Vanity

I'm not a fanatic but I do try to limit my exposure to harmful chemicals, recycle, eat well, etc.  My question is - if you are following a "natural" lifestyle is it okay to intervene a little with mother nature?  We all know what we SHOULD look like, but things change over time - what about that crease forming in-between my brows or those deep crows feet around my eyes?  Would I be a hypocrite  it I were to get Botox (a muscle-paralyzing toxin that relaxes a muscle temporarily) or a cosmetic procedure done to reduce the visible signs of aging after preaching a holistic life style?


The choices we make about what we do to our outer-selves is a personal one that must be carefully thought out.  It's important to consider the risks and benefits of all that we do.  This is a deeply personal matter and one should not judge one's decision to intervene or not.  Most women want to look natural, age gracefully, and have no intention of being overly augmented or pulled to the extent that they look like they've been standing in front of a fan.  We usually see the the extremes in TV and in magazines - giving us a certain impression of those women.  Cosmetic aesthetics is expensive and needs to be maintained. Many women simply can't afford it so it's not an option.  What if you had the money to do what you wanted? Would that change things?

Will correcting an imperfection make you happier? Some women fear not being beautiful enough or that they are loosing their beauty and some women take aging in stride - don't mind going gray, having those dreaded age spots, and deep lines.  The thinking regarding intervention isn't all or nothing - and I believe you can land someone in the middle, and that's okay - IF that's what works for you.  Thankfully there are many noninvasive skin care options that can be done to help us look beautiful at any age, without getting the old knife or firing up a laser.

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Figuring out the perfect skin care program takes time.  I usually consult with a patient and follow up multiple times.. offering samples, reviewing options, and building trust.  Unfortunately there is no magic wand to turn back aging, however we CAN slow things down and make subtle corrections.

Part of my job is to stay up to date on products.  I will be evaluating the Epionce line over the next several weeks.  There are many wonderful skin care lines available and I will say that I cherry pick (choosing from a variety of lines) all the time.  For patients with compromised skin, sensitive skin, or cosmetically treated skin, these products may be helpful.  The focus is on lipid barrier repair. The lipid barrier protects our skin and tends to diminish over time (age) and is easily damaged during cosmetic procedures or if skin is very sensitive.  This line is also paraben free.  A side note on parabens -there is controversy about the controversy of parabens, however I think trying to limit preservative use is probably a good idea.  Some women avoid preservatives and then go get their hair colored (lots of chemicals in hair dye!) - in fact stepping outside, we are exposed to radiation and all kinds of things that, over time may be harmful.


Here we are at home looking at part of my vanity -  this is the cleaned up version.  I always joke that my vanity looks like a chemistry lab.  

The line is very simple with Lytic Gel for oily/acne prone skin and Gentle foaming Cleanser for normal to dry skin.  Love the creamy texture of the eye and face creams and the toners are refreshing.  I mention this line because {today} we are discussing cosmetic aesthetics - skin that might be under going, or recovering from a treatment.  This line would be a good one to evaluate if you are very sensitive, acne prone, or have been treating the skin with the intention of correction. The products we are able to pick up at random at a spa, or over the counter, will {by law} contain a minimal amount of active ingredients (those that will correct something on the skin) If you are happy with your skin, OTC products are fine.  If you have troubled skin and/or are trying to correct something, you may need a product with higher levels of the active ingredient{s} - therapeutic products are generally found in medical offices. 

I love the consistency of their face and eye creams.  There are richer creams for mature skins and lite lotions for an acne prone complexion.  I'm such a girly-girl and love all this stuff  - always fall for the pretty containers!  D. thinks I'm nuts, but when I go to Paris in June I'll be shopping for those French lines {love,love,love} however I always have my old stand-by products with those therapeutic ingredients. My skin is tolerant now that I'm old so I can play with pretty much whatever and want :) 

I change things up all the time and I'm not making any recommendations for you personally - just sharing information.


Now let's get personal..  I've had Botox injected in the deep crows feet on the sides of my eyes.  Do I do it regularly? No I do not!  Why? because I would like my patients to see what a middle aged (ouch- that was painful!) woman looks like when she takes care of herself - void of fillers and augmented facial features. So what do I do to keep my groove on?  I grew up on the beaches of Southern CA and have lots of sun damage. Living in the Pacific Northwest has been a good move for me - ha! Number one is Sunscreen - find one that you like and will wear regularly. Make sure you get a full skin exam every year at your Dermatology office.  Find out what kind of skin care works best for you and try before your buy.  Get sleep and manage (can't avoid it) your stress.  Don't be hard on yourself with regards to diet.  Enjoy life in moderation. I eat everything! - love chocolate with caramel and salt on top, drink wine, and rumor has it that I make the best skinny margarita around! Exercise {carefully} and listen to your body.  Last but not least.. lots of sex  romance and remember that your true beauty comes from within and shows through the sparkle in your eyes -you are all gorgeous!!



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xx
leslie


Licensed Medical Aesthetican, Dermatology
BS, Nutrition

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Fussing with Flowers and a Random Commercial

Happy Monday! Hope you enjoyed your weekend, feel energized and are ready to start a new week!


Seattle is almost always gray and dark this time of year so I thought I'd take this picture {quickly} while the sun was out.  I find the bare trees at this of year to be peaceful. During the summer, the trees will be covered with leaves and there will be no view.


I can't garden for a couple months so I rely on house plants and flowers to brighten my day.  Roses are almost always available and seem to last awhile when the water is changed frequently.  I also like Peonies - the flower that just keeps giving!  Extraordinary fragrance and looks spectacular even when its petals are falling. 


This week I bought a variety of roses and I'm spending way too much time figuring out placement - which vase and where will they go.  I have a house guest coming later this week so I will be needing a small bedside vase.  Patiently waiting for water ~

Blues and whites - I'm liking the color combination.

Orchids are so pretty and delicate looking.  To assure that my orchids receive just the right amount of water, I use a small pitcher to drizzle water into the base of the leaves.  This is how the plant would receive water in a tropical environment and it prevents over watering.  Orchids also enjoy a steamy shower (who doesn't?!) and sitting near the sink in my kitchen.

Quick change of topic - here's the scoop on the commercial.  We were honored when asked if our home could be featured in a commercial.  Assuming this would be a rather small operation, I consented.  In usual fashion, the day of the photo shoot I was running late.  As I approached my house I realized it was not a small operation - no parking anywhere near my house, (large) camera equipment and people everywhere. Kinda funny to watch my neighbors who had no idea what was going on. Then I started to think about how entertaining it would be to make up a good story (love my neighbors - always checking in and wanting to now what i'm up to make sure we are ok :) The possible news flashes were endless!

My home suddenly appeared small with all equipment.  To film a two minute commercial took 5 hours! The house was re-arranged a bit to make everything look more compact for filming purposes.  It was interesting to watch each "take" and then another and another until they finally got what they needed.  The living room was filled with shades and large filters to induce soft lighting  - no wonder celebrities look so great on film! Here is a picture of the pretend family playing a game on my white french cocktail table.   

 Lots of fun and never a dull moment at my place!


xx
leslie


Disney photo