Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Magazine #91

Trend: From Wellness Tech to Technological Wellness 2

A Strategy to Revolutionize Your Body 4

A Better Way To Do Beauty 6

Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment 8

The Wellness Questionnaire with Accor’s Emlyn Brown 10

Unmask That Smile and Align It with your Best Features 12

Dermalogica Pro Restore 14

Integrating a Wellness Lounge 8

Non-Invasive Body Tightening and Contouring 20

How Gym Culture Went From Punishing to Meditative 22

Top 4 Non-Surgical Treatments Of The Year 24

SKINOVAGE from BABOR 26

DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen 28

Questionnaire: Jamé Heskett, Founder of The Wellpath 30

Stem Cell Collagen Activators 32

Two Treatments With One Unit from Looking Good LCN 34 Endocrine Disruptors 36

Skincare Science Updates 38

6 Steps to Get Your Cortisol Levels Under Control 40

DermaFix Mandelic Retexturising Wipes 42

Ice-slurry Fat Melting Technology 44

The Science of Regenerative Medicine and Exosomes 46

What are Nootropics? 48

How Joyfulness Can Lengthen Your Life 50

Remarkably Resilient 52

Three Big Barriers to Collaboration 54

We Could All Use a Health Coach 56

Editors Welcome

The Aesthetics Market will be worth $ 27.55 Billion, globally by 2028 at a 10.6% annual growth rate. Many factors can lead to premature ageing, but luckily there are new treatments available every day to help your skin regain its youthful vigour. As you age, elasticity in your skin reduces and collagen is destroyed. New treatments, from product, Ice-Slurry, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) to Regerative Medicine, Exosomes and Joyfullness, can treat the effects of aging by injectables, other growth factors and cutting edge technologies into the face and body, which stimulates cells to produce more collagen and elastin.

a recent interview with Emlyn Brown, bringing more than 20 years of international experience to Accor, as the global vice president of wellbeing. The question was asked: What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received, and answered we recently produced our Accor wellness podcast series, Health to Wealth, and loved what fitness and recovery expert Harry Jameson said, “Try to sweat every day.” Whether this is a brisk walk, enjoying a sauna, gardening, or working out, I love the simplicity of this and the way it breaks it down to simple actions. We must continue to democratize wellness and ensure it is for all.”

Enjoy the read !

Trend: From Wellness Tech to Technological Wellness

By Global Wellness Institute

We’re inundated with technology promising to make us well–whether it’s smart home gyms or wearable devices. We predict more people will grasp that what matters more is “technological wellness,” a movement that addresses how—and how often—we engage with technology at large: where we start to treat our digital intake like we do our food intake.

Between fitness wearables, smart home gyms, and futuristic sleep headbands, there is no shortage of technologies promising to make us well. But the truth is that most technologies—the technologies that make up the vast majority of our screen time—are harming our health, not helping it. Our screentime, and the number of wellness technologies, surged during the pandemic, and even as we emerge from it, so much more of our life–from work to working out–has been pushed online. The average person now spends about seven hours a day online. Where is any real wellness when we spend hours a day on Zoom meetings and doomscroll bad news and Instagram all night?

Our 2022 trend predicts a new kind of “technological wellness” will emerge: one that is less about buying another wellness app, wearable, or device, and more about putting health at the very center of how—and how often—we engage with technology in general.

Awareness is rising about the tech industry’s obsession with making things as addictive and “frictionless” as possible, keeping people strung along on their platforms: endless newsfeeds; one-click purchases; auto-play that zaps us with endless dopamine hits; “live” functions that manufacture the idea that “you can’t miss this”; gamification mechanisms that keep egging you on; and algorithms for content at the top. Awareness is rising that all of these addicting, frictionless experiences are about the almighty dollar: the more time we spend scrolling, the more ads are served, the more data is collected, and the more money flows into the pockets of Big Tech companies.

Our trend explored how the tide is now turning: how more research shows that this situation is trashing our mental health, how Big Tech is moving to right some of its wrongs, and how governments are cracking down on companies that engineered this avalanche of addictive, dangerous content. Since the trend was released in February, there has been much action.

• How more governments are cracking down, such as the UK, whose new legislation gets strict with social media companies enabling harmful online content.

