My beauty rituals...

You've been asking… here's my beauty routine…

It's quite easy actually: as I wake up, I clean my face with an "eau micellaire", like Bioderma's, which is great and won't dry your skin. Then, before going out, I use a hydrating face cream (always with sunblock, no matter if it's winter and cloudy outside!) or one of the new BB (Blemish Blend) or CC (Color Corrector) creams, plus an eye-contour. Over both creams I apply my make-up, but only if I have to go out... if not, I prefer to stay as naturally as possible...

I recommend that you use some kind of moisturizer on your neck and cleavage also, with creams rich in different nutrients. In any case, I try to go for natural and hypoallergenic products, and I'm not into particular brands, I prefer knowing what they are made of... 

Before going to bed I repeat my ritual with the cleanser and toner to remove the day-long dirt and the remains of my make-up... I NEVER go to sleep with my make-up on! At night I use a Vitamin C serum or a cream with peptide or hyaluronic acid. I try to change them every three months.

I must confess that I am a huge fan of masks and facials. They invigorate your skin, renovate blood circulation and help make-up look better on you! All brands have their own masks. It's a matter of trying till you find the right for you...

During summer, I try to have a friendly relationship with the Sun. I am not one of those extremist that avoid it completely hiding under the shade, nor do I enjoy exposing myself during the dangerous hours of daytime.  The perfect combo reads as follows: a little sunbathing (with protection!) during the morning or late afternoon (never between 12 pm and 5 pm) with the use of self-tanners to achieve the desired hue. There are so many brands and varieties that's all a matter of trying till you find the one that best suits you. 

If you are disciplined and constant and start taking care of your skin at an early age, then there won't be any need for surgeries. Think of it as an investment. Surgeries won't be able to fix what we have neglected over the years.

Thermage Total Tip...

A couple of days ago, we received a call from our friend Velia Lemel, to tell us about a new procedure in the Thermage treatment (we wrote about this on a recent post). I found it extremely interesting, so I asked her to write it for us so we could post it here... 

"Recently, Thermage has developed a new treatment to achieve better definition in the face outline and reduce the double chin. It's really a new “Tip” which allows a higher intensity in the radiofrecuency and warming of the tissue, without increasing the feeling of uneasiness. This is translated into a mayor production of collagen, because it delivers twice as much bulk heating volume than with a conventional tip. Results can be seen much earlier than expected. 

The positive aspects of Thermage's “Total Tip” is that our patients will be able to improve the contour of the face, jawline and neck, but also work on the appearence of the eyelids and the eyebrow area. 

For those who have never heard of it, Thermage is an advance treatment which has been in the market for more than 10 years now. Approved by the FDA and the European Community, it has been applied on more than one million patients around the world. It's a treatment that advances constantly in the search for better results, more comfortable procedures and state-of-the-art machinery. The skin receives a full renovation through Thermage because it is able to reach its inner layers, which makes it totally effective." 

You can reach Velia and her proffesional staff at her Institute in Tagle 2786.

As years go by...

As you loved Norma's previous post, I asked her now to write something dedicated to every age...

"WHEN YOU ARE 20... At this age we feel we have natural beauty and youth and that both will last forever. We are far from worrying about aging, but we can adopt some healthy habits and be constant about the future of our skin. It's the time to begin a healthy routine, applying good products, such as a cleansing lotion, a toner and then a soft moisturizer. 

WHEN YOU ARE 30... Here we give our first steps towards adulthood, and we feel the very first symptoms of time. Light expression lines appear and our skin loses some of its luminosity. We need protection against sun-aging and it's time to look for deeper hydration and creams with ingredients that promote the synthesis of collagen to recover the cellular cycle.

WHEN YOU ARE 40... This is a busy period in life, family and work, trying to keep things under control. Our skin is not as tense as it used to be, so we must search for products that stimulate the synthesis of collagen and improve the firmness of the skin. It is also important to look for products that revitalize cellular energy and that are rich in vitamins.

WHEN YOU ARE 50... This is the age of maturity. You know what you are worth and what you want and how to get it. Wrinkles, flaccidity and change in color appear as a result of the loss of estrogens due to menopause. You need efficient products conceived to promote epidermic and dermic regeneration and skin defenses against environmental aggression. Creams must be capable hydrating and nourishing deeply, in combination with special serums.

