Just a little reminder to wear your sunscreen DAILY. We have come so far from when this ad was created - Tanning leads to premature aging and collagen breakdown that is often difficult and costly to reverse (if it's even possible). If you are still laying out, you are killing yourself. Literally.

​As a skin care clinician I spend a lot of time with clients analyzing their individual issues, and creating an at home skin care program that complements the treatments we perform at the spa. Ideally, your home care regimen should be customized to your personal skin profile to help get the results you want and still be completed in a reasonable amount of time. 

​After selecting the products, and explaining  why the key ingredients work best, I started asking my clients if they know the technique to apply their products. I found that many of us just don't know. We do what we have always done, or what is fast and gets us on to the next task. Let's take a minute to establish the best way to get the most out of your home care regimen.

​​By using these techniques, I feel you can improve the quality of your skin while getting the most out of the products you buy. My mom was right when she said, "Treat your skin like your eyeball". It was one of those things that sounded funny at the time, but really makes a lot of sense. She also calls blue jeans "dungarees", but you can't win them all.

You know it's true. You can be sound asleep, and that cracked hoof slides through the sheets and touches your leg, waking you up like you've been scratched with a dragon's claw.

This Valentine's Day, give yourself a gift that you both with enjoy. S-Team has put together a his and hers home foot peel treatment for the first 50 customers, that will bring you closer together, and end your embarrassment when he wears flip flops around your friends.

We have assembled a limited amount of Baby Foot Exfoliant Foot Peels, in a his and hers combination that will make this Valentine's Day your best ever. No candy, no  flowers, none of that stuff.  Lavender scented for you and minty fresh for him -  it's a can't miss.

​At just $40, it's a perfect evening that works for both of you  - He gets fixed up, you get fixed up, and later that night, when he slides a little closer, it's going to be a lot better.  Ahhh Romance...

I like things to be easy when it comes to nutrition.  My gluten free She-Hulk shake is about as easy as it gets.  It's power packed with protein and iron and easily processed fat from avocado. If you are training hard, or just needing a meal replacement pick me up, it's the perfect fuel to power you through any challenge - and the best part is that everything you need is at your local Costco.

​1 & 1/2  Scoops  of ON Vanilla 100% Whey Protein      
1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
2 Cups Spinach
1/4 Sliced Fresh Avocado

​Put all the ingredients in the Magic Bullet.  It's just that simple. It works out best to put the almond milk in first.  The protein is less likely to stick to the bottom that way. If you want a smoother shake, just add a little water and give the Bullet another spin.

Calories = 287
Fat          = 10.5
Protein  = 40
Carbs     = 4.6

It's a delicious , protein rich shake that is a great addition to any diet.  The caloric count is perfect for me and keeps me going through a tough work out.  It's easy to make, feels great to drink, and once again, Costco has it all.

Summer is behind us, and the days are shorter, darker, and even here in California, a little colder. In conversations with my clients, I find that many of them feel that sunscreen is a fair weather friend. This is simply not true.

Just because the sun seems weaker, don't let that fool you. Even in the darkest of days, your skin is under attack through incidental damage.  These are the UV rays that come from ambient light sources, and even, brace yourself, a cell phone screen.  We all lift our phones to our faces to check our messages or make the now almost extinct phone call.  We are placing a device right next to our unprotected skin that is emitting the rays that we work to prevent all other times off the year.    These rays break down collagen, and can lead to age spots, freckles, and even hyperpigmentation.  Don't think of it as sunblock...Let's start calling it "light block".  

Something to also consider are the environmental factors that can affect your skin. Here in California, we have had a year of wildfire after wildfire. Even in areas not directly impacted by these factors, there is a cost for your skin.  Particulate matter is carried on the wind for miles and miles, and those micropollutants will find their way into your pores. The same goes for heavy pollution environments, like major cities. To be sure you are doing the most for your skin in these conditions, it's crucial that you use a product that has an anti-oxidant property to combat all the unseen particles that you come into contact with every day. 

To meet the need for year round protection with antioxidants, I fully recommend M.A.D. Hyper Sheer 50 daily moisturizer and body sunscreen.  It is Broad spectrum with SPF 50, and disappears on application leaving no residue or "white lines".  The antioxidant formula with vitamin C & E will help to keep airborne pollutants at bay, and with formulas for both face and body, you really can't go wrong.  Additionally, it smells clean and fresh, making it ideal for both men and women to use daily.  And by daily I mean even in the winter...

