non-invasive cosmetic procedures up 5% in 2010

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), non-invasive procedures are up 5% in 2010.  Are you a part of the statistic?  Chances are your answer is yes.  So who is getting these cosmetic procedures done and what are the most popular procedures?  

Women, who made up the majority of the recipients of all surgical and nonsurgical procedures in 2010. Women under age 35 opted for less invasive procedures. The most common nonsurgical procedures for women under age 35 were Botox injections, hyaluronic fillers, microresurfacing and chemical peels.  Men also saw their share of surgical and nonsurgical procedures last year, with Botox, hyaluronic fillers, microresurfacing and chemical peels.  

Why the increase in non-invasive cosmetic procedures?  Millions of American want a youthful look.  People want to put their best foot, I mean face, forward these days with all of the competition in the workplace. More women (and men) want to age gracefully...and aging gracefully comes easier with a little help from their plastic surgeon, dermatologist or licensed skin care professional.

Cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increased 5 percent in 2010.  According to the ASPS website, he top five minimally-invasive procedures were:  

• Botox
• Hyaluronic Fillers
• Laser Hair Reduction
• Microresurfacing
• Chemical Peels  

Botox is great for those frown lines on your forehead can add years to your appearance, and continues to be the anti-aging solution for millions of men and women who want to remove wrinkles. Botox treatments are quick and painless – a great choice for squeezing in a treatment over lunch hour or right after work.

  

Hyaluronic fillers are now readily available at many skincare centers and dermatologist offices, and offer several benefits for wrinkle removal. Dermal fillers can be used to plump up the lips, decrease lines and wrinkles on the face, and target key areas that are showing signs of aging like the cheeks.

   

Laser hair reduction treatments are a safe and effective way to remove unwanted hair, and many doctors offices may offer a customized treatment plan for the best results.  Laser hair reduction causes ‘injury’ to the hair follicle to inhibit growth, and it’s a relatively painless procedure with long-term results.

  

Microresurfacing can reduce the signs of aging by removing fine lines, dead skin cells, lighten pigmentation and stimulate collagen production.  The procedure involves exfoliation and vacuum which sweeps away the dead skin and debris.  Over time, this means you can effectively get rid of scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and keep the skin looking fresh and youthful after each treatment. A series of 3 – 6 treatments will help to achieve the most dramatic results, and these can be coupled with other facial treatments such as chemical peels.  Microresurfacing treatments can be performed in under 30 minutes, and with today’s innovative technology, you can enjoy regular treatments with little downtime.
  

Chemical peels can be used to treat several skin conditions, like acneic skin, fine lines and eliminating age spots and other pigmentation. Chemical peels range in potency from mild peels to intensive peels, which downtime can vary also.  Chemical peels can also now be combined with microresurfacing which enhances the overall results and decreases the social downtime.   

All of the procedures mentioned above can each give you great results alone, but will give you even better results when combined with the other treatments, along with clinical skin care and sunscreen.  For instance, if you are getting a series of microresurfacing treatments done for fine lines and pigment, having botox done will just enhance the results from the microresurfacing treatments.  It's a good idea to begin doing non-invasive procedures before all of the aging sets in, meaning it's easier to prevent aging than correct aging.

So how you know if these procedures are right for you?  Make an appointment for a consultation to go over the best options and treatment plan for you!  Just make sure you go to a physician, nurse or licensed skin care professional that has had extensive training in injectables, laser treatments, microresurfacing and/or chemical peels...or else you may not like what you see!

my top 10 stocking stuffer picks

Are you in need of a last minute stocking stuffer or a gift idea?  Well, here is a list of my top ten stocking stuffer picks:

Derm Organic Argan Oil Leave-In Treatment for hair is amazing!!!  It's made with pure Moroccan Argan Oil and helps to repair and revitalize hair and adds incredible softness and shine.  It also protects from thermal damage, decreases drying time and won't weigh hair down.  Blondes can use it too...it won't darken light hair! Go to http://www.dermorganic.com/leave-in-treatment to find out more.

