skin care

  • Beauty, health, menopause, perimenopause

    What no one tells you about skin care in perimenopause and menopause?

    The miracle cream that will erase your wrinkles. Or Better than Botox. The secret to beautiful skin after 50. Nobel Prize Winner Technology in skin care. You, like me, probably have read them all and more, much more.

    how to have youthful skin in perimenopause and menopause

    There are so many creams, potions, procedures and supplements promising us youth in a bottle, an injection, procedure or a pill. If they would work, we will not have wrinkles anymore. So is there a secret to beautiful, healthy skin at 50, during menopause and perimenopause? The pill is the closest from all those promises, the reason is that the secret is our hormones.

    The supple, radiant skin that we had in our younger years depends greatly on our hormones.

    The cream can put moisture, the procedure can force the skin to generate collagen and a more radical procedure can lift and iron out wrinkles, but the overall effect won’t give you beautiful skin. And, beautiful skin can make you look younger and prettier even with wrinkles and flaccidity. Beautiful skin has a characteristic called radiance. Radiance can go away during perimenopause and menopause. In Ayurveda, radiance is part of something called ojas and it means live, healthy tissues.

    Skin radiance comes from our hormones and health. It is affected by emotions.

    Have you seen the face of a bride? Happiness is visible. Audrey Hepburn was right:

    Happy girls are the prettiest

    If your estrogen is out of balance in earlier years then the skin maybe oily. Hormones out of balance in midlife in perimenopause or menopause can cause skin dryness, lack of luster, loss of volume and in some people, very reactive skin (that’s me). If the person has estrogen dominance, the skin is going to be oily. If your hormones, especially estrogen and T3, are not balanced your creams and treatments are not going to be as effective.

    If your liver is not working properly you may develop allergies, redness, discolored patches, etc. A lower thyroid functions will bring dryness, hair loss and eye brow hair loss.

    How do you get radiance?

    Well, this is part of what a healthy lifestyle with low stress, good nutrients and happiness brings to your life. There are a few things you can do.

    The main thing is to try to balance your hormones. This is a big topic and one of the main topics of this blog. In short, in order to balance our hormones we need to:

    • Eat enough good fat
    • Eat a diet rich in nutrients
    • Lower stress
    • Consume a low glycemic diet (low sugar)
    • Sleep
    • Eat a natural diet
    • Make sure you are having all the minerals your body needs
    • Be happy. Make yourself happy. Happiness is an attitude; it comes from within us, not from the exterior.

      If you would like to know more about how to balance your hormones with lifestyle changes read here about my program BLISS in menopause

    Help your organs

    We also need to help our liver and adrenals. The liver and adrenals are going to help the thyroid and are going to help us have more available estrogen, our own estrogen.

    The type of nutrition above will help you liver and adrenals. In some cases, we need to take supplements after a period of neglect. That is what I did and worked out very well for me. I will include a link to the products I took. If the imbalance is deeper, you need to go to a practitioner. I recommend an Ayurveda or functional medicine practitioner. The solutions for hormonal balance don’t give immediate results, you may need months before you see results, but the results are great if you keep trying.

    Other tips for healthy skin

    Follow a simple skin care routine. It should include cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliation once or twice a week.

    Use a star ingredient or a few of them. You don’t have to become an expert or a junkie. Certainly you don’t need to use expensive products. I will be publishing a series of articles on this topic. Star ingredients are retinol, alpha and beta hydroxy acids and many more.

    how to have beautiful, youthful skin in middle age

    Don’t overexpose to the sun

    I am not saying always use sunblock. Use a safe sunscreen when you are going to expose yourself for longer periods of time. But mostly use common sense, wear hats, stay indoors at the time the sun is stronger, don’t tan, etc.
    Take more precautions when you abruptly change to a different weather. For example, if you live in a cold place and take a winter vacation in the Caribbean. These changes are more damaging to the skin.

    If you eat healthy your skin is more resilient and the sun causes less damage.

