How To "Brazilian Wax" (Or, What to Expect When You Sign Up to Get One)

Brazilian bikini waxes were introduced to New York in 1987 by seven Brazilian-born sisters and remains a popular hair removal method in the US.

The "Brazilian" differs from a regular bikini wax because hair is removed in the front, back and everything in between. Most of the time a "landing strip" is left in the front, but some clients opt for everything removed.

The "Brazilian" has most recently been in the press since the state of New Jersey announced in spring 2009 it may ban "genital waxing" after a couple residents were hospitalized with infections.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 15-30 minutes

Here's How:

1. Most waxings occur in a private room with a door. You'll be left alone to remove your pants and underwear and you'll be asked to lie on a table with clean paper or sheets. It is possible that you may be provided with a paper thong and you can certainly ask for one.
2. Because you only need 1/4 inch of hair for the wax to grab onto, your waxer may trim pubic hair to the correct length. A general rule of thumb is that hair needs to be a quarter-inch if it's fine, a half-inch if it's coarse, according to Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare spas. Any shorter and it's too hard for the wax to grab onto. You'll be sent home if hair isn't long enough.
3. The waxer will liberally apply talcum powder to the skin. Talcum powder keeps hot wax from sticking to skin.
4. The best waxers are fast, which means less discomfort for you.

   The waxer will dip a wooden waxing stick into a pot of hot wax and then spread it onto your skin and hair. She will then apply a cloth strip over the still-warm wax, pressing firmly so the cloth, hair and wax adhere to one another. When the wax has cooled, she will pull the strip off, in the opposite direction of your hair growth, pulling the hairs out by the root.

   You might request a hard wax, which is thicker and is peeled off when cooled. It can be less painful, according to Barshop.

5. If the waxing is too painful, ask the technician to apply strips to smaller areas at a time.

   Waxing usually starts in the front and moves toward the back. You may be asked to help hold skin taut.

6. Since the Brazilian means everything off except for a "landing strip" in the front, don't be surprised when the technician removes the hair between the buttocks. Yes, for most people, hair grows there. If you want to be completely bare, this is called a "Hollywood" wax.
7. Once the waxing is complete, the waxer will tweeze any stray hairs and she may trim the remaining landing strip, or even create designs (if there are patterns for this, I do not know where they exist). Some women even opt to dye the remaining pubic hair.
8. The waxer will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas. Apply aloe lotion or a hydrocortisone cream if you develop bumps, redness or ingrown hairs.
   
9. Don't forget to get the name of the waxer so when you make another appointment you can get the same person so you don't have to bare all for another complete stranger (wink). Typically, you'll need to wax every 2 to 4 weeks and the more you do it, the less painful it becomes.

Tips:

1. The procedure, like any waxing, can be very painful at first, but frequent visits usually cut down on the pain factor as does 2 Advil an hour before your procedure. You can also apply a topical anesthetic, such as "Relax and Wax No-Scream Cream," 45 minutes before the procedure.
2. The downside of a Brazilian wax... while it lasts 3-6 weeks, the hair will grow back -- albeit finer and lighter -- and you'll have to do it again.
3. Another downside... hair has to be a certain length before it can successfully waxed. Hair needs to be a quarter-inch if it's fine, a half-inch if it's coarse.
4. Another down side... you might experience red bumps or ingrown hairs, caused when hairs grow curled under the skin. Avoid ingrown hairs with regular exfoliation and a scrub that contains salicylic or glycolic acid. Treat existing ingrown hairs with an acid-based solution. Good ones include Vaniqa, by prescription. Get rid of burns or rashes with a hydrocortisone cream, which soothese irritation.
5. Book the appointment for at least a week after your period. As for the embarrassment factor -- we like to think getting a Brazilian can't be any more embarrassing than a typical visit to your gynecologist's office. These technicians have seen it all before.

What is Threading?

Threading is an ancient Middle Eastern technique that is becoming common in the United States with threading shops popping up in every big city as we speak. Many of the top beauty editors in NYC get their brows threaded rather than waxed. (I am a big fan of the thread and get mine done in a little shop in the subway at Rockefeller Plaza).

How does it work? An aesthetician uses a doubled-up strand of cotton thread to twist around individual hairs, then pulls them out from the roots. The procedure is used mainly on the eyebrows and upper lip.

Threading is faster than tweezing. The average eyebrow procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes, while tweezing takes about 20 minutes.

Cost is relatively cheap: it starts at $5. We suggest trying a professional threading job, then maintain your new brow line yourself with tweezers.

