This caught the attention of the industry and they started integrating antioxidants in many products. And just like anything some products give you the results you want and others not so much. There could be many reasons for it but ultimately what you want is results.

I have been a working esthetician, which is basically a skin professional, for 17 years. During this time I have been able to work with leading dermatologist and other professionals and what I have learned have been invaluable. However, regardless of the amount of time I have worked in this industry, the only proof you want are results.

This is easily proven by the hundreds of articles where I have been quoted or been written about and more specifically from my celebrity clients. How is that proof? Because believe me when I tell you, they want results.

This is the only thing you and I want. Results from our skincare products, routine and facials.

Which finally brings me to my point and to one of my best selling products the Daily Serum.

Ashley Greene, vampire cutie Alice Cullen, of the Twilight series says she fell in love with my Daily Serum after she got a facial from me.

You can see her exact quote in People Style Watch, she is in the cover.

The Daily Serum is one of my best selling products because most people can see an immediate brightening of their skin. It returns a healthy complexion to an otherwise dull skin.

The serum is the perfect blend of high-potency
antioxidants, vitamins and skin-brightening elements.

It is also lightweight and perfect for summer weather.

It moisturizes effortlessly with hyaluronic acid, leaving your skin refreshed and naturally glowing.

Buy it online here or you can call the salon at 212.949.2350.

Lastly follow us on Facebook and Twitter

I’ve never made anyone aware of the fact mostly because people come to know about their skin related issues not about my social consciousness.

However, a friend of mine told me that letting people know will probably encourage the same attitude. And therefore people that might never have donated will actually do so and help someone that needs a lending hand.

The idea is of course pay it forward as we all have been helped by someone at some time.

So I will add to my skincare and beauty blog from time to time a tidbit of some organization that I and the salon have helped through our donations. The donations are mainly in the form of services and products that nevertheless cost money to deliver.

Additionally, your support in the form of patronage, makes my donations to this worthy causes possible, and so I thank you very much!

About HelpUsAdopt.org

We recently made a donation to HelpUsAdopt.org and helped raise over $115,000 dollars. A new record for this young organization that was established in 2007.

Through this organization as many as 73 families have been helped to know the joy of having a child in their lives and also provide a stable home for children that are in need of a family.

HelpUsAdopt.org helps individuals and couples, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, marital status or sexual orientation with their cost of adoptions.

The support given for these adoptions can be domestic or international and the potential family does not need to pay an application fee to apply.

The goal of course is to help those building a family through adoption reach their goal for themselves and the children involved.

HelpUsAdopt.org accepts donations of any size in order to help make a difference in the lives of these families.

You can additionally get involve with this organization by going on their website and make purchases that directly help families in need.

I hope this was helpful and inspirational to you.

Lastly, I look forward to seeing you at the salon where you will be amazed at how great your skin looks. Call to make your appointments at 212.949.2350 and please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

LED stands for light-emitting-diodes. When you eliminate all of the technical and electrical mumbo jumbo you come up with a simple definition which is basically a light source. When NASA brought this technology to space it did so because of its tighter wavelength, this makes it able to penetrate deeper into the skin or area, low energy requirements, as well as low heat emission and light weight.

This is different than other forms of light, like incandescent or fluorescent, in that they produce heat and their light waves have a tendency to disperse. The last nugget of information is a big deal because this is the difference between my LED light bed and others.

Some of these beds use fluorescent red bulbs and perhaps they are even able to produce the same wavelength, but they still disperse. This is why LED light therapy is also referred to as Low Level Laser Therapy.

However, LED light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that is widely used by dermatologist and skincare professionals because of its results.

How it works: Red and infrared light penetrate the skin and once absorbed the cells in the human body use it and convert it into ATP, this is the fuel that powers life on a cellular level. This newly converted cellular energy, stimulates the body’s natural processes on a cellular level, increasing blood flow, allowing the body to receive oxygen and nutrients they need in order to function more effectively.  The results for you are anti-aging, accelerated healing and pain relief.

The theory is that millions of years ago single cell organisms depended on sunlight as an energy source and today plant cells use light in a similar process called photosynthesis that develops chlorophyll, their fuel for life. As you can see is not a far fetched idea that human cells still have the ability to convert light into energy.

Red and infrared wavelengths stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, the building blocks of your skin. The benefits are reduced wrinkles, shrinking pores, and diminishing scars to relieving pain, accelerating healing, and aiding with injuries. 

A person undergoing light therapy will experience deep relaxation, increase oxygenation and hydration of tissues, expelling of toxins from the body, alleviation of inflammatory conditions, improved appearance of the skin, plumper, firmer and more youthful.

Aside from the benefits mentioned above light therapy has even more but I will not write them here as they don’t directly deal with skincare.

Shop for superior skincare products NOW at 501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2011, New York, NY and stop wondering if you can have flawless skin. Don’t live in New York City? BUY online here.

