With holiday parties upon us there will be a lot of kissing hello and goodbye this season, not to mention under the mistletoe!! Who wants to reapply lip gloss after every smooch? Now we don’t have to thanks to Covergirl’s Outlast Lipstain.  Winner of Shape Magazine’s ‘Shape of Beauty Award 2009’ this water based, long lasting and lightweight gloss allows for easy application with its pen-like precision.  Created in 9 gorgeous colors this is sure to be a holiday party hit.  Also makes for a great stocking stuffer!

free-trial-anti-aging-anti-wrinkle

We found an exciting new alternative to Botox! Keep reading ladies (and gentlemen)! You’ll find an over-the-counter product that will finally treat fine lines and wrinkles WITHOUT Botox injections...

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A few years ago non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation made the headlines when the world found out why Priscilla Presley looked like her face was deformed. The unfortunate thing about this whole story is the fact that someone who is that wealthy fell victim to an unscrupulous sleek doctor from Argentina.

If you didn’t read the details of the story, allow me to give you a quick overview: in 2003, the smooth-talking doctor who had befriended many of Hollywood A-listers started injecting some of the wealthiest women with the “miracle injections” that he claimed to be better than Botox Cosmetic.

Dr. Daniel Serrano’s concoction was nothing more that low-grade silicone that is very similar to what’s used in his native Argentina to lubricate auto parts! He was charging between $300 to $500 for each injection and he was able to fool people like Shawn King (Larry King’s wife) and Diane Richie (Lionel Richie’s ex-wife).  Dr. Serrano’s smuggled mixture was NOT approved by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration bureau in the U.S.) and he was NOT even licensed to practice in the US.

UPDATE FOR ALL OUR READERS FROM THE EDITORS AT MYBEAUTYMATCH- If you’re considering Botox but are nervous about the injections and/or having a surgical procedure, the product Bellaplex is a great option. It’s gotten rave reviews from women who’ve used it and they are now offering a free trial until August 26th 2010.

Here’s what one reviewer wrote: “I have lines on the lower part of my face and did not want to try Botox. I researched various products on the internet and really liked the testimonials I read on Bellaplex. I decided to go ahead and try it. I have been using the product now for 30 days and I can really see a difference. I signed up for the auto-ship so I don’t have to worry about ever running out. I can’t wait to see how I look after using this product for 6 months!” Margie B.

These stories are always unsettling because they give way to a lot of false rumours and a lot of misconceptions. It’s also very detrimental to the image of qualified and reputable cosmetic doctors.

bellaplex anti wrinkle best cream

When you add the ease at which most of us can share information via the internet to stories like Priscilla Presley’s, then you quickly find yourself with a lot of inaccurate information disseminated by unqualified people.

I consulted with cosmetic dermatologist and FACE Institute steering committee member Dr. Nowell J. Solish to help set the record straight and answer a lot of questions that people have about Botox Cosmetic.

I wanted to focus on the safety of using Botox treatments as an anti-aging solution:

Why are non-surgical cosmetic treatments so controversial?

Dr. Solish:  I don’t think these treatments are controversial.  But many people are confused about their non-surgical cosmetic treatment options. People are overwhelmed by cosmetic treatment information and aren’t sure who to talk to about their treatment options, how specific treatments work and the best treatments for them.  In fact, the recent FACE Institute Cosmetic Enhancement Survey found that more than half (57 per cent) of Canadian women are confused by their cosmetic treatment options and many don’t know what treatment options are available through doctors. Consumers need to be better educated about their cosmetic treatment options and understand the benefits, pros and cons, and results of the best treatments for them.

Are there any myths about non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as Botox Cosmetic?

Yes, there are many myths about non-surgical cosmetic treatments. For example, many people are confused by Botox Cosmetic. They aren’t sure how Botox differs from other treatments such as facial fillers. Also, they don’t seem to realize that with an 18-year safety history, Botox Cosmetic is very safe and has been used on millions of people around the world. Many people may not be able to decipher credible information on non-surgical procedures from what they might hear on television, from friends, in magazines, etc.

What is Botox Cosmetic?

Botox Cosmetic is a purified protein and a medical prescription product that has been approved by Health Canada. Unlike facial fillers, Botox doesn’t fill in facial lines or restore volume loss; it is used to relax the facial muscles that cause deep lines and wrinkles.

How does Botox Cosmetic work?

Botox Cosmetic relaxes the muscles underneath the skin that cause frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic treatments around the eyes and forehead can be used in combination with dermal facial fillers (such as Juvéderm Ultra and Ultra Plus) which are used around the nose and mouth for total facial rejuvenation.

Botox treatments usually take about ten minutes, and around three to seven days to take effect. Results can last approximately four to six months.

Are Botox treatments safe?

Botox Cosmetic has a long and well-established safety history. While you may only know Botox Cosmetic as a wrinkle treatment, it has actually been in use for over 18 years for the effective treatment of a range of aesthetic and medical conditions and is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world.

Botox Cosmetic is the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America with an estimated 15 million treatments performed since it was first approved.

Can Botox treatments leave me looking “startled” or frozen like some celebrities?

Botox Cosmetic is intended to enhance the way a person looks, not change it. When administered properly by an experienced physician, the results look natural – you can still smile, frown and animate. People who look ‘startled’ or ‘frozen’ may have received too much treatment or may have visited a physician who used improper treatments or techniques. The treatment only relaxes the muscle beneath the lines at the point of injection, so the other elements of facial expression remain active.

After hearing about Priscilla Presley’s story, can you explain the importance of finding a qualified physician and suggest how consumers can easily locate one?

>>> If you are looking for an alternative to Botox, you will surely want to take a look at this free trial offer: Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

All successful treatments should begin with a one-on-one consultation with a well-trained aesthetic-specialty physician in a proper medical setting (for example, a board certified specialist, a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon). Botox is a technique sensitive procedure so you should make sure to discuss your treatment expectations and optimal results with your physician.

If you’re interested in alternatives to Botox:

Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what other reviewers reported after using the product:

“I am 41 and have been noticing fine lines around my eyes and deeper lines on my forehead and in my smile lines. I also have sun damage and acne. I have tried 2 other product lines with some improvements. I read the reviews and decided to try the Bellaplex trial offer. I am pleased with this product. My skin texture is now very smooth, the lines have started to ease, and the newer acne scars and sun damage are much less noticeable. I have noticed this all with 2 weeks use. The product goes a long way. I am still wearing makeup to cover, but I am hopeful that I may finally be able to give up constant makeup touch ups! Thank you! Can’t wait to see what Hydrolyze does for my dark circles.” Brenda K.

“After spending hundreds of dollars on skincare products and seeing minimal results, I decided to give Bellaplex cream a try. I have struggled with adult acne since my 30′s; now at age 41 I am also starting to see aging lines around my eyes and between my eyebrows. I have been using Bellaplex for two weeks now (7-day free trial and now on auto-ship) and honestly cannot believe the turn around my skin has already taken. Not only have the fine lines diminished, but I have not had one breakout since starting the product and I also have seen a drastic change in my skin tone. The original purchase was to treat the fine lines but I have experienced results far beyond. I will never stop using Bellaplex, as it is well worth every penny.” Mary C.

“I became interested in Bellaplex when I saw the ingredients it contained, specifically peptides – Matrix 3000. I am 46 years old and have noticeable wrinkles beginning to set in. I received my first order of Bellaplex 3 1/2 weeks ago and have used your product 2 times a day since then. I have noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my lips, and some improvement in the deeper facial expression lines. I plan on continuing to use Bellaplex to see it’s full effects with the continued use. So far I am happy with the results and hope to see even more.” Susan Y.

