The women behind Sapelo Skin Care got together with their team of health experts to discuss wellness; specifically, how it affects appearance. Sapelo’s staff and physicians were buzzing about the lifestyle choices that contribute to aging. Here is your chance to be a fly on the wall.

“Skin is the largest organ in the body and performs a number of essential roles in supporting health. It provides a protective barrier against the weather, harmful sunlight, and environmental pollution,” states Dr. John Duttenhaver. “It also helps regulate body temperature and acts as the first line of defense against infection.”

“Vitamin D, which is critical for bone health and other processes in the body, is manufactured in the skin,” notes Dr. Joseph Edwards “and the integrity and health of the skin affects the fluidity of the body’s ability to move comfortably.”

John Duttenhaver, M.D. and Joseph Edwards, M.D. agree that taking care of your skin through a healthy lifestyle is essential for ensuring that this vital organ is able to function in the most optimal way possible while keeping the signs of aging at bay. Read their 7 tips:

Sunlight

Apart from aging, the majority of skin damage is caused by the sun. 

Limiting UV exposure by seeking shade; using broad-spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher; and wearing protective clothing help to minimize damage to the skin that can manifest as increased skin pigmentation; changes in skin texture; increased number of moles and development of skin cancer.

Smoke Exposure

Smoking is second only to the sun in causing skin damage.

Stopping smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, and protecting against air pollution, all help prevent the premature aging of the skin, which can result in skin staining, desiccation of the skin, increased number of wrinkles, and slower recovery from skin injury.

Cold and Wind

The use of moisturizers can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier by decreasing the dryness, itchiness and cracking of the skin that can result from exposure to harsh elements.

Chronic Stress

Learning to manage stress is not just essential for overall wellbeing and health, but can improve the look and health of skin. Chronic stress activates inflammatory changes in the body that are mediated through the endocrine, nervous and immune system. Acne, impaired skin healing and renewal, hives, eczema, itching and redness, are some signs of a lack of balance in managing stress. Practices such as meditation, yoga, music, exercise, etc. can be of great value in dealing with the stressors of daily life.

Sleep

Lack of sleep is often simply accepted as a consequence of a busy, hectic life. Inadequate sleep has been implicated in weight gain, particularly for women, exacerbation of chronic disease, including depression and is often reflected in the appearance of the skin. Practicing good sleep hygiene promotes a good night’s sleep, which allows for relaxation of facial muscles and overall rejuvenation of the skin.

Nutrition

Eating a whole food well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet with plentiful vegetables and fruit helps supply the body with antioxidants, phytochemicals and monounsaturated fats, which help combat inflammation and promote health. Skin care products are now including antioxidants in their products to combat the by-products of inflammation that may be present in the skin.

Hydration

Staying well hydrated moisturizes your skin from inside out, helping your skin look fuller and less wrinkled. It is important to avoid liquids that dehydrate the skin, such as those including caffeine, carbonated drinks and alcohol.

Got questions? Please post questions in comments below and we will get back to you just as soon as we can!

Labor Day Weekend: Summer’s last hurrah. Even if you’re a staunch urbanite, you’ll probably want to get out of dodge for these few days. If you don’t own your own weekend getaway, you may be jockeying now to secure yourself an invite to a friend’s beach or country house. Once you score that invite, it’s your job to make sure the same invitation is extended to you next year, and the year after, and the year after that. While no material item can take the place of proper houseguest etiquette, a thoughtful hostess gift is always sure to delight. A luxurious and thoughtful hostess gift is sure to keep you “on the list” for life.

What Does Such a Gift Look Like?

Well, a bottle (or three) of booze is nice, albeit trite. Here at Travel Beauty, we’ve had the pleasure of creating many different types of gifts for many different types of people, occasions, events, etc. Drawing on this experience, here are some unique gifts that have always been very well-received.

For The Host Who’s a Skin Care Snob

• The Heaven Skincare Long Weekender Kit. Any product junkie will delight in this curated kit! We’ve chosen our favorite anti-aging products from Heaven Skincare’s Stratosphere line to create this comprehensive kit covering all skin care bases: there’s a cleanser, exfoliator, toner/serum, daily anti-aging moisturizer and, of course, the world famous Bee Venom Mask.
  