P.S Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and if you want essential skin care tips and tricks sign up to our newsletter, bottom of the page under in the box “Sign Up For Updates”.

For example, condiments such as ketchup and mustard in other parts of the world do not have sugar in it but does so in the United States.

Here is an article where I’m quoted along with other experts on the harm sugar can have on your skin.

Source: DailyMakeover.com
By Shannon Farrell

How Your Sugar Addiction Is Ruining Your Skin

You’ve heard the claims, you’ve read the studies — sugar does harm to the body, causing weight gain, diabetes and countless other side effects. But what does it do to the skin? We spoke with top skincare experts to find out what some of our favorite treats are doing to our complexion. You might want to put down the chocolate croissant while you read this one.

What Sugar Does To Your Skin

Those breakouts may not be hormonal like you thought. Sugar can cause your skin to break out because it increases inflammation. “Most people don’t realize that skin directly correlates to our digestive system,” says Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection. “If we eat something we can’t digest or have trouble digesting, there are consequences.”

However, not everyone is affected the same way. “Some people claim their acne gets worse when they have chocolate or sugar and others notice no change,” says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. So don’t assume that putting the chocolate bar down will eliminate all acne problems. If the blemishes do continue, make sure to visit your dermatologist to find an alternate source.

“If you are not in control of breakouts, you risk getting scars from the continual breakouts,” says Vargas. “For some people, it’s just persistent discoloration. Either way, you won’t have a great complexion and you will always wish for that perfect skin.” She recommends looking for products containing kojic acid, found in her Exfoliating Mask ($75, joannavargas-skincare.com), that helps to even out pigment. Chemical peels performed seasonally by a dermatologist also help to fix texture problems and discoloration. The treatment takes less than an hour and requires a few days of recovery (dry, flaky skin is a side effect), but the result is glowing, spot-free skin.

Long-term effects of consuming sugar include premature aging and scarring. Sugar attaches to proteins in the bloodstream, forming new molecules, called advanced glycation end products (or AGEs), that damage both collagen and elastin, contributing to sagging and wrinkles. AGEs also deactivate natural antioxidant enzymes, leaving the skin more susceptible to sun damage. According to a 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology, these effects increase at the age of 35 and continue rapidly as you age. Fight these effects with anti-aging products that contain retinoids or over-the-counter retinols like RoC Retinol Correction Sensitive Night Cream ($21.99, ulta.com), which has a milder strength so no redness occurs.

What About Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sugars, although less tested, don’t get the experts’ stamp of approval, either. “For most people, artifical sweeteners are even worse,” says Vargas. “They are pure chemicals and can cause a lot of problems. Any type of impurities in the system will cause more breakouts.” They also bring on the cravings. “Recent studies have shown that aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates,” says Dr. Frank Lipman, Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center.

While complex carbohydrates like bread and pasta also cause sugar spikes, the simple sugars found in fruits and vegetables are less of a concern. They don’t cause high levels of insulin and instead, they are packed with healthy enzymes that are so easy to digest they boost the digestive system. However, Dr. Lipman doesn’t recommend fruit juice or dried fruit because both are very high in sugar. Vargas suggests drinking a green juice every day for glowing skin. Plus, it’s the easiest and fastest way to digest antioxidants when your skin needs a boost.

How To Fight Sugar Cravings

Although a little sugar won’t kill you or completely ruin your skin, all three experts do recommend eliminating most of your sugar intake. Here are some easy tips to make it happen.

Exercise

Tanzi recommends regular exercise to use up excess sugar as fuel. (Remember, sugar is a carbohydrate). Exercise also helps to reduce tension, boost your energy level and decrease the need for a sugar lift.

Get your vitamins

“Nutrient deficiencies can make cravings worse and the fewer nutrient deficiencies, the fewer cravings,” says Dr. Lipman. “Certain nutrients seem to improve blood sugar control including chromium, vitamin B3 and magnesium.” A detox like Lipman’s Be Well Cleanse eliminates sugar from the diet and focuses on a gluten and dairy-free diet. After the cravings subside, your body adjusts and no longer craves sugar.

Add substitutes

Simply adding spices like coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom will naturally flavor foods and reduce the craving to add sugar. Lipman also recommends a little bit of Stevia (a plant based natural sweetener), raw honey or maple syrup for added sweetness.

Get your zzz’s

Ever notice that the more tired you are, the more likely you are to grab something sweet? Pack in 7-8 hours of sleep every night to avoid the cravings. Plus, when you’re exhausted a sugar pick-me-up is the last thing you want succumb to, since the crash is often worse than the initial tiredness.

Beware of hidden sugars

Even our breads are packed with sugars. “Remember that most of the ‘complex’ carbohydrates we consume like bread, bagels and pasta aren’t really complex at all,” says Lipman. “They are usually highly refined and act just like sugars in the body and are to be avoided.” Plus all of the following sugars have the same harmful effects on the skin: corn syrup, corn sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, honey, molasses, turbinado sugar and brown sugar.