June is National Acne Awareness Month

Help empower clients with the facts. Acne is a medical condition that can be successfully treated with the right medications.

Check out a new website dedicated to the first-ever National Acne Awareness Month: www.acnemonth.com.

Here you can find some great resources to pass on to your clients, including essential acne facts, management tips and myth busters. Help clients learn how to discuss finding the right treatment for their acne.

Did you know that nearly 80% of people will experience some form of acne during their lifetimes? Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States, affecting 40–50 million Americans at any one time, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Even mild acne can benefit from professional treatment.

Chemotherapy drug a new age-reversing face cream?

A drug used to treat deadly cancers of the colon, pancreas and head and neck may be the next new wrinkle in wrinkle reversal -- if you're willing to put up with several days of unsightly and irritated skin.

For all but one of 20 subjects (aged 56 to 85 years old) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Fluorouracil, a chemotherapy agent formulated as a topical cream, improved the texture and look of sun-damaged facial skin after subjects applied it twice daily for two weeks, reports a study published in this week's Archives of Dermatology. The subjects' own assessments were seconded by the clinical observations of the study authors, as well as by a committee of dermatologists who reviewed photos of the subjects' faces, as well as by a molecular assessment of the patients' facial skin by researchers.

But make no mistake about it: The 13 men and seven women who underwent the Fluorouracil treatment were having no day at the spa. Twelve of the 19 subjects who completed the skin regimen reported that the treatment was very or moderately uncomfortable, bringing to the skin's surface many more irritated, scaly patches of pre-cancerous skin lesions than had been evident before treatment.

As the subjects endured itch, redness and fiery irritation, however, a biochemical analysis of their skin cells revealed they were mobilizing for an epidermal renewal. The building blocks for new layers of skin, including Type I and Type III pro-collagen, shot up. By Week 6 following the beginning of treatment, fine wrinkles appeared to relax -- a change that continued to progress at 10 and 24 weeks after treatment. By Week 10, subjects' skin was judged to be significantly softer -- and got softer still 24 weeks after treatment. Darkened "age spots" lightened as did the yellow tinge of sun-damaged skin.

"The remodeling of the dermal matrix, which follows the inflammatory phase of wound-healing, is the mechanism for the improved appearance of photo-damaged skin," the authors wrote. By all accounts, the Fluorouracil cream had injured the subjects' skin, calling forth the body's natural defenses to rebuild it.

"The observed biochemical changes are typical of a wound-healing response," wrote the authors.

Flourouracil has been used since the mid-1960s to treat actinic keratoses, the scaly, patchy, rough skin lesions that are a sign of sun damage and considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. For cancer patients taking Flourouracil as systemic chemotherapy, physicians have noted for many years that after an initial outbreak of red, patchy skin, patients' skin texture changes to resemble the skin of someone decades younger.

Despite complaints about skin irritation and redness, 17 of the subjects in the University of Michigan study said they'd try the treatment again for cosmetic improvement of their skin. And 11 even said they'd pay for it out of their own pocket. The study was funded by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, one of several generic pharmaceutical companies that manufactures Fluorouracil.

P&G Buys The Art of Shaving

Expands its presence in the men's grooming category.

P&G knows what men want. Or at least it's working hard and spending money to find out. On Monday, P&G acquired The Art of Shaving, a prestige men's grooming company. A price wasn't disclosed, but sources suggest P&G paid $60 million for the Miami-based company—about two times 2008 sales.

The acquisition bolsters P&G's already strong presence in the men's grooming category. After all, the company made a huge splash a few years ago with its $57 billion acquisition of Gillette.

But not everyone sees the move as a positive. Said Colin Hession, managing director of specialist personal care consultants, Colin Hession Consulting:

"(The move) sounds original enough, but will it really do the business upstream of Gillette in male grooming? After all, DDF hasn't set the world of upscale skin care on fire yet.Has P&G, unusually for them, maybe missed a trick in not acquiring Colomers' American Crew?Now there's a high end male brand which could do the business in prestige."

The P&G investment comes at a time when men's grooming sales are starting to show their age. According to Euromonitor International, U.S. sales ofmen’s grooming products rose just 1.6% last year to $4.74 billion.

