Anti Aging Secrets

What's her secret?

By Ingela Ratledge
From Health magazine

Credit: Getty Images

We’ve all been there: That moment midappointment when you catch yourself shamelessly staring at your hairdresser, dermatologist, or dentist and thinking, How the heck does she pull it off? What’s the secret to her great hair, pore-free complexion, or flawless teeth?

Well, we decided to go straight to the source and find out how to get that ageless look—naturally. We asked the beauty industry’s most sought-after stylists, aestheticians, and MDs to divulge their tricks for stopping the clock. If there’s no fountain of youth, their unexpectedly simple advice might be the next best thing.

Use sesame oil

"First thing every morning, I massage organic sesame oil from the health-food store all over my body. Working it in wakes me up and really gets my blood circulating. Plus, the oil hydrates my skin, giving it a healthy glow. Then I jump in the shower—the oil naturally cleans away dead skin cells."—Lisa Hedley, founder and creative director of the Mayflower Inn and Spa, Washington, Conn.

Consider fish oil

"Anti-inflammatories are the best anti-agers out there. From improving heart and immune functions to helping hair grow and skin look supple, they truly do wonders. I take three 500 milligram capsules of omega-3 fish oil in the morning and at night. I look for labels that say, 'molecularly distilled for purity,' which means pesticide-free."—Arlene Noodleman, MD, medical director of the Age Defy Dermatology and Wellness Center, Campbell, Calif.

Down that java

"I avoid stained teeth by drinking my coffee quickly. If you sip it over the course of an hour, it keeps coating and recoating. The same goes for other staining liquids, like tea and dark juices."—Elisa Mello, DDS, cosmetic dentist, New York City

Blow off base

"I've stopped using foundation every day, because it settles into wrinkles and makes them more noticeable. I start with a concealer just where I need it (under-eye area, blemishes, etc.) and follow it with an allover application of tinted moisturizer."—Joanna Schlip, celebrity makeup artist for Physician’s Formula

Keep it simple

"Because I'm a plastic surgeon, companies send me so many skin-care samples—and some of them have 10 different steps! But I'm realistic, so there's no way I'm going to sign up for some huge beauty system that costs hundreds of dollars and requires a commitment that I'm not willing to make. Honestly, here's my daily skin-care routine: I go home, wash my face with a drugstore cleanser, put on a moisturizer, and fall into bed. I find that this simple regimen works well for me."—Karen M. Horton, MD, plastic surgeon and reconstructive microsurgeon at the Women's Plastic Surgery Center, San Francisco

Don't eat white sugar...

"The number-one ingredient that I avoid in my diet is processed sugar. The reason: It speeds up the aging process by binding to and eventually weakening the collagen in your skin, which can lead to premature wrinkles and sagging. I eat lots of vegetables and fruits every day—and I steer clear of Twinkies at all costs!"—Ava Shamban, MD, dermatologist and owner of the Laser Institute for Dermatology and Skin care, Santa Monica, Calif.

...Scrub with it instead
"In the shower, I lather my hands with a mild cleanser, add a handful of white sugar, and slather it all over my face and body. It makes my skin so smooth and creates a great canvas for makeup."—Carmindy, celebrity makeup artist

Add body while you sleep

"At night, I straighten my hair with a flat iron and put it up in a loose ponytail right above my forehead—it's not cute, but I don't care—and wear it like that all night. When I take it down in the morning, it has such a youthful bounce to it."—Laura Hittleman, corporate director of beauty services, Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Ariz.

Pamper your eye area

"I treat the skin around my eyes separately. Face creams can be too irritating, but products made for this delicate area work wonders for smoothing fine lines. I prefer to use a gel formula; the lightweight consistency keeps my eye makeup looking fresh all day."—Laura Hittleman, Canyon Ranch

Spa up your hands

"I was really beginning to notice signs of aging on my hands, so I started taking care of them with the same routine that I use to take care of my face. Every time I exfoliate or use a mask on my face, I exfoliate or apply that same mask to my hands, too. I also use an enzyme concentrate on both my face and hands. I think this has made a big difference."—Kirsten Combs, spa director, Mii Amo, Sedona, Ariz.

Massage away stress

"I absolutely believe in massage. Moving blocked energy makes me feel younger from the inside out. I especially love reflexology and deep-tissue massage.

If you don’t have the time or money to get one regularly, you can achieve a lot of the same benefits by taking 20 minutes each day to stretch, meditate, and calm yourself, breathing deeply in and out."—Lisa Hedley, Mayflower Inn and Spa

Wear your vitamins

"I use an over-the-counter topical vitamin C cream that has a 30% concentration. It's a wonderful antioxidant that helps my skin repair itself from sun damage. Plus, it has natural sunscreen properties in it, so combining it with my daily SPF has a synergistic effect."—Arlene Noodleman, MD, medical director of the Age Defy Dermatology and Wellness Center, Campbell, Calif.

