5 Minute Holiday Make-Up Tricks!

*Metallic Lids in Under a Minute*

This season's shimmery eye shadows go way beyond silver and gold—colors such as copper, navy, and violet look cool and fresh and are easy to wear. Simply dust the color onto your lids and along your bottom lashes for a halo effect. The rest of your makeup should be toned-down—just add a coat of mascara, a dusting of blush, and a neutral lip color.

*Smokey Eyes in Three Easy Steps*

Using a soft, chubby black pencil, draw short strokes from the outer lashes inward, creating a thick line that stops just short of the corner. Repeat on your bottom lashes, then smudge it all with a cotton swab.
Dip a small eye-shadow brush in gray shadow; tap off excess. Start at the outer corner and dust it across your lid using feathery strokes and staying close to your lash line, then blend the shadow up to the crease.
Dust what's left on the brush from your crease to your brow bone, then blend everything into a soft haze by whisking your brush over any edges of color.

Entry Updated by LA Girls Blog Agency. info@lagirlsecrets.com

LA GIRL SECRETS NEWEST COLLABORATOR: Swanya Thai Massage

Swanya Thai Massage is offering a very special deal just for LA Girl Secrets Members! Get a 1 hour massage for just $39! (9:30-1:00pm MON-FRI).

Address: 4324 Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230.

Once you arrive at Swanya Thai Massage you will experience the natural tradition of Thai Massage, Deep Tissue, Herbal Heat Healing, or a customized treatment. Swanya is where you will find what your body needs at a reasonable price. Each therapist at Swanya is a certified professional who has a rigorous licensing and screening process.

http://www.swanyathaimassage.com/

Entry Updated by LA Girl Secrets Blog Agency

Relieve Soreness, Be The Most Fit YOU This Fall

Most exercise soreness is painful and debilitating. Eccentric exercise (lengthening muscle contractions), such as downhill walking, often causes sore muscles by triggering muscle injury and secondary muscle inflammation. Most studies found that popular remedies such as ice, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like Advil), and heat don’t work. A British study showed that massage after downhill walking decreased soreness and increased jumping ability at 48 and 72 hours of recovery. Massage promotes recovery from eccentric exercise.

-Fitness RX Magazine

Entry Updated by LA Girl Secrets Blog Agency. Contact: info@lagirlsecrets.com

* Rejuvinate Your Lips for Fall *

LIPSTICKS THAT LOVE YOU
Yes, lipstick is what you wear when you want to get fancy. But nourishing formulas have every- day appeal, moisturizing and protecting your mouth’s delicate skin. Look for ones infused with antioxidants and natural emollients, such as vitamin E, coconut oil, beeswax, and argan oil.

To keep lips soft and healthy, Anne Marie Fine, N.M.D., naturopathic physician and skin specialist , suggests focusing your efforts at night. “If you use balm under lipstick, the color slides right off”, says Fine. Before bed, slick on a rich slave-and twice weekly, use a lip scrub first. In the morning, you’ll wake to a smooth, lipstick ready pout.

For a soft glow,” use a fingertip to gently spread on one thin coat, then blot,” recommends makeup artist Jody Cohen, creator of Cosmoholic Cosmetics. Avoid working too much pigment into the corners of your mouth, so your lipstick wears off gracefully.

By Katherine Bowers
Whole Living Magazine

* GET READY FOR FALL WITH A PUMPKIN FACIAL! *

Get your skin ready for fall with one of Mother Nature’s most beneficial products, the pumpkin!

Pumpkin makes an excellent face mask ingredient for all skin types, especially environmentally damaged or sensitive skin. High in Vitamin A (skin healing), C (anti-oxidant) and Zinc, the pumpkin soothes, moisturizes and acts as a carrier, assisting the other mask ingredients to absorb deeper into the skin and intensifying the results.

Pumpkin Pie Face Mask
Ingredients
2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed (see above for benefits)
one-half teaspoon honey (humectant, regenerative)
one-quarter teaspoon milk (or soymilk)(alpha hydroxyl acid, enzymes digest skin cells)

Optional Ingredients
For Dry Skin
one-quarter teaspoon heavy whipping cream (moisturizing; alpha hydroxy acid)
-or-
one-half teaspoon brown sugar (exfoliates, moisturizes, alpha hydroxyl acid)

For Oily Skin
one-quarter teaspoon apple cider (tonic action promotes skin circulation; alpha hydroxyl acid; regulates pH).
-or-
one-quarter teaspoon cranberry juice (high in antioxidants critically important to the utilization of essential fatty acids to maintain balanced, nourished skin.