With Gillette, P&G is the 800-pound gorilla in mass, but the acquisition gives the company a foothold in the prestige category, where The Art of Shaving operates 36 retail outlets and has 600 retail partners, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. The brand competes against Molton Brown, Jack Black and Acqua di Parma.

This isn't the first meeting between the two companies. In 2007, The Art of Shaving worked out a deal with P&G to sell special chrome version of Fusion, Gillette's top-selling razor. Despite the $150 price point, Chrome Fusion became The Art of Shaving's bes-selling SKU.

Things are Looking Up at Ulta

First quarter net sales increase 12.3%

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. posted favorable financial results for the first quarter ended May 2, 2009. Net sales increased 12.3% to $268.8 million. Operating income rose 10.8% to $9 million.

Lyn Kirby, Ulta’s president and chief executive officer, stated: “In a difficult retail environment, we continue to build our customer base and grow loyalty to the Ulta brand, as evidenced by the 2% increase in traffic and expansion in our market share. As a result, our comparable store sales were at the top end of our first quarter guidance and with careful expense control we achieved earnings ahead of our guidance. Additionally, the prudent management of working capital and capital investment drove $5.6 million in free cash flow for the quarter.”

“As we begin the second quarter, we remain confident in our ability to win market share by continuing to execute on our core strategies, new brand expansion, and unique merchandising and marketing,” Ms. Kirby continued. “Quarter-to-date, our comparable store sales are consistent with our performance in the first quarter and we are excited about the expanded rollout of Benefit cosmetics that begins this week.”

“With a balanced approach to optimizing both top- and bottom-line performance, we expect to navigate this tough environment while continuing to position Ulta for stronger performance when the economy improves. Our continued focus on inventory management and expense control has resulted in permanent efficiency gains that are expected to improve our profit potential in both the short and long term. We expect the market share gains that we are currently achieving to broaden our loyalty club membership, and we will be poised to capitalize on our strengthened customer base, in a better economy. We remain confident in our 1,000 store target and are prepared to accelerate store growth in 2010 based on the availability of quality real estate,” Ms. Kirby concluded.

During the first quarter, the Company opened nine stores, one each in Opelika, AL; Oro Valley, AZ; Queen Creek, AZ; Brentwood, CA; Fresno, CA; Grand Junction, CO; Rochester Hills, MI; Cherry Hill, NJ; and Horseheads, NY. It ended the first quarter with 320 stores and square footage of 3,334,485, which represents a 21% increase compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the company currently expects net sales in the range of $264 million to $272 million.

L'Oréal Chief Insists the Worst Is Over

Global cosmetics market bottomed out in the Q1 2009.

L'Oréal may be celebrating its 100th anniversary, but company executives are focused on the future. During a press conference to mark the milestone, L'Oréal chief executive Jean-Paul Agon said on Thursday he expected the world cosmetics market to grow slightly, at best, this year and forecast the group's trading to improve in the quarters ahead.

According to Mr. Agon, the industry bottomed out at the end of the first quarter and the worst of the consumer spending slowdown was now behind.

"We are rather confident that the cosmetics market should be indeed at zero or slightly positive this year," he insisted.

FDA Approves New Wrinkle Relaxer

Dysport said to rival Botox in category

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dysport, a "next generation" acetylcholine release inhibitor and neuromuscular blocking agent indicated for the temporary improvement of the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar or frown lines between the brows. Dysport, marketed by Medicis Aesthetics, the distributers of Restylane and Perlane, has been used in over two million treatments worldwide in 27 countries.

Studies and patient reports have shown that Dysport may last up to eight months compared to the four to six months that Botox is effective, according to the company.It has been evaluated for safety and efficacy in clinical studies which included approximately 3,000 patients and 10,000 injections at more than 80 study sites in the U.S.

