Beauty Buzz: New anti-aging breakthroughs for every budget!

By Colette Bouchez 

Whether you’re 40  and just beginning to see the signs of aging, or 55, 65 or more  and looking to get rid of those wrinkly hands of time, if you're anything like me  you can't resist a new anti-aging product.

As the fall season approaches we're seeing a bumper crop of such new treatments,  all  designed to  tease and tantalize us with the promise of youth and  a variety of new technologies and ingredients.

The good news: Whether you have ten bucks to spend – or a couple of thousand dollars at your beauty disposal - there’s something new to look forward to.



Here’s a look at four of the hottest new anti-aging treatments for Fall 2011.

Anti-Aging Treatment # 1:  Ultherapy by Ulthera

What it is:  A groundbreaking new device that promises the look  of a full face lift and neck-tightening treatment without the surgery.

How it works:  Based  in one of the  oldest and safest medical treatments in use today – ultra sound ( yes  the same ultra sound that shows you pictures of your developing baby) -  Ultherapy uses these same sound beams to  stimulate the production of collagen - the fibers that support skin and keep it looking firm and youthful.
 “Ultherapy uses ultrasound technology to first visualize and ‘see’ what the skin looks like under the surface then delivers calculated ultrasonic energy waves that stimulates the body’s healing response to lay down new collagen.  The Ulthera System is creating a brand new category in beauty and raising the bar for aesthetic medical procedures, “ says Dr. Ariel Ostad, a board certified Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgeon in New York City who is  one of the first in the nation to offer the treatment.

Results: Although it can take up to three months to see the full results,  there is no brusing, scaring, and virtually no down time in the meantime!  The best part: The final result can be quite dramatic, (click here for stunning before and after photos)  lasting anywhere from one to five years.

Cost: Between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the number of treatments needed and the size of the area requiring rejuvenation.   Must be done by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Anti-aging treatment # 2:  Bio Bliss

What it is:  A brand new way of using painless, harmless electrical impulses to  deliver  high quality anti-aging ingredients deep into the  brow area – including hyaluronic acid, vitamins  and anti-wrinkle peptides. It goes where traditionally creams and lotions won’t reach.

How it works:    A number of anti-aging ingredients are pre- loaded into a  fabric patch into  which are also  embedded tiny electrodes capable of releasing a mild current.  After activating the on button,   you place the self-adhesive patch on your forehead just above your eyebrows and leave in place for one hour, after which time the electrodes automatically turn off. In the meantime you can do anything you like  - read a book, wash the dishes, or even take a nap!

Results:  If you’re looking for that wrinkle-free brow without a  Botox Cosmetic injection,  Bio Bliss is for you.  A clinical study conducted by dermatologists revealed  that with just  one, 1 hour treatment, BioBliss  effortlessly, safely and painlessly reduced the appearance of brow lines and creases, with results that lasted  up to 5 days.   Over time some  results may become cumulative so you may need fewer treatments and results could last a bit longer.

Cost:   About $25 per at-home treatment – or about $100 per month to maintain the look.  For more information or to purchase online visit www.BioBliss.com .

Anti-aging treatment # 3: Dream Lift 

What it is: A temporary fix for tired looking eyes that uses a small drop of gel adhesive  to lift eye lids minimizing droopiness, wrinkles and bags.
 

How it works: A quick and easy 3 step process involves removing the thin strip from it’s paper backing,  applying a small amount of gel adhesive , and then placing the nearly invisible strip into the crease of the eye lid, where it acts as a kind of extra support structure to the lid.  Once applied they are nearly invisible – and can be worn with or without eye makeup.

Results: The results are instant ( we love that!) and the lifts do appear to stay in place for a significant number of hours.  The adhesive gel is hypoallergenic and made from medical grade ingredients  similar to eyelash glue -  so it’s not likely to cause irritation.  While there are some stunning before and afters,  the look you get is dependent on how much drooping you have and how adept you are at placing the strip in the correct location – though with practice it does get easier.  

Cost:The Dream Lift  retails for $19.99 for 68 strips,  and is available at CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite Aid and many other major retailers nationwide.  It is also available online at GetDreamLook.com – where you get  two sets (136 strips) for the price of one, but there is an $8.00 shipping charge.

Anti-aging treatment # 4: Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Gel
 
What it is:  A brand new type of gel-based  skin care formulation designed to offer intense moisturization lasting  up to 24 hours to prevent dryness that would otherwise  emphasize fine lines and wrinkles.

How it works:  Because it’s a gel and not a cream the ingredients are better able to penetrate the skin  helping to form a kind of “moisture pouch” under the surface that continually feeds cells all day long. A combination of antioxidant fruit waters and vitamin E also help defend skin from external aggressors ( like air pollution or  even the drying rays of the sun)  so skin looks plumper,  moist and dewy all day – without any greasy residue.

Results:  Another product where at least part of the results are virtually instant – the minute you put Moisture Rescue Gel on your skin you both see and feel an immediate difference in smoothness.  Fine lines and creases do  seem to disappear  –and more importantly, remain invisible for most of the day.  The reason?  Within  1 hour after applying studies show the skins natural moisture barrier is actually strengthened to prevent dryness from occurring. This is something we found most cream or lotion moisturizers can’t accomplish – at any price.

