered with baby oil mixed with iodine, speeding up the damage by using a reflector.”
Hmmmm. Smart.
It was when I got my first 10x mirror, which showed every wrinkle and dark spot on my face, did I finally make an appointment with Dr. Doris Day (Dr. Day’s contact info is below.) Dr. Day has been on every major TV show, in all the magazines, and is in high demand for her expertise on everything having to do with skin, from acne to skin cancer to the latest cosmetic procedures.
Dr. Day eventually became one of my key experts in THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AFTER 50, because her advice was so solid, basic, doable, sustainable . . . and inexpensive. All good. Oh . . . and it works!
I visited Dr. Day this week for a “check-in” and to inquiry if there was anything new and better on the market. The answer? Nope . . . the basics are still the best.
Dr. Day’s recommendations are:
- Makeup Remover: It’s recommended in my book, and she still says its the best — ALBOLENE cream, which can be bought in any drug or mass merchandise store
- Sunscreen: No need to go crazy with 100 SPF . . . that’s a marketing ploy. But you should use at least 30 SPF, and preferably 50. Her favorites are NEUTRAGENA and COLORSCIENCE, which is a terrific product in the form of a powder. I love it. It comes in clear, or with a little hint of color, and best for the face. But, the best sunscreen, Dr. Day says, is the one you use.
- Moisturizer: You really shouldn’t spend alot of money on skin care, and that’s true for moisturizer as well. NEUTROGENA and AVEENO make great moisturizers, including those with sunscreen (I use Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer with 30 SPF).
- Daytime Treatment: Two years ago, Dr. Day recommended a product that it helps to combat the signs of aging, evens skin tone, and builds collagen. It’s probably the most effective antioxidant on the market — Revale’ Coffeeberry. I apply it every morning after I exfoliate, and have found it to be incredibly effective.
- Nighttime Treatment: Dr. Day believes in the power of retinol, and highly recommends RETIN-A (or some version of it), which is prescription-only. There are excellent over-the-counter retinol products, but prescription-strength is superior and preferred. This should be applied at night, so it can work its magic while you sleep.
- Exfoliate: To help all these products work even better, you need to exfoliate the top layer of your skin every day. You can use a washcloth with a little bit of white sugar (that’s what I do), or an over-the-counter facial cleanser that specifically exfoliates.
That’s pretty much it: exfoliate, treat, moisturize and protect. Your skin will glow.
Best of everything,
Barbara
Dr. Doris Day:
Cosmetic, Laser and Surgical Dermatology
135 East 71st Street, Suite 1A
New York, NY 10021
url: www.MyClearSkin.com
212.772.0740
OLIVE OIL — ELIXIR OF THE GODDESSES
Friday, July 16th, 2010
Funny thing about being over 50 . . . things change . . . surprisingly fast.
For example, everything’s just a tad bit . . . drier. My hair, skin, eyes . . .
When researching the book, I had the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the best skin care experts in the country, including Dr. Patricia Wexler and Dr. Doris Day. Both said — quite simply– that the keys to great skin are: exfoliate, moisturize, and protect.
There are gazillions of products on the market that could handle these tasks, in different price ranges. Not one who likes to spend money unnecessarily . . . I managed to ply a few very inexpensive beauty secrets out of both of these brilliant doctors, many of which are mentioned in the chapter on skin care. One of the best tips came from Carmindy, my makeup expert, who convinced me that the most effective way to exfoliate skin (face and body) is with . . . white sugar. Don’t put it IN your body, she said. Put it ON your body! And, guess what? It works. Just be extra gentle when using it on your face.
My favorite “beauty secret“ (which sure wasn’t a secret to the ancient Greeks, or my grandmother) is . . . using olive oil on just about every part of your body.
Olive oil has been used for thousands of years for so many different things — health, beauty, cooking and more. The ancient Greeks knew of it’s power to heal wounds . . . and eventually they started using it to light oil lamps, cooking . . . and for beauty.