Male Spa Trends

Wake up and smell the aftershave: ooh, the male breed of beauty

by Ada Polla

Over the past five years, men have become increasingly important clients to the beauty industry, both to product manufacturers and spas. In the U.S. and abroad, we have seen the launch of men’s skin care lines that go beyond shaving essentials and the development of male specific hair care. We have witnessed the opening of men’s grooming spas—such as The Grooming Lounge, Washington, DC, The Quintessential Gentleman, Comptoir de l’Homme—even the emergence of specific vocabulary to analyze the male consumer, the “metrosexual.”
This increased interest in men’s personal care has been accompanied by industry studies, trend reports and spa research that identifies market size, growth rate and tips to appeal to a masculine clientele. But what do men really think about their beauty? What is important to them in grooming, beyond replacing terms such as “mani/pedis” with “nail care” and having spa robes that are longer and not pastel colored?

Link grooming to success in the workplace, power and influence.

Dr. Polla’s conclusions offer a glimpse into strategies to generate more revenue from male clients.

What do they want?

In her book, Les Hommes, ce qui les rend beaux (Men, What Makes Them Beautiful), Barbara Polla, M.D., reveals the male perspective on beauty, grooming and appearance. For her book, Dr. Polla spent one year interviewing men—in cabs, in bars, at work, everywhere—speaking with any man who would talk to her about his beauty routine: European men, American men, young men, mature men, friends, fathers, sons, brothers, artists, business men, men involved in the business of beauty, etc.
Among the American men interviewed were several renowned figures involved in the skin care, spa and esthetics industry, including:
• New York City dermatologist
Roy G. Geronemus, M.D.
• Cofounder of Washington, DC’s premier men’s grooming destination,
The Grooming Lounge, Pirooz Sarshar
• Former manager of New York City’s Mezzanine Spa, Fred Kaminsky
• New York City plastic surgeon specialized in men, George Lefkovitz, M.D.
• Skinstore.com CEO and former COO, Jim Steeb and Cory Pulice, respectively
Translated to English, to follow are some key insights on this particular breed of beauty consumer. Dr. Polla’s conclusions, while not statistically significant, offer a unique glimpse into the world of men’s grooming that can be transformed into strategies for spa owners and operators to adjust their offerings to generate more revenue from male clients. After all, as the conclusions below indicate, men look at themselves in the mirror just as much as women do—they just close the bathroom door first.

Insight #1: Men love to talk about their beauty and their appearance—they are happy that someone is finally asking questions and listening to their answers.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: Do not assume that your male clients are shy and want to be left alone. Interact with them, ask them questions about their beauty habits, their spa experience and recommendations as to how you can further tailor your space and offerings to their needs.

Insight #2: The liberation of man is here: his beauty and grooming routine are freely discussed, after centuries of being “taboo.”
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: Refer to insight #1. Talk, talk, talk. Ask questions and listen.

Insight #3: If and when men are asked to speak about their beauty habits, fear of homosexuality is “official” or “genuine.” For example, straight men are not likely to worry that you will perceive them as homosexual if they openly speak about their grooming habits.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: Have I mentioned the need to talk to your male clients? Think about surveying them. If you have none, but wish to develop this segment of your clientele, poll your father, brothers, husbands, boyfriends and sons about their grooming habits. If they are not coming into your spa, ask them why and determine what you could do to entice them to visit.

In most men-only spas, hair services play a key role. It is often that service that will entice a male consumer to try a grooming space instead of a barbershop.

Do not tell them otherwise

Insight #4: All men consider themselves beautiful, at least until their 50s. Not gorgeous, but definitely attractive.
Suggestions for skin care professionals and spas: Adapt your marketing language. Whereas marketing beauty to women involves creating the feeling that a spa treatment will make them look more attractive, younger, less wrinkled, thinner (all comparative adjectives that play on our feelings of insecurity), attract male consumers by talking about maintenance. They do not need a facial to become more attractive—they are already gorgeous! Rather, they need a facial to maintain their polished look and sex appeal.

Insight #5: Whether women find them beautiful or not is not important to men until they hit their 50s (one exception: their mother must always find them attractive). Instead, they are beautiful for themselves and for other men—this seems to be true as much for straight men as it is for gay men.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: Emphasize the importance of looking good at work—in court, on TV or in a business meeting. Link grooming to power, influence and success in the workplace.