Directions
Combine the ingredients for your facemask. Mix gently and apply to your face avoiding the eye area. Rest and relax for 10-15 minutes while your pumpkin pie facemask gently exfoliates, nourishes and conditions your face. Rinse with warm water and apply the appropriate moisturizer for your skin type.

* Herbal Hair Rinse *

Before serums and masques were available to treat dry and damaged hair, women all over the world turned to their gardens for natural solutions. Try to following recipe on your hair for an amazing, healthy sheen!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup herbs of your choice

3 cups water (preferably rainwater)

2 tbsp. apple cidar vinegar

*SUGGESTED HERBS*

Calendula: Soothes the scalp and conditions the hair; good for red highlights.

Horsetail: Contains selenium and silicon, which help promote scalp circulation and have been used to treat hair loss, dandruff, and brittleness. (Chop the plant material into 1-inch pieces)

Lavender: Calms and soothes the scalp. (Use either fresh or dried).

Nettle: Prevent dandruff, increases scalp circulation, and has been used to treat hair loss. (use dried nettle because when it's fresh it's very irritating to the skin).

Peppermint: Boosts scalp circulation and energizes senses.

Rosemary: Adds body, heals damaged hair, stimulates the scalp, and treat dandruff, will darken hair slightly.

Rose: Adds delicate scent and alleviated itchiness.

Sage: Slows hair loss; adds highlights to dark hair.

* Home Aromatic Body Brushing & Facial *

Body brushing is a health enhancing practice that only takes about 5 minutes before you shower. It works by stimulating the sebaceous glands, which encourage the natural moisturizing of your skin. It removes the top layer of dead cells, leaving skin that is polished and silky. Below is our pick for best homemade organic body brushing recipe, Enjoy!

* Body Brushing Recipe *

1 drop of ginger

4 drops of petigrain

5 drops of rosewood

After skin brushing, add a small amount of lavender floral water to a dry green clay mask of your choosing for one application.

* A Facial Mask Recipe *

½ ounce of green clay mask of your choosing

lavender floral water to mix

1 drop of lime

1 drop of lemon

1 drop of grapefruit

2 drops of rosemary

1 drop of peppermint

Allow this to set for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off

* BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL NAILS *

Bling, it seems, can never go out of style; it simply moves its focus to a new part of the body. For this season, it has landed on the toes with the process called Bling it on Pedi. This pedicure uses 500 or more carefully applied Swarovski crystals to create custom designs. A one-hour application can last a month, but can cost as much as five times that of the standard pedicure. Whether you are looking for animal prints, holiday hues or even logo art, any of these options can be had for the right price.

No matter what your personality or wardrobe demands from your nails in 2010, there is a color and finish that can fit your style. Whether you want length, bold muted or simply shine, the options this spring are too fun to miss.

-Seventeen Magazine

* Papaya Power! The Secret Natural Ingrediant *

Pick this tropical fruit to smooth your skin, get rid of bloating, and help sinus problems.

Flat-belly Food

Ward off bloat by eating papaya for dessert. Papain, the main enzyme in papaya, is an ace at breaking down fiber, which can cause gas if it’s not digested well, says Maoshing Ni, PhD, who practices traditional Chinese medicine and is the author of Secrets of Self-healing.

Sinus Saver

Want to ease the symptoms of chronic sinusitis? Make papaya a staple in your fruit salads. Bromelain, an enzyme in papaya, can reduce mucus and inflammation, according to a German study.

Skin Brightener

Papaya’s fruit acids and protein-dissolving enzymes remove dead skin cells and even out skin discoloration. Get a glowing complexion using this gentle exfoliating treatment, from Stephanie Tourles, author of Organic Body Care Recipes: Extract 1 tablespoon papaya juice my mashing a peeled slice with a spoon and straining the pulp. Soak up the juice with a cotton ball, and apply to face, throat, and décolletage. Wait 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Bone Strengthener

Papaya is a sweet way to improve your bone health. It contains folate, a B vitamin that can help prevent osteoporosis-related bone fractures. Just add this delish smoothie to your diet: Blend 1 cup fat-free milk, ¼ of a peeled papaya, ½ cup blueberries, and ½ tablespoon honey. Drink up!
One cup of papaya has just 55 calories.

