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Shizuka’s Tips

Read more:  http://magazine.foxnews.com/style-beauty/spring-cleaning-your-skin#ixzz2O5R3trfr

Are Bangs the New Facelift?

(L-R) Diane Keaton, Michelle Obama, and Helen Mirren. (Getty (2); AP (1))

The First Lady Michelle Obama showed up for inaugural weekend sporting a new flirty hair style with bangs. The Daily Beast reported that Ms. Obama jokingly responded the bangs were a result of a ‘midlife crises’. Scrutinizing beauty experts were left wondering what other beauty-related lengths women will go to during a midlife crises.

But as far as these experts are concerned, bangs just scream beauty:

• John Barrett, founder of the Bergdorf Goodman salon says, “If done correctly, [sporting bangs or deciding to add color] can shave years off of a woman’s appearance.”

• Marshall Lin, a stylist at the Frédéric Fekkai Salon in SoHo, agrees, “Bangs can add a youthful, modern edge to a style.”

• President Obama proclaimed them “the most significant event of [the inaugural] weekend.”

What are your thoughts? Do bangs enhance or hide a women’s beauty?

Are Fillers Right for You?

Facial fillers are a great alternative to surgical facelift procedures, and are a fraction of the cost. Fillers enhance certain areas of the face by smoothing out wrinkles. At our Medical Spa, our doctors administer a hyaluronic acid based filler called Juvederm, with results lasting up to a year, or sometimes longer. Clients can come in at anytime for touch-ups.

Juvederm works to fill in wrinkles, leaving the area smooth and wrinkle-free. It can also be used to plump and push up certain areas of the skin such as lifting the cheeks and filling out lips.

Why Use a Facial Toner?

A few clients have been asking: “Why is toner important for my skin?”

First off, what’s most important is your own skin’s reaction to the toner.

Absolutely do not use any toner that irritates your skin. Any irritation disrupts your skin’s natural healing process and reduces healthy collagen production.

The purpose of toner is to rebalance and restore skin’s pH balance after cleansing. Your skin needs a range of ingredients like antioxidants, glycerin, fatty acids and ceramides to restore and repair its surface (skin can never get too much of these important ingredients!) The right toner can do wonders for your skin, giving it what it needs for a healthy, radiant glow.

Skipping toner can cheat your skin of the beneficial ingredients it needs to become healthier and smoother. Using toner within a particular skin care line is always a good idea because the products are formulated to work together (cleanser, toner, and moisturizer).

>>In the news: Tune in to the Hallmark Channel to watch the debut of Marie Osmond‘s new talk show October 16th, 2012 at noon. Shizuka new york Day Spa will be featured in the “Extreme Beauty” segment!

Green Tea Eye De-Puffer

You may remember our blog post earlier this year about the many health benefits of green tea, but did you know green tea can also help soothe puffy eyes– fast?

After steeping two bags of green tea, let them cool (or stick them in the refrigerator), then place over eyes for 5 minutes. The Vitamin C, antioxidants and tannin from the green tea will help reduce swelling and tighten skin around the eyes.

Hydration for Supple Skin

From Elle Magazine: Just add water for a supple complexion

Maintaining an optimal moisture balance is essential to youthful-looking skin. Avoid harsh detergents and exceedingly hot showers, and always use a moisturizer. Formulas rich in glycerin and hyaluronic acid will plump, while formulas with ceramides or lipids help lock in hydration.

Check out our Hyaluronic Acid Mask ($43) and Hyaluronic Acid Gel ($67) for its deeply hydrating and anti-aging properties.

Top Summer Skin Mistake

One of the top summer skin mistakes is incorrectly applying sunscreen. Most sunscreen wearers apply it only once a day but in reality most sunscreens should be reapplied every two hours, or every hour if swimming or sweating. For each application, apply the sunscreen and/or sunblock at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and use enough to generously coat any area of the skin not covered by clothing.

Apply sunscreen to children and babies as well, however, babies under 6 months should not be exposed to the sun at all.

Sun protection is serious business–it’s common that most sun-related skin damage occurs by the time we reach 18 years of age.

Shizuka and the Geisha Facial® Featured on Brazil’s “Domingo Espetacular”

A Brazilian cable network featured Shizuka Bernstein on their internationally syndicated show, Domingo Espetacular. The piece, ”Conheça o tratamento com cocô de pássaros feito por Tom Cruise para eliminar rugas”, translated from Portuguese reads: “Learn about the bird poop treatment used by Tom Cruise to eliminate wrinkles”.

Shizuka talks about the Geisha Facial® and gives the host, a Tom Cruise look-alike, a mini facial!

