Although many of the young ladies who have chosen to post their pictures on that site are indeed very beautiful, we are obviously strongly opposed to a website that glorifies prolonged sun exposure!

We are all about maintaining healthy skin around here. It’s no secret that the more time you spend in the sun, the sooner the wrinkles will appear and the deeper they will be. Therefore, we have to disagree with the assertion that “the tanner the better.”

They say that youth is wasted on the young. I think to be more specific, young beautiful skin is sometimes wasted by the young. The majority of our readers are older women, mostly looking for advice on how to eliminate or reduce their wrinkles. Very few of our readers, unfortunately, are younger women who are seeking preventative wrinkle advice.

A website that encourages young girls to get as tan as possible and then praises them for it is just dangerous, in our opinion. It’s not just about beauty, it can also be a matter of life and death. Skin cancer is no joke, and prolonged sun exposure increases your odds of getting it exponentially. If you take a look around the site, there are some pictures of girls showing off their ridiculously underpowered sunblock (SPF 4, etc) aka “tanning oil.”

As summer is right around the corner, we would like to make a formal reminder/plea with all of our younger readers out there to please remember that how you treat your skin today will greatly impact you later in life. The tanner the wrinklier!

Edit: It would probably behoove a post about an image site if we posted an image! Look at the following example…in a tanning bed of all places! Probably one of the worst things you could do to your skin:

Springtime is when we set our clocks forward an hour. That means there is one more hour of sunlight each day for your skin to potentially be exposed to. UV radiation is generally stronger in the spring time. There is also the problem of pollen, for those of you who are sensitive to it.

In fact, the spring season is often attributed to:

• Acne breakouts/clogged pores
• Dermal allergy reactions
• Dry, rough, and plain old gross skin!

Hopefully we haven’t scared you off yet. There is hope for your skin this season. As you might have guessed, the tricks to keeping your skin healthy during the spring aren’t all that different from the rest of the year.

The Winning Formula

Cleanse…thoroughly!
Use a hydrating cleanser with mild acidity for your face as well as the rest of your body. When it comes to rinsing, only purified water or a very mildly acidic toner will do. This way you can avoid the drying that usually happens with chemically treated tap water.

Shed that snake skin
Spring is all about out with the old and in with the new, so shed that old skin. We recommend you enlist the power of a natural exfoliant about two or three times each week as it will help get rid of the dead skin cells. Try to avoid scrubs since they can irritate your skin, especially after winter when it is most sensitive. Also avoid chemical peels because they can disrupt the acid mantle of your skin and lead to all sorts of other problems. Pay attention to the parts of your skin that are generally the driest.

Replenish
Lots of moisturization is required to get back the oils your skin lost during the winter season. Twice per day is a good rule of thumb. Be sure to choose a quality moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. It is best to use your moisturizer right after toning while your skin is still wet. Don’t be afraid to do more than one layer.

Don’t neglect the sunblock
You didn’t think we were going to forget to mention sunblock, did you? As we mentioned before, UV radiation increases in the springtime, so you should protect your skin accordingly. We recommend a minimum SPF rating of 15, but don’t be afraid to go much higher than that. Look for sunscreen products that contain ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, raspberry oil, etc. They can help to replenish those oils your skin may be lacking after winter. Also, try to find one that smells good. Nobody likes smelling like sunscreen!

Now, go forth and frolic, little spring chickens. But please try to frolic in the shade.

But cream is not the same cream. So how to find the right anti-wrinkle product? What should you look for?

To choose the right cream, one must understand two things exactly know: the active ingredients of anti-wrinkle products and their own skin.

The anti-aging agents

- Antioxidants: Anti-aging drugs are substances that protect the body against oxidation (decomposition under the influence of oxygen) and so the emergence prevent free radicals. Among the antioxidants of plant origin including Vitamin A, C and E, trace elements (zinc, selenium, silicon), carotenoids, lipoic acid, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), flavonoids and polyphenols, but also green tea, grape seeds and algae.