• How new social media apps such as BeReal are creating a space aimed at fighting all the performance, bragging platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

• How there are more grassroots “log off” movements rallying people to just turn it off.

Governments Get Strict:

There’s suddenly much more legislation from global governments (being proposed or enacted) that will hold tech and social media platforms accountable as never before. Screen addiction is suddenly a pretty hot topic with lawmakers.China was early in leading this charge. In 2021, the government released a three-year plan to bring algorithms under state control, foreshadowing a future of tighter restrictions for the world’s largest tech companies. A month after China’s algorithm regulations were announced, Douyin—the Chinese version of TikTok—restricted users under 14 years of age to using the app for a maximum of 40

minutes a day. The platform made yet another move to combat addiction last fall with the launch of unskippable pauses. When Douyin users have been scrolling for too long, their endless stream of bitesized videos gets interrupted by a five-second pause nudging them with prompts like “put the phone down,” “go to bed,” or “work tomorrow.”

In the US there are currently more than 28 bills pending in a dozen states that aim to hold social media companies accountable. At the federal level, a coalition of 100 groups that advocate for children’s wellbeing just urged the Senate to move forward on bipartisan legislation (The Kids Online Safety Act) that will make social media companies liable for the ways they harm young people.

In the UK, the government introduced a new Online Safety Bill to Parliament in late April. The bill contains wide-ranging legislation that would regulate the behavior of a large group of Internet platforms (from social media giants to online gaming companies) around so many different online safety and harmful content issues. It’s being hailed as a revolutionary piece of legislation that could shape social media regulation around the world.

Big Tech Tries to Right Its Wrongs:

More tech companies are racing to clean up their act before falling victim to ever-harsher restrictions. 2021 and 2022 have been years of “regulate or be regulated,” and platforms were busy.

One major hot-button social media topic is algorithmic ranking. Over the years, platforms have been criticized for prioritizing controversial content thus, harms mental health. This was recently confirmed when internal Facebook documents revealed that beginning in 2017, the platform’s algorithm rated the “angry” emoji reaction as five times more valuable than “likes.” The logic behind this weighting is simple: anger tends to spark a more emotional reaction, keeping people more engaged. But that strategy is on its way out. In 2021, Facebook introduced a handful of new features that gave users more control of their news feed, including an easier way to turn off the app’s algorithmic ranking and see content in the order it was posted instead. A similar option is now being rolled out across Instagram as well; Instagram will give users three different home feed options, including one that’s chronological.

Another way platforms are aiming to right their wrongs is by regulating the content itself. In 2021, for instance, Pinterest joined forces with the National Eating Disorders Association to ban all ads with language or imagery related to weight loss—a meaningful step to prioritize mental health over ad revenue in a year where weight loss brands spent 89% more on advertising compared to 2020. In a similar vein, Instagram now allows users to limit sensitive content, Facebook has banned advertisers from targeting minors.

More Tech as the Antidote to Tech: From Apps That Measure Your “Digital Nutrition”.

Clearly, technology is not making us well. So how are we fixing it? With more tech, of course! There’s a fast-growing list of new technologies and platforms that solve problems caused by tech in the first place.

One example: AeBeZe Labs calls its solution Digital Nutrition. The startup is arming people with the tools

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to better understand the “nutritional value” of the content they consume, measuring its impact on serotonin levels, endorphins, focus, imagination, and more. The ultimate goal is to help people make smarter, healthier digital decisions, which AeBeZe’s founder says starts with universal labeling. “There is a standardized label on all foods and packaged beverages, on prescription medication, even on your mattress. The last frontier that remains—the wild west— is content.” AeBeZe imagines a not-so-distant world where such digital nutrition labels are included on the videos we watch, as well as in the classrooms that kids grow up in. The company was acquired by social app and unicorn IRL in December, who, says TechCrunch, was particularly interested in AeBeZe’s Daybreak, a mobile calendar where users track their mood over time so they can choose daily sessions designed to elevate their mood by watching, listening or tapping through specific doses of healthy content.

The new social media platform, BeReal, was designed as a counter to all the performance, posturing and bad vibes at the big social sites like Instagram or Snapchat. It aims at authenticity: it asks you to post just one image/post a day right at that moment so you can’t stage it. There are no “likes,” no ads, no impossibly perfect celebs and influencers, no photo doctoring and filters, and, in no time, it’s become the most downloaded social app behind Tik Tok.