Bellaplex vs. Botox comparison

Bellaplex vs. Botox comparison – taken from manufacturer’s website

>>> If you are looking for an alternative to Botox, you will surely want to take a look at this free trial offer: Bellaplex® is a true Botox® alternative

The 47-year-old unemployed women from West Lothian (Scotland) has become an overnight sensation and her life is soon to be an open book to the world (I hope she’s ready for the bumpy ride).

I think the reason why some many people (100 million downloads on You Tube and counting) are so fascinated by Susan Boyle is because she doesn’t “look” like your typical songstress. She’s like the underdog that everyone dismissed and now she’s come on top in her late 40s!!!

That said, if she is to win the competition on “Britain’s Got Talent” 2009 she’s going to have to step up her fashion and beauty game or else she’ll be fed to the (media and blogging community) wolves.

I have no doubt that Simon Cowell must have a few stylists ready and waiting to transform Miss Boyle into a new woman … a bit like the well-documented transformation of Sharon Osbourne (Ozzie Osbourne’s better half and a judge on the American version of “American’s Got Talent”).

In anticipation of this eventful day, I thought I take a stab at transforming Susan Boyle.

I’ve decided to give her two types of transformations: 1) a simple one that you would expect to see on those before and after shows with gifted stylists 2) one that would not as dramatic as “Extreme Makeover”, but there would be visits to cosmetic doctors.

Some readers might not agree with this post and may feel (like Rosie O’Donnell) that we should all leave her looking the way she looks now, but I disagree … Susan Boyle has a chance to look like a better version of herself … so why shouldn’t she???

Susan Boyle, you NEED to wear a bra!

Before I go into any type of makeup over tips for Susan Boyle, may I boldly say that no woman her age should be prancing around without a bra! That’s a crime against fashion and young children should not be subject by this kind of exposure. Not to mention that her not wearing a bra is not doing anything to fight gravity.

Here’s a photo of her that I found on TMZ showing her bra-less: Susan Boyle with no bra

>>>Simple Makeover<<<

This is more like a makeover you might see on “What Not to Wear” or “Style by Jury”.

1) Wardrobe: We need to burn that entire wardrobe and start fresh. Yes, she’s 47, but she’s dressing like she was 97. She’s still young and if she were to work with one of Britain’s top stylists, I’m 100 per cent certain Susan Boyle would look quite stylish. Someone also needs to introduce this woman to colour. Those beige shades she is wearing are doing NOTHING AT ALL for her.  She’s been seen recently in London wearing more stylish clothes, but there is still A LOT of room for improvement.

Here’s the photo here: And you said you wouldn’t change, Susan Boyle! Britain’s Got Talent star shows off her new look

2) Jewellery: Susan Boyle needs accessories that are more modern and more stylish. Now, I’m not saying that fakes cannot look great … trust me, I’ve got my share of fake jewellery and trust me they look as good as my real jewellery (aka jewellery with precious stones and precious metal). The thing with Susan Boyle is that her fakes look a bit dated … again a bit of colour would go a long way to enhance her complexion.

3) Shoes: When I watched the videos and saw her walk onto the stage, I gasped when I saw her shoes. I can understand if she were a 90-year-old grandmother (and even 90-year-old grandmothers are kicking it up a notch when it comes to fashion these days), I might be more accepting, but Susan Boyle has no reason for wearing such matronly shoes.  She lives in Europe and has access to some of the BEST shoe designers on the planet. She doesn’t have to learn to walk in 6 inch heels (a la Gwyneth Paltrow), but she can wear stylist flats or kitten heels that are still comfortable.

4) Facial/Manicure/Pedicure: YES TO ALL OF THOSE! A day at the spa will do a lot of good for Susan Boyle.

5) Eyebrows: They are so unruly that I needed a separate section for this. At the spa (which I recommend earlier), I’m 100 per cent certain that someone will advise her on proper eyebrow grooming. There is no doubt that Susan will be in a lot of pain because I don’t think she’s ever waxed or tweezed those eyebrows!

6) Hair: She needs an updated cut, she should get her hair coloured (and it doesn’t have to be permanent hair colour) and she needs to learn to use styling products. She might also need to buy a flat iron because I have a feeling she might be using old fashion rollers, but given her short hair and her lack of knowledge her hairstyle looks dated and ages her by 20 years.

7) Makeup: Susan Boyle should wear a foundation that can help even out her skin. She has a lot of redness and it’s dominating her face. She should also use a bit of eye colour and mascara to open her eyes. She seems that have quite thin lips and yes she could get fillers to plump up her lips (but it doesn’t work for everyone), but if she applies a bit of colour on her lips, then they will stand out more and will give her face a bit more definition.

>>>Cosmetic Rejuvenation Makeover<<<

I have watched Extreme Makeover a few times and every time it’s always been a shock to me how people can endure so much pain to look like a complete stranger. I will be far kinder to Susan Boyle and will not transform her in a way her own parents could not recognize, but I will follow the rules of Style by Jury where there is some cosmetic rejuvenation to enhance what she already has instead of transforming her into a person who doesn’t remotely look like her.

1) Cosmetic dentistry: From photos I’ve seen, Susan Boyle seems to have good teeth. I’d say a visit to a cosmetic dentist for some professional whitening should do the trick. Of course, while she’s there the dentist will make sure that her teeth and gums are healthy. Given that she’s approaching her 50s, if Susan Boyle had not taken care of her smile, there might be a lot more work involved. Gum disease is a concern for Baby Boomers and issues with your gum can permeate to other aspects of your health.

2) Cosmetic rejuvenation: From the colour of her skin, I suspect that Susan Boyle suffers from either rosacea or sun exposure or both. A cosmetic doctor would be able to even out her skin with lasers or peels. It is possible that some doctors might want to add volume and contouring to her face with some filler injections, but I think that as a singer no one should approach her face with Botox or else the emotion on her face will be lost and that’s just wrong if you are a singer. Injectable fillers are a better way to go for Susan Boyle. Given the severity of the redness on her face, I suspect that she’ll need a number of corrective treatments before starting a series of maintenance treatments.

3) Nutrition/fitness regime: I don’t think I’d expect Susan Boyle to transform her body à la Madonna, but I do believe that working with a personal trainer will help her body sustain the pressure of being on stage and possibly touring the world. She would also look a lot more toned in her clothes. I’m not talking about her losing 50 lbs, but if she does exercise she’ll replace the fat with muscle and her body will look completely different.

Given her age, I think Susan Boyle would find it beneficial to work with a nutritionist … because as she approaches menopause, her body will require certain essential foods, vitamins and antioxidants.

I would not subject Susan Boyle to liposuction or anything dramatic like that. I have noticed that she has a prominent double chin, but that’s something that can EASILY be fixed if she works with personal trainer and starts shedding a few pounds.

karon_kitchener_botox_gone_bad

In my opinion, birthdays after the age of 35 and having to face dating again after a divorce or a break-up as you age are top on my list. I’d say that milestone birthday like 40, 50 or 60 might also be right up there.

Let me start with the birthdays after 35 – I think that you look at yourself and wonder if you are getting better or getting older and sometimes insecurities creep up and make you unsure of the image that is reflected in the mirror.

When it comes to a divorce or a break-up of a long term relationship … nothing beats your self-confidence more than knowing that you will have to start the dating process all over again with strangers who in their head will compare you to others and might judge the way you look.

That said, it’s only until I read the story of Karon Kitchener that I realized how it made sense that a woman over 45 who was planning on getting married again would want a bit of enhancement to look more youthful on her wedding photos.

It seems from Karon’s shocking story that she got way more than she bargained for. After booking a session for injectable fillers to look more youthful, the British Baby Boomer found herself permanently disfigured on the left side of her face!!!!

