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How to prevent your pre-teen daughter from showing her age

2011-02-03T18:38:00Z

How young is too young to begin undermining the self-esteem of our children?

Walmart set to launch Geo Girl - Skin Care and Make-Up for environmentally conscious, tech savvy, pre-teens.

When I first heard the news that Walmart plans to launch Geo Girl, a skin care and make-up line with a target demographic of girls between the ages of 8 - 12, I was appalled to say the least!

While some may say that being as how I do not have children of my own, I shouldn't be allowed to have an opinion; that I can't possibly grasp the day-to-day struggles of a child who just wants to fit in, be popular, be well-liked by her peers, and of course - be told she's pretty. To that I say, you are correct, I do not have biological children of my own. However, what I do have is years of experience with not just one, but hundreds of tweens, teens and adults alike who suffer from low self-esteem and perceived body issues due to our societies standards of what's deemed attractive - or not. The NYU Child Study Center reports that girls’ self esteem peaks when they are about 9 years-old and then declines steeply. We can all thank mass media and money mongers like Pacific World, the manufacturer of Geo Girl, for that one.

Let's start with the basics - a target audience that begins with an 8 year-old will undoubtedly spill over to those who are only 6 or 7, perhaps even the kindergarten playground will get it on this 2 billion dollar profit scheme. Now, imagine for a moment those same innocent, full of life girls ten years later. Will they be able to run out the door fresh faced, or will she be late to school because she overslept and couldn't get her day started without first putting on her make-up? Her "mask" if you will; the one that she has been told to hide behind because she's just not -fill in the blank- enough without it. (My bet is on the latter scenario being far more common than the first.)

According to the marketing team behind Geo Girl, the formulas are designed for 'young skin' and contain natural ingredients like white willow bark, chamomile, lavender and calendula, as well as anti-oxidants which are said to prevent aging.

I know of very few women (and some enlightened men) over the age of 35 who wouldn't give away a prized possession in order to regain their youthful cells of yesteryear. The fact is, everything slows down as we age, as in - age past our teen years. As we grow older we become blatantly aware of this process. Unless of course you're 11 years-old and you simply don't know better than to succumb to the marketing genius behind Geo Girl. Aware of it or not, Joel Carden, executive vice president, marketing and sales for Pacific World, is sending the message that once a girl enters her teen years, she is in fact over-the-hill.

Including ingredients such as white willow bark (salicylic acid, an exfoliant used to aid in speeding up cellular turnover), is in my humble opinion nothing short of absurd. What is the logic behind an 8 year-old needing to exfoliate her skin? Trust me, unless she has a medical condition, there is no logic - or reason! Granted, children are growing up much quicker in our current day, and even entering puberty at younger ages, but does that mean they are actually growing older more rapidly also? Or is our culture propagating the message that age is not simply a number, and if you're over the age of 8, you better not waste another day looking as old as you feel.

Aside from the ridiculousness of including anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties in a cosmetic line geared toward children, I can't help but to also have another point of contention with Geo Girl. Through their creatively labeled "tech savvy" products, G.G. encourages our youth to speak in letters rather than actually using their words. We've all seen the acronyms - lol, gr8, c u ltr - the list is endless, and does nothing more than lower our culture's already sub-par standards as it pertains to acceptable spelling and grammar. Clearly, Geo Girl prefers pretty over smart. And to me, that's just dumb!

If there happens to be an upside to this not-so-ingenious way of exploiting the deterioration of children simply being allowed to have a childhood, it would be that Geo Girl's packaging is eco-friendly and supports recycling. The other side of that coin is that if the products weren't manufactured in the first place, we wouldn't have to be concerned with Madison, Addison (oh, why didn't you have a son?) and her BFFs actually putting the used tube of mascara in the proper waste container.

Perhaps I should send a little note to Mr. Carden and suggest he investigates a future collaboration between Geo Girl and Toddlers and Tiaras - why stop the money train at 8 year-olds?

I realize this was one major tangent, but I am truly saddened and deeply concerned for the future of our youth. Am I alone on this one? Do you think it's appropriate for pre-teens to wear make-up? If so, how much, when and where? And more importantly, how much would you be willing to budget for this "luxury"?

No Kidding, Kidman?

2011-01-24T16:57:00Z

Nicole Kidman Admits to Experimenting with Botox

The Australian born actress admits to having injectable treatments.

