I am interviewed frequently these days on whether I see any cosmetic trends due to the challenging economic climate. And the answer is absolutely, trends in cosmetic procedures are changing. In these challenging economic times, patients are definitely looking for the most value. For some, that means shopping for venues that have the cheapest Botox prices. However, patients learn that if Botox is too cheap, it is watered down and not effective.

Other patients understand this and either wait longer between treatments, allowing some lines to return, or have their Botox done regularly, but just have fewer areas treated each visit.

The second trend I see is more patients choosing Botox and fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Evolence, Radiesse, and Sculptra, as an alternative to plastic surgery. While not as dramatic as a face lift, Botox and fillers are a lot less expensive yet provide significant results, and most importantly, a result that looks natural. Botox and fillers also have no down time, which means you don’t have to miss work or use up accrued vacation. In fact, if done by a skilled physician, you achieve results that are natural and fit your face, so you can keep your family, friends and co-workers guessing!

Interestingly, laser procedures are still quite popular. I think this is because there are few alternatives to laser in terms of changing the texture and quality of our skin. Lasers are so versatile in that they smooth rough skin, improve acne, resurface and diminish scars, remove hair, and treat blood vessels.

For patients that do not need the dramatic improvement that laser gives, chemical peels are a good alternative, and reasonably priced. So I have not noticed a significant reduction in chemical peels.

Lastly, I notice patients are understanding the value of buying skincare products that contain multiple active ingredients in one bottle, rather than buying 1 product per symptom. We are a society on the go, so it only makes sense that we are trending toward quality products that are an “all-in-one” solution.

At the end of the day, we all only have one face…and looking good makes us feel better no matter what the economic situation.

Your mother knew what scientists are just learning – a good night’s sleep of eight hours helps your skin.  A rested body keeps the immune system strong, and allows the skin to repair itself.

Not getting enough sleep affects your skin:

•    Increases inflammation, which can cause acne flares.
•    Increases insulin resistance, which can worsen diabetes as well as acne.
•    Can lead to obesity, since sleep affects hormones that control glucose metabolism and appetite.  Lack of sleep leads to cravings for fatty foods and carbohydrates.
•    Increases stress since a sleep deficit puts the body in a state of high alert, increasing the output stress hormones and driving up blood pressure.  This also affects the immune system.
•    Excess of stress hormones caused by the lack of sleep can slow collagen production in the skin.
•    may alter the regulation of blood vessel tone and thus contribute to puffiness or bags under the eyes.

A good night’s sleep

•    avoids eye puffiness
•    releases growth hormone, which helps repair skin and keep our skin stay young
•    releases melatonin, which helps skin, as well as the immune system
•    Skin regeneration is faster during the night, than during the day.  Sleep allows our body to repair itself, and that means our skin as well.

Make the most of your sleep time by giving yourself a beauty treatment while you sleep.  Use those eight hours and use skin care products especially designed for overnight.

Remember: Sleep allows skin care products to work better. Many anti-aging ingredients stay active longer if they are not exposed to sunlight.  Retinol, which speed cell turnover, deteriorates faster and loses its effectiveness when exposed to UV light.  Topical Vitamins C and E also break down faster when exposed to sunlight.  And since there is no sunlight at night, you get more bang for your anti-aging buck when you apply night creams before you go to sleep.  The best thing to do is use a night cream that contains numerous anti-aging ingredients and antioxidants all in one, like the kaplanMD Replenishing Night Cream. This product not only contains Retinol, Soy, Grapeseed Extract, and Matrixyl 3000 (a fantastic anti-aging peptide), but Vitamins A, C and E as well.

Keep in mind that sleep gives your skin the time it needs to repair the daily damage of pollution, UV rays, and other environmental damage.   These cause thinning of the skin, dehydration, lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. Rest and relaxation allows your body time to heal itself, so our skin, which is our body’s largest organ, has the time to repair itself, and reverse this damage.  Using an antioxidant-rich night cream boosts this repair process. If the skin is given these repairative nutrients at night, it can better protect itself the following day.