Beauty Secrets of the 'Desperate Housewives'

Society has come a long way now that TV's hottest stars are (gulp!) over 40. Finally Hollywood has learned what many of us have known all along: Women are sexy at any age. Since 'Desperate Housewives' came out, America has been transfixed. So how do these women manage to look so hot at 30, 40 and older? We've collected all their beauty bits and pieces from TV, magazines and more and here we share them with you.

Teri Hatcher's beauty secrets. US Weekly reports the secret to Teri's look is the old adage, 'less is more.' Since Teri is 40, less makeup makes her look fresher. Her makeup artist and hairstylist, Don Malot, adds a luminescent liquid to her foundation to make her skin 'dewy and glowy.' He also uses a brown shadow with shimmer to make Hatcher's brown eyes stand out.

How to get her hair. Although Hatcher has naturally wavy hair and wore soft curls on the red carpet the night she won the Golden Globe, she prefers it straight. Since even wavy hair can look flat (and flat, straight hair is not 'in' at the moment), Malot gives it extra body by applying Redken Spray Starch to damp strands before drying Hatcher's hair straight.

How to look 30 when you're 40. InStyle Magazine pulled together a photo gallery of her hairstyles from 1986 to now. Check it out. You'll notice she's grown out her once short locks. This is a great hint for those of you over 40: don't go for short-short hair or over-coiffed do's. Instead, opt for a shoulder-length shag with layers. Avoid the blunt cuts.

Plastic Surgery: Has she or hasn't she? The UK's Daily Mail puts Hatcher under the plastic surgery microscope. Experts debate whether she's had an under-eye lift (Hatcher tends to have baggy eyes), Botox and a nose job. Hatcher admitted to using Botox on Oprah in April, 2006. See photos from then and now and then judge for yourself.

Eva Longoria's beauty secrets. Longoria, the only star on the show under 40 (she's 31) tells Us Weekly, "I don't overdo the hair and makeup." Like Hatcher, she knows the secret to looking young is to not pile on the makeup. Instead, Longoria adds color to her dark looks by adding a bit of gold shimmer cream from Girlactik to her cheeks & forehead. The actress also loves the line's Star Shadows in Timeless & Satin.

How to look 20 when you're 30. Do highlight your best features. Longoria, for example, shows off her legs, not her cleavage. If it's your eyes, play them up. If you have full lips, show them off with a gloss or dare to go red. Don't use a thick concealer, it will settle into fine lines highlighting your flaws. For a dewy glow, try Longoria's favorite foundation, Laura Mercier Foundation .

Marcia Cross's beauty secrets. More than the other stars on the show, Cross is known for her porcelain complexion. How does she keep her skin so gorgeous at 43? Us Weekly reports Cross uses the ultra-luxe and super-hydrating Crème de la Mer to keep her skin soft. She then applies a creamy foundation and tops it all off with a pressed powder. For lips, she uses glosses by Dessert Beauty (try Desserts Deliciously Kissable Plumping Lip Gloss in Dreamy.

Want Cross's hair on 'Housewives'? Newsweek reports that when Cross showed for the photos for the magazine's article in late 2004, she balked when asked to pose as Bree Van Der Kamp. It seems Cross didn't want to pose in her character's trademark 'do, the flip that has helped make her famous. But if you want the look it's easy to do, simply blow dry your hair straight but flip the bottom up with a round, steel brush. The aluminum barrel on these brushes rely on the heat and act as a curling iron for your hair.

Nicollette Sheridan's beauty secrets. Us Weekly reports Sheridan treats her face to monthly customized Super Performance Facial Treatments ($200 a pop) at L.A.'s Jim Wayne salon. These facials help treat her skin (which is dry & sensitive according to her facialist, Octavia Ellington). As for her hair, Jim Wayne cuts her trademark blonde locks in long layers for a 'young, sexy, hot look,' he tells Us. The makeup artists on 'Housewives' use pink tones on the actress, who is reportedly a 'gloss maven' and prefers Jessica Simpson's link textDessert beauty line.

Has Sheridan or hasn't Sheridan? Whether or not Sheridan has gone under the knife has been under debate for years. Her post-Knots Landing face drew notice from gossip columnist Liz Smith, who dubbed it 'startlingly exotic' & 'a little transgendered-esque.' Sheridan immediately fought back with a statement that called Smith's allegations, 'malicious and patently false rumors… sprung whole cloth from ... feverish, overactive and inaccurate imaginations.' She even had plastic surgeon Frank Ryan examine her face without finding a single scar. Judge her transformation for yourself on InStyle . AwfulPlasticSurgery.com debates whether Sheridan has had breast implants.