By Susan Hall

* Golden Door Spa at The Boulders *

Carefree, Arizona

Discover the renowned Golden Door Spa at the extraordinary Boulders Resort just north of Scottsdale. The high Sonoran Desert edition of the Golden Door Spa, in Escondido, California, founded as America’s premier destination spa and a portal to rejuvenation. Spa guests find inner wellness and pampering through massage, refreshing cuisine, and personal service behind the golden doors of Boulders’ 33,00 square foot sanctuary. In the revitalizing west wing, The Spa Café, fitness center, movement and yoga studio all enjoy sweeping views of the magnificent boulders. In the serenity of the east wing are 24 treatment rooms, the Spa Boutique and full-service salon. Outdoor adventures that re-energize the body and soul also await spa guests on 1,300 acres of desert landscape. Luxurious private casitas and one to five bedroom Pueblo Villas are individually shaped into natural terrain amidst the dramatic rock outcroppings.

Are Your Hands Making You Look Older?

Skin on your hands can become discolored, with uneven, dull texture that is more revealing of age than wrinkles. The culprits: natural aging (skin gets thinner over time) and photoaging (sun exposure causes age spots). Here’s how to get back that youthful glow!

Every Day: Apply lotion with SPF to protect skin from the sun. Stash a lotion, which contains soothing aloe extracts—in your bag for touchups.

At Night: Three times a week at bedtime, pamper your hands with these three easy steps.
* Step 1: Exfoliate. Use a salt-based scrub to remove dull skin.
* Step 2: Spot-treat. What works for your face will work for your hands too. Dab on a facial brightening cream to fade dark spots.
* Step 3: Moisturize. Apply a lotion rich in vitamins A, C, and E, to restore and nourish skin overnight.

DOES BOTOX EQUAL HAPPINESS?

By James Broida

In the physical world, sometimes a more easy going attitude may be as much a phenomenon of the body as it is of the mind.

Being a man, I am far less likely to undergo any sort of cosmetic procedure than a woman. About a tenth as likely, to be precise.

I say this only as a kind of introduction, a way of expressing that my experience with cosmetic surgery of any kind—and its psychological impact—was completely new. I had no previous reference point.

Nonetheless, several months ago I decided to undergo my first cosmetic procedure. It was not a major procedure by any turn of the imagination, but rather an introductory, noninvasive procedure, the kind of subtle change that many people interested in cosmetic surgery begin with. In my case it was Botox, with a dash of Juvederm.

GETTING PHYSICAL
I have what are known as “elevens.” These are two vertical lines between the eyebrows, a consequence in my case of decades of hard thinking, or scowling, depending on your point of view. And in my case these were more than lines. More like twin Grand Canyons.

Over the years I wondered if my knotted brows would ever relax. Many times I massaged them, but to no avail. They remained stubbornly crunched up.

Then I decided it was time, and visited a cosmetic surgeon who, with surprising ease, put a little Botox into each muscle and a little Juvederm filler into each crevice. Bingo. What years of attempted meditation coupled with circular finger massages could not accomplish transpired almost immediately. The tiny muscular fists on my forehead flattened out, and the twin fissures become two thin lines, hardly noticeable.

PSYH CENTRAL
But that was just the physical part. The psychologist part was far more interesting.

According to the theory of psychosomatic medicine—which is the basis of biofeedback therapy—all of our experiences have a physical as well as physiological component. They are inextricably linked.

When you are dreaming at night, for example, you are emitting alpha brain waves and rapid eye movements. If you are not displaying these physical signs, you cannot be dreaming.

The same physical principle applies to stress. If you are physically relaxed, you cannot be mentally stressed. In biofeedback, they use this principle to get people over their anxieties. The way it works s that you are trained to relax in the face of something that normally stresses you. If you can stay relaxed, your anxiety should disappear. If you can utterly relax when they put a snake in a box next to you, you will not react with fear or stress. You’ll just keep taking those long calm breaths. “From the muscle researchers has come the thesis that anxiety is incompatible with relaxation,” writes Dr. Barbara Brown, PhD in her book about biofeedback, New Mind, New Body. “Changes in states of consciousness which accompany the release from muscle tension no doubt...help alleviate anxiety states.”

So, if my muscles are relaxed, then I must be relaxed too!

Well, maybe. The first question I had was: What happens to the tension that used to go to my brow? My life hasn’t changed, after all, so I still faced the same stressful conditions.