• Cosmetics 27 SOS 27 Kit. The SOS Bio-Restructuring Cell Restoring Treatment is a complete anti-aging and skin repairing treatment kit that delivers. This anti-aging trio is ideal for those with sensitive, mature and/or dry skin. (Basically almost everyone!) Inside the chic white dopp kit, your host will find travel sizes of all the Cosmetics 27 cult-favorite products: Cleanser 27, a unique cleansing balm, Baume 27, a rich anti-aging moisturizer and Essence 27, a hydrating serum.

For The Host With Drool-worthy Bathrooms

• Emma Hardie Luxury Superskin Face & Body Hamper. This is the ultimate head to toe Emma Hardie collection that is as gorgeous to look at as it is comprehensive. The Luxury Super Skin Face & Body Hamper has always received rave reviews from each and every recipient. This set has got it all. A mini Moringa Cleansing Balm (because no gift would be complete without this award-winning botanical beauty marvel), travel sizes of Age Support Face Cream, Night Cream, Body Cleanser, Body Lotion and the limited edition Hydra Body Oil. This set even comes with a multi-functional Body Buffing Cloth that can be used as a cleansing aid or to exfoliate dry areas of the body, helping to remove dead skin cells.
• Compagnie de Provence My Travel Essentials Box Set. These bath and body care sets come with a travel shower gel, hand cream & body lotion from the legendary Compagnie de Provence. You can choose from two iconic scents, depending on which you believe your host would love best: Mediterranean Sea or Olive and Lavender.

For The Host Who’s Fabulously Fit

• Mio Skincare kits. Is tagging along for a Tracy Anderson Method class a prerequisite for crashing at your host’s pad? Then you cannot go wrong with gifting one of our two Mio Skincare Kits: Strong Is The New Skinny Kit and Your Fit Skin For Life Kit. These sets are packed with smaller sizes of Mio Skincare’s multiple award winning skin smoothing, firming and toning products. Many of Mio’s products were created to work harmoniously with a workout regimen and healthy lifestyle. This is best in class body care any lady will absolutely LOVE.

For The Gorgeous Glamazon Hostess

• MB York Paint by Numbers Kit. Will your host be taking you with her for a wild night out on the town? This is the gift for that gorgeous wild thing. Anyone can enhance her eyes thanks to these two eye shadow trios from M.B. York. Use the first row for a perfect daytime look and the second row for a shimmery evening eye. This set comes with three numbered eye shadow brushes to give you a precise and flawless application every time! These six shades are suitable and flattering for all skin tones and eye colors.

For The Host…That’s Male

• Taylor of Old Bond Street Manicure Set. A luxury item any discerning man would enjoy, but probably not buy for himself. This handmade, fine leather manicure case has everything the modern male needs to stay well-groomed: Nickel finish nail/cuticle scissor, nail clippers & slanted tweezers, sapphire dust nail file and cuticle pusher/nail cleaner. Add a Jermyn Street Collection Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin, Mr. Taylors Luxury Aftershave Balm and Pure Badger Shaving Brush for some luxe add-on touches.

For The Impossible to Shop For Host

What about the person that must have a custom gift crafted just for her or him? Travel Beauty’s concierge is on call to create a marvelous made-to-order gift. Contact us at: 888-717-8790 or email: concierge@travelbeauty.com

Happy travels!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Dr. Dara Liotta’s blog post about BBL laser treatment for brown spots caused by sun exposure is worth a repost as summer gets underway. If you are a sun worshipper, you may want to investigate this simple procedure that has several anti-aging benefits.

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Wear sunscreen. “Sunspots”, “age spots”, or even worse, “liver spots” are flat, non-raised, brown spots or freckles that develop on the skin after prolonged exposure to direct ultraviolet (or UV) rays. In med-speak, they’re called “solar lentigines”. Contrary to the common-speak, people of all ages are susceptible to these spots, and those with lighter skin tend to develop them more frequently. The most common areas to develop brown spots are those exposed to the sun most often: the face, chest, and hands.

How to Banish Brown Spots

The good news is that there is a fairly simple and relatively painless way to banish these brown spots. Summertime, when most people have their greatest sun exposure, is usually the time that we accumulate these brown spots, so I generally recommend that people wait until the fall for removal. There are various topical treatments that have been recommended for these pigmented spots, but the quickest and most effective treatment is BBL (broadband light) treatment. BBL is FDA cleared for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions, among other conditions.

