Whether you are all about Insta, only chat on Snap or remain faithful to Facebook, your social media obsession may lead you from virtual edits with flattering filters to consults with an actual facial plastic surgeon — if it hasn’t already.

This is one of the bigger takeaways from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s (AAFPRS) 2017 annual survey, and it’s not the first time that this group has documented such ‘selfie awareness.’ Continue Reading →

Facial yoga is a needle-free way to help turn back the hands of time.

Although hearing something dubbed “facial yoga” might give you pause, it’s actually true. Women who performed 30-minute daily or alternate-day facial exercises for 20 weeks looked an average of three years younger, according to study published in JAMA Dermatology.

In the study, participants took part in two sets of face-to-face 90-minute training sessions conducted by a facial exercise instructor. They learned 32 exercises designed to stimulate the 57 muscles in the face, neck and scalp, and continued to do these exercises at home for 20 weeks. For the first eight weeks, they did the exercises daily for 30 minutes. From week nine to 20, they did the same exercises every other day for 30 minutes. Continue Reading →

Winter is here, and it’s not looking all that mild across many parts of the map. We’ve already been introduced to the concept of a ‘bomb cyclone,’ arguably the most frightening descriptor for weather you’ll ever hear.

Those subzero, don’t-want-to-leave-the-house temperatures and blustery arctic winds can certainly wreak havoc on our plans, but did you know they can also cause problems with our skin?

Harsh winter weather can cause or worsen dry, itchy skin, and may also lead to flares of eczema and psoriasis.

As with most things, the best defense is a good offense, and that means winter-proofing your skin ASAP. Continue Reading →

First it was Duchess Kate Middleton’s nose; then it was her sister Pippa’s derriere that captivated us. Now, our collective sites are set on the latest addition to the Royal Family, Prince Harry’s fiancé Meghan Markle.

In what’s being dubbed as the Meghan Markle effect, requests for plastic surgery to recreate Markle’s nose started peaking several months back when she began making headlines for dating Prince Harry. These demands peaked when the duo recently announced their engagement. Continue Reading →

Years of over-plucking to achieve the sort of pencil-thin eyebrows that were in style for what seemed like decades resulted in… overly styled, anemic brows.

No real surprise there, but now that bushy brows and thick arches are back with a vengeance — thanks to the likes, looks and locks of Lily Collins, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne and more — many of us are hoping for a do-over. Continue Reading →

Have you heard the big news?

The FDA has approved Botox Cosmetic for a third indication. The treatment of horizontal forehead lines is the newest approved application for the popular injectable, joining an indication list that already included the treatment of crow’s feet and frown lines between the eyebrows.

Botox Cosmetic (along with Dysport and Xeomin) is the most popular minimally invasive procedure for women and men, according to the most recent statistics from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Expanding its approved uses will only further this popularity, helping even more people achieve their facial aesthetic goals. Continue Reading →

Probiotics are a staple at most health and natural food stores. These strains of so-called “good” bacteria are available as supplements or in foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi and others; and now they’re starting to pop up in skin care lines with experts suggesting they may be a solution to a variety of common skin problems including acne, rosacea and eczema.

How do Probiotics Work?

Probiotics reset the balance of good and bad bacteria within the gut. When this balance is out of whack, your body doesn’t function as it should. Some people may report diarrhea, gas, bloating and/or stomach pain. Eventually the gut lining becomes leaky and toxins are released into the bloodstream causing inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation may manifest on the skin as acne, itching, blemishes or other symptoms. Continue Reading →

You’ve likely gotten the message that it’s essential to wear your sunscreen when you hit the beach, the slopes or even the highway, but should you also be slathering it on when you check your emails, shop on Amazon, or scan Facebook or Instagram?

Surprisingly enough, the answer is maybe.

New research suggests that the blue light emitted from our digital devices does more than affect our vision and sleep patterns, it may also wreak havoc on our complexions, causing (or worsening) pigment problems and/or fine lines and wrinkles. Continue Reading →

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is generating a lot of buzz lately. It’s been widely used to treat joint, tendon, and tissue injuries among pro athletes and weekend warriors. But a new application is gaining steam.

It’s being touted as a possible cure-all for baldness, and an all-natural alternative to facial recontouring, lip enhancement and even vaginal rejuvenation. Growing numbers of cosmetic doctors are offering PRP for its aesthetic benefits and many a celebrity has professed their undying love for it, including Kim Kardashian, Bar Rafaeli, Tiger Woods and Angelina Jolie.

But what exactly is PRP and can it possibly live up to all the hype? Continue Reading →

Our obsession with snapping selfies led to an uptick in facial plastic surgery procedures — a fact that has been well documented in consumer surveys and anecdotal evidence alike. It also gave rise to a cottage industry hawking selfie sticks and other apparatus that aim to make taking selfies simpler.

Fully 87 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 34 have taken a photograph of themselves and uploaded it to a social media website, according to Statista. On top of that, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that one in three facial plastic surgeons report an increase in requests for procedures due to “selfie” awareness. So the selfie craze clearly is have some surprising effects. Continue Reading →