Retinol for Timeless Skin

A recent article in Vogue Daily, “The Return to Retinol” by Cristina Mueller, highlights the time-honored and celebrated anti-aging qualities of retinol. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is a compound discovered 81 years ago. Because of its ability to “penetrate all the layers of the skin, prompting extra-speedy cell turnover and exfoliation in the process”, retinol has been used to treat skin conditions from acne to reduction in fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

“Retinoids trigger change in the skin to make it look clearer and more youthful; they actually help skin get back to a healthier place. And there’s strong, strong clinical data behind that,” says Jennifer Linder, M.D., dermatologist and chief scientific officer for a clinical skin care line.

We agree that retinol can do wonders for the skin! Our Shizuka NY Anti-Aging Night Repair 1 product contains retinol which actively evens skin tone and texture, while it also gently reduces fine lines and wrinkles (all while you sleep)! We suggest using this product in conjunction with Anti-Aging Night Repair 2 and Weekly Brightening Pads for maximum results.

Check our our discounted Anti-Aging “Bento Sets” for Day and Night >>

The Art of The Bath

We reviewed in a previous blog post about effective ways to take baths. As a follow up, we’re introducing some customized bath treatments to fit your skin’s needs. Check out these creative and soothing soaks:

Milk Bath— Cleopatra was famous for her beautiful skin. Her beauty secret was that she soaked in baths of fresh milk. The lactic acid in milk is an alpha hydroxy acid, a natural material that dissolves the glue that holds dead skin cells together. Milk cleanses the skin down to its deepest layers. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Gently rub your skin with a washcloth to slough off the dead skin. Rinse your body thoroughly after soaking.

Sake bath— Sake cures dry skin issues by deeply moisturizing and reducing fatigue. Japanese Sake contains koji acids that can brighten the skin complexion and prevent skin from aging. Fill your bathtub with hot water; add two or three cups of sake, then stir.

Rice Bran bath— Rice bran, which is rich in oil, makes an effective exfoliant and contains phytic acid, a B-complex vitamin that can help improve blood circulation and stimulate cell turnover when used topically. Renowned for its skin smoothing and lightening properties, rice bran powder can be purchased at any natural foods stores. Put 1 cup of rice bran into a cotton bag and place it into hot water. Gently rub on the face for lightening blemishes, freckles and brown patches, and for elbows, knees, feet, and hard skin areas – for extra-smooth skin. Rice bran is used in our Geisha facial at Shizuka NY!!

In addition to the above, you can put your favorite essential oil or herbs wrapped with gauze into the bathwater. Also, at Japanese grocery stores, you could buy a variety of bath agents like those shown below.

From the top: Placenta bath agent, Onsen ( hot springs) bath agent and Sake bath agent.

Left : Chamomile  powder with Japanese bath agents.

Here are a few of the many other unique bath methods performed around the world: In Ireland, seaweed baths treat rheumatism and arthritis. In Korea, “Dr. Fish” baths (where fish nibble off dead skin) are considered a folk remedy for skin conditions such as psoriasis. Also, salt baths (when correct amount of salt is used) can promote the healing of psoriasis and eczema, as well as help relieve muscle strain, rheumatism and arthritic pain.

How to get Celebrity (flawless) Skin

“I insist on exfoliation, even if you have dry skin,” says  Susan Evans, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist,  “You have to remove old layers first before products can really penetrate.”

Check out Shizuka Bernstein’s appearance on Good Morning America with Dr. Evans >>

Shop online for Naturopathica’s Lemongrass Mimosa Body Scrub >>

Review: Shizuka NY’s Collagen Boost Facial

A recent post in truthinaging.com reviews Shizuka New York Day Spa’s Collagen Boost Facial. The reviewer highlights our GentleWaves® LED Facial Rejuvenation technology that’s used in this facial. Nisha Buckingham of truthinaging.com explains:

Fat Burning Power of Green Tea

The secret of green tea’s health benefits lies in the fact that it’s rich in catechin polyphenols, a powerful anti-oxidant that’s known to (and these are just a few):

1) Inhibit cancer cell growth

2) lower total cholesterol level

3) Slow down the aging process

4) have bacteria-destroying properties that can help prevent food poisoning, dental plaque and promotes odor elimination.

5) be rich in Vitamin C

Green tea also contains caffeine, which gives you a boost and helps burn fat. However, excessive caffeine consumption can cause insomnia or headaches. At Shizuka NY, we serve either green tea or houji tea (roasted green tea) per our clients’ request. Houji tea contains significantly less caffeine, so we recommend choosing this tea for a reduced caffeine option.

Also, we’ve been asked what gives our green tea its rich green color? Well, our tea is a special mixture of finely chopped green tea leaves and matcha. Matcha is powdered tea often used for tea ceremony in Japan (it looks like finely ground coffee beans). Matcha immediately gives the tea an extraordinary bright green color.

On your next visit, please enjoy our tasty teas with rice crackers at Shizuka!

FDA Issues New Rules for Sunscreen Safety

The summer solstice today marks the beginning of the season of beaches, parks, and sun. Just in time, the Federal Drug Administration has recently issued new rules that are intended to improve the way sun protection products are marketed and used.

