Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions

I see so many truly gorgeous women and men every day who are obviously working very hard to keep their bodies toned, spending time and money on great skin care products to keep their skin looking younger and healthier.  In addition, I know of women and men who have gone to very expensive lengths to get tummy tucks, breast augmentation, botox and other injectables.  However, all too often, women and men alike neglect a very important part of their apparance that can easily add years to an otherwise younger face or body:  their HAIR.

Your hair, condition of your hair, color and style can shave years off of your chronological age, or, unfortunately, add years…depending upon how you care for your hair and how you work with your dermatologist and/or stylist to truly address hair and anti-aging hair products and styles.

First of all, as we age, it is normal for our hair to thin.  The diameter of the hair shaft gets smaller, so those thinner strands make your hair style look like it has less volume.   The number of folicles may not change, but overall thickness and volume will for most men and many women.  Furthermore, this thinner hair shaft is more prone to breaking, so damage is more prevalent and is more obvious with a thinner head of hair.

You can get medical treatments for thinning hair, as stress, changes in diet, iron deficiencies and declining estrogen and hormonal levels take their toll on our hair as well.  Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about products with a 2 percent minoxidil solution, (known as Rogaine, over the counter) as that is the only FDA-approved treatment for female pattern baldness.  For male pattern baldness there are other treatments, such as a once-a-day pill called Propecia.  However, Propecia is NOT for use for women with thinning hair.  Unfortunately, there are all too many very expensive treatments that are sold as thinning hair solutions that may only thin your wallet.  Be sure to ask your dermatologist first!

Also, as we age, our hair can lose lustre and shine.  Why?  Our scalp gets drier and drier as our skin produces less ceramides and our oil glands produce less oil.  Dyes can add to the problem, as well as other harsh chemicals or treatments that we apply to our hair and scalp.  Work with your stylist to get the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as heat protection products for blow drying and straightening, gloss products, shine sprays and other treatments and solutions that can add shine and gloss to your hair.    You can also ask your dermatologist for suggestions regarding your scalp health and how to best address any scalp issues that may be impacting your hair, hair volume and lustre.

Here are some additional solutions to dealing with aging hair:

*  Too many people dye their hair either too dark, or too light.  If you dye your hair too dark, it can make you appear much older, as the contrast is simply too harsh.  If you dye your hair too light, it will wash you out and age you very quickly.  Work with your stylist to find the right color option for your hair, hair style, hair condition, skin tone and age.  Let’s face it, while we may have been beach blonde kids, we may not be destined to be beach blonde adults!  You can still find a great, attractive, youthful color that will create an overall youthful appearance without adding years to your appearance.

*  Too many people stick to a hair style that worked for them 10, 20, even 30 years ago.  For example, I still see way too many women working the still, feathered, high volume bang look from the 80’s.  While that worked for us when we were in our teens or twenties, it does not work for us in our forties!  The overly stiff hair styles can add years, as well as severely damage the thinning hair shafts when you brush out those styles.  Find a style that is softer, current, chic and age-appropriate.  Sometimes it is a good thing to let go of the past, and move forward to a new hair style that will shave years off of your look!

Guys, comb-overs simply don’t work.  And, ladies, comb-overs don’t work for us, either!  Again, work with your stylist to find style options that can minimize the appearance of a thinner area on your scalp, or an area that is balding.  There are options such as wiglets or hair pieces that can provide a natural look, when they are selected and used properly. 

Also, many women feel that if they add layers, they will automatically and magically add volume.  That is not necessarily true of thinning hair.  Opt for longer layers, which can add volume, not several shorter layers throughout your hair style.

*  Too many women, and sometimes even men, create very severe, pulled back or slicked back hair styles.  I love to wear a ponytail, however, I am wearing them much looser than I did years ago.  Not only does that severe look add years to your appearance, but it can also cause a lot of damage to your hair shaft that is more delicate.  You can still work a fun ponytail, but wear one that is looser and add some lift at the crown to create a more youthful ponytail look.    All too often, those slicked back hair styles only accentuate how thin your hair truly is, and you can opt for a hair style that has more volume and texture.

*  Too many people leave their hair too long, limp and lifeless.  I am the first to admit to wanting to have longer hair as I associate that with a more youthful look.  However, if you are going to wear your hair longer, you should ensure that it gets proper, frequent trims and that you add some volume to your hair with volumizing products (not stiff hairspray!).  There are many volumizers that your stylist can recommend, many even from the drug or convenience store that are affordable and effective at bringing lift and volume to your longer hair styles.