Freshen up with fruit

"I snack on anything with malic acid—like strawberries, apples, and grapes—which act as a natural tooth cleanser and help break down stains."—Elisa Mello, DDS, cosmetic dentist, New York City.

In a rush? Think primer

"If I'm running out of the house and don't have time for makeup, I just put an illuminating primer all over my face and chest. It contains tiny reflective particles that help bounce light around the skin and make fine lines less noticeable."—Carmindy, makeup artist and co-creator of Sally Hansen’s Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy.

Work an angle

"I wear my hair layered around my face, even if it's just a tiny bit of fringe around the cheeks. This style has a lifting effect on my features; cuts that are all one length draw the eye downward and give the illusion of droopiness."—Ann Minahan, hair stylist and owner of Riah Salon, New York City

Try this hair trick

"Instead of using a styling gel to control my curls, I scrunch a nickel-size amount of conditioner or treatment mask into my damp hair before blow-drying. The conditioner not only tames flyaways and frizz but also provides serious hydration, which, I believe, is the key to younger-looking hair."—Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and owner of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City

Love your lashes

"I take care of my lashes, so they don't get brittle and dry—and eventually fall out. My secret: When applying my eye cream at night, I dab a little bit extra onto the tips of my lashes with my fingers so they stay moisturized and healthy."—Joanna Schlip, celebrity makeup artist.

7 food for better love

How to Beat Insomia

Insomnia

General insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. These disorders may also be defined by an overall poor quality of sleep. 

Can't sleep?

You don't have to lie awake for hours past your bedtime to have insomnia. The condition can manifest itself in several ways.
Yes, you may have trouble falling asleep (known as sleep-onset insomnia), but some people have problems staying asleep (sleep-maintaining insomnia) or waking up too early (early morning awakening).
Sleep specialists may look for an underlying cause, such as a medical condition or psychological issue. Here are 11 classifications of insomnia, developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

Adjustment insomnia

This disorder, also called acute insomnia or short-term insomnia, disturbs your sleep and usually stems from stress. The sleep problem ends when the source of stress is gone or when you adapt to the stress. The stress does not always come from a negative experience. Something positive can make you too excited to sleep well.

Behavioral insomnia of childhood

This condition occurs when children don't go to bed on time unless a parent or guardian enforces a bedtime. If the children are made to go to bed at a specified time, then they tend to fall asleep at a normal hour. If they are not given strict bedtimes, then they may linger awake for hours at night.

Idiopathic insomnia

Idiopathic insomnia is a lifelong sleep disorder that starts during infancy or childhood and continues into adulthood. This insomnia cannot be explained by other causes. It is not a result of any of the following.

• Other sleep disorders
• Medical problems
• Psychiatric disorders
• Stressful events
• Medication use
• Other behaviors

It may result from an imbalance in your body, such as an overactive awakening system and/or an underactive sleep system, but the true cause of this disorder is still unclear.

Insomnia due to a drug or substance

This type of insomnia is directly related to the use of any of the following substances:

• Medication
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• A food item

Your sleep is disrupted by your use of the substance. This type of sleep problem may also occur when you stop using a substance.

Insomnia due to a medical condition

This insomnia is caused by a mental health disorder. The insomnia is a symptom of the disorder. The course and severity of insomnia are directly linked to that of the mental health disorder, but the insomnia is a separate focus of treatment. This insomnia is a disorder only if it is severe enough to require separate treatment.

Insomnia non organic, unspecified

This type of insomnia suggests that known substances and other physical causes of the insomnia have been ruled out. This means that the cause of insomnia is most likely due to an underlying mental health disorder, psychological factor, or sleep disruptive behaviors.

The name may also be used on a temporary basis while further evaluation and testing are completed. It is the name used when a person with insomnia does not meet the criteria for another type of insomnia.

Insomnia organic, unspecified

This type of insomnia is caused by a medical disorder, physical condition, or substance exposure. But the specific cause remains unclear. Further testing is required to discover the exact cause. The name may be used on a temporary basis while further evaluation and testing are completed.

Paradoxical insomnia

Paradoxical insomnia is a complaint of severe insomnia. It occurs without objective evidence of any sleep disturbance. Daytime effects vary in severity, but they tend to be far less severe than one would expect given the expressed sleep complaints.

People with this disorder often report little or no sleep for one or more nights. They also describe having an intense awareness of the external environment or internal processes consistent with being awake. This awareness suggests a state of hyperarousal. A key feature is an overestimation of the time it takes them to fall asleep. They also underestimate their total sleep time.

Psycho physiological insomnia

This insomnia is associated with excessive worrying, specifically focused on not being able to sleep. The insomnia may begin suddenly following an event or develop slowly over many years.

People with this sleep disorder worry too much about their insomnia and about being tired the next day. As a result, they learn to become tense and anxious as bedtime approaches. They may have racing thoughts that all relate to insomnia and trying to fall asleep. As they worry about falling asleep, they become more and more tense, which makes it less likely that they will be able to fall asleep.
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