Bonus:  Because it’s a gel consistency it also acts almost like a make-up primer, keeping foundation and blush from going into fine lines and causing an aging effect. While this product is being marketed as “oil free” – which seems to be a buzz-phrase for young skin -   we found it’s actually a perfect anti-aging moisturizer for over 50 skin as well.  You would be amazed at much younger you will look when your skin is plump, moist and dewy – and your make-up isn't sliding into those crinkly crevices on your cheeks and around ips and eyes.

dCost: Moisture Rescue Gel sells for about $7.99 for a 1.7 oz jar – available at Drugstore.com, Walmart.com Walgreens.com,and most pharmacies.  Also available: Moisture Rescue Lightweight Lotion with SPF 15 - $7.99 for 4.5 oz.  and Moisture Rescue Foam Cleanser  6.8 oz for just $5.99.


Colette Bouchez is the design director of fashion jewelry house CountryDutchess.com and frequently writes about beauty and style.  Her latest book is the Country Dutchess Cheap Chic Diary: Online Fashion Organizer and Web Address Book.    To read more beauty news click here 

Photo courtesy of Photorack.net 

For the latest health, beauty and style advice for women over 40 subscribe to RedDressDiary - It's Free! And be sure to check out CheapChicDiary.com for money saving beauty and style tips! Copyright by ElleMedia Network 2011 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.
This article by Colette Bouchez originally appeared on Examiner.com 

Looking Younger Longer : What To Do

From new wrinkle relaxers to DIY at-home anti-aging, a cache of new "youth tools" promise we'll look younger faster and easier than ever. But do they work? RedDressDiary talked to the experts to find out!

By Colette Bouchez

So... here's what they say: Take all your vitamins, eat all your fruits and veggies and down a glass of red wine a day, and you too could live to 100 or more!

If this is true, then it can only mean one thing: In 50 more years we will be a planet of shrinking, wrinkling little Yodas!

The antidote: A cache of anti-aging “miracles” - treatments designed to make us look as young as we feel. Well, as young as we'd like to feel, at least.

Indeed, if maintaining the glow of youth is on your lifetime agenda, you certainly won't have any trouble filling your dance card : The sheer number of anti-aging products and services is enough to throw even your DNA into a cold sweat.

So how do you know what to try, what to buy and what not to wish on your worst “frenemy” ? To help you decide here's what a few experts say about what 's new right now and what it can do!

Dysport : The New Wrinkle Relaxing Frontier

The big news this month is the FDA approval of Dysport – the new “Botox alternative” for un-crinkling your furrowed brow. Similar to Botox, Dysport also utilizes a purified form of botulism toxin ( yeah, the kind you get from bad potatoe salad) to paralyze tiny muscles underneath facial lines and creases.And the result is similar as well : Much like pressing out those wrinkles from your white linen pants, both Dysport and Botox seem to smooth way the years.

So why reinvent the wheel? Well Dysport isn't exactly the same as Botox - and it does appear to last a tad longer - 4 months vs 2.5 to 3 months for Botox. But having a second alternative on the market also means market competition – and that can sometimes drive the price down. Currently doctors are reporting treatments with Dysport cost about 10% less than with Botox
( $ 450 per injection nationwide average vs $375-$400 average) with equally good or better results.

" I've been using it now for a couple of weeks with excellent results in about 25 patients. In my preliminary review, it seems extraordinarily similar to Botox Cosmetic except that it costs about 10% less, says dermatologist Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, director of Crutchfield Dermatology in Egan, Minnesota.

The Bottom Line: It's another option for the anti-aging tool box, but to avoid being disappointed make sure its' what you really want and need. Sometimes a wrinkle filler ( like Restylane or JuvaDerm) will do the job better.

The Neckline Slim

You've all seen those catalog and Internet ads: The “before” picture sports a double chin, sagging jowls and that age-giveaway jiggly turkey neck; the “after” shows a smooth and youthfully firm neck. All of it is courtesy of a tiny device you hold under your chin to offer gentle resistance to the muscular structure – at a total cost of less than $30.00 But does it work?

“As with any exercise, strengthening of those muscles will be apparent, however by overall facial exercises show no proven results when it comes to curing sagging skin in these regions, “ says Sam Naficy, MD, a double board certified plastic surgeon and director of the Naficy Plastic Surgery and Rejuvenation Center in Seattle.

The Bottom Line: The cost is low but the result is minimal - and you can probably get a similar effect by smiling broadly , tightening your neck muscles, holding and releasing.

Glowelle Beauty Drink

They say beauty starts from within – and that's precisely the philosophy behind Glowelle, a “drink of beauty “ with claims that include nourishing and hydrating skin from the inside out. Using a powerful blend of antioxidants and vitamins plus botanical & fruit extracts in a powder you mix into water or any fruit drink or smoothie, the goal is to fight free radical damage ( a leading cause of aging skin) and rejuvenate that glow of youth – all for around $110 for a 30 day supply. But does it work?

Dr. Naficy says: "Adding extra anti-oxidants into ones daily diet is not a bad idea, however women who expect to see true anti-aging results from a beauty drink will be disappointed. Also, most beauty drinks contain calories, therefore are not suitable for all diets."

The Bottom Line: For a less costly but similar effect just eat all your fruits and veggies, take your vitamins, get plenty of beauty sleep , stay out of the sun, and drink lots of water – the original ( and free!) beauty drink!

The Oxygenating Face Shot

WARNING! Don't try this at home! :) In this treatment, a high powered atomizer fueled by a stream of pressurized oxygen blast- pumps moisturizers into your skin. The reported effect is immediate hydration – and a firm, plumper, smoother look for a cost of around $500. But does it work?