How Does the Clarisonic Skin Brush Rate?

My fellow bloggers Christina at ebeautydaily and Stevie at beautybuzz have gone ga-ga over the Clarisonic Skin Brush.

We'd heard good things about the brush (Drugstore.com's reps tell us it's one of the best buys of the year), but when Christina went so far as to make it her #1 buy for 2006, we decided to jump on the bandwagon and tell you about it. Christina loves what it's done for her skin and at around $195 it should do WONDERS. If you love the idea of an electronic skin brush (created by the makers of Sonicare), then this is the brush for you.

Best Eye Creams

A woman typically starts to develop lines around her eyes in her 30s. It's important to use eye creams that add moisture and volume to the delicate skin around the eyes. Look for eye creams with one of three ingredients: retinoids which stimulate cell growth, peptides which boost collagen production and antioxidants, which fix free radical damage caused by sun damage and other environmental factors.

The Secret to Anti-Aging Products: Sticking With It

I'm back on Retin-A after a couple years off, not because I have acne, but because I love how Retin-A makes my skin look and feel so great after just a couple weeks of use. Retin-A, you'll recall, was THE pimple medicine of the 90s, before Accutane took over. Dermatologists have known the anti-aging benefits of Retin-A for years and many skincare experts (who have their own lines, mind you), swear vitamin A is their secret weapon when it comes to their own skin care.

Some bits about Retin-A and other anti-aging products:

1. It's best to use Retin-A under the guidance of a dermatologist. Here in the U.S., it's not an over-the-counter product. Yes, I have to say this, even though I get the stuff over-the-counter in Mexico.
2. You will peel. My skin is currently peeling in patches, a minor annoyance in my quest for dewy, youthful skin. This is typical the first two weeks with Retin-A.
2. Gotta wear sunscreen. Skin is extra-sensitive to the sun. You have to very careful to stay out of the sun when on Retin-A.
3. Stick with it. Many women abandon skincare regimens because they can't stand the redness or peeling and think it's not working.

Hollywood Secrets to Looking Younger

"It is said that no star is a heroine to her makeup artist." -- Richard Corliss, American writer

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).

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.

Turn Back Time: Are These Products the Secret to Youthful Skin?

"There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few years ago a friend suggested I consider Retin-A as an anti-aging lotion. "Why in the world would you use this stuff? You have flawless skin?" I told her. I had always thought of Retin-A as something found only in the medicine cabinets of pimply teens. "Honey," she said, "This is WHY I have flawless skin."

My friend was about a decade older than me -- in her late-30s -- and she wasn't the first flawless-skinned woman I would come to know whose dermatologist prescribed Retin-A as a way to combat fine lines and wrinkles.

Now that I'm in the business of beauty and skincare, I know much more about products that really do turn back time, so to say, and reduce lines and wrinkles.

The Secret to Youth: Collagen

Collagen is the key to healthy skin that tends to age well. The change in the pH level of the skin caused by just a few uses of a retinoid product such as Retin-A or AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) can help generate collagen. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in the October 2005 issue of O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores."

The best way to keep collagen from breaking down is avoiding the sun at all costs. Dermatologists warn that up to 90 percent of wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage are caused by sun exposure. This is why they're always preaching the use of sunscreen . However, if the damage is done, you can try to recoup the gorgeous skin you once had. To find out your best option, read on.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A really cuts down on the wrinkles, perhaps better than any other type of skin product. I would recommend skipping the over-the-counter vitamin A products and consider getting a prescription from your doctor for Retin-A, Renova or Retin-A Micro. These contain the ingredient "tretinoin," which is proven more effective on fine lines and wrinkles than retinol, found in most OTC products.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't expose skin to the sun when using Retin-A, Renova or Retin-A Micro. You'll want to cover up with sunscreen and a hat. Vitamin A makes skin very susceptible to skin damage.

Retinoids

Retinoids are the tamer, non-prescription versions of the vitamin A derivatives listed above. Retinoids contain a less harsh Vitamin A derivative called retinol. These products are less potent and therefore great for weekly upkeep.

Alpha & Beta Hydroxy Acids

AHAs and BHAs are better options for women who find the Vitamin A products dry out their skin. AHAs are acid extracts that tend to be more moisturizing. You'll want to look for products that include glycolic (an acid extract from sugarcane), lactic (milk) or citric (citrus fruits).

