by Q Pro-team | Aug 21, 2015 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
Hydration for Vanquish fat loss treatment
Why is it so important to stay hydrated?
Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work correctly. For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and lubricate joints. Water is needed for good health in general and is also important to facilitate the breakdown and elimination of fat cells.
But why is it so important for Vanquish?
Our skin contains about 70% water. Fat contains only about 10% of water.
The more hydrated the skin tissue, the less resistance it has towards the RF energy being used to target those fat cells. Hydrated tissue enables the energy to travel more easily through the skin in order to reach and selectively heat those fat cells. This means both a more effective and more comfortable Vanquish treatment.
How much water should I drink each day?
You may have heard different recommendations for daily water intake. For most people that is about 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of water each day, which is a reasonable goal.
If you are concerned that you are not drinking enough water, check your urine. If your urine is consistently colorless or light yellow, you are most likely staying well hydrated. Dark yellow or amber-colored urine is a sign of dehydration.
Could what you eat and drink dehydrate you?
There are a number of foods that can decrease your hydration levels. It is important to increase your fluid intake if your diet is high in any of the following: caffeine, alcohol, protein, and herbal supplements.
What if I workout?
When we sweat, we experience fluid loss. With any activity that causes perspiration it’s important to increase your water intake in order to rehydrate.
Tips for staying hydrated:Keep it handy: If you have easy access to water throughout the day you will be more likely to make it a habit.
Spice it up: If you don’t love the taste of plain water try adding a hint of fresh fruit or herbs to the mix. Rosemary-Watermelon, Strawberry-Kiwi, Pineapple-Mint, and Lemon-Cucumber are just a few delicious and nutritious combinations to try!
Swap your snacks: Carby snacks like granola bars, chips, & crackers all have a low water content. Instead, reach for fresh fruits and veggies or healthy smoothies that will all help to keep you hydrated. Celery & peanut butter or veggies with hummus are both great refreshing mid-day pick-me-ups.
Pile on the produce: Aim for half of your plate to be made up of fruits & vegetables; both for their higher water content as well as a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals & fiber.
by Sarah Ferguson | Jul 30, 2015 | 2.1 Acne Treatment
How To Deal With Stress Acne (Without Stressing Out)
When you’re stressed, breakouts are the last thing you want to deal with. Unfortunately, for women in particular, the two go hand in hand.
Here’s a little science lesson for you: “When your brain perceives stress, it sends a messenger to your adrenal gland that makes it secrete a hormone called cortisol,” says New York-based dermatologist Dr. Neal Schultz. When cortisol is created, he explains, “a tiny bit of testosterone leaks out of the adrenal gland as well. [This produces] a major increase in a woman’s blood testosterone level which causes glands to create excess oil.” And, as you know, excess oil equals acne.
So what can you do about it? Says Dr. Schultz, stress-related breakouts tend to take the form of inflammatory acne, meaning red, rashy pimples, pus-filled pimples and cysts—not blackheads or whiteheads. It’s best then, to treat accordingly. Dr. Schultz recommends using a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or a cleanser with a mild dosage of salicylic acid. (To avoid further irritating the skin, start with one percent, he says). Drying creams and masks, tea tree oil and hydrocolloid bandages are also excellent options for combating flare-ups.
Keeping up with good daily habits is essential as well. When you’re under pressure, it’s all too easy to skimp on sleep and make poor eating choices. Unconsciously, you might even be touching or picking at your face more frequently. All of these factors stand between you and a clear complexion.
Of course, there’s no better way to treat stress acne than to simply (or not so simply) chill out. Mediate, exercise, embark on a weekend getaway…remember: It’s just a pimple.
by Liesa Goins | Jun 29, 2015 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
5 Ways to Prevent Last-Minute Skin Woes
If something has to go wrong at your wedding, let it be the best man’s toast—not a spotty complexion that will live on forever in photographs. Dermatologist David McDaniel has a few suggestions for staying picture-perfect in the home stretch.
Don’t experiment. A new cleanser, cream, or treatment can cause pimples, irritation, or an allergic reaction. Now is not the time to take chances.
Be smart at the spa. Unless you’ve had several facials with the same aesthetician and ingredients, don’t book one in the weeks before your wedding. The result could be redness, a rash, or flaking.
Know your history. If you’re prone to breakouts or cold sores, tell your dermatologist at least a month before the wedding. Stress can aggravate these conditions, and a doctor can prescribe medications to keep them from popping up.
Do a trial run. At least a month ahead of time, try on the fragrance you intend to wear at your wedding to make sure you don’t develop a rash or a headache.
