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TRY ANY OF OUR FILLERS AND RECEIVE $50 off
BOTOX NOW $10 A UNIT (20 UNIT MIN)
special valid though Feb 15, 2010 call 904 296 0900 for an appointment
2010/01/15
New Year, New You!
2009/05/06
2009/03/12
Longer lashes?
Eyelash curlers, extentions and lengthening mascaras are finally a thing of the past.
Get ready for a new innovation in lashes.
LATISSE™ (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or not having enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.
LATISSE™ works effectively.
LATISSE™ makes lash growth possible because of its active ingredient: bimatoprost. Although the precise mechanism of action is not known, research suggests that the growth of eyelashes occurs by increasing the percent of hairs in, and the duration of, the anagen (or growth) phase. Lashes can grow longer, thicker and darker because bimatoprost can also prolong this growth phase.
Clinically proven results you can see over time.
LATISSE™ is easy to use, FDA approved and effective. It’s a once-a-day treatment you apply topically to the base of your upper eyelashes. Patients in a clinical trial saw results gradually over time (starting at 4 weeks with full results after 16 weeks).
It’s an innovation backed by research.
While LATISSE™ is a new treatment in eyelash growth, it was developed through years of research by Allergan, a pharmaceutical leader with over 60 years of expertise in prescription eye care products.
2009/02/18
The Beauty Diet
The Beauty Diet
Ever woken up pale and puffy instead of glowy and refreshed? It’s no mystery why: Your face mirrors what you eat. Choosing the right foods can actually make you prettier. Here’s what to pile on your plate for clear skin, shiny hair

Go fish for fewer wrinkles
What to eat Wild salmon, sardines, Atlantic mackerel and herring
The beauty of them These swimmers are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help decrease inflammation (they aid in treating psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition) and improve blood circulation, producing a healthy glow, says Richard Asarch, M.D., author of The Beautiful Skin Diet (Ideal Publishing). Even better, a study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that elderly people who had eaten more fish and veggies over their lifetime had fewer wrinkles. Possible reason: Upping your omega-3s helps blunt the potentially harmful impact of omega-6s, which are found in red meat and processed foods; most of us get too many 6s, which can result in inflammation, says SELF contributor Joy Bauer, R.D. Unchecked, inflammation can damage the collagen in skin, causing wrinkling.
Eat more colors for smooth skin
What to eat Dark orange, red or green fruit and veggies, such as butternut squash, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach
The beauty of them The Crayola-colored orange and red in most of these foods is due to beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in your body and switches on DNA that’s in charge of producing new skin cells and shedding old ones, Bauer says. (In green produce, chlorophyll masks the color of the beta-carotene.) A regular influx of new cells keeps the surface of your skin smooth, fresh-looking and resistant to irritants and damage. (It’s no coincidence that some of the best topical healthy-skin ingredients, retinoic acid and retinol, are derivatives of vitamin A.) Plus, beta-carotene acts like Pac-Man, eating up free radicals that cause DNA mutations that can lead to wrinkles.
Increase iron and zinc for strong hair, clear skin and healthier nails
What to eat Fortified cereal, lean beef, oysters
The beauty of them These foods are brimming with zinc and iron. The Swiss Army knife of nutrients, zinc is a critical beauty multitasker, contributing to nearly every enzyme in your skin, including those that help create collagen and produce new cells. It also aids in healing wounds: When you nick your leg with a razor, zinc levels in the area jump as enzymes rush to begin closing the cut. And there’s some evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties in zinc supplements play a role in calming skin conditions such as acne by reducing the number of pimples and other lesions that form. Because both zinc and iron are key to cell production in hair follicles, a deficiency in either nutrient could also cause hair to thin or even fall out, says David Leffell, M.D., professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Low iron could also exacerbate conditions such as hereditary female pattern hair loss. Your nails benefit from zinc and iron, as well; getting too little could contribute to a slowdown in cell production, causing more gradual growth. And in severe cases, an iron deficiency may cause nails to become brittle or spoon-shaped.