Who doesn't want soft hands?  Well, Glove Me Tender Restorative Hand Treatment with Shea Butter SPF 15 not only will soften your hands, but it also has the benefit of added sun protection.   It also has skin brighteners to help improve the appearance of age spots as well as shea butter which helps to moisturize.  Go to http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2224785 to find out more.

Another one of my favorite hand creams is Repair Mains Age-Defense Nourishing Cream by Lierac.  It's an anti-aging hand cream that is light, fast absorbing and not greasy.  It's ultra nourishing and moisturizing and helps combat the visible signs of aging with antioxidants.  It's also beneficial for your nails!  Go to http://www.lierac-usa.com/Products/Body/Repair%20Mains.aspx for more info.

I am in addicted to lip plumpers!!  I have two favorites, the first is Lip FusionXL!  It has double the plumping power than other plumpers.  It it clear and can be worn alone or with your favorite lipstick during the day or at night as a lip treatment.  Go to http://www.fusionbeauty.com/products_en_1_1_0_2_0-LipFusion-XL.php&promoID=LIPMS for more info.

The other lip plumper I'm addicted to is Hard Candy's Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss!  It's less expensive than most lip plumpers and comes in about 10 different shades!  My favorite shades are Girl Next Door and Uptown Girl.  Go to http://www.hardcandy.com/products.php?cat=8#372 for more info.

Next, who wouldn't want to find Tensage Intensive Ampoules in their stocking?!  The Tensage Ampoules use a non-human growth factor called SCA Biorepair Technology which uses a secretion from a snail.  SCA is a unique fibroblast growth factor that works to help skin rebuild aging and damaged skin.  Results can be seen in as little as 7 days!  Go to http://www.biopelle.com/products/consumers/tensage/intensive-ampoules.aspx for more info.

I'm in love with iS Clinical's SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen!!  It's so convenient because it comes in a brush applicator, so you can carry it your purse and apply it anytime throughout the day over your makeup.  It's broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and comes in two colors, Translucent and Medium.  Translucent is good for light to medium skin and Medium is good for medium to darker skin.  Go to http://www.isclinical.com/sunscreen_powder for more info.

I also love Up The Anti by Prescribed Solutions.  It's an oil-free moisturizing SPF 30 that has a slight bronze tint and matches almost any skin color!  It can be worn alone or it's light enough to be worn under your favorite makeup!  Go to http://www.prescribedsolutions.com/frames/upanti_patient.htm for more info.

One of the last things I'd recommend as a fabulous stocking stuffer is Beauty Sprinkles Vitamin Cocktail Mask!!  I'm completely addicted to these and use them when my skin needs a quick pick me up!  It's an all natural mask packed with vitamins and antioxidants to help revive and refresh dull, tired skin.  Just mix with greek yogurt, apply and leave on for 15-20 minutes for radiant skin!  Go to http://www.bubblesoflaguna.com/product.php?productid=18125&js=y for more info.

And of course, a gift certificate for a DermaSweep skin micro-resurfacing treatment!!  The DermaSweep is an innovative "green" particle-free micro-resurfacing (microdermabrasion) system that gives an effective exfoliation as well as circulation.  After the desired amount of exfoliation has been achieved, the skin is infused with a paraben-free skin specific solution like Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic or Glycolic.  The DermaSweep treats early aging lines, hyperpigmentation, photodamage, acneic skin, acne scars, surgical scars & dehydrated skin. Go to http://www.dermasweep.com/home.php for more information and to find a location near you!

Ok, so this would be number 11, but it's so cute and smells so yummy I just had to include it, Voluspa's Mini Tin Candle in Japanese Plum Bloom!!  It's fruity and floral, yet not overpowering.  The little screw top tin is adorable and great for travel or a nightstand.  Go to http://www.drugstore.com/voluspa-mini-tin-candle-with-screw-cap-delphine-japanese-plum-bloom/qxp266479 for more info.