Insight #6: When they reach their 50s, men finally do become anxious about their physical appearance and worry about weight gain, flabbiness of the flesh and loss of hair. At that point, the opinion of women about their appearance and beauty becomes essential to their confidence and well-being.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: If you wish to attract an older male clientele, offer slimming and tightening treatments that focus on the abdomen. For retail products, make sure your selection includes hair products (even if you are a spa and not a salon).

Insight #7: The most important part of a man’s beauty is his hair, whether he is young or old. Loss of hair is associated with loss of virility and control. On the other hand, shaving one’s head (i.e. deliberate baldness) enables men to take back control over their bodies and their virility.

We did realize that hair removal (laser, waxing) is still the number one spa service requested by men (closely followed by massages).

Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: In most exclusively male spas, hair services play a key role. It is often that service that will entice a male consumer to try a grooming space instead of a barbershop. If you are opening a male only space, offer hair services. If you are a traditional day spa trying to develop your male clientele, add hair services if possible. Think of hair broadly (haircuts, but also waxing services). Even if you do not offer hair services, make sure you do offer retail hair products for sale.

Insight #8: The relationship to a man’s father figure is very important in the development of his image of male beauty.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: This one is tough unless you are pursuing a psychology degree. Nevertheless, keep it in mind in case the subject does come up.
Insight #9: Beauty is in being. To be beautiful is to be interesting and powerful: to men, beauty is more than skin deep.
Suggestion for spas: Interesting and powerful is great. Interesting and powerful with soft feet and trimmed nose hairs is even better. Since men still do not take grooming as seriously as women do—they are CEOs and find themselves quite attractive to begin with—take a light-hearted and humorous approach to marketing to men (groominglounge.com is a perfect example of how to achieve this).

Insight #10: European interviewees consistently—and without cues—find Sean Connery to be the most attractive man alive. He has strength, cynicism, elegance and beauty of character. American interviewees cited Brad Pitt first: strength, self-confidence, youth and plastic beauty.
Suggestion for skin care professionals and spas: Invite Sean Connery and Brad Pitt to your spa!

Preferences, needs

When developing or adjusting your spa concept to the male market, do read the industry data and trend reports on the matter. But remember to also speak to the men in your world about their grooming needs, preferences and pet peeves. At our own Forever Laser Institut medispa in Switzerland, we conducted a survey of our male clients (approximately 15 percent of our guests). While we didn’t find out who they believed was the most attractive man alive, we did realize that hair removal (laser, waxing) is still the number one spa service requested by men, closely followed by massages, and that they would prefer to sit in a waiting room filled with beautiful women rather than beautiful men.

Special thanks to Barbara Polla, M.D., and Rachel Johnson for their help with this article.

Ada Polla is the cocreator of the skin care line Alchimie Forever. She is on the editorial board of PCI magazine, a member of the ISPA marketing committee, a contributor to numerous trade magazines and a frequent speaker.

Syneron ReFirme Skin Tightening And Facial Wrinkle Reduction Treatment At Metamorphosis Day Spa

Lift years off their faces without surgery

A revolutionary new technology from Syneron, Refirme™ combines radiofrequency (RF) with infrared (IR) light. During treatment, the two work synergistically to gently heat the skin in the area the hand piece is applied to. The outcome is two fold: immediate tightening of the existing collagen fibers in the skin provide a visible lift and firming of sagging skin! The effect is so noticeable, that it has my patients gasp from joy and disbelief when I show them the mirror half way through (comparing treated to untreated side) and at the end of the session. But wait, there is more to this! What you see, as impressive as it is, is not all that you get! The long term effect is also important: the skin perceives the treatments as a sign that it needs to rejuvenate itself and revs up collagen production for 6-12 months after the last treatment! Thus the immediate tightening effect is followed by a lasting regeneration and improvement.