Watch your mouth. The week before your wedding, limit your consumption of salt, alcohol, and spicy foods, all of which can irritate sensitive skin. As appealing as they are, salt and booze also cause water retention, which makes the eyes puffy, the body bloated, and the wedding dress uncomfortably snug.
by Elizabeth Siegel | May 29, 2015 | 2.1 Acne Treatment
Does SPF 30 Really Protect You All Day?
There’s a lot of confusion about what SPF really means. So let’s just clear something up: It is not an indicator of how long you can stay out in the sun.
“Studies have shown that SPF’s efficacy stays steady for about an hour, and then begins to drop after an hour because UV rays break down many sunscreen ingredients,” says Jill Weinstein, a dermatologist and instructor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. It’s why you should reapply sunscreen every two hours or after you sweat or swim (whichever comes first).
Here’s what SPF really means: It’s the percentage of UVB rays—which are the sun’s burning rays—that the sunscreen blocks. It’s not indicative of the percentage of skin-aging UVA rays that the formula protects against, which is another reason to reapply often and choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection. To get really specific about what SPF means, the percent breakdown is this: SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of UVB rays; SPF 30 guards against 97 percent, and SPF 50 is about 98 percent. The difference sounds negligible, but not so much when you reverse it (because, duh, two percent of UVB rays get by SPF 50, while seven percent can get by SPF 15). And this next part is really key: Almost no one puts on enough SPF 30 (half a teaspoon for your face) to get the full SPF. “It’s impossible to get the SPF on the label without really caking it on,” says Darrell S. Rigel, a dermatologist in New York City. And since that’s not happening, go with SPF 50 or higher. We like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55, because it’s light and sheer for such a high SPF. “Be careful not to miss frequently overlooked spots, like between the eyebrows and around the nostrils and eyes,” says Vivian Bucay, a dermatologist in San Antonio.
by Brooke Le Poer Trench | Apr 20, 2015 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
10 Things That Really Keep Your Skin Firm
In a bathroom somewhere, a woman is stroking her jawline, hoping to remind her skin where it used to sit. Another is trying to follow the directions—in French—of a new facial-massage technique. And in that special place where desperation meets magical thinking, another is actually considering a face bra. When women confront the force that holds the moon in the earth’s orbit, is it any wonder we fall for gimmicks and hype?
Skin sags when fat, collagen, and elastin break down. Still, “there is a lot we can control,” says Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in New York City and Coral Gables, Florida. Here, experts reveal the latest findings on the ingredients, nutrients, and daily habits that will help your skin stay firm.
1. Put spring in your skin. “If I had to pick one thing to fix in my skin, I would choose elastin,” says Miami Beach dermatologist Leslie Baumann. “Elasticity is what makes youthful skin snap back when you press it.” The sobering reality, though, is that we stop making elastin around the time we hit puberty. Using a cream or serum containing retinoids each day will help restimulate production.
2. Make collagen. Without collagen, skin is destined to have the same texture as an old leather bag. Fortunately, there’s a way to make more: retinoids (again). They are the rare family of ingredients that dermatologists agree actually work. “We know that they stimulate collagen production and cellular regeneration,” says Brandt. The nonprescription form, called retinol, can start working in six months. Prescription retinoids are more powerful but also more irritating.
3. Look out for your eyes. They should be the windows to your soul—not to your birth certificate. Big sunglasses help. Baumann also says to apply a retinoid at night.
4. Take cover. Sure, you could hide out in a cave. But it’s a lot easier to simply apply sunscreen every morning, just as you know you should. The sun really is skin’s worst enemy: “Long-term exposure causes collagen to break down and elastin to degrade,” says Brandt. Choose broad-spectrum formulations with Helioplex or Mexoryl, which offer the longest-lasting protection, and be sure the SPF is at least 30.
5. Fight free radicals. Antioxidants are the superheroes of skin care. They protect skin from all the evil forces in the environment—also known as free radicals—plus block an enzyme called elastase that breaks down elastin. Choose products containing several different antioxidants—”they often work best in synergy,” says New York City dermatologist Howard Sobel, who recommends those with vitamins A and C and coenzyme Q10.
6. Make the most of moisturizer. Here’s one thing we bet you didn’t know about moisturizers: They protect skin against free-radical damage. “Dehydration leads to oxidative stress, which generates free radicals,” says Brandt. “Without moisture, your skin isn’t able to repair itself and suffers even more damage.” You just have to use the right product. Cholesterol, ceramides, essential fatty acids, and niacinamide are among the best ingredients—they improve skin’s protective moisture barrier.
