We are bombarded on all fronts with new anti-wrinkle treatments and new sophisticated skin regimen that are supposed to take years off the face—microdermabrasion, botox injections, face lifts and laser resurfacing. More than ever, we are harnessing the powers of technology to create a Brave New World of ageless boomers. And while I have no objections to wanting to look young (who doesn’t), I do think that being young is more a state of mind than a state of “looks.” Looks can be artificially manipulated; a state of mind can only be cultivated.

Last but not least, know in your heart that you will have no regrets because being young is knowing that you can start all over again.

The cosmetic and personal care product industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry … and growing. New products are coming onto the market every day.

Now, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to know if the ingredients on the label are safe or not. Most of the ingredients are not listed in plain, understandable, everyday language. Well, you don’t need to hire your own personal cosmetic chemist. There is a simple solution. Dying To Look Good is an easy-to-use book, written in plain, understandable language, that classifies ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products according to safety and lists products that are safe and healthy to use. If you check the ingredients on all product labels before you buy with the list of ingredients in Dying To Look Good, you will be able to confidently choose products that are safe and healthy.

Acne is a skin condition that simply refuses to go away. It’s a nagging skin ailment that we commonly call pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, red or yellow spots, cystic nodules or scars. The acne prone age is between 12 and 25 years. But beware; it’s not just a teen trouble. Even in your 30s and 40s you may get acne attacks. Acne can cause lifelong scars, if left untreated. Hence, it is vital to be proactive about acne treatment, beginning right from home remedies. Acne treatment essentially involves the use of both preventive and curative products.

TCA Peels are an easy, safe and affordable acne treatment. “They are also more effective than other clinic or spa-based treatments,” says salon specialist Mary Roberts. Peels were earlier available only through costly treatments by skin specialists, at US$ 500- 1000 per session. These same peels are now easily available at less than US$30 from on the internet (for more information see the link below). No prescription is required either.

It’s Friday night and you have a big date. You should be eagerly looking forward to the night’s festivities but instead you want to crawl under the covers and hide. Why? You’ve got acne. Don’t panic! You certainly can’t cure your acne before your date arrives but you can use make-up to safely disguise your pimples if you know how.

Congratulations! You have a natural, acne-free look without waiting for your face to clear up. Forget about the acne and have a wonderful time. One last thing to remember, before you go to sleep gently cleanse your face of all make-up and reapply your acne medication if instructions permit.

When it comes to beauty routines, it’s easy to go overboard: If some scrubbing action makes for more radiant skin, then wouldn’t just a little more bring even greater luminosity? And if a little tweezing on that one eyebrow is perfect, then attacking the second brow should be no problem, right? Wrong. In these days of do-it-yourself beauty, too much gusto can quickly ruin your looks, leaving you with problems that include raw skin, sparse brows and ratty hair. We asked beauty experts to weigh in on ways to recover fast when you’ve gone too far.HE FIX “The skin’s outer layer serves as a protective barrier,” says Seattle-based dermatologist Brandith Irwin, M.D., co-author of Your Best Face: Looking Your Best Without Plastic Surgery (Hay House, 2002). “If you strip off too much, you’ll get red, scaly and irritated.” This can happen from overzealous exfoliation using physical scrubs, home microdermabrasion treatments or peels, as well as from layering high-potency “renewal products” (with ingredients like retinols, alpha-hydroxy acids and vitamin C) one on top of another.
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Once the damage has been done, you must give up the offending products cold turkey. Stash them in the back of the medicine chest–along with your toner, particularly if it contains drying alcohol–and give your skin a one-week rest. For seven days, cleanse and moisturize only with the gentlest of products (Irwin recommends Cetaphil, $7; at drugstores), and apply sunblock each morning to protect raw, exposed skin. (Skin is much more prone to sunburn after any type of exfoliation–even during the fall and winter months–particularly when you’ve gone gung-ho.) Then regularly use products for sensitive skin for at least two weeks. In addition to Cetaphil, try Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Solutions Cream Cleanser for Dry and Sensitive Skin ($9; at drugstores), Estee Lauder Verite Moisture Relief Creme ($50; esteelauder.com), a skin-soothing moisturizer that’s fragrance- and alcohol-free, or Clinique Exceptionally Soothing Cream for Upset Skin ($32.50; clinique.com), which helps calm red, itchy skin. A good sunscreen for irritated skin is DDF Organic Sunblock SPF 30 ($24; ddfskincare.com), which contains physical sunscreens like titanium dioxide, rather than chemical sunscreens.

After a few weeks, you can resume the following regimen suggested by Irwin: In the morning, cleanse, moisturize and protect. Save the renewal products (antioxidant creams, antiaging lotions, etc.) for evening, and remember never to layer without medical advice because it may make the exfoliating effect too potent. Choose only two products to start with based on your primary concerns (a good dermatologist or aesthetician can help you decide), and try rotating them every other night. Exfoliate once a week; try Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub ($6; at drugstores). “If you’re still getting irritated, you’re using the wrong products,” Irwin explains.

