Ageless Remedies Lake Norman

Summer's Over... Now What?

2010-08-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

It’s out with the old and in with the new! It’s also a good time to organize skin-care cosmetics and makeup. I am never sure whether it’s the cornbread or the ham that we eat for good health, so I eat them both. I do know, however, that getting rid of dated skin care products and cosmetics is good for your health and can be a healthy tradition.

Twice a year, day-light savings time hits and we get reminded to adjust our clocks and replace the batteries in our smoke detectors. Perhaps it would be a good idea if the end of summer became a day that we remember to organize and purge the stockpile of products in our bathroom drawers. It’s really a simple task and can move quickly with just a few guidelines. For many of us, the bathroom drawer can be a trip down memory lane. There’s the hot pink lipstick that came “free” with the suntan lotion. It was never the right color—too pink! And, the aqua mascara seemed like a good idea when it was purchased last summer, but somehow it never looked quite as good as it did in the store. And there never seemed to be the right outfit to wear with it. Even though it is almost new, it needs to be tossed. There’s also that weird-smelling lotion that we got at the office party and shoved in the back of the drawer with no intention of ever using it. Getting started can be difficult, but once you take that first step and toss the hot pink lipstick and the weird-smelling lotion, it gets easier.

Get in the groove and clear out all the items that you never liked or never used. They won’t be missed. It may be too late to use them anyway. The shelf life of cosmetics and skin-care lotions and potions is much longer before the item is opened. Once the bottle or product gets opened, the shelf life reduces to roughly six months to a year. You can extend the life of your products by keeping them out of temperature extremes and by using your cosmetic brushes, cosmetic spatulas, or sponges instead of your hands and fingers to apply. If you prefer to use your hands to apply your cosmetics or product, make sure they are clean so that you don’t contaminate the product remaining in the container.

Here’s a simple rule. If it smells bad, get rid of it. The moisturizers, lotions and serums can go bad and start to smell sour over time. A good rule of thumb is to toss all of these after they have been opened for six months. Moisturizers and serums are usually sold in amounts that last for three to six months under normal use.

After throwing out what you don’t want, consider the following information on the useful lifespan of the products you do want to keep. Mascara needs to be thrown out after it has been opened and used for three months—or if you have had any type of eye infection while using it. The closed tube can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria. Eye pencils, like the mascara, can also become contaminated easily. However, if they are sharpened routinely before use, they are usually okay to keep for 12 to 18 months. The same holds true for lip pencils. Since lipsticks and concealers do not contain fluids, they are generally good for a year after being opened, particularly when using brushes to apply them. Eye shadow, loose powders, and pressed powders have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months after being opened. Liquid foundations can last up to a year—if you use a makeup brush to apply them. This is important—your makeup brushes need

to be cleaned regularly and allowed to air dry at least once a month. Baby shampoo is a gentle and effective cleaning agent for the makeup brushes.

Once purged and organized, your makeup and skin care products are ready to go! Keep the lifespan of these items in mind, and it will help you avoid infections and stay healthy throughout the year. With cosmetics, we need to realize that the “youth in the bottle” won’t last long enough to grow old with us, but left in the bathroom drawer long enough, it could grow mold for us!

For more cosmetics tips, please visit Ageless Remedies for all your anti aging treatments!

Airbrush Tanning in the Summer?!

2010-07-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

The loud “crack” of a baseball bat when it hits a ball, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the warm temperatures and bright sunny days—all signs that summer is here. This is the time that many people begin to work on that special summer glow—their tan. Conventional tanning—outdoor tanning or UV tanning booths—subjects you to the harmful effects of the sun and ultraviolet rays. But now you can achieve a great tan without damage to your skin. Spray tanning centers are offering a safe alternative. You can be bronzed in minutes with a spray tan! Spray tans and other sunless products create a tan by staining the skin. The process is safe, quick, easy and often looks as good (or better) than that hard-earned “natural tan.” More important, it provides that yearned-for tan without the harmful skin damage that the sun creates.