I can attest to recently getting six inches cut off of the length of my hair and getting immediate feedback on how much younger I looked, better rested…even asked if I had done facial treatments!  Getting rid of the excess hair, the damaged and lifeless ends truly brought more bounce, volume and youth to my hair AND my appearance!

*  Too many women wear bangs that are too severe and blunt.  Yes, bangs can be cheaper than botox for hiding some fine lines in the forehead.  But, the wrong bang style can actually add years to your face.  Get your bangs cut soft and a bit fingy, and brushing them slightly to the side creates a far more youthful look and feel.  Avoid the “wispy” bangs, as they will look, well, wispy…and can make your hair look thinner.

Work with your dermatologist to get great suggestion on medications and treatments, and work closely with your stylist to get the right color, cut and products.  One of the best pieces of advice I can give is that sometimes it can simply be time to get a new stylist.  Find someone you know with great hair, find out who their stylist is.  I have even asked women that I have seen in restaurants, at the mall, at the grocery store who does their hair!  Often, we get caught in a hair rut…and our stylist can be in a hair rut, too!  They may think that they are doing the right thing by giving us what we ask for, however, a great stylist will professionally steer you in the right direction for color and cut and you will love the results!  Or, they may be putting you in a look that “everyone” else has that is simply not right for you at all. You CAN look years younger with the right hair color, a great cut and products that give your hair fantastic, natural volume and sheen!

I have long struggled with a variety of skin issues, if my skin is not breaking out with adult acne, it is reacting to a beauty or skin care product due to my rosacea. My skin is equal parts dry, oily, sensitive and downright frustrating!   As stated in previous posts, I try product after product…after product, to get to my desired skin care results…healthy, glowing, younger-looking and blemish-free skin.  Is that really too much to ask for?!

I find it really irritating (and not just to my skin!) that I need a degree in chemistry to even read the ingredients on most make up or skin care products. Giving up on all of those chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients, I set out to find products that had natural and organic products that I could recognize and pronounce, and still feel confident that I would get the skin care and beauty results that I expected.

So, you can imagine my excitement for finding a great beauty website that has amazing organic and natural skin care and beauty options. Makeup.com has page after page of fantastic offerings, many of my favorite organic and natural beauty products all in ONE PLACE!

Like, Juice Beauty, a company founded to provide organic beauty solutions by a team of women who are completely passionate about organic and healthy lifestyles AND the science behind organic and natural skin care. They are committed to providing organic solutions for healthy, radiant skin while making it fun to take care of ourselves, and our planet! One of my favorite Juice Beauty products is the Green Apple Body Brilliance Kit, great for making your skin look fantastic for a special dress, night out, or just to show off your healthy, glowing skin! This collection utilizes Juice Beauty’s antioxidant technology, which combines alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids for optimum age-defying results.

Juice Body Brilliance

Another incredible line that I use and love is Coola Suncare. I am a firm believer in using sunscreen to protect my skin from the dangers of skin cancer, as well as the premature aging and damage that the sun can do. Living in Southern California, and loving the beach and outdoors, I have used so many different sunscreen products, many that again have ingredients that I cannot even attempt to pronounce and were harsh on my face and skin.

Wanting to incorporate sunscreen into my every day skin care regimen, I found that Coola Suncare SPF 30 Organic Moisturing Suncare did the job perfectly for me. This product is not at all greasy, did not make me break out, and even provides a nice moisturizing effect. It combines antioxidant ingredients like Vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, and a select choice of twelve certified organic skin-healing extracts.

This unique SPF moisturizing product, easily integrated into your daily skin care regimen, will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays while keeping your skin lustrous and silky-smooth. I can easily apply my usual makeup over this product without feeling like I have heavy products on my face, and they make a fantastic body moisturizing sunscreen and sport SPF 45 that I use for swimming or outdoor activities as well! I also truly appreciate that they have an unscented line, as all too many sunscreens can have a really unappealing scent!