Syneron Refirme™ ST can be used to gently lift and tighten the nasolabial lines, the jowls, soften the crows feet and elevate the eyebrows, with no surgery required. Body areas such as loose skin around the belly button, inner arms and inner thighs have also been responsive to the treatment

Best of all, the procedure involves minimal discomfort (however, we do offer topical anesthetic cream to those who prefer it). This is completely different from other technologies, such as Thermage, that have been reported to be rather painful, and often have to be preformed under sedation. Those technologies are also considered by experts to be less safe and with significant potential side effects. The technical reason behind this is the difference in technology. The bipolar RF utilized by Refirme™ ensures safety by allowing the RF to pass only between the two poles of the hand piece platform, limiting the RF effect only to that small, well defined area. Thermage on the other hand utilizes monopolar RF, which keeps traveling, until the natural resistance of the skin wears out its energy. This becomes significant in areas such as around the eyes, where precision is extremely important, or the neck, where excessive monopolar RF was shown to cause thinning of the fat layer and leave depressions. The Syneron Refirme™ treatments are also less time consuming than Titan, a different technology, using IR without the help of RF.

But most importantly, the immediate visible improvement is unparalleled by any other technology! Lasting results take approximately 5 in-office treatments with Syneron Refirme™ ST. After each treatment, you are up and ready to continue your day, perhaps a bit rosy cheeked, but with no downtime required. The only thing you have to lose is that loose skin!

Holistic Beauty and Skin Health: How Whole is Holistic? Part 1

By: Jimm Harrison

What does it mean to be holistic? Where does holistic begin, and where does it end? A holistic connection between mind and body is recognized as an important aspect of beauty and skin care, though the current concept of mind, body and spirit is vague, nonscientific and limited. This makes it difficult to effectively use holistic in the practice of esthetics and spa therapy. A clear definition and insight into holism can help to develop a model useful in the business and practice of beauty and wellness.

Holism is defined as the understanding that the parts make up a unified whole. The parts are no longer viewed as individual units, but are analyzed in relation to the whole organism. Holistic health and beauty perceives the organs and parts of the body, emotions and the environment as interconnected with an affect on the overall health of the person and, ultimately, the skin. The question is, how whole is holistic? Is a person a closed container of mind, body and spirit that stops at the skin’s boundary, or does it go further? How far out does the holistic effect go?

The connection between beauty and health

What is beauty? This question is seldom asked and rarely has a clear-cut answer. Beauty is often stated as being in the eye of the beholder, but this is hardly a basis to support a multibillion dollar industry. There must be more to beauty that drives people to achieve it. For those in the business or pursuit of beauty, there is value to having a clear beauty definition and well-defined beauty goals.

Beauty has its roots in biology and is a means of attraction. Nature’s goal is to reproduce and continue a species by producing the strongest offspring. To do this, both parents—or seeds or cells—must be in the most vital, healthy condition. Beauty is used in nature as a visual representation of health.1

If beauty is health, then a beauty goal would also be a goal of health. To achieve health and beauty, a holistic approach is most effective in addressing all conditions that may influence or cause an imbalance to the system.

Emotions and skin health

Mind-body is the most commonly made holistic association. Emotional stress has an influential impact on, and can instigate, disease and skin damage. The impact stress has on the skin is evident in several conditions, such as hives, acne, psoriasis and eczema. These conditions are either directly caused or exacerbated by stress.

The body releases signaling molecules through thought and stress. These neurochemicals and hormones physically alter the activity and functions of the body. They may cause inflammatory responses, which can have profoundly negative effects on the skin. For example, the stress hormone cortisol, released during stressful situations and the fight-or-flight response, is known for its inflammatory effect and can cause premature aging of the body and skin.2

Stress-induced glucocorticoids also were found to be directly responsible for the breakdown of the cutaneous barrier function3 and transepidermal water loss,4 resulting in psoriasis5 and atopic dermatitis, and the emotional stress-induced neuropeptide Substance-P was found to play a role in acne.6, 7

The responsibility of the practitioner is to establish if stress is a potential cause of imbalance, though it’s not always obvious, and select a remedy or treatment that will address both the stress and the physical condition. Holistically, your business should be representative of the stress-free and relaxed mind-body, and you should offer tips or provide classes on reducing stress.

