Jan Marini’s Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF30 Review

My job is to be a skin advocate. As much as I am passionate about skin care and skin health, I am also a lover of the sun. Back in the days when I was a young teenager, I could have cared less about protecting my skin. In fact, I was so bad that my best girlfriend and I would go to the lake in the summer and our motto was “Burn Me!” We thought “no pain, no gain” and so we would lay in the sun unprotected for hours. Now, that very thought just makes me cringe! My skin a few years later showed the damage that I put upon myself. I ended up having hyperpigmentation (brown spots) on my face and body.

About four years ago, I started to get concerned about my skin and I was totally vain in the sense that I wanted to look younger than my peers. Although I am Asian, and I already do look younger than most others who are my age, I did look older compared to an Asian person who was the same age as me. So I decided to start wearing sunscreen on a daily basis. Now, four years later with the help of sunscreen, skin serums, and peels my skin is looking young, healthy and vibrant!

I’ve been using Jan Marini’s Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF30 for the last three years and I love this sunscreen! This sunscreen has UVA and UVB protection (see Sunscreen 101 article), is waterproof, it feels silky and smooth (NOT oily and greasy), offers light moisture, has a great light tropical scent, and it gives my skin a healthy sheen. My only qualm is that it does contain parabens. Another great feature about this sunscreen is that it has “microscopic sponge techonology” which entraps and absorbs unwanted materials and excess oil in the skin.

I have noticed a great change in my skin since I started to use this sunscreen. The skin on my face never burns, I am no longer noticing new pigmentation spots, and my current pigmentation spots have gotten lighter.

For those of you who love celebrity gossip (like me!), supposedly Anne Hathaway and Naomi Watts also use this sunscreen. If it’s good enough for the stars, it’s definitely good enough for you!

As a skin advocate I must say and believe that it is best to stay out of the sun as much as possible to avoid sun damage, BUT if you are a sun lover (like me) make sure that you wear sun protection at all times and reapply often!!!

For more in-depth information please go to: http://janmarini.com/AntioxidantDailyFaceProtectant.html

For those in the San Francisco area who would like to purchase Jan Marini products, it is sold at Spa Bar, 246 2^nd St., 415-975-0888. Don’t forget to tell them that Thy sent you!

Sunscreen 101

Every client that walks in my door is concerned with anti-aging. Everyone wants to slow down the aging process whether they are a man or a woman. Surprisingly, many still do not use sunscreen/sun protection on a daily basis! Sun protection is the first and foremost step one should take in protecting your skin from aging. The sun’s rays are stronger than they have ever been and the risk of getting skin cancer is growing at an alarming rate. Which is why it is vital to wear sun protection on a DAILY BASIS on your face and body.

Many of my clients will use the excuse that they don’t like to wear sunscreen on their face because it feels greasy and heavy on their face and they are worried about breaking out. Well, this can no longer be used as an excuse because there are hundreds of sunscreens out there that have wonderful lightweight, non-greasy formulas that do not clog their pores. (In future articles I will review different sunscreens-just check in on a regular basis!) What’s really important to know is that it is extremely important to look for sunscreens that have both UVA and UVB protection.

So what is the difference between the two and why is it important to have both? All sunscreens will have UVB protection. UVB stands for “Ultra Violet Burning” rays, so the SPF factor correlates with the UVB rays and the function of the sunscreen is to protect your skin from not burning. UVA stands for “Ultra Violet Aging” rays. These are the rays that everyone should be very concerned about because these are the rays that cause aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation (brown spots). Not until recently have some manufacturers started to add UVA protection to sunscreens. You may be someone who wears sun protection every day, but if your sunscreen doesn’t contain UVA protection, your skin is not completely protected and you are still risking your skin from getting skin damage. How you will know if your sunscreen has both UVA and UVB protection is that it should be noted on the bottle by saying “UVA/UVB protection” or “Broad Spectrum protection”. If the bottle doesn’t mention anything, then it probably only has UVB protection and not UVA protection.

