The one area of my skin care regiment that I am never satisfied with is skin bleaching/lightening products. Years ago, I used the Obaji products that contained 4% hydroquinone and it worked beautifully. My freckled, sun damaged skin became flawless after about 3 months of use. Fast forward 6 years, having two children (and the pigmentation issues that come with pregnancy), limited sun exposure (but exposure never-the-less), and I need to do a skin bleaching regimen again. However, the FDA banned all products that contain anything but very minimal amounts of hydroquinone. I was told by a dermatologist that I should do laser treatments to get rid of the damage. I did, and saw little results after the $500 cost. He also told me I would need several laser treatments per area to be satisfied with the results. MMMk, I need to correct problems on my back, chest and face, so the math is a bit intimidating. I don’t doubt that the laser treatments would work over time, but, my goodness, seven years ago they had an ingredient that worked wonders for treating freckled and sun damaged skin, surely there is something on the market today that works?!

As someone who has used many skin care products I always, always, read customer reviews before I buy a product. I came across Stone Crop Serum based on the 5 star reviews, but I noticed many of the people that wrote reviews also tried laser treatments (like moi). The reviewers said that this product worked better than laser, while noting that it takes a few weeks before you see results. I can relate to that as the Obaji I used years ago took a few weeks to get noticeable results. Another thing I noted in the reviews was a woman who used it on her eyes as the pigment had darkened due to her use of an eyelash growth product. She said that because Eminence Stone Crop is organic it didn’t bother her eyes. And lastly, but not least, it’s reasonably priced. At about $42, I will save thousands using this product as opposed to lasers, even if I have to buy two or three bottles. Needless to say, it’s in the mail, and I will write my review, here, when I use it. Check out the reviews for yourself!

As a skin care junkie, I’m always wary when a new product comes along with claims that it’s the best of the best in anti-aging treatments. I usually wait until the product has been out awhile and read reviews from people who bought and used the product. The latest and greatest in skincare is Sircuit Skin, and apparently they are the real deal. All of their products (6 in all) have received five out of five stars across the board, based on reviews from several stores with multiple reviewers at each.

From my research Sircuit Skin is the perfect combo of geek and chic. They use chiral technology to purify all their ingredients, which basically means they only take the part of each ingredient molecule that is going to be the most effective and friendly to your skin. All the products are super concentrated (no fillers), so you get a ton of bang for the buck, and because they are made in small batches they’re extra fresh too.

The most popular anti aging Sircuit Skin product is their O.M.G. Anti-Aging Skin Resuscitating Serum. It’s key ingredients are Epidermal Growth Factor that stimulates cell growth, Squalane that moisturizes and repairs the skin, and Green Tea is the anti-aging antioxidant. $148 for a 1 oz. bottle. Sircuit Skin is available here.

What’s the latest thing to hit the plastic surgery scene to keep women appearing (or sounding) younger? A voicelift! Huh? That’s right, some women are having surgery to rejuvenate their vocal cords — ‘voicelifts’. Our vocal cords, or ‘vocal folds’ are part of the larynx, a structure made of muscle and cartilage located at the top of the trachea, or windpipe. We are born with our larynx high up in the throat, but the larynx gets progressively lower as we age, and, as this happens, our voices deepen.  Also influencing this change is the number of glands in our body decreases with age, including those around the larynx and vocal folds. Glands are where mucus is produced; when it decreases, this impacts on the voice and can make it sound crackly. Dr Epstein from The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in London says, ‘Male and female voices lower with age, and from about 65, the cartilage in the male larynx gets very thin and male voices become higher, reedy and tremulous. Women don’t  suffer in this way — our voices just get deeper.’

When undergoing a ‘voicelift’, fat is taken from the stomach and grafted on to the vocal folds to plump them up and enhance voice performance. It’s commonly used for cosmetic purposes and can cost up to $25,000, but is also used for those that are recovering from throat cancer.

Every summer I develop new freckles, usually on my face and chest, regardless of the fact I use SPF 50 religiously. In the past, at the end of summer I purchased Obaji skin bleaching treatments, but alas, they have been taken off the market because their 6% hydroquinone was too high for the FDA and deemed unsafe. I’m not a big risk taker, but darn if that stuff didn’t work like some kind of magical freckle eraser. And there is no alternative that works as well as hydroquinone.

I had this conversation with my dermatologist and she gave me a couple of options. The first and most expensive is IPL treatment that uses a laser to virtually zap freckles and age spots. They scab up and a week later they fall off and the skin is clear underneath. The problem is it usually takes three to five treatments at approximately $500 a pop. She also told me there are products that contain hydroquinone, but at a lower dosage of 2%. She said they were effective, but took longer for the results to be shown.