7. Relax your neck. During a workout, it’s perfectly acceptable to sweat, pant, and even grunt—just don’t strain your neck. “I see women do this when they jog,” says Brandt. “They’re strengthening the muscles that eventually pull down their faces.”
8. Don’t smoke. Rather than nag you to quit, we are just going to present the facts: “Smoking destroys collagen and elastin,” says Brandt, “and it decreases levels of estrogen, which is necessary to keep skin firm.”
9. Eat skinny foods. It’s well known that food can make you thin or fat, alert or tired, happy or sad. Now add younger or older to that list. “New research tells us that low levels of vitamin C and zinc, among other skin-essential nutrients, may inhibit the skin’s ability to repair itself,” says New York City dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas. To keep skin happy, eat more fatty fish (such as salmon), dark green vegetables (broccoli), almonds, and walnuts. And drink lots of green tea.
10. Ignore your cravings. It’s not much fun to hear, but some experts believe that overindulging in sugar (and corn syrup, dextrose, and fruit-juice concentrate) can prematurely age skin—as early as our mid-30s. Sugar in the bloodstream forms harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (or, appropriately enough, AGEs). And AGEs weaken collagen and elastin.
by Catherine Devine | Mar 2, 2015 | 2.7 Dark Circles Under Eyes
The Best Ways to Reduce Puffy Eyes
We recently got this question from Beth on Facebook: “What is the best way to reduce puffiness under the eyes? I don’t have wrinkles but often am puffy. I have increased water intake.” The list of things that’ll give you puffy eyes is a long one: allergies, staying out too late, watching The Notebook…you get the idea. Thank God there are just as many ways to get rid of them.
Start with one of these at-home remedies, says Michele Green, a dermatologist in New York City and one of the consulting experts behind SkinBetter, our free skin-analysis tool. “The antioxidants in green tea help reduce redness and soothe inflammation,” says Green, who recommends steeping two tea bags in hot water, letting them cool (you might need to give them a squeeze if they’re dripping wet to get out the excess water), and then placing them over your closed eyes. Drape a damp cloth on top and sit back for five to ten minutes. “You could also use cucumber slices,” she says. “It sounds old-fashioned, but it constricts blood vessels, and the cucumber has an astringent property that reduces puffiness.” In a hurry? Swipe on a product that contains caffeine (we like Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller).
If puffy under eye bags are a recurring problem, you may want to take a look at your diet. “Soda makes you dehydrated, and when you eat foods that are high in sodium, your body retains the salt and you get puffy, especially under your eyes,” Green says. Or you may want to invest in an in-office treatment. Green suggests three sessions of eMatrix, a laser treatment for under-eyes, or Restylane Silk, a new one-time injection that goes right into fine lines and under the eyes to help camouflage bags and puffiness.
by Catherine Devine | Jan 8, 2015 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
Here’s Why Your Skin Is Drier (and Itchier) Than Ever
Stave off ashiness this winter by learning exactly what’s sucking the moisture from your skin.
You’re cranking up the thermostat. Central heating makes the air superdry, and that zaps moisture from your skin, says Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist in New York City. You could give it up altogether and start watching TV in a parka, or you could just plug in a humidifier (choose a cool-mist version—that’s easiest to clean). It adds moisture back into the air and, ultimately, your skin.
You’re showering the wrong way. We love a long, steamy shower in the winter, too. But water strips essential oils from your skin, and hot water is the worst offender. “Stick with warm water, and keep it under ten minutes,” says Zeichner.
You’re scrubbing daily. Exfoliating dry skin makes it look more human, less snakelike in the short term. But scrubbing daily causes inflammation that makes dry skin even drier (and flakier, and itchier) over time. If you exfoliate just once a week—and prevent irritation by washing with a creamy, hydrating cleanser before you scrub—your skin will look smoother in the long run, says Zeichner.
You’re not making the most of your body lotion. The best ones have ingredients (like glycerin) that pull water into your skin. Keep your lotion in the shower so you remember to use it right after you towel off, when skin is still slightly damp, and it’ll work better. And don’t stop using it just because your skin is softer and smoother. “When you stop using moisturizers, your skin will revert back,” says Zeichner.
Your sweaters are sabotaging you. Maybe you can wear wool without feeling all itchy. Even so, when wool rubs against skin, it can still irritate and dry you out, says Zeichner. Wear a layer of cotton underneath, or switch to something softer, like cashmere. Can we get that in a prescription, please?
