Tools for a perfect polish job

I just gave myself an impromptu pedicure last night (those are normally conducted during Sunday night's beautifying sessions). Anyway, I painted my toes a lovely shade of Black Cherry Chutney from the India collection, by OPI.
Now my feet look beautiful in my new strappy gray sandals - except for one thing... there is still a little polish on my skin. Major pet peeve. I know that no one, including moi, is close enough to tell but it just makes me feel messy!
Anyway, I would have rectified the situation had my secret weapon not somehow disappeared from my nail product arsenal. I've had Essie's the nail corrector since it first came out (2004/2005-ish?) and it's awesome. Lately I've seen it around again in the media, which is surprising for older products.
Anyway, it is fantastic at cleaning up mistakes & perfecting your home polish job - it winds up looking nail salon perfect. I'm heading to one of my pro showrooms right after work to replace the one that's MIA.
Now my other secret tool for a fantastic home polish session comes from the kitchen... a kitchen timer!
I time my polish jobs (5 minutes between each coat, then 1 min from top coat to CND's Solar Speed Spray). I swear that doing this helps the polish set properly between coats & helps the whole thing last longer.
Then just go kick back in a lazyboy with a book and watch tv until bed time.
These are just a couple of suggestions to keep in mind since stretching the time your mani/pedi lasts, not to mention the money spent on them is highly important during this crazy economic time.

Essential travel containers

I was recently asked what my favourite containers are for flying. I personally prefer refillable airless pump bottles and now I've found a better deal than what I got my original ones for at MyTagalongs.
They have a 7 piece Airborne refillables set, with 5 bottles (2x 1.7oz & 3x 1 oz) and 2 half ounce mini jars, which can totally handle your essential liquids and cremes for a short trip.
These are seriously dreamy - no need to find travel versions of your favourite products (ever notice that not enough products are made in that size anyway?). You can even fill these with serums & oils and they do not leak AT ALL. Plus you get the little pots for something like eye creme or night creme - voila! All packed up and ready to go.


Honest to goodness, you will fall in love with these.

Oh, and their 2 watt carry-on bottles are ideal for items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash & lotion. Their squeezy silicone construction makes them better for these types of items, very easy to squeeze and dispense - if you put them in the pump bottles, you'd be pumping away for ages just to get enough product!

I highly suggest MyTagalongs - their items are reasonably priced and indispensable to the seasoned jet setter... and if you're inclined to order some bottles, don't forget these adorable bag tags!

Dr. Obagi is making 'mouse calls' & we've got an exclusive interview!

Top dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi has revolutionized a typical trip to the derm's office by offering 'Mouse calls', a virtual consultation with Dr. Obagi himself! Lose the $300 price tag & trip to Beverly Hills - just turn on your laptop. For $75, he will refine & tweak your skin care program for optimal results... And for a short while, this service is FREE!

We jumped at the chance to interview Dr. Obagi & get his advice on skincare... enjoy!

What are the most common problems you see in patients who chose their own skin care products?

People are understandably confused, because they like to shop, try new products, experiment with the latest and greatest. But sometimes that causes people to double up on some active ingredients, while completely missing out on others. That’s when they come to me and complain about skin sensitivity, dullness, irritation and disappointing results.

How do you feel about the media's influence on people's desire for the "of the moment" skin care product or procedure (rather than consulting with their derm)?

Some of those ads make false and misleading claims and report on bogus studies. They appeal to emotional thinking and not rational thinking. I wish that more skincare companies would encourage consumers to see a skincare professional, to address skin weakness and advise people how to stimulate your skin cells and restore skin health.

What are the skin care basics every woman should know, regardless of skin type or issue?

• Pick a cleanser that is right for your skin type, and use it twice a day. That’s about as basic as it gets, but too many people don’t practice that simple rule.
• Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate—with ZO Skin Health’s Exfoliating Polish. You have to get rid of dull, dry, superficial skin cells to not only make your skin radiant, but to increase the penetration of active ingredients.
• Use a functioning moisturizer—one that activates and stimulates your skin’s cells—like Ommerse Daily Renewal Crème. It improves cellular function.
• Wear sunscreen every day—like ZO Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30.

What are the anti-aging basics every woman should know?
The best way to fight aging is to constantly stimulate skin cells to produce collagen and elastin. Vitamin A (as either retinoic acid or retinol) will wake up the cells; vitamin A also make other molecules, peptides and growth factors more effective.

What are your tips for skincare while traveling/flying?

• Flying can be very dehydrating for skin. Skip the foundation, and wear only a tinted sunscreen (like Oclipse).
• Bring a spray bottle that you can spritz on your face (3 oz. or less!)
• Drink plenty of water, and avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol, cola and coffee.
• Traveling can be very tiring. If you can’t sleep on a plane, put a cool washcloth over your face to rest your eyes for a few minutes.

