Personal Beauty Tips From Dr. Michelle Copeland

We recently spoke with world-famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Michelle Copeland, of New York City. She told us about her skin care line and the beauty treatments that bear her name. Dr. Copeland is very serious about healthy skin. And as she reminded us all:

"Everyone can have beautiful, healthy, and lustrous skin." http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/06/dr-michelle-copelands-simple-beauty.html

In today's article, we have taken a further look at Dr. Copeland's personal beauty tips.

We asked Dr. Copeland about vitamins and supplements. Is that baloney, or can they really play a part in delivering good skin?

"Daily use of a product with anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, E, or green tea, is crucial. These anti-oxidants help to keep the skin clear, healthy, and nourished. Some moisturizers and serums now contain these anti-oxidants. The skin is an outward reflection of the internal situation. A diet rich in fruits, green leafy vegetables, herbs and spices and lean proteins such as chicken, give you the nutrients you need for healthy skin."

http://mcskin.com//product_info.php?products_id=74

Do smoking and boozing eventually rob a woman of her youthfulness? We see a number of young models and actresses partying away, and they all look stunning. Does it catch up to them in time?

"Yes, definitely. Smoking causes vaso-constriction of the tiny vessels that feed the skin. The result is a complexion that's dull, as opposed to luminous. Smoking also deepens lines and creates furrows. Alcohol affects the liver and causes dehydration, making your skin crepey, sallow, and dull."

How bad is the sun for our skin? Give us the honest truth.

"Sun exposure. Simply put, sun is the single most powerful factor responsible for aging skin. Solar radiation doesn't just change skin pigmentation; it penetrates deeply, disrupting and weakening collagen and elastin(another layer that holds skin together), adversely affecting cellular turnover.

Sunlight also breaks superficial blood vessels and triggers the release of free radicals, destructive molecules that change cellular DNA and can lead to pre-cancerous changes in the skin.

Using a sunblock all year round is vitally important. I've created a sunblock with an SPF40, that includes clear zinc oxide, aloe, is PABA-free, and safe for children to use." http://mcskin.com/product_list_detailed.php?cPath=2_37

And lastly, do you have a favorite skin care tip? One that doesn't involve your skin care line?

"Loofahs and washcloths are the bane of my existence. You never want to break the normal skin barrier, and that is what loofahs do. I have told many patients to lose the loofah, and they flat out, will not do it. I'm not ordering you to throw away your loofah because I want to torture you. It's an issue of cleanliness and abrasion. Think about how warm and steamy your bath gets, particularly around your tub. As we all know, bacteria and fungus thrive in hot, moist climates. Skin is our body's natural protective blockade. You don't want to compromise it.

The small abrasions caused by harsh scrubbing, aren't visible to the naked eye, but they are plenty big enough for germs, bacteria, and their counterparts, to slide right on in and set up shop."

Dr. Michelle Copeland suggests that every woman adopt a sensible skin care regimen.

"Treat your body’s skin as well as you do your face. Having healthy, beautiful skin means looking after all of it, from hairline to heel. This includes product usage. So many products on the market are just that: marketing. I don’t believe the body skin requires a million individual items. There’s no reason to go overboard or load your countertop with hundreds of bottles."

For more information, visit: http://www.drcopelandskincare.com/.

Nucelle Skin Care For Rosacea

No one knows what truly causes rosacea. But it is a skin disease that affects more than 14 million Americans today. More women than men have it, and it usually strikes those with fair skin and blue eyes, namely of Irish and Scottish descent. Sadly, most Americans don't know how to treat it. But there is a product line called Nucelle, and many people sing its praises.

What does rosacea resemble? There are four subtypes, but simply speaking, it can appear as a redness or persistent flushing of the face. Sometimes it includes the distinct redness, but with a bumpy texture. Other rosacea examples feature a thickening of the skin with an irregular epidermal texture. And lastly, ocular rosacea, which shows red, swollen, iriitated eyelids.

There is no cure for rosacea, but there are a number of treatments available, such an the antibiotic tetracycline, laser therapy, zinc oxide formulations for serious sun protection, and numerous skin care lines.

The Nucelle skin care lines gets high marks from customers, many saying it really helps tone down rosacea and acne, leaving skin radiant, clear, and smooth. Nucelle Mandelic Basic Kit ($97.50, http://www.nucelle.com/). The kit lasts a long time, according to happy users.