“I wanted to look my best for my wedding. I didn’t want anything as drastic as a facelift, but I had read about these fillers and decided to have some injected into my cheeks.” – Karon Kitchener.

It’s clear from her description of events that the solution that was injected in her body didn’t work for her because it seems the solution was travelling upwards to her eyes in an effort to leave her body.

In Britain the injectable fillers’ industry is unregulated and there are close to 75 different solutions that cosmetic doctors can use to rejuvenate their clients. This is quite shocking to me.

In America the industry is very regulated because injectables are considered a medical procedure. There are surely a few bad cases, but overall the FDA is regulating these types of solutions … only eight have been approved for use in the USA. In Canada, there are two solutions because the industry is quite regulated and it takes a lot for Health Canada to agree to anything. Your (qualified and certified) cosmetic doctor will either use Juvederm® or Restylane®.

This story gets even sadder. The fact that Karon knows that every single day she’ll be looking at a mutilated face is not the only worry she has. In the past three years, she’s undergone several surgeries to try to repair her face AND she’s postponed her wedding. Her confidence is at an all time low and she’s also had to deal with a string of infections and more scarring!!!

The Daily Mail article also features Sarah Payne (60) and Susie Woods (40) two other women dealing with the nightmarish aftermath of botched cosmetic enhancement procedures.

I think it’s important to read for your own knowledge. It’s obviously a must-read for British readers.

If you’re not convinced yet that you should take time to read this Daily Mail article, here’s what a prominent London-based plastic surgeon had to say:

“I’m currently seeing 20 patients who are undergoing continuing treatment to remove lumps of filler which have ‘migrated’ around their bodies.” — Dr. Christopher Inglefield.

You can read the entire article here: I tried to turn back time with a wrinkle jab… but it wrecked my life and left me facially disfigured

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1161328/I-tried-turn-time-wrinkle-jab–wrecked-life-left-facially-disfigured.html

Photo by Ben Lester from the Daily Mail

botox_cosmetic_surgery_christina_christoforou

Unless you have that kind of discretionary income because you are extremely successful in your own right or if you are married to a man who has a boat load of money … there is no need to put out that kind of money and get yourself in financial trouble in an attempt to look perfect! There are much simpler ways.

When I read this story from my favourite U.K. online newspaper Daily Mail, I thought this was absolutely insane … the fact that this money could help feed a small village was even more shocking given the state of the economy at the time I read the article.

I’ve known for a while now that British women will spend a lot of money when it comes to beauty, skincare and other beauty-enhancement therapies, but I had no clue anyone would go as far at Christina Christoforou unless they made a living off of the way they look like let’s say Elizabeth Hurley, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow or Cate Blanchett.

It’s true that the London resident is an owner of a spa, it’s also true that Christina is from Cyprus and Cyprus women just like their Greek, Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish, Egyptian and Israeli cousins take their beauty regime very seriously and it’s true that body-upkeep has become in recent years some sort of a hobby for many women, but does it really justify all that money wasted on “looking good”?

One thing I forgot to mention is that Christina is only 30, so that begs the question: “what the heck will she be spending on body upkeep in 10 years when there will be far more to upkeep?”

She’s already doing Botox Cosmetic^TM shots on her neck, forehead and around her eyes and she’s also indulging in derma fillers to define her chin and cheekbones … and at 30 … things have NOT yet started to shift position.

The numbers Christina spends on herself are eye-popping and jaw-dropping: almost $700 per year on all Givenchy make-up, $1,254 per year of pedicures, $2,757 per year on two sessions of Liposmooth at $1,378 each treatment, $2,757 on a membership at the Grove Hotel’s spa, $3,115 per year on La Prairie skincare and SkinCeuticals and list goes on.

For the love of God, that is some serious money dropped on looking good. I assume if you have the money, you can really do whatever you want with it because it’s yours to burn however you which. I have a few years on Christina and I can assure you that my beauty budget doesn’t come near hers and I can also assure you that on a face-off I’d win … because on my MUCH-MUCH-MUCH smaller beauty budget … I *think I* look way better for way less (and I’m sure my confidence levels is much higher than hers because I don’t feel the need to drop those ridiculous numbers on looking good … again … if I were Halle Berry that would be a different story).

If I had all that money to spend on myself, I probably would, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I would donate just as much to charities and organisations that help those who have less. It might not be my place to judge … but I surely hope that Christina doesn’t selfishly spend all her money on herself without giving something back.

So what do you think? Is this kind of spending a bit over the top?

Here’s the original post from the Daily Mail if you want to read about the other things Christina spends her money on: How much does it cost to run your body?

Photo by Vincent Boiteau

That said, there are some celebs who openly admit to having a bit of help in keeping their youthful look.

It’s a dog-eat-dog-world in Hollywood and I may be all philosophical about aging and I may spend a lot of time on my site pushing the virtues of aging well, but then again I do not make my living in front of the camera.

I will openly admit to my readers that I’ve never had any nip, tuck or injections done not because I’m opposed to the idea or feel that I want to age gracefully, but simply because I don’t feel I need it. As long as I keep looking much younger than my real age … then I’ll only be visiting my cosmetic doctor to help me deal with my acne scars.

If all of a sudden I found myself hosting Beauty Match TV as a real TV show and if I had to see myself on a 50′ inch flat screen HDTV, perhaps I too might be begging my cosmetic doctor for injection fillers and Botox Cosmetic^TM.

You have celebrities such as Angelica Houston and Joan Collins who have tried Botox once or twice and didn’t like the experience and then you have socialites such as Ivana Trump who dodges the question all together when it’s clear she was NOT born with the face she currently has because a) she’s looking a lot like Joan Rivers these days b) no one is born (or ages) with a face that puffy!

Let’s not forget Nicole Kidman who conveniently keeps her lips shut when it comes to admitting or denying her obvious overindulgence in Botox injections!

Then you have stars like Patricia Heaton from the sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond (51, born March 4, 1958) and Sharon Osborne (56, born October 9, 1952) who are very open about their plastic surgeries and the injections they get on a regular basis to keep a youthful appearance on camera. The thing with those two stars is that they still look quite natural and do NOT frighten small children like Joan Rivers does.

There are a number of Hollywood actresses who have come clean about their use of injections:

1) Lisa Rinna (45, born July 11, 1963): we had featured Lisa on the site and you can read her take on the beauty industry here: Does Lisa Rinna regret her plastic surgery enhancements?

lisa rinna botox plastic surgery

2) Linda Evangelista (43, born May 10, 1965): This Canadian supermodel is not shy in admitting that it’s not only her Italian good genes helping her age well.

You can read more on Linda Evangelista here: A Canadian supermodel is redefining beauty in her forties

linda_evangelista

3) Jenny McCarthy (36, born November 1, 1972): Jenny has always been extremely outspoken so it’s no surprise she feels comfortable sharing with the public that when it comes to remaining wrinkle-free … she’s getting some help from her cosmetic surgeon!

jenny_mccarthy

4) Daisy Fuentes (42, born November 17, 1966): The Cuban beauty is not shy in admitting that as she ages, she thinks that a little Botox is not such a bad thing.

daisy_fuentes

5) Jennie Garth (37, born April 3, 1972): Perhaps having to be surrounded by 20-something girls on the set of the new 90210 series has prompted Jennie to seek the help of a cosmetic doctor to help her look as young as the other cast members on the show!

jennie_garth

6) Vanessa Williams (46, born March 18, 1963): With each new season change, Vanessa Williams makes a trip to her cosmetic doctor to get some Botox injections! The villainess of the now defunct Ugly Betty show is not leaving it to chances when it comes to controlling how she looks as she ages.

vanessa_williams

7) Kelly Ripa (38, born October 2, 1970): She got her Botox injections live on the Regis and Kelly Show!

kelly_ripa

#8) Virginia Madsen (47, born September 11, 1961): Virginia became the spokesperson for Allergan the maker of Botox Cosmetic^TM to let women know that Botox CAN actually look very natural when it’s well done and you don’t have to scare young children with a frozen looking face.