More Log-Off Movements:

The tech solutions trying to save us from the heavy mental toll of tech wouldn’t be necessary, of course, if we focused on the real, root issue: try logging off. And there are more movements rallying us to do just that. Last week, The New York Times profiled teen Emma Lembke who founded the Log Off Movement in 2020, an organization that is encouraging and helping other teens reduce their time on the Internet and rethink their relationship to it.

The Future? With the Coming Metaverse, Technological Wellness Becomes Critical

The world’s biggest tech companies are already racing to build a world where we interact via virtual reality headsets and trade our glasses for augmented reality contacts. In the coming Metaverse, the physical world and human contact will recede further and it will become increasingly difficult to grasp where the real world ends and the virtual one begins. We’re going to need new digital log-off behaviors, new frictions, new boundaries, and new laws like never before, if we have any hope of staying sane and grounded.

The technological wellness trend and movement are about pausing, asking the tough questions, and developing everyday technologies with health in mind, so we can create a better world. Looking forward, we foresee wellness and technology forging a healthier kind of relationship.

And if the wellness world was an earlier pioneer in creating things like digital detoxes at resorts, the industry needs to think further. The wellness industry has a huge opportunity to lead this movement; help people understand how tech affects our minds, bodies and emotions; and contribute to reset our tech habits at scale.

This Trendium is based on From Wellness Tech to Technological Wellness, trend from the 2022 Global Wellness Trends Report.

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A Strategy to Revolutionize Your Body

Many situations can be changed one small step at a time, but others require a complete transformation. This arises when a total misconception or practice needs to be overturned. Imagine if you ask your smartphone who it would like to call next or your computer if it likes chocolate. Something fundamental has gone wrong .

Without realizing it, almost everyone makes a similar drastic mistake regarding their bodies. As with a gas stove stoked with a wood fire, you can get some use even if you misunderstand what your body is. Because we get along well enough (barring serious illness, mental disorders, and aging), there isn’t enough incentive for people to realize that their bodies need to be totally transformed. Incremental change, after all, is hard enough.

Yet the total misconception we operate from has reached an extreme, which I’d like to explain. The wrong ideas we have about our bodies run from the simplest to the most complex. Here’s a sample: The body is a physical object like a star, cloud, or mountain.It operates like a machine, in this case a machine made of flesh and blood.The operations inside this machine obey the law of cause-and-effect, as all mechanical tings must.The machine has a super-computer to manage all its intricacies, which is the brain.

Each of these notions is dead wrong, but as working assumptions, the whole scheme has worked well enough to lead to the remarkable state of modern medicine. Who would sacrifice a quadruple bypass or refuse a COVID booster on rational grounds? No one says you must, and you shouldn’t. But back away a few steps, and there is no denying that the body is involved in all the following problems that are unsolved by modern medicine: allergies, depression, anxiety, general unhappiness, lack of emotional fulfillment, ageing, and death. Since the brain is involved in everything we think, by extension the body is also involved in other unsolved problems stemming from prejudice, violence, toxic emotions, injustice, and all manner of inequality.

No thing and no machine suffers these problems or is conscious of them. Irrationality doesn’t proceed by cause and effect, so right away we can throw out the first three working assumptions that turn out to be poor descriptions of reality. What would be a good description? Every drawback and problem I’ve listed is a failure of intelligence. One major advantage of

modern medicine is the recognition that the human body exhibits intelligence. Without using words and concepts, your immune system is as intelligent as your brain and in fact is often described as the body’s “floating brain,” since immune cells pervade your entire body.

Another advantage of modern medicine is the fine detail being achieved in such areas as genetics. Without them, not to mention the mapping of the human genome in 2003, the enormous promise of epigenetics and messenger RNA would be impossible. Yet despite such advances, the underlying assumptions are mechanistic—it has taken my entire lifetime as a doctor for the concept of bodily intelligence to be accepted.

But once you see that the body’s ills, and most of humanity’s, are failures of intelligence, you recognize that what is at stake isn’t mental intelligence. Being a genius doesn’t save you from the misconception of what the human body really is, nor does it compensate — Einstein endured physical suffering beyond the usual, died at no great advanced age (76).

