July’s Quick Tip: Quench Your Skin From The Inside Out

As the days grow warmer and we spend more time out in the sun, this month’s quick tip is a reminder to drink plenty of water.  Well-hydrated skin is able to protect itself better from the summer heat.  Read more about the Wonders of Water here.

Swimsuit Season Is Here; Tan Without Exposing Yourself To The Sun

This week marks the official beginning of summer.

Especially here in California, we really do enjoy our golden glow!  Unfortunately, 90% of the aging factor is caused by UVA and UVB exposure.  The good news is auto-bronzers have a come a millennium from where they were a few years ago; gone are the days of embarrassing orange streaks and palms.  Nowadays, the golden brown tan that used to take 2 – 3 weeks sitting out in the sun can be achieved indoors in 2 – 3 hours with a high quality self-tanner.

A few simple steps will help ensure a smooth, even tan.

1. Start with a tinted auto-bronzer so you can immediately see where you are placing it, and easily correct mistakes if any.
2. Exfoliate in the shower with a loofah or loofah mitts, especially around the elbows and knees.
3. Place a small amount of your daily moisturizer or lotion on elbows, knees, belly button, and top of feet to create a thin barrier.
4. Use gloves to apply auto-bronzer evenly and eliminate excess with a cloth.

Among the many excellent self-tanning products available, my recommendation is the St. Tropez brand for the most natural-looking color and a long-time favorite of celebrities and models.

June’s Quick Tip: Show Dad You Care With A Healthy Gift

With Father’s Day just around the corner and June being Men’s Health month, the best way to show Dad you care is to help him do what he enjoys most.  If he has a hobby that involves any type of physical activity or gets him outdoors, you may be able to increase his level of exercise with a related or necessary accessory, whether this be a pair of new gardening gloves or a set of golf balls.  Some dads might appreciate a subscription to a men’s health magazine or a book on the benefits of vitamin supplements and a healthful diet.

Dads can also go to the “Men’s Skincare” category of my blog to read articles I have written that are applicable to men’s skin.  Don’t delay, say thanks to your dad today!

Exclusive Haxton’s Skincare Now Available Online

I am pleased to announce that my new e-commerce site is up and running at www.haxtons-skincare.com.  I am also offering a discount of 15% off purchases of two items or more until Friday, December 19, 2008 to commemorate the launch of the new site and assist with last-minute holiday gift shopping efforts!  There is no need to enter in a promo code or coupon code; the discount will automatically be applied when an order is placed.  Packages that are already discounted, such as the Face Lift Trio and the complete Reverse Time Collection, each count as one item.

Happy Holidays!

Shaving Suggestions for Men

Recently, I received this e-mail question from a male client: “Richard, after shaving I get a lot of ingrown hairs and my skin suffers from redness that seem to take a couple hours to go away. What would you recommend?”

To avoid ingrown hairs, switch to a single-edged razor instead of a double-edge. With a double-edged razor, the first blade pulls the hair upwards and the second blade cuts it below the skin. When that hair grows, it has a good chance of growing against the follicle under the skin.

Redness is probably caused by a dull blade, or due to the alcohol content in common shaving products. Alcohol dries out the skin and takes away the natural acid mantle which protects skin from the elements; for this reason, my formulations are all herbal-based. Check the ingredients in your shaving products and try different products if necessary.

By the way, if you use an electrical shaver, you may experience similar problems with ingrown hair and redness if you allow the shaver to get too warm during the shaving process. Stop and let the shaver cool down as often as necessary.

The Importance of Facial Massage

A popular treatment that is typically combined with common facial treatments such as European facials is facial massage. Massage is extremely effective at helping to cleanse the skin of impurities and nourishes the skin and all its structures by stimulating blood circulation. Massage also reduces fat cells in the subcutaneous tissue, which helps to firm the skin and its underlying tissue.