" This treatment is nothing more than a passing spa trend as there is no strong evidence of oxygen’s effectiveness when it comes to anti-aging. Additionally, the treatments are extremely costly and at least six treatments are recommended for optimal results, “ says Naficy.

NYU professor of dermatology Dr. Rhoda Narins says never underestimate the power of a good moisturizer – but you can get good effects by simply applying one daily onto your skin using your fingertips!

"Sometimes all you really need is a good moisturizer and a mild cleanser and you can take years off your face, " she says, adding that when skin is dry every single wrinkle is accentuated making you look much older.

The Bottom Line: Apply a moisturizer twice daily – or anytime skin looks dry to keep your complexion hydrated and plumped. If you've got big bucks to spend , skip the Face Shot and go for proven treatments like wrinkle relaxing injections or even Dysport or Botox. Better still, grab some sunscreen and blow the cost of the treatments on a fabulous vacation the south of France. You may not come back looking any younger but the memories will be so great, you won't care! :)

The Lunchtime Face Lift

It used to be that if you were lucky if you could squeeze in the time to buy a new pair of shoes on your lunch hour. Now, you can buy a whole new face, courtesy of a growing trend called the “Lunch Time Lift”. Here, you select from a “menu” of 30 minute treatments that offer (almost) immediate results with virtually no down town. Treatments include any number of wrinkle filling injections in combination with a mini face massage to stimulate collagen growth and improve skin's thickness and resiliency – and they start at around $550 per treatment. But do they work?

Dr. Naficy says: “Filler face-lifts are nothing new, however are becoming easier and easier to fit into a woman’s active lifestyle. Although, not for everyone, ( the cost is high) most of my patients do see a difference, with effects lasting up to two years."

Dr.Narins adds that the latest wrinkle fillers can also offer some permanent results by stimulating collagen production so as time passes you may need less to look young.

The Bottom Line: Lunchtime Lifts do work – but the lunch part will have to consist of lettuce and water for a long time in order to pay for it!

You might also enjoy reading:
The DNA of Looking Young
Chocolate- The New Botox?

For a steady stream of non-stop health and beauty advice visit RedDressDiary.com : The Source for Fabulous Women Over 40!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

The DNA of Looking Young

New research into gene expression has yielded an unexpected result: New ways to make skin look and act young. Here’s the anti aging news you’ve been waiting to hear! By Colette Bouchez

Decoding the human genome was a heady project by any standards –and certainly not intended for the front page of a beauty magazine.

But if researchers at Proctor and Gamble (P&G) are right, gene sequencing – the act of decoding how our genetic framework functions - may in fact be the ticket to finding the skin care ingredients that make old skin look and act like young again.

“Such a genomics approach is one of the unexpected benefits from the human genome project”, P & G scientist Rosemarie Osborne recently told Cosmetics Design.

More specifically, P&G scientists say that by better understanding how skin ages on a molecular level, the easier it will be to uncover what it will take, on an ingredient level , to intervene with the process, and either stop or reverse it.

The Genetic Search for Younger Skin

The process of applying sophisticated genetic research to skin care began at P&G roughly ten years ago. At the time they used the technology to test various skin care ingredients to see how they reacted, on a molecular level, and ultimately how that reaction impacts the way skin looks and feels.

More specifically, they focused on the way skin metabolizes lipids –compounds like essential fatty acids which play a major role in keeping skin healthy and young. Of greatest interest: How that metabolic process changes with both age, and environmental factors such as sun exposure.

What they found: Specific lipids, including ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids - all essential to skin health - decrease as skin ages, both naturally and via sun exposure. This in turn appears to reduce the ability of aging skin to repair itself, the way skin does naturally when we are young.

The next step in the process was finding ingredients that could intervene in that declining process. In short, find the compounds that, on a genetic level, tell “old skin” to act young again, stepping up lipid production and the repair process that follows.

Anti Aging Skin: The New Science

Fast forward a decade and the research comes full circle with the introduction of Hexamidine, the ingredient that P & G claims was identified as the compound that, along with niacin amide
( vitamin B 3) yielded an increase in the gene expression linked to lipid production and use in skin. Both ingredients are found in P&G’s Olay line of Pro X-L skin care products.

“The tissue engineered models act as a sort of pre screen to a clinical trial when the effect of the compound can be seen in vivo,” said Osborne.

While P&G might have been the first to harness the power of gene sequencing in skin care, they are hardly alone in the lab. L’Oreal SA claims to use genetic analysis to test the impact of proteins on the skin, while Estee Lauder boasts they use gene-expression technology as well.

At the same time, when it comes to the everyday application of human genome research, Alan Guttmacher, acting of the National Genome Research Institute recently told the Wall Street Journal “Marketing tends to be ahead of science”.

That said, P&G is backing up their claims with peer reviewed science. In the past decade their scientists have published over 40 medical papers in prestigious scientific journals concerning not only aging skin, but also the genetic underpinnings linked to dandruff and gingivitis.

To learn more about the new anti aging ingredients, click here.

You might also be interested in reading:

Hope or Hype? Can You Really Look Younger?

Beauty Buyer Beware: Avoid Anti Aging Skin Care Scams

For all the latest health and beauty news for women over 40 visit: RedDressDiary.com

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Chocolate - The New Botox:? Antiaging Skin Care 2009

Looking younger is now easier than ever with a bumper crop of new skin care ingredients designed to take years off your appearance without setting foot in a doctor’s office! - Colette Bouchez

If you’re hoping to head into 2009 looking younger and better than ever, you’ll be happy to hear you can do it – without setting a foot into your doctor’s office.