THE CRISIS You’ve taken your acrylic tips off–and now your real nails are a mess.

THE FIX “Nails growing under acrylics are usually brittle, weak and splitting,” says Julie Serquinia, owner of Paint Shop Beverly Hills nail salon, which offers a six-week “holistic nail rehab” program for this purpose. (See paintshop beverlyhills.com.) To follow the regimen at home, start by soaking your nails in water with a drop each of tea tree oil (an antibacterial agent), tangerine oil (believed to stimulate nail growth) and lavender oil (for its soothing properties) for five to 10 minutes. Then apply a cuticle cream like Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Nail & Cuticle Therapy ($10; crabtree-evelyn.com), and gently push back your cuticles (never cut them) with a soft-tipped manicure stick. “A healthy cuticle will bring back a healthy nail,” Serquinia says. A superhydrating hand and nail cream–used at night under moisturizing gloves–will give digits a much-needed moisture boost. Best hand- and nail-care bets: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, $27; gloss.com, Dior Creme Abricot Fortifying Cream for Nails, $21; sephora.com, and Bath & Body Works Beauty Queen Wave Moisturizing Gel Gloves, $38; bathandbodyworks.com.

Go polish-free for the entire six weeks, buffing nails instead. Apply two coats of a nail strengthener, such as O.P.I Nail Envy Soft & Thin ($15; opi.com) or Creative Nail Design Toughen Up ($6; creativenaildesign.com). Or try the new Neutrogena Instant Nail Enhancer ($7; at drugstores), which strengthens with vitamin E and provitamin [B.sub.5]; follow with weekly manicures to keep nails in tiptop shape.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brooks Pharmacy has a new vision for the drug store industry in the United States. After a five-year crusade to bring a European skin care concept to the states, Brooks president and chief executive officer Michel Coutu late last month unveiled the regional drug chain’s exclusive Derma Skincare Center stocked with venerable French brands, such as Avene and Vichy.

The chain’s first center, which covers more than 250 square feet, is up and running in the Pitman Street store here, and a second rolled out Oct. 28 in the Boston Neck Road store in Narragansett, R.I. Brooks expects to have three Derma Skincare Centers in the Providence metro area by mid-November and expects to roll the concept out to other markets should the test prove successful.

“This is a concept based on knowledge,” said Coutu during a tour of the new department. “It has to be in a professional environment.” That said, the boutique-like, almost department-store look of the center gives the store a point of difference from the convenience store around the corner and the mass retailer up the road.

“This is a test to see if we can break out of the regular drug store world,” said David Morocco, Brooks’ senior vice president of marketing. “It’s all part of trying to to reinvent the drug store.”
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“This is about skin health, not about beauty,” Coutu said. Of course, the two generally go hand in hand, which is why the Derma Skincare Center is located just beyond the beauty aisle. The skin care center, complete with trained skin care consultants and outfitted with a state-of-the-art skin analyzer kiosk, is adjacent to the pharmacy. Skin care advisors, trained by professionals from France, can create personalized skin profiles on the spot using state-of-the-art equipment.

The center mirrors merchandising initiatives in Europe and Canada and was developed by French skin care brands in conjunction with dermatologists. Brands featured in the section, namely Vichy, a division of L’Oreal, Avene and Dermablend, all have a strong skin health heritage. Skin care products range in price from $10 to $25.

While the concept may be exclusive to drug stores, it is not exclusive to Brooks Pharmacy. Vichy Laboratories is taking a leadership role in bringing the professional skin centers to drug stores across the United States and has partnered with Avene to build the category. The team also has attracted the interest of CVS, which is currently testing the concept in select stores, according to CVS spokesman Todd Andrews. Stephane Wilmet, general manager of active cosmetics at L’Oreal USA, said drug retailers need initiatives, such as the Derma Skincare Center, to survive. “Is their core mission to sell gum or 99-cent potato chips? No. It’s pharmacy,” said Wilmet.

While the skin care center is a marked departure from what consumers have grown to expect from a drug store, Brooks believes the concept will benefit both consumers and the growth of Brooks Pharmacy. The customer benefits from an enhanced shop in experience, while Brooks Pharmacy continues to prove itself as an innovative leader in the health care industry,” said Coutu.

Even during the coldest weather, Vaseline[R] helps you achieve healthy skin every day. From products such as our petroleum jelly, which has soothed the rough hands of oil riggers, to our vast selection of light, non-greasy moisturizing lotions-Vaseline has been nourishing dry skin for 135 years.

Here’s how the cold weather can dry your skin:

* Cold air is generally less humid and has a drying effect on the skin.

* Indoor heating compounds this drying effect.

* Longer, hotter showers warm you up temporarily, but wash moisture out of the skin.