One answer is the water in the dam theory, that if you block the pressure in one place, it emerges somewhere else. A study in the most recent issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology suggests that Botox may actually cause extra wrinkles. The reason, according to author Dr.David Becker, is that muscular expressions masked by Botox will find a way to express itself in muscle groups that have not been injected.

NO WORRIES
I watched myself carefully. What happened when I faced a wave of stress, like when someone at work enraged me?

My first feeling was sort of like what I imagine people who are missing limbs feel. I wanted to get mad, but it was like I was missing words to express it. I would lift a finger about to yell at someone, then take a breath and calm down. Did I squint more now that I didn’t crunch my forehead and bark? Maybe a little, but at least at first I just stopped being so upset, and just sort of shook my head and walked away.

“When you have these creases from years of worrying and the muscles won’t unfurl, you don’t get a sense of relaxation,” says Dr. Jody Schwartz, a Chicago-based clinical psychologist who specializes in self-esteem and anxiety relief. “Botox relaxes the muscles, and should relax how you feel. So there is a relationship between the two…I don’t think that’s what the drug is meant to do but I think it does help.”

Well, then. If a smile generates happiness, my new happy face can generate happiness too. And that doesn’t take into account the main reason that cosmetic procedures make people happy—by making them feel more confident, and better about themselves. I will leave that deeper psychological construct for another time. For now, I was happy-yes, happy—that instead of scowling like Ebenezer Scrooge, I could take a more Bobby Mcferrin attitude. Don’t worry—be happy.

-NewYouMag.com

* What Does Your Lip Shape Say About YOU? *

Analyzing your face shape can be really fun especially if you know which feature can tell the most of your character. Face reading is one of the latest and most fascinating sciences that aims to build a relationship between our features and various traits. Lips are very revealing spots of our face, making them look sensual and perfectly conditioned is one of the secret weapons to looking fabulous. Learn to read your face and have fun while discovering some of your hidden traits from this amazing insight into the art of face reading!

FULL LIPS: Specialists claim full lips are a sign of confidence, therefore those who have them are, in most of the cases, able to solve the complex situations and radiate a self-assured personality. Moreover often those who have these lip shapes are also fun-filled personalities who know what entertainment really is.

THIN LIPS: Thin lips are the obvious signs of a calm and balanced personality who is aware of the smallest details and might watch from the background and act when it is righteous to take an important step. The sensible look of their lips can be misleading as they might appear shy and too modest, however it is in fact one of their secret weapons to win the difficult situations and come out as the ultimate winner of all debates and fights.

Downward-Turning Lips: This lip shape radiates a mysterious and sultry vibe. This can cause others to be fasinated and those blessed with these lips to acquire many admirerers. Those with these lips are savvy and street-smart, but also value love and kindness.

Heart Shaped Lips: Specialists claim tha those with heart-shaped lips are extremely happy as it is considered by all people seductive and sensual. Those who were blessed with a similar feature should consider this spot the best area to accentuate and highlight. Independence and confidence are additional traits that can be read out of these cute shaped lips.

CL

LOOK BETTER FROM BEHIND!

3 simple steps to improve your rear view!

1. Twice a day: Slather on Lotion

The tightening effects of anticellulite creams start to diminish after six to eight hours, says Bill Johnson, M.D., a cosmetic specialist in Dallas. Apply an additional layer at midday to extend the toning time.

2. Once a day: Exfoliate

Creams and gels will penetrate the skin on your butt and thighs more deeply if you slough dead cells first, Dr. Johnson says. Sweep a natural bristle brush over cellulite-prone areas before you hop into the shower.

3, Three Times a week: Stretch it out

Boosting circulation helps lessen lumps, says Howard Murad M.D. Get blood flow going: Lie on your back and extend legs. Bend your right leg and pull your knee into your chest. Hold 20 seconds; switch legs to do one rep. Repeat twice.

-Fitness Magazine

CL

* Glen Ivy Hot Springs *

If you're looking for some relaxation and fun Spa Girls, you have to check out Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa. Long before Europeans came to California, Native Americans enjoyed the blend of cool and warm waters flowering naturally from Coldwater Canyon in the Temescal Valley. Today’s Glen Ivy Spa experience complements the ancient thermal waters with professional massage, body, and skin treatments, Club Mud, California’s only red clay bath, The Grotto, Glen Ivy’s social body moisturizing treatment, underground, and Café Sole, delicious and healthy spa cuisine made with fresh and seasonal ingredients by executive Chef Bill Wavrin. The beautiful rooftop Sole Terrace and Cabanas are available to groups of two to a hundred.

