In general, women have a higher risk than men of developing age related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can cause blindness. And blondes are more prone to the ailment than any others says Svetlana Kogan, M.D. founder of Doctors at Trump Place in NYC. http://www.dtpdoctors.com/about.html. A diet rich in the natural compounds lutein and zeaxanthan – found in kale, spinach and snow peas, can help fend it off. One cup a day is recommended for a healthy snack. Blondes also need to protect their skin from harmful UV rays because they do not produce as much Melanin as brunettes and redheads. Melanin is the skin’s natural sun burn protector. With less than the rest of us blondes are more susceptible to melanoma. A full spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is a cover-up essential.

True brunettes hold on to your hair!  More than half of the 30 million American women with visible hair loss are brownies. Probably because brunettes produce less hair than their red and blonde headed sisters. Brown hair is thicker and coarser than the other colors so its genetics way of saying less is necessary. Unfortunately because there is less of it already, when brown hair dies it leaves behind more noticeable thin patches. Eating right can help keep your follicles intact and iron is a major vitamin in the fight against hair loss. Eighteen milligrams a day or one cup of oatmeal will do the trick, says dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, M.D., president emeritus of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, http://www.lovelyskin.com/dermatology/.

The good news for those with chocolate locks, men love brunettes. According to a Florida State University research study when it comes to long term relationships chestnuts are the chicks of choice. In the 3000 person study it was revealed that men find brunettes more trustworthy and reliable than blondes or redheads.

Girls with gorgeous ginger locks need more meds. huh? It has been found that red hair is actually the result of a DNA mutation that also makes these ladies resistant to general and local anesthetics, says Dr. Daniel Sessler, an anesthesiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/default.aspx. In fact, redheads may need as much as 20% more painkillers than blondes or brunettes.

Carrot tops also need to keep their brains in tip top working order. A recent Harvard study found that redheads have a 90% greater chance of developing Parkinson’s. Why? Same gene mutation. Fight for your head with a good multivitamin packed with folic acid, 400 micrograms a day is a good amount and a trip to the gym can’t hurt. Exercising also does wonders for keeping your brain sharp.

On the plus side redheads are seen as red hot lovers. They are passionate people and get a lot more action than blondes and brunettes. A recent Clairol study showed that almost 40% of people said that having a fiery mane is their dye of choice. http://www.clairol.com/cem/landing.jsp?id=41&previewId=450.

We gen Jones women spend endless amounts of hard earned cash on face creams, fillers and injectables to help stave off the ticking clock inevitables on our face, only to be called out on our actual age by our virtually neglected human tentacles at the end of our arms. Those ever loving and highly over used utilitarian appendages we call hands. Not loving the way they act as the marching of time dead giveaways? Me neither. So I asked an expert in the field to find some hands down solid solutions, Beverly Hills dermatologist, Stuart H. Kaplan, MD.

http://www.skindoc.net/#

First Dr. Kaplan explained that most skin damage is a result of too many years exposed to the sun. I don’t know about you, but when I was 17 years old, I approached tanning like it was my most important beauty recipe. Roast top half for 45 minutes then baste in baby oil and turn to the backside for 45. Add a crazy foil dome to speed up cooking process. The result of this youthful tanning dedication now appears as dark patches of brown spots (or commonly referred to as age spots) primarily on our arms, neck, shoulders and hands. Sun overexposure combined with decreasing estrogen levels (which actually starts in our mid-twenties), makes our skin thinner and causes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and veins to be pronounced. Great! That’s just great.

But have no fear Dr. K says your hands can be saved. He told me that there are a several solutions. Phew. First a few shots of Radiesse, a wrinkle filler traditionally used on your face which works to replace the lost collagen/fat in your hands produces fresh collagen. Radiesse injections will plump your hands up stat, adding the right amount of youthful volume. With that handled, Kaplan turns to the dark spot issue that is best-addressed using laser therapy. There are two basic types of lasers-ablative and nonablative. Ablative lasers actually vaporize the top layers of damaged skin. Nonablative lasers work deeper in the skin without removing or otherwise damaging the top layers. The main differences between the types of lasers have to do with wavelength. The only thing you need to know is that different laser wavelengths (colors of light) target different skin components and depths. Which laser treatment is best for your skin will be determined in a consultation with your physician. The fact is a combination of several different lasers is often the most effective way to address all of the problems that you may have.