Snack and sip for a natural sunscreen
What to eat Dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, green tea
The beauty of them These very different foods have one crucial benefit in common: All are packed with antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals (the damaging molecules that form in skin exposed to sun and pollutants). Tiny sunflower seeds are big on vitamin E; found in areas with lots of oil glands, such as the face, E blocks free radicals from attacking the membranes so cells stay alive, Dr. Leffell says. Similarly, dark chocolate and green tea deliver potent antioxidants known as polyphenols. The compounds in green tea, for example, can suppress agents that trigger inflammation. And preliminary findings reported in the Journal of Nutrition suggest that a regular intake of polyphenols found in cocoa may keep skin hydrated and lessen the effects of a sunburn; researchers aren’t sure why but speculate that it has to do with the polyphenols’ ability to increase blood flow to the skin.
Add vitamin C for healthy collagen
What to eat Strawberries, citrus, red bell peppers and broccoli
The beauty of them All are loaded with vitamin C, with red peppers practically oozing the stuff (a cup boasts more than an orange). Just as vitamin A turns on cell production, vitamin C activates fibroblast cells, which make collagen, the tightly packed and carefully organized support system sitting under the skin’s surface, Dr. Leffell says. The healthier your infrastructure of collagen, the firmer and smoother your skin looks. And because collagen reinforces the walls of blood vessels, extremely low levels of vitamin C can cause bruising. By meeting your daily quota of 75 milligrams (a cup of strawberries does it), you’ll give your skin what it craves.
Recipes for Beauty:
Massaged Greens
6 cups finely chopped greens, such as kale, spinach, chard, or a
mixture
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp umeboshi vinegar
2 tsp shoyu
1 tsp maple syrup
2 green onions, chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, pressed
2-3 tsp finely grated ginger
1 ½ cup of chopped herbs, such as basil or parsley
Toss the greens with the olive oil, vinegar, shoyu, maple syrup, green onions, garlic, ginger. Taste and season with salt if desired.Use freshly cleaned hand to massage. Pay attention to thetougher parts. Allow to stand and marinate, rubbing now and again for an hour. Toss the herbs and let stand for 10 min to absorb flavor.
Butternut Squash Soup
1 medium butternut squash or ½ large
1 can of canalini beans
1 onion diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
¼ extra virgin olive oil
1 cup of kale, chopped
Sea salt
Peel and cube the squash. Sauté the onion until slightlycaramelized add garlic sauté for 2 min add the squash.Sauté until the squash is tender and has some color.Add the beans with the liquid. Add three cups water, bring to a boil, turn down heat and allow simmering with the lid on for about 15 min. In a blender puree all contents together. Add soup back to the pot and add the chopped kale. Cook for another 5-7 min.
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Celebrity Secrets
Hollywood Secrets to Looking Younger
8 Top Tips From Dermatologists & Skin Care Pros
By Julyne Derrick, About.com
If you are like me, you’re constantly surprised when you find out how old some of Hollywood’s hottest and still-working celebrities are.
Who knew Susan Sarandon was past 60, or Christie Brinkley (a face of Cover Girl) was born in 1954. Of course, looking young in Hollywood means avoiding an early, forced retirement, but just what ARE these celebrity secrets? And better yet, how can you and I benefit from what they use and what they know?
Keeping skin in gorgeous condition is an incredibly time-consuming and expensive job requirement for the typical celebrity. But here are a few secrets I’ve uncovered for you, plus tips on how you too can get younger-looking skin.
Secret #1: Injectable fillers
To treat those deep smile lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet, celebrities turn to hyaluronic-acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm or Juvederm Ultra Plus (for deeper lines).
Procedures must be done by a professional and the cost is $600-$1,000 a needle. Results can last up to six months.
Secret #2: Botox is still hot
Botox is certainly not a secret, but according to dermatologist Tina Alster of Washington, D.C., in the April 2007 issue of Harper’s Bazaar, “Botox remains the gold standard for treating crow’s lines and wrinkles.”