    These are the products I used. These are affiliate links:

    Adrenal Health – To support the adrenal glands
    Liver support

  • Beauty, skin care

    Do you want the sexy glow back, masks for woman over 50


    Glow, radiance, healthy skin, hydration. Do you want to get glowing skin after 50? If you want to get the glow back to your skin masks are a great resource for mature skin. When you need some help to add those attributes to your skin nothing substitute proper skin care, but there is a temporary short cut, masks. There are some great masks that can bring back the glow.

    Today I share with you some fabulous masks that leave my skin looking amazing (and younger). These are my favorite exfoliating and hydrating masks that bring the glow back. I have tried a zillion masks, the ones I am sharing today I know work very well and I keep them in my bathroom. The following products are good for all skin types including the temperamental ones (sensitive) like mine.

    masks women over 50


    Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask with Echinacea GreenEnvy™

    A funky name for a great mask. It is a light skin exfoliant, it hydrates and leaves the skin feeling and looking amazing, smooth, soft, glowing and radiant, the sexy glow returns. This is currently my favorite mask. I have sensitive skin and this mask does not irritate at all. The only con is it price.

    Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Dullness and Uneven Texture, and Loss of Firmness and Elasticity


    Ingredients

    Glycerin, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Honey, Water/Aqua/Eau, Flavor, Vanillyl Butyl Ether.

    As you can see in the ingredient list, it is made of different types of honey, propolis and some vegetable ingredients. It is considered clean beauty in Sephora.

    Price: US$38 for 50 gr. US$56 for 117 gr.

    How to use this mask?

    I used it once a week; less sensitive skin types can use it more often. I also use honey masks sometimes (from my pantry) and although the results are similar, my skin responds better to this mask. A yogurt mask may give a more similar effect.

    masks women over 50


    Fresh Rose Face Mask

    This mask feel so luxurious, this is in part because of its rosy smell, which comes from rose water and rose extracts. My skin feels very hydrated, calm, soft and fresh after I use it. It is mainly a hydrating mask and it helps temporarily reduce pore size. It is ideal when we need more hydration; however, I think for extreme conditions it is not the best (such as, after skiing). This is the way to get glowing and smell the roses at the same time.

    Ingredients

    Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower, Maris Aqua (Sea Water), Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Faex (Yeast Extract), Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caramel, Maltodextrin, Parfum (Fragrance), BHT, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol.

    Price US$62 for 100ml

    How to use it?
    I tried it once a week, but it can be used twice a week.



    Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

    This is a great mask that leaves the skin feeling fresh, soft and radiant. It has beta hydroxy acids and post-biotics (by-products of fermented ingredients) as well as clay. The ingredients really honor its name, they are resurfacing, they eliminate dead cells.

    Ingredients

    Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Sclerotium gum, Aqua/water/Eau, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Lactobacillus/Punica granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Beta vulgaris/Beet Root Extract/Extrait de racine de betterave, Kaolin (Rose Clay), Sodium Phytate, Aroma*, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

    Price US$62 for 30 ml

    How to get glowing skin this mask?
    Use it once or twice a week.

    Le Mieux Bio Cell sheet mask

    This mask is a wonderful quick fix for radiance. It is very hydrating and leaves the skin looking plum, soft, brighter, more even, and just nicer in 10 to 15 minutes. It is a seaweed mask with peptides and vitamins. It is the best sheet mask that I have used.

    Price
    US$ 30 for 4 masks.

    Ingredients

    Hyaluronic Acid, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Flower Water, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Freeze-Dried Marine Collagen (proprietary formula), Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Morus Alba (Mulberry) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap) Root Extract, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Allantoin, Glucosamine HCI, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, UGL Complex (Glucosamine HCI, Algae Extract, Yeast Extract, Urea), Fagus Sylvatica (Beech) Bud Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa (Green Algae) Extract, Chitosan, Glucose, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase.


    Just a comment

    When it comes to get our sexy glow back there are many great masks and some of them are very inexpensive. The ones in this list are my favorites. There are also great natural ingredients that can give similar results such as, yogurt and oats, white clay or honey among my favorites for mature skin.

