5 Facts about Skin Cancer : Melanoma ,you should be aware.

I know I rant about skin cancer often, but it truly is Important you start taking this seriously.

Today, this article was released by SKIN INC.Only on SkinInc.com: 5 Facts About Melanoma Prevention | SkinInc.com

I recently found a dark almost black looking spot on my side. I was standing in the bath and was sideways, just happened to look and my eyes noticed this dark spot right above my hip in the curve  upward towards my chest. I went over to my husband and said does this look like a spot to you?  He said yes. I was meaning to call my dermatologist, but have not yet. Today, I get a reminder post card form who?  You guessed it, my dermatologist. This spot is in a weird place. I have not worn a bikini in the last three or four years. I am not sure how it could have landed where it is,if it in fact turns out to be skin cancer. AND I take great precautions.

So, do not mind me when I post about skin cancer, I personally take this topic and the best sunscreens the US has to offer very seriously.

Hope you are having a good week, the weekend is here and I know it will be in the 80′s for just a few days.  Time for the sunscreen even though I will not be on the beach. Not until next week that is.

Enjoy!

I Love Wisteria.

I opened today’s French Essence blog, Oh so pretty,me love wisteria,and the pergola it hangs from. Perfect for this Easter Weekend.I can imagine as nice brunch out on this patio.Be sure to use your sun screen if outdoors,you must always take care of your skin in the city,or the suburbs.I hope you think it is as pretty as I.

Where ever you are, Happy Passover or Easter, Enjoy!

french essence: easter wishes from provence…

Serums

Today when I was reading French Essence, I jumped out of my seat. WHY? Because her post  is about Winter wrecking havoc on her skin. Her words and I so LOVE them, The Joys of Serums. Have I not mentioned before that French/European women know the benefits of using serums and American women do not.

“I have written about the joys of serum before… and serum is the one product I can’t live without… Serum to my skin is what flowers are to my home… In Europe everyone is going crazy for the new YSL Forever Young Serum… I admit that I fell victim to the publicity and have tried this miracle product…. My opinion… The Clarins Vital Light Serum is better… my Parisian friend was spot on… this is liquid gold.” Serums are so vital to our skin, especially in your 40′s, begin using them in your thirties and you will never look back.

Clarins is a French skin care line. They have a spa here in the city. I was at the Clarins spa last week for a facial and I was introduced to this serum, as it was used on  my skin.

This Serum retails for $85

I do use a serum and I love my serum, it is for normal to dry skin in the Best Regards line by Votre Vu, We have always spoken that we are 1/3 the cost of other  so let me show you.

The Best Regards serum, is not the most expensive serum in our line, We offer four serums for each skin type. Serums range from $52-$66.  The Best Regards is $59.

“Awarded the prestigious “Victory in Beauty” award in Europe, Best Regards Sérum Hydratant for the face is a truly comforting and healthy beauty treatment for dry and vulnerable skin. During the night, when your skin is most receptive, this sérum repairs, regenerates and relieves without interruption. In the morning, your skin will feel smooth, nourished and replenished from within. The natural acids, lactic, amino and hyaluronic, work together in perfect harmony to deliver optimal moisture to your skin, 24/7. Subtle aromatics are the result of our special blend of relaxing essential oils.”

http://www.votrevu.com/sites/pamelajf/productcatalog?page=productdetail&sku=2415&fromCategory=true&categoryName=Serums

We are the same high end quality of many French skin care lines We are affordable and You should  consider giving Votre Vu a try. Start with  one of our Face Base Sets, You will receive our Cleanser, Tonic, Serum and Moisturizer for your skin type. Retail on Face Base Sets range from $135 – $179  Personal Shoppers $94.50- $125 depending on your skin type.  That Clarins Serum was $85, there is no discount. Our Face Base Set are just a few dollars more for a complete set. You do the math.

Dollar for Dollar,  Moisturizer for Moisturizer, Votre Vu will provide you with  affordable French quality skin care.  What are you waiting for?  Ask me for information or samples.

Here is the Blog Post from FRENCH ESSENCE today.french essence: winter plays havoc on my skin…

Vintage MakeUp

This was a nice blog post on Votre Vu. I was introduced to Vintage MakeUp the other day. Vintage Makeup: Review/Swatches Votre Vu

Winter Skin Myth’s

Myth’s, Huh? All this time we have been mis- informed?  Read this article published by the Hufington Post on 5 of Winter Skin Myths.

5 Winter Skin Myths To Avoid

Spring has sprung

This week  had a doldrums feel to it. Grey skies and cold cold cold. I am dreaming of a jaunt to somewhere warm and sunny. One of the daily blogs I read, is from a photographer in europe. Today, her post was just what the Doctor ordered. Spring has sprung. This post today, brightened up my expecting winter snow today mood.

We are off to Boston later today.Its my husband movie premiere weekend. EXCITED!!

I hope you have a mood brightening day with Carla’s photos.

carla loves photography: My Local Parisian Flower Market     Thank you Carla, for bringing spring into the winter storm day in NYC.

Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. I saw today that there is a drug that patients wit Melanoma can now take, newly approved, called vemurafenib (Zelboraf). Vemurafenib has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of melanoma.

Aug. 17, 2011 — The FDA today approved Zelboraf, a drug that canextend survival for the 50% of melanoma patients whose tumors carry the BRAF V600E mutation.

Zelboraf is approved for inoperable or late-stage melanoma that tests positive for the BRAF mutation. In concert with the drug approval, the FDA also approved a new test for the BRAF mutation.

Skin Cancer Information – SkinCancer.org   Take a Look.

Are you aware of this news?  Jump in Melanoma Cases Expected in 2012 – SkinCancer.org

Zelboraf does not cure melanoma, which this year will kill some 9,000 Americans. But Zelboraf will make a big difference in the lives of BRAF-positive melanoma patients, says Anna Pavlick, DO, co-director of the melanoma program at New York University’s Cancer Institute. Pavlick was one of the investigators in Zelboraf clinical trials.

Good News, but of course a BUMP in the Newly approved drug road.  Today this news came out. “Roughly one-quarter of patients who take the medication develop a troublesome side effect: secondary skin cancers called squamous cell carcinomas.”

US News / HEALTH   Melanoma Drug’s Link to Other Skin Cancers Identified – US News and World Report

Pimples, Blackheads and Whiteheads OH MY!

To understand what a pimple is, you have to understand the difference between whiteheads and blackheads. If the pore is completely clogged and remains closed at the surface, it is called a whitehead. Whiteheads:

• Are clogged with sebum, an oily substance

• Have a white appearance

• Most commonly evolve into pimples

Differing from a whitehead, a blackhead is formed when a pore is only partially clogged, allowing some of the trapped sebum to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is caused by the oxygen in the air reacting to the exposed pore.

Usually, pimples are confused as another name for acne, but pimples are just another form of acne. When a pore becomes infected and is inflamed, it is considered a pimple. As part of your immune response, blood flow increases, which is the body’s natural defense against acne. Pimples usually develop after whiteheads or blackheads have become infected.

Pimples are often caused by blockage in the skin pore. There are sebaceous glands present inside every skin pore which produce sebum during skin shedding. Often during such a process bits and pieces of the shedding dead cells are held back by the gluey sebum causing blockage of the skin pores. This is a common symptom during the puberty stage when the skin starts to thicken. As the sebaceous glands keep on secreting sebum the blockage builds up harboring various bacteria including the most common Propionibacterium acnes.

Acne occurs when there is a blockage of the follicles. As sebum and keratin plugs start growing through a process of hyperkeratinization, the first signs of acne become visible. Thereon as enlarged sebaceous glands start secreting more and more sebum, there is also a boost in androgen production forming both black heads and whiteheads (open and closed comedones)

Age Spots

New Year, New You, New Cleanse?

I have not made any resloutions pertaining to weight loss and exercise ever. WHY? We all know New Year’s Resolutions fall by (MOST of) the way sides.

My former Trainer  Get KJ Fit    Get KJ Fit Bootcamp  and still my friend Kelly Jo, a few months ago also became involved in a business that is related to her training. Its called Isagenix  http://getkjfit.isagenix.com/us/en/landing_custom.html# I was recruited by KJ to try the 30 Day Challenge. My first ever  serious cleanse. I had a few weeks to look at the videos to see what I was getting into. Mind you, this experience is not cheap, so I better take it seriously. What I want to get from this cleanse is to RE Write my internal body, I hope to clean and refresh myself and point me in the right direction. My husband and I do not live on processed foods nor do we eat bad food. I grew up on fresh food, meals were always homemade.  Italian households did not go the way of the microwave or McDonald’s. I never switched to margarine when they said Butter was bad, I have never drunk diet sodas but I will drink a soda every now and again. I rarely have  soda it in the house. I will not put any Calorie Free product in my mouth, WHY? because those FREE calories are only chemically induced and I am 100% AGANIST DIET/ Chemical anything. I BELIEVE that those chemicals have altered the body and are what I call FAT Receptors, YES, all those processed and chemically enhanced foods alter the make up of our bodies and create a fat collector within.

I will NOT eat, rather then eat CRAP for food.  This is not a good idea either.  Okay that’s my own personal rant and thoughts on dieting and Free calorie foods. If I do not eat this crappy food then why am I going to under go this cleanse?  Well, I am 48 and never have , so why not. I want to see how much better I feel, if I lose a few pounds, great, who argues about losing weight? I have no idea what this will be like, I know in this 30 day cleanse there is a 2 Day DEEP( or more?) Cleanse that is juice and water only NO Food. The other days I will have a shake for  breakfast and have food for lunch and then another shake for dinner, or it maybe  Shake for breakfast and lunch then I have dinner.  I have decided to take you on my journey with my 30 Day Cleanse with Isagenix.  My skin will also benefit from this cleanse.  I should be a happier, energy filled skin glowing lady at the end of the 30 days  I start this journey on January the 15th.  We all shall see. Wish me luck. Follow along and comment.  Have you ever done a deep cleanse and what did you think? How did it make you feel?