As a general rule the best laser treatment for lines and wrinkles is a combination of skin resurfacing and skin-tightening procedures by a more aggressive ablative laser, such as a CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser or Erbium YAG. The CO2 laser can sometimes leave the skin lighter, so the Erbium Yag, combined with the fractionated laser (Sciton’s Profractional, or the Fraxel) has become the most popular laser for deep ablative treatment. The most-commonly used lasers for the treatments of age spots are pulsed dye, ND;Yag and the IPL lasers (such as the Sciton’s Broad Band Light or BBL laser). IPL and BBL lasers are less aggressive treatments that have little or no down time. Light-based treatments like LED photofacials are also options. Glycolic acid peels, cryotherapy and dermabrasion can also assist in erasing the ravages of time.

http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Skin-Bleaching_79.html

If you are not a fan of physician visits and fear the potential laser pain you can pick up a bleaching agent called hydroquinone, available at drugstores in concentrations of 2% to 4%. Kaplan suggests trying the hydroquinone along with a retinoid, like Retina A or Renova, which will exfoliate the skin and prepare it for the hydroquinone treatment. This may take a while so be patient. Some dermatologists, such as Dr. Kaplan, also have a compound prescription bleaching cream with hydroquinone 10%, along with Retinoic Acid and Hydrocortisone. This is usually the most effective topical cream for reducing melasma, which is the pigmentation on the upper lip and face, associated with pregnancy and birth control use. You might also ask about Obagi products that have similar ingredients and have worked quite well for me. Read

If you don’t want the hassle of going to the pharmacy nor have the funds for lasers, these can run upwards of $1500, there are some old school home remedies you can concoct on your own. A slice of red onion, fresh garlic juice, castor oil or aloe vera juice on a cotton ball applied to age spots twice daily for six to eight weeks might be your magic cure. Try each home remedy on different spots and see which one works best for you. Again be patient, it took 40+ years and tons of sunning to earn those brownie spots so it’s going to take a little time to erase them.

DAY1

My friends at Spa 7, that fabulous new med spa inside Burke Williams in West Hollywood (there is one at the Pasadena Burke Williams also) have sent me on the road to diminishing  wrinkles. Today I have begun my 8 week journey to new skin. Very Exciting.

I met with Bobby, the office manager and my consultant. He started off my program by handing me a giant white and powder blue box of goodies from Obagi Medical Products. The box top lifts up to reveal 6 beautifully packaged potions.  He carefully instructed me on how I am to apply each of the creams morning and night. There are various combination’s of one through six for day and night depending on your skin type. Then he handed me a tube of a power packed cream called Tretinoin.  When mixed with a dab of the contents from tube 5, aptly named blender, it is going to rid me of my old tired top layer of skin.  Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative. It works first by increasing the cell/skin turnover rate, and second, it boosts collagen synthesis.  They tell me it will diminish the fine wrinkles on my face and eliminate dispigmentation, or color differences in the skin. IE, all those freckles I earned as a teenager when I did nothing but tan. It was my “job” afterall! I didn’t look good unless I  had that sunkissed look and I spent hours laying by the pool. Now my face is paying for it.

Bobby, who is this beautiful young man at least half my age swears by the stuff! Lord  knows why he needs it..but I am not here to judge.  “First you are going to get all flaky and peel,  maybe a little red but then your new skin is going to look amazing!” he promised.

In two weeks there is a follow up appointment and a CO2 skin resurfacing treatment. I am committed.I firmly believe if there is a medical treatment or procedure that isn’t going to kill me but might absolutely help make me feel better about me. I’m there!