Tired of having to cover up dark skin patches of melasma or sun spots? A program of in-office peels and a customized home care program is the best approach to get you on the road to makeup free skin. Watch ABC News Chief meteorologist, Ginger Zee's story. The approach used to treat her pigmentation is almost identical to the way I treated my own melasma and my patients. Contact me if you are interested in having a treatment protocol created for your skin. To see her story Watch the Video  or Read Below
Video:  Ginger Zee's Melasma Journey

​ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee recently blogged about her pregnancy and giving birth to her first child for ABC News. Today, she is back to share some of her post-pregnancy adventures. Zee discusses her battle with melasma, a skin ailment characterized by brownish patches on the face and is especially common for women during pregnancy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

My son, Adrian, just turned 1. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me. That said, this kid changed my body, mind and skin forever.

I'm not talking about the still-pink scar that crosses my lower abdomen where I had a c-section. That and the deflated boobs are both parts of me that I have come to accept and love as a badge of honor for becoming a mother.

The day I looked in the mirror and saw a mask over my face, that was the day I said, enough is enough. My skin was brown in patches and bright white in others. It looked much different than it had before I had the baby. One day I saw that Dr. Whitney Bowe was on our show and got her contact from producers and made an appointment. In doing research about the skin disorder I thought I had, I found many links leading me to laser treatment. But that scared me.

Dr. Bowe took me in and was so gentle with her description. I have melasma. A discoloration of the skin thanks to a shift in hormones. Many times women get it during or after pregnancy, but any hormonal shift, including birth control pills, can bring it on.

Common Peel Questions
1. What are the benefits of a light chemical peel?
Regular treatments can help by minimizing fine lines, brown spots (melasma), sun damage, reduce acne scarring, speed up collagen production and increase cellular turnover.  A smoother radiant glow is just a few days away.

2. What kind of light chemical peels are available?
Light chemical peels treat discoloration from acne, light sun spots and melasma. Chemical peels exfoliate the top layer of skin, causing the natural cell-turnover process to speed up. Salicylic and glycolic acids are the two most commonly used ingredients in light peels. They refresh the skin by removing discolored skin cells. For acne-prone skin, chemical peels help minimize oil production, unplug pores and shrink blemishes. Clients experience mild burning and stinging. It is normal to be red and dry a few days after treatment.

3. How do light peels work?
​Chemical peels work by irritating the top layer of the skin by breaking up the oils that hold dead cells together. This unique process will reveal a softer, smoother and healthier layer of skin.

4. What can I expect after the  light peel?
Depending on which peel you receive, you could look night-on-the-town or photo-ready; or you may have a little pink with skin tightness. Optimal results will be achieved in the following 2-4 days.

5. What can I expect with medium depth peel?
Medium chemical peels treat acne scarring and hyperpig­mentation. which takes 10-15 minutes, will reduce medium-to-deep discolor­ation. It takes more than one treatment to achieve the desired results. Skin may shed significantly and  and may be a bit swollen for about one week. It results in noticeably smoother, fresher skin after just one treatment.

6. Are peels just for my face? 
No. There are peels for virtually every part of the body. Peels can be performed on the neck, chest, arms, back, hands and more.. Peel types vary based on the thickness of the skin and the desired result. I even offer amazing foot peels that will get your feet back to being baby soft. 

Sun spots on your skin, that is. As the weather heats up so do the melanocytes in your skin. They are responsible for creating the pigment, or color, in your skin.  But when they are stimulated by UV rays they can create skin damage. Though in many cases it can be reversed, it is a time consuming process that requires thoughtful and consistent treatment. And while everyone's skin differs in the way it reacts to the sun, one thing for sure is that the more sun and even heat exposure you get the worse they can become.  They have various incarnations, such as liver spots, lentigines, hyperpigmentation, melasma and mottling.  Many cultures view them as more aging than wrinkles..

So how do you avoid them? If you already have some how do prevent others and  lessen the ones you have? First lets define each type of hyperpigmentation marking, how they differ and treatment options.