* Heavy, scratchy clothing can also promote dryness and irritation.

At first glance it wouldn’t seem as if Shelly Black, Don Frasca and Ted Wirsching have much in common. Black is a 52-year-old Denver interior designer, Frasca is a retired Illinois property manager and Wirsching, a Seattle native, is still in high school. But come winter, these three share one trouble–winter wreaks havoc on their skin in the form of itchy hives, dryness and cracked fingers.

They’re not alone. For people everywhere–yes, in milder elimates too–winter means troubled skin. The temperature drops, the wind kicks up and the air grows much drier.

And we respond by blasting the furnace so our homes are toasty warm. By bathing or showering in hot water. By drinking nice steaming cups of tea and coffee. By curling up inside with a riveting read. What’s wrong with this picture? Well, that nice toasty furnace is blasting the moisture right out of your house. And that good hot bath? It’s hard on your skin. Ditto for those steaming hot, caffeinated drinks. As for that book, it’s harmless in itself, unless it’s replacing exercise or keeping you indoors.

Even those with the healthiest of habits may battle winter skin sensitivities. And because the cells of the elderly replicate less quickly, they are more vulnerable. For women beyond menopause, less estrogen means less sebum–the natural oil that lubricates our skin–making them prone to problems. Men with oily skin may get seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that causes irritated, flaking skin in hair growth areas such as the hairline and eyebrows. Teens can experience aggravated bouts of acne, and men and women both may develop keratosis pilaris, annoying little bumps that form on the arms.

My Checklist

Out with the old, in with the new! Now’s the time to:

[check] 1. Work hairstylist Ted Gibson’s captivating curls (seen at Ellen Tracy’s spring 2006 fashion show). All you need is a small-barrel curling iron and Aveda’s Air Control Hair Spray ($23, aveda.com). Just wrap the hair around the iron, release, then spray for hold. These fabulous ringlets last for days.

[check] 2. Radiate! You can beat the complexion-dulling side effects of winter with Nivea Visage Simply Glowing Moisturizer ($9, drugstores nationwide).

[check] 3. Play up your eyes in clean, neutral shadows like Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow., ($19) in Banana, Cocoa, Taupe or Rich Brown. And don’t forget the Bobbi Brow Eye Blender Brush ($24, bobbibrown.com), which perfects the look every time.Recently I did myself a favor. I pushed the pause button on my hectic schedule and headed straight to Willow Stream, the spa at Arizona’s Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the spa specializes in healing treatments that promote energy and well-being–just what a hardworking girl needs! And given the hotel’s gorgeous rooms that start at $149 a night (from June to September) and its soothing rooftop pool facing the majestic McDowell Mountains, I’m all ready to book my next trip. Until then, I’m enjoying the spa’s Avocado Energy Wrap ($23.95, willowstream.com), which moisturizes and invigorates my skin.

Beautiful skin means healthy skin, and it can be yours by simply adopting an easy skin-care ritual. The basic steps to a flawless face consist of two key elements: cleansing and moisturizing on a regular basis.

CLEANSING

Cleansing removes impurities from the skin’s surface and encourages a more radiant appearance.

When selecting the proper facial cleanser, it is important to be aware of the condition that your skin is currently in so that you use products suitable to your particular skin type. The basic three skin types are dry, normal/combination and oily.

Keep in mind that your skin type could change and may be affected by the season or the climate where you live. If this happens, alter the products that you are using to suit your needs.

Those with dry skin usually have tiny pores and an ashy or dull appearance with some flaking on the skin’s surface. It’s best to pick a mild soap or cleanser with an off base and a low-to-no alcohol toner to prevent excess dryness.

Normal/combination skin can be frustrating because you’re dealing with dryness on the cheeks and oil in the T-zone area, which includes the forehead, nose and chin. Reduce the oil in the T-zone area by washing with products that contain glycerin, which draws moisture to the skin. Follow up with an astringent to keep the oil in the affected areas under control.

People with oily skin are often more prone to acne breakouts, usually have larger, more visible pores, and the skin may look shiny even after cleansing. Wash the face gently with oil-free, water-based products and remove any dirt left behind with an astringent formulated for oily skin.

Whatever your skin type, get into the habit of washing your face at least twice a day. Ladies, don’t get lazy. Before bed be sure to remove any traces of makeup that may clog pores, which can lead to unwanted breakouts.

MOISTURIZING

After the skin has been thoroughly cleansed, the next step is to apply moisturizer. A big misconception is that this process is only needed for dry skin types. The truth is that all skin types require moisture that should be applied accordingly. The purpose of moisturizing is to restore the oil-water balance lost during the removal of bacteria back to the skin’s surface.

Experts recommend that you apply moisturizing lotions or creams to the skin within 3 minutes of rinsing the face. To fight against the damaging effects of the sun, use a moisturizer with an added SPF.