Body Firming

Having firm, toned skin is an ideal for women of every body type. Skin slackening is caused by a breakdown of collagen and elastin, two fibers that keep the skin young and resilient. Without them, the skin loses its toned appearance. As we age, our skin produces lower level of these and other essential elements, causing the skin to lose its youthfulness and making it more susceptible to wrinkles. The right body treatments will ensure a healthy skin and a sexy silhouette for years to come.

SeaTonic Body Firming Cream by Phytomer is a nourishing cream formulated with natural marine extracts that help to invigorate and firm the skin.

Strivectin-SD is designed to help banish stretchmarks, but its skin-smoothing formula can be used all over the body, even on the face as an anti-wrinkle treatment. This clinically tested cream helps to firm and tighten the skin while eliminating discolorations and uneven textures. Or try Murad Activating Body Scrub to increase firmness and elasticity.

Designed for use during and after pregnancy, Mustela's Stretch Mark Double Action and Specific Bust Support help address the dramatic changes that take place in the skin during pregnancy and allow the skin to rebound more quickly and more dramatically.



One final tip for body firming. Always end your shower by gradually reducing the water temperature and finish with a spray of cold water on your legs. This helps firm up the tissues and prepares the skin for firming treatment.

Gift Ideas

The holiday season is approaching, which means it is time to start thinking about gifts to give - and to receive. What more could one ask for than some indulgent gifts for the skin and body that help to make you look and feel fabulous? Consider these gift ideas:

Colorescience Try Me Kit, which comes in different shades to match any skin color or tone. The kit also includes a beautiful bronzer and a loose mineral mattifying powder, which works well for any ages.

Jaqua's Our Favorite Shower Syrups could be exactly what your or a friend's shower has been missing. Includes three great scents: Buttercream Frosting, Mint Chocolate and Pink Champaigne.

Sonoma Lavender's Lavender Lovers Kit is a fragrant four-piece for the ultimate relaxation, turning any home into an elusive spa getaway.

The Luxessence Gift Set from YonKa combines aromatherapy with skin care to relax and restore skin health. Includes a soothing candle and a gentle terry towel.

It's never too soon to start searching for great gift ideas for this year’s holiday season, or for any gift giving situation. Whether to give or to receive, these indulgent gift ideas are sure to warm your season.

Night Creams and Treatments

Our skin should be taken care of, treated, both day and night. However it is especially important to treat the skin at night. During the hours that we sleep our skin is rejuvenating itself, making it most prepared to accept active ingredients in products. This is why it is more beneficial to treat our skin at night.

All skins are different, therefore they need different treatments and ingredients. I personally recommend that heavier lotions or creams be used at night because they can work more effectively and won't disturb makeup application like they would during the day. Also, more oily skin types prefer not to use heavy products during the day.

I suggest anti-aging products for all skins and conditions; even younger skins need to be prepared. At night you would use your normal skin regimen and then follow that regimen with an anti-aging night product like Phytomer Ogenage Extended Youth Night Cream, which utilizes minerals and ingredients from the sea that our skin does not produce.

For more oily or acneic skins I recommend PCA Skin Acne Cream – pHaze 33; not only will it moisturize and hydrate but the benzoyl peroxide will also help fight bacteria and congestion from acne.

All night regimens should also include eye creams. The eye area is the first area on the face to show signs of aging. Taking preventative precautions is best to help fight these signs of aging. I recommend an eye cream that is very hydrating at night such as Phytomer Cernes Contour – Eye Contour Cream.

Acne Treatment - Without Harsh Chemicals

Acne affects a large part of the population and at any age, from young adolescents to more mature adults. Although there are numerous products to treat acne, prescription and non-prescription, many only exacerbate acne congestion with harsh chemicals, which leads to more serious acne conditions. A common misconception is that acne should be dried out with these harsh chemicals when realistically this drying effect only causes more oil, or sebum, production, which is where acne starts.

Acne sufferers should cleanse their face morning and night with an antibacterial wash like Phytomer Oligopur Purifying Cleansing Gel, which contains active marine agents which help to sanitize without stripping the skin.

Most people with acne do not want to apply a moisturizer of any kind; without hydration, though, the skin is only going to become more congested. An appropriate moisturizer day and night is ideal. I suggest Phytomer OligoPur Purifying AcniControl Fluid.

Treatment products are very successful to reduce acne. A spot treatment such as Phytomer OligoPur Blemish Target Gel is best to use directly on pustules to disinfect bacteria deep in the pores. Acne can also be treated with a mask 2-3 times weekly to draw impurities out of the skin. Phytomer OligoPur Shine Control Purifying Mask not only kills acne bacteria, it also helps to control that greasy or shiny look from excess oil production.