Known for unpretentious prices and high value, with admission to the Spa alone comes the use of mineral water baths, outdoor and indoor pools and spas, steam rooms, saunas, and Club Mud, all in a sub-tropical surround.
“When we arrive at Glen Ivy I instantly feel ‘on vacation’ and I leave feeling good, and good about myself. It’s a powerful, renewing day.”

Celebrating 150 years of healing water and extraordinary service in 2010, Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa is Southern California’s premier full service day resort and was named Favorite Day Spa, Favorite Mineral Springs Spa and Favorite Affordable Spa in America in Spa Magazine’s 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Glen Ivy: elevating life experience since 1860.

The Details
Type of Spa: Day Spa
Address: 2500 Glen Ivy Road,
Corona, CA 92883
Reservations 888-Glen-Ivy
Website www.glenivy.com
For more on spa services and amenities visit www.spamagazine.com/glenivy

Source: SPA Magazine

CL

*BEESWAX MOISTURIZER FOR DRY SKIN*

1 Teaspoon Melted Beeswax
1/8 Teaspoon Borax
1-1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Boiling Water

Dissolve the borax in the boiling water then pour the solution over the beeswax in a double boiler. Mix in the olive oil and heat slowly. When all the ingredients are melted together whip them in a blender. While the mixture is still warm, put it into several small jars or in one big jar. It will solidify as it cools.

Beeswax is rich in minerals, the olive oil rich in lubricant, and Vitamin E while the borax is an antiseptic that also keeps the cream from spoiling.

This extremely nourishing cream can be used both day and night for people who don't need something heavy. A thin application of cream, during the day, is great under make-up whereas a thicker one is wonderful when you sleep.

Your Post-Summer Beauty Plan!

Dried-out strands? Freckly skin? Rough Feet? Fix all your September challenges with these easy moves.

Repair Your Strands: Use a moisturizing treatment, like a hair restoration masque, weekly. Apply to damp strands, then cover hair with plastic wrap to lock in heat so ingredients better penetrate your hair.

Freshen Your Face: Spending too much time in the sun can cause uneven skin tone and texture. The fix? Wash with a cleanser that has fruit acids, which gently dissolve dulling dead skin cells.

Fade Chest Freckles: Even infrequent sun exposure can cause dark spots on your neck and décolletage. To minimize them, dot on a treatment that contains skin-brightening soy or redness-reducing licorice.

Soften Parched Skin: Nurture dry and dehydrated summer skin by applying a body lotion packed with antioxidants, which repair free radical damage caused by the sun's rays.

Save Sandal Tortured Feet: A summer in flip-flops does a number on your feet. Solution: Use a rich foot lotion with glycolic acid to help dissolve thick calluses and moisturize dry heels.

** SUNBLOCK FOR ANY SKIN TYPE **

Ingredients:

1 egg white

2 tablespoons cologne or vodka
1 teaspoon loose powder Directions:
Beat the egg white well then add the glycerin. Blend with the cologne - or vodka if you don't like a scent in your facial products - and your usual color of loose powder (or talcum powder if you don't want a color in it)
This can be used instead of foundation on top of other moisturizers or as a moisturizer alone. It not only gives your skin the color of make-up, it protects it from the sun.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice can be substituted for the cologne or vodka if you want a sunblock with a little extra bleaching ability.

Balinese Bliss

An educational journey in a faraway land

by Linda Beach

Experiencing a treatment half a world away in Bali, the “land of a thousand temples,” provides invaluable insight into the source of Balinese holistic culture and its ancient healing practices. On a recent trip to Spa Village-Tembok, the Balinese five-star resort, I took the opportunity to attend its Spa Village Academy, a 20-hour program for guests that centers on Balinese massage techniques. The first thing noticeably different is that in Bali spas, each treatment is preceded by a foot-cleansing ritual. The Balinese are very spiritual and believe that washing the feet is necessary in order to rid oneself of the negative energy absorbed from the earth.

At Spa Village-Tembok, the exotic scent of frangipani petals crowd the verdant canopy overhead. The spa’s attention to detail is remarkable, from a small bowl overflowing with fragrant flowers placed under the face cradle to tiny candles lining mirror-backed shelves that shoot rays of flickering light in every direction. Music was irrelevant, as nature provided the sound of crashing waves on the pebbled shore just steps away.