Diminish Signs of Fine Lines with a 3-Step Program

If you have a big event like a wedding (or your high school reunion) and want gorgeous skin, you can follow a three-step program many celebrities use to get ready for awards shows and red carpet premieres.

Renowned dermatologist Harold Lancer, MD, spilled his three-step secret for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to Harper's Bazaar a few years ago and I kept the article so I can share his secrets with you. Here's how to get glowing skin just in time for a special event.

Step 1: Cleanse with a salicylic acid cleanser

Lancer suggests you cleanse face, neck and upper chest with a 2% salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid cleansers are typically used to treat acne, but work well as exfoliants by getting rid of dead skin cells.

Angela Palmer, About.com's expert on acne, explains more about salicylic acid in this article.

Check out my list of the best salicylic acid cleansers available, including a few you can get at any local drugstore.

Step 2: Follow cleanser with a five percent glycolic acid toner

Lancer suggests this second step to bring blood flow to your face, neck and chest. While I wouldn't recommend toners for every day use (they can be drying on anything but the oiliest of skin), I researched toners and can recommend Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner.

Step 3: Finish with a slather of moisturizer

The secret here is using the right moisturizer. Lancer suggests an aloe-vera/retinol-blend moisturizer (he suggests you look for the ingredient "retinol palmitate"). This ingredient tightens pores and plumps skin.

As Seen on TV: Does the Smoothaway Hair Removal Kit Work?

The Smoothaway Hair Removal kit is one of the products on TV I was skeptical about and had to try. The pads are covered in crystals that buff away unwanted hair and dead skin, leaving skin soft and hair-free. So did it work? Surprisingly, yes. This "As Seen on TV" product is a keeper. The buffer removed hair painlessly, just as it claimed and left my legs super soft. The hair that grew back in was less coarse than it is with a razor. I would recommend this for the legs and even the arms and chest. It's supposedly great for guys who are sensitive about the hair on their backs and chest

Are You "Overcleansing " Your Skin?

Your skin naturally acts as a barrier, meaning it keeps out what it's supposed to (dirt) while keeping in the good stuff (moisture and yes, some oils). When you over-cleanse your skin, you strip your skin of the oils that keep skin healthy and balanced.

People with oily skin have a tendency for zealous cleansing in effort to get rid of the sheen. The result is skin that feels taut and tight. This is actually NOT good. Be careful of cleansers with alcohol which will strip skin of its essential oils. Skin that feels taut and tight after cleansing is a clear sign that you may be overcleansing or using too harsh a cleanser for your skin type. Some effects of overcleansing include:

• Rashes. Products that should sit on the skin (think sunscreen) will permeate skin if skin's natural barrier is damaged.
• Adult acne. Cleansing your skin more than twice a day can trigger a panic response and send your oil glands into overdrive. Plus, if moisturizers don't soak into the skin -- instead sitting atop skin -- then you may be prone to acne.
• Seborrheic dermatitis (flaking red scales around the scalp & on the t-zone).

The key here is balance. You want your skin to feel 'dewy'. Taut & tight is bad, dewy and moisturized is good.

How to Get Rid of Wrinkles

No one likes wrinkles, which are caused when collagen breaks down deep in your dermis, far below the skin's top layer. The key to improving or preventing wrinkles is two-fold: You need to stimulate collagen production while keeping free radicals such as the sun, stress and pollution from causing more damage. You have a number of options available to help you turn back time a bit without going under the knife.

Here's a rundown of 5 options currently on the market that are created to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Better yet, most of these can be bought over-the-counter:

1. Sunscreen. Sun damage is the #1 cause of wrinkles. Wonder what your skin would look like if it was never exposed to the sun? Look at your bottom. Wrinkle-free, eh? That's what your skin would look like it it was kept under cover all the time as well. A good rule of thumb: If it's daylight outside, you need sunscreen, no matter how cloudy it is. In the June, 2005 issue of InStyle Magazine, Dr. Fredric Brandt, dermatologist to the stars, suggests using a 'two-finger scoop' of sunscreen daily to the face & neck. Also, don't forget the top of your hands. Dermatologists report seeing women with young faces & old hands all the time. Check out this list of the best sunscreens on the market. Note which sunscreen is the absolute best on the market.

2. Vitamin A (retinoid) creams. To prevent wrinkles or keep them from worsening, look for products containing vitamin A like prescription Retin-A, Differin or Renova.