I will keep you posted.

Day 2 – btw. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Last night slathered on  my Tretinoin cocktail. My skin is definitely feeling delicate this morning, but no sign of peelage.

Day 5 – My skin is feeling a little dryer than usual…but no signs of peeling. I’m a resilient lizard.

Day 6 – I’m beginning to see signs of peeling around the edges. product #3 is pretty strong stuff.

Day 10 – At this age I never thought I would have pimples again in my life. But I do. More like red bumps than pussy pimples, but red spots nevertheless. They started appearing about three or four days ago. I called Vishi, the Obagi rep, to inquire. She not only answered all my bumpy questions, she is so knowledgeable about medical skin care, she is like a one woman Obaji cheerleader…I am excited about the prospect of my skin transformation because she is excited for me. I’ve never felt so good about skin care. What Vishi explained is that skin is three layers deep and in order to affect the most change, reach the freshest skin, will take three six week cycles. As each old layer is removed a new cleaner and collagen filled new one takes the top spot. The first cycle, which is where I am at the moment, is the harshest or most corrective, as she put it. Breakouts, blemishes, dryness and peeling is a result of the Obagi at work. It is getting rid of all the damaged old icky skin and replacing it with the healthy lower layer stuff. Vishi was so excited about the new skin that’s going to show up on my face I couldn’t help but get excited too. She said the product works from the inside out, it works it’s way deep into the skins recesses.  And my favorite quote, the one that made the most sense to me, “It’s like going on the best diet for your skin.”  Love that,  it totally makes sense.

Day 12 – I had lunch with my girlfriend today. She noticed my skin was glowing! Thanks Obagi..I’m seeing the blemishes but the world is seeing beauty. I am so excited.

Day 20 - Peeling and somewhat pimply..but I have definitely got a healthy rosy cheek AM glow. My skin is very sensitive to the touch.

Day 21 – IT’S AN OBAGI MIRACLE. I had a small raised brown spot on my face that developed over the last few years. It passed as a freckle event though it wasn’t. No matter what I put on my skin before the spot stuck. I am pretty sure short of going to the derm and having her burn it off with dry ice that brownie was sticking with me for the long haul. Well, it’s gone! The Obagi lifted it off!  I’ve got a little scab right now, well two actually, but they are healing. It is amazing!

Week 4 – So here I am at one month. I don’t think you can see the peelies in this picture, but they are there. My nose in particular. The brown sun spot on my left cheek is now just a tiny scab. My cheeks have taken on a ruddy complexion..I think I look a bit healthier.

Can I get props for posting a picture with no make-up!  I usually don’t even leave the house without it. In fact, sometimes I put make-up on and never leave my house! Vishi says that when I’m through my next two months of Obagi I’m truly not going to need make-up anymore. In other words make-up optional.  We’ll see.

Week 6 – I legitimately received a compliment on my skin today! My friend who has known me almost my entire life told me she can see the difference. WOW!!!!!!!! Obagi rocks.

Week 8. Can we see a difference? Here’s what I’m noticing. My skin is red and I’ve got a few red bumps, which I’m guessing are all the ugly impurities in the deep layers of my skin that are surfacing. But I am two-thirds of the way to perfection according to Vishi.

Check back in four weeks from now when I complete my Obagi treatment and see who’s skin is rockin a new look! Meanwhile, I  will continue to post uncomfortably naked face pix.

Week 12. Well I am finally at week 12. there should be a noticeable difference with my brand new layer of skin. I definitely can see a difference from day one to now. I have a much glossier glow. Rosier cheeks and smoother overall look.

what do you think??