Nighttime also gives you eight uninterrupted hours to hydrate skin with formulations that don’t mix well with makeup or that might give you a shine you would avoid during the day. These superhydrators not only attract moisture to the skin, but also prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin. Active ingredients penetrate the skin better when you’re sleeping, because they have complete access to your skin.  While you are sleeping, these active ingredients are the only thing on your skin.  There is  no interference from sun, pollution, or makeup.  Eye creams that smooth and reduce puffy eyelids also work better at night, when make-up can’t interfere with their absorption.

Now that you know the amount of sleep you get is important, let’s talk about how you sleep

1.  Sleep flat on your back:  Do you wake up, and see wrinkles on your face from your bed or sheets?  When you were younger, you could wash your face, and as the circulation flowed, the creases disappeared.  Have you noticed that they are not going away as fast, now that you are getting older?  Natural hormonal progression, in both men and women, starting in our twenties, reduces the amount of collagen, elastic tissue and hayaluronic acid in our skin.  This means that the skin is thinner and less elastic, and doesn’t bounce back like it used to.  Lying flat on your face creates creases that worsen over time.

Think about how you sleep.  Sleeping on your side forms chest, cleavage and cheek creases.  Sleeping on your stomach, and smushing your face into a pillow can cause a furrowed brow, and deep face creases as well.  Try sleeping on your back.  It will allow your face to fall back, and help reverse the effects of gravity that have worked all day to pull your face down.

2.   Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water.  Also, to avoid moisture loss from the skin while sleeping, use a humidifier.  This is especially important in winter, when dry heating sucks all the moisture out of the air

3.  Use a thicker moisturizer after bathing: Seal in the moisture that your skin has absorbed after bathing.  You are going to bed, not putting on an expensive silk blouse.  Use a body and face cream that is rich and moisturizing, even if it is one that you would not feel comfortable using during the day.

While a portion of all online sales at kaplanMD.com is donated throughout the year to 3 charities close to my heart - Skin Cancer Research, Children of the Night and Breast Cancer Research - we will donate 10% of all kaplanMD October sales to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.

This is a natural partnership for kaplanMD Skincare because breast cancer survivors experience many of the same skin symptoms of Natural Hormonal Progression, along with an accelerated pace of chronologic and environmental aging. Examples include increased skin dryness and sensitivity, loss of elasticity, uneven skin tone and pigmentation, and thinning skin. All of these factors are due to the imbalance of estrogen in the body, which then negatively affect the skin. But why is estrogen important for the skin? Estrogen maintains and regulates 3 key components that keep our skin youthful and healthy: collagen (which gives our skin strength and structure), elastic tissue (which gives our skin elasticity and bounce-back) and hyaluronic acid (which keeps our skin plump and retain moisture).

The exclusive ingredient in ALL kaplanMD products is the Phytogenic Triactive Complex. This Complex is the result of many years of researching phytoestrogens, or plant-derived substances, that have estrogen-like properties. Studies have shown that when estrogen levels are low for women, such as post pregnancy, peri-menopause, or following cancer treatments, phytoestrogens can mimic the effects of estrogen on the skin, but without the side effects of synthetic estrogen.

The most potent phytoestrogens on the skin have proven to be Soy, Black Cohosh and Grapeseed Extract. Collectively, these three powerful ingredients make up the kaplanMD Phytogenic Triactive Complex. Encapsulated in a patented microsphere time-release delivery system, this restorative formula actually penetrates deep within the skin for maximum effectiveness.

kaplanMD products work on the skin, and the skin alone. There is no internal effects or dangers. In addition, kaplanMD only treats the external skin symptoms of Natural Hormonal Progression. It has no effect on the body internally, and is therefore, completely safe for people who are on a low Soy diet.