GLOW Blog

What is it about a summer tan that we love so much?  It is actually quite interesting where the popularity of tanning began.

The history

Tanning is a fairly recent trend in our society.  Throughout history, tanned skin has not been considered as universally desired as it is today.  Historically, pale skin indicated high social status.  If you had a tan, it meant you worked outdoors as a manual laborer, while pale skin showed that you could afford to stay out of the sun and spend time and money on your physical appearance. 

Topics: aging skin, glowing skin, sun damage, SPF

I don'’t know how many times I have asked a patient their skin type and they say “Oily” while I find no sign of shine or oil anywhere on their skin.  Just because you were oily at 18, does not mean you will be oily at 38, 28, or even 21.  Our skin is constantly changing based on our diet, climate change, our choice in skincare, etc.  Those changes could be every couple of years or even seasonally. Even if you love a product in the winter, doesn'’t mean you will love it in the summer. You wouldn'’t wear your thigh high leather boots for the 4^th of July, right?This means throw out that acne cleanser you'’ve been using since the 90’s! If you are unsure about your skin type, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. When I wash my face, does my skin feel tight?  If so, where?
2. How many times a day do I need to touch up my powder because of shine?
3. Do I breakout when I use certain moisturizers?

Topics: salicylic acid, glycolic acid, skincare, aging skin

Fine lines, dark spots, acne scarring, oh my!  With thousands of products that promise to minimize our most dreaded complexion concerns, it is hard to decipher the truth from the fairy tales.  At GLOW, we treat these concerns with lasers (IPL, SmartSkin C02, Fraxel).  However, to achieve the best results, we recommend the use of prescription skincare post laser treatment.  For dark spots and uneven skintone, we suggest the use of Hydroquinone.  For dull skin and fine lines, the prescription called for is Tretinoin. 

Topics: hydroquinone, Retin-A, tretinoin, facial wrinkles, laser skin resurfacing, skincare, aging skin, sun damage

Let’s face it.  We all want longer, fuller lashes.  This is why there are volumizing mascaras, lengthening mascaras, mascaras with collagen and fibers and whatever else that sounds promising to consumers.  The reality is that mascara only puts a band-aid over the issue of less-than-desirable lashes.  In fact, mascara is partially the reason why our lashes diminish in length and fullness as we age.  So, how can we prevent the demise of our lashes?  Well, first of all, we can take better care of them.

Topics: Latisse, false lashes, lash extensions, eyelashes, longer lashes, care for your lashes, prevent lash fall out

Scenario:  You are a Botox regular.  You get your treatments every 3-4 months religiously.  You know this treatment is great at minimizing the appearance of fine lines.  But, as always, your Botox fades, and your fine lines come back.  What now?

Botox and dermal fillers are a great fix.  But in order to fully achieve a more youthful complexion, you need to think about skincare.  A healthy mix of glycolic, anti-oxidants (vitamins A, C, and E), sun protection, and moisturizers is the key to a glowing complexion.  Here is an example of a great skincare regimen:

Topics: Botox, crow's feet, facial wrinkles, eye wrinkles, forehead wrinkles, skincare, aging skin, glowing skin

When you buy a gallon of milk at the store, you have an expiration date to determine when you should replace it.  But, what about your liquid foundation?  There are no laws requiring cosmetics to have expiration dates, so you can’t refer to the label to determine if your makeup is still good.  From the moment you open your tube of mascara or your bottle of foundation, the effectiveness of the product decreases.  Not to mention, its ability to fight bacteria decreases.  Makeup already contains bacteria when you first buy it, and every time you open or touch it, you add more.  Ready to find out if you should be purging your makeup bag?  I have compiled a list of makeup products, their shelf life, and ways to preserve them so that they will last a little longer.

Topics: makeup expiration, fresh makeup, expired makeup, storing makeup, expired cosmetics, storing cosmetics

When it comes to skincare, I often get the question “is it paraben-free?” But, what does that really mean?  In the last couple of years, there has been quite the craze of paraben-free products.  Get the scoop here about parabens so next time you are shopping for skincare, you will know how to pick the best products for you.

What are parabens?

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products such as soap, moisturizers, shaving cream and underarm deodorant, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Scientifically, parabens are esters (a compound formed from acid and alcohol) of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The FDA says the most common are methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.

Topics: skincare, skin health, parabens, paraben-free, paraben safety

In honor of May as skin cancer awareness month, here is a list of important things to know about sun protection.  Take a look at what you are using daily as well as what you use for a beach or park outing and compare it to the list below.  How does your sun protection measure up?

Topics: skincare, skin health, aging skin, sun damage, SPF

You are what you eat.  We have all heard this, but what does it really mean?  Surely if we eat healthy foods, our health and body will show for it.  Have you thought about what your choice of foods does for your skin?  Skin is the largest organ in the body and greatly affects our appearance and only 20% of the skin (aka the epidermis) can be treated by topical skincare products.  Healthy, beautiful skin is associated with smooth texture, plumpness, and a glow.  We can all get our skin healthier by treating it from the inside-out with a diet full of antioxidants, healthy fats, and water that all play a huge role in the synthesis of collagen and elastin.

Here are some great foods to get you started.

Topics: food for great skin, skincare, skin health, aging skin, glowing skin, sun damage, antioxidants