I've tried all of the products I mentioned above and love each and every one!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

do you have bombshell brows...or barely there brows?

Do you have beautiful bombshell brows or barely there brows?  Most of us have over tweezed our brows in the past, which has left us with barely there brows.  With a little patience and TLC, you can have the brows you've always wanted!!

There are quite a few things you can do to help get your brows looking bombshell beautiful!!

The first is, let them grow out for 4-6 months.  In order to reshape the brow, you need hair for a professional brow artist to work with!  If you really don't have much hair to begin with, I recommend Latisse.  Latisse will help get your brows fuller, faster...and you might as well use it on your lashes too!!  For more information on Latisse go to http://www.latisse.com/.

Secondly, you can fill in your brows while you are growing them out to help give them the shape you are looking for.  Having the perfect brow truly is an art, so for those of us that need help, I recommend one of Anastasia's brow kits.  Anastasia is the Beverly Hills brow guru has been grooming and shaping the brows of Hollywood royalty for years...and with her brow kits, you can groom your own brows the Anastasia way!!  The kit comes with stencils and all of the essentials to get bombshell brows!!

After your brows have grown in, go get your brows shaped by a brow artist trained by Anastasia.  Anastasia has brow studios all over the US and Nordstrom even has Anastasia brow counters at some of their locations.  I see Christine Gray at the Nordstrom at Irvine Spectrum and she rocks!!!  Go to http://anastasia.net/store_locator.php to find an Anastasia brow studio or http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/anastasia-beverly-hills-services-locations for an Anastasia Nordstrom brow counter near you!

You will be on your way to having the perfect Beverly Hills bombshell brows...like Kim Kardashian, who reportedly gets her brows groomed by the brow guru herself, Anastasia Soare.

to tan or not to tan

Summer is coming to an end.  Labor Day is almost here.  We all want a healthy, bronzed glow, right?  The sun and tanning beds are just not a safe way to get that bronzed glow though, they cause pre-mature aging and skin cancer, so what's the best way to get a tan?  Get a Spray di Sole tan!!

I have been used sunless tanning products for years, some I like and some I don't, but I recently found the BEST spray tan, Spray di Sole by Cat K!!  It's organic, non-toxic and looks so natural and amazing!!!

But there are a few tips to prep your skin to make your Spray di Sole OC by Cat K spray tan look better and last longer!!  First, be sure to thoroughly exfoliate your skin for a few days prior to getting your spray tan.  When you don't exfoliate prior to a spray tan, your dead skin start will start to slough off and your spray tan will start to get splotchy.  I have two favorite sugar body scrubs that will leave your skin feeling like silk and also smell amazing!!  I prefer sugar scrubs over salt scrubs, because sugar is effective, yet more gentle than salt scrubs, so even people with sensitive skin can use them.  I love Boots Mint Melon & Sugar (you can find it at Target).

The other one is Pure Fiji Starfruit Coconut Sugar Rub (you can find it online or through Marc Edward Skincare).

Now that your skin is exfoliated and prepped, get your Spray di Sole spray tan!!  It's organic, odorless, non-orange, non-sticky and leaves you with an amazing bronzed glow!!  The Spray di Sole OC tan has pro-vitamins and moisturizers which help to give you that silky smooth, natural looking tan.  It's customized for you, so it can be as light or as dark as you'd like.  Jeana Keough, formerly with the Real Housewives of OC, is one of Cat K's spray tan clients and opts to get a booster to get a richer bronzed tan.  To find out more about the Spray di Sole tan, contact Cat K at facebook.com/spraydisole.OC.


After you get your spray tan, it is important to keep your skin hydrated!!  If you keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, your skin won't slough off as fast and your spray tan will last longer, which means you can make your tan last longer!!  I like Lierac's Anti-Dessechement Hydrating Body Lotion.  It's long lasting, extremely hydrating and has a ton of botanicals and antioxidants beneficial for your skin (you can find it Beauty 360 section at select CVS stores).