Mandelic acid is an AHA, or alpha hydroxy acid, that gets rid of dirt and impurities, while toning and hydrating the skin.

According to Wikipedia, famous people with rosacea, include: former President Bill Clinton, the late Princess Diana, Mariah Carey, and Rosie O'Donnell, to name a few.

Ultra Brite Really Whitens Teeth Inexpensively

I just got back from the dentist. I scored high on good oral health. No cavities. But I'm always complaining to my dentist about wanting the whitest teeth on the planet. He thinks my teeth are already white enough.

"Have you tried the Crest Whitening Strips," he asks. Yes, I answer, and they don't do a thing for me, I tell him.

But what's interesting here, I just caught a report by the well-respected and well-researched http://www.consumerreports.org/. And they claim, the best tooth whitening toothpaste is:

Ultra brite All In One Advanced Whitening.

Consumer Reports tested 41 toothpastes, toothpastes that all boast about whitening your teeth. And they found that most brands do not live up to the hype or expensive price tags. But only one was really superior at stain removal. And this one wasn't too abrasive, meaning, the toothpaste would not harm teeth and gums. And that is---Ultra brite. And what a bargain at just $2.19 a tube, 6 oz. But it's not available on all store shelves. You can get it at http://www.drugstore.com/ and drugstores like CVS.

Ultra brite doesn't even contain peroxide, and yet is able to whiten teeth beautifully. The winning toothpaste is also good at fighting cavities and tartar.

No, I haven't tried Ultra brite yet, but I am going to give it a shot and let you know how well it whitens. I read several reviews about the toothpaste, and a number of coffee drinkers gave Ultra brite, the big thumbs up!!

How To Be Younger Slimmer And Sexier By Cheryl Forberg

If you watched the NBC Reality series, The Biggest Loser, then you know who Cheryl Forberg is.

She's a nutritionist for the reality show. And she is also a chef. Her new book is called Positiviely Ageless($21.95, Barnes & Noble). Cheryl Forberg says that we can't stop aging, but that we can do it with grace, health, and vigor.

Cheryl is big on taking care of skin. Here's her advice:

Eat foods high in Vitamins A and B6

Drink plenty of water

Eat foods high in anti-oxidants

Cut out the sugar

And eat a lot of protein

Cheryl's Positively Ageless book has wonderful tips on staying at the top of your game. Here is Cheryl's Cornmeal Yogurt Scrub. The cornmeal acts a a fine abrasive. And the yogurt and olive oil nourish the skin.

1/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Mix everything together. Mositen skin with warm water. Massage mixture into skin with an upward/outward motion. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes. Then rinse.

For more information, visit: http://www.cherylforberg.com/

Remove Your Makeup With These

Okay, don't laugh. I once read in Allure magazine, that some makeup artists use Pampers Baby Wipes to quickly remove makeup, especially eye makeup. In unscented with natural aloe, preferably. I figured, if Pampers are good for a baby's behind, then they must be gentle enough to use elsewhere. Hmmm.

I usually have a stash of Pampers on hand. I don't always use them to remove makeup, because I find the baby wipes sting my eyes, upon occasion. I also use plain old soap and water. Or even good old vaseline. But when you're wearing eye shadow, eye liner, and a few coats of mascara, you need a product that will remove all traces of cosmetics. And I'm stressing 'completely' remove.

Kathy Hilton told me she loves this budget beauty buy. Andrea Eye Q's Oil Free Makeup Remover Pads ($4.49, drugstores). I interviewed her recently and she said this:

"I can't live without them."

Maybe Kathy Hilton is on to something. Andrea Eye Q's Oil Free Pads come in three formulas: Ultra Quick Dry Skin, Oil Free, and Moisturizing. The pads are wonderful for removing waterproof mascara. That's what a swimmer told me, and she's in the pool 24/7. The pads are also great for contact wearers. So the formula is gentle. No stinging there.

There's another well-received beauty product that makes makeup disappear quickly. Extra gentle cleansing towlettes. Rodial Glam Balm Wipes ($19). These towlettes are enriched with good ingredients like Vitamin E, pro Vitamin B5, chamomile extracts, and more. Each disposable wipe is super for removing all traces of cosmetics---from the face, lips, and the oh-so-sensitive eye area. And Rodial wipes are opthamalogically tested, too.