I’d love to put all the stars from “Desperate Housewives” on this list, but then it would fall under the “rumour” category since lips are sealed on the set of Wisteria Lane on the subject of beauty injections … even when foreheads aren’t moving and lips seem to be getting plumper with each new episode!

At least I’m happy to see that the “REAL Housewives of Orange County” aren’t shy one bit in not only admitting to their love of all things relating to beauty injections, but they even let the cameras on their little beauty escapades!

Photo source: Jennie Garth, Daisy Fuentes and Lisa Rinna from Wikipedia

Photo of Kelly Ripa by keithwills

I’ve waited for this day for so long and when I woke up on April 2nd I could barely contain my excitement because I was finally going to see a cosmetic doctor for my acne scars!

If you’ve been following my daily beauty banters than you know that I hate having to deal with acne as an adult, considering I had it as a teenager, and I hate the sight of my acne scars even more.

When you are a dark skin beauty, acne scars leave dark spots on your skin … in my case, I have them on my cheeks, jaw line, chest, shoulders and a bit on the top of   my back. It got so bad that last summer I refused to show my arms and covered them because I was convinced the world could only see that.

I knew off the bat that fraxel laser was not even a consideration because darker skin beauties cannot undergo this type of procedure. That said, I had consulted Dr. Diane Wong (Glow Medi Spa) about six months ago and she had recommended a peel. I took time to control my acne thanks to Genuine Health’s Perfect Skin before considering the peel.

I had consulted other cosmetic doctors and some tried to convince me that laser was safe for my skin tone or that hydroquinone was the way to go. The problem with those doctors is that they don’t know that I’m a beauty editor and that I spend my life reading about this stuff and from firsthand experience I knew that laser burns my skin. I also have read enough information on hydroquinone to know that if it’s banned in Europe (because of cancer scares) there is no way in hell I’m applying it on my skin as a daily treatment for my hyperpigmentation. Now when it comes to hydroquinone, I should clarify that it’s okay to use it under a doctor’s supervision if it’s for a short period of time, but under no circumstances should you be using this stuff daily for the rest of your life.

My aesthetician was Veronica. She’s from Eastern Europe (I still have not asked from where, but will) and I was quite excited because when it comes to skin treatments Eastern European and Russian women have been indulging in those types of anti-aging techniques for centuries so I knew I was in good hands.

After assessing my skin Veronica declared the following beauty bomb:

“No matter what anyone tells you, your type of skin should never be subject to chemical peels because they are too strong. We will do a lactic acid peel, because it’s safer, but we will not do a chemical peel.”

It has to do with the size of the molecules that penetrate in the skin and to be honest I barely passed chemistry in high school so most of this went well over my head, but I did understand “danger-danger” loud and clear. I did mention to Veronica that I had had a fruit enzyme peel in the past and she said that was fine.

I was equally proud to let her know that I had learned from my initial meeting with Dr. Wong and had (sadly) given up my Guerlain facials because they weren’t the best for my skin type. Anna at Guerlain is the most amazing facial expert I’ve ever met and I don’t recall breaking out after those facials, but what’s the point of spending all this money if I’m doing things that are counterproductive.   Veronica explained that extractions were the devil for my type of skin because they give way to SCARS!!!

Another thing that I learned with much sadness is that I will not receive any lactic peels on my shoulders because it would be a waste of my money. After a quick pow-wow session with Veronica, Brigit (a seasoned skin expert) and Dr. Wong it was determined that I needed to get on a plan created by Alyria to help me fade those scars and I could only expect to see maybe 40% improvement. I almost cried at that news, but calmed myself down and decided to trust these qualified women and that maybe 40% improvement from where I’m at now would be good and I could show off my arms again. I mean after all, I’m spending all this time working out by following Madonna as an inspiration to get her arms so if I can show them off with fewer scars … that’s a win, right?

I’ll document my progress!

Veronica informed me that I needed to come in for a lactic acid peel on a monthly base for better results. On the bright side, that might be one of my only major skincare expenses since after seeing my face without a trace of makeup she thought I was in my mid-20s (bless her heart)!!!

Veronica put me on a scar fading and acne controlling regime. I’ve not yet started using these products, but I thought I’d list them below and I can report on my progressions.

I should preface by saying a few of these lines are Canadian and MUST be supervised by a medical doctor, but I’m sure that you can find a line that is equally effective if you live in the US or Europe or anywhere else in the world. That said, you can also ask your own medical doctor to order these products so you can try them.

1) Acne control skincare plan:

Dr. Wong, Brigit and Veronica chose Biophora (this is a cosmeceutical line) for my skin. I had not heard of the brand and you most likely will be in the same boat than I was because only cosmetic doctors can sell this line (this stuff really works because of active ingredients and your doctor will need to make sure you know how to use them).

So here are the products I’ll be using:

=> Biophora Bioactive Cleanser

=> Biophora Antibacterial veil (for the night)

=> Biophora AHA Active Gel 15% (for the night), after I’m done with that formula Veronica will down grade me to the Biophora Bioactive Gel 8%

=> Biophora Bioactive Solution 3% (for the night)

=> Biophora Light Hydration (this hydrates and firms!)

You’ll find out more about Biophora here: Biophora Skincare

2) SPF Protection: OMG – Elta MD Physical (the Physical is the one I’ll be using … I’m pointing this out because they have several formulas) had a SPF that is oil-free AND chemical-free!!! I cannot believe that I can finally use SPF and not breakout. Now you should know that this SPF is a bit pricey $40 USD/$50 CAD, but think about it – NO CHEMICALS AND NO BREAK OUTS!

This is a US brand that is sold in Canada as well. You can find out more here: Elta MD

3) Scar fading skincare plan to fade my acne scars on my body: For my body it’s Alyria all the way and I’ve been warned that the results will be so phenomenal that it will knock my socks off. I cannot wait to be surprised.

Here’s what I’ll be using to help fade my body acne scars:

=> Alyria Resurfacing Body Care

=> Alyria Exfoliating Cream Level 3

You’ll find out more about Alyria products here: Alyria skincare

Don’t forget to read about Norah’s experience with fraxel laser:

Have you considered laser resurfacing to get rid of your severe acne scars?

What you need to know about using fraxel laser to remove your acne scars

After spotting the expensive coat that must have cost at least $90,000 USD since Chinchilla is one of the most expensive furs (if not THE most expensive furs), I noticed her face. Her lips were moving because she was answering the question the TMZ camera man had asked her, but her face was frozen. As the camera got closer to her face, I jumped back (I was standing) and I thought to myself: “Why is Ivana Trump looking like Joan Rivers”?

Well the answer is painfully simple. In my humble opinion, Ivana has had way (WAY) too many injections of Botox Cosmetic® and she’s has too many injections of fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®.

I thought of writing something on the site, but the holidays got in the way and I totally forgot about it. I was surfing You Tube the other day and I have no idea how I landed on a video clip of a French newscaster giving his take on Ivana’s short-lived 2007 wedding to 35-year-old stud and former model Rossano Rubicondi, but that clip made me remember that TMZ clip so I went on a hunt and found both clips to share with you.

I also found a clip of Ivana in the 1996 hit movie “The First Wives Club” starring Goldie Hawn, Keaton and Bette Midler, before she started abusing Botox and filler injections. You can clearly see how different her face is from that short clip compared to the clip from TMZ.

Now, I’m not suggesting that a woman who is 60 (Ivana was born on February 20, 1949) should not visit her cosmetic doctor to refresh her look, but what I’m saying is that when you start scaring young children (AND yours truly), it’s time to say to yourself: “step away from the needle”!