The light energy delivered by the BBL will be absorbed by the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions in the upper layers of the skin. Over the next few days to two weeks, the pigmented lesions will darken and fall off. Typically, three sessions, spaced two weeks apart are required for most effective removal of brown spots. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes, and feels like the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. Most patients only find the treatment mildly uncomfortable. BBL treatment for brown spots requires no real downtime. There is occasionally slight redness of the skin, but when this occurs, it generally subsides in the few hours following your treatment. You can use moisturizer or cover-up on the face immediately following the procedure.

Anti-aging Anyone?

An added bonus of the treatment is that as the light energy of the BBL gently heats the upper layers of your skin, it stimulates your skin cells to regenerate new collagen, leading to increased skin firmness, smoother skin texture, and a more even color to your skin surface. Most patients notice positive changes even after their very first session, though the results are cumulative. In my office, I offer a BBL treatment called “Forever Young BBL”, which is a special type of BBL treatment that can help you greatly improve your skin’s appearance and health. In fact, scientific evidence from a long-term Stanford University study demonstrates regular maintenance treatments using Forever Young BBL functionally rejuvenates skin and delays skin aging. Studies include patients treated 10+ years ago.

What Are Your Brown Spots Telling You?

Brown spots from the sun, or solar lentigines, are benign, but they do indicate excessive sun exposure, a risk factor for the development of skin cancers. Additionally, they will return with repeated sun exposure. So, ladies and gentlemen, wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit Dr. Liotta’s website or call (212) 288-2222.

In anticipation of our Meet the Ingredients event this Sunday, we sat down with Lavido founder, Ido Magal, to discuss the genesis of his skin care line, Lavido.

What spurred your passion for natural skin care?

Ido: My passion for natural skincare began very early and is tied to scents. My first memorable experience with scent was that of jasmine and neroli blossom at my uncle’s citrus farm. These plants can be found all over the Galilee.

How did Lavido come to be?

Ido: Again I have to say scents. One of my first experiences with scents was my father’s after shave lotion. It was a strong smelling lotion, and at a very early age I made the connection between products with scent and my favorite natural scents. Much later, when I started studying aromatherapy and herbal and Chinese medicine in college, all my formative and college experiences coalesced, and eventually became Lavido’s first product, a baby cream for my family.

Do you have a favorite ingredient, or is there a superstar ingredient that you include in many different formulations?

Ido: I think from my line it’s pretty obvious my favorite ingredient is pomegranate – the seeds, skin, juice, everything. I began working with pomegranate 10 years ago when it was a very fresh, new material for skincare here in Israel. In fact, the oil was being studied for its anti-cancer properties at the Technion at the time. Long story short, I received some samples of the oil, enlisted my family as my first test group, read everything I could find, and Lavido’s Pomegranate series was the result.

This is an exciting time for natural and organic skin care. What differentiates Lavido from other natural/organic skin care lines that are coming on the scene?

Ido: When it comes to the natural market, a major value that differentiates Lavido is that we are bringing the best of the conventional cosmetic market to the natural, organic market. So we combine high concentrations of the best raw, organic plant-based ingredients with much needed safety and efficacy standards from the conventional market, including clinical and dermatology testing. Another property unique to Lavido is our use of volcanic thermal springs and purified waters from the Sea of Galilee. Besides providing the livelihood of inhabitants around it for millennia, the Sea of Galilee’s mineral rich thermal springs have been used for just as long to support healing and health.

What anti-aging or other advice would you give about skin care?

Ido: My anti-aging advice sounds simple, but this path is not often enough taken in our modern world. Some basic rules: get the right amount of sleep and water. Use as many natural ingredients as possible for anything that goes in and on your body. Invite aromatherapy into your life – it’s truly effective when it comes to de-stressing the mind and calming the body. Finally, I am a big proponent of all things pomegranate for both internal and external use.

We hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend…we certainly did!

So much so that we are taking the day off of our usual Tuesday blogging to regroup, relax and recuperate.

In our stead, please enjoy this informative article about the importance of beauty sleep – something we all know in theory but may not always practice.