I personally recommend that when you purchase a sunscreen, you should get a minimum of SPF 30, especially if you have fair skin. The higher you go in SPF just means that you can wait a little longer before you have to re-apply. Even on cloudy days or if you are indoors all day it is still a good idea to wear sun protection because the suns rays, especially the UVA rays, can still penetrate through the clouds and through glass windows.

Many clients also say that their way of protecting their skin is through the makeup that they use (such as foundation, concealer, etc.). I give them kudos for trying to protect their skin, but usually makeup formulations don’t have enough protection in them to completely protect the skin and most likely they probably don’t have UVA protection added. I always think that it is a good idea to have protection in your makeup, but to use sunscreen separately.

Most importantly sunscreen is a way of protecting yourself from getting skin cancer, but if you are really concerned with aging, this is the most simple and best thing you can do for your skin. It may take time for you to find a formula that works well with your skin, but hang in there because your skin will reap the benefits.

How Martha stays healthy and young

I am not ashamed to admit it. I am a HUGE Martha Stewart fan! Martha recently shared with her fans her secret to looking good and being healthy. Guess what was number 1 on her list? SKIN CARE! Here's what she had to say about it:

"SKIN CARE: Skin care is vital, and my routine includes a thorough cleansing every morning and night. Toners, enriching day and night creams, and serums keep my skin elastic and supple and glowing. Sunblocks, balms and skin healers are also necessary as preventive treatments."

I don't know about you, but I think Martha looks fabulous. The proof is in the pudding folks!

Product Review: Hovan's Medi Cream

Nasty ingrowns? There is nothing more painful, annoying, and aesthetically displeasing than ingrown hair. I also suffered from these nasty buggers, until NOW! I have tried many other brands that claim to get rid of ingrown hair and the only formula that has truly worked for me is Hovan's Medi Cream. This formula contains Pineapple enzymes to slough away dead skin cells and to soothe irritated skin, the natural antibacterial ingredient tea tree oil to protect against bacterial infections, and Vitamin A to help with cellular regeneration and to promote the growth of healthy skin tissue. This formula has a pleasant light scent and there are emollients to keep your skin smooth and soft.

Directions for recommended use:
For MILD CONDITIONS use daily.
For SEVERE CONDITIONS use morning and night for 2 weeks and after once daily.

For more information visit: www.hovanssale.com

Skin care 101

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Even though we are in 2009, where beauty products, especially skin care, is a billion dollar industry, I still get a lot of clients coming in to see me who still use bar soap on their face and body moisturizer as facial lotion. Many men, including heterosexual men, are starting to realize the importance of taking care of their skin, but there are still many men and surprisingly, women who still don’t know how to properly take care of their skin. For those of you who need a reminder or have no clue about basic skincare, I will lay out the “bare basics” to make your job easier. Please keep in mind that professional skincare products will have better formulations than drugstore or supermarket brands, which will make them more effective and products without any chemical ingredients or parabens (chemical preservatives) will be better for your skin.

To be used on a daily basis:

1) Facial cleanser (AM & PM)

The importance of cleanser is that it is supposed to leave your face clear of dirt and oil, but it is not supposed to strip the moisture away from your face. It is very important that your skin obtains it’s natural moisture barrier (aka NMB) to protect your skin from irritation, inflammation and infection. There are many types of cleansers out there, most of them are designed for your specific skin type (e.g. dry, oily, combination) or your skin condition (e.g. acne, aging, sensitive). Another thing to consider is the strength of the cleanser can vary from gentle to exfoliating.

2) Facial moisturizer (AM & PM)

Keeping your skin moisturized is vital for healthy skin. When your skin is hydrated it will physically look more plump and smooth, which results in radiant and younger looking skin. Even those with oily and/or acne prone skin, it is very important to keep moisture in the skin, if the skin does not have enough hydration it may go into “freak out” mode and over produce oil, which may result in worsening your skin condition. Moisturizers are also based on either skin type or skin condition. They will also vary from lightweight gels to heavy creams.