I'm getting new glasses...

And why is this a beauty issue, you ask? If you are a contacts or glasses wearer, it's a super important beauty issue. Always make sure that you go in for routine eye exams to keep your prescription current. It will keep you from squinting - and therefore help prevent crows feet! And if you need reading glasses, wear them, don't strain your eyes to read (like my mom).
Wearing prescription eye wear is on the same level of importance as always wearing sunglasses.
I just got new contacts & these glasses are on order at my Doc's office right now (Lucky brand eye wear in 'Andy- matte black') . I always wear contacts during the day, and my glasses at night after I shower when it's time to watch some Gossip Girl.
P.S. Don't question the style - I've had an inexplicable life long addiction to nerdy glasses - I just love them!

Dr. Perricone - Huffington Post blog

I just found this post On Dr. Perricone's blog from back in January & thought it would be great to share. It seems he & I share quite a few tips on traveling...

Taking flight: Top stratigies to look and feel your best at 30,000 feet

Traveling can be both a joy and trial and the holidays are the busiest travel days of the year. But if you are like me, regular travel by air is a frequent occurrence 12 months of the year.

If we properly prepare for the trip, we can better experience the joy and endure the tribulations. Follow these important tips when you fly the friendly skies.

Bag of Tricks

Carry a small carry-on bag and fill it with the following:

• A good book to keep your mind active and pleasantly occupied.
• Topical anti-oxidants containing DMAE to prevent water retention and puffiness in face and eye area.
• A bottle of spring water (unfortunately, you will have to purchase this after going through security).
• Wholesome snacks such as unsalted nuts, fresh fruit, all natural sliced turkey or chicken, an omega 3 hard boiled egg and a small container of plain yogurt

Flying can take a serious toll on the body -- in fact, in some cases it can be deadly--and I am not talking about crashes, which fortunately are extremely rare. Know these important facts and ward off trouble before it starts

Plane Clothes and Travelin' Shoes

• Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes.
• Blood clots can form in the lower legs from sitting for long periods in cramped spaces -- such as coach or economy seating. Being pregnant, overweight or having varicose veins can increase the risk. Try to get up and walk around when possible. Avoid restrictive hose and tight fitting shoes.
• Don't cross your legs.
• Keep the area under your seat free so you stretch your legs and exercise your toes.
• Limit alcohol consumption on long flights. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels and restrict blood flow.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages.
• Avoid salty foods.
• Take a high quality omega 3's essential fatty acid fish oil supplement. These natural anti-inflammatories will help prevent blood clots. Take 3 capsules twice a day, the day before the flight. Take 3 capsules twice a day the day of the flight and take 3 capsules twice a day the day following the flight.

Jettison the Jet Lag

To help ensure that your travel time is restful and not stressful, try a Pycnogenol® supplement. A new study reveals that Pycnogenol® reduces jetlag in passengers by nearly 50 percent. Jetlag, caused by the body's inability to immediately adjust to the time in a different zone while travelling, was practically cut in half for commuters taking seven to nine hour flights.

The two-part study, published in Minerva Cardioangiologica showed Pycnogenol® lowered symptoms of jetlag such as fatigue, headaches, insomnia and brain edema (swelling) in both healthy individuals and hypertensive patients. Patients also experienced minimal lower leg edema, a common condition associated with long flights.

Pycnogenol® has been shown to be beneficial for flight travels in previous studies pertaining to edema, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood circulation improvement and is emerging as a natural, yet safe option for long distance travelers.

Try these tips to prevent fatigue and maintain hydration to keep skin from looking dull and tired.

Fatigue Fighters
• Take an anti-oxidant supplement such as Total Skin & Body, to prevent fatigue.
• Bring a bag of snacks as described above a quick pick me up.
• Avoid caffeine.
• Avoid pro-inflammatory starches and sugars. The worst meal you can eat is coffee and Danish, which is guaranteed to cause fatigue.
• Choose fish and fresh vegetables if offered.
• Pasta, bread, rice and other starchy foods will increase risk of jet lag and fatigue.

Maintain Hydration
• Drink plenty of bottled spring water to stay hydrated. I recommend at least 8 ounces every hour or two.
• Cantaloupe is excellent for helping keep skin hydrated from the inside out.
• Apply an anti-oxidant rich moisturizer to face and hands.

Try to use your air travel time to rest and regroup. If possible take a short nap. Most of all, sit back and enjoy the scenery. It's not every day that we have a legitimate excuse to have our head in the clouds.