    Do you have any masks that you love? Leave a comment below and let us know which is your favorite mask. Read about my experience with Nuface.

  • Beauty, skin care

    A natural facelift with Nuface

    Can you get a natural facelift with Nuface, the beauty gadget? I am very skeptical when it comes to beauty gadgets and products that promise amazing results, especially if they are expensive. About five years ago a blogger I used to follow had a post on how Nuface had helped her to keep her skin firm as she was losing weight. I was concerned about my face looking older and saggy, so after a lot or research I bought Nuface.

    my experience with Nuface

    At the time I bought Nuface, there was not enough information about it although it was being sold on QVC. Now it is loved by many bloggers and Youtubers and many women wonder if they have to buy it. Here is my honest review of Nuface after about five years of usage. I answer the question if Nuface can be a natural facelift.

    What is Nuface?

    Nuface is basically a small beauty device for home use that delivers micro currents to the skin. Some facts about micro-currents and Nuface:

    • Micro currents help improve skin condition as well as muscle tone.
    • They have been used for more than a century.
    • They were originally used to treat injured patients.
    • They have been used in professional beauty treatments for a long time and they are a staple before a red carpet appearance for many celebrities.
    • Micro-currents are sometime called “a natural facelift.”
    • Nuface is not as potent as the professional treatments, but it delivers great results.
    • Professional treatments give immediate visible results.
    • Nuface results are not drastic but they tend to improve with frequent use.
    • Nuface is FDA-cleared; very few beauty devices have this honor.


    Is Nuface for you?

    Nuface temporarily firms up the face and makes the skin look better (AKA your face looks lifted, more radiant and firmer). However, the results are temporary and subtle. For a short time you can get a small natural facelift.

    Nuface will not make deep wrinkles disappear, the improvement will be minimum. People with deep wrinkles will benefit with Nuface and other devices, but the results are not going to be dramatic.

    I think it works better for people who start to see sagging and fine wrinkles or expression lines. But in general Nuface does help me and other people and it worth the investment in time and money.

    Using Nuface

    Nuface requires diligence and time. It is not a onetime thing. If you want to see results (a natural facelift) and to sustain those results you need to follow the instructions.

    Nuface does not require a lot of time, but for the first month, it is recommended to do it every day and it takes from 5 to 15 minutes depending on how it is used. There is a shorter and a longer protocol. After that, it can be used 1 to 3 times a week to maintain the natural facelift.

    If you stop using Nuface, little by little you will notice a change on the firmness of the skin, because the Nuface effects will disappear. Some people compare the effects of Nuface to working out, is you stop working out the results go away little by little.

    Is Nuface safe?

    Nuface is mostly safe. However some people report problems, such as headaches, dizziness and palpitations. I have seen 2 Youtubers who needed to stop using it; these women have some heart health issues and Nuface increased palpitations for them. This happens to very few people. My experience has been great.

    Most Nuface reviews are positive, but there are a few bad reviews, such as people who claim that Nuface gave them some wrinkles or caused broken capillaries. This has not been my experience and many Youtubers after 50 use the device, love it, and recommend it.

    To buy Nuface or not?

    Nuface is expensive, but if you can afford it, I think it is worthwhile. Of course it will only work if it is used as recommended. I am very happy with my Nuface, I think it has helped me have firmer skin I am not sure if to call it a natural facelift, but I can see the difference.

    Which Nuface to buy?

    Nuface has 2 choices for face use, the regular Nuface or Trinity, and the mini Nuface. The difference is size, the ability to plug in other attachments, and control on power level. The mini is smaller and cannot accommodate other attachments and only has one level.

    The attachments for the Trinity are the Ele, which allows easy reach to certain areas of the face such as the lips corners, and browns (see picture). The other attachment is a red light therapy device. Both of them are sold separately or as a package with the Nuface Trinity. The cost is about $150 each. The package with the three of them is cheaper.

    After much consideration, I decided not to buy the attachments. The Ele leaves lines on some people. The red light is too small and it takes too long, there are better options at lower prices. To use the Ele attachment requires more time and the results are similar to the ones from the original head.