By promoting warmth, and increasing the blood supply and circulation, massage increases the secretion of sebum and perspiration, which in turn opens the pores. This makes waste products, dirt, grease and other impurities easier to remove. Massage also makes the skin softer and more pliable, toning muscles and slowing the aging of the skin. By depleting excess fluids in the tissues, massage also reduces puffiness. Facial massage is a critical part of the treatment process that helps the skin to retain a dewy, youthful look and improve its texture.

What is a Bio-Peptide and What Does It Do?

I am often asked, “What is a bio-peptide,” and “What are the benefits of using bio-peptides in skin care products?”

A peptide is a chain of two or more amino acids joined together that build protein. Bio-peptide is a term for biologically active compounds that are chemically altered protein fragments. Peptides can be of a natural substance as well as chemically engineered.

The benefits of bio-peptides in skin care products are important:

• Peptides are thought to stimulate cell activity by interacting with molecules that can signal cells to produce more collagen (a type of structural protein), thereby playing a role in building collagen, stimulating cell renewal and cell turnover, and diminishing wrinkles and rosacea.
• Peptides act as a messenger between the top-most layer of skin or epidermis, and the dermis, which is the layer of connective tissue just below the epidermis. This epidermal-dermal communication is important as it naturally breaks down as we age, and the breakdown in dialogue is one of the causes of aging.
• Peptides increase the synthesis of the dermal matrix molecules that are essential to preserving the skin’s youth. These increases are substantial: as much as 287% for Glycosaminoglycans, 117% for Collagen I, and 327% for Collagen IV.

Finally, amino acids in general help retain moisture in the skin and enhance the circulatory process. I hope this brief explanation helps you better understand the unique role of bio-peptides in skin care.  If you have any questions, just ask!

The “Secret of the Stars”

Another popular treatment commonly referred to as the “secret of the stars” is the therapeutic lymphatic facial, which was extremely popular among celebrities last week before Emmy night. As we age, we exercise to keep our waistline trim, but despite those efforts our face gets bigger because we tend to hold fluids in our face. The lymphatic system removes waste material and excess fluids in the deeper layers of our skin. This treatment combines a unique massage and application of facial products, allowing healthier fluids and nutrients to enter skin tissue.

Therapeutic lymphatic facials give the skin a healthy glow, reduces fluid retention that commonly cause facial puffiness, and also minimizes lines and wrinkles, balances oily or dry skin and controls acne.

The “Lunchtime Face Lift”

Microdermabrasion, commonly referred to as the “lunchtime face lift,” has proven to be a highly successful treatment for giving your face a refreshed, youthful appearance. It helps soften facial lines, reduce acne scarring, and improves sun-damaged skin.

With microdermabrasion, the skin quality is improved through resurfacing. The process draws up the skin and then abrades it superficially with minerals such as aluminum oxide crystals — the second-hardest substance next to diamonds. Unlike chemical peels, which have proven to be unsuitable for some skin types, microdermabrasion can be adjusted and customized according to the needs of the skin being treated. In addition, it’s perfect for all ethnic skin types who are not candidates for chemical peels or laser resurfacing because their skin contains high levels of melanin and they are also prone to side effects such as keloid scarring, uneven skin tone or hyper-pigmentation.

It’s a safe, gentle and effective alternative to invasive chemical and laser peels. It can be done in an hour, and there is minimal redness and usually no peeling. Microdermabrasion is typically done as a series of 6 – 12 treatments. Requiring no anesthesia, it’s painless way and only leaves the skin looking flushed for a few hours.

Alternatives to Plastic Surgery

We’re highly accustomed to seeing our favorite celebrities suddenly looking great and far less aged than their last appearances. The easy conclusion: a face lift. Someone looks fabulous and we think they might have had cosmetic surgery. With today’s advances in skincare treatments, it’s hard to tell. Progressive skincare treatments such as microdermabrasion or therapeutic lymphatic facials are ideal. Not only do these procedures erase the effects of aging, but they allow people to maintain a high level of discretion, especially those who are unable (or unwilling) to take a lot of time off to have an invasive procedure such as plastic surgery. These alternative treatments can typically be done in one-hour sessions and only require weekly and monthly maintenance. I will describe a few of these treatments in upcoming entries.