And it’s all thanks to a bumper crop of new skin care ingredients that are more advanced than any of us ever dreamed possible!

In fact, in the not so distant past, the best we could hope for was a temporary improvement in how we looked, with almost no lotions or potions offering a lasting effect. But as we head into 2009, expect to see more and more products that not only help you look younger for the moment, but also have some true staying power. Some may even reverse the signs of aging damage that have already occurred!

Here’s some of the hot new ingredients and skin care technology trends you can look for in 2009:

1. Chocolate: The New Botox? We know that eating it makes us feel good, thanks to natural chemicals that work on receptors in the brain that, once stimulated can increase feelings of well being. Now scientists have found that these same “feel good” receptors are also present in hair follicles and nerve cells in the skin - and when stimulated by natural chemicals found in chocolate not only improve our mood, but have a muscle relaxing effect that may be similar to Botox. In one study a cocoa-based skin cream was applied twice daily for 28 days to the skin around the eye area - with a relaxation of wrinkles observed in 95 % of the test subjects. Expect to see chocolate – or more precisely cocoa – cropping up in everything from skin care to spa-quality body care relaxation products.

2. Nanotech Encapsulated Peptides - Sounds like something out of NASA, I know, but in plain talk this means a new technology that is able to “package” skin care ingredients into such tiny microscopic molecules (called nanosomes) they can reach deeper and penetrate further through layers of skin, allowing ingredients to get to where the damage - and the aging - first occurs. And that means ingredients can actually work to rebuild skin cells that have been destroyed by time and the environment. Among the most promising is nanospheres of collagen, the skin-plumping molecule that diminishes with age. Now, for the first time, collagen can be delivered deeply enough into skin cells to make a significant difference . Another ingredient making use of the nanospehre technology are peptides, molecules that help skin cells regenerate.

3. Peptides For DNA Repair - And speaking of peptides, that popular skin care ingredient of 2007 and 2008 will also be back in the headlines in 2009 in the form of PREVENTHELIA ™ (0.05% Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33). This is a brand new kind of peptide ingredient that not only fights the harmful UV radiation effects of the sun, but also appears to protect and actually repair DNA damage already caused by sun exposure. Indeed, skin ages not only from the passing of years, but from what you do during those years – particularly your exposure to environmental factor such as pollution, cigarette smoke and the sun. These factors not only destroy collagen ( the fibers that keep skin plump and smooth) but also damage your DNA – the inner workings of each cell that can not only increase your risk of skin cancer but also cause skin to wrinkle and crease prematurely. Now this newest generation of peptides can not only fight skin aging that has already occurred, but also dig deep into your DNA and do a little repair work, reversing some of the signs of damage. Expect to see PREVENTHELIA ™ cropping up in a variety of brand name skin care creams and even some make-up.

4. Burdock Root, Turmeric and More Fruits - This past year the idea of using natural products to boost skin youth was the headline maker. In 2009 expect to see “natural” go to a whole new level with fruits, veggies and spices achieving some serious anti-aging effects. On the top of the list will be burdock root – which studies have shown has an enormous capacity to hold moisture in the skin, as well as help protect against chronic tissue inflammation and stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen. Also on the skin care plate for 2009: Blueberries, acai berries, Goji berries and baobag – all of which contain important skin vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids - essentials for anti-aging skin care. Among the spices making a big splash in the skin care ingredient category is turmeric. Expect to see it cropping up in hair care, sunscreens and anti-acne makeup and skin care.

5. Green Tea - We’ve seen it in moisturizers and even some make up. But in 2009 expect to see Green Tea emerging as a major sun screen ingredient. Indeed, a cache of new studies have shown that low concentrations of green tea used over a sustained period of time can offer significant protection from the photo-effects of the sun, helping to not only reduce cell damage, but possibly even excite some natural cell repair processes.

In other antioxidant news, researchers from L’Oreal USA working in conjunction with independent scientists from Dallas, Texas, have been studying the protective effects of a brand new natural ingredient known as phloretin . A plant phenol compound it is said to offer excellent protection against UV damage without any side effects. Expect to see it cropping up in sunscreens combined with vitamin C and ferulic acid.

To learn more about these and other new anti-aging skin care tips and tricks for 2009 visit www.RedDressDiary.com

You might also enjoy reading:
Anti Aging Cosmetics: Hope or Hype?
Avoid Anti Aging Skin Care Scams

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

New Anti Wrinkle Ingredient Fights Acne Too!

New anti aging ingredients promises to not only fight wrinkles but also soothe mid-life acne. But do they work? Here’s what you need to know - by Colette Bouchez

So here you are, looking in the mirror and thinking, “This just isn’t fair …wrinkles and acne?”

But truth is as we enter our middle years, and particularly as our reproductive hormones take on a life of their own, it’s entirely possible that in between those fine lines and wrinkles you may also see a brand new bumper crop of acne breaking out as well - even if you didn't have acne as a teen.

“Almost all acne is hormonal. …and adult acne occurs for the same basic reasons as adolescent acne…. cells respond abnormally to androgens,” says dermatologist Dr. Richard G. Fried, author of Healing Adult Acne.