Sometimes I need to touch up my tan, so I use Loreal Sublime Bronze Towelettes.  They are convenient and super easy to use.  Plus, they are travel friendly which is a huge bonus!!

Enjoy the rest of summer and go get a safe, healthy, organic Spray di Sole tan!!!  

dna repair

DNA Repair by Remergent used to be one of my favorite products but it isn't made anymore, so I was so excited when I found DNA Youth Recovery Serum and DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream.  These products are the new improved version of the DNA Repair!!

The products basically help with repairing our skin's DNA that is damaged from everyday environmental stress, from pollution to sun exposure (hopefully you're wearing sunscreen)!  The ingredients help to strengthen your bodies own ability to fight free radial damage, which cause premature aging...and who wants that!

The first product is the DNA Youth Recovery Serum.  It is nice and light and sinks right into skin!  It contains 3 DNA recovery enzymes and amino acids to help to attack the damage by those unwanted UVA/UVB rays and to help prevent further damage.   Anti-inflammatory extracts help with redness and inflammation caused from sun exposure and our environment.  It even has Hyaluronic Acid for added hydration and an instant plumping effect!   It's great for normal to oily skin, rosacea, sensitive skin or just someone who likes lighter products.

The second product is the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream.  It is a more like a gel-like cream, it's not too heavy.  It has also has enzymes and antioxidants that help with repairing DNA damage from sun exposure, as well as aiding in further damage.  Ceramides and milk lipids help the skin retain moisture, which is great for aging skin.  Anti-inflammatory properties help with redness and inflammation caused from sun exposure or environmental stress.  It also has properties that help to improve your skin's barrier, which is great post-chemical peel, post-DermaSweep or post-laser.  It's great for dryer skin, aging skin, photo-damaged skin or for someone who just likes a light cream vs a serum.

I used both products recently after I did a VERY aggressive DermaSweep TCA peel infusion treatment on myself.  I used the DNA Youth Recovery Serum during the day and the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream at night.  I did put a little of the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream by my eyes during the day because they were really dry.  I highly recommend trying these products.

If you're a licensed skin care professional and want to order the products, contact Nate at Nate_0949@yahoo.com.  If not, just google the products and you will find them!

dermasweep goes "green"

You can feel safe when getting a DermaSweep particle-free skin resurfacing treatment done!  The bristles are made from polyester or nylon which makes them less-irritating than other microderm treatments!  Also, the skin specific solutions that are infused into the skin are all paraben-free, so dermasweep is a green treatment!!

DermaSweep has removed parabens and methylisothiazolinone from its products including the skin specific infusion solutions. DermaSweep epi-infusion treatments combine the elements of bristles, vacuum and continual flow application that simutaneously deliver the skin specific solutions deeper into the skin. Now that DermaSweeps skin specific solutions are paraben-free, the procedure is safer than ever, all while the extremely effective in treating a variety of problems from acne to photo-damaged skin. The skin specific solutions for infusions include: vitamin C, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, skin lightening.  For more information or to find a trained skin care professional near you go to www.dermasweep.com.  Have a radiant day!

dermasweep

"I have been in the cosmetic laser and medical grade skin care business for over 30 yrs. Having used all previous mcrodermabrasion (crystals and diamond) I have found the DermaSweep MD w/ epi-infusion and the DermaSweep Mini to be the backbone of my practice. A 3 year audit, by procedure, indicates 95% of my patients receive micro-resurfacing before undergoing other anti-aging procedures such as IPL chemical peels and epi-infusion Bottom line DermaSweep micro-resurfacing = "shingles off the roof" and IPL, chemical peels and skin care products absorbed more efficiently. The epi-infusion is more icing on the cake. DermaSweep micro-resurfacing clearly demonstrates the optical properties of light; old skin cells removed and the skin reflects more light!!" 
-Suzanne Slader, RN 
Palo Alto, San Mateo, Pacifica, CA


For more information on the DermaSweep or to find a provider near you go to http://dermasweep.com/home.php.