In this brief sketch I’ve suggested why the body needs to be transformed by rethinking our basic conceptions. A strategy has also emerged that would revolutionize the current situation: Prevent and repair all these failures of intelligence. But like deposing a ruthless monarch, the change needs to be complete and final, not a step-by-step process. The problems afflicting human beings are bewildering in their complexity, but we don’t have to prevent and repair one problem at a time, which is what we already attempt to do.

The solution is to find and use the source of intelligence from which all intelligence (intellectual, artistic, emotional, social, and bodily) emanates. By any measure there is a super-computer that governs the bodymind in thousands of interconnected ways, and besides pure computation, it feels, perceives, interprets, dreams, wishes, and loves. These are noncomputational actions, so our super-computer cannot be the brain, whose entire working can be reduced to the chemical equivalent of computations, adding and subtracting charged ions that pass through the membrane of brain cells or jump the gap between two brain cells.

The transformative step that carries us to a solution is simple: recognize that all intelligence is conscious. There is no such thing as an intelligent atom or

By Deepak Chopra MD

molecule. Nor is there a chemical process you can point to where atoms and molecules learn to think, much less dream and love. Other non-conscious explanations also fall short. Information is universal, and it is fashionable to trust in information theory to explain such mysteries as memory and genetic inheritance. But once again, all information is computational (an array of 0s and 1s), which make no sense until a conscious mind reads them and extracts their information.

As the source of creation, consciousness alone has the capacity to create a continuous thread that unites mind, body, matter, and energy, even extending to time and space. (In the end, the body is like a star or mountain or any so-called physical object. Because anything physical can only be known as transformations of consciousness.) That’s where the revolution leads us. Where is such cosmic intelligence operating? In its own version of space, which the ancient Vedic seers described as Chit Akash. A simple translation into “mind space” isn’t adequate, because the essence of Chit Akash is not like physical space. It is more like your vocabulary, which occupies its own space in your awareness.

Yet even this non-physical space needs a source, and the only viable candidate is pure awareness. This would be comparable to your ability to learn words. It is an ability different from the words stored in your vocabulary. You might not speak Hindi, French or Swahili, but you share with those speakers the same ability to learn words. The only difference—and it is huge—is that your source in pure consciousness gives you the ability to know, period. Knowing is an irreducible quality of consciousness. So are existence and Being.

Now we can say what revolutionizing your body involves. You see yourself as part of irreducible cosmic consciousness, whose life and everything in it depends on your connection to your source. This is the vision of consciousness as not only the source of creation but the ever-present collaborator in every event that has occurred or ever will. The promise of such a vision is unpredictable, but one thing is certain. It corrects our total misunderstanding of who we are, and at the same time it transforms what the human body is.

How can we afford to keep living with such a fundamental mistake?

innovation

A better way to do beauty:

How the cosmetics industry can become more sustainable

By Toni Carroll - My Beauty Luv

Did you know that the global cosmetics market size is set to reach $463.5 billion by 2027? But this booming industry has a history of negatively impacting the planet, and people are becoming more aware. As such, consumers are placing greater focus on the sustainability of the beauty products they use, whether the packaging is recyclable (21%), if the producer has ethical credentials (21%), and whether the products are made from sustainable materials (20%). Does this sound like you?

When making your beauty purchases, here’s what to look out for to ensure you’re shopping sustainably:

Recyclable Packaging:

Studies have shown that the beauty industry generates up to 120 billion units of plastic packaging per year, contributing to the loss of 18 million acres of forest annually. Additionally, almost all plastic is derived from materials made from fossil fuels and the process of extracting and transporting those fuels, then manufacturing them into plastic produces billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the more plastic we make, the more fossil fuels we need, and the more we exacerbate climate change.

Apart from this, much of the plastic used in the industry is single use which ultimately ends up in landfills. Brands should consider using recyclable and sustainable packaging like glass, which can be recycled or reused. This is why you should look out for brands that use sustainable packaging like the glass I use for all my products. Glass also eliminates the risk of contaminants and chemicals since it is prepared using natural materials.

Sustainably Sourced Ingredients:

Over the years, many beauty products have been made using toxins that can negatively impact both the planet and our bodies. These include parabens, fragrances, sulphates, microplastics and palm oil.

Today, look for brands that use alternatives, or ensure that their products don’t include these harmful ingredients. Find out which brands are making a shift towards ingredients that are all natural and free from fillers, binders, flow-agents and preservatives.