Coola Suncare

Last but not least, I really love it when skin care companies offer kits or products in smaller, less expensive sizes. I have so many issues with my skin that it really becomes an issue for me to spend $20, $50 or more on a product, or a few products that end up not working out and being thrown into a drawer in my bathroom, or worse, thrown away. So when I can sample a line, try a range of products in sample or smaller sizes, I am always willing to make a small investment in potentially finding a true skin care gem!

Suki offers an amazing Nourishing Mini Skin Care Kit with a variety of amazing organic products that will completely replenish and protected protect your complexion. Suki offers cutting edge science with 100% pure, high-potency organics. This is also the perfect kit to travel with, as the mini skin care product sizes will meet airline regulations.

Suki Kramer founded this line to provide high performance professional organics, promoting a beautiful, radiant complexion and good health from the inside-out. Her lines offer advanced proven, scientific ingredients integrated in 100% pure botanical, results-driven formulas and work systemically, with each individual, creating harmony and balance. Love, love, love her hair care products as well!

Suki Mini Kit

Makeup.com makes it easy for you to find the perfect organic beauty and skin care products for you. Ditch those harsh, unnatural ingredients and find a wonderful world of natural and organic products! They offer an amazing array of beauty products, and you are sure to find the right products for you, your skin type, your skin care and beauty needs, and with great savings on both products and shipping! Beauty has truly evolved at Makeup.com Boutique. Shop now for all the hottest trends in makeup, skincare, hair care, and bath products.

Anti-Aging and Acne:  Real Acne Solutions!  GASP!  Is there such a thing?  I see so many ads and links for magic products that erase lines, magically clear skin…Yet…

I have still struggled with adult acne for the last decade or so, starting after the pregancy of my last child.  I was never acne-prone as a teenager, in fact, I can remember vividly so many times that girlfriends would have flare-ups just in perfect time for pictures, prom, a first date and they would tell me how very lucky I was to never have that nasty zit or two before a big event!

Well, those days have been replaced with embarrassing acne flare ups, always at the worst time, and I have truly tried so many product lines that I just felt that I would kind of have to “live with it”, hiding and camoflauging the breakouts the best I could with great makeup.  I am too sensitive to the antibiolics that work best to address adult acne, I also deal with rosacea, so I cannot use the more “hard core” kind of products that can address acne as they would leave my skin literally raw, red, and looking even worse. 

Recently, I visited Euro Day Spa, in Laguna Niguel, California and got an amazing facial treatment and received some fantastic recommendations for products that could help to impact my skin.  At first, I thougth, “Nope…not going to do it…not yet ANOTHER product line!”.  But I took the risk, and purchased the products that she recommended for my skin type and for my occasional acne flareups.  And, the risk was really mitigated by two factors:  Euro Day Spa is a day spa founded by Dr. Lorrie Klein, my dermatologist (and dermatologist to my entire family!), and the esthetician did not recommend the entire store to me.  Instead, she truly listened to my concerns, closely examined my skin and took into consideration my skin sensitivities and the acne protocol that I have followed in the past.  She took care to select only a few key products that were effective, yet gentle, that had more natural ingredients and that she stated she could stand behind and put her professional reputation behind.  How refreshing, right?!

One of the products that was recommended to me was Epicuren’s Acidophilus Probiotic.  The Acidophilus Probiotic works by mildly, and I do say very mildly, exfoliating skin to help blemish-prone skin and skin types.  While it exfoliates, it also moisturizes so you do not get the red, dry, flaky skin from other types of exfoliators.  The ingredients also help to create a healthy “flora balance” on the skin so the bad acne-causing bacteria does not have an environment in which to thrive. 

Please note that this product can make you sun sensitive, and you should always follow up with sunscreen and limit sun exposure.  But we are all careful with sunscreen and sun exposure anyway, right?!

I have truly seen a profound difference in my skin, the condition of my skin, and how dramatically fewer breakouts I do get.  When I do get breakouts, they are much smaller, and certainly not the cystic type of acne that I was experiencing.   Overall, the condition of my skin felt smoother, more clear and almost brighter.   The gentle effects of the exfoliating were truly impacting my skin overall.

I am not here to say that I am like completely cured, my skin is now completely flawless or that any product has worked some amazing magic, and I would not believe that hype if I read it somewhere else.  However, I am thrilled and excited to say that indeed this product has surpassed my expecations, and I have had friends and family comment on how fantastic my skin looks. 

