Not everyone is a fan of spas nor can afford to go to one, but you can't deny they have a special way of transporting you and relaxing your body, soul and senses. My love affair with spas began 30 years ago. About one month after completing grueling chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer, my then-boss surprised me with a party and a gift certificate to a day of beauty at the famed Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa. I entered through the big red door - a sign of welcome and sanctuary - and instantly felt transformed. This was the perfect medicine - calmness and equilibrium I so { Read More }
Is This Body Part Aging You?
Creaky knees…an aching back…diminished eyesight…a weaker bladder. These are hardly unexpected consequences of aging, and come with the territory. (Oh, don’t worry, you can fight them!) But one body part you might not think much about as it relates to getting older? Your neck. Like rings on a tree, the neck is usually where you begin to see the first signs of aging, which can happen well before they begin to show on your face. That’s because the skin on your neck is thin and more prone to dryness and crepiness than, say, the skin on your face. (The late great Nora Ephron felt plenty bad about her { Read More }
15 Ways to Celebrate National Wellness Month
August is Wellness Month, and more specifically, Wednesday, August 15th is National Relaxation Day! And yes, in the perfect world there should be some relaxation built into every day, but too many of us let self-care take a back seat in our busy lives. If you already practice wellness, then maybe you don't need a reminder. I try really hard to remember to incorporate wellness into each and every day- but my feeling is that there's always something new to learn and discover. Just recently, I attended two fabulous media events in New York City where I got an opportunity to see exciting new { Read More }
How to Treat Your Aging Skin
When you think about things that cause wrinkles, sagging, and age spots, you probably blame the sun. And you'd be right: Sun exposure is the number one culprit in aging skin - but there are so many other factors. Some we can control, and others, we can't. It's normal for the actual structure of your skin to change with age. Its outer layer thins and the number of pigment-containing cells decrease, resulting in skin that appears thinner, paler and more translucent. Remember the strong, firm skin you used to have? That strong and resilient framework and structure that supported your skin for so long is { Read More }
Dry Skin and Menopause
When I was younger, the skin on my face was always slick with oil. And as only an adolescent girl can do, I let it get me down. Each time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I'd recoil at that shiny reflection looking back at me. Of course, now, being in this so-called midlife, I wish there had been - along with that glimpse - a voice of reason to calm me. If there had been, it might have said something like this: Be grateful for all that oil! You'll miss it one day. But alas, there was no such voice. Instead, my youthful indignation - however wrongfully - made me shun that sebum, creating an { Read More }
Tattoo Regret
I don't have a tattoo, but I admire them on others, done right. I imagine that if I were younger or bolder (or both), I might even get one. But recently I've begun to notice an interesting (and disturbing) phenomenon when it comes to body art. It's a sad fact of life: as we age, our skin sags (due to things like weight fluctuation, collagen loss and sun damage), and sometimes takes down the tattoo with it, stretching it out to resemble a flower wilting on the vine, or the famous Salvator Dali's painting of the melting clock. So, if you're contemplating a tattoo and want to preserve it as you age, { Read More }
Help For Double Chins
Are you wondering if you’re seeing double when it comes to your chin? Double chins are a common occurrence- and a common concern. A recent survey of consumers, conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, found people just as bothered by double chins as they were by the lines and wrinkles around their eyes. Just as those can make you look older, so can a double chin. And many people, despite their best efforts at a health diet and exercise, are plagued with this extra layer of fat beneath their chin. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to rid yourself of your chin, it may remain { Read More }
Five Beautiful Ways to Prep for the Onslaught of Winter
With winter upon us - and the election finally behind us - your health and sanity are not the only things in need of attention. Your beauty is an important consideration, too. After all, with colder temps comes drier air - and that air, in search of moisture, starts to suck it out of your skin and hair. And dryness equals wrinkles, breakage, and a reminder that being a so-called natural beauty comes at a price. That's precisely why I've gathered some helpful ways to prepare for the dry time of year. "Don't ever think you can't make a difference," President Obama just told our nation, on this day { Read More }
How to Get Full(er) Lips
Quick: If you had limited time to put on makeup in the morning, what one thing would you reach for? Did you say mascara? Or was it lipstick? For me, it's all about the lips (although I must admit that eyelashes are a close second). Sure, eyelashes may thin as we age, but lips...well, they take thinning to the extreme. Blame the loss of collagen - that protein that helps support your body's soft tissue. You know, the stuff that makes your lips full and plump. Or, ahem, formerly full and plump. Add in some ultraviolet rays from the sun and there's more than just age causing that collagen { Read More }