In fact, experts say that middle-aged acne is usually driven by the same type of hormonal activity we see in puberty – except in reverse. And much like those bouncing hormones of your teen years, today’s middle-aged hormonal surges can cause your skin to react in myriad ways, including causing acne breakouts.

For many women problems are compounded by another common mid life skin condition known as acne-rosacea.

“Hormones play a strong role in the development of rosacea and many women notice flares around the time of the menses, and particularly around menopause,” says Palm Beach dermatologist Dr. Ken Beer, author of Palm Beach Perfect Skin.

As Beer explains, this dermatologic condition causes an acne-like appearance (red bumps and lumps, sometimes filled with fluids) plus it has the added component of causing facial flushing –as if we need more of that this time of life!

Acne rosacea can occur on it’s own, or in conjunction with traditional acne and both can easily flare in the middle years.

While there are certainly enough acne treatments on the market, finding one that works in midlife can be a real challenge, particularly if you’re also concerned with reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

The reason: Since most over-the-counter acne formulations are drying to the skin, they pull moisture from cells – and that make lines and wrinkles look much worse.

At the same time, most over-the-counter anti-wrinkle treatments, particularly rich creams and serums, can irritate sensitive acne prone skin and may increase breakouts, or worsen one that’s already started.

So what’s a middle-aged girl with a pimple and a wrinkle to do?

I’m happy to tell you that new hope – and new help – has finally arrived! There are in fact, several brand new products designed to fight wrinkles and acne in a single swoop!

The New Anti-Wrinkle Ingredients
The anti aging skin care ingredient creating a lot of new buzz these days are plant based growth factors known as cytokininsins -and for good reason. First, they are fast proving to be a powerful anti-wrinkle treatment, working to not only protect skin cells that manufacture collagen and elastin, but also increase their activity. Since it is collagen and elastin that helps give skin that plump, youthful lifted look, keeping them working at full tilt is one way to thwart the natural aging process.

Moreover, cytokinins also have the potential to slow down the breakdown of collagen and elastin cells that results from environmental factors such as the sun and pollution – now considered the two leading causes of premature skin aging.

But what makes cytokinins such an especially enticing skin care ingredient is that they possess all these powerful anti-aging effects and yet don't aggrevate acne or rosacea. In some studies cytokinins even had a beneficial effect on these conditions.

Indeed, in one 12 week study conducted by Dr. Jerry McCullough from the University of California on the patented cytokinins growth factor known as Pyratine 6, research revealed an increase in skin moisture by some 41%, and a decrease in fine lines by almost 30%, with early results appearing as little as 2 weeks.

But perhaps more importantly, Pyratine 6 was also clinically shown to be an effective treatment for redness associated with rosacea, eczema, contact dermatitis, and general menopause-related skin redness and irritation. Skin roughness was decreased by 84%, redness by 67% and discoloration by 41%. The findings were published in the journal Drugs and Dermatology.

But Pyratine 6 isn't going to be alone the shelf. Another plant growth factor known as TFG Beta-1 is also generating quite a stir.

In research conducted at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Cornell Medical College, and Jefferson Medical College doctors found TGF Beta-1 also stimulates significant collagen and elastin production - and it is also proving helpful in healing wounds more quickly and easily. Many believe its potent anti-inflammatory effects may prove to be exceedingly beneficial for those suffering with acne or rosacea.

Anti-Wrinkle - Anti-Acne Care Combined!
Perhaps the best part of this new anti- aging/anti-acne treatment approach is that you don't have to wait years or even months to harness the power - some of these ingredients are available right now!

Indeed, earlier this year Jan Marini Skin Research began offering their Transitions line of products containing TGF Beta-1. It's combined with various peptides also involved in skin regeneration and healing , for a one-two punch that can make skin look younger and clearer.

Pyratine-6 by Lumeris is the new player in the game. Available in a lotion or cream formulation it captures the anti-aging and anti-acne power of Pyratine 6 in another new combination product that is perfect for mid-life skin. Although not a prescription treatment it is sold primarily through doctor’s offices.

That’s said, I have found it- as well as the Jan Marini products - for sale online, but both purchases come with a word of caution. It’s a good idea to have any skin condition checked at least once by a board certified dermatologist before buying any self- care treatment products.

Not only is it possible that your skin condition might be caused by something else entirely, sometimes dry, irritated and even acne-prone mid life skin can be a symptom of a systemic disease such as thyroid disorder - and may require entirely different medication to bring relief.

You might also be interested in reading:
Return of the Face Lift- And Other New Ways To Avoid Growing Old!

Anti-Aging Cosmetics: What You Need To Know!

New book by Colette Bouchez: The Hot Flash Solution!

Visit http://www.reddressdiary.com/ to learn more!

Study: Marijuana & The Fountain of Youth

If you’re old enough to remember the Summer of Love, burning your bra, and the slogan “Never trust anyone over 30”, then you’re going to love this: Marijuana may actually hold the key to the Fountain of Youth - not to mention being a blockbuster wrinkle treatment!

Of course not in the form of Mary Jane you probably remember.

But new studies out of Hungary, Germany and the UK suggest that the human body naturally produces a substance known as an “endocannabinoid” – a molecule very close in structure to THC, the “psychoactive” cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant, also known as “cannabis”

Moreover, the human endocannabinoid appears to play a key role in skin health and anti aging skin care.

“ Just as THC is believed to protect the marijuana plant from pathogens, our own cannabinoids may be necessary for us to maintain healthy skin," wrote lead researcher Gerald Weissmann in a study to be published in the October issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.