While I still get the occasional breakout, I have found yet another product to address that beautifully!  Another product that was recommended to me is NeoCeuticals by NeoStrata’s Acne Spot Treatment Gel.  Love, love, love this gel!

I have used many acne spot treatment products, most of which completely dry me out and I end up with a huge dry spot on my face instead of a small, manageable pimple!  Ugh!  Not this treatment gel, this is a total gem.

The Acne Spot Treatment Gel has 2% Salicylic Acid and works more gently than any other spot acne treatment that I have ever used.  I apply it on a problem area both morning and night, and typically I can see results the very next day.  I have even put this onto problem areas before going to bed, or a spot that looks like it is going to become a breakout, and upon waking up, I have no breakout, I have no problem area.

So, I have found that I have been able to really manage the majority of my adult acne issues with two fantastic products.  I recommend that you discuss these products and other options with your dermatologist as there are products out there that can truly work, without any hype, and help to impact the effects of your adult acne symptoms.  There is no “miracle cure”, however, there are products that can work for your skin, your skin type, your lifestyle and your expectations.  Good luck, and feel free to share your success stories, so we can all help each other find real world skin care solutions!

I recently sampled a new product from Smashbox called Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder.   Is it possible to be in love with a powder? 

Here is a description of Halo, from Smashbox:

A powder that reduces fine lines & wrinkles in 10 minutes? It’s not magic, it’s new HALO HYDRATING PERFECTING POWDER. HALO is the first anti-aging powder with the science of skin care built in. It’s advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide deliver powerful anti-aging benefits while the patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin for a brighter, more radiant complexion all day. HALO’s innovative built in shaver gives you the perfect amount of luminous loose powder every time with no mess. Finally, a powder that multi-tasks as much as you do.

I can attest to the claim that within minutes you will see a decrease in wrinkles.  I am the first to doubt any such claim, as I find that so often the product never quite lives up to that promise.  However, Halo DOES deliver.  I was truly amazed with how my skin looked, wrinkles were less visible, my skin did not feel tight or dry as it can with some powder products, and I truly felt I got a flawless finish.   I truly felt that my skin glowed, without getting greasy, nor flaky as the day wore on.  In fact, running into a few friend was quite the ego boost…one of them quietly pulled me aside and asked me if I had gotten Botox or some kind of laser treatment.  She confirmed that my skin looked radiant…and obviously she, too, saw fewer lines!

I have my compact on order, and I recommend you get Halo as well.  I love products that multi-task and live up to their promises!  Click on the image below to take advantage of great savings on Halo and other fantastic makeup for Spring!

I am a member of beautystat.com (and encourage you to become one as well, great site!) and came across an anti-aging product that gave me pause…anti-aging perfume? According to beautystat.com, "New York-based perfume company Harvey Prince & Co. has received accolades from millions of women as well as the press for its fragrance, Ageless Fantasy, the world’s first anti-aging perfume."

So, I put it to a few friends for their opinions, and the overwhelming response was, "Yes, you CAN smell old!". Even one of my girlfriends told me that she recently had to have "that talk" with their mom, discretely telling her mom that she kind of smelled a bit like a grandma! She asked for the website and said she will order her mom a bottle for an Easter gift. I thought about it and realized that it is true, there is something to be said about a certain "grandma" kind of smell. For some of us, that can be quite lovely…maybe we think of the smell of baking, or old fashioned perfumes. For some of us, however, we may associate it with more of a smell that is not so pleasant…stuffy and…well…old.

More on Ageless Fantasy, from beautystat.com:

"I sat down with the founder, Kumar Ramani, and asked him if he really believes "youth" has a distinct scent. "Absolutely," he says. "The easiest way to think of this is to imagine a nursing home…doesn’t it have a distinct "older people" smell? The same applies to youth."

Ramani’s proof is in the pudding. Simply stated, as men and women age, the body produces a chemical that breaks down and causes "an unpleasant greasy odor," according to Harvey Prince. This is the "natural body odor of aging." Ageless Fantasy masks the skin’s natural age-revealing scent. Research has "proven" that men around women who use Ageless Fantasy believe them to be at least 8 years younger.

How exactly does this work? "Clinical trials" conducted with 75 men revealed that the participants associated the smell of grapefruit with youth. So Harvey Prince combined pink grapefruit with a smidge of mango, pomegranate, jasmine and musk-said to be other youthful notes-and voilà: a fragrance was born. Let’s put it this way, when I wore the fragrance, people sat up and took notice."

