Skin Care Tips, Notes & More

Aging is inevitable, but there are steps you can take to slow the aging process that are more natural than the use of anti-wrinkle creams, Botox, or even plastic surgery.

For five simple changes you can make to keep yourself young, keep reading.

1. Drink Lots of Water

Water helps keep our bodies hydrated, functioning and clean. It flushes out toxins, increases circulation, improves digestion, revitalizes cell growth and helps us maintain a healthy weight.

Just as our skin needs moisture to stay fresh, our bodies need water to stay young, strong and operating at prime capacity. Ideally, you should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day.

2. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is a body's time to rejuvenate and repair itself. You know that after a night with little sleep, you have circles under your eyes, your skin looks shallow, you don't feel well and your eyes are bloodshot. Anything that can age you so quickly in a few hours can't be good in the long-term.

So, getting enough sleep every night is one of your best weapons against the aging process. Shoot for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night and avoid drinking caffeine less than 5 hours before bedtime.

3. Eat a Well Balanced Diet

Eating a healthy diet can keep your digestive system working properly and your body well-fueled to fight off disease and aging-causing free radicals. Stock up on foods like pomegranates, blueberries, dark green vegetables, beans and legumes.

Also, foods that are high in Vitamins A and C, like citrus fruits, are great for your skin and can help boost the production of collagen, the fiber that keeps your skin smooth and soft.

4. Cut Down On Stress

Stress is a major factor in the aging process and can lead to prematurely grey hair, a depleted immune system, facial expression wrinkles and even poor skin tone. So to slow down aging, reduce your stress level by cutting back o your work hours, avoiding rush hour traffic, limiting your responsibilities, delegating tasks and taking at least ten minutes out of every day for meditation and reflection.

5. Stay on Top of Mental Exercise

Slowing down the aging process isn't just about fighting wrinkles, but it's also about maintaining a young and healthy mind.

Research has shown that individuals who did daily puzzles and mental exercises were 30 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease later in life. So, stay young with a daily book or crossword puzzle.

Aging itself is inevitable. But the appearance and effects of aging can be reduced with proper care of your body and skin.

Short of undergoing more invasive procedures such as Botox or plastic surgery, there a variety of great and more simple anti-aging skin care products available on the market. And while they won't produce dramatic surgical results, they can help to give your skin a healthy, youthful looking appearance.

Unfortunately, many cosmetic companies seek to cash in on the promise of youth and charge exorbitant prices for their products.

For a breakdown of some popular products that are both effective and affordable, keep reading.

Burt's Bees Natural Ageless Products

Burt's Bees has a whole beauty line dedicated to anti-aging products. Their honey-derived products are all natural and chock full of anti-aging antioxidants.

The Burt's Bees Natural Ageless line of products includes the Naturally Ageless Day Lotion, the Naturally Ageless Night Lotion, the Naturally Ageless Eye Cream and the Naturally Ageless Serum.

These products include the ingredients pomegranate, (antioxidant) to protect the skin from free radical damage, and borage and evening primrose rose oils for their moisturizing effect.

Dove's Pro Age Line

Dove has an excellent line of products called Pro Age to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while simultaneously moisturizing your precious skin and protecting it from sun damage.

The Dove Pro Age line of products includes the Pro Age Eye Treatment, Rich Night Cream, Day Moisturizer, Pro Age Hand Cream, Pro Age Beauty Body Lotion, and the Foaming Facial Cleanser.

These products have a combination of AHA solution to regenerate new cells and eliminate dead skin cells, glycerin to hydrate, olive oil for nutrients and SPF 5 through 8 to protect from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays.

Oil of Olay Regenerist Products

Oil of Olay also has an advanced line of anti-aging products that are helpful to the skin. These products include the Daily Regenerating Serum, the Derma Pod Eye Anti-Aging Triple Response System, the Daily Regenerating Serum Fragrance Free and the Anti-Aging Lip Treatment.

Each of the referenced products help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles with the use of amino peptides, vitamin E and glycerin. They can also be used with Olay's other anti-aging product lines, such as Olay Total Effects and Olay Definity.

Remember, there is no miracle cure for the aging process - especially not one you can find in a bottle for $19.99. However, with disciplined, daily use, these anti-wrinkle products can improve the appearance of your skin, reduce fine lines and give your skin a healthy, youthful glow. You won't erase wrinkles, but they can make a noticeable difference that you and others will appreciate.

If as part of your skin care you're considering a New York City facelift, keep reading for an overview of the actual surgical procedure alongside tips on how to achieve a speedy recovery time.