The environment and the skin

Living environment and conditions are another consideration in the holistic evaluation. The most obvious of environmental concerns are those familiar to your geographical environment, such as common allergens; sun exposure, which includes elevation; and atmospheric conditions of moist or dry air. Other concerns include: airborne toxins or pollutants from nearby industrial manufacturing, mills or farms; contaminated tap water; or environmentally unsound waste areas. A toxic environment may manifest as allergies or atopic dermatitis, but it also may just as easily result in a skin condition with a cause more difficult to identify.

Areas producing high amounts of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from wires, power plants or other sources and radio frequencies (RF) from microwave towers and ovens also have been implicated as a cause of disease8, 9 and may directly or indirectly affect skin. The EMFs from cellular phones are debatably another potential source of biological disruption.10, 11 EMFs and RFs also may alternately create emotional stress with the resulting effect on skin.

Home interiors too have potentially high amounts of EMFs or RFs, as well as environmental toxins. Providing awareness of environmental and home pollutants through available literature or Internet suggestions, such aswww.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=static.health, will offer a valuable service to your clientele and support the image of a green business.

Personality and philosophy

Personality and individual philosophies can be used as diagnostic elements for their affect on skin condition. The Hippocratic temperaments and the doshas of ayurvedic medicine are systems that classify personality and physical types for use in diagnosis and treatment. Matching skin to personality may be obvious—a nervous personality equals stressed skin and congested skin fits a sluggish personality—but deeper observations break from the obvious and look at stubbornness, fear, anger, type A and worrisome personalities, where the clinician may observe the personality and holistically connect withskin condition.

A person’s philosophical viewpoint is also a consideration. Positive or negative, spiritualist or realist, and even political viewpoint may be a subtle defining factor in skin condition. Philosophical viewpoints and personality types will likely parallel emotional balance. Be conscious that your business philosophy often will attract a philosophically like-minded clientele, and your treatment options should correspond to that.

Lifestyle, diet, work habits and social habits

Lifestyle is reflected in the skin’s condition, and prescribed treatments are only as effective as a person’s habits will allow. No sleep, stressful work habits and a party-all-the-time lifestyle will not allow for proper digestion, circulation or detoxification, which ultimately will be seen in the skin condition.

It’s well known a poor diet is a detriment to skin care. The nutrients from a balanced, whole food diet with supplementation will maintain a healthy body, mind and skin, so it’s holistically beneficial for the practitioner to have a basic understanding of diet and nutrients.

Exercise, proper rest and playtime also have their benefits. They increase the health and emotional well-being of the individual and their skin. A business based on beauty wellness may do well to include holistic services such as a professional lifestyle coach, nutritionist and fitness center, or offer informational resources to counteract a negative lifestyle.

World issues and interconnectedness

What effect does a struggling economy, desolation in third world countries, war and political chaos have on the skin? Thought it’s only speculate on this issue, the potential imbalance on health that may occur should not be overlooked.

The modern perspective of the universe sees interconnectedness between all things. In this context, joy in one corner has a joyful influence on everything everywhere, and the same applies to pain, suffering and cruelty. Be aware of the emotional impact this may have, with each person responding uniquely to world eventsand energies.

Your business may counteract negative world issues through recycling programs, volunteerism and other positive actions that, in turn, emit positive influence within the interconnected whole. In this context, your positive action will have a positive healing stimulus on the skin of your clientele, as well as on your business.

The quantum aspect

Quantum, or subatomic, science presents a mysterious and altered understanding of physical reality. Reality is not necessarily as it is perceived. It can be said people create the physical world through their perception, senses and thoughts.12 Interconnectedness becomes evident at the subatomic level where boundaries, space and time dissolve and are not as you tend to believe.

Energy work, such as Reiki, along with meditation, prayer healing, feng shui, and other ancient rituals and philosophies, find support from insight into the quantum sciences. A basis in this science is where a holistic model can really take flight and expand the possibilities of how mind, body, spirit, lifestyle, relationships, world crises and interrelated connection among all things may affect skin.

What effect does your attitude, the ambience of the spa, the camaraderie of the staff, the neighborhood of the business or the competence of the manager have on the outcome of a treatment? Based on a quantum viewpoint, these are dynamics that may certainly, and holistically, influence the outcome.

