I Confess: I Love Aquaphor

I Confess: I Love Aquaphor

If there was one product I don’t think I could live without, it would be Aquaphor ointment.  So simple, yet so versatile, Aquaphor works for almost any skin problem.

Oh, how many uses there are for Aquaphor!  Let me count the ways...

Chapped lips: No problem, Aquaphor to the rescue.  I have a travel size with me at all times.

Cracked heals:  A little Aquaphor under my socks before bedtime does the trick.

Rough elbows:  Rubbing on Aquaphor softens them up in minutes.

My weary eyes:  What better under-eye moisturizer for my irritated eyelids.

Brittle nails and rough cuticles:  Aquaphor on the fingers before bed puts them in tip-top shape by morning.

Not only can I use it for me, but it is perfect for my baby too. What better product can I use on his bottom? With every diaper change, a little Aquaphor helps keep him rash-free.

Be it a tub or a tube, as you can imagine, there’s a little Aquaphor hiding in almost every room of our house.

I say, when all else fails, put a little Aquaphor on it!  :)

I Confess: I Can’t Live Without My Primer

I Confess: I Can’t Live Without My Primer  

A dewey complexion is one thing.  A shiny face is another.  There is nothing worse than that oily skin feeling and knowing that you are going to look like a grease ball in every photo you take.

I’ve been wearing makeup since my teens, and as I am sure many of you have experienced, before the night is over it ends up doing a disappearing act.  It washes away with sweat, smears, drips and ends up in a different place than where you originally put it.  

One humid mid-summer’s night, after seeing my shiny face in photos from a party I went to, I was finally fed up. How could all the celebrities keep a clean face all night? (Well, I guess they may have makeup artists touching them up, but whatever...)  There still had to be something I could do.  

The Sephora makeup ladies had always suggested I use a primer, and I thought it was a load of bologna. But I caved. I bought one.  And I’ve never turned back.  It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever put off making.

Primers help absorb oil and give the face a matte finish.  By putting it on before applying foundation or powder it not only helps reduce shine, but also helps keep the makeup on longer.

There are bunch of primers out there, and as you can imagine I tried a lot of them.  Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light tops my list.  It my go-to before putting any makeup on.  If I use one in the morning (whether I am putting makeup over it or not) the La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer with Sunscreen is my choice.  Who wants to look shiny in the day, even if I am not wearing makeup?

I love my primers.  I can’t live without them.  But here's the only downside...  Since the makeup stays put for longer, it takes more time wash it all off at the end of the night!  C’est la vie!

I Confess: I've Supersized My Lips

 

I Confess:  I've Supersized My Lips

I hate that when I smile, my lips pull a disappearing act. I can pretend to be zen about it, but I’m really not.  Lip plumpers and makeup tricks only go so far.  Who am I kidding?  They are never going to do what I really want them to.  So what’s a girl to do? I took the plunge and plumped those suckers up!

McDonalds is not the only place you can go to for a supersized deal.  Your Derm can supersize you too, with fillers that is.  In a matter of minutes, you can go from losing your upper lip to actually seeing the color of your lipstick when you smile.

Angelina Jolie may have been blessed with a plump pout, but not all of us are that lucky.  That’s where Restylane comes in.  A little numbing cream and a couple of pinches in the lips later, and your lips can fill out in ways you’ve never imagined.  It’s not totally a walk in the park, but no pain no gain.  Plus you can end up with a little black-and-blue mark in your lip (but that's why they invented dark lipstick).  The fillers only last a few months, so unfortunately you need to go back for more.  But it’s worth it.

Big lips don’t fit every face.  And huge lips look fake.  But a little extra volume never hurt anyone, right? When done right, nobody would even notice you’ve had any work.  A little, natural-looking filler goes a long way.  This was reinforced in my head, when at Sephora trying on lipstick, another shopper complimented my beautiful lips.  Who gets compliments on their lips?  I thanked her, but admitted to her my secret.  They’re still mine even if they are enhanced, right?

I Confess... I Love Dermatology Meetings!

I Confess... I Love Dermatology Meetings

To all my fans out there in Cyberland:  Sorry I missed my post last week!