After the client is immersed in the sights and sounds, fragrant oil is applied to the body as a therapist and instructor, Muliartini, deftly coaxes any remaining jet lag from obliging muscles, sending the client into an unrepentant state of Balinese bliss.

Healing drink

The treatment is concluded when Muliartini guides the client into a cushioned lounge. A small table holds a tall glass container filled with a cloudy concoction and topped with a little banana leaf cork. “Jamu,” she says, motioning to the drink. “Very good for the body and the soul.”

A healing drink made from a blend of plants, spices, fruit and other natural ingredients, jamu is used to treat many common ailments and boost the immune system. There are more than 300 blends of jamu, some bitter, some sweet, but all recipes are said to enhance the body-mind connection and balance inner and outer beauty.

According to Muliartini, this particular blend is made from tamarind, turmeric, palm sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt and water. Tamarind, a tart fruit, aids in digestion and contains cancer fighting antioxidants and a wealth of vitamins. Turmeric has been shown to prevent the spread of cancer, slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and detoxify the liver.

Traditional massage

The Balinese are not just known for their therapeutic concoctions and sweet smelling flowers. Bali is regarded as a place of hedonistic indulgence and unparalleled spa treatments.

The penganten melukat is an elaborate 100-minute signature treatment that is centuries old. It is actually a prenuptial tradition that was lavished on the bride and groom for three days prior to their wedding, and was typically performed by the mother or grandmother.

The penganten melukat body treatment is divine and exotic. Following a traditional Balinese massage, handful after handful of a boreh scrub is rubbed over the body before it is gently wrapped in layers of soft towels. Warming herbs detoxify as a gentle scalp massage relaxes clients. Once unwrapped the herbs are dusted from the client’s body and hot, thick milk is ladled by hand over the back, arms, stomach and legs. The client is then guided on a short walk to a soak in a flower-filled tub.

Dedication to details

The boreh scrub is another example of meticulous Balinese tradition. Balinese therapists usually make this scrub by hand with only five ingredients: ginger, clove, galangal (a root commonly used in Balinese cooking), rice and water. Fifteen minutes of slicing, pounding, blending and grinding by a mortar and pestle yield a small bowl of t he soupy blend – not even close to the amount used for one treatment, instructs Muliartini. Much more is needed and the painstaking process is repeated.

The Balinese embrace a slower pace of life compared to the Westerners, and this allows for reflection and the reparation of frazzled nerves. Impart that Balinese essence to your clients and tae them across the globe to experience Balinese bliss with the penganten melukat.

Adding Essences To Your Practice

Essences can be taken in a variety of ways

Orally: Seven drops taken under the tongue at least twice a day

Topically: Apply between seven drops and 4 oz. to the skin from a spray atomizer or cream

Spray misted: For use in a general situation when there is a common need. For example, spray can help remove bad energy in a group situation or when a client is in a foul mood.

Spa or bath: Place drops directly in the spa or bath water. Add 14 drops to bath water.

Massage: Blend seven drops with chosen oil for extra relaxation.

Self Love Is Honoring The Gift Of Who You Uniquely Are

Invest in You

"There is nothing more beautiful, powerful or free than a woman who truly loves herself!"

Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald believes that feeling good and looking good go hand-in-hand. "Investing in yourself makes you a happier and more satisfied person, which in turn makes your life and the lvies of those around you happier and more satisfying. The way we look can change the way that people treat us and the way we treat others."

Despite enjoying wisdom and patience that come with aging, Dr. Fitzgerald explains that "few of us enjoy new lines and folds." "It's all about looking good for our age–well rested and relaxed, even if life can sometimes leave us tired and a little frazzled," she says. With a down-to-earth, approachble treatment style, Dr. Fitzgerald tailors her recommendations to meet each person's unique goals. "As a person in my early 50s, I can relate to concerns about aging," she says. "i'm very candid with my patients about what I've had done and it helps affirm that you can look refreshed without looking 'done'." Advocating the proverbial "ounce of prevention" approach. Dr. Fitzgerald favors correcting "a little but all along" rather than waiting for substantial changes that make crrection more costly. She also notes that significant premature aging comes from incidental UVA exposure. "You can accumulate yeats of damage thrugh your car windshield alone. The antidote to premature ading is multi-pronged–sun protection, diet, adequate rest and exercise."

Written by Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD

www.rebeccafitzgeraldmd.com