The best way to prevent skin pigment issues is, of course, good sun protection - both sunscreen and covering up the skin with clothing and hats. If you have already developed some of the above issues  there are a variety of options for treatment. They will vary depending on your skin condition as well as the ethnicity of your skin. Treatments often includes chemical exfoliants / peels combined with melanin suppressant ingredients such as kojic acid, bearberry and licorice extract among others.  Topical and oral antioxidants and vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin C are often prescribed. There are also various corrective procedures such as photo laser/light treatments. Consult with a licensed esthetician to get the best personalized course of treatment and remember it takes time. Aggressively treating can lead to worsening of pigment issue.

Okay. It may not be sexy. And it’s not new. But If I can convince even one person to start using sun protection daily this post will be a success. I chose this image, a favorite of many plastic surgeons and dermatologists, because it illustrates the damage the sun  does. This gentleman is a truck driver who didn't wear any sun protection. Notice the left side of his face that is exposed to the sun. The number one most effective thing you can do to protect skin from the signs of aging is to use sunscreen. And if that is not enough to motivate you to get your block on, one in every five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life. 


​So how do you get started incorporating  more or any sun protection in your life?
I agree it has gotten a bit confusing . All the terms UVA, UVB, broad spectrum, physical block, chemical block and then there are all of the brands. So I have tried to keep it as simple as possible and provide all the needed information so you can make informed choices.

​How Much ?
A shot glass. Keep one in the bathroom, fill it with sunscreen and apply to face, neck, décolleté/chest, arms and hands. Anything that is exposed to the sun. And don't forget your ears and the top of your feet if needed.

When to apply ?
​Ideally apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you get dressed for the day. This will help you avoid getting it on your clothes and give it time to sink in to the skin. Especially helpful if you will be applying makeup or other products.


Touch up.
If you will be in the sun you need to reapply every two hours, after being in the water or sweating.  For regular daily use I typically reapply at lunch, anytime I am outside or in my car. Since there are concerns about inhaling nano-sized and micronized zinc and titanium in powdered sunscreens and makeups, I just put some matte sunscreen in my hands and pat it on my skin during the day.

Don't Forget!
Also don't count on the amount of sunscreen in products or makeup to be sufficient. Consider it a bonus and still apply a base of sunscreen.

​Make sure you refresh your sunscreen. I have been told that all sunscreen should have expiration dates but I only found one in my cabinet that did. To be safe I  just replace mine every summer if it has not been used up. I also like to keep a small one in my purse and one in the car so I don't get sun spots on my arms and hands.

Additional protection
​Don’t forget the sunglasses to keep your eyes protected. When outdoors hats are great to protect the part in your hair from getting burned. Bald? You definitely need to slather your head with sunscreen in addition to a hat.

What type of sunscreen should I buy?
Considering the the amount of sunscreen I use and you will be using, you will want a good quality product that isn't cost prohibitive. I like to use a combination of certain chemical and physical blocks.

• Physical blockers, ingredients like titanium oxide and zinc oxide, work like a physical shield between your skin and the sun, either by blocking it or deflecting the suns rays. They work best when applied as the last step in a skin care routine. Physical blocks are my preference as they are less likely to react with any skin conditions. They are a bit thicker though and can leave a pale look. Therefore I like the tinted versions.  
• Chemical blockers, ingredients like oxybenzone (less desireable) and avobenzone process at the cellular level and need to interact with the skin cells to be effective. They are best when applied to bare skin under moisturizer. There is no doubt that they are easier to apply as most formulations are easily blended.

Different skin types will react differently to ingredients so I have noted a couple of things to look for based upon your skin type.

All skin
You will want a BROAD SPECTRUM  SUNSCREEN with an SPF of 30.  This will protect you from both UVA and UVB Rays. Keep in mind that the higher the SPF, the smaller the increased benefit: contrary to what you might think, SPF 30 isn't twice as strong as SPF 15. While SPF 15 filters out 93% of UVB, SPF 30 filters out 97%, only a slight improvement.

The worst thing about very high-SPF products is that they give people a false sense of security and tempt them to stay in the sun too long. They suppress sunburns but raise the risk of other kinds of skin damage. The FDA is considering barring SPF above 50+.