With its antioxidant properties help the skin, these substances not only to fight free radicals. They also repair damage caused by pollution and thereby improve the skin’s appearance. Creams that contain antioxidant substances are particularly recommended for thin skin.

- Vitamin A: Often used to combat acne. In anti-wrinkle creams, it is replaced by the pure form of vitamin A “Retinol”, because this leads to less irritation. Retinol is used in cosmetics as the most effective anti-wrinkle fabric. It stimulates cell renewal, smooths superficial wrinkles, improves skin hydration and protects against free radicals.

The use of vitamin A or retinol-containing cream is at an early stage of aged skin from the 35th Age recommended. You can also 20th as a preventive measure as early as the Age are used.

- The AHA: This e.g. in grapes, lemons, apples or sugar cane, fruit acids contained in cosmetics are in high demand. They remove dead or dead skin cells, stimulate natural cell renewal, moisturize the skin to smooth facial features and provide a fresh complexion. These substances are particularly recommended for thicker or sun-damaged skin. At sun-sensitive skin is more likely to dissuade.

- Sun Filter: You protect the skin from the sun. They are made in anti-wrinkle creams contain anti-radicals (vitamin E, vitamin C, trace elements, carotenoids ,…).

Some anti-wrinkle creams may serve to compensate for certain deficiencies of the skin:

- Hormonal deficiency in the menopause, because some anti-wrinkle creams contain phytoestrogens.

- Dry Skin: Extremely dry skin wrinkles, the more difficult problem, small wrinkles to be deepened. Some anti-wrinkle creams counteract this problem with extra moisturizing substances.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in living things. It is estimated that collagen fibers comprise between 25% and 35% of the total protein mass of the human body, which is considered the most important structural element. In skin, collagen accounts for 80% of all connective tissue and makes up most of the dermis, responsible for providing the consistency and elasticity of the skin.

Over time, the amount of collagen in the tissues of the body decreases which has consequences in the face such as the appearance of fine lines and even deep wrinkles. When this occurs, it is important to evaluate our regular routine and take action against this problem with high concentration treatments to maximize results in as little time possible.

To improve the levels of collagen and a young looking face, women can look to a new product from L’Bel called SOS Deep Wrinkles: Collagenesse. This line offers specialized treatment with a more powerful and effective technology that penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin and fills wrinkles immediately with a lasting effect.

The FillerTechnologie, developed exclusively by L’Bel strategic alliance with renowned cosmetic research center world Sederma Laboratories in France, is a unique combination of peptides, including peptide highlights the latest, the Ela-KFK . This technology has the power to be contained in infrared capsules, which by their diminutive size are able to penetrate to the deepest levels of the epidermis.

From age 30, skin begins to lose elasticity and density. When this occurs, wrinkles and other signs of aging such as lines around the eyes and lips may appear. Collagenesse Eyes and Lips is a targeted treatment that offers a fine and delicate texture, specially designed for delicate and sensitive areas of the face.

Its micro-capsules are able to reach different levels of depth of the wrinkles of the skin, filling immediately, thereby achieving an effect that redefines and instantly smooths the skin around the eyes.

After using this new treatment renovator (average bulb for 14 days) every three months, you will see a transformation in the skin of your face. After a large sample survey of Collagenesse users were polled after 4 weeks of treatment, 92% observed that treatment smoothed and filled the deep wrinkles of their face and 81% saw a minimization of wrinkles instantly.

Whether you’re 15 or 55, there is no excuse to abuse your precious skin with prolonged, unprotected sun exposure. Did you know that the sun is the number one culprit in the onset of and severity of wrinkles? Sure, we all want “sun-kissed” skin, especially in the summertime, but too much of anything is a bad thing. In the case of ultra-violet sun rays, it’s a very bad thing.