    How to use Nuface?

    There are a lot of videos from the company. It is very easy and it requires a gel or water, so the machine can slide easily on skin.

    I have tried a conductive gel, aloe vera gel and just water. All of them work; with water there is a little friction, so I prefer the aloe vera gel. Nuface sells its own gel, but I originally did not use it (although it came with the package) because I read many reviews that it has given pimples to some people. They have since reformulated the gel and it is working fine for most people. However I prefer to use a simple inexpensive aloe gel or plain water.

    When using micro currents, it is important to have clean skin and not to apply oils. The oils interrupt the currents and the effects are minimal.

    Where to buy Nuface?

    The Nuface Trinity is not cheap and I think that is its only really negative point. It retails for $325.00, the mini is $199.00. However, Nuface goes on sale on flash sales sites on the Internet, such as Nordstrom flash sales site Hautelook and on Nordstrom itself during the sales twice a year. In Hautelook it costs less, but sometimes it cannot be returned and there is a shipping cost. During the Nordstrom annual sale, it costs about $100 less and in Hautelook about $150 to $125 dollars less than the original price. QVC also has frequent sales.

    If you decide to buy, Google it to find the lowest price. Buy from a well known shop. There are fake Nuface being sold in Amazon and Ebay; an over 50 Youtuber had a bad experience with a fake machine bought in Ebay.

    New technology and products

    The ZIIP is another similar machine with nano currents instead of micro currents. ZIIP is also FDA approved. The technologies are similar and the results are also similar. People who have tried both devices think that the ZIIP is a little better. The ZIIP costs $499.00, and uses a more expensive gel and works with an app. I have not tried it yet and I am not sure if I want to spend 500 dollars with a device that is so similar to Nuface. Another device is the Myotone which costs about $250. The Myotone is not FDA cleared as the Nuface is. There are also some Nuface imitations from China, some work most don’t the price difference is big.

    So that is my story with the Nuface and its natural facelift effects. If you have questions or comments please post below. If you like to see it in Amazon this is the link (affiliate) .

    Read: What nobody tells you about skin care during menopause and perimenopause.

  • skin care, Uncategorized

    Botox or not? My Botox experience and some tips

    Botox

    Goodbye 11s, bye crow’s feet, and all other wrinkles, I am not going to miss you. Is it worth getting Botox? Especially considering price, risks and … oh well .. aging with grace. I had those doubts and many others, but I kissed Botox and I liked it. I know this is a divisive topic, especially among people who do not need it yet.

    I will share my experience, some tips, and I have some general info that you probably know (but in case someone does not).

    What is Botox?

    As you know Botox® is a drug with many uses, including temporary smoothing of facial wrinkles and improving appearance (such as a temporary eye lift).

    Botox® is the name of a drug, a brand. But we use the name Botox to refer to all drugs used with similar purposes.

    About 6 years ago I decided to try it. I did not have deep wrinkles, but I had very well marked 11s and some craw’s feet when I smiled. The 11’s or glabella were my main concern, because I look tired or angry.

    Botox and I

    Let me start by saying that I am not a frequent Botox user, in part because I have not needed it as much yet, that of course is changing. I had wanted to try it, so when I saw a Groupon a few years back, I bought it. Since then I have had Botox 4 times (2 Botox, 2 Xeomin), and I liked the results.

    A Botox virgin: First time Botox

    It was a Groupon, but it was done by a gynecologist in a posh spa. I bought 20 units to use in my glabella, AKA my 11s. The results lasted for almost 9 months, it was the longest lasting Botox for me. As you know, the effects of Botox usually last from 3 to 6 months. The pain level was minimal, the doctor was lovely and the whole experience was nice. But I still had doubts if I will do it again.

    Experienced user: emergency doctor

    About a year after my first experience I decided to have Botox again. This time I did it with an emergency doctor who was making extra money in his free time. The results were very good, but they only lasted about 4 months. Again 20 units in my glabella. While the doctor was putting the injections he explained to me the points that he needed to inject and showed me a picture. This was also a good experience.