Picking up a fashion magazine has always been one of my very favorite leisure reads, so last week I went to the newsstand to feed my need. I was scanning the covers looking for something that would speak to me, the Generation Jones woman, and aside from More Magazine, which I love love by the way, there was virtually nothing fashionista for me. No true fashion rag that embraced the 40+ marketplace. Magazines are not the only place women of a certain age are underrepresented. Lately I’ve been bombarded with the age thing. My TV trade pubs consistently tout headlines of networks successfully skewing their demos YOUNGER. The job requests I might be suited for sent by my casting service, sets the age line of demarcation for commercial and film work at 40 and for the most part the work appears to stop dead at 45 years old.  Is that a woman’s “sell by date”? Are Gen Jones women superfluous?

Thanks to Marc Jacobs, I found a ray of hope. Perhaps the rest of the world will take note. Irrefutably the most influential American designer Jacobs presented his fall 2010 collection in Paris last week with a of cast models that were diverse in age, shape, and ethnicity. From the Guardian: “Designers are always talking about how they design for women, and then you look at our runways and there no girls over 20,” said Marc Jacobs, the American designer of Louis Vuitton, backstage after his blockbuster catwalk show in Paris today. “This time, I set out to cast a variety of sexy women – younger, older, thin, voluptuous, from every ethnic background.” Among the line up was 47-year-old Elle MacPherson.

Francisco Costa, creative director for the Calvin Klein Collection hired 44-year-old gray-haired Kristen McMenamy, and soon to be 40-year-old Stella Tennant. Finally the fashion world is truly speaking to us and embracing the beauty of mature, or as they call us in the fashion world, “Classic women”.  We have a penchant for wanting to look fabulous and our eagerness to open our Birken bags to buy their sellable goods is viable.  ”The woman who puts my clothes on needs a certain level of sophistication,” says Costa. “We wanted to acknowledge women who have always worn our clothes, women with their own identities, have full lives, have kids.” It’s about time!

Generation Jones is currently the largest adult segment of this nations population, totaling 53 million people. A full 40% of Gen Joneser households have incomes of $100,000 or more, spend $2500 or more on-line, 37% paid more than $35,000 for a vehicle and almost half our population travel for business.  It is time for more marketing executives to realize the viability of our generation and address us first person. We don’t have one foot in the grave, we want to enjoy life and we want products and services that address our needs. Most of all we like to see us doing the things we want to do, wearing the clothes we want to wear and we WILL spend the cash on ourselves to look good and feel good.

Do you ever wonder if men notice?? Well, I did. So, I asked a random sampling of guys. “What are the five top things you notice about a woman’s appearance?” Here is what they told me.

A perfect pedicure speaks volumes for the entire package. Chipped polish, faded color, jagged edges and overgrown toenails are turn offs. Several of the men I spoke to agreed that a woman who takes time to polish her pretty tootsies regularly and manages the dry scaly skin that inevitably collects on the heel is a thumbs up. It is a clear indicator to a man that this is a woman who takes great care of the rest of her body.

A good scent suggests a subtle beauty. Bad breath, bad body odor, the wrong perfume,  no perfume, or too much perfume are absolute no go’s according to my male test market. Men are olfactory obsessed, their noses drive their sexual attraction. They absolutely love the whiff of a fabulous smell. Without question the final touch to any outfit is the perfect perfume. It can make or break a potential exchange of phone numbers. The next time you are in a department store or pharmacy spray the perfume you would like to try on the vein of your wrist where the skin is warm. You can even try out two perfumes, one on each wrist during one trip. Find the one that evokes the true sensual you.

Walk this way. No slouching or shuffling please. The way a woman holds herself says so much about her confidence, the guys commented. The simple act of standing straight, walking with your head held high, shoulders back, and picking up your feet is more pervasive than a twenty page resume. Training your core and back are key to proper spine alignment for standing tall. Combined with a regular dose of yoga can make all the difference in this first impression accessory.

The lighter the better. Surprisingly most men I spoke with preferred less make-up to the highly polished perfectly quaffed look. The simpler the better they said, let your natural beauty shine through was resounding cry. In particular they mentioned that heavy eyeliner sends the wrong message as does a distinctly lined lip and an overly glossed pout. Plus they don’t like the sticky after taste following a sensual pucker. Isn’t that a relief,  just cut my make-up mirror time in half.