I even did my own experiment. I have a perfume that has similar base notes, mainly grapefruit, and sprayed it on to see what comments I might elicit from my loved ones. I just sprayed a bit on and went about my usual routine.

Husband: "Looks like you slept well last night" and big hug and peck on the cheek.

Daughter: "Good thing you are not grouchy, you usually hate Mondays." (did I mention she is a teenager)

Son: "Mom, you smell like juice." (ahhh….love that little guy!)

So, my conclusion? From my husband’s perspective, smelling fresh and citrus-y is associated with looking and seeming well-rested. That works! From my daughter’s perspective, perhaps that scent conveyed that I was upbeat, happy, optimistic. To my son, I smell like juice, and I guess that just means I smell like juice!

I highly recommend you check it out, and treat yourself to a great ant-aging perfume. Ageless Fantasy is available at http://www.agelessfantasy.com.

Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article regarding how certain enzymes impact hair and skin health.  As science continues to find amazing breakthroughs for anti-aging, we will find in the future that we are able to maintain a more and more youthful appearance even as we age chronologically! (at least that is MY hope!)

Showcasing that the health of the skin and body are truly intertwined, a recent study of a fat-synthesizing enzyme provides information on how the body processes and reacts to retinoic acid.
Read more…

Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following thoughts about how to get the best acne solutions from your dermatologist.  I, too, suffer from adult acne and know that my relationship with my dermatologist, how we discuss my concerns, and how I come into her office prepared with questions and challenges have helped us to work together to create an acne solution that has truly changed my skin and my outlook.

Want to get the best possible treatment for your acne, and become your dermatologist’s favorite patient at the same time? Here are five things your dermatologist really wants you to know.
Read more…

Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article about Botox.  I am an admitted lover of Botox, it has dramatically impacted my appearance.  I  ended up with lines in my forehead, as I have a very expressive face.    ALso, after years of not wearing sunglasses helped to create a "scowl" kind of line between my eyes on my forehead. 

I absolutely hated those lines and they made me feel as if I looked older, tired, and candidly, not happy.  I began using botox approximately three years ago, and from the very first injections, I have received amazing compliments from friends and family members.  My favorite is when I met my now fiance and he truly thought that I was at least 4 to 5 years younger than my actual age!  There are risks, and Botox is not exactly cheap, but I urge you to read this information, contact your dermatologist and discover if Botox injections, or other injectable fillers, are the right anti-aging solutions for you!

Lots of people have questions about Botox Cosmetic, and often times they share similar concerns. Here are some answers to the most common questions about Botox.

What is Botox, and is it safe?

Botox is the shorthand term for botulinum toxin and is a substance that is injected under the skin to inhibit the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the chemical that causes your facial muscles to contract, thereby causing many types of wrinkles. Botox is extracted from a toxin, but no bacteria are injected into the skin. Thus, there is no risk of contracting botulism.

Can Botox get rid of all wrinkles?

read more

Read more…

Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article regarding some of the top anti-aging spa products. 

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.
Read more…

From the New York Post, Page Six, is the following article, "The Hands of Time" written by Beth Landman. I, too, have issues with my hands giving away my age. I wear jewelry and love to wear fun cocktail rings and bracelets that bring attention to my hands. I always cringe a bit when someone asks to take my hand and look at a piece of jewelry more closely as all I can think about is how they are looking at my veins and spot! Ugh! However, there are anti-aging options out there for hands as well, a small investment to showcase youthful hands with gorgeous jewelry!

When 52-year-old Sharon Blair* married Mark Burrows*, 44, she thought they made the perfect couple. She had always taken care of her appearance, had a facelift at 48 and kept a regular regime of Botox and injectable fillers. But when the wedding pictures came back from the photographer, she was mortified. "You know that shot they always have with the couple holding hands and wearing their rings?" says Dr. Howard Sobel, the cosmetic dermatologist who for years had been caring for Sharon’s face. "It was one of those uh-oh moments. She looked great—younger than her husband—but her hands had a lot of sun damage, hyperpigmented spots and wrinkled skin with prominent veins."

Sharon quickly photoshopped the wedding pictures before anyone saw them, and booked some treatments: Aurora laser to get rid of sunspots, eMAX laser with radio frequency to tighten the skin’s surface, and injections of the filler Radiesse to make blood vessels less noticeable. "I don’t think her husband’s family knew her true age, and after she fixed the photos and her hands, they weren’t about to find out," says Dr. Sobel.