Twice a year, the American Academy of Dermatology holds its big meetings.  This year, the summer meeting was up in Boston.  While my husband goes to give lectures, I come along so see all the new skin care products (and of course, get some freebies!) 

Picture yourself at 10 years old, in a candy store where you have whatever you want for free.  Or, it's like walking through the Bloomingdale’s cosmetic department and being able to take what you like without all the annoying sales people squirting you with perfume.  Aisles of Dermatology booths line the conference center as far as your eye can see.  Each of the booths has a different cream or new makeup to try out.  There is enough moisturizer to keep a small village hydrated.  Plus, many of the products haven't even hit the stores yet, so I get to try them out first.

We flew to Boston, and for such a short trip we did not check any bags.  So here's the catch . I only brought back with me the creams that were less than 3 oz.  I love my samples, but my husband put his foot down.  I was not allowed to love anything that would make us check a bag.  It's ok.  The only thing I lost out on was a bottle of a new shampoo and tub of moisturizing cream.

Now you may think that the samples are the best reason to come to the meeting, but I've found another one too:  the fashion.  Not only do the female Dermatologists' faces look flawless, but so are their wardrobes.  There are more Birkins at the meeting than you would see walking down the street on the Upper East Side.  

For now I will concentrate on keeping my skin flawless and look forward to admiring the Birkins and  getting the freebies at the next meeting!

I Confess: I Love Long Eyelashes... And Lots Of Them!

I Confess: I Love Long Eyelashes... And Lots Of Them!

For some things in life, less can be more. While I’d love to eat a whole bag of peppermint patties, only eating one is really better for my waistline.

Moderation is key most of the time, well except when it comes to my eyelashes.  Longer and fuller is unquestionably better.

I remember my very first time. It was my wedding day... These lashes were totally fake and individually glued on. I immediately fell in love.

Now how was I to achieve this without the help of a professional? Oh what a dilemma! It really looks a lot easier to do than it actually is. I watched many a youtube instructional video, and I don’t get how these women do it themselves.

My feeble attempts to enhance my lashes left me literally with one eye glued shut. Totally embarrassed, I was forced to admit to my husband what I was up to in the bathroom for so long. After calming down from his hysterics, he pried my poor eyelid open.

So individual lashes were a big bust.

It was time to turn to the heavy hitter - Latisse. It is by prescription only, but I had to try it. The box is pretty big, so I was surprised to see only a tiny little dropper of medicine. The rest of the box is filled with applicator brushes. I was super motivated. Each night, I put one drop on the applicator then brushed it along my upper eyelid. After a month, I definitely saw a difference. My lashes were longer. 

I knew that I had to use Latisse for a few months to really see the benefit.  But I am a lover of instant gratification.  I can't lie.  I gave up after my bottle ran out. This was an extra step in my evening beauty routine, and it hit the chopping block. I wanted longer lashes and didn’t want to wait.

So what’s a girl to do? For those special occasions (or sometimes just because) there’s always Sephora. For just $10, my friendly Sephora makeup artist fixes me up. After 5 minutes, my lashes are long and luxurious.

Will I go back to Latisse when I have more patience in the future? Probably. But in the meantime, I’ll stick to my lash extensions. They are temporary, but I can always get more!

I Confess: I Love to Exfoliate!

I Confess:  I Love to Exfoliate!

A positive attitude goes a long way. But I don't care what anyone says about the power of positive thinking, it doesn't do a thing for my dull complexion. Now exfoliating on the other hand, that makes my skin glow (and that certainly makes me happy on the inside too!) I get such such satisfaction in knowing that all those dead skin cells are gone. Shine on, my new, fresh skin...

There are tons of options out there, so what's really the best way to exfoliate? Scrubs, Peels, Microdermabrasion, Brushes? Ultimately, they all do the same type of thing. And I have tried them all.

Scrubs are over the counter, so you think they are harmless.  Well, guess what happens when you leave enthusiastic me at the sink unsupervised with a face scrub?  Yup. You guessed it.  Red like a cherry tomato from over-scrubbing.  Overdoing it is no good, and I learned the hard way.