Make sure that the products you are buying are not tested on, or harming animals. However, should you use products that are made from animal by-products, such as fish collagen, this too should be ethically and sustainably sourced. In the case of My Beauty Luv’s MBL 1.0 Pure Fish Hydrolysed Type 1 Collagen, only fresh water sustainably farmed fish scales are used so as not to deplete the ocean’s ecosystem.

Sustainable Policies:

Businesses spanning the gamut from large corporates to small, entrepreneurial beauty companies are refining their business models to include sustainability. In doing so, these companies are adopting a triple bottom line approach which prompts the organisation to focus on more than just profits, or the ‘bottomline’, and measure their environmental and social impact. This has been referred to as ‘the three Ps’people, planet, and profit. Doing well and doing good are intertwined, with research by McKinsey finding that companies with high environmental, social, and governance ratings consistently

outperform the market in both the medium and long term.

Use beauty companies that have identified potential areas for improvement which could benefit from sustainability initiatives, as well as ones that have incorporated sustainability into their mission statement and that hold internal and external stakeholders accountable for change.

About: Toni Carroll - Founder of My Beauty Luv

Back in 2014, Toni opened one of the very first online professional haircare stores in South Africa. As someone who is painfully pedantic about finding the best the market has to offer, ‘Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow' launched with the aim of providing quality, professional-grade products to the growing online shopping community. After a few years of bringing salon-quality brands to the public, she recognised a gap in the market: the need for a holistic approach to hair health. So, I began introducing ingestible health products to my platform. At the time, hardly anyone else was doing this. I also didn’t want to sell just any products, they had to be made from only the finest grade ingredients and they actually had to work. Today, customers can rest assured that ALL My Beauty Luv products have been researched and tested to hell and back. I go to the nth degree and partner with the world's finest ingredient manufacturers to ensure that the My Beauty Luv range is of the utmost quality. I am very serious when it comes to giving my stamp of approval on an ingredient and formula - after all, I have my street cred to uphold!

Platelet-Rich Plasma, A New Treatment to Combat Ageing Skin

By Dr. Saumya T. Gautam

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Many factors can lead to premature ageing, but luckily there are new treatments available every day to help your skin regain its youthful vigour. As you age, elasticity in your skin reduces and collagen is destroyed. A new treatment known as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) can treat the effects of ageing by injecting platelets and other growth factors into the face, which stimulates cells to produce more collagen and elastin.

Dr. Saumya T. Gautam, an aesthetic medical doctor and coownerof S&S Aesthetics - who is specialising in aesthetic medicine and advanced skin health, she is passionate about protecting and preserving the largest organ of the body, the skin, explains what PRP is and how this new treatment works.

While it may feel daunting having platelets injected into your skin, they are large cells that help the body clot and serve to promote healing and rejuvenation. Just like when you cut yourself, platelets rush to the injury site and stick together to form a seal that stops the bleeding. This property helps the body heal itself and also releases chemicals that attract other cells to the injury site to help with the repair.

And that is not all, platelets also contain growth factors that can promote tissue regeneration by stimulating cell growth and multiplication.

“PRP therapy is a new treatment that is becoming increasingly popular,” says Dr. Saumya. “This treatment involves taking a small sample of your blood. Using a blood centrifuge machine, the platelets are then separated from the rest of the blood cells. The platelets are then injected back into your skin using a very fine needle.”

She adds that PRP skin therapy is beneficial for the skin as it can help stimulate collagen production and improve the overall appearance of the skin. It can also help to improve skin tone and texture, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

PRP therapy can also be used to treat a variety of other ailments such as baldness, joint pains, sports injuries, erythema, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and telangiectasia.

“Since PRP is made from your own blood, it is completely natural and safe,” she says. “Although the prospect of extracting blood and using needles to inject growth factors into the face may sound daunting, the procedure is actually quite simple, safe and relatively painless.”

How it Works

For ease and comfort, a topical anesthetic is applied to the dermis to minimise any discomfort. After waiting for 20 to 30 minutes, once the area is completely numb, the patient is ready for the procedure to begin.