Marijuana: Turning On Skin Cells

According to the new research, this human “endocannabioid” helps regulate and produce skin lipids. These are essential fats linked to oil production and believed to play a role in acne (when we over produce) or dry skin (when we under produce).

These same oil secretions are also linked to hormone production, particularly estrogen - one reason our skin looks plump and moist when we are young and estrogen production is high, and dryer and wrinkly as we creep towards menopause – a time when estrogen production is dropping.

So what’s the link between cannabinoids and aging skin? They appear to act as a kind of “signal” regulator, that turns lipid production on and off. Keeping it “turned on”, say researchers, may be one way to encourage plumper, younger looking skin.

The next step will be to isolate the human cannabinoids and, if possible, turn them into an anti aging skin care ingredient.

The other alternative: Extract the cannabis molecules we already have in the hearty marijuana plant - a move that may not be as far off as you might think.

Indeed at least one part of the cannabis plant has already made its way into several skin care products in the form of hemp oil – currently available in a number of moisturizers, creams, and other cosmetics. The Body Shop, for example, features a hemp-based line of products, as does Burt’s Bees.

But if you’re thinking you can get high on your skin care, guess again. According to Dr. David West, who holds a degree in plant breeding from the University of Minnesota (yes, they really give degrees in this!) unlike THC, which contains high levels of the psychoactive component of marijuana, industrial hemp is mostly CBD, which is the anti-psychoactive constituent of marijuana. Still, the anti aging effects on skin lipids may be similar.

But just in case you’re getting the idea that you can just “light up” and give your skin a boost of youth – not a good idea. Legalities aside, ( and won’t you feel silly telling the judge you were just trying to get rid of your wrinkles) the truth is that when it comes to skin aging, smoking marijuana is a lot like smoking cigarettes: It produces pollutants that actually gobble up collagen and cause skin to prematurely age ( think Mick Jagger and Keith Richards). Of course you might not care …but still, you will look older!

My advice for right now: Until we have more research on the role of cannabis in skin care, stay out of the sun, use sunscreen when you do go out, and when you’re indoors – put on some moisturizer and an old Joni Mitchell album and just relax. You won’t recreate the summer of love – but your skin will look a lot better.

You might also enjoy reading: (click on the titles)

Your Perfectly Pampered Menopause;

Wrinkle Injections: How They Compare

Or visit www.RedDressDiary.com - The Destination for Fabulous Women Over 40!

Fashion - Beauty - HealthCare - Antiaging - Product Evaluations - And More!

Beauty Buyer Beware: Avoid Anti Aging Skin Care Scams

Open any beauty or fashion magazine and it's hard to miss the ads:

“… a 92% reduction in wrinkles "
" ...clinically proven to firm skin "
“ ...dramatically reduces wrinkles in 7 days "

" ...cellulite gone in 1 application."

And if you're like most of us, it's also hard not to believe them - what with all the numbers and the percent signs and the science-y sounding names and terms.

And yet, talk to almost any dermatologist or plastic surgeon and you're likely to hear that all but a few ingredients have even the potential to do what they say.

“Many of these products are claiming changes in the skin that, if they were true, would automatically classify them as drugs requiring FDA approval - and clearly they are not drugs,” says NYU professor and dermatologist Rhoda Narins, MD.

So, says Narins, it's reasonable to assume that many won't deliver what they promise.

And in fact, this was exactly what the magazine Consumer Reports found last year, when they put a number of popular anti-aging treatments to the test. Their analysis showed that a good deal of the anti aging products make huge promises, simply don't live up to their claims.

So, how do these companies come up with all these "test results" touted in the ads?

Well you may be surprised to hear that for the most part, experts say the results in the ads are truthful. But, what they frequently don't tell us is how the testing was conducted - a factor that can make a huge difference in the validity of the results.

" We don't know, for example the parameters under which the testing was done, how the participants skin looked before it started, what the results compared to, if there was any scientific validation of the effect – and all of this makes a huge difference when interpreting statistical data," says Bruce Katz, MD, professor of dermatology at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Katz adds that many studies derive their results simply by asking participants "Does your skin look better? ". And that, he says, has " an enormous potential for the placebo effect."

But even if test results are validated by the Research and Development team of the company, experts say you still can't be sure of unbiased results.

"While some in-house testing is very valid, not all companies use the same standards," says David E. Goldberg, MD, director of Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey.

A much better validation, he says, is independant testing by an "off-campus" physician or hospital, followed by publication in a peer reviewed medical journal.

This, says Goldberg at least validates that the testing followed accepted protocol, and that the results were unbiased.

Also important to note: Sometimes a product itself may not have been clinically tested, but a key ingredient has. While it's considered "fudging" a bit to stake a claim for results that didn't actually involve your product, in many instances, the science behind the ingredient is so strong it lends a degree of validation to any product that includes it.

But, there's a catch! "What's key here is making certain that the product actually contains enough of that active, tested ingredient to make the claim and to make a difference," says Katz.

Cosmetic Shopping Tips: Buyer Beware!

Clearly, there is no over-the-counter cosmetic that is going to yield the kind of results you get from plastic surgery or a dermatologic treatment - no matter good the testing or how accurate the ads.

That said, there are some companies - and some product ingredients - that do have an impressive scientific pedigree. And they can live up to at least some, if not all of their promises.