    Third time, good Botox wrong place

    By now I am an “expert” Botox user. Almost a year after the last treatment I got another Groupon. This time I got a special with a nurse practitioner in a dermatologist’s office. It was not Botox, but Xeomin, a similar substance from a different maker. I noticed that this nurse was not putting the injections in the same place as the previous doctor, as a matter of fact they were totally off the glabella.

    I waited for a week and my forehead was immobilized, but not the glabella. I did not have wrinkles on the forehead, so it was useless. I called the place and I went back to have more injections at no extra charge. This time she used Botox instead of Xeomin. I told her that she was using different points than my previous doctors, she explained a lot of things to me that sounded like nonsense. Nothing happened again, I think she put the injections in the wrong place. Needless to say a disappointed experience and a waste of $200.

    Botox lower face

    Fourth time: low price and a small laughing problem

    Medical spa in a foreign country. The owner and her son (a nurse and a doctor respectively) run the place. They did not use Botox, but a similar substance. I was nervous, very nervous, but the place was highly recommended by a local friend who gets her “Botox” there. The young doctor applied the Botox. I needed to buy the whole bottle for $300, so I got “Botox” everywhere. The upper face looked good, the corners of my lips which are a little droopy turned up almost immediately after the injections. I love having less lines around my eyes, no 11s, smooth forehead etc. My husband told me I looked ten years younger.


    But as the substance did its job, it usually takes 3 to 5 days to really settle in, I had a bad result. I could not laugh the same way as before, it was a bit funny, nothing terrible, but not desirable.

    This result lasted only three months. I am grateful that the problem was small, however I can only imagine how I will feel with a droopy eye or something similar. This experience thought me that the lower face is very complicated and if I wanted to have Botox done there I needed to go to a highly trained local professional.

    Facing the risks


    Botox and similar products do not have a lot of risks. To get the substance in the wrong places is one of them. Droopy eye (because the substance moved from forehead, 11s or around the eyes) and infections are another risk, but most practitioners will make sure to use sterile instruments. Most of the risks can be avoided by going to a trained professional with a good reputation.

    Too little, watch for this

    As a patient I also want to make sure that the practitioner does not dilute the substance more than recommended. Botox comes in glass and it needs to be diluted. The patient pays by the unit so the more it is diluted the cheaper the cost for the doctor. The more it is diluted the shorter the results will last. Some doctors will mix the Botox in front of the patient, but others will have it ready. This is tricky.

    More Botox for me? Yes please

    I may try Botox again, but this time I will do only my 11s and maybe crow’s feet. I want to do it to prevent wrinkles more than to cancel my current expression lines. I will go to a good place, but I probably will not go to a doctor, the price difference where I lived is too large (2X). A nurse can do a good job. I have friends who go to nurses and get good results.

    Should you have Botox?

    Frankly other than the price, I think it is a great treatment. However the long term effects are not known yet.

    Tips if you decide to have Botox

    1. Too many celebs have used too much Botox and it does not look good. Less is better than more.
    2. Experience is important. Try to go to a place with good reputation. Botox requires someone who knows how to apply it to create the best effect. For example the Botox in the glabella (11s) can give a light eye lift, which looks nice. Also experience will spare mistakes like my crooked smile or worse.
    3. Groupon. There are many places giving discounts and I have used them, but it can be risky. My third time proves that.
    4. Botox is cheaper in competitive areas such as New York City.
    5. Xeomin and Dysport are other well-known brands approved in the USA; in Canada and other countries there are more brands. These brands tend to be cheaper than Botox and the results tend to be similar and they last almost the same time.
    6. Some expert think that the use of these substances can prevent more wrinkles in the areas treated, because they are not moving.
    7. A few people who use the product too often may develop resistance and they will require larger amounts.
    8. Some people think that they can prevent wrinkles by using Botox and they start to use it in their 20s or 30s. There is no evidence yet, but I think it could be true.

    Are you looking to try Botox or do you have an experience to share, let me know in the comments below.

    Photos: Woman photo created by Nensuria