Now don’t worry, we’re not trying to spoil all of your summer fun. Of course you can have beach/lake days, or sunbathe in your own backyard. The important thing is that you use an appropriate sunblock. An SPF 4 isn’t going to do much more than make you look greasy, so try to at least go for the 15 to get some decent protection. Reapplication every hour or so you spend in the sun is also strongly recommended. A good rule of thumb is, the better the sunblock smells, the weaker it probably is! Of course this isn’t true across the board, but it often is, and we think it’s funny!

For you youngins, please don’t make the mistake of neglecting your skin at an early age, or you will be kicking yourself furiously when you get older. Sun spots are never going to be in style, and neither are deep wrinkles.

Keep in mind that parts of your body that are exposed when you’re wearing a swimsuit are probably extra sensitive to the sun because they are usually covered up the rest of the year. Those areas should get extra sunblock attention.

Stay Away from Tanning Salons
We know it can be tempting to hit the tanning salon a few times before your first official summertime activity, but we beg you to think better of it. There is nothing natural about those tanning beds, and anyone who thinks they are safer than actual sunlight is only kidding themselves. Not to mention you risk emerging from the tanning bed looking like a carrot. It’s only the beginning of summer, you’re not supposed to have a tan yet, anyway!

Don’t Forget Your Poor Eyes
You know your eyes need to be protected, and you know you want to show off your new sunglasses. Win-win, right? Well, some of you might be afraid of risking the dreaded sunglasses tan. Just make sure you use a decent amount of sunblock on that pretty face of yours, and it shouldn’t be a big deal. Besides, a slight sunglasses tan looks cool. That is, as long as you don’t go too far and get the Kardashian variety:

But seriously, protecting your eyes is important. It also helps big time in preventing the onset or enhancing of crow’s feet.

Have fun out there!

Nivea is a globally recognized beauty company, and this year marks its 100th birthday. The original formula for Nivea’s beauty cream is exactly the same as it was 100 years ago when it was first introduced. They must have got something right, seeing as how approximately 100 million units fly off the shelves every year. Even the packaging has undergone very few changes. The little circular blue containers have been unchanged since 1925.

Sure, there were other beauty products on the scene in 1911, but Nivea brought something new to the table. Their product could be preserved for much longer, because it contained Eurecit, an emulsifier that eradicated the need for artificial preservatives.

Perhaps the fly-by-night skin cream manufacturers of today should be taking notes from Nivea. Building a quality brand a loyal following is infinitely more valuable than making a quick buck. Unfortunately, it seems many of today’s companies are just too short-sighted or perhaps lack the motivation to get there.

Did you know that in France, what some many call the beauty capital of the world, Nivea beauty cream can be found in 2 out of every 3 households?

To lend further to the notion that Nivea is indeed timeless, Helen Willems (chariwoman of Beiersdorf France, parent company of Nivea) says “Everyone has known it forever and it symbolizes our link with the past.”

Does that sound fancy or what?

The point of this post is to remind you that sometimes it is better to stick to what is tried and true than to hop on the bandwagon of the next sensational product. After all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Kudos to Nivea, we hope there is another 100 years to come.

According to a recent report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 13 million plastic surgeries for cosmetic purposes were performed last year in the United States. That’s up 5% from 2009.

And it’s not just women. Apparently the upswing in procedures consists of a large number of older men who are having work done to look younger, both in the interest of seeking new employment and keeping existing employment.

Beyond plastic surgery, other inject-able anti-aging solutions such as Botox were up 12% last year, with fat injections up a whopping 14%. Sales of skin care products such as anti-aging creams are also way up, among both men and women.

This trend is expected to continue as the economy flourishes in 2011, and some have speculated that it could easily surpass the levels of cosmetic anti-aging consumerism that we saw prior to the onset of the recession.