Used nightly (or every other night), vitamin A creams stimulate collagen renewal and prevent skin cells from breaking down. Women in their 20s and early 30s can use these to keep fine lines from turning into deeper furrows. I've been trying one percent Retin-A on my skin for the past month and I've noticed a marked improvement even though best results can be seen in about 6 months. (Just make sure you never go out without sunscreen when you're on these Vitamin A products, your skin is extra susceptible to sun damage).

Don't want to go to a doc? A great over-the-counter anti-wrinkle product is RoC Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. Matrixyl is a newer ingredient that is becoming very popular and is touted as being great for sensitive skin. Check this list of products containing Matrixyl.

3. Alpha-hydroxy acids or microdermabrasion. If you're in your mid-30s & worried about wrinkles you might try exfoliating once a week with a alpha-hydroxy acid (AHAs) or a microdermabrasion kit. Don't use both & be careful not to over-exfoliate. Chemical exfoliators (the AHAs) work great on oily or combination skin, while the physical scrubs (microdermabrasion) are great for very sensitive skin (make sure it's in a creamy base).

AHA's are glycolic or lactic acid formulated to increase collagen in sun-damaged skin. They are also known to reduce pore size, redness, blotchiness & fine lines. I love MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel ($68 for 30 applications at Sephora).

Microdermabrasives smooth fine lines & get rid of dead skin. I've tried several kits & like Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion In A Jar. I also like Lancome's RESURFACE-C MICRODERMABRASION Resurface-C Microdermabrasion Kit. A less expensive, but still excellent option, is L'Oreal ReFinish Microdermabrasion Kit.

4. Antioxidants. Free radicals -- the unstable oxygen molecules produced by pollution, stress & sun -- are a skincare nightmare. They attack healthy skin cells & cause collagen breakdown, all of which lead to wrinkles. Antioxidants like green tea, vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10 work together to neutralize free radicals. A cocktail of these antioxidants are like a multi-vitamin for skin, according to dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.

The most popular antioxidant on the market right now is prescription Prevage, a cream that is made with idebenone, a synthetic antioxidant and 'star chemical' dermatologists swear by. Another excellent (over-the-counter) option is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum, which clinical studies show reduced sunburned cells by a whopping 96 percent. Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment also gets high marks from dermatologists.

How to use it? Use antioxidants both orally and topically. IN Elle Magazine, dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, swears by Heliocare vitamins. Topically, antioxidants are great for bolstering UV protection. Apply an antioxidant serum containing vitamins C or E, Co-Q, alpha-lipoic acid, grean or white tea, pomegranate or idebenone under your sunscreen (see products below). The antioxidants will fight those free radicals the sun generates. Some great products include:
1. Nivea Visage All Around Protection Oil Free SPF 15 Lotion
2. Estee Lauder Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Crème SPF 15 ($45)
3. Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer SPF 25 ($39.50)
4. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Treatment
5. DDF Daily Matte SPF 15
6. Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer With White Tea

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals caused by UV rays. Free radicals are those buggers responsible for fine lines, age spots and skin cancer. Great antioxidants include Prevage cream available by prescription. We also read great things about Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid serum. This boosts the skin's protection against UV rays.

What is Botox?

What is Botox? Botox is basically a purified form of botulinum toxin. According to the November 2006 issue of O Magazine, when injected Botox smooths lines by 'blocking nerve impulses that trigger wrinkle-causing muscle contractions.' Unfortunately the results wear off after three to six months and at a cost of $300, that can become a pricey addiction.

A recent study suggests women who get Botox starting in their late 20s develop fewer wrinkles than women who age naturally. The national study (probably funded by the pharmaceutical company that creates it) used twins in their experiment. The found the twin who got Botox injections in her mid-20s developed fewer lines than her sister.

Botox is becoming increasingly more popular. In November, 2006, the New York Times reported a clinic that offers Botox has opened in a Dallas mall. Expect more of these to crop up over the next year or so.

What are Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels are meant to lift away the dead upper layers of skin. They are painted onto the face by a dermatologist or trained cosmetologist. The higher the concentration and the longer they are left on, the deeper they work. There are three basic types of peels, all which are formulated with acid: Glycolic or salicylic acid (best for oily skin) and trichloroacetic acid (or TCA) which goes super deep. The TCA peels will likely cause redness and flaking a few days after use.

Chemical peels cost about $100-$300 a pop for glycolic and salicylic peels. You'll need a series of three to six to see the best effects. TCA peels cost about $250 a pop.

Not able or willing to pay those prices? You can buy over-the-counter peels that work just as well, but take up to a month to see the results from just one visit to the dermatologist's office. My hands-down favorite is MD Skincare Alpha Beta Face Peel.