For patients who may be feeling uneasy around needles or experience anxiety at the mere thought of a syringe, the skin couture experts at S&S Aesthetics have the option of injecting the treatment usingNanoSoft™ by Fillmed. The NanoSoft™ is around three times smaller than a normal injection needle. It improves patient comfort, minimises the risk of bruising and makes the rest of the aesthetic process so much easier.

“To ensure that the treatment is applied safely, we take every precaution and safety protocol is followed by our medical aesthetic experts,” explains Dr. Saumya.

If you want a more dramatic result, you can combine PRP treatment with micro-needling for even younger-looking skin.Micro-needling is a process that uses fine needles to create microscopic punctures in the skin, which can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.

The micro-needling creates tiny channels in the skin, which allows the PRP to be absorbed more deeply. This can help to improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin, as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

“New advancements in technologies, like the 1NEED medical microneedling pen that we use - is one of the very few devices in the world to have a CE medical certificate for microneedling and microdermabrasion treatments - creates a far superior result,” she adds.

PRP facial treatments take around 60 to 90 minutes on average. This includes the time it takes to numb the face and prepare the PRP. The actual injection time is usually around 15 minutes. Most patients see optimal results after three PRP treatments spaced four to six weeks apart.

However, she notes that some patients may need more frequent treatment in order to maintain results.

Although the platelet-rich plasma facial is a new treatment, it shows great promise for those seeking a younger-looking complexion. The treatment is minimally invasive and can be done in a single session, making it an attractive option for busy people. In addition, there is little to no downtime after the procedure, which is another plus.

If you are considering this treatment, looking for advice or medical information on skin health you can go to www.sandsaesthetics.co.za

spa lifestyle

The Wellness Questionnaire with Accor’s Emlyn Brown

Emlyn Brown brings more than 20 years of international experience to Accor as the global vice president of wellbeing. Joining the Accor team in 2018, Brown began his wellness career in 1996 and has held several progressive management positions throughout Europe, The Middle East, and Asia since then. Over his career, Brown has led group operations of several leading luxury spa and fitness operators. During his time at Resense Spas, he held the position as global design director and was responsible for managing corporate strategies, wellbeing concepts, and related design services. Prior to that, Brown was the director at GOGO Hospitality and also held senior positions at Six Senses Resorts & Spas. Prior to working within luxury hospitality, Brown held senior operating roles with Holmes Place Lifestyle clubs in Switzerland and Germany.

Taking his storied and global background in wellness in mind, Brown shares his thoughts on wellbeing.

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellbeing, in my opinion, is a sense of being cared for among peaceful, calming surroundings. It’s a sense that all is right in the world at that moment or period and is an outcome generated by your wellness habits. So, for me, wellness is actions and activities you engage with and enjoy as a way of supporting your personal wellbeing.

What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?

I am as active as time allows: Gym and fitness and my Peloton plus an off-and-on relationship with doing yoga badly and mind wandering meditation. I love to read, which helps me relax, or watch sports, especially the premier league, and I consume a lot of podcasts and good movies when on the move. Cooking at home is a particular passion, ensuring I invest conscious time with family and friends.

Is there a specific fitness activity that you love?

I love bathing: European-style sauna, steam, and hot and cold therapy, and I love to visit various resorts where this is offered. I get a deep sense of relaxation

and calm, am revived, and feel it’s elemental wellness at its best. I am attending the Wim Hof Method Academy in October. I also visited the bucket-list Blue Lagoon in Iceland this year. There is a true revival in this historical and social wellness practice, which is great to see.

What is your favorite healthy beverage?

Kombucha for gut health and light pinot noir. Sadly, I have no tips to prepare it other than to invest in a decent corkscrew. However, I find that a morning that starts with hot water and lemon really supports my metabolism and is super easy to do every day.

What person in wellness do you most admire and why?

I admire Rich Roll. He is a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, full-time wellness and plant-based nutrition advocate, popular public speaker, and produces an excellent podcast series. He overcame personal challenges at 40 to become a plant-based ultra-athlete, and I find him to be a real inspiration. His podcast is always engaging and informative.

What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?

We recently produced our Accor wellness podcast series, Health to Wealth, and loved what fitness and recovery expert Harry Jameson said, “Try to sweat every day.” Whether this is a brisk walk, enjoying a sauna, gardening, or working out, I love the simplicity of this and the way it breaks it down to simple actions. We must continue to democratize wellness and ensure it is for all.

What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?

I was asked to visit a true garage tech start-up in LA to test a piece of meditation tech. Resonate is a combination of light, haptic, and sound therapy that really works. We are going to partner with this incredible new company to bring the experience to our spas and hotels.

By Julie Keller Callaghan - Well Defined

What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?

Wellness

Is there a particular wellness company that truly impresses you with their efforts and why?

Many, but three that come to mind are: Hyperice, which is constantly innovating in the tech x recovery space; Lanserhof, which is dedicated to true diagnosticbased wellness delivery; and Kamalaya Koh Samui, a passionate proponent of health and wellbeing in a Thai magical resort setting.

What wellness-related books or authors do you recommend, and why?

I would highly recommend Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights. While not a wellness book per se, his approach to life, passion, and focus is an inspiration with some real comedy along the way—he is an explorer and a seeker, which I respect. It’s best to do the audiobook for the full McConaughey Texan drawl.

What brings you joy?

An off-the-beaten-path trip, a backpacking adventure with no itinerary where I could wander a country as I did in my youth. Travel reveals a world of delight and opens our minds in wonderful ways. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness.”

About Julie Keller Callaghan: Julie is the co-founder of Well Defined and a longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world. Along with her work at Well Defined, she is an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher ofAmericanSpa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category and a 2018 winner of ISPA’s Innovate Award. She is also a seasoned journalist, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, sustainability, and beauty.

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Unmask That Smile and Align It with your Best Features

There have been many lessons to learn from the pandemic - one of the most important being how often we used to overlook the value of a simple smile.

Usually, a smile is the first thing noticed on a person when you take in their face. Widely considered to be a window to our soul, a smile emanates warmth and approachability, and the facilitator of conversation. A pretty smile is not just nice to look at though - a glistening smile generally means rosy cheeks and bright eyes - which are all signs of good health, vigour and youthfulness.

Yet, just like the rest of our body, our smile changes over time. As an aesthetic dental surgeon and facial aesthetic practitioner, Dr Sheryl Smithies loves nothing more than to craft a striking smile. As one of Cape Town’s top specialists she shares her three top tips to ensure your smile is always healthy, picture-perfect, and beautifully complements your facial features.

Three ways to align your smile with your facial features

1.Smile Wide To Create Symmetry

She has seen so many patients feel ashamed to smile properly because they are unhappy with their teeth. Not opening the lips when smiling might seem like the best solution to conceal discoloured or crooked teeth, but this does more harm. A closed mouth pulls other facial muscles into a different position and after a while, this can make the face look unnatural and

cartoon-like.

Although no one has a perfectly symmetrical face by parting the lips and showing your teeth when smiling, you automatically create the illusion that your face is symmetrical. Ideally you want to reveal at least 3mm or more of front teeth when you smile to create proportionality in the face. If you feel embarrassed by the condition of your teeth, then start with a gentle and thorough cleansing regime –incorporating good dental hygiene and teeth whitening practices if necessary.

2. Jaws Jaws Jaws

The positioning, size and shape of your top and bottom jaws will affect the overall look of your smile. In general, if your jaws are too inwards, you’ll have a small, dark smile but if your jaws are too far forward and down, you’ll have a very large and gummy type of smile.

The positioning of your jaws also plays a big role in how your face presents itself, as it affects how far forward or back you chin is and whether your nose tip goes down or up for example. Straightening your jaws will help straighten your teeth and improve your smile. In some cases it can also improve the way you bite and chew food. Chat to your dentist about any concerns and consider bonding or veneers to bring back a youthful jaw shape over time.

By Dr Sheryl Smithies

3.Maintain a Natural Youthful Appearance

Our bone, skin, gums, and teeth all age as we do, and over time this changes our facial structure and alters our smile. As we get older, our skin gets smaller, looser, and thinner which causes our teeth to become weaker, move and become more crooked. Our gums also move and, in some cases, even shrink which can cause recession. The good news though is that there are many ways we can slow the ageing process around the mouth.

Facial fillers can help make our bone structure appear to stay in the same youthful shape, while tooth alignment can straighten the teeth and prevent movement. A simple gum surgery can be performed to bring these forwards (within reason), while the upper lip, which tends to droop as we age, can be lifted with another simple surgery. There are also plenty of anti-ageing dental treatments on the market, including peels, fillers, toxins, and threads and in the most extreme, cases, a smile rehabilitation can be done using bonding or porcelain veneers to create an entirely new smile.