You may recall the episode of “Friends” that featured the spray tan. Ross felt he needed a great tan. With little time, he decided to check out a local spray tanning salon. New to this type of activity, Ross had a little problem figuring out the timing (for turning his body) with the automatic spray tanning machine. When he arrived home, the back half of his body was completely white and the front side a weird orange color.

It was hysterical—but hardly an advertisement for those new spray tanning booths. Indeed, the early sunless tanning products often produced an unnaturallooking orange tone on the skin and were unappealing. Things have surely changed. Today’s sunless tanning solutions are able to produce a very natural-looking tan and can be applied as light or as dark as desired.

For more anti-aging skin treatments, please visit our site!

Client Testimonials

2010-06-23T13:42:00.001-07:00

"I first went to Ageless about 1yr ago, I brought all of my skincare stuff to Lucy, my facialist, to evaluate and had a great consultation. I was tired of buying drugstore stuff products that flopped. She is very knowledgeable about skincare ingredients and what works well on which types of skin. I have had micro d facials from Lucy about 5-6 times, whenever I had the extra cash. It is so worth it. I have had facials at Carmen Carmen, Ballantyne resort, etc. and Lucy is very thorough and pampering, the absolute best. I had my 1st chem. peel recently and LOVED it. In the past year my skin has improved dramatically. With Lucy and Ageless remedies, I feel as if they really care about finding what works that THEY can do and what I can do to improve my skin, she is not just "pushing products" like is done other places. If your skin is not behaving or you are beginning to worry about aging, or just want to be pampered, you have to see these guys!!!!"

"A great place to treat yourself to awesome pampering. I've been a client for about 1 1/2 years and they never cease to amaze me. They carry many lines of wonderful products. The Glo Mineral cosmetic line is just the best. I really appreciate the "no pressure" when browsing - I've never felt I had to purchase a product or service. I like the way they customize the best treatments and products for you - not a "One product line fits all" approach. Everyone there is extremely knowledgeable and personable. Just love the microderm facials - Jill is awesome. Love the massages too!! This place is the one-stop pampering spa!"

"If you want to get a great facial, great skincare, and really relax, this is the place. I started coming when my friend told me about them. I always get facials or peels and have seen an amazing change with my skin since I started coming here. I've also gotten Botox from their PA, and that worked great. The acne that was bothering me has pretty much disappeared. I think its the products that they recommend and the pore facials and peels that have really helped. The spa is very clean and pretty, and the staff here is great. They are very friendly and they really care about you. I enjoy coming because I know that it's my time to relax, without the kids whining or anything else. But the important thing to me is the results. I've used two estheticians and found them both to be really good. Believe me, they know their stuff and their stuff really works! The longest I've had to wait for service is five minutes and I've been here now about 8 times. I highly recommend this spa."

For more reviews, check us out on Google Places by clicking here.

For more information on Ageless Remedies and their anti aging skin treatments, please visit our site!

Winning the Battle Against Acne

2010-05-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

Can anything effectively fight acne... and win?

Try to recall the first time you discovered that angry little bump resting prominently on your face. Did the bump appear by itself? Or did “cousin” bumps suddenly start popping up everywhere? It starts usually during our teenage years and for many of us, plagues us on some level throughout life. It can destroy beautiful smooth skin, displaying itself in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, or worse – large angry red cysts that leave telltale residual scarring in their wake.

Acne is a dreaded diagnosis for parents who agonize watching their children suffer through this twisted right of passage; for the teenagers who not only have to battle those constant hormonal changes to their body, but now have this added to their roster; and for adults who can never completely get rid of it. Can anything effectively fight acne…and win?

But what is acne exactly, and why does it create such agony? To understand this, we need to look at how acne forms on the skin. We all have sebaceous glands in our skin. These sebaceous glands produce sebum and oil, which keep our skin soft and smooth. In normal skin, the sebum rises through the hair follicle and exits easily. When dead skin cells or other matter disrupt this normal balance and clog these glands, the sebum isn’t able to exit. This is the beginning of acne.