Here are a few important points to keep in mind when purchasing and using sunscreen this summer:

• SPF only refers to protection from the sun’s UVB rays. In order to prevent sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer, you need broad spectrum UVB and UVA protection.
• SPF is based on testing that uses large amounts of product on the skin. In order to be effectively protected, apply more sunscreen than you may want to, and more often than you normally would.
• There is no such thing as a waterproof sunscreen. All sunscreens lose effectiveness when you sweat or swim. In these cases, reapply frequently.
• There is very little difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50. There is no need to purchase a sunscreen with SPF higher than 50. Rather, look for broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and reapply frequently.
• In addition to using sunscreen with SPF 30-50 daily, you should protect your body with clothing and light-blocking hats and umbrellas.

When you venture outdoors this summer, take care of your skin to prevent sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.

Recommended Sun Protection Product:

Super Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50+
By DCL Skin Care

DCL Skin Care’s Super Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50+ combines high UVB absorption and powerful UVA blockage for broad spectrum protection in an elegant silky sheer, matte finish that leaves the skin residue free.

The superb photo protective performance of ultra microfine zinc oxide contributes to the high SPF protection while supplemental antioxidants safeguard the skin from environmental free-radical damage.

Size: 1.7 Fl oz / 50 mL
Price: $24.00

Purchase Super Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50+ >>

More about this topic at NYTimes.com >>

More from the FDA >>

Bird Poop Beauty Video

Check out this great Geisha Facial® video courtesy of Chinese TV Better Body and Soul. What we love the most about this is that the reporter’s skin continued to improve throughout the week after her bird poop facial at Shizuka New York Day Spa!

This video is primarily in Chinese with English subtitles.
[Better Body & Soul]

Another Great Bird Poop Facial Video

Check out this new video of our bird poop facial that just hit the internet today! We had a lot of fun shooting this footage and the results were fantastic. Have you tried the bird poop facial yet? Should we have a Geisha Facial® sale next month?

Save Over 20% on Photofacials in March

Combat the signs of aging with our incredibly popular Signature Anti-Aging Photofacial and save over 20% in March. Normally $275, this photofacial treatment is available for $240 (over 20% discount) March 1-31, 2011.

Our Signature Anti-Aging Photofacial has been voted Best Facial in New York Magazine. It uses intense pulsed light to reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots & sun damage) and broken capillaries, and to stimulate facial rejuvenation and collagen production in the skin.

Use our convenient online appointment request form to take advantage of this great spa deal today (Online Promo Code: “Spring Forward”)

SNL – Bird Poop Facials & Turtle Poop?

A recent episode of Saturday Night Live included a sketch titled “Spa Talk with Tyla Yonders.” In the skit, Yonders (played by Kristen Wiig) attempts to bring serenity to her guests with bird poop facials, and even turtle poop facials!

One (More) Reason Not to Tan

We’ve been telling you about the dangers of tanning for awhile now. In case you need a quick refresher, here it is in a nutshell:

1. Tanning is a MAJOR cancer risk, according to the World Health Organization, along with arsenic and mustard gas, due to the UV rays in sunlight and in tanning beds.
2. Tanning is your skin’s natural reaction to DEFEND itself from the sun’s UV radiation, not encourage you to stay out longer.
3. Tanning seriously ages your skin, weakening connective tissues in your skin, causing fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation (sun spots).

Here’s more bad news for the tanners out there. If you’ve been in search of that ever-elusive full body tan, you will be searching a long time, according to a new study.

Published in Experimental Dermatology, the study found that some parts of your body (ex. buttocks) are just less prone to holding a tan. There’s tan through swimwear out there in addition to nude sunbathing, tanning beds, and that guy above. However, our bodies seem to be telling us that there are some places that are just not meant to be tan. Staying out for hours in the sun may not get you closer to the full body tan and it only increases your risk of skin cancer.

So stick to spray tanning or, better yet, no tanning. Keep in mind that skin cancer is on the rise, especially among younger women, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS protect your skin with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily.

[LiveScience via FoxNews]
Photo Source: DailyStrength

27 Epic Plastic Surgery FAILS

TheBerry.com posted a collection of 27 epic plastic surgery fails titled I think their plastic surgeon used a butter knife. From mammoth lips to breasts that could keep you afloat on the open seas, it’s clear that some of us will go to extreme lengths for “beauty,” and that the concept of beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Is there a moral to this story? Less is more. People generally prefer natural over circus-freak beauty. Rather than resorting to extreme plastic surgery, try simpler treatments such as Botox and Juvederm administered by a tasteful and skilled doctor (such as Dr. Silich). Plus, if you find Botox and/or Juvederm aren’t for you, the results are not permanent. This may not be the case for many of those poor souls you’ll see after the jump.

See more plastic surgery fails.

[TheBerry via TheFrisky]