Oprah and Dr. Oz's Take on Beauty

There are so many opinion’s out there on what products to use on your skin and what treatments to get and the options really run the gamut. You can pay just about any price and never really know what you’re getting till your money is already spent. It’s hard to know who to believe sometimes even when you are a self-described “expert” like me!

This week Oprah ran a show with her resident expert on health, Dr. Mehmet Oz. I am a big fan of Dr. Oz because he has a way of explaining health issues that really get right to the point and give you the information you need to know with just enough technical and scientific information so that you’re aren’t completely bored at the same time.

The show titled, “Dr. Oz: Science of Beauty”, contained a lot of good advice about nutrition and the skin. For instance consuming vitamin a, b and c to turn back the clock and using niacin and licorice extract to help with sunspots. Dr. Oz also recommended many foods for skin health on the show. "Avocados, soybeans and nuts all contain biotin, an essential vitamin for healthy skin," he says. "A lack of biotin has been known to cause dermatitis—swollen, itchy or extremely dry skin." Add salmon for skin elasticity, pomegranates to help produce more collagen and keep the skin looking young, and plenty of tomatoes. "Studies have shown that Lycopene in tomatoes can protect your skin from aging by preventing sunburns," Dr. Oz says. "The most important thing with tomatoes is to make sure they're with oil. If you heat them up and mix them with oil, that's called pasta sauce."

I was impressed with his simple explanation of acne and how a pimple is formed. I think most people don’t know that. He basically described a pimple as excess oil trapped in the hair follicle that builds up and becomes infected. I agree with his advice on not popping a pimple as well…most of the time it makes them worse, causes more redness, inflammation and further infection.

So many of my clients ask me about under-eye bags and circles. That is such a tough problem to address for most women, and I think Dr. Oz had a very good explanation of what they are how they can be treated. “Everyone has natural fat around the eyes,” Dr. Oz explains. "It cushions the eye so if you get hit, it protects the eye," he says. When people develop long-term under-eye bags, it's usually because that fat begins to herniate. "The fat oozes out and starts to stick [under the eyes] because of gravity."

If your under-eye bags come and go when you're sleep deprived, eye creams or cucumber slices can help. But Dr. Oz says the only true solution for long-term bags is plastic surgery. "Eyes are the first place you really see aging, and it's probably the safest [invasive] plastic procedure that there is," he says. "But I don't want you all running out to get it, because I think across the board women are more worried about the bags under their eyes than the men who love them are."

Now I know Dr. Oz has got a new book to sell and while I’m a HUGE Oprah fan, I disagreed with many items on the show….You don’t need a Harvard-trained Dermatologist or a Visia Complexion Analysis System to find out if your skin is healthy. The Dermatologist on the show, Dr. Susan Evans, recommended many over the counter and drug store products which usually contain a large amount of synthetic ingredients and preservatives and not too many actual active ingredients. While I agree that skin products don’t have to be expensive to work, I don’t agree that just any product that claims to have vitamin A or C in it will improve the skin. Some formula’s that advertise these ingredients have a very small amount in them and also are constructed out of very large sized molecules that cannot absorb into the skin. Many vitamin C products, like the ascorbic acid they mentioned on the show, can be very inflammatory and aren’t for everyone. Especially people with sensitive skin, they can often exacerbate the problem and create an inflammatory cycle for people with acne.

I was also disappointed that most of the anti-aging recommendations made by both Dr. Oz and Dr. Evans were for strong acid products and chemical peels and laser treatments. These are again, all inflammatory ways of caring for the skin and can result in further damage and visible wrinkles. And the advice to use gel sunscreen on someone who has acne seemed strange to me when there are so many good mineral sunscreens on the market that work so much better for both sun protection and controlling break-outs.

So there is my “expert” opinion on what Oprah’s “experts” had to say. The bottom line is, research what you are using on your skin before you use it. Don’t fall for the advertising…ask someone who has used it before, what was their response to the product or treatment. I only use products and treatments that I have personally used on a regular basis and believe in their results. I do have a few product lines for sale, but I am not in the retail business to get rich or I would invest in a huge inventory. Instead, the products I carry are more of a service to my clients to support the treatments and advice I am giving on skin health. I carry mostly testers and samples and then you can order the product if you like it.