3) Sunscreen (AM only)

I do not know one person who is not concerned with anti-aging. Everyone wants to keep a youthful appearance and the number one thing you can do to protect your skin from aging is to wear sunscreen on your face daily. Over 90% of aging is due to sun damage and the rest may be due to intrinsic factors (age, heredity, etc.). The sun’s rays are at the strongest that they have ever been and the rate of skin cancer is on the rise. The best type of sunscreen to look for is one that will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. All sunscreens have UVB protection, but before you purchase, make sure there is also UVA “broad spectrum” protection. For those of you who say that you don’t like to wear sunscreen because it makes your skin greasy or you don’t like the texture, there are many formulations out there that are not heavy and greasy. You just need to take the time to try out different ones until you find one that works for you. Also, even if you are indoors all day or if the weather is overcast, you still should wear sunscreen because the UVA rays can still penetrate through windows and the clouds.

4) Drink lots of water!

It may be cliché, but it is absolutely true that water will make your skin healthier. We all hate it when supermodels say their secret to beauty is drinking lots of water, but the matter of fact is it really works. Why? Because water flushes out all of the toxins in the body and usually whatever ailment you have within your body, will show up on your skin too. Water allows for flow in the body so that nutrients are easily absorbed into your skin cells and the hydration will plump up your skin and it will prevent dryness in the skin.

Do 1-3 times per week:

1) Exfoliate

Exfoliation is key to healthy and youthful looking skin. The best way to exfoliate your skin is by using either a chemical or mechanical exfoliant. The difference between a chemical and a mechical exfoliant is that mechanical exfoliants slough away dead skin cells by having to physically manipulate the product, which is usually in a cream form with beads in it or microdermabrasion. A chemical exfoliant will usually “eat away” at the dead skin cells without having to do any type of manual labor and is usually in a peel or mask form. By exfoliating the skin on a regular basis, you are allowing the skin to renew and regenerate itself faster, which results in younger looking skin. Also, if you are acne prone, exfoliating on a regular basis allows more oxygen into your skin and oxygen is what kills the p.acne bacteria that causes acne. If you are going to purchase a mechanical exfoliant stay away from anything that uses walnut, apricot, or any type of shell pieces, for example do NOT use St. Ives Apricot scrub!!! To make it simple, the apricot shells are microscopically extremely sharp and will tear at your skin tissue causing damage and inflammation. If you are using St. Ives, stop using it on your face and use it for your elbows and soles of your feet. Try to exfoliate your skin at least once a week, but no more than three times per week (there is such a thing as overexfoliating).

Do every 4 weeks:

1) Get a facial from a licensed Esthetician.

Facials are vital for healthy looking skin for many reasons. Everyone by the age of sixteen will have sun damage on their face, whether it is by means of pigmentation, fine lines, and/or wrinkles. Estheticians are not doctors and if you have a serious problem, you should see a Dermatologist, but we can help with superficial issues in the skin. Another main reason for coming in for a facial is that everyone’s skin gets congested with impacted sebum and it is important to clean out these impurities before they form into acne or cause damage in your follicles (aka pores). Estheticians can help with a variety of issues and every person’s skin has to be dealt with individually, because everyone’s skin is different. Facials will help optimize your skin’s potential to be at it’s healthiest.

Do annually:

1) Make sure that you get a “mole check” when you go in to see your Dermatologist, Physician or OB/GYN to make sure that you don’t have any cancerous lesions.

E voila! These are just the most basic steps that you can take to healthier skin. There are definitely more things that you could add to your skin care regimen to make it more effective, but these are the “bare basics” that one should not live without. I always tell my clients that in order for them to have beautiful and healthy skin, 50% is what happens in the facial treatment room and the other 50% is what they use on their skin at home on a daily basis. Your skin is the largest organ, so do yourself a favor and take good care of it!