WHEN YOU ARE 60... The golden age. Maturity gives us a new perspective of life, with more indulgence to climate change. We don't want to look older than we feel. Our body no longer produces estrogen, so our skin is thinner and expression lines are by now permanent on our face.  It is important to hydrate, repair, regenerate and strengthen the skin. Products with rich textures and specific ingredient for this stage are required."

So much knowledge, Norma!! Thanks a lot!!!

A luminous skin...

I asked my long-time dermatologist, Norma Palkovska (the only person allowed to touch my face!!), to tell us how to achieve a luminous, healthy and firm skin. This is what she wrote for our blog...

"The skin is the largest organ on the human body and it's responsible for the 5% of our total weight. On our skin we register symptoms of pain, touch, heat and cold, pushing our organism to produce the answer required.  It is also where we reveal our feelings and emotions, such as anguish, embarrassment (flush), fear (paleness) and anxiety (sweating). The epidermis, which is the outer layer, is a tissue in constant renovation and through mitosis, the cells divide, migrate, change and die in approximately a month. 

One of the reasons why our skin ages is the strengthening of the intercellular membrane, through which is produced the exchange of oxygen and fluids between the surface and the inner layers, so necessary for the lives of cells. Without this exchange, the cell loses its vitality and its capacity to renew itself, thus achieving a faded aura. With functions so different, demanding and permanent, and requirement from the outside and the inside, attention given to our skin must be important. Nothing better then than bio-reactivaiting massages, which activate the blood flow to the skin and muscles and stimulate the elimination of organic disposal. Cells and their functions get revitalized and are left in an optimal condition to take advantage of the benefits of the various cosmetic products to be used later. In this way we prevent and improve the look of wrinkles, spots and expression lines. Our skin will look more luminous, healthy and firm."

Thank you Norma! I hope this is useful for you all... 

More tips for our skin...

So let's refocus on our skin... specially now, that summer's over...

I do have a friendly relationship with the Sun. I am not one of those extremist that avoid it completely hiding under the shade, nor do I enjoy exposing myself during the dangerous hours of daytime. With all that's been said about this, sunbathing without precaution would put our health in jeopardy and ignoring that would be a lousy attitude, no matter how lovely we might feel with a tan. Although there are different skin types, skin cancer, permanent spots and premature aging are real dangers to us all.

On the other hand, recent investigations are talking about the benefits of Vitamin D, also known as the "solar vitamin:" a pro-hormone that strengthens our immune system, helps prevent breast cancer, diminishes the risk of developing diabetes, protects the bones and that's just the beginning! More and more scientists and dermatologists are starting to recommend 15-minute-long sunbaths, three or four times a week, always with protection and during the safe hours to activate the absorption of Vitamin D. During the year, a short outdoor walk will do. And during summer holidays, the perfect combo reads as follows: a little sunbathing (with protection!) during the morning or late afternoon (never between 12 pm and 5 pm) with the use of self-tanners to achieve the desired hue. There are so many brands and varieties that's all a matter of trying till you find the one that best suits you. But never, ever, say yes to solar beds!

However, I must say that a fair and luminous skin is not achieved only with creams or expensive treatments. Our diet is extremely important. As I told you on previous posts, smoking, alcohol and salt conspire against the health of your skin, so it is essential that they should be banned from our lives! In fact, to probe such a connection between our skin and our diet, Nicolas Perricone designed the "Salmon Diet," which if practiced during 3 days only, as it is rich in Omega 3 and 6, can leave your skin totally renovated and illuminated. 

Hydration is extremely important too and it has to do with the water given by the blood stream to our skin, together with oxygen and nutrients. You must drink plenty of not-contaminated, sodium-free water. Water helps us eliminate toxins. avoids dehydration and acts as a transport to nutrients. Creams and other external emulsions help fix water on our skin, avoiding evaporation while providing elasticity.
If you are disciplined and constant and start taking care of your skin at an early age, then there won't be any need for surgeries. Think of it as an investment. Surgeries won't be able to fix what we have neglected over the years. Barney Kenet, a dermatologist from New York, once told me that surgeries just move wrinkles from on place to another. A good lifting goes unnoticed: it would rejuvenate and renovate our face without changing its features. Today's methods seek less invasive techniques as botox, laser or LED.
But then again, no matter how expensive the technique could be, nothing will be successful if you don't complement it with a good diet, a complete work-out routine and deep self-consciousness.