Peels.  Love them.  They hurt like heck, but it’s just for a few minutes. Depending on the peel you get, you may be hiding from the world for a few days or will experience a light shedding for a day or two.

Microdermabrasion.  Love it too.  I haven’t gotten my hands on any of the home microderm kits, but there’s no way they can be as good as the real deal in the dermatologist’s office.  It gently scrapes and sucks away the dead cells leaving you smooth.  Plus, there’s no down time besides 15 minutes of looking rosy.

So what am I actually doing at home right now? I am loving my Olay Pro X Facial Cleansing Brush.  Twice a week, I give my face a little buff.  After 5 minutes I am silky soft, and I haven’t gotten irritated yet.  Plus, who isn’t up for a little face massage in the shower? 

I Confess:  I've Had Botox... And I Love It! 

What is the difference between being in your 30's and and your 20's?  One big thing my dear: crow’s feet!  

How can lines so small annoy me so much? I’ve used all the eye creams imaginable and put on enough cucumbers to make a salad that could feed a small village.  But nothing touches these suckers.  Well, nothing except for my faithful friend, Botox.  Oh, how I love you.

With just a few pinches in the skin, which you can barely feel, I know those little lines will be gone in a week.  No more squinty eyes, and it does more for my eyebrow arch then even the best brow expert could give me.  (I admit it, I went to one once.)

Now, I am not talking joker eyebrows.  I am talking a natural lift that even my friends have commented on.  The lift literally gives me more space on my eyelid to put on eyeshadow.  I am one of those people who is cursed with small eyelids.  You could barely see eyeshadow when I wore it.  But not anymore. 

(Oh, and for all you guys out there, FYI, you can reduce your crow’s feet without arching your eyebrow.  It all depends on how the Botox is given.)

Up until now, I have only confessed this secret to my closest friends, but I guess I just let the cat out of the bag...

So ladies (and gentlemen too), those crow’s feet are caused by muscle movement around your eyes. The only way to really prevent them or get rid of what you already have is to turn to the dark side.  Botox.

I Confess: I Love Thermal Spring Water

I Confess: I Love Thermal Spring Water

Ahh.  I can just picture myself basking in the warm sun of the French Riviera. (Correction, under an umbrella in the warm sun of the French Riviera...)  It’s so calm.  It’s so serene.

Now back to reality.  It’s 95 degrees in New York City, and I can feel my skin melting.  I say, if you can’t have France, at least you can have French water.

My latest addiction is French thermal spring water.  I find it is my perfect accessory to combat the intense heat.

Now all you cynics out there may be thinking “Is a $15 bottle of French water that you spray onto yourself really worth it?  Can NYC tap water in a 99¢ squirt bottle do the same thing?” 

I say, “No way!”  This water comes directly from springs in France and is rich in minerals and antioxidants to soothe my parched skin.  Plus, the way the water gently mists out of the bottle leaves me cool and refreshed, but not wet. 

Look, I haven’t been using it long enough to really experience all of the water's benefits, but I can’t wait to find out.  In the mean time, it makes me smile to think I am bringing France to my face one spritz at a time.

I Confess: I Love Antioxidants

I Confess: I Love Antioxidants

After years as a sun worshiper, I am now happily reformed. But, oh my poor skin.  I am so sorry collagen, I was foolish in my youth.  

Antioxidants, you will be my savior.  SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is my favorite. Now, to be totally transparent, I have to admit I got it for free.  I actually read about it in Allure, and secretly wanted it.  So when my husband brought home that little blue box for me, I couldn’t have been more excited.  (Although if he brought me home something from Tiffany, I’d have been pretty happy too.)  

Every morning (well, sometimes every other morning) I put the gel on before my sunscreen.  My husband thinks I am delusional in general, but in this case my skin really does look brighter.  One bottle lasted me about six months.  And to my delight, as soon as I have pumped out the very last drop, I have another box waiting for me.  

Maybe this will help me push off a Fraxel treatment?   Nah, I will probably get one of those too, one day...

I Confess: I Used To Be A Tanner

I Confess: I Used To Be A Tanner! 