Mandelic and Malic Acid

Alpha hydroxy acids are great anti-aging agents that benefit the skin by exfoliating, resurfacing and hydrating the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids play many roles and address many issues, from acne to rosacea. Many products contain certain alpha hydroxy acids, or a blend of acids including glycolic, malic, citric, tartaric and mandelic acids, just to name a few.

Certain acids work well synergistically, especially mandelic and malic acid. MaMa Lotion Mandelic and Malic Acid is a great product containing a 10% malic acid and a 10% mandelic acid. This 20% acid blend is beneficial in treating rosacea, acne, melasma and wrinkles, as well as producing an overall magnificent complexion after only a short time of use. In addition, this product also tightens pores, helps diminish blackheads and can even lessen pigmentation such as freckles and age spots.

MaMa Lotion Mandelic and Malic Acid works on all skin types, including dark skins. Initial use of this product should be done gradually; every other day use is suggested for excellent results in skin texture and overall appearance and health.

Shaving Care and Needs

Generally men spend less time on skin care than women -- male consumers are looking for simple and fast. Although a good skin care regimen should be part of both men's and women's daily routine, it is many times excluded from men's. A few easy steps before shaving is my recommendation for those who are looking for simplicity.

A quick cleanse before shaving will help keep bacteria out of the pores, meaning less ingrown hairs and less breakouts. I suggest Phytomer Homme Global Pur Detoxifying Cleansing Gel. Cleanse for a minute or two and remove with water.

If you don’t like numerous steps in your regimen but still want the benefits of skin care, I recommend using a shaving cream like White Tea Shave Cream by eShave, which is full of excellent anti-aging antioxidants.

Lastly I recommend a moisturizer/sunscreen product that won’t feel heavy on the skin after shaving, but will still help to heal. Try MD Skincare Auto-Balancing Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 10.

Althelios - the hottest thing under the sun.

Have you heard about Anthelios SX yet? This moisturizing sunscreen from La Roche-Posay has been one of the hottest products in Europe for years, and it's finally available in the US.

Anthelios uses Mexoryl SX, the first sunscreen to be approved by the FDA in 18 years, to provide the most complete broad-spectrum UV sun protection. Most sunscreens just protect against UVB rays, leaving the skin defenseless against UVA rays. UVA is dangerous because the level of UVA doesn't fluctuate much throughout the day, or even throughout the year, meaning your skin is bombarded by this form of radiation whenever the sun is up. UVA is also the form of UV responsible for skin aging and is linked to skin cancer.

Anthelios SX protects against UVA and UVB rays while providing 24-hour hydration. Is that something you can say about your sunscreen?

Men's Skin

Now that it's getting colder, it's even more important to take proper care of our skin. The decreasing temperatures and increasing winds can dehydrate and irritate skin. Men especially need to take precautions, since daily shaving can acclimate the skin to irritation.

Phytomer's Homme line features many great products for men's skin care. Their Facial Protect Comforting Moisturizer is formulated with soothing marine extracts to bring comfort to the skin. It is ideally paired with Phytomer's Exfoliating Oxygenating Face Cream, a soothing scrub that brightens and refreshes the skin without stripping its vital moisture. Or try their Detoxifying Cleansing Gel a great facial cleanser for all skin types.

Keep your skin feeling cool and healthy throughout the cooler months with this great and easy to use regimen.

Revive Tired Eyes.

Yesterday was my favorite day of every two years - election day. I love politics almost as much as I do skin care (which is a lot). I was glued to my TV set all night watching CNN, and ended up staying up much than I ought. I was worried it would show in my eyes this morning.

So I used one of my favorite products, theSmoothing and Reviving Eye Mask by Phytomer. This easy to use eye treatment fights fatigue in the eye area with Phytomer's marine extracts. This mask can be used to combat or prevent eye fatigue, which is one of the reasons I love it so much.

Treatments for Thinning Hair

Male Pattern Baldness is a genetic and often embarrassing condition suffered by 40 million men in the United States alone. At age 30, 25% of men with male pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia) suffer from hair loss. At age 60, 66% of men are affected.

Spectral.DNC Hair Loss Treatment and Spectral.RS Breakthrough Treatment for Thinning Hair, both by DS Laboratories, provide unparalleled results for all types of burgeoning baldness - both male pattern (Spectal.RS) and crowning (Spectal.DNC). Even patients who showed no response to other hair regrowth treatments were able to regain their hairline with either of these products in clinical tests.

B. Kamins Bio-Maple Fortified Treatment Shampoo is a pH-balanced shampoo for men that conditions and fortifies the hair, helping to encourage healthier hair without damaging any growing buds.