Did you happen to overindulge on drink and dessert and under-indulge on sleep this weekend? Head on over to our collection of anti-aging skin care, full of luxury products sure to get you looking your best in minutes flat.

Read on for excerpts from an article originally published on northwestpharmacy.com.

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Sleeping Beauty is an age-old fairytale, but most of us probably don’t look like Princess Aurora after a night’s slumber. Morning may bring bags under your eyes, cracked skin, a blemish-covered face, or a head full of frizzy hair, leaving you to wonder how sleeping ends up making such a negative impact on our looks.

The average person spends one third of his or her life in bed, so it makes complete sense to optimize snooze time. We’ve rounded up a few tips and tricks.

Catching Zzs: The Ultimate Anti-Ager

Researchers have long established sleep as a necessary element to achieve overall health. And getting an adequate amount of sleep each night is hands down one of the most crucial and easiest beauty treatments. Not getting enough sleep can do visible damage. In fact, participants in one study perceived sleep-deprived people as less healthy and attractive than they were after a normal night’s sleep. In another study, participants thought sleep-deprived individuals had eyes that were more swollen and redder, with darker circles as well as paler skin, increased wrinkles and fine lines, and droopy mouth corners. Researchers have also found poor sleep quality can accelerate signs of aging skin and decrease the skin’s ability to repair itself overnight.

Beauty In The Bedroom

When it comes to actual sleep positioning, aestheticians suggest back sleeping. There’s no scientific evidence, but back sleeping does prevent the face from making contact with a pillow, and perhaps decrease the chance of wrinkles. Some studies do suggest that burying our faces into a pillowcase for extended periods of time every night may be associated with increased wrinkle formation, yet others find no connection. Smooth satin sheets may also help: The silkier fibers lead to less friction compared to traditional cotton fabric, translating into less potential skin and hair damage. Others believe the material has frizz fighting effects and is less likely to suck hair of natural oils.

Another easy fix: Clean pillowcases. Our trusty pillows harbor all sorts of dirt, oil, bacteria, dust mites, and mold, some of which comes from our hair and skin cells, or leftover makeup. Transferring that grime from pillowcase to face can wreak havoc on our skin. Not regularly washing bedding can also lead to clogged pores and blemishes, while dust mites and other creepy crawlies may trigger allergies and negatively affect quality of sleep.

Make a habit of washing pillow cases once a week in hot water; toss those pillows into the washing machine on gentle every three months or so (read the labels for specific instructions). It also may be a good idea to tie longer hair in a loose knot to keep away additional dirt and oil from transferring from hair to pillow to face.

Sleeping Beauty: Treatments to Try While You Snooze

Wash up before laying down

If you want clear skin in the morning, put the kibosh on dirt and oil at night. Clean sheets are a great defense against breakouts, but washing your face before turning in for the night is even more important. Too tired? Use a toning facial cleanser wipe. We love Heaven Skincare EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes or Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes.

Heal your heels

Beauty isn’t limited to the neck up. Pay attention to your feet before you snooze. Utilize resting time to moisturize dry, cracked heels. Pop on some socks to keep moisturizer from transferring to the sheets. Two of our favorites include Alchimie Forever Dry Skin Balm and Heaven Skincare Black Label Vanilla Pod Hand & Nail Cream.

Mend split ends

Dip the ends of your hair in a deep conditioner (or mask) to moisturize locks while you sleep. (If you have thick hair, finger the conditioner through your entire mane) Wrap a bandana or old T-shirt loosely over your hair (or pop on a shower cap) to keep the mask from messing up your pillow. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer and Caretrico Moist Bounce Treatment are the best hair masks.

Head to the tropics

Ditch dry skin with a no-fuss nighttime moisturizer: a humidifier. Upping the moisture in the air around you will help hydrate skin without loads of lotion and body butter. When winter rolls around, a humidifier can help stave off cracked lips and bloody noses caused by dry air.

De-puff peepers

Rest on two pillows instead of one to elevate the head just a little bit above the rest of the body and help fluids around the eyes drain easier to decrease puffiness. But this is only effective if lying on the back.

Remember: Sleep is one of the most important tools in our beauty arsenal. And a good night’s slumber is essential for just about everything from mood regulation to keeping energy levels up. Tweaking you bedtime routine can amplify sleep’s beauty benefits without a whole lot of time or energy. See link for the original article.