Posts Tagged ‘Dr. Doris Day’

SKIN CARE MADE EASY (AND CHEAP!)

Friday, August 13th, 2010

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.”

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

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Posted in Skin Care | 5 Comments »

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

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Posted in Skin Care, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »