My wonderful panel experience with FGI Detroit on June 20 and what I learned about Michiganders!

I was recently honored to be a part of an outstanding fashion panel chosen to review the “Ecosystem of Business" on June 20 in Troy. We really got down to business on what makes things tick in Michigan and Metro Detroit. 

 

This outstanding “think tank”, which included Cynthia LaMaide, Royce Channey, Corey Damen Jenkins and myself (Marcia Avis Fosnaugh), shed a new light on what factors have been keeping and will continue to keep Michigan and Metro Detroit alive and well, thriving and prospering as it relates to business and fashion.

 

The savvy mediator for the panel, Rich Rice, Director of Detroit by Design presented stimulating and thought provoking questions, setting the panel in full gear.

 

We were happy to share our business savvy and entrepreneurial survival skills to demonstrate our ability to maintain and grow even during a one of the worst economic downturns in our nation’s history, with Michigan suffering significantly.

 

Detroiters and Michigander's are survivors with special energy, passion and skills to maintain even the worst of times.  Innately, Detroit and Michigan based businesses routinely put more effort into figuring out society’s needs, meeting these needs and growing their businesses.  In fact, many say if you are a Michigander, you will excel anywhere.

 

The audience was able to ask personalized business and career questions to assist them in launching their new or existing quests.

 

It was an exciting evening for me as a business owner. Visit www.clinage.com to learn more about my products, which will help your skin stand the test of time. Until next time….

 

 

Mechanical brushes...hmm.. let's talk

Recently, I have noticed a daily common question proposed to me from our Clinage clients.......What do you think about using the mechanical operated brushes to clean you face?  With so many of these brushes popping up in the market, I decided to do a little research on these devices.  

Keep in mind the surface of your skin is not completely flat. If you look REALLY closely, there are little crevices also known as pores and fine lines. Mechanical brushes offer a deeper cleaning solution, especially when you use a cleanser that contains glycolic, which will benefit the skin in many ways. 

First, it will get in those crevices I spoke of and it provides a mechanical way of exfoliating the skin.  As you may know from my previous blogs, "EXFOLIATION" is one of the keys in keeping your skin health, glowing and most importantly, fighting the aging process.

You can over do it and cause some irritation to your skin so here are my recommendations.  Start by using the brush once a day with your cleanser. If your skin feels good after three to five days, begin to use it two times per day.  Sensitive skin or severely dry skin may only be able to use these brushes every few days as you may over-stimulate the skin.

A few important things to keep in mind is to not over due the brushing. Keep it 30 to 45 seconds per washing and make sure your brush head isn't too rough or stiff as this will cause irritation to your skin.  Clarisonic offers a brush with a timer built in and shuts off to keep you from over doing it and utilizes a sonic movement versus a circular movement.  It's also important that you keep the brush heads clean and change them periodically to keep bacteria from building up on the bristles, which could cause irritation and breakouts to your skin.

If you're not ready to dive into purchasing a brush, here’s what you can you do to boost your cleansing regime.

Try using gauze or a washcloth—the cheap white ones work great! Dab a little of your cleanser on the cloth and move in a circular motion—the roughness from the cloth will provide some exfoliation.

Mechanical exfoliation is the first step to slowing the aging process. It's also important it incorporate glycolic peels and vitamin therapy into your daily routine. Clinage Skin Rejuvenation Systems offers a complete home care and professional glycolic peel system.

For more information, please go to Clinage.com. 

Until next time…..

Exercise and Keep Your Skin and Body Hydrated for Summer

Your summer skin care must do list! 1. Keep up your regular physical fitness routine or start one. Talk a walk 2. Eat plenty of dark green pigmented fruits and vegetables 3. Stay hydrated 4 By all means—stay out of the sun! However, if you do go out, hopefully to take a walk, use a zinc or titanium block only 5. Keep up a glycolic advanced skincare routine incorporating Vitamin A, C, and E as well as B3, Niacinamide I suggest you include a professional glycolic peel at least once a month and do home peels one to three times weekly. Clinage is available professionally and at-home. Visit www.clinage.com This daily routine will help keep your skin exercised and energized, just like your body.  Did you know that everything you apply to your face is also good for your entire body?  If you are consistent with this routine, your own dermal cellular system will keep up the collagen elastin and improve the immunology of your skin. In fact, there will be less need for fillers and surgeries. Now, that is something to smile about!

Proud to be an FGI fashion business panel presenter June 6! Tickets are available

I’m proud and honored to announce that I’ve been chosen by Fashion Group International, Inc. Detroit to be on a fashion business panel on Thursday, June 6 starting at 6 p.m.

I will be speaking about building my brand, Clinage. With more than two decades dedicated to the beauty industry, I'm very happy to be sharing my experiences and knowledge.

This event will take place at Marlaina Stone’s Studio, located at 311 North Washington Avenue in Royal Oak. Tickets are $10 students; $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Those interested in attending can pre-order tickets at fgifdetroit.org/tickets. 

Yes, topicals can change the skin.

Can topical creams and lotions really change our skin or do we need laser surgery and invasive procedures? Yes! Topicals can change the deeper layers without surgery, botox treatments, laser or fillers. The answer is in the word cosmeceuticals—medical grade substances used for mostly beauty and some non-beauty purposes.  It’s all in the chemistry composition of the substances and the preparation of the skin prior to placing the products on the skin. Formulations must be pure and non-buffered with the most active ingredients—glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid from sugar cane acid, which is non-toxic and safe.  Key vitamins are critical for healthy skin and in the reconstruction of damaged skin.  The number one vitamin is Magnesium C. This is a form of Vitamin C that can be used with lower pH anti-aging and anti-acne products.  Other vitamins of extreme importance are Vitamin A coming in all forms from retyinyl palmitate to retinoic acid. Retin-A is the mirror isomer of Vitamin A, assisting in elasticity and the prevention of pore clogging. It’s also a strong antioxidant.  Also of importance is niacinamide—an incredible healing agent working on skin pigment and collagen production as well as preventing skin cancer and fight aging. The key is to use higher, un-buffered concentrations of glycolic acid via a chemical peel such as Clinage’s in salon, office or at home. As well, you can use lotions and gels with frequency to target the cells in the dermis. Glycolic acid has a small molecular structure, allowing it to deeply penetrate the pores.  Preparation of the skin is very important. Think of it as a regime, similar to a daily exercise workout. Preparing the skin is everything! Work out your skin and you will see incredible results. Clinage can help you do this. Until next time……..

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month-- a must read!

Can the Sun Kill You?

This month I thought I would revisit some advice I shared with you in 2012. Unfortunately, the sun can kill you. Some forms of skin cancer, particularly melanoma have become one of the top killers of young adults. Melanoma has been named a “condition of lifestyle.”

The sun provides us with Vitamin D and A and may give us a healthy glow but the dangers far outweigh the benefits.  All of us are born with a skin type from one to six.  One being the fairest, which burns easily and allows very little natural protection from the sun.  If you are rated a six, your skin is dark brown/black with little chance of burning and more natural protection.

All are candidates for skin cancer but the lighter the skin and the more burns over your lifetime, the greater chance for these deadly cancers to show up.

What kind of cancer is the worst? Melanoma, which is cancer of the melanin cells, takes off in the bloodstream and can be deadly. The usual chemotherapy agents, while they work on other cancers, are not successful with melanoma so early diagnosis is critical and makes this cancer curable.

The serious question to ask yourself is how much sun exposure have I had over my lifetime, starting as a baby and how many bad burns (the ones we remember blisters or ice packs?)

This exposure does not include sun-tanning booths. Recent studies indicate that teens that use these tanning booths are creating a time bomb. In fact, most cancers, such as melanoma tend to be in highly exposed areas not protected by clothing.

So, what to do about it? Stay out of the sun and do not using tanning booths. If you are going to be in the sun, use sun block with a protection of 50 with titanium or zinc oxide and apply frequently with enough volume to cover the skin. Next, early detection of spots or lesions on the body is very important. Everyone needs a full body check at least once a year. Don't forget hidden areas such as the scalp and behind the ears.

Heredity and aging....here it is at face value....

How much does heredity have to do with how we age? We are a mixture of both of our parents. Consider this when evaluating skin typing. 

Our skin can be typed based on fairness and potential to burn or amount of pigment from one to five.  One being the lightest, fairest with light colored eyes and easy to burn. Five is designated to those with darkly pigmented skin with dark eyes and little capacity to burn. 

The amount of pigment cells in our viable epidermis, the living layer, determines how much natural protection we have against the sun and elements. The more meliorates means you are less likely to burn, possessing more protection against the sun.

But don't let these facts fool you.  One can have a more olive medium skin tone (type 2-3) and still be a candidate for sun damage, aging and skin cancers including the deadliest— melanoma. 

What does all this mean to the average consumer focusing on the safest, healthiest way to prevent sun damage, cellular changes and aging?  The number one thing to do—stay out of the sun. The sun in the major culprit for aging, sun damage and cellar changes predisposing us to skin cancer. 

We must stay protected from sun exposure, particularly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Wear a sunblock (containing titanium oxide and zinc oxide, preferably a 50 spf) daily and apply frequently if going out for long periods of time.

The sun is responsible for 80% of our aging and damage to our skin.  If we have a higher rated skin type, we can endure more sun before showing damage. However, your skin condition is a combination of heredity, environment, lifestyle, and the maintenance of good skin care and a healthy diet.

Besides staying out of the sun, eat foods rich in antioxidants A,C and E. Enjoy dark pigmented fruits and vegetables Remember only a portion of what we eat hits the skin level so it is very important to apply topically. 

What else can we do?  Keep up a good skin care regime with high level cosmeceuticals—glycolic acid based is the most effective. It will help keep our viable protective layer working at the optimal level. Many are going to home glycolic peels and vitamin therapies with additional, scheduled higher level treatments in salon or in an office like Clinage’s. (The Fosnaugh Center in Southfield.)

We all have the opportunity for healthy skin with a slow aging process. Monitor the skin for changes. You can slow the process down, repair and protect as outlined. 

Knowledge is so important when it comes to these aspects.  It will keep you young and it could save your life!

Oily skin—is it a curse or a blessing?

Now is the time of year when skin moisture changes with the warmer, more humid weather.  If you have oily skin, it becomes more pronounced.  Most individuals with oily skin usually have acne too since the pores are clogging and the sebaceous matter has nowhere to go thus building large pores, blackheads, acne papules and pustules. Men also have increased oil production, due to male hormones increasing sebaceous activity, oiliness and blackheads.   But oily skin is not all bad news. Usually individuals with oilier skin tend to age slower or show the signs slower.  Their skin is usually less sensitive as well.  Most importantly, dry skin is more sensitive and shows signs of aging and tends to get more sun damage. More good news—the new and greatest cosmeceuticals, anti-aging and anti-acne products available tend to work best with oily skin. Those with oily skin can get their acne under control, prevent future breakouts and heal current lesions and scars.  Oily skin can tolerate the glycolic acid treatments too. Whether in office or at home, these products work on all skin types. The percentage of glycolic acid used (an alpha hydroxy acid derived from sugar cane and used in advanced skin care and medical grade products) can also be increased at a faster rate thus offering improved results for both acne and aging. The moral of the story is if you do have acne, use good anti-aging substances such as glycolic acid peels and products with advanced vitamin therapies such as Clinage. These will help treat both acne and oily skin and slow down aging and jump start repair.  Keep on looking like the youngest at your high school reunions.  It’s truly possible to slow the aging process, reverse it with treatment and keep acne under control.

Your oily skin may just be an added blessing!

Can we all have beautiful skin no matter what we start out with?

Can we all have beautiful skin no matter what we start out with? The answer is yes! I would like to share a few tips that have kept me young and vibrate and fight aging and acne.  I feel qualified as I am in the cosmeceutical business and was raised in dermatology and plastic surgery all my life.  First and foremost—stay out of the sun and tanning booths—they result in 85 percent of aging and skin cancer. Next, munch regularly on anti-aging antioxidant pigmented vegetables and fruits as well as heavy Omega 3's and low glycemic foods such as olive oil.  Never starve—just eat the right stuff. Keep hydrated internally and externally. We all know to drink water but using anti-aging products and moisturizers helps increase our skin’s capacity to retain moisture. Use a true cosmeceutical such as Clinage and regularly apply an anti-aging skin regime, which includes glycolic acid and vitamins. The right substances and concentrations will work on getting and keeping your skin healthy. Start off each day with a gentle glycolic exfoliation, no granules. Now your skin can breathe and allow other active substances to penetrate. Use glycolic acid substances each week in the form of creams and lotions. This will help keep your collagen count up and skin pigmentation and evenness under control.  You can go for professional glycolic peel treatments or you can do versions at home in between. Clinage offers a wonderful at-home peel kit too. (Visit www.clinage.com) Use Vitamin C topically in the form of Magnesium C to penetrate and keep collagen up, skin pigment even and rosacea under control. This will even tackle pesky puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Use other vitamin containing products such as Vitamin A for elasticity and pore clogging prevention, as well as a great antioxidant from the elements.  Niacinamide is another great vitamin to help with ours skin’s immunity pigmentation management. Never give up—keep your skin as healthy as you can. You can reduce aging and even control acne simultaneously. It only gets better.  Look at your friends who have been doing the right things and you’ll see a huge difference.  Start now. Until next time…….

Dark spots or uneven skin tone?

Why do some of us have problems with dark spots or uneven skin tone?  Certainly, all of us—at any age and skin type—are candidates for these annoying problems.  The origin is the layer of the skin containing pigment cells, known as melanocytes. 

We all have them but some skin types have more or less pigment. This is a genetic.  The more pigment cells we have in this living layer, the more chance for darker, longer-term pigment. 

Numerous things stimulate these cells to become active and surface to the top, creating patches, spots and waves of uneven pigment. 

The most common culprit is the sun.  Sunlight causes melanocytes in all skin types to become hyperactive and inflammatory and patch up to the surface.  Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells found mainly in the epidermis.

Many know this to be called age spots or sun spots. They are usually in the areas where there has been excessive sun exposure such as the neck up, elbows down, face or hyper exposed areas. Just check out the areas that have not been exposed and there is your proof.

There are other reasons as well for pigment cells to become active. Skin injuries may be the cause, ranging from an acne spot to a burn to excessive scratching and cuts.  Luckily, our pigment cells come to the rescue (of injury) and can remain for months. The darker the skin type, the darker the pigment remaining and the harder to get rid of it. 

Other causes are hormonal. This can be known as pregnancy mask and is also seen on woman taking birth control pills. There are some other medications that will also cause pigment issues, most of which improve with reduction of the hormone or medication.

Now what to do! The conventional approach of many decades has been bleaching agents containing thyroxin. The percentages range from over-the-counter to prescription doses.  The problem is the potential for irritation and over usage. 

One of the best ways to treat this is with glycolic acid treatments and products such as Clinage.  The agents and molecules work to break up the pigment cells regardless of skin type and cause and are easy to use ranging from creams, gels, glycolic peels and treatments.  Always be careful not to combine active bleaching agents with glycolic agents without professional guidance. 

Another great treatment is the use of Vitamin C in a special form called Magnesium C, which does not oxidize as quickly and has a more neutral pH. Topical Vitamin C works to decrease the inflammation of the pigment cells and helps heal areas from acne and other injury. 

Niacinamide also has been known to work on this living skin layer to help with the immune system, injury and therefore pigment treatment.  Niacinamide comes in the form of creams. Eye creams tackle dark circles. Use serums for your face or anywhere else on the body to treat pesky dark spots and age spots.

Always be aware of potential bad moles or melanomas stimulated by the sun.  Go for your yearly body checks and be on the lookout for any new freckles or moles. Watch for changes in size, color, symmetry, especially areas exposed to the sun or have suffered a sunburn. 

Melanoma is increasingly the cause of death of young adults and is completely curable if caught early. Pay attention. I sincerely welcome this opportunity I have to communicate this to you.

Until next time……