Nicole Kidman has denied for years that she's had any work done, although many have speculated she's had everything from a facelift to a nose job. She's finally admitted to having some work done as she told German magazine TV Movie that she has tried Botox.

According to Us Weekly, when asked how she stays wrinkle free, Kidman said, "I've tried a lot of things, but apart from working out and a good diet, most things don't help. I even tried Botox."

Kidman was clear though that she is not a regular at the cosmetic surgeon. "I didn't like how my face looked afterward," she said. "Now I don't use it anymore -- and I can move my forehead again."

Re-post of original article:
American Health and Beauty

Is anyone actually shocked by this news? And with Hollywood being the mecca of cosmetic procedures, why would an A-list celebrity like Nicole Kidman actually try to deny that she's just as conscious about her appearance as everyone else in H-Wood?

How Hair Free Should Men Be?

2011-01-13T18:00:00Z

Inquiring minds want to know: How much should a man dare to bare?

Like it or not, hair removal is no longer just for women. But, when it comes to men removing their follicles...what's hot, and what's not?

While some men (and the ladies they mingle with) are perfectly content with keeping their bodily locks clean and tidy from the neck up, many have begun to adopt the notion that bald is better.

It's safe to assume we can all agree that the side-effects associated with razors and waxing are not only unappealing, but the comfort factor is severely lacking also. Stubble, ingrown hairs and razor rashes just aren't good for anyone. So, why suffer? Once you've made the decision to (or, you've been cajoled into) permanent hair reduction treatments ...where do you start, and where do you end?

Man or woman: What is your preference when it comes to hair removal (or not) for men?

Woolly Mammoth or Barely There? Where's the line when it comes to body hair removal for men?
	Just the basics - ears, nose and neckline.
	Keep going a little lower - I like a smooth chest and abs.
	I'll take the "basics" plus a follicle free backside.
	Coming and going - take it all off from the waist up.
	The line forms here - below the belt.
	The aerodynamic model - hair free arms and legs.
	From head to toe - take it all.
	Some, not none - just a trim, please.
	Leave it be - braid it, twist it, rub it around.

pollcode.com free polls

Laser Hair Removal: Facts and Fiction

2011-01-10T15:12:00Z

It may be mid-January, and parts of our country are still suffering frigid cold temperatures, but before we know it, we'll be trading in our wool sweaters and mittens for shorts and flip-flops. With that thought also comes to mind the inability to hide our winter coats under layers of clothes. Gone will be the days (or perhaps weeks) of embracing overgrown follicles, only to be replaced by shaving, waxing and tweezing.

If the idea of showing off smooth, hair free, sun protected skin entices you, now is the time to start planning for the warmer days ahead. Proper preparation requires knowledge. So, let us get started with Part 1 of Laser Hair Removal: Facts and Fiction.

Click here to contact Emerging Aesthetics to schedule your
FREE Laser Hair Removal consultation.

Laser Hair Removal and Your Skin Type

"Before starting laser hair removal , it's important to know which type of lasers are safe and effective for your skin type.

There are six skin types, I - VI as follows.

Skin Type I - Caucasian, fair and typically Northern European or Scandinavian.
Skin Type II - Normally Caucasian, fair and associated with European descent. English, German, Russian etc.
Skin type III - Includes Caucasians of Mediterranean descent and some lighter skinned Hispanics, Italians, Spanish, and Greeks. Typically, light-skinned Hispanics are from South America.
Skin Type IV - Medium-skinned Hispanics, Asians, and Persians or other Middle Easterners.
Skin Type V - Light skinned North Africans or African Americans.
Skin Type VI - Dark skinned Africans.

Now that you know skin type, below are a few lasers commonly used for laser hair removal. Three accepted types of Class IV medical lasers for hair removal are:

The Diode Laser
The Alexandrite Laser
The Nd:Yg Laser

Diode Lasers. The Lumenis Lightsheer is the most common hair removal laser. It is a "Diode laser" and many practitioners consider it the gold standard for laser hair removal. The Lightsheer works well for skin types I-IV and may be used on higher skin types (according to the manufacturer) if certain models of this equipment are used.

Alexandrite Lasers. The Alexandrite Laser is less commonly used than the Diode laser but is very effective for laser hair removal in lighter skin types. It is not normally used for skin types IV, V and VI because there is a risk of hyperpigmentation (a change in skincolor) and or blistering. Cynosure is a leading manufacturer of Alexandrite lasers.