And my favorite little detail! It’s all about the shoes. Every girls favorite wardrobe item is also a man magnet. Banish the birkenstocks, crocs and aerosoles for errands and around the house cinderella obligations only. Happily there was an overwhelming hail mary, by every single man, for the sexy kick ass all mighty stiletto amongst the little detail fem must haves. A perky pair of peek toes, strappy high heeled sandals and toe cleavage pumps should be counted amongst your closet footgear crowd.

Hallelujah! Five simple ways to get your guys undivided attention.

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/3-surprising-ways-to-keep-your-teeth-healthy/article19045.html

Regrettably, like everything else on your body, life zaps it’s wear and tear on teeth. By the time a woman reaches forty years old her two upper teeth can erode to as much as two millimeters shorter than when she was twenty. The result is a seemingly toothless smile. This deterioration will cause your lips to sag inward creating that thin looking smile, that we try to fight with collagen injections. With some minor bonding or natural tooth colored veneers it is easily fixable. The procedure isn’t painful but it does require a couple of visits to your dentist.  They will put in a set of temporaries, not gonna lie, they feel weird in your mouth, until your permanents can be made and attached. Then you are good to go, the results are stupendous.

Teeth are constantly shifting, even if you had braces as a pre-teen, all those dedicated nights of battling headgear don’t come with a lifetime guarantee. Bet your ortho never said a word to your mom. Truth be told, less than 10% of the population has the same smile at fifty as we did at twenty. When teeth move inward they give less support to your cheeks and lips, which gives an already hollowing face an extremely gaunt appearance. Not the extreme we’re looking for at this point in our lives. Your teeth can be realigned or even aligned (if you never had braces as a child, like me) with Invisalign. Invisalign are those clear plastic molds that gradually move your teeth into place. I just completed my Invisalign plan in the last two years and it worked! It’s subtle and effective. I am here to tell you though, as much as they tout the fact that you can’t see them – You Can! But what I liked about the program, as opposed to the metal head version, is you can take the molds in and out. If you don’t want to wear them during the day, or to an important meeting you don’t have to. Just slip them in while you’re sitting at your desk or overnight. It may take a few months longer to adjust your smile, but hey, if you’ve waited this long to fix your dents, what’s another couple of months. The other truth you have to know, that your ortho might not reveal, is you will always have to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in place. Like I said teeth always shift. But again, my solution, I wear the Invisalign’s overnight or daily for the hour I’m exercising-always multi-tasking!

Your teeth come with protective enamel that will begin to thin over the years making them appear less white and more prone to stains. They will start to look grey instead of the optimistic pearly white. Bleaching is the answer. Luckily, there are loads of toothpastes nowadays that comes with bleaching agents in them. Buy a few and find the one that works best for you. They are all minty fresh, you can’t go wrong. You can also purchase OTC whitening strips for a 10% whiter smile. For faster and more effective results many dentists offer custom-made trays for home use or in-office bleaching appointments that will get your teeth 9 to 10 shades lighter and brighter.

If you have been religious about your appointments with the hygienist and consistent with bleaching, but you still feel like your smile doesn’t quite look the way it did “a few years ago,” there is the nifty dental mini lift. It’s not a face lift, so there are no incisions or surgery downtime, but it can give your face a youthful blast. Basically, your cosmetic dentist adds some bulk to the front surfaces of the top side teeth with bonding material, crowns or veneers. The result widens your smile and fills in where your face tends to hollow with age. It softens the nasal labial lines, also known as the parenthesis lines, oh yeah…chill on the painful restylane injections, and perks up the midsection of your face. Depending on how much is built up at the teeth on the outer corners of your lips it can also soften the lipstick lines and turn the corners of your mouth up. Ahh, a permanent happy face.

Who knew! A visit to your dentist can make your skin look tighter, your lips fuller, and your cheeks perkier.  Bottom line, by simply upgrading your smile you can erase 10 years off your face.

Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Clinical Assoc. Professor of Plastic Surgery,  UCLA Division of Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgeon for the ABC TV Show Extreme Makeover (www.perlmanmd.com)

Even here in the heart of Beverly Hills not every patient wants to undergo plastic surgery. I’m often asked by friends and patients in their 40s through 60s what I can offer them to provide a younger and rejuvenated appearance. Generally the answer relates to the degree of improvement desired by the individual, as well as my assessment of the severity and nature of the aging that’s present.

As soon as someone walks into my consultation office, I am assessing their appearance and forming an impression of how they look compared to their chronological age. The signs of aging I look for are excess skin and bags around the eyes, drooping of the cheeks, neck and brows, the presence of jowls and the existence of unflattering hollowing of the cheeks from volume loss of the face.  Together or separately, these can result in an undesired aged and tired appearance.

The use of filler injections to the face such as Juvederm and Restylane has skyrocketed for good reason in the last several years.  Without surgery I can soften folds and wrinkles, improve bony contours of the cheeks and jawline and provide my patients a more youthful appearance free of recovery. I often supplement the use of fillers with the addition of Botox injections to the upper face to weaken muscle-related wrinkling and furrowing (frown lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet most commonly), and provide mild brow elevation.  Fillers generally last for 9 to 12 months but Botox usually wears off after 3-4 months and needs to be repeated.  Used together, I see good improvement from fillers and Botox but there is an ongoing need for repeated treatment at ongoing expense.  Generally the best results from these fillers are for patients between their 30’s and mid 50’s.

For the most part, Botox and fillers successfully provides temporary modest improvement but ultimately many patients age sufficiently to need an actual lift with muscle tightening to potentially achieve the hoped-for 10 to 15 year improvement in their appearance. One of the unique things I provide my facelift patients is a supplementary fat injection. This gives them the potential for long-term volume enhancement and textural improvements to their skin.

At what age should a “lift” be planned?  That’s a decision I make with my patient as we weigh the degree of improvement that is reasonably expected, and balance it with the patient’s own sense of need and motivation.  Contrary to the old “wives tale,” I have never seen evidence showing that it is better (or worse) to have a facelift at a younger age.   I advise my patients that the best age for a facelift is when they are motivated by a sense of desire for a rejuvenated and refreshed look, and they are willing to commit to an average 2-4 week healing and recovery period. I also assure them that with modern techniques, I can camouflage the incisions and create a natural and long lasting result.

Though I’ve never observed lent, I think the tradition has merit and the ability to stick to a lent-like commitment a worthy endeavor. We all have something that we could do without and be better for it. I for one am a sweet addict. I am completely addicted to a nightly dessert fix. There is this weird trigger that goes off in my brain every night after dinner and I am not happy until I have a bowl of ice cream or a slice of cake. I’M GIVING IT UP! I can’t believe I just said that. But alright, I’m going to obliterate sugary desserts from my diet for the next 4o days. It is a known fact that bad habits can be broken in 21 days. So, if you hold fast to your lent self-promise for 40 days you are golden.

Here’s some other suggestions to help you stay on track:

1. Write down what you are giving up for lent. Writing it down makes it concrete and real.

I am giving up dessert after dinner

2. Make a list of the reasons for giving up your lent item.

Eating dessert every night after dinner is excessive

3. Find satisfying substitutes for that item.

I am going to try a different fresh fruit every night

4. Recruit help to stay on track

My daughters are my witnesses

5. Stay true to your conviction. It will be gratifying

If I can do this it’ll be a miracle!

I also believe that there should be rewards along the way for one’s stick-to-it-ivness. Fortunately, my Spa 7 friends think so too. And they have promised some pretty special pamper deals, that won’t interfere with your good lent behavior.  Call Bobby at 323.656.1182 and tell him that you are due for the Kerri Zane Mardi Gras special and he’ll give you a sweet discount on services. Visit them at either Burke Williams locations in West Hollywood or Pasadena.