It’s so obvious when people abuse Botox and filler injection because it simply does NOT look natural. When you are in the presence of someone who ODs on these rejuvenation products you immediately start having this mental conversation with yourself: “geez, she (OR he) really overdid it … does she/he know it looks awful and unnatural?”

There are many Hollywood actresses and New York socialites who have mastered the art of rejuvenation without abuse and unfortunately for her, Ivana Trump is not one of them!

I’d love to tackle Ivana’s 1980s hairstyle, but that would be another post! For now, I’ll just keep it to her overt abuse of rejuvenation products.

Here are a few visual proofs of Ivana Trump’s abuse:

1) This is an unflattering photo of Ivana and you can clearly see the abuse of fillers. In this photo she’s posing with Marilyn Manson (I’m sorry, but I find that guy very creepy). TMZ really went to town with the title of this post!

TMZ: Manson and Ivana — Naturally Beautiful People

2) Ivana Trump and Star Jones have lunch together in New York City: You can see that she overdid her cheekbones.

Here’s the TMZ video: Look at Ivana’s face

The French press crucifies Ivana: If you don’t speak French, let me translate the gist of this clip. The report believes that because Ivana Trump is a bit of a has-been-socialite now that her wedding to billionaire Donald Trump is a thing of the past and she has no talent to write, sing, act, dance and she is no longer a young-sexy-eastern-European-export, she’s found that marrying a much younger man (who has admitted to not being faithful to her) was her way of monopolizing media attention and reclaim her 15 minutes of fame. The French have a way of putting things and they rarely mince with words. If you think TMZ is bad … they’ve got nothing on the French gossip press!

Ivana in the 1996 hit movie “The First Wives Club” starring Goldie Hawn, Keaton and Bette Midler delivering her famous line: “Don’t get mad. Get everything!” I simply LOVE that line!!!

>>>> What do you think? Do you think that Ivana Trump is looking more and more like Joan Rivers? Don’t forget to leave us a comment below!

Photo from Wikipedia

Heart Truth NY FW08 01-002-08

You won’t hear too many Hollywood celebrities admitting to too much Botox Cosmetics® or having had too many shots of injection fillers.

The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant admits that she’s had her cheeks enhanced with injections of Juvederm® and she admits that she might have gone overboard (I totally agree)!

It’s interesting because Lisa (45, born July 11, 1963) admits that she was influenced by one of her girlfriends when she decided to explore this cosmetic enhancement avenue.

I wasn’t too partial one way or another to Lisa Rinna, but reading her comments about how she looks post-Juvederm injections really made my eyebrows arch with respect, because I couldn’t believe that she was willing to be that honest with her cosmetic enhancement experience.

I think it’s safe to say that soooooooooooooooooo many female Hollywood celebrities over 35 and pretty much all of them over 40 are really dipping with no shame in the cosmetic-enhancement-promised-potion-of-eternal-youth, but for so many, it just looks wrong … and the minute we seem them … we know that the starlet in question got some work done.

“I had Juvederm put in my cheeks. That’s what I overdid — big time. I tried it because my girlfriends did it. I thought, I’ll do it! I saw a photo and I was like, Oh Jesus. That’s no good. That’s NOT good. When you change your face, you don’t look like yourself. Looking fresher is one thing. I look like a freak! I always said I wouldn’t change my face, but I did it.”

“I can’t not be honest about it. I’d look like a fool. It’s so obvious. But when this happened, I realized I couldn’t hide it.” — Lisa Rinna in an interview with momlogic.com

It’s interesting because when it comes to non-surgical cosmetic enhancement, less is best!

I see everyday women all the time who blatantly look like they have work done and in my opinion, it doesn’t make them look any younger … it simply makes them look like they have a cosmetic doctor on speed dial on their Apple iPhone!

Lisa Rinna, admits that although she’s given up Juvederm, she’s still happy about her Botox injections because she doesn’t feel that it changes the shape of your face.

I’ve only met one cosmetic doctor to date who had a face full of Botox and injections, but who looked sooooooo incredibly natural that I felt bold enough to stand only inches away from her face to take a good look. She’s said to me that the key with cosmetic enhancement is to look fresher and not like someone else.

I think that Lisa Rinna has also come to the same conclusion:

“You get older and insecure and you think you need it, and you don’t,” she says. “I learned less is more. Keep your skin good.”

Every makeup artist I’ve ever interviewed has also confirmed that the best thing women can do for themselves as they get older is to make sure they have the best quality skin possible and to really focus on that … and everything else falls in place. And if you feel the need for a little extra help … make sure you don’t overdo it!

Photo from Wikipedia

>>>>> Leave a comment below and let me know if you feel insecure with the tell tale signs of aging and how far are you willing to go?

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I haven’t got a clue as to why Elle Macpherson popped into my head a few days ago, but for some strange reason there she was occupying my thoughts. Could it be coincidence that I saw her on the red carpet event while watching one of those entertainment shows or was it simply a reminder that I need to write a post celebrating and glorious Elle looks at 44 (born 29 March 1964)!

If you were a teenager in the 80s, then you remember Elle Macpherson (born Eleanor Nancy Gow) as the leggy gal from down under who adorned the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in the USA six times (the last time in 2006)! I also remember Elle very well from the many Vogue and Bazaar features because she has an unforgettable face and an unforgettable body.

I also remember Elle from the Victoria Secret fashion shows and catalogues … I mean it’s hard to forget a woman who is 6’0 tall and who is all legs!

Elle had a very successful career as a model and she dabbled in acting (not quite as successful as her modelling career). Elle could have easily become a has-been or a model from the 80s who does regular appearances on the catwalk and with selected designers without having much more going for her (think Naomi Campbell), but Elle has managed to turn her infamous nickname “The Body” into a business by launching her own line of lingerie, intimate wear and perfume (fittingly called “The Body”).

Elle doesn’t make the list because of some witty comment she made about aging well or because of humanitarian work she’s done or even because she turned her life around in her 40s.

Elle Macpherson makes the Celebrity Beauty Match Pick list simply because she’s aging beautifully and at 44 she has a body that would make most 20-something men quite happy to pull an Ashton (aka referring to Ashton Kushner’s relationship and marriage to Demi Moore)!

Ladies, this is what 44 looks like (these are photos of Elle from the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue)

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Photo by Y! Música

Photos of Elle on the beach from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2006

I had reviewed kettle bells a while back because it was getting a lot of buzz in Hollywood and celebrity trainers were introducing their celebrity clients to kettlebells.

If you missed my original post from 2008, you can still read it: Kettlebells: A workout straight out of Mother Russia

One of the reasons why kettlebells are becoming so popular (especially among women) is because this power-training that originated in Russia improves your cardio while targeting trouble spots to help you get a leaner and toner body. If you remember, in the 1980s athletes from Russia and athletes from the old communist countries used to leave the competition in the dust when it came to winning gold medals … that’s because kettlebells were their secret training weapon of choice.

A kettlebell training is an ideal workout for men and women who want to introduce strength training into their regime, but who don’t have that much time every day to workout. In one session you get your heart pumping while strengthening your muscles.

Kettlebells are excellent at targeting and defining legs and glutes and within a few workouts, you’ll quickly noticed how much more vitality, strength and stamina you’ve gained.

Another reason why kettlebells are so popular is because you can literally workout anywhere. You can workout with kettlebells in the privacy of your home, you can take them with your in your car for a gym session or you can take them with you to the park on a bright sunny day for an outdoor workout.

