Mar 23 2017 
When “Doing It All Mom’s” Often Neglect Themselves
Who Runs the World? Girls!
Beyoncé said it best in her hit song “Run the World (Girls).” Woman these days are professional multi-taskers that really can do it all. They raise children, advance their careers, care for extended family members and friends and manage their households. It is no wonder being overworked and exhausted is a popular topic among women.
Women will ensure everybody in the family is healthy, physically, mentally and emotionally, except themselves. This self-neglect can leave them more vulnerable to depression, anxiety and physical ailments as well. There is always something or someone to attend to, but mom is often abandoning or rearranging her own appointments to accommodate someone else’s schedule.
Research has revealed that it is not surprising that women do not make time to care for themselves. Dr. Gail Saltz, Psychiatrist, says many women often feel guilty about taking time for themselves. “There is some maternal ideal of being self-sacrificing that just isn’t consistent with having time for yourself,” she said. She believes the women need to distinguish between being selfish in a bad way and being selfish in a healthy way. “You have to put on your oxygen mask first,” she says. “If you go to pieces, everyone is going down with you. So you have to give time to yourself. That is healthy, not selfish or narcissistic. That is a tough concept for a lot of women.”
Not having enough time always seem to be the culprit for why women put themselves last. However, studies reveal that even taking as little as 15 to 30 minute a day will help women relieve stress. The most effective way to allot time for you each day is to build it into a schedule. To achieve success, you must know what works for you. Activities such as exercise, meditation, listening to music or taking a bath can promote relaxation.
Dr. Janet Taylor, Psychiatrist, recommends a writing exercise for women who find taking time for themselves to be challenging. Begin by listing everything you do during the day on one side and then list everything you would like to do on the other side.
Lastly, compare the two sides and adjust your everyday routine to incorporate at least one item from the “would like to do” list. “It’s about changing your mindset,” Taylor says. “We have to learn to put ourselves at the top of the to-do list.”
As a final thought, if you were going to pick one activity for yourself, what would it be? Master how to take care of yourself before attempting to care for others. Consider the critical message that a flight attendant makes prior to takeoff. Secure your own safety first. In that same vein, consider your needs as well as others as you prepare to tackle each new day. Living in a chronically exhausted, unhappy, frustrated, and distracted state is not doing your loved ones any favors. Only then, will you be stronger for it.
Mar 13 2017 
Serious Skin Care – How deep do your products go?
Serious Skincare Solutions – How deep do your products go?
Most women can agree that the plethora of skincare options out there can be extremely overwhelming. Every time you turn around there is a new, groundbreaking skincare product promising to work miracles on your skin. There are various philosophies on what constitutes the best skincare routine and what types of products should be utilized. We want to set the record straight when it comes to buying medical grade skincare products, as opposed to cosmeceutical skincare products.
What you are currently putting on your skin may not be completely off base, but it may not be the best solution for your skin or skin concerns, particularly if you are using products that have not been vetted properly. Also, there is no magic mushroom remedy when it comes to correcting specific skin problems such as acne or melasma. The best way to achieve healthy skin can be a challenge. You must be dedicated to utilizing effective products, receiving monthly medical skincare treatments and maintaining a healthy diet. Simple, right?
The main difference that medical grade skincare products offer is that they have the highest concentrations of active ingredients and a potent method for delivering ingredients, that’s already been built into the product. For example, if you purchase a vitamin C product to boost your sun protection and to brighten your skin, L-Ascorbic Acid is the key ingredient to achieving this goal. If you purchase a Vitamin C product from Sephora, you may be getting a very small percentage of the ingredient that is needed and most of the product is made up of filler products and water. Now let’s compare to a medical grade Vitamin C serum such as Obagi Professional C-Serums 15%. These topical formulations contain a stable form of L-Ascorbic Acid. There are many forms of Vitamin C, but L-Ascorbic Acid is the most bioavailable. This means it is better absorbed by the skin and can target necessary areas more effectively than standard cosmeceutical products. You can see that it is much more efficient to implement products that will work on your skin and provide a desired outcome.
Over the counter products such as Rodan & Fields are only approved to treat the surface layer of the skin, while medical grade products reach the deep layers of the skin. Whether you’re challenged with acne, aging skin, rosacea or melasma, we recommend reallocating your beauty dollars to investing in products that will treat your skin concerns on the deepest level. This means that when your skin cells turn over, the new skin that has been corrected by your products is revealed, unlike with cosmeceutical products, which only treat the most superficial layer of your skin.
For example, Obagi Blender is designed to be blended with a Retin-A or a Retinol. Again, it is all about the delivery system. The blender takes the Retin-A or Retinol deep into the skin to correct hyperpigmentation and other aging concerns. If you only correct the top layer and not the bottom layers, once the skin cells turnover, hyperpigmentation from the bottom layer will inch its way to the top again.
Lastly, when you buy products at an aesthetic medical practice, you can be confident that the products work because of the proven statistics, science, and clinical knowledge to back the products. Also, the medical aestheticians, nurses and doctors who are recommending these products to you are professionals in the skincare industry and have gone through extensive training to have enough knowledge to advise on right products for your skin.
If you choose to purchase your skincare products from Arbonne, Mary Kay or a similar company, the sales associate may not know the efficacy of the products or the way the ingredients work with the pH of your skin. Trained medical professionals have extensively studied skincare and are educated about the ingredients in the products they recommend and how they will perform on your specific skin type.
The best first step to a solid, effective skincare routine is to meet with your medical professional for a thorough skin analysis. They will recommend a custom treatment and skincare plan.
Mar 02 2017 
Achieve Younger Looking Lips
A Guide to Younger Looking Lips
Your mouth may do the talking, but don’t let it tell your age. The lips can impact the overall youthfulness of the face. It can be an easy oversight, but taking care of your lips should be part of your skincare routine. The hallmark signs of aging lips include dryness, distress lines and loss of volume. Today, plumper, prettier lips can be achieved from makeup to skin care to medical treatments. Your lips can avoid the signs of aging with 5 different types of treatments. Below is a quick treatment guide on how to perfect your pout.
- Exfoliate
Many of us are already aware of the importance of hydration when it comes to plump, vibrant looking skin. However, it is common for many to skip the crucial first step, exfoliation, for achieving more youthful looking lips. This rule applies to the skin of your lips just as it does your face. If exfoliation is overlooked, your favorite lip balms will sit on top of the dead skin and will not be able to effectively moisturize your lips.
- Nourish
Applying a hydrating mask after exfoliation is a great way to nourish your lips. To start the day right, consider an overnight lip mask that helps repair your lips while you sleep. This will restore, by infusing hydration into your lips, resulting in a healthier appearance.
- Go Natural
A lip balm composed of all natural ingredients such as oat oil, shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax should be applied throughout the day. Unfortunately, many lip products contain unnatural ingredients such as alcohol, which causes dehydration and my even lead to crinkling or cracking lips. Finally, your lips should be protected daily from the sun with an SPF of 15 or higher.
- Erase Fine Lines
Those pesky fine lines around the lip area continue to become etched into our skin when we talk, laugh and eat. Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption exacerbates this problem greatly. Botox and filler such as JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC can be utilized to soften these lines and create a more rejuvenated appearance.
- Plump
When we are young, our skin is very plump due to an increased amount of collagen and hyaluronic acid. As we grow older, our lips get thinner and flatten. The most effective method for achieving fuller lips for a substantial amount of time is with dermal fillers such as Restylane® Silk or JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC. These dermal fillers mimic the natural feel of your lips and are specifically designed to add volume and fullness back into the lips.