To learn more about me, my services and products, visit my website www.skinessentialswichita.com

Visit http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081023_tows_beautybook/1 to see the entire content of the show “Dr. Oz the Science of Beauty” There is more to read about there such as bad breath, feet and hair issues! Oh and sorry but there is also no cure for cellulite...damn!

Dr. Oz’s book is called You: Being Beautiful co-written by Dr. Michael Roizen and yes…I plan to read it!

Eyelash Extensions - Your Questions Answered

I'm always getting phone calls and questions about eyelash extensions. They are a fairly new phenomenon in my part of the country so there are alot of details and instructions to know.

One thing that is often asked is why are they so expensive? "Can't I just go get a $20 eyelash job at my corner nail salon?" Well, I suppose you could, and judging from what I've seen from lesser priced establishments, the question should really be why are they so cheap? Are they licensed and trained to perform a delicate procedure on your eyelids? Are they using safe and effective products? How many days can you expect them to last?

Most bargain-priced eyelash jobs last anywhere from a few days to a week. Typically they are using the same false eyelashes you can buy at a drugstore with the same temporary glue you can apply on your own. I've even seen some jobs where the eyelashes were applied with hair glue which is sticky and rubbery and very obviously visible and unattractive in my professional opinion.

At Skin Essentials I use only NovaLash adhesive.

NovaLash is the ONLY lash extension product that is:

•AEWCA-approved •American made – Pharmaceutical grade •Physician-formulated •Made in the USA in accordance with FDA recommendations for formaldehyde content

Most of the leading brands of lash extension adhesives tested by the AEWCA were found to contain toxic and carcinogenic irritants such as formaldehyde. Many untested industrial-grade adhesives (commonly used in auto manufacturing) enter the US and European market through China and Korea. These Asian-produced adhesives are branded in the US and marketed as "American" brands.

Because the eye area is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, the NovaLash team of physicians and scientists formulated the first formaldehyde-free, medical-grade lash extension adhesive (patent pending). Their adhesive is manufactured and delivered free of formaldehyde as confirmed by testing under EPA method TO-11A/8315HPLC-UV.

For more information on NovaLash products, you can visit them on the web at www.novalash.com

As far as everything else you want to know...take a look at my F.A.Q.......
-Pam Spillman, Owner, Skin Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Eyelash Extensions?

Eyelash Extensions are a totally new way to extend the length and thickness of your eyelashes. They are applied on a hair-by-hair basis to your own lashes for a totally natural look. All you have to do is close your eyes and relax. When you open them you’ll have gorgeous, natural looking, long eyelashes!

How long do they last?

When properly applied, lashes can last up to two months or more. Touch-ups are recommended after initial full set application to replace any lashes that might have fallen off. For best results touch-ups are recommended every two weeks. For extra-thick extensions or for long-term wear (more than three months) use of an eyelash conditioner product is recommended to keep your lashes extra healthy and strong.

How do I care for my Lash Extensions?

Avoid getting your eyelashes wet for the first 24 hours after the application. This allows the glue to set.
Care must be taken not to rub eyes, or scratch. It is very important not pull on your eyelash extensions as this can result in loosing your natural eyelash.
Only use water based products on the eye area, any creams, eye makeup removers, lotions, or cleansers containing oils can loosen the bond of the adhesive.
Regular touch-ups are the best way to care for your lashes. These appointments allow the lashes to be carefully cleaned and more lashes to be applied to keep a fresh, full look.

Can I add mascara to Lash Extensions?

Use of mascara on your extensions may shorten their life-span. You may however wear mascara on your bottom eyelashes

How much do Lashes cost?

The initial application of your eyelashes is $250 and can take up to 2 hours.
Touch-ups every two-weeks are $45 and last up to 45 minutes. Extended touch-ups beyond a two-week period start at $60
Never attempt to remove eyelash extensions yourself. Removal of extensions is free of charge.

For the lashes nature should have given you…
Professional training and experience make all the difference!
Skin Essentials @ Clifton Square
316-250-0287
www.skinessentialswichita.com

Are you being mislead by cosmetics advertising?

Just the Essentials...

Did you know?

Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the FDA before they are sold to you.

The FDA cannot require companies do safety testing of their products before marketing.

There is no regulation that says a cosmetic has to have proof that their product lives up to it's advertised results.

Are you being mislead by Cosmetics Advertising?
The huge number of things we are told about skin care and other beauty concerns is nothing less than astounding. That's why, when you begin thinking in terms of reality, facts, and balanced information, it is important to ignore the baseless, unfounded claims that are constantly bandied about in the guise of serious information. You may have run into the following terms and sales pitches for myriad skin-care and makeup products. These come-ons entice purchasers, even though they are vague or illogical.

"Soothing botanicals"
Botanicals is simply another name for plants, such as herbs and flowers, or plant extracts in the form of oils or juices. Is any of that soothing? There are definitely some soothing botanicals, such as green tea, kola extract, willowherb, bisabolol, licorice root (glycyrrhetinic acid), and burdock root to name a few. But there are also a great many natural ingredients, from lemons to strawberries, lavender oil, and jojoba, that can be problematic for lots of skin types, either as irritants or because they can clog pores. I can't tell you the number of products I've found that make claims about being good for sensitive skin, even though they contain a host of these irritating ingredients.

"Superficial lines"
Watch out for the word "superficial"; it is a powerful tool when used in cosmetics advertising. "Superficial lines" really refer to the temporary, transient lines caused by dryness, not sun damage (sun-damaged wrinkles are hardly superficial). Most products could make elaborate claims about smoothing superficial wrinkles and they would not be lying to you. Superficial wrinkles go away when you put on any moisturizer, and that is wonderful. But—and I repeat, but—superficial wrinkles are not the ones you are worried about. Permanent wrinkles, like laugh lines, furrows between the eyes and on the forehead, and expression lines, are not eliminated by a moisturizer unless it contains irritants that temporarily swell the skin. The word "superficial" is misleading because it doesn't really refer to the lines and wrinkles women are most concerned about.

"So advanced, it's patented"
Patent law just means that the company was able to show a formula or ingredient was in some way unique. It can also establish that an existing ingredient or formula has a unique use. None of that has anything to do with efficacy. A company could patent a terrible formula or a good formula; an erroneous or verifiable claim; as long as it's unique—that's all a patent means. The patent is simply about who can use or sell the formula or ingredient, or who can make a specific public claim about the use of a formula or ingredient. Most major cosmetics companies own thousands of patents, but that doesn't tell you anything about how advanced or mediocre those patents are.

"Just for your ultra-delicate eye area"
The advertiser may want you to use the eye cream only around your eyes, which means you have to buy a face lotion separately, yet the ingredients of these products are rarely different enough to warrant the extra expense and rarely have any special formulary function specific to the eye area. There is no reason an eye cream can't be used on the face or the face lotion can't be used around the eyes. The only time a special eye cream would be necessary is when the skin around the eyes is different from the skin on the rest of the face, which may require a more or less emollient moisturizer, but that's a different issue from the need for an eye cream.

"Visible lift with proven results"
The study mentioned in this ad doesn't say what the improvement was based on. A comparison to another product? To one side of the face that was stripped bare with alcohol? It also doesn't comment on who made the assessment about the improvement. If it was the company's own appraisal, they clearly had reason to notice that the skin looked better. Claims like these are meaningless, but sound great.

To the cosmetics industry a wrinkle signifies a pot of gold. So do liver spots, dry skin, and gray hair. People have tried all sorts of concoctions for centuries , even millennia to reverse the signs of aging. Today’s arsenal of chemicals, though, is unique. Some products may actually work. The trick is to know which may be based on scientific evidence and which are just fantasies. Consulting a licensed professional who has studied and continued to study cosmetics and their ingredients can prevent you from wasting money on products that either don’t work, or just aren’t worth it.

Concerned about what you are spending your money on in the cosmetics isle? Want to know what really works? You wouldn’t eat something without knowing what it was. Don’t you want to take the same care with what you put on your face? I choose only professional skincare products that I’ve personally researched and believe in their results. Call me to find out about simple things you can do to improve your skin, without wasting your money.

Pam at Skin Essentials.
316-250-0287
www.skinessentialswichita.com