Of course, you don’t need to spend a small fortune on cosmetic surgery to reap the benefits of having a youthful appearance in today’s job market. Although cosmetic surgery is the fastest solution, it is not the most economical, and definitely not the safest! (Cue the FaceCreamCentral broken record) Incorporating a regular preventative anti-aging routine that includes moisturizing, avoiding sun exposure, and maintaining a healthy diet is by far the best way to sustaining that youthful glow of yours! Unless of course you’re applying for a job in a plastic surgeon’s office…they might want someone who is more familiar with the field!

Rihanna has joined up with the German owned skin care company as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. In the ad, we see a topless Rihanna with her arms wrapped around herself, covering her bosom. As you might expect, her skin looks incredible!

Along with the dumptruck full of money we assume Nivea delivered to her home, Rihanna will also be receiving the benefit of their corporate sponsorship of her new U.S. and European tour. According to reports, Nivea wanted Rihanna for their campaign because she has more fans on social networks like Facebook and Twitter than any other pop star.

We don’t often talk about Nivea around here, because usually we’re too busy reporting on the latest and supposedly greatest anti-aging creams and so on, but make no mistake: Nivea has a fine line of creams that can be incorporated into your personal arsenal in your battle against aging (and/or acne, for that matter). We’ve said it a thousand times, and we’ll probably say it a thousand more: moisturizing is the key.

The man in question is Joseph Fox Batista, inventor and microbiologist. Batista’s company, Telogenesis, Inc, collected around $380,000 in funds from investors and then Batista allegedly squandered much of the money by supporting his own lavish lifestyle. However, despite his money mismanagement, some supporters of his work claim that while he may not be a stand up businessman, his product is still quality.

Telomerase is purported to combat the aging process in several ways. Not only is it supposed to make your skin look younger, but it also supposedly has the power to grow hair on men who are balding and also restore color to greying hair. Sounds a bit miraculous, if you ask us. And also very hard to believe.

Mr Batista, 55, is currently being held at the MetroWest Detention Center in Florida where he will await trial. This isn’t his first run-in with the law. In 2002, Batista spent 272 jails in a California jail after being convicted of grand theft. Batista’s record of shadiness expands far beyond that, including selling machines via the web that supposedly could weigh the amount of gold in any object (machines that he never delivered, even after $20,000 worth of sales).

According to “Fox”, he is being set-up by forces in the hair transplant industry who are threatened by his new products ability to restore hair growth.

Right.

Until we see any sort of evidence that Telomerase can do anything other than con investors out of money, you won’t be seeing any endorsement around here. However, you don’t have to worry. In all likelihood, Telomerase will never make it to the mainstream anti-aging market, anyway.

A quick search for Dermitage returns all sorts of contrasting reviews. This can be rather frustrating. If it isn’t someone try to hard sell you on it, it’s a competitor trying to repel you away from it. We understand how tough it can be to find genuine information, especially when it comes to anti-aging products, and hopefully we can help you out.

What Dermitage Does
Luckily, there have been some concrete clinical studies to show what exactly Dermitage does, so we don’t have to depend on vague claims from the manufacturer/sales team. These studies were conducted by a 3rd party team of researchers (some companies will publish their own studies which is of course less credible). After testing the product on numerous individuals for the 21 day trial period, they concluded that:

• Test subjects of widely varying ages all reported feeling that their skin felt “youthful”, “reinvigorated”, and other similar terms.
• Depth of deep wrinkles and amount of total wrinkles were markedly reduced on nearly all subjects of varying ages
• The effects appeared to be equal on female and male subjects

What Dermitage does NOT do
You may have found information similar to the above in other reviews/reports, due to its positive nature. There is, of course, some negatives that the company is not going to publish all over their website or reviews, for obvious reasons.

• Dermitage is not a permanent solution. The product must be used as directed to maintain the effects over an extended period of time. So, offering a free trial is sort of a clever way to get you hooked, since they know most customers will become paying customers after the free trial is over
• The “free” trial is not technically 100% free, as the customer still has to pay $1.97 for shipping and handling