So, how do you find the flowers amongst the weeds? The experts say keep the following points in mind:

1. Purchase skin care and anti aging products only from reputable companies. The more established a skin care line is, the more likely it is they have the money to spend on independent testing, so there is likely to be at least some good science behind their products. Good companies to seek out include Avon, Garnier Nutritioniste, Olay, Neutrogena, Clinique and Prescriptives. Each features specific anti aging products with at least some proven results.

2. Look for products containing ingredients such as retinol, peptides or antioxidants. Currently these are among the hottest skin care ingredients and do have some science to back them up.

3. Check ingredient labels. A practice known as "angel dusting" means some companies include just enough of a key ingredient to list it on the label but not enough to have any significant effect on your skin. Generally, key ingredients should be among the first several listed on the label. If it's on or near the bottom, don't buy it.

4. If you're not sure about some of the key ingredients mentioned in an ad, check the company's website for information about research and testing - and note if any study results are published in a medical journal. Also important: Look for the lead author of the study to be an independant physician, or that the research was conducted at a medical center or university.

5. If a product is only available online - and isn't carried by your local pharmacy, a department store or a cosmetic superstore - think twice before you buy it. Sometimes exciting new products show up Online first. But other times it can be a hotbed of commerce for off-label products that are untested or even dangerous, or not meant to be used by consumers. Again, let published clinical studies be your guide.

One final note of caution: If you're looking to save a few bucks by purchasing name-brand cosmetics on an auction site, be certain to buy only from reputable merchants - particularly those that are US based and with a long history of favorable transactions. While it may seem like you've netted the bargain of a century when a 60 dollar cream is yours for only 24 bucks -remember, if they can counterfeit a Rolex watch, they can counterfeit a jar of cream!

For more help in in finding the anti aging ingredients and products that really work visit:

RedDressDiary.com - The Destination for Fabulous Women Over 40!

Or visit YourMenopause.com: The Source.

Study: You Can "Teach" Skin To Look Young!

If you feel as if the hands of time have a stranglehold on your wrinkling, aging skin, here’s some news you’ll want to hear: New research shows we may be able to “instruct” the body to make more of at least one biological substance skin needs to look young – and in doing so turn back the hands of time in a major way!

That substance, says experts is collagen. Long believed to play a major role in skin wrinkling, collagen production declines as we age - and for a long time, doctors believed there wasn’t much we could do about that.

But a new report in the current issue of the Archives of Dermatology, says otherwise. Here, researchers from the University of Michigan write that specific advances in skin care made over the past decade have opened the door to the idea that we can "teach" the body to begin producing this vital substance in much the same way it did when we were young.

" Collagen fragmentation is responsible for loss of structural integrity and impairment of fibroblast function in aged human skin - treatments that stimulate production of new, non fragmented collagen should provide substantial improvement to the appearance and health of aged skin," write the researchers.

In essence this means that not only can we stop the hands of time –we have the opportunity to effect a permanent physiological change in skin that can reverse some of the signs of aging - something that has never before been possible.

The best news of all: You don't have to wait a decade or even a year. The study found this was all possible with some dermatologic treatments already in use today.

Old Skin Vs. Young Skin
One of the major differences between “old” skin and “young” skin is the amount and quality of collagen found below the surface. A type of connective tissue, collagen, along with elastin, form a kind of invisible criss-cross netting underneath skin to help support and keep everything in place.

It is, in fact, collagen that gives skin it’s buoyant, dense youthful look and feel, keeping those cheekbones from sliding into your chin and your chin from sliding into your neck - forming a boatload of wrinkles along the way.

But collagen doesn’t last forever. Environmental factors like the sun and pollution – especially chemicals found in cigarette smoke – combine with the natural aging process to damage cells that produce collagen, causing them to become fragmented, or "broken", and no longer able to give skin the support it needs to look young.

"This imbalance advances the aging process in a self-perpetuating, never-ending deleterious cycle," say the researchers.

And what that means is that slowly, over time, “holes’ pop up in that support netting and eventually, get so large that our skins entire support structure begins to collapse. (Think of it like popping a hole in your pantyhose and suddenly the support from that area is gone!).

When the collagen "matrix" or netting becomes broken in enough places, skin support is lost almost entirely. And that means it begins to sag, and eventually, wrinkle.

The Science of Keeping Skin Young
For a while everyone thought the answer to collagen loss was to simply apply more collagen – as in the explosion of collagen creams hitting the market in the 1980’s. But it wasn’t long before science also realized that collagen applied from the outside wasn’t doing much good on the inside. While skin looked temporarily better, the effects weren’t lasting.

And this is where the new Michigan University research sheds some important new light on some current treatment options.

Their report asserts that certain types of topical treatments, as well as some specific wrinkle filling injections, not only provide the immediate skin fix we’re all after, but also work from a long-term standpoint to actually alter the amount of collagen in our skin.

More specifically the researchers say that when certain treatments make their way to skin cells, they are able to create an environment in which damaged fibroblasts (collagen producing cells) can recover – and begin producing collagen in much the way they did when skin was young! In a sense, these treatments are teaching skin to "act" and eventually look the way it did when we were young.

What This Means To You:
You can slow down the hands of time – and with the right treatments and products, maybe even reverse some of the nasty effects of aging that have already occurred.

But at the same time, it doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind and ignore the things that cause premature skin aging – including sun exposure, smoking, and other lifestyle factors such as a lack of sleep or a nutrient -poor diet.