Hey, at least I'm not sleeping in my makeup like some of you out there. It's so very important to remove makeup every night before retiring. A clean face is vital for a healthy complexion.

Makeup That Covers Skin Discolorations Perfectly

We all strive for smooth, flawless skin. Some women are lucky, and enjoy a healthy, clear complexion. But many of us have uneven pigmentation, a scar, an old tattoo that shouldn't see the light of day, port wine stains, Vitaligo, etc. And what's so frustrating, is that traditional concealers and foundations usually do not cover or hide our imperfections so perfectly. Until now.

Remember this name: Judith August. She was a former model, and understands the need to appear flawless, even when we're not. Judith August Cosmetics has been featured in top magazines like, Elle, Allure, and Women's Health & Fitness. She has received several awards for the goodness her makeup brings to women who deserve to get their beauty back; women who might have suffered, and only want a smooth skin to show the world.

www.Judithaugustcosmetics.com features a wide variety of concealers and foundations. Judith even has The Everything Pencil. It's an amazing and unique set of corrective colors that hide age spots, broken capillaries, birth marks, fine lines, and more. And it's doctor-approved.

You can also find Judith August's corrective cosmetics at salons, spas, and specialty stores.

There's one brilliant concealer, that really does it all, when all else fails. It's the ultimate concealer, called----Killer Cover ($32).

Read below, how Judith describes her 'ultimate concealer:"

I'm Judith August. My revolutionary new waterproof and smudge-proof formula is designed to cover the most difficult skin discolorations and problem areas that traditional concealers cannot touch such as vitaligo, blazing birthmarks, bruises, scars, tattoos, loss of pigmentation, port wine stains.
You have five colors to choose from on the color wheel. Color blending is often necessary because every part of the body is a different color. For instance, brown spots on your hands and face will take a different coloration than a blue and red birth mark or veins on your legs. Pigmentation loss would be a different coloration from the rest. So, start with the color closest to your skin tone, apply with the enclosed sponge or nature's very best cosmetic tool, your fingers. Use the "Dab and Pat" technique when applying and blending, not a stroking motion.
If needed, "stipple" several shades together and pat over the area until you achieve your perfect match.
Killer Cover™ will stay on longer than normal make-up since it is based on a formula used in the theatrical industry- therefore it is head and perspiration resistant and highly pigmented. It will stay put until you remove it.
Enjoy my newest cosmetic solution - after all...
Everybody's got something to hide!

Celebrity Skin Care Secrets

Women in Hollywood always look polished and glamorous with flawless skin. We all want to know their beauty secrets. Is it something expensive? Is it a beauty treatment only found in Europe? Can I buy this same product in my local drug store? And so forth.....

Get ready. We found some super celebrity skin care secrets in OK! magazine. And we're ready to name names.

According to the June 2nd issue of OK!, some of the skin care treatments are expensive, some middle of the road, and a few, low end.

Jennifer Lopez loves Elizabeth Grant Caviar Rejuvenating Eye Pads($50/6-pack; http://www.elizabethgrant.com/).

Nicole Richie is a loyal Dove user. Dove Go Fresh Beauty Cool Moisture Body Lotion in Cucumber ($5; drugstores). According to OK!, Nicole said this: "I don't use many skin products. I just wash my skin with Dove soap and use their moisturizers."

Uma Thurman reaches for wrinkle filler. N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smooth Finishing Serum ($75; http://www.perriconemd.com/).

Jennifer Aniston use TNS to smooth her eye area. TNS Night Eye Repair ($90; http://www.skinmedica.com/).

Kerry Washington likes glowing skin. ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($85; http://www.katesomerville.com/).

Kate Bosworth keeps her flawless skin pimple-free with Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17; http://www.mariobadescu.com/).

Nicole Scherzinger maintains her soft Pussy Cat Doll shape with Caress Brazilian Exotic Oil Infusion Body Wash ($4; drugstores).

Do you use any of these skin care treatments? Maybe they all know something we don't. It's nice when gorgeous celebrity women share their beauty knowledge. Everyone gets pimples, rough skin, undereye circles, lines and wrinkles, even our Hollywood favorites.