Hair Removal :  Half off all packages of 6
Pixel:  Promo $400  : Regular: $600
Body Contouring:  $1000 for 5 visists: Regular:  $2200
CO2:  $1500 Regular $2200

It’s all good till March 1.

Unlike waxing which is an adequate, but only temporary hair removal program, this laser procedure permanently takes care of hair using a long pulse laser. The Soprano emits these clever laser beams in the perfect intensity and duration to match the size, depth and location of your follicle. No more hair there – ever again. Unlike other laser treatments this system works on all skin types.

Gotta give it a go.

The woman I spoke with at the spa told me to shave first and then come in for my first of six treatments. Each session is scheduled about 6 to 10 weeks apart. The treatment involves lying on the bed and stripping down to a thong. The clinician applies a gel to the whole area and then gently runs the laser over it.  The sensation feels like the warm kind of buzz you get from a tanning bed, nothing like the excruciating pull of hot wax and cheesecloth. The strays, there always seem to be a few feisty renegades, were shaved off. Some cooling gel is immediately applied to soothe the sensitive skin. The whole procedure took about 10 minutes.

I’ve undergone my second session yesterday, and I am loving the results already! No more risky “beard” shaves in the shower and a glorious future of  permanent bikini ready body.What could be better. The folks at Spa 7 can do hair removal procedures anywhere those pesky follicles decide to take root. Hairline, eyebrow, top of the nose, lip, chin, ear lobe, shoulders, back, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, pubic area, bikini lines, thighs, face, neck, breast, arms, legs, hands, or toes. You name it – they’ll take care of it.  Caio, Bella

This month only ask for the “Kerri Special” and receive 50% off any hair removal package when you purchase any skin treatment or dermal filler.

Spa 7 West Hollywood 323.656.1182/ Toll Free 877.SPA.7CLC

Spa 7 Pasadena 626.377.4071/ Toll Free 877.SPA.7CLC (877.772.7252)

Your Grass is Green

1. Treat yourself right and spare no expense here. Every six weeks now through the end of April sign up for a series of weekly facials. Using infrared-light treatments will stimulate collagen production and decrease the fine lines and wrinkles. We like the infrareds because unlike lasers and chemical peels there is no chance for burning or irritation.

2. Using a humidifier in your bedroom will put moisture back into the atmosphere.  They keep your skin hydrated lessening the appearance of fine lines and eliminating the chance of sallow skin color.

3. Give your cheeks a rubdown. A gentle 10 minute face massage will stimulate your circulation and bring a rosy color to your cheeks.  It will also loosen up your muscles to make your face look softer and creaseless.

4. Cold weather and exposed lips is a deadly mixture for women of any age. So here’s a killer combination treatment for you and your daughters. Apply Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant to get rid of any lip flakes. Rub off the granules with a washcloth soaked in baby oil and then layer on some Laura Mercier Skincare Lip Silk. This magical mixture will intensely moisturize your rosy reds and make them look youthful.  Plus your lipstick will glide on evenly ever after.

5. Here’s a miracle for any Gen J fem; Elizabeth Arden Caramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules used as a primer. Pop open one capsule to cover your face. It will fill in the fine lines and create a soft silky surface on your face. Then cover with your foundation as usual.

6. It’s always about lighting…isn’t it. Anything that reflects light makes skin look more youthful. Try adding a liquid luminizer into your favorite foundation for that special bounce.

7. Even your face needs layers in the winter. By using a balmlike moisturizer as a base and covering it with a brightening serum or petroleum based product will create the look of smooth line free skin.

8. Finally, If you’ve been sleeping like a bear in hibernation or just look like one try this trick of the trade.  Soak a washcloth in ice water and lay it on your skin for about 10 to 15 minutes. The cool compress gets rid of any puffiness and will smooth out the pillow wrinkles.

May we all survive the winter wrinkle wrestle to see the sprouting tendrils of a moisture filled spring.

Your grass is green.