A workout with kettlebells is vastly different from doing strength training with dumbbells. The reason is very simply: dumbbells have a well-balanced stationary centre of gravity while kettlebells have a fluctuating centre of gravity and a lever-like handle, which creates a fluctuating resistance arm, generating a greater load on the force arm through a range of motion. With dumbbells you rarely will use your entire body during your training session, because you usually are trying to isolate muscles. Kettlebells will require you to use your entire body motion to swing the kettlebells.

The weights of the kettlebells vary and most women will start out with 18 lbs and then graduate to 24 lbs ones. Women who are already fit and who have been doing a lot of strength training will most likely be able to start at 35 lbs and work their way up.

On the road to aging well, strength training and cardio training are very important as you age … not only to allow you to achieve and maintain a certain body shape and weight, but also to help you keep feeling strong with each passing year.

There are many distributors of kettlebells and kettlebell DVD workouts and you can find them in most fitness stores across the U.S. and Canada. For a while you could only get them in California, but they’ve made their way out east and in Canada.

>>>>> Here’s a great slide show from New York Times featuring kettlebells: Gear Test, Kettlebels

Here’s a great video that shows you what a kettlebell workout like:

Here’s one from HyperFit USA. It’s actually a sort of bootcamp training where participants use kettlebells:

Here’s one showing a woman flipping 70 lbs kettlebells (that’s very impressive because that’s a lot of weight!):

>>>> Do drop us a line if you are using kettlebells in your workout and if you’re getting great results!!!

Photo by kl.fitness

no_botox_during_recession

I think that 2000-2008 can be called the “vanity years”!!!

During the past eight years, we’ve seen non-cosmetic rejuvenation go from being Hollywood’s best kept secret to something soccer-moms in the suburbs do when kids are in school.

There has been a long list of makeover shows on TV where contestants were able to go from ugly ducklings to “beautifully reconstructed” sirens – shows like “Extreme Makeover” and “Dr. 90210″). We’ve all been invited to a Botox party and we’ve seen young women (as young as 18) not preoccupied so much about taking care of themselves because “well, there’s always Botox”. Heck, we’ve even seen straight men take up the vanity industry in the hopes that a “younger looking” version of themselves will help them hold on to that high paying corporate job or get that coveted promotion.

I still remember going in for a chemical peel consultation for my acne scars in September 2008 just to have the doctor shocked by my chart. She asked in amazement “you’re a beauty editor and you’ve NEVER had Botox or fillers done?” … to which I responded “I don’t think I need it because I don’t have wrinkles or sagging skin … to which she responded “I can always find a spot on your face to improve” – oy vey (Yiddish expression for help me)!

Now that the (financial) tables have turned for most of us, the question that is burning my tongue is “are we ready to go back to living with wrinkles”? Will vanity be the price to pay in this falling economy?

With the economy at unparalleled (well, not since the depression of 1929) levels of despair, a lot of people will have to give up their Botox Cosmetics® budget and the budget they allot to preserving their youth just to be able to keep afloat.

I recently read a fascinating article on the New York Times style page that really brought to light the severity of the current economical situation and its impact on the vanity industry.

I knew this was more than a passing trend when the article highlighted the fact that they’ve recorded two manufacturers of cosmetic medical devices that have closed as a result of steep decline in business from many plastic surgeons who used to perform back-to-back breast implant surgeries. Since breast implants were THE most popular surgery, you know that attitudes are changing in light of the economy and that means that many businesses related to the vanity industry will feel the brunt of these swift changes and many will have to shut their doors and go out of business.

I’ve highlighted some of the most interesting parts of the New York Times article below:

* According to the article, “Sixty-two percent of plastic surgeons who responded to a recent questionnaire from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said they had performed fewer procedures in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest anecdotal information from the group.”

* You know things are bad when surgeons are willing to cut back on their fees in order to book openings: “At the society’s annual meeting last month in Chicago, some prominent surgeons said they had openings and for the first time agreed to negotiate fees with patients.”

* Orange Country, the land of plastic surgery (and the land of the reality show “Real Housewives of Orange County”), has seen procedures and business shrink by 30 to 40 per cent.

* Even celebrities are cutting back on their Botox budget because they fear that any overt augmentation might be de mauvais goût (seen as bad taste).

* Here’s an interesting analogy referring to the recent skyrocketing gas prices: “Cosmetic surgery is going to become the new S.U.V., something that you can do without, that is less justifiable for you and your family,” said Dr. Pitts-Taylor.”

* It’s true that some women will do whatever it takes to keep their regular Botox appointments, but for many women, cutting back on essentials just to get injections won’t be a consideration.

* Some creative women are changing their hairstyle to include a bang to hide wrinkles on their forehead and extend the life of their Botox.

* It’s incredible how social context has a huge impact on how many people make choices in their lives: “Dr. Thompson, who emphasized that he was speculating in the absence of survey data, suggested that people may also make decisions about their appearance by scrutinizing the grooming practices of their friends, acquaintances, and even celebrities, a behavior called social comparison. In terms of body image, they look around at their friends,” Dr. Thompson said. “If everyone is cutting back, they may change the norm based on what others are doing.”

* Would you consider Botox to help you land a job if you’ve been laid off? “People who would not have considered it, when they get laid off at 45, 50, 55 and are back on the job market, might consider it as they try to enhance their human capital.”

* The cosmetic surgery industry is about to change dramatically and it might take a few years to find out how 2008 has impacted an industry that seemed growing out of control until earlier last year.

Giving up the vanity budget means that a lot of people are going to have to face the mirror and accept a few more wrinkles. It will be interesting to see how hard-core-Botox-users deal with not having that disposable income anymore. It will also be interesting to see how many women are willing to sacrifice other areas of their lives in order to find the money for Botox and injection fillers.

You’ll find the entire New York Times article here: Putting Vanity on Hold

Photo by EverJean

fraxel_laser_acne_scars

I don’t have the type of scaring that Norah has because mine are all at the surface, but because my scars are dark, I have to say that they really bother me. It was so bad this past summer, that it affected the way I dressed because I wasn’t willing to expose my shoulders which were covered with dark hyperpigmentation spots.

I can surely sympathize with Norah and her quest for perfect skin and relief from acne scars.

If you didn’t have a chance to catch Norah’s first post, I’d recommend that you start reading that post first: Have you considered laser resurfacing to get rid of your severe acne scars?

Story submitted by reader Norah R.

New year, new me! Or, at least, that’s the idea.

After my first Fraxel treatment in November, 2008, I can’t honestly say I was looking forward to the next one. It’s painful! And for someone with a low pain threshold like me, the pain was almost unbearable the first time around … how would I react with a higher setting on the laser, as the technician mentioned the last time?

The night before my treatment, I was so nervous about the pain, I couldn’t sleep. I woke up almost every hour on the hour, until it was 6.30 am and time to get up for real.

I booked a morning appointment this time. There is one key benefit to a morning appointment — for Fraxel, your skin has to be make-up free and as clean as possible before the treatment begins. My first appointment was in the afternoon, and I felt the tiny sink, rough paper towels and Cetaphyl cleanser at the hospital didn’t really get all my make-up off that I had been wearing all day.  The benefit of an early-morning appointment is that you can go straight from your home after a pore-opening hot shower and not have to bother with make-up in the first place … your skin is already clean and ready to go. So I would recommend that!

Unfortunately, even though my skin was clean, it wasn’t really cooperating with me. Holiday stress led to a minor breakout on my chin — two or three pimples I had hoped to get rid of before my treatment began (the procedure doesn’t work well unless the skin is blemish-free) but, of course, they didn’t go away. (I wondered if maybe the heat and power of the Fraxel laser might blast them into oblivion, but unfortunately not.)