Experts say all these things still matter, since the longer you can keep your collagen producing cells healthy and functioning, the less repair work you’ll need.

That said, it’s also comforting to know that with the right treatments and ingredients not only can we compensate for some of the damage that has already occurred to skin cells, there is now good evidence to show that at least some of that damaged may be reversible.

To learn more about which specific treatment types the study found to help initiate the production of new collagen, as well as the skin care ingredients shown to effect change visit
the RedDressDiary.com : The Source For Fabulous Women Over 40!

New Study Reveals Why Skin Really Wrinkles & Ages

If despite your best efforts to fight the signs of aging you're still sagging and wrinkling and looking older than you'd like, don’t berate yourself - or yell at the lady behind the skin care counter in your favorite department store.

A group of Purdue University scientists believe there is a brand new reason why skin ages – and it happens from the inside out.

What’s more, say researchers, the discovery will likely lead to the rapid development of some amazing new treatments that work in a whole new and exciting way.

Discovery: How Skin Really Ages

Working in concert with researchers from NuSkin, the group nailed down the function of a protein present in skin cells that plays a role in how skin ages and when that process begins- a concept that, until now, has remained quite illusive.

Indeed, it's a well-established fact that outside forces - such as the sun, cigarette smoke and other forms of pollution – age our skin by producing free radicals. These are molecules that work to literally gobble up collagen and elastin, skin’s natural support system.

As collagen and elastin fibers weaken, skin loses that support. And like those old sofa cushions that start to sag and droop over time, so too does our skin.

But new Purdue research found there could be another factor involved in the production of those nasty free radicals - and it's coming from right inside our own body.

According to the new research it centers on an enzyme called arNOX, present in our skin cells from birth. Part of a newly identified group of proteins known as ECTO-NOX (external oxidaseENOX proteins), arNOX doesn't do a whole lot when we are young.

As we age, however, and our cells naturally begin producing less energy, these proteins kick in, working to generate additional metabolic energy. It is through this process that experts believe arNOX generates free radicals that, much like the sun, nibble and snack on collagen and elastin, causing skin to age.

Not surprisingly they say all this extra cellular activity picks up speed between the years of 45 and 70 - when the majority of skin wrinkling and sagging occurs.

So What's A Girl To Do?

Take heart, there's some good news: Based on the new findings, the scientists believe we now have a whole new area for the development of skin care treatments - and it may not be as far off as you think.

Scientists at NuSkin are confidant that methods of inhibiting arNOX activity and preventing the internal production of free radicals is on the horizon – with perhaps a whole new category of skin products coming forward in the next couple of years. (Get busy scientists, we’re not getting any younger here ya know!)

In the meantime, don't give this nasty little enzyme any help making you look older!

• Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
• Choose a sunscreen designed to block both UVA and UVB rays (and only a few do), and then use it as if your life depended on it, (and it might!).
• Don't smoke - and try to avoid being around anyone who does.

These three steps can shave years off your face, even if wrinkling and sagging has already begun.

Moreover, if you also choose the right skin care - and some of the advances are really astounding - all you have to do is put on that red dress baby, and you should be facing the next couple of decades looking pretty good!

For more information on how to find the sunscreens with the best anti aging protection, and learn about the real breakthroughs in anti aging products you can really afford, visit www.TheRedDressDiary.com

Anti Aging Make Up Tips - The Real Deal

Are you as tired as I am of reading beauty articles edited by 32 year olds who find it necessary to tell 45 year olds what beauty products they can and can't use anymore?

Geeze, listening to these babes one would think that the day after your 45th birthday you dump every piece of make up you own just to make room in your bathroom vanity for gallon jugs of Metamucil and cartons of incontinence pads! Oy. All I can say is ....they'll learn. :)

But in the meantime, here's the real deal: Yes, your make up does have to change once you hit your 40's - but no, you don't have to give up your favorite looks or products. You just have to modify the way in which you use them.

To help you do that, here's a few Do's and Don'ts Red Dress Diary STYLE - when they say you can't I say of course you can!

They say: Once you're over 45 don't put dark shadow in the crease of your eye.

Red Dress Diary Says: Nonsense. You can still use this eye defining trick - the catch is to feather the darker shadow up towards the brow line and then add just a tiny touch of highlighter in the arch, on the bone. As long as you don't load up on highlighter from the crease to the brow bone ( that would give your eyes a droopy, aging look) you can still use this technique to bring out your beautiful eyes.

They say : To look younger you must use a reflective eye lightening product .

Red Dress Diary Says: Gimme a break! Once you hit 40 you begin to develop that deepening crease running from the side of your nose towards the under eye ( doctors call this the "tear trough"). If you put a light reflecting product in this area, it's going to make the area above the crease look puffy (light brings it all forward) ,which in turn is going to make the crease look deeper and darker. Instead, apply a matte concealer in one to two shades darker than your foundation. Yes - darker! This will reduce the look of puffiness, and cause the "tear trough" to recede and disappear.

They say : To look younger wear pink lipstick.

Red Dress Diary Says: Sure, if you're going for that Tinkerbell on HRT look. To look younger 40+ lips need to look naturally fuller - not gooked up in pink. Try this instead: Use a nude color lip pencil and a light hand to color in lips completely. ( I don't want to see any of those Adriene Arpel 1968 dark outlines!) Top with a sheer gloss or one that's lightly tinted in coral or brown. You will not believe how young your whole face looks!

For more fun and easy anti aging skin care tips CLICK HERE.