These last two years, I did alot of experimenting with countless products, until I eventually had to narrow down my list of “must haves/must use.” Probably on the top is olive oil. Here are a few things you can (and should) do with olive oil . . .
- after exfoliating your body with white sugar on a wash cloth (in the shower) . . . take a little olive oil (infused with a few drops of lavender, if you wish) and gently massage it all over your body. Result? Skin like velvet.
- when your hair is completely dry (without the use of a blow-dryer!!), add a few drops of olive oil in your hands, rub them together, flip your head over, bending down . . . and scrunch a little olive oil in your hair. Result? Shiny (not greasy, unless you accidentally put too much on!!) and healthy looking hair.
- rub a little extra olive oil on your elbows and heels (all over your feet actually) every night. Result? Softer, smoother elbows and feet.
- if your facial skin is feeling especially dry, take one drop of olive oil in your hands, and very gently tap it all over your face, making sure it doesn’t look slick. Take a tissue and blot your skin just a little. Result? Skin that’s soft and moist, but not greasy.
Keep a little spray bottle in your bathroom, or one of those plastic sqeezy things that diner ketchup comes in. You’ll be ready to use the “elixir of the goddesses“ whenever you feel the need . . . which, since I turned 50, seems to be just about every day.
Save some for your salads! : )
Best of everything,
Barbara
ROAD MAPS THAT LEAD TO NOWHERE
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Summer. Time to show off the gams, especially now that they’re toned from all the running (with walk breaks) that you’ve been doing!
But, for the last few years, I’ve seen a noticeable change in the look of my legs–I have these little squiggly things happening all over, especially around my thighs. My grandmother had them, and so does my mother. Age, genetics, hormones, extra weight, menopause . . . these are the main culprits behind those annoying little “spider veins” that mysteriously appear and spread all around your legs . . . like a road map that leads to nowhere.
And, the really frustrating thing is that even if you spend the time and money to zap them away (see suggestions below) . . . new ones inevitably pop up, especially if you — like me — are genetically inclined.
What to do? I put this question to Dr. Patricia Wexler, a key expert I interviewed for my chapter on skin care in The Best of Everything After 50. Here’s what she recommends:
Get rid of them . . . but keep in mind that new ones will appear eventually, so you may need to redo the treatment every 2 – 3 years.
- Sclerotherapy: This is the gold standard for treating spider veins, because it works. The veins are injected with a saline solution that causes them to collapse and disappear. Voila’! Magically gone. Cost can range from $250 – $600 per treatment.
- Laser Treatment: This is a newer approach to treating spider veins, and doctors often use this in combination with sclerotherapy. The cost is about the same.
Prevent them . . . not always easy, but there are definitely things you can do to help:
- Raise your legs: This is especially useful for varicose veins, but I’ve found that fewer spider veins have been appearing since I started to do this. Lie on a yoga mat or rug with your tush against the wall, and put your legs straight up, leaning on the wall for support. It feels good for alot of reasons, and lets all the blood flow back down from your feet and legs. It really helps with swelling that can sometimes occur in the feet and ankles at the end of a long day. Put some olive oil in your hair as a pre-wash conditioner, some tea bags on your eyes and . . . relax. All good.
- Lose weight: The more extra weight you have on your legs . . . the more your veins will expand and show.
- Exercise your body: Moving will reduce the pressure on your veins and keep your blood flowing.
Cover them up . . . especially if you don’t want to endure the prick of the sclerotherapy needles, or spend the money:
- Use a self-tanner (not a real tan!!): Use a self-tanner all year long to help camouflage the veins. In the cooler months, use a moisturizer that gradually tans (Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer is a good choice) and in summer, try a true self-tanning or instant bronzing product (L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer Self-Tanning Lotion is great).
- Try leg makeup: Leg makeup is especially useful if you’re going out, and don’t want to wear stockings. Great choices include Sally Hansen Airbrush Leg Makeup (my favorite) or Scott Barnes Body Bling (available at Victoria’s Secret).
Okay . . . get that box out of the closet with your summer skirts and shorts . . . you’re ready now.
Best of everything,
Barbara