Acne develops in three stages – and intervention is important because these stages can progress rapidly. The first stage produces blackheads and whiteheads. Contrary to what many of us may think, the black substance in the pimple is not dirt…it is sebum that has oxidized and turned black. Whiteheads are actually blackheads that contain a mixture of the sebum and dead skin cells, forming a white residue (pus) that appears when they are broken…or squeezed.

The second stage can produce a more emergent level of acne – pustules and papules. Trapped in the gland, the sebum and dead skin cells can become infected with bacteria, which can multiply quickly in the absence of air. This forms larger infected cellular masses, known clinically as pustules. If bacteria do
not form, the cellular mass can continue to build, forming conical papules. Papules do not contain infected matter, distinguishing them from pustules. However, papules often occur in clusters. Click Here to read the full article

If you are looking for laser acne removal services, or acne treatment in Charlotte, please contact us today!

How Smoking impacts appearance

2010-04-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

"If you smoke, you already know you need to quit. It’s bad for your heart, lungs, brain, and even your sex life.

But let’s face it: You’d have kicked the habit yesterday if smoking’s ill effects were a bit more obvious. What if each cigarette created a black pockmark on your face, for instance?

Well, smoking does damage your looks. Read on to discover 15 ways smoking is ruining your appearance.

Don’t you hate it when you can’t get a good night’s sleep—and it shows on your face?

If you smoke, you’re four times as likely as nonsmokers to report feeling unrested after a night’s sleep, according to Johns Hopkins study.

Why the lack of shut-eye? It’s possible that nightly nicotine withdrawal could be causing you to toss and turn. And unfortunately, poor sleep doesn’t equal pretty.

To be fair, psoriasis is an autoimmune-related skin condition that can show up even if you never touch a cigarette.

However, if you do smoke, your risk for the scaly skin condition goes up—a lot.

According to a 2007 study, if you puff a pack a day for 10 years or less, psoriasis risk goes up 20%; 11–20 years and your risk is 60% higher; and for those who pass the two-decade mark, the psoriasis risk more than doubles. (Even secondhand smoke during pregnancy or childhood is linked to a higher risk.)." ~ Source: Health.com

To learn how Ageless Remedies Lake Norman, a Charlotte Cosmetics clinic, can help reduce the effects of smoking, please contact us today!

Changing the Face of Wrinkles

2010-03-25T18:25:00.001-07:00

Wrinkles are really the bane of our existence. We hate them. My mother warned me about them when I was little, making sure I washed my face every day and put on lotion. As a child, when I looked at pictures from “the olden days,” I thought people weren’t smiling because they didn’t want to wrinkle their face. You may have heard that drinking with a straw causes small wrinkles around the lips. Lots of things cause wrinkles. I for one, enjoy using a straw, but I believe I can do that and still avoid looking like a wrinkly prune. Be proactive with your skin care. When someone asks me what they should be using on their face, my response is quick and simple. They are known by many different brand names, but everyone should have these four items in their skincare arsenal -- a good cleanser for your face, an antioxidant suited to your skin type (oily, dry, normal), a comprehensive sunscreen suited to your skin type, and a good retinoid or retinol. This arsena, used proactively, makes a difference in the fight against wrinkles.

A good facial cleanser is important. Forget those bar soap commercials featuring the young girl washing her face, saying it keeps her skin young and youthful, ladies. Bar soaps are good for cleansing your body. They strip the dirt off the surface, but many are very harsh and can strip more than dirt. Your face needs hydration and bar soap can drain the moisture and leave a soap film on your skin. You don’t want soap film on your face. The perfumes and deodorant that comes with many soaps can be harsh and may cause breakouts or worse, especially if your skin is sensitive. They can be very drying. Dry, dehydrated skin shows wrinkles very easily. A quality facial cleanser that works with your skin type is essential. If you skin prone to break-outs, you want a cleanser that helps dry up the sebum and other excess surface oils, but leaves the face looking hydrated. Dry and normal skin types need a cleanser that breaks down the daily grime and residue, removes makeup, and leaves skin clean, without taxing natural moisture reserves. Skin prone towards skin conditions, such as rosacia need very gentle cleansers, with additives that help calm the skin. Cleanser is important. Use it daily, especially in the morning.

Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, create essential barriers to skin damage. They are called antioxidants because they fight the oxidation process that damages and weathers your skin on a daily basis. Oxidants exist everywhere -- the sun, cigarettes, and many common environmental forces give off free radicals that attack your healthy skin cells daily. Oxidation creates the vicious sun spots, brown blotches and pigmentation that seem to appear out of nowhere. We hate them. Daily use of an antioxidantcan help prevent these. The antioxidant attracts these free radicals and destroys them, leaving your skin in tact and minimizing future splotchy pigment. It also enhances the protection of your sunscreen in multiples. There are many choices on the market. Choose one that is right for you -- not too oily, too drying, or too strong for your skin. It sounds hard, but it is really not as complicated a process as it was for Goldilocks to pick the right porridge. Ask questions and work with an esthetician familiar with your skin and your skincare concerns to come up with the one right antioxidant.

Did I mention sunscreen? Always – that means daily – use a good sunscreen. Even if your only outside activity is driving a car to the office – use a sunscreen! Pick a sunscreen that also acts as a moisturizer, rather than a moisturizer that contains an SPF. Frequently, moisturizers with SPF don’t provide the protection you need. The SPF is often a small amount of filler that got bigger billing than the rest of the ingredients. There are sunscreens that work for all skin types. You can find one that is comfortable for your face.

Use a vitamin A cream daily – at night. They come in different strengths and carriers, and go by different names – tretinoin, Retin-A, tazarotene, to name a few. Topical vitamin A creams have been proven in studies to reduce wrinkles and actually regenerate collagen. They can be called the “skin genie in a bottle!” After the age of thirty, collagen begins to erode from our skin quickly. It is the ingredient in our skin that provides elasticity and that young, supple look. After thoroughly cleansing your skin at night, you should use a topical retinoid. Retinoids started being used in the late sixties as an answer to acne. By the 1980s, we knew they could prevent wrinkling of the skin. Today, we know that these topicals can improve wrinkles, rough skin, acne, and help reverse some of the aging process. Research is still being conducted, so who knows what we will know about the attributes of retinoids in ten more years?

As a nation, we probably spend more money looking for that fountain of youth and a cure for wrinkles, than is spent looking for a cure for the common cold. The good news is that there are products on the market today that help maintain a youthful appearance. These four items should be the cornerstone for your skincare – a cleanser, an antioxidant, a good sunscreen, and a retinoid are essential. Add other products as you need them, such as a bleaching agent to reverse pigment, acne treatments, and the like. Please smile for your pictures, use straws with your sodas, and enjoy life. You can still avoid wrinkles!

For more information on anti aging skin treatments, please contact Ageless Remedies Lake Norman

After the Tan Has Faded

2010-03-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

The signs of spring abound, which means summer is almost here. We all know what summer means to the Lake Norman crowd – fun in the sun! So, let’s put the question out there. Is there a safe way to tan? In a word, the short answer is no. You can enjoy the summer – and create safe conditions for your skin – by not tanning. When the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate your skin, your skin responds by producing melanin The suntan is your skin’s response to an injury.

However, using an effective application of sunscreen before you go out into the sun may enable that fun in the sun we all crave. Despite the fact that we all purchase lots of sunscreen, it is still, for many of us, an often underutilized product. Yes, we cover (really, paint) our children with it, but as adults, we aren’t as diligent. Maybe understanding some basics of sunscreen protection would make it more interesting – and more utilized. For example, did you know that sunscreens should be used every day if you are going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes?

Sunscreen is one of the most effective substances you can put between your skin and the sun. What is sunscreen and what makes it so effective? Broadly speaking, sunscreen is any substance or material that protects the skin from UV radiation. Sunscreen is usually an opaque cream or paste that provides a physical shield from the sun, such as a zinc cream. Sunscreens provide protection by reflecting the V rays before they penetrate your skin. This includes lotions, gels, spray, cream, salve or stick -- anything that can be applied to the skin. It also includes clothing, sunglasses and film screens that are affixed to windows and other materials to shield the suns rays.