How to Prep for a Rhytidectomy (Facelift)

All facelift procedures will begin with a preliminary consultation with your chosen plastic surgeon. At this introductory meeting, you'll go over your motivation for the procedure, the estimated cost, preparation, plan for the operation and any questions you may have.

Before your surgery, you'll be expected to quit smoking at least 30 days beforehand, cut out drinking at least 7 days prior and to not eat at least 12 to 16 hours leading up to the surgery. Once you're admitted to the hospital, you will most likely be put under general anesthesia.

The Facelift Procedure, Step-by-Step

In New York City, facelift operations typically follow the standard format - starting with a minute, hidden incision that starts just behind the temples and runs along an existing crease around the back of the ear.

After the initial incision is made, the plastic surgeon begins separating the epidermis from the deep facial tissue. Once the skin is separated, it's pulled back, reshaped and cut down to size. Upon completion, the skin is stitched back in place and bandages are applied.

The average length of a facelift procedure is about 1.5 to 2 hours in New York City. Facelift patients can then expect to spend between 12 and 48 hours in the hospital, depending on their need for bandage changes or drainage tube removal.

After-Surgery Care for Rhytidectomy Patients

For patients in New York City, facelift operations are typically followed by at least 28 to 30 days of reclusive rest and relaxation. While typical activities can be resumed in as quickly as a week, most patients are held back by the significant amount of bruising and swelling that occurs.

Makeup can be applied after 5 to 7 days, but smoking and other skin irritants, like alpha-hydroxy acid creams should be avoided for at least a month.

Similar Surgeries

A facelift only includes the cheeks, jaw line and nasal region. It doesn't cover or treat the areas that can be improved by eyelid surgery, a forehead lift or even a neck lift. For plastic surgery fans in New York City, facelift procedures often represent the beginning of a plastic surgery program or a complimentary addition to a full facial overhaul.

Though facelifts are often lightheartedly presented in the news concerning actors and others whose livelihoods largely depend upon the upkeep of their appearance, it is nonetheless a surgical procedure and should be pursued with due caution. New York City may seem to be the hub of plastic surgery, but that doesn't mean a person can simply select a plastic surgeon casually. You should take care to locate a one with whom you are very comfortable.

Beverly Hills skin care goes way beyond facials, creams or toners and not as deep as plastic surgery. In fact, the most popular forms of skin care in Beverly Hills are non-surgical cosmetic procedures like laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, Botox injections and chemical peels.

To learn more about these popular forms of Beverly Hills skin care, keep reading for a crisp description of each procedure along with a tip on where to find a fantastic doctor.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation - Let the Light Shine

Also known as laser skin rejuvenation, this treatment uses laser light therapy to penetrate the skin, remove dead cells, improve skin tone, reduce hyper pigmentation and reduce the appearance of fine lines or scars.

Because laser skin resurfacing only takes a few minutes, it's a very popular Beverly Hills skin care procedure. The actual treatment can be painful, so most patients receive a local anesthetic and expect a recovery time of between 1 and 10 days.

Microdermabrasion: Revealing a New You

Microdermabrasion is a common Beverly Hills skin care treatment that can be done by an aesthetician and does not require the assistance of a doctor or medical professional. It's non-invasive and designed to be done as part of an ongoing course of treatments.

Microdermabrasion is essentially an extremely powerful exfoliation treatment. It uses an abrasion device and a chemical solution to slough away dead skin cells and stimulate new skin cell growth, revealing brighter skin.

Because microdermabrasion is an abrasion process, skin can become sensitive or red for several days after treatment. Patients are advised to avoid sun exposure or any skin irritants for a period of time.

Botox Treatment for Your Appearance

Botox is the most popular Beverly Hills skin care treatment on the strip today. Because the drug is inexpensive, non-invasive and has limited side effects, it has quickly become the belle of the skin care ball. Customers use Botox to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and limit the function of facial muscles to prevent the formation or worsening of existing wrinkles.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours per treatment, but it's long-lasting and quite effective for patients dealing with sun-damaged skin, large pores, freckles or skin with uneven tone or pigmentation. Chemical peels are also used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and moderate scars.

A chemical peel is performed in office by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, registered nurse or a licensed esthetician. A deep peel may require anesthesia, but most light peels do not.

Locating a Skin Care Professional in Beverly Hills

If you're trying to locate a Beverly Hills skin care professional, try the Pacific Dermatologist Association. This nonprofit, coastal organization maintains a full database of licensed members, along with a list of their specialities and contact information.