Long Pulsed Nd:Yg lasers. The long pulsed Nd:Yg laser is used for darker skin types and very thick coarse hair. The physical properties of this laser allow it to penetrate more deeply than the other two lasers, thus bypassing the upper layers of skin that contain higher levels of melanin in darker skin types. One common model of long pulsed Nd:Yg is the Sciton Profile.

While it can be confusing to find the right practitioner and the right laser for your particular skin type, taking the time to understand the differences between these laser hair removal devices will ultimately lead to better and safer outcomes for you."

Re-post of original article
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Deepak Chopra on Anti-Aging

2011-01-05T15:55:00Z

Deepak Chopra shares his revolutionary ideas on how meditation NOT medication can reverse aging.

Chopra tells Dr. Oz that we have the power to turn on certain good genes and turn off bad genes through the way we interact with the world. He says with tools like exercise, getting good sleep and proper stress management, you can treat a host of common aging problems like cardiovascular diseases, inflammation and even certain kinds of cancer.

Deepak Chopra on Anti-Aging

For the sake of your health and well-being (with an added bonus of anti-aging), please take 5 more minutes to learn and watch the following video as Deepak Chopra guides you through a meditation that you can do at home. He explains how to be a silent witness and why this can reduce your stress. All it takes is a few minutes to get centered.

Web Exclusive: Deepak's Meditation

Welcoming Change

2011-01-04T17:04:00Z

Welcome 2011!

How are you doing with your resolutions? Are you going strong or already starting to backslide into old habits and routines?

We all know that change is rarely easy. However, knowledge is power; being properly prepared with the right tools and expectations will certainly aid in making your resolutions successful!

How to Keep a Resolution

May your new year be happy, healthy and progressive!

New Year, New You!

2010-12-31T17:00:00Z

In just a few short hours the ball will drop and we'll be ringing in the New Year. Once you've recovered from the festivities, be sure to put your well-being at the top of your 2011 To-Do list.

Here are 5 simple reminders that are sure to make your skin happy and healthy in 2011...

- Drink, drink, drink!
After you've toasted the New Year, it's time to get back on track by consuming at least .05 ounces of water for every pound of body weight daily. Not a fan of the clear liquid? Add a slice of your favorite fruit to spruce up the taste.

- Glow from the inside out.
We all want to look fabulous on our big night out. However, if you aren't properly nourishing your body, your skin will tell on you! Eating anti-oxidant rich foods such as berries, nuts and fish will keep you glowing long past midnight.

- Get plenty of of Beauty Sleep.
Chances are likely that you'll be skipping a few hours of sleep tonight. But, let's face it - lack of sleep doesn't look good on anyone...neither do pillow creases across your cheeks. So be sure to get plenty of face-up zzzz's.

- Don't skip the SPF!
While the sun may not be present when the clock strikes 12, it will come out tomorrow. Protecting your skin against the sun's harmful rays is your first line of defense against the signs of aging. Forgo SPF 15 and opt for 30 or higher.

- Shed the dead...cells that is.
Ringing in a New Year can be a fresh start...an opportunity to rid yourself of the things that aren't serving a positive purpose. Dull, ruddy skin isn't good for anyone, and should be left behind with 2010. As we age, cellular regeneration slows down. Regular resurfacing and rejuvenation treatments accelerate the turn-over process; fresh, new cells produce a more youthful appearance.

Do you have self-improvement goals for 2011? What healthy new habits will you embrace? How will you enhance your lifestyle?

Happy New Year everyone! May 2011 find you becoming the best you possible!

Fabulous Face or Fanny?

2010-12-29T15:58:00Z

Who doesn't want it all? Unfortunately, the latest news reported by The Today Show states that women may now have to choose between their face and their fanny. There is some good news, and it comes in the form of a visit to your favorite facial artist. (READ MORE)

Real or Fake? Plastic Surgeon Impersonator Arrested

2010-12-27T17:22:00Z

While there are some things that we all naturally take for granted, the credentials of your surgeon, physician or medical aesthetic profession isn't one of them! Never be intimidated to ask for proof of education and certifications. (READ MORE)

Is a Liquid Face Lift for You?

2010-12-27T01:09:00Z

Do you look in the mirror, pull back the sides of your cheeks and wonder, "when did that happen?" Or, how about lifting up that new found chin that just appeared over-night? Feeling exasperated by the sands of time, but not ready to undergo the knife? Going liquid could quickly and virtually painlessly resolve those nagging little sagging parts. (READ MORE)