I showed up at the hospital by 8.30 a.m., my appointment time, only to be told the technician didn’t come in until 9 a.m.  In the interests of saving time, the receptionist put the numbing gel on my face straight away — it has to ‘set’ for an hour to truly numb your skin — and I waited for the technician to arrive.  I was also given a prescription for Percocet this time around, as the Tylenol 3s from the previous appointment didn’t really take the edge off the pain.  Except, the hospital pharmacy didn’t open until 9 a.m. either, so I wasn’t able to fill the prescription until then. I didn’t actually take the Percocet (just one, to start) until 9.15 a.m., and I was supposed to have the procedure at 9.30 a.m. Fifteen minutes is not very much time for a drug to kick in, even one as strong as this. I asked the technician (who had arrived at work now) if we could wait a little bit longer to see if the Percocet would take effect.

We wound up doing the procedure at about 9.50 a.m. My face was fully frozen by that point and the drug was starting to take effect, so I had hoped we would be good to go. I have never taken Percocet before — I didn’t like the way it made me feel, like my limbs were made of lead. Everything felt heavy and my brain felt slow, but I was still able to chat and fully converse with the technician throughout the procedure. I was hoping the Percocet would knock me out (especially as I hadn’t had much sleep) but the pain from the laser was so intense that there was no way I could sleep through it.

Last time, the setting for the laser was apparently at number 6. This time, the technician upped it to 7. Not a tremendous increase, and to be honest, it didn’t hurt any more than it did the last time (which is to say, it hurt A LOT). When you’re dealing with that kind of pain, incremental increases are negligible!  Again, the procedure lasted about 25 minutes. The first pass-through, where the laser was moved over my skin in vertical movements was extremely uncomfortable, but I could get through it.  The second pass-through, where the laser was moved over my skin in horizontal movements was unbearable. I had to ask the technician to stop twice throughout the procedure so I could take a mini-break (but at least I didn’t tear up this time).  All the time, I was supposed to hold this cooling air pipe and aim it on the skin that was being lasered, but my eyes were closed and protected by pads and goggles, so I couldn’t actually see the path of the laser to follow it with the air pipe, I had to just go by where I felt it, and my reaction/response was delayed because of the Percocet.  Finally, the technician took pity on me and held the air pipe herself to cool my face down as we were going along.

The procedure took exactly half an hour, and by 10.30 a.m., I was in the back of a private car service, being taken back to my house, with ice packs to cool my face down. Once I got home, an hour later, the Percocet really kicked in (but by this point, I wasn’t feeling any pain — the pain for me was only during the procedure, not afterwards) and I fell asleep for nearly 3 hours.

Like last time, the next day was worse than the actual day of the procedure. My face swelled up like a tomato — I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. But it’s three days later now and the swelling is almost gone, just the redness remains. My skin is starting to crust and flake, and I’m trying to resist the urge to scrub the flakes off (that might expose me to infection) and just use Cetaphyl moisturiser on the affected areas.

Did I notice a difference after the first treatment?

No, not really. But then, I see my face every day and I suppose it’s harder for me to see the changes. I’ve only told three girlfriends about the procedure, and all three of them swear they can see some changes on my face, but I’m not convinced yet. Still, I know there are three more treatments to go, and the changes happen very gradually, beneath the surface of your skin. I just have to be patient — not one of my stronger points, I’m afraid!

My results one week later:

All the swelling has gone now, and I think I can notice some improvement in the scars on my cheeks. They’re still there, just maybe not as pronounced as before … or maybe this is wishful thinking on my part — it’s so hard to tell when you see your own face 24/7/365!

>>>> If any other Beauty Match readers have any great beauty experiences to share with us or even before and after photos of great accomplishments, don’t hesitate to email me with your idea, and I can write a post on your behalf and share your outcomes with our other readers.

I think it makes such a huge difference when you realize that you’re not alone and that other people are also dealing with some of the same beauty or aging issues than you!

>>>> Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you too have undergone any laser resurfacing treatments.

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>>>> If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or DIGG. I’d appreciate it.

Photo by Bitterjug

I’m so grateful to reader Norah that she will gracefully recount her first of many laser resurfacing treatments to deal with scars left behind on her face from teenage acne.

Norah will be documenting her many treatments, but this is the first account of her road to having a face that is free of any scars!

Story submitted by reader Norah R.

I got to the hospital in Toronto at 2 p.m. prompt for my first Fraxel (Laser Skin Resurfacing) treatment. On account of mild to moderate acne scarring, I had been waiting to do this for over a decade, and now that the actual day of treatment was here, after all this time, I found myself equal parts anxious, excited and afraid.

I was taken into a little room, and told to wash all my make-up off so my face was squeaky clean. The technician (the procedure is not done by a doctor) applied a thick, clear gel to my face. It’s similar to EMLA, a topical analgesic that numbs your skin when you have a needle, and its purpose is to help numb your face so the laser doesn’t hurt so much. I also took 2 Tylenol 3s with Codeine at this time, along with a Valtrex (Yes, I know — Valtrex?!) If you’re like me, the first thing you think of when you think of Valtrex is sexually-transmitted diseases! But I am prone to cold sores (the herpes simplex virus), and you can’t have a cold sore when undergoing Fraxel, so I was put on a five-day prescription of Valtrex to ward off any potential outbreak. I was mortified picking it up at the drug store, lest the pharmacist think I had herpes!).

After taking the meds, I had an hour to just sit and wait for the gel and Tylenol to take effect. I read my book and tried not to get nervous (I was … I have an incredibly low pain threshhold, and all the research I’d read online said that Fraxel was quite painful). At exactly 3 p.m., I washed the gel off my face and lay down on the examination table.  The technician applied little goggles to my eyes, so I wouldn’t be blinded by the laser.  Then she applied another cream, called a ‘tracking’ cream, all over my face — I assumed it was so she could “track” where the laser had gone and what areas it covered, so nothing got missed.  She gave me what looked like a vacuum cleaner hose, except instead of sucking in dirt, it blew out icy cold air, and told me to hold that in my hands and manoeuvre it along my face in tandem with where the laser was moving, to cool down my skin as the laser touched it.

And then the torture began.

As I mentioned, I have a very, VERY low pain threshold. But somehow, I have a tattoo. I have my ears pierced. I’ve had blood tests and needles. But none of those experiences prepared me for the unique and exquisite pain that is laser skin resurfacing.

The technician started on my right jawbone and did a series of vertical, one-way movements with the laser up towards my cheekbone. The only way I can describe it is to say the sensation is like a razor blade being dragged across your skin. Then she did my chin (I had to bite my lower lip to stretch the skin on my chin taut), then below my nose (again, I had to bite my upper lip to stretch the skin there taut), then my actual nose, my left jawbone and finally my forehead. I didn’t count, but I would say there were about 50 to 75 repetitions.  But somehow, I got through them all! It actually started off not too bad, even for a big baby like me, but by the time she finished on my left temple, it was starting to hurt (she said the left side always hurts more than the right for some reason), even with me blasting away with the vacuum cleaner of cold air.

The worst part was that the Tylenol 3s did not kick in. They did nothing. Not. A. Thing. And I even took two. Now, this well may be because I occasionally suffer from really bad headaches, and I normally take up to four or sometimes five extra-strength Tylenol at a time to cope with them. Perhaps my system has built up immunity to Tylenol? Although, extra-strength Tylenol and Tylenol 3 have very different drugs in them, and I had never taken Tylenol 3 before — not even when I had my wisdom teeth out. This is something I’ll ask my dermatologist about before my next Fraxel procedure.

I thought we were finished, and I was so proud of myself for getting through it, but then the technician told me the bad news: we were only halfway through. Now, instead of doing vertical, one-way movements, she was going to repeat the entire process but do *horizontal* one-way movements.  By this point, the temperature of my face had gotten quite hot (the laser is white-hot) and the pain went from bad to worse to practically excruciating by the time she was doing the left side of my face. In fact, my arms and hands were shaking so badly from the pain, I could no longer hold the vacuum hose and she had to hold it for me.

