What to do with your face

Are you at the point where you just don’t know what to do with your skin care regime anymore?  It can be very daunting to try and figure out what you should be doing and when.  Everywhere I go, I always hear “well I do this and this in the morning and then this and this at night.  Oh and then I do this every other night with this in the morning”.  There are so many eye creams, serums, face creams, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. that it can be confusing to say the least.  And because of that, people don’t end up using anything at all!  Now, that’s where the big problem is.  Skin care isn’t something one should put off simply because they don’t know what to do. 

There are many ways you can figure out the best skin care regime for your type of skin.  You can obviously head to your dermatologist and they will definitely give you a good regime to follow.  You can also do some research on your own but you do need to realize and  be honest about the type of skin you have whether it is dry, normal, oily.  Everyone is different so you won’t necessarily be needing to do the same thing as your best friend is doing.  Make sure to do your due diligence and find your perfect regime and then follow it because it will definitely pay off later in life.

A good general regime would be to make sure you have a good Vitamin A, C & E as well as a moisturizing eye cream, a general moisturizer and sunscreen.  A general rule of thumb to follow when applying is the thinest product goes on first and the thickest goes on last.  For example, your vitamin serums would go first so they can soak in, then you would apply your creams/moisturizer and then your sunscreen as it is your thickest and is used to protect your skin.  After that, you whould then apply your make-up (if you wear make-up).  One thing to note…if you choose to do nothing, at the very least apply sunscreen!!

Here is a link to our product page so that way you can read up on some good products, if you would like!

Until next time…Natural Image OC

Do you have the curse of Cold Weather?

Tis the season for cold winds, hot showers, constantly changing temperatures and drying indoor heat.  All of these can literally suck the life out of your skin and your hair if you aren’t careful.  We have gathered a few simple tips to help you beat these ever changing scenarios!

Do you have dull complexion?

When you skin cells are dehydrated, they tend to slough off less quickly which then build up and don’t allow that fresh look.  To solve this, simply drink more water! Also load up on your omega 3’s as they help with hydration.  In these dry times, make sure to start your regimen with a cleanser that doesn’t stip your skin as much and then follow with a cream instead of lotion.  Creams will help to insulate the skin.

Is your hair feeling a little uninspiring?

Winter hair is never something you look forward to.  Dull, dryed out, full of static…not fun!  One easy solution is to make sure you use conditioner!  Conditioner is important because it locks in last moisture that will keep your hair fresh and not full of that pesky static. 

Is your scalp dry and itchy?

These symptoms can be either dandruff and/or regular dry scalp.  Both of these tend to have the same tell tale signs so it may be a bit difficult to pin point.  You should try using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner.  Give it some time but if after about a week, its doesn’t resolve then try using moroccanoil on your scalp.  If that doesn’t work, then you most likely have dandruff.  Change to a medicated shampoo that will help kill the fungus and stop the flakes. 

Along with these, I’m sure you have seen hundreds of helpful skin tips.  The main thing to take away from this is to make sure to protect and hydrate your skin, it does more for you than you think it does!

Thanks for reading!

Natural Image OC

Are your hands aging faster than you would like?

Have you ever thought that your hands make you look older than you really are?  Don’t worry, you are not alone.  Your hands are one of the areas that ages the fastest.  Think about it…your hands are constantly exposed to the environment, mainly the sun.  Our hands are very sensitive yet we use them for everything and most people don’t take the time to care for and protect them from aging faster than they do!

The backs of your hands have a minimal amount of fat and when even the smallest amount of collagen disappears, it is very noticeable.  We have patients always coming in asking what they can do to slow down the aging process on their face as well as their hands!  One of the first things you may want to do, is set up a consultation with your local dermatologist/cosmetic surgeon.  At our office, Natural Image OC, we provide complimentary consultations for cosmetic procedures.  In that consultation, it will be abel to be determined the best course of action for you individually.  Whether it be something simple like a non-invasive, no downtime laser like IPL and a new skin care regime, or something a little more detailed like the Thulium Laser.  The important thing is that there is a treatment plan out there to help you reach your goal, it’s just a matter of getting to it.

Click Here to read about some anti-aging treatments that you can do from home!

Thanks!

Natural Image OC

Aging and Changing

Have you noticed lately that looking in the mirror isn’t what it used to be?  Have gravity and/or age finally started to show its ugly side?  Well the simple fact is both are an inevitable occurence but the good news is there are plenty of things you can do to delay it as long as possible.  Whether it be a simple skin care product, laser procedure or full on cosmetic surgery, there is something out there for you to try.

As a consumer, we are constantly bombarded with non-stop advertising making it harder and harder to determine what our best option is.  There are countless products and procedures out there that all claim to ‘keep you young’ but the truth is, not everything is going to work for you.  Everyone is different meaning all products and procedures are going to effect us differently.  The best and most accurate way to find out what is best for you is to go in to your dermatologist or surgeon’s office and do a consultation so that way you get the best, personalized advice from the expert.  Before you do that, we do recommend that you do a little bit of research because with something like this, you want to make sure you aren’t going to be pressured into making such a big decision to quickly.

In our office, we offer complimentary consultations so that way our potential patient has the chance to come in and ask all the questions they might have while getting the best personal advice they can get.  We understand that all of the options one might have can be very daunting to even start to comprehend, heck it is even hard to pick which restaurant to go to lunch at let alone pick a laser or cosmetic surgery procedure!

The key to getting the best consultation is to really know what you are looking to improve.  It is much easier for the person giving the consultation to address those direct issues as opposed to them having no information to go from. 

See you all next time!

Natural Image OC

More tips..

Hi again!     Here are tips 2-4 on how to prevent Skin Cancer. 

#2)  Stay out of tanning beds!  People who use tanning beds at least once a month increase their risk of skin cancer by 55 percent, according to studies, and the numbers are even more ominous for people who begin such tanning regimens in their 20’s.  As most of us probably know, spray tans or self-tanning lotions are both a better way to creat the tanned look..but do you know why?  Both the spray tan and the self-tanners interact with amino acids in the skin but don’t involve melanocytes which are the skin cells that can become skin cancer.

#3) Avoid peak sun hours!  The sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are at their strongest between the hours of 10a.m. and 4p.m.  Don’t let the mild temperatures and lots of clouds fool you.  They won’t protect you because UV intensity has more to do with the angle of the rays than the temperature or sun’s brightness. 

#4) Check for moles regularly!  If you have a history of skin cancer in your family, make sure you get your moles checked on an annual basis.  Some patients even come in every 6 months!  If you want to self check, stand in front of a mirrow naked and beginning with the face work your way down.  Be on the look out for changes in moles.  Notify your dermatologist immediately of any changes.

Check back for more tips!

On another note, it is September and we have some specials we would like to share!

Don’t miss out…take advantage of these amazing specials!!

Until next time!

Natural Image OC