Choose the least amount  of reactive products so ideally no or minimal  fragrance, preservatives or alcohol which can be irritating to sensitive skin.

Ingredients to avoid

• ​Oxybenzone - Half of the beach and sport sunscreens contain oxybenzone, an active ingredient in sunscreens. But it penetrates the skin, gets into the bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body. It can trigger allergic skin reactions. Some research studies, while not conclusive, have linked higher concentrations of oxybenzone to disorders including endometriosis in older women and lower birth weights in newborn girls.
• Retinyl palmitate - Many sunscreens and lip protection contain retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A. Night creams with this chemical may help skin look more youthful. But on sun-exposed skin, retinyl palmitate may speed development of skin tumors and lesions, according to government studies. Why does the FDA allow this “inactive ingredient” in sunscreens intended for use in the sun? The agency has been studying the chemical for years but hasn’t made a decision. So better to be safe and avoid it when in the sun.

Oily or acneic skin may choose a lighter formulation or matte finish while drier skin may do better with a moisturizing sunscreen.

Can’t bear to be pale? 
​Jergens natural glow+firming daily moisturizer (with no sunscreen) has to be my favorite go to product for a touch of color. Granted, you can get a darker look with actual tanning creams. But this provides enough color when used regularly to give you a natural healthy glow without any orange or weird streaks. You can choose your tone. I usually  choose medium to tan, even though without any sun my skin color is pretty pale.
Cost - $8-$12

You really need to read ingredient labels and test a few on your skin to find your favorite.  I suggest getting a few samples before buying a more expensive face sunscreen. Here are some of my favorites.

​

​Skin Medica SPF 30 Daily Physical Defense Sunscreen
Cost $25 - $32

Image Skincare  Prevention + 
​I have combination skin so I alternate between the 32+ daily matte moisturizer oil free version and the 30+ hydrating version.
​Cost $20 - $35
​

If you really want to be healthy, have a fit body, tons of energy and glowing skin the answer is actually quite simple. But you can't buy it in a bottle, eliminate one food group or drink only juice for weeks.  You need to change your lifestyle. Sound overwhelming? It doesn't have to be. Start by implementing the following changes into your life:

• Eat less processed foods and  sugar
• Eat more fruits and vegetables ( raw or simply cooked)
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat healthy fats
• Eat lean proteins
• Eat whole grain and nuts
• Drink less alcohol
• Don't smoke
• Move your body - find exercises you love, combine a form of weight/resistance training with cardio and stretching

You don't have to do them all at once. You can still enjoy food and dining out. It's all about making educated choices. Choose to make a new change every few weeks. This way you can get comfortable with the adjustment and in no time you will have a whole new healthier lifestyle. Don't let it stress you out. It should be fun! With all of the resources and recipes available online it is both cheap and easy to create healthy satisfying meals.  
Not convinced and think you should do a quick detox? In most cases the ideas behind the detox are fine. They usually involve consuming less sugar and increasing your intake of greens, which is great. The issue is that these should be permeant livable changes that become a part of how you eat every day, not for a week or by only consuming certain beverages. And its important to understand the truth behind the idea of detoxing. This will help you to make informed decisions when  you come across the latest and greatest health product. Here is an excerpt from an article about detoxing and the many other ways  people get lured into the fitness marketing hype. Take a read and let me know what you think.

Now that we are in the harsher days of winter, it’s even more important we receive enough essential fatty acids, in the form of omega-3 and omega-6, to help heal dry skin. They’re called essential fatty acids (EFAs) for a reason: your body can’t make them on its own and requires a constant EFA stream in the diet.EFAs, like those found in coconuts, olives, and of course, avocados, are the building blocks of healthy cell membranes. These fats produce a natural oil barrier, allowing skin to appear hydrated, plump, and smooth. Monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids help keep skin moisturized from the inside out by absorbing the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Avocados pack a one-two punch, as they are a great source of both monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is essential for the maintenance of healthy skin. Avocados also contain vitamin C, which helps stimulate the skin’s collagen production. As we age, collagen production naturally decreases, making fine lines and wrinkles more pronounced. Adding vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production improves the skin’s ability to absorb moisture, leaving a smoother and more youthful appearance.
​

Give it a try let me know how you feel!