Effectiveness is generally measured by SPF, an abbreviation for sun-protection factor. Normally, we use sunscreen substances listed with SPF numbers of 15, 30, and today, even as high as 60. This number indicates how long a topical sunscreen remains effective on the skin. To determine the effective duration of a specific product, multiply the SPF by the length of time it takes for you (the individual) to burn without sunscreen. For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, then a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will protect you for 300 minutes ( 10 time the SPF 30). Also, consider other factors such as sweating and swimming, which require more frequent applications to the exposed areas. Also, keep in mind that sunscreen is usually provided by a cream that is SPF rated. Sunscreen reacts with chemicals in your skin to offer protection by absorbing the UV rays. Since this chemical reaction takes time to occur, you should apply your sunscreen 30 minute prior to sun exposure. Generally, an SPF of 30 is recommended when exposed to direct sunlight or when participating in outdoor activities.

All sunscreens are not created equal! There are two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach earth's atmosphere from the sun -- Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A). You need protection from both. Many cosmetics and suntan lotions advertise protection levels of SPF contained in their makeup. Read the fine print! Too many times protection is only offered against only one type of ultraviolet radiation -- ultraviolet-B (UV-B). It’s important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UV-A and UV-B.

You may be able to use the sunscreen that you bought last summer. But keep in mind that if you are using the appropriate amount, a bottle of sunscreen should never last you very long. So, before you throw any leftovers out, check the expiration date. The FDA requires that all suncreens be at their original strength for at least three years. If you are using the right amount of sunscreen, you should use up a bottle very quickly. Approximately one ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed.

Here’s an easy application guide.
• Face and Neck (1/2 tsp.)
• Arms and Shoulders (1/2 tsp. to each side)
• Torso (1/2 tsp. to front and back)
• Legs and tops of feet ( 1 tsp. to each side)
• Thickness of the application is important. If the right amount is not applied the SPF could drop
Some quick tips --
• Reapply your sun protection product every 1 ½ to 2 hours regardless of SPF.
• Remember that the SPF of a sunscreen is reduced by wind, sweat, water activities, etc. Therefore, apply more often under these conditions.
• Sunscreen can cause eye and skin irritation and some may be too oily for certain skin types. It is not recommended for babies less than 6 months old. Check with your children’s pediatrician for individual recommendations. It is important to consult with an expert to find the right protection and ingredients for your skin type.
• Some medications can limit a sunscreen’s effectiveness. Always consult with a professional if you are going to be in the sun and are using medication.
Spring and summer at the lake are fabulous, memory-making times. There is always so much to do – boating, picnicking, and softball games. You name it! You do not have to avoid the sun – just use plenty of sunscreen. Chronic exposure to the sun produces a change in the skin’s texture and causes wrinkles and age spots. Thus, tanning to improve appearance is ultimately self-defeating. At Ageless Remedies we take sun protection seriously. It is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from aging and even more importantly from melanoma. After all, no one wants to look in the mirror and see the results of last year’s summer sun exposure – after the tan has faded. Wasn’t that what Lady Macbeth really saw when she cried out, “OUT dammed spot”.

Fore more information on anti aging skin treatments, please visit our site!

About Us

2010-03-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ageless Remedies bridges the gap between beauty and medicine to give you smooth, healthy skin from head to toe. Using only the most advanced products and clinical treatments we achieve stunning results. No where else will you find such a perfect blend of technology, service and satisfaction!

Our services include...
Microdermabrasion • Peels • Laser Hair Removal
Facial Treatments • Anti-Aging • Photo Rejuvenation
Acne Treatments • Vein Removal • Cellulite
Air Brush Tanning • Lash & Brow Services
Waxing • Permament Hair Removal
Permanent Makeup and Massage

When you want smooth, healthy skin from head to toe, Visit Ageless Remedies.