When it was all over — 25 minutes in total for the whole thing, beginning to end — I had to wash off the tracking gel. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognise myself. My face looked like a tomato. Totally swollen, particularly around my cheekbones (my eyes looked shrunken in my head), and red-hot in both colour and to the touch.

I was given two ice packs that I applied to my face to try and numb/cool the swelling. After 3 hours, my face was still red, still swollen (though not as bad) and still tender. It itched a little bit, but not much. It felt and looked like a really bad sunburn, but the pain went away after a few hours and I even went out to the movies that night. I went to bed that night thinking it looked bad but, not *awful* and that I probably wouldn’t even need to take the three to five days to work from home, as my dermatologist strongly recommended.

When I woke up the next morning, I had a completely different reaction. I tried to sleep “sitting up”, as the after-care pamphlet suggested, but during the course of the night I tossed and turned and woke up in my usual position, on my back. Looking in the mirror, I was horrified — my entire face had swelled up again, and my eyes were almost swollen shut. They looked like black eyes, but without the purple discolouration. I couldn’t see as well out of my right eye, because it had swelled up so much.

I frantically consulted the after-care pamphlet, only to discover that this is pretty normal, and the swelling should go down after three to five days. Now I understand why my dermatologist urged me to work from home — not only am I swollen, but I was advised not to wear make-up, as the idea is to keep the skin as clean and unclogged as possible whilst it heals. I was to use Cetaphyl cleanser and moisturiser — nothing else — for the next 10 days.

I will be going back in six weeks for round two … I’m very anxious because the technician told me she used a “low” setting this time, because it was my first time. Next time, she will need to use a much higher setting. I told her there was no way I could endure that again, not with just Tylenol 3s that apparently don’t even work for me (granted, everyone is different), so she recommended speaking to my dermatologist about a prescription for Percocet, which will knock me out for the treatment. But despite the pain, I’m very excited to follow this through, because I really think it will be worth it in the end.

Photo by nyki_m

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I think we’ve all done it once: look admiringly at the face of our favourite female Hollywood celebs and hope that we either had “that” nose or “those” cheekbones or “that mouth”. I’ve spoken to so many cosmetic surgeons who have said that clients routinely show up at their office with a photo of a Hollywood celeb in the hopes of looking that perfect.

The same happens when we go running to our hair stylist with Katie Holmes’ new bob or Jennifer Aniston’s new shade of highlights or even Jennifer Lopez’s new updo!

The problem is that we often forget that the reason why Angelina’s lips look good on her is because they work with her face structure and Katie Holmes’ bob rocks because of the angle of her face. When you transpose features … it doesn’t always look good because features are meant to work as an overall … so if you “move” Angelina Jolie’s lips onto your face … it won’t look as good … something will be wrong.

My friend Natasha sent me a link to an article from the New York Magazine and I was taken aback by the photo of the woman that was featured because she looked like someone I had seen before, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. There was something so incredibly perfect about her face … it was hard to say.

I then scrolled down and realized that the perfect woman in question was a composite that was created by Nucleus Imaging by combining the following celebs:

“Michelle Pfeiffer’s unfurrowed brow, Madonna’s plumped-up cheeks and wide eyes, Angelina Jolie’s super-straight nose and lush lips and Demi Moore’s angular jawline.”

Once you piece everything together, you’ll be blown away.

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The result is of course the perfect face, but yet in all that perfection there seems to be something wrong … something not quite right … something flawed.

As I was reading the article, I realized it referred to that same feeling I had when I first saw the composite, like when you see a friend, colleague, co-worker or family member and you’re not able to put your finger on what has changed, but then realize or find out that they had work done to their face to make it look younger.

The New York Magazine feature explores the anatomy of a perfect face … whether it’s one that you were born with or one that you created thanks to the help of a talented plastic surgeon.

The article also explores a very current topic … that of women who have bodies that are fitter than 25 year-olds, but who show their age on their face. I see these women at the gym on a regular basis … many have much better abs than I do. I did chat not long ago with one of them about my line of work and she quickly came out and admitted that she had been to a doctor in the hopes of refreshing her face because she felt it really didn’t match her body.

She wasn’t interested in injections, she wanted a facelift so she could look younger and get rid of all that sagging skin around her eyes, jawline and neck. Simply put, she wanted her face to match her body and her spirits.

The article refers to a new term that can only be attributed to what Baby Boomers have given us: a striving cosmetic enhancement and the pursuit of a “NEW NEW FACE”!

The article is quite long … it’s about seven pages which really makes it a feature. I think it’s a great read because New York Magazine commissioned this editor to cover the new reality of aging.

I really liked how they paraphrased the great French actress Catherine Deneuve:

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“Past a certain age, it’s either your fanny or your face. In other words, if your body is fierce (from yoga, Pilates, and the treadmill), your face will have no fat on it either and it will be … unfierce.”

You can read the entire article here: About-Face

The article ends with a very interesting recount of the “IT” faces of the last 3,378 years! It’s really interesting to see how our definition of beauty has changed.

You can jump to page seven here: 3,378 Years of the “It” Face

Photo of Angelina Jolie by yoja

Photo of Angelina Jolie holding her hair by erkans

Photo of Michelle Pfeiffer by índio

Photo of Madonna by índio

Photo of Catherine Deneuve by andy54321

injection_fillers_to_age_better

Injectable fillers are an effective anti-aging treatment for those who are looking to regain lost collagen mass in their face and neck. Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture, but they will also help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and certain types of scars.

The results are very noticeable because injectable fillers will temporarily restore a smoother and more youthful-looking appearance. Cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons often use injectable fillers on their own or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment.

Although injectables fillers are effective at plumping up the skin, they may not be as effective at treating severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical “lipstick lines” (aka smoker lines) that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist might suggest resurfacing treatments, such as dermabrasion, a chemical peel or laser treatments. These treatments will provide you with a smoother appearance.

If you are looking to correct areas with deep creases and reshape the contour of your face, injectable fillers might not be what you are looking for. If those are some of your major rejuvenation concerns, your plastic surgeon might suggest more invasive options.

Injection fillers are usually safe:

Allergic reactions are the most common risks associated with injectable collagen fillers. To help determine if you are allergic to collagen, your doctor would perform an allergy skin test about 30 days prior to the date of your procedure. After the test is performed, you should carefully watch the area tested for three or four weeks (or as long as your doctor advises) to ensure that you don’t have any negative reactions to the collagen. You should immediately report any sign of redness, itching or swelling. Other risks associated with an allergic reaction to injectable collagen fillers include infections, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling, scarring and lumpiness.

You really MUST report any of these side effects to your doctor.

It’s important to note that injectable collagen fillers will not require anesthesia, because an agent known as lidocaine is already mixed in with collagen. That said, if you are particularly sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a topical anesthetic cream to numb the injected area.

Collagen injections are generally off limits to pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, those who suffer from autoimmune diseases and candidates who are allergic to lidocaine the aesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material).

Cost of injection fillers:

Fillers are not inexpensive. During our little test, we found out that each needle cost $400 (this cost will vary depending on where you live and if you see a cosmetic dermatologist versus a plastic surgeon … the latter is more expensive). You’ll quickly notice that one syringe will not be enough to really allow you to take care of all of your fine lines or wrinkles and you can easily require two to four syringes for certain areas of your face.

There are more and more financing companies offering payment plans to help alleviate the initial cost and they can be quite practical, but you’ll really want to remember that you will have to add that expense to all of the other monthly expenses you have to pay … so it can add a fair load to your debt.

Photo by Ligadier Truffaut