Hands give away age more than any other body part, but until recently, not much could be done about it. "I always told my clients, ‘If you want to look younger, hold your hands up—sit with them raised during dinner so the blood flows down and veins appear smaller,’ " says Josephine Allen, a celebrity manicurist who works at the Upper East Side’s Samuel Shriqui salon and tends to the dainty digits of Julia Roberts and Heidi Klum.

"Women who are thin and those with fair skin have hands that look older because you can see the veins more easily. And if you’ve had enough sun exposure, you can have liver spots on your hands in your early thirties," adds Dr. Robin Ashinoff, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center.

"Look at Angelina Jolie," continues Sam Rizk, an Upper East Side plastic surgeon. The actress is 33, but "you can see those dorsal veins on her hands. She should soften them up." Now she—and anyone prepared to shell out a few thousand bucks—can. Cosmetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons and spas are becoming increasingly conscious of finding ways to match hands to a youthful-looking face.

Berenice Electrolysis & Personal Beauty Center, the beauty emporium on East 61st street that caters to New York socialites, has just added a machine that uses light to stimulate collagen and eliminate age spots. "The clients stick their hands under the machine for 15 minutes before they leave the spa," explains owner Berenice Rothenberg. Dermatologist Lewis Feder has been fixing up Big Apple hands for several years, and started offering finger treatments 18 months ago. "I’ve been doing a lot of rejuvenation recently," he says. "I come in with fat at the
wrist and massage it into the tissue. You must do the fingers too, or they won’t look good. Finally I use microdermabrasion or a light peel to soften and even out the skin, and intense pulsed light for dark spots."

Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt has developed his own cure ($1,000 to $3,500, depending on the damage) that deals with sunspots or discolorations, prominent veins and loss of volume. For problems two and three, his solution is fillers like Perlane,which lasts six to eight months. He addresses the first problem with lasers and peels, which improve texture and have a fading effect. "A lot of actresses wear makeup on their hands," says Dr. Brandt. "But lasers really work on skin that is thin or wrinkly or sallow."

Dr. Andrew Kornstein, a Fifth Avenue specialist, prefers to plump the hands with fat, a process that requires harvesting cells from your own butt, hips or belly. "In order to control the aging process, you have to restore volume to the hands the way you do in the face. Not only does fat last 10 years, but there is strong scientific evidence that it acts like stem cells, increasing circulation and causing new cells to grow." Skin looks smoother and tighter, and veins are camouflaged with the $7,000 procedure (which requires "twilight" anaesthetic and a week or two of recovery time). For those who don’t want to go through the surgical process of transferring fat, Dr. Kornstein uses Radiesse, a filler made from bone matrix, which lasts up to a year.

Jackie Jones, who lives in Queens and works as an office manager, is a believer in fillers. "I’ve always been bothered by my hands," she admits. "Last year, when I turned 40, I had the hands of a 70-year-old." So she visited Park Avenue dermatologist Neil Sadick and had her hands injected with Radiesse ($1,500 to $2,500). "I was out of his office in 45 minutes," Jackie says. "Before, I was too embarrassed to even get a manicure. Now I’m wearing bright polish."

Men, too, have begun to seek cosmetic improvement for their extremities. "Guys love this new machine called Storz: it delivers high-energy shock waves," says Suzanne Levine, a podiatrist who also treats hands. "It was originally used for pain, but it plumps up skin, gets rid of wrinkles and slims knuckles." Women likewise are clamoring for the $250 machine. Says Suzanne: "I have one actress who ordered a [Storz] for her home, and a couple of others who have asked me to bring it to L.A. to use on them before the Academy Awards."

Some couples are even having his and hers treatments. "I just did a husband and wife team that came in from Palm Beach and had their hands done together," says Dr. Brandt. "He is 39, she is a bit older, and it was his idea. He gave her a huge diamond for their wedding anniversary and now she’s proud to wear it."

Adds Dr. Kornstein: "People ask me if cosmetic enhancement of the hands is expensive. It’s a few thousand dollars, but really it winds up costing a lot more. After all, the plastic surgery is nothing compared to the jewelry that is bought afterward, once someone is happy with her hands."