The holistic model

Bear in mind, the information presented here is meant to develop an awareness for the potential of a holistic model. There are no rules regarding holism, except the understanding that all parts work in concert and are not isolated, independent pieces. How far you take this, or how whole you see holistic, is guided by your own sense of holism. Part II of this series will give suggestions regarding holistic treatment options, analyzing each topic and matching it to ingredients, formulation, techniques and business models.

REFERENCES

1. N Etcoff, Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty, Anchor Publishing Inc., Harpswell, ME (2000)

2. S Talbott, Cortisol Control and the Beauty Connection, Hunter House Publishers, Alameda, CA (2007)

3. EH Choi, BE Brown, D Crumrine, S Chang, MQ Man, PM Eias and KR Feingold, Mechanisms by which psychologic stress alters cutaneous permeability barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity, J Invest Dermatol 124 587–595 (2005)

4. M Shahidullah, EJ Ralffle, AR Rimmer and W Frain-Bell, Transepidermal water loss in patients with dermatitis, Br J Dermatol 81 (1969)

5. BB Arnetz, B Fjellner, P Eneroth and A Kallner, Stress and psoriasis: psychoendocrine and metabolic reactions in psoriatic patients during standardized stressor exposure, Psychosom Med 47 528–541 (1985)

6. M Toyoda and M Morohashi, New aspects in acne inflammation, Dermatology 206(1) 17–23 (2003)

7. WJ Lee, HD Jung, HJ Lee, BS Kim, SJ Lee and W Kim, Influence of substance-P on cultured sebocytes, Arch Dermatol Res, July 300(6) 311–6 (2008)

8. IM Thornton, Out of time: a possible link between mirror neurons, autism and electromagnetic radiation, Med Hypotheses, 67(2) 378–82 (2006)

9. Microwave & Radio Frequency Radiation, Communications Workers of America (CWA) (Accessed on Dec 28, 2008 from www.cwa-union.org/issues/osh/articles/page.jsp?itemID=27339127)

10. Researcher sees cancer risk from mobiles, International Herald Tribune, Jul 24, 2008 (Accessed on Dec 28, 2008 from www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/24/business/cellphone.php)

11. What are the health risks associated with mobile phones and their base stations?, World Health Organization, Dec 5, 2005 (Accessed on Dec 28, 2008 from www.who.int/features/qa/30/en/)

12. FA Wolf, Mind Into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit, Moment Point Press, Inc., Needham, MA (2001)

Anti-Aging Products Top Skin Care Sellers in 2009

Anti-aging is often the name of the game when it comes to the spa, and anti-aging treatments and retail hinge on quality products. According to this new study by Mintel, anti-aging skin care products are beginning to become the most purchased skin care items.

Americans are pouring more money into the fountain of youth known as anti-aging skin care. According to a new report from market research firm Mintel, sales of anti-aging skin care products rose to more than $1.6 billion in 2008. For the first time, anti-aging sales surpassed sales of facial cleansers, which garnered nearly $570 million in 2008.

The market for anti-aging skin care has grown rapidly during the past couple of years, per Mintel. U.S. sales rose 13% from 2006 to 2008, outpacing general facial skin care sales, which grew less than 11%. Mintel expects the market to remain robust throughout the next five years, growing approximately 20% through 2013.

“Anti-aging won’t fall to the recession,” comments Kat Fay, senior beauty and personal care product analyst at Mintel. “Looking young is extremely important to many women, especially baby boomers, and it’s not an issue they’re willing to compromise on because of tightened budgets. Many women see anti-aging skin care as a reasonably priced investment in their appearance and well-being.”

Innovative product launches

Emerge Labs fights age with science with their new Swiss Apple Stem Cell Serum.
Skin Stem Cell Serum (Nutraceautical) has been specifically formulated to allow plant stem cells to preserve and protect skin stem cells. The Skin Stem Cell Serum (Mallus Domestica) is a liposomal preparation based on the stem cells of a rare Swiss apple. A novel technology enabling the cultivation of a rare and endangered species of apple (Uttwiler Spatlauber) has allowed for plant stem cells to be obtained. Thanks to this technology plant stem cells are now able to ensure longevity of skin cells. This innovative skin serum protects longevity and combats chronological aging while delaying senescence of skin cells. It also protects and preserves the youthful look and vitality of your skin.