You’re skipping sunscreen. “Even in winter, UV rays can prevent skin from holding onto moisture,” says Zeichner, who recommends wearing a face cream with SPF 30 or higher every day.
by Elizabeth Siegel | Nov 24, 2014 | 2.6 Freckles and Spots, Wrinkles Treatment
Are Your Sunglasses Giving You Wrinkles?
If dermatologists ran the world (or Bloomingdale’s), you’d only be able to buy wraparound sunglasses. But they don’t. And it’s not the ’80s. Thank God. But some shades can make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage—and others (OK, not wraparounds) offer extra protection.
Don’t bring your aviators to the beach. I know, I know, it’s sad. But the metal frames on most aviators “reflect sunlight on the tops of the cheeks, causing them to burn,” says Vivian Bucay, a dermatologist in San Antonio. And women who wear them often get sun spots on their cheeks as a result, she says. Pick sunglasses with plastic frames instead.
Go for sunglasses with mirrored lenses. “They block more UV rays than regular tinted lenses,” says Bucay. That’s key, since the thin skin around your eyes is so prone to sun damage and wrinkles. There are lots of good options, including ones from Marc Jacobs, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Céline, which makes the sunglasses the model in this picture is wearing.
by Sandra Nygaard | Oct 30, 2014 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
Look 5 Years Younger, Instantly!
While you can’t turn back time, you can look much younger by making a few changes to your grooming regimen
Every time you meet someone new, they subconsciously scan your face for signs of your age. (Don’t feel bad: you do it, too.) There are a couple of dead giveaways that can betray a birthday, but even if you aren’t old enough to start subscribing to AARP magazine, you might be accidentally adding years to your appearance. And while you can’t turn back time, you can look much younger by making a few changes to your grooming regimen.
Gray hair: Before you start panicking, let me say that the silver that’s peeking through at your temples lends you a distinguished air. One option is to embrace this natural look, and appreciate how your silver foxiness will soon give you some heft at the office. But if you think that age 28 is too young to start sporting grays, try adding more pepper to your salt. Unless you’d like to look like 70’s-era Elvis, don’t attempt to use a DIY all-over color kit (at least for your first foray). Make an appointment with a stylist who will gradually add lowlights (the opposite of your girlfriend’s highlights) to targeted areas.
Wrinkles: If your forehead is becoming a map of all the years you’ve spent at the beach, it’s not too late to slam on the brakes and soften the damage that’s been done. Use a moisturizer with SPF every morning and a richer lotion at night, when skin becomes dehydrated. Finally, a high-sugar diet can generate harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products. These damage collagen in the skin and contribute to premature wrinkles. So no more cookies with your 3 p.m. coffee, kiddo! Click here for the best wrinkle-fighting products on the market.
Crow’s feet/puffy eyes: Vices aren’t doing your eyes any favors. Smoking diminishes circulation, which contributes to wrinkles, and late nights can cause blood to pool under eyes, creating dark circles. Plus, too much sodium and booze can make your eyes puffy from retaining fluids. So cut back on the excess but sleep on an extra pillow to keep the fluid from pooling around your eyes, creating bags. As an emergency fix, try placing cold cucumber slices on your eyes for 15 minutes before you leave the house. Cucumbers contain an astringent that may help to constrict blood vessels around the eye. They also have a cooling effect on inflamed skin.
Yellow teeth: Coffee, red wine and berries can make your teeth look dingy, which in turn means old. But eating other types of fruits and vegetables—such as apples, celery, raw carrots, broccoli and other crunchy greens—can actually exfoliate the stains on your smile. To obtain an even deeper white, try whitening toothpaste and kits—but first, discover the truth about three popular smile brighteners.
by M. Cameron | Oct 14, 2014 | 2.6 Freckles and Spots, Wrinkles Treatment
Age spots and fine lines on my face were gone!
Feeling the need to improve the appearance of my aging skin, I had tried several Toronto local laser clinics, with very disappointing results. When I come to Q Esthetics, I was impressed by the staff’s honesty and knowledge. The laser aesthetician suggested photorejuvenation for my age spots and fractional laser for my wrinkles. After 4 photorejuvenation and 3 fraxel resurfacing, I was totally surprised with the results! More than 80% of my aging spots were gone plus my skin tone and texture was smoother, and most of the wrinkles and fine lines on my face were also disappeared. I wish I found Q Esthetics earlier. Highly recommended!
M. Cameron from Toronto – Age spot treatment