I’m opting for the OTC treatment and found a few with the 2% miracle working ingredient. The GlyMed Plus Derma Pigment Bleaching Fluid got the highest reviews overall and was said to work on African American skin, as well. $39.50 Available here.

Here’s what the company says about the product:

Gain even-toned, healthy looking skin with GlyMed Plus Derma Pigment Bleaching Fluid. It uses 2% Hydroquinone combined with Azaleic Acid and Citric Acid to effectively reach deep into the skin and reduce the discoloration and uneven skin tone and texture without causing irritation.

Ideal for those with hyperpigmentation who want a lighter, more even skin tone and texture.

Hydroquinone lightens hyperpigmentation, inhibiting melanin production. Azelaic Acid reduces harmful bacteria and evens the skin tone. Citric Acid smooths the skin tone. Aloe soothes and hydrates the skin.

The first place on our face that shows our age is our eyes, directly underneath and the outer sides of the eyes to be exact. Bags and grey shadows can make a twenty year old look aged, but there are a few simple steps that can keep both crows feet and dark circles or bags at bay.

Sleep with an extra pillow so your head is slightly elevated to prevent fluid from settling under the skin around your eyes.

Find sunglasses labeled UV 400, and choose large frames for maximum coverage (you’re already using sunscreen, right?).

Every morning use an anti-oxidant eye cream to prevent damage from free radicals found in pollution and the sun’s rays. Some of the best ones prevent puffiness with Coffee Berry or green tea. Our choice: Elizabeth Arden Allergan Prevage Eye Anti-Aging Treatment.

Use Retinol at night if your skin can tolerate it. It's the one ingredient proven to stimulate collagen production and reduce wrinkles. The retinol eye creams that contain vitamin K work especially well on dark circles. Our choice: emergenC multi-vitamin + retinol serum.

Don’t over-do eye creams or moisturizers at night, they can make your eyes retain water and look even puffier in the morning.

In the morning apply a skin tightener for immediate results. Find one that contains argireline, GABA, or DMAE—the most effective ingredients. Our choice: Dr. Brandt Time Arrest Laser Tight

Fill in your crows feet with a primer containing silicone. Our choice: Jane Iredale Abscence Oil Control Primer

Use a creamy concealer to disguise dark circles. Pick a yellow based shade for light skin and a peachy shade for darker skin tones. Our choice: Jane Iredale Active Light Under Eye Concealer

Skip on shimmery make up or eye shadows. The metallic particles can get into the wrinkles and emphasize them. Instead choose a matte shade that is slightly darker than your skin and sweep it across the upper lids and along the lower lashes. It will make puffiness less obvious.

I almost didn’t want to post a picture with this article, because it does not do justice for the amazing transformation Radiesse can achieve at the hands of Lisa Bauer from Azure Med Spa in Frisco.  Having a thin face, the “parenthesis” around my mouth were slightly pronounced and I had been wanting to do something about them, but I didn’t want to look like those many women with obvious puffed up faces. At a routine facial I asked Lisa, the resident Registered Medical Assistant/ Medical Skin and Laser Specialist at Azure spa, what she thought about fillers and my ‘problem area’. She suggested Radiesse injections along my jaw line to gently plump up the skin for a natural softening of the lines around my mouth. She held up the mirror and showed me how it would work and what the results would resemble. She said I would need 1 vial of the filler, costing about six hundred dollars (they run specials on occasion with lower price points). After much consideration I made the appointment.

Does it hurt? Not really. Upon arrival, Lisa put numbing cream on the spots she would inject the filler. It stays on about 30-45 minutes and then your ready to be pumped. Some spots were more painful, but on a scale of one to ten, the worst were a three.

The results are amazing. As Lisa was putting the filler in my face she would let me see what she did so nothing would be overdone to my liking or a shock. What really impressed me the most about this visit, is that she didn’t just pump my face up to fill the lines, she put minute bits of filler here and there along my jaw and chin for a symmetrical look. Not only are the lines around my mouth softened, but my jaw line looks firmer. Best of all, I look like me, just younger. 

There were a few drawbacks, of course. My jaw was a bit sore a few hours afterwards and I had to massage a spot on my jaw where a small nodule had formed. Lisa warned me of these things, however, so it wasn’t unexpected, and the nodule was rubbed smooth within about five minutes.

I have absolutely no affiliation with Lisa or Azure Med spa, I’m just a very happy customer who happens to have a skincare blog. Anyone thinking about getting filler in the Dallas area, specifically Frisco, should call Lisa at    (972) 294-6992. She’s amazing and truly an artist with Radiesse filler.