Botox works by paralyzing the muscles beneath wrinkles. If used too much, Botox use can be obvious, as witnessed by several actresses including Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman and Marcia Cross who’ve fallen victim to “unmoveable forehead” jokes. Botox costs about $300-$500 per treated area. Results last three to six months.
Secret #3: They go under the laser
As we age, our collage production slows down significantly making our faces appear thinner, and more gaunt (on the plus side, collagen depletion shows off great bone structure). Boosting collagen production is big business in Hollywood and more and more celebs are turning to laser skin resurfacing to boost theirs.
How it works: Lasers such as Fraxel — currently the most popular laser on the market — are able to penetrate deep within the skin to treat damaged skin. According to Fraxel’s official Website, the laser creates microscopic tears deep within the skin which trigger the body to naturally produce more collagen in the repairing process.
Cost is about $1,000 a session. Like most laser therapies (including hair removal, which I underwent), you’ll need three to five sessions spaced about a month apart.
Secret #4: They get chemical peels
Yes, yes, yes, of course celebrities (the male ones as well) are constantly getting eye lifts and face lifts and the bags removed from under their eyes, but what so many of them are doing that you and I aren’t is exfoliating, chemically. And therein lies our secret number four.
Ever notice how your foundation looks when it’s applied to scaly, dry skin? You look older and ashier. The celebrities sheer a few years off their faces in under an hour with a professional chemical peel. Chemical peels work by removing the damaged top layers of skin.
A mild, glycolic acid chemical peel will set you back $150-$300, but you can get similar results in just one month with MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel. It’s about $68 for 30 daily applications.
Secret #5: Professional makeup artists do their makeup for big events
OK so you and I can’t have Mally Roncal on hand every morning before we go to work, but even celebrities don’t go out in full makeup every day. But for big events? Oh yes they do.
You and I can look red carpet perfect before events by hitting the makeup counters at department stores or beauty salons.
Usually it’s proper etiquette to buy a few products when you get your makeup done at a beauty counter, but for a fee you can have your makeup done professionally (I advise calling ahead to schedule an appointment). If there’s no charge, at least tip well. I had my makeup done professionally at the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman and as I walked home a group of men outside a gay bar practically ransacked me with compliments. It made my night.
Secret #6: They are filmed in tons of makeup
I have seen the paparrazi shots of Heidi Klum without makeup and can I just say Girl Ain’t All That. She’s pretty of course, but she had major undereye circles and pasty skin. Then there’s my all-time favorite story about Tyra Banks told to me by a security guard at NY’s Bliss Spa. Even Tyra admits she’s not all that. So what can you learn from this? A little bit of the right makeup can go a long way.
Secret #7: They stay out of the sun
Nicole Kidman is famously afraid of the sun. She stays out of it at all costs. In fact, many celebrities simply avoid that sun by wearing hats and slathering on sunscreen. They know the sun is the No. 1 cause of prematurely aging skin.
You and I can avoid the sun by not only wearing hats, but getting in the habit of wearing sunscreen every day, no matter the weather. (I’m also a big fan of teaching sons and daughters about sunscreen very early in life). Find out what the best sunscreen in the world is here .
Secret #8: They are all about retinols
To keep fine lines from becoming wrinkles, actresses in their 20s turn to retinoid creams. I have read of dermatologists who swear of all the antioxidants, peels, scrubs and injections, retinoids are the best way to wipe years off your face.
Prescription retinoids like Renova, Tazorac and Retin-A are popular.
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2009/02/17
Fraxel® Laser Skin Resurfacing on the Today Show
FRAXEL TREATMENT™ IS FDA APPROVED FOR THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
o * UNEVEN PIGMENTATION
o * MELASMA
o * AGE SPOTS AND SUN SPOTS
o * FINE LINES AND WRINKLES AROUND THE EYES
o * ACNE SCARS
o * SURGICAL SCARS
o * DISCOLORATION AND CREPEY TEXTURE OFF THE FACE