This a truly innovative serum dramatically reduces the appearance of deep wrinkles and fine lines by protecting and rejuvenating your own stem cells. Emerge Swiss Apple Stem Cell Serum uses an exclusive formulation high percentage of PhytoCellTech®, Matrixyl 3000®, and Collagen® that magnify the regenerative results in just days not weeks!

Results Of independent study users saw:
100% Noticed softer, smoother skin.
91% Saw a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and sagging, firm skin.

Active Ingredients
PhytoCellTech® - a novel plant cell culture technology has been invented to cultivate dedifferentiated callus cells from a rare Swiss apple. These apple stem cells are rich in epigenetic factors and metabolites, assuring the longevity of skin cells.
Collagen® - It is one of the most important scleroproteins of the connective tissue occurring as fibers. Collagen is the main structure element of the skin and is therefore largely responsible for its characteristic properties. It provides excellent smoothing and hydrating qualities with superb skin feel.
Matrixyl 3000® - Increases cell turnover, firmness, elasticity and smoothness and brings about fine line reduction.

Change of Weather May Bring Rosacea Flare-ups

With the summer months—and temperatures—quickly approaching, skin care professionals should be aware of how the change of season can affect people with rosacea.

While the sunny days of summer may be associated with outdoor fun, new survey results show that it is also the time when people with rosacea must take the most precautions to prevent flare-ups of this unsightly, red-faced disorder now estimated to affect more than 14 million Americans. For many, the survey also found that even the cold days of winter can present special challenges.

In a recent survey of 1,190 rosacea patients conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS) and published in Rosacea Review, 85% said their rosacea is affected by changes in seasons. Nearly half said their symptoms are at their worst when hot weather arrives, and 46% said they have to make the most lifestyle adjustments during this time to reduce the likelihood of a flare-up of signs and symptoms.

"The sun and hot weather are such common rosacea triggers that it should not be surprising that rosacea is often aggravated in the summer," said Dr. Lisa Maier, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan. "Everyone should minimize sun exposure and use sunscreen during all seasons, but rosacea patients should be even more cautious than most."

In addition to using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, rosacea sufferers affected by sun and heat are advised to stay in a cool, air-conditioned environment during midday or when the weather is especially hot. Overexertion is also a common rosacea trigger, and sipping a cold drink or chewing on ice chips can help prevent or reduce the facial flushing that often accompanies strenuous activity.

The survey found that cold weather may be problematic for many rosacea sufferers as well. Thirty-five percent of all respondents and 46% of those who live in the North said their symptoms are at their worst during cold weather, when raw wind and biting temperatures can irritate already-sensitive facial skin.

Nearly a third of the survey respondents and 44% of those in northern areas of the country said they make lifestyle adjustments to ward off rosacea outbreaks during winter, such as covering their face with a scarf before going outdoors or avoiding facial flushing by steering clear of the piping hot beverages often served on chilly days.

The good news is that rosacea flare-ups can often be successfully prevented. The survey found that, regardless of seasonal changes, 87% of the respondents said medical therapy and making lifestyle changes had helped reduce their rosacea signs and symptoms. "If patients notice that their condition tends to worsen during a certain season, they should be on the alert to take whatever seasonal steps may be needed to avoid their personal triggers," Dr. Maier said. "They should also talk to their dermatologist for further guidance on managing their condition."

Rosacea is a chronic disorder that is often characterized by exacerbations and remissions. It typically begins at any time after age 30 as a flushing or redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and small blood vessels may appear. Without treatment, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases, the nose may become swollen from excess tissue. In many patients, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot.

Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, its signs and symptoms can be controlled with medical therapy and lifestyle changes to avoid factors that may aggravate the condition. The most common rosacea triggers include hot or cold weather, sun exposure, emotional stress, wind, heavy exercise, alcohol, hot baths, spicy foods, humidity, indoor heat, certain skin-care products and heated beverages.