I can’t believe how many people I saw tanning in central park this weekend.  They are nuts!  I am sure they aren’t thinking about all the wrinkles those UV rays are going to give them in the future.  I guess it’s somewhat hypocritical for me to say that though.  I have to confess, not that long ago I was one of them.  I used to be bikini clad in the park, sans sunscreen.


Knowing what I know today about sun damage, I have been converted.  I haven’t worn a tank top in at least three years.  It’s crew neck T’s all the way for me to protect my skin.  I think that leather looks better as Chanel on my shoulder than it does on my chest.


I never really got into the whole spray tan thing.  I know they’re safe, but there is just something about getting my body painted that I am not into.


So for me, pale is the new tan.  And for all you tanners out there, I hope you will see the light soon too!

I Confess: I Love Laser Hair Removal!

I Confess: I Love Laser Hair Removal!

How is it possible that I am no better at shaving today than I was as a teenager? Years of experience clearly didn't improve my technique.  I somehow always ended up covering myself in band-aids, which may be fun for my son to use but are not so sexy on my legs.

Waxing is no better. Besides pain when you have it done, you always end up with bumps and ingrown hairs afterwards.  A sweet woman with a big smile greets you at the salon.  But she's not smiling because she is friendly.  She knows just how much pain she is about to inflict on you. Yet, every month you find yourself come back for more torture.

So what’s a girl to do for smooth skin?  The most amazing invention ever: Laser Hair Removal!

John Mellencamp had it right when he sang, “It hurts so good.”  I admit shedding a few tears, but with each zap of the laser I knew that those pesky hairs were being destroyed forever!  It definitely hurts as much as waxing, but after a few sessions you are done.  I never imagined a day where shaving and waxing would be a thing of the past.   

Summer has arrived.  No more nicks and band-aids. No more ingrown hairs. Bikini, here i come.

I Confess: I Love Topical Retinoids!

I Confess:  I Love Topical Retinoids!

I still get blackheads on my chin and nose, and I hate them! Yet, for some reason I love looking at them in larger-than-life perspective with my magnifying mirror.  My husband used to tell me to throw the mirror away.  I told him I did, but to be honest, it really has been hiding in a drawer and comes out for special occasions.  He told me that the key to getting rid of the blackheads is to use topical retinoids.  I didn’t believe it could really work but decided to give it a shot.

Using a topical retinoid was not an easy task for me.  You need to use them the right way, which was a challenge since I don’t always follow directions the way I should.   I was instructed to use only a pea sized amount every other night to get my skin used to it.  But how could such a small amount do anything?  If a little could work, then a lot must work better, right? Why put it on every other night, if applying it every night might clear my skin up even quicker?

Well, what a disaster my theories turned out to be!  I guess I should have listened to the dermatologist, even if I was married to him.  My face became irritated, and my skin started to peel all over.  This wasn’t even the worst part.  My husband saw my red face and gave me that “I told you so” look and started laughing.  

So I held off for a while to let my face cool down.  After a few weeks I decided to restart my retinoid adventure. This time, I promised myself (and my husband) that I would follow the rules like a good girl.  And I did.  A year (and four different progressively stronger retinoids) later, I can’t believe that my chin is almost perfect.  My nose isn’t quite there yet, but I can definitely see a big improvement.  Apparently your nose has one of the highest concentration of oil glands on your body, and it’s a really tough place to clear up.   

I love my topical retinoid and have faith that one day my nose will look as good as my chin. But while I wait, occasionally I still find myself secretly pulling out the magnifying mirror to obsess!

I Confess: I Love Skin Cream Samples!

I Confess: I Love Skin Cream Samples!

Never in my life did I ever expect to become skin obsessed...  When I was a teenager, I didn't really pay much attention to my skin and was lucky not to have much acne.  As fate would have it, I married a dermatologist which is the equivalent of eating the forbidden apple for skin.  I now know a lot more about the skin and aging than I'd ever expect to.  I find myself infatuated with all things related to beauty and anti-aging.  I am constantly on the look out for the next best moisturizer,sunscreen, cleanser, and cure-all for my aging face.  (In my 30’s, I am unfortunately seeing age taking its toll on my face.) So I decided to start blogging about it. I hope to share with all of you out there in cyber-land my experiences and my true confessions in the life of a dermatologist's wife.