Smiling is so important. As well as being highly contagious, a smile can make a person feel more attractive, positive and happy. Research has also shown that smiling helps you live longer and can even reduce stress and blood pressure levels. The path to the perfect smile starts with good dental hygiene and understanding how your smile can enhance your existing facial features.

Dermalogica Pro Restore innovation

Dermalogica has introduced new advanced professional services to the treatment room. This advancement was driven by the insight that skin-engaged consumers are looking for a more advanced offering, with Google Searches having shown a steady increase in interest behind microneedling treatments over the past five years.

Pro Microneedling: Pro Microneedling delivers your most advanced professional results for minimising the look of hyperpigmentation, pores and wrinkles. This treatment uses innovative techniques and powerful, professional-grade actives to help:

• Brighten complexion

• Reduce the appearance of dark spots

• Diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles

• Refine the look of pores

Recent studies have shown that the technique is able to stimulate collagen production, and that it is also effective in targeting the melanocytes responsible for melanin overproduction and hyperpigmentation. Microneedling works by initiating the body’s wound healing process to trigger skin regeneration. By using fine needles to make miniscule, evenly-spaced micro-injuries, the treatment stimulates the healthy tissue surrounding the microneedling wounds to repair the damage.

Since the healing response involves production of new cells and tissue (including the production of collagen and elastin) the result is skin rejuvenation and rebuilding of the skin’s dermal structure, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and texture irregularities such as acne pitting or stretch marks.

Why should you offer Microneedling in your salon?

Microneedling is growing in popularity and currently is tracking above chemical peels in google searches. The demand for consumers to achieve significant skin

results is high and many are looking for aesthetic services to target their skin concerns. Pro Microneedling allows the professional to offer a high impact combination service that includes both chemical peel and microneedling in one service. Pro Microneedling is also a comprehensive programme where clients purchase a course of services and the at home retail products to prime and treat their skin before and during procedures. This advanced service will accelerate results, secure client loyalty and drive profitability.

Pro Restore

The efficiency of these advanced professional services can be accelerated by the use of Dermalogica’s unique Pro Restore. Pro restore is a revolutionary, clinically proven treatment booster created to accelerate wound healing for micro injury and other advanced skin care. Designed to work with advanced skin treatments, this concentrate prepares the skin’s barrier, restores its condition, and helps increase the appearance of firmness and brightness. All skin conditions undergoing advanced treatments include microneedling, RF Microneedling, Fibroblast Skin Tightening, lasers and chemical peels. The first vial is applied in the treatment room, the client is then sent home to use the rest of the treatment package.

On the treatment booster, Louis Chambert, Senior Director, global service innovation at Dermalogica PRO has said “To create Pro-Restore we spoke with many dermatologists, plastic surgeons and medical skin therapists and asked them what they needed, they all said the same thing, we need a product that can help with skin recovery after micro-injury procedures such as radiofrequency micro-needling, micro-needling, fibroblasting and advanced chemical peels and lasers.”

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Why Integrating a Wellness Lounge into Your Practice Makes Sense

With the multitude of information available on the internet, patients are increasingly taking their health into their own hands. Why not encourage patients to come into your practice by giving them the tools and guidance to do just that?

Mind the Gap

At Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery (PHPS), we first noticed a gap in care with patients who were interested in cosmetic surgery but weren’t quite healthy enough to justify an elective procedure, most notably, patients with a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Studies have shown that increased BMI is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

A Wellness Lounge that focuses on obesity and overall health can help! Instead of turning down the patient and saying, “Come back when you’ve lost some weight,” PHPS offers a Medical Weight Management Program (MWMP) that provides structure and lifestyle coaching for patients to decrease their BMI. Not only does this increase business by keeping a patient who would otherwise be lost, but it helps build a rapport with patients that makes them feel more at ease on their surgery day. Reasonable expectations are managed over time, resulting in much happier patients.

The Benefits

Being as close to their goal weight before an elective plastic surgery procedure typically correlates to better final results for the patient. While plastic surgery can remove excess skin and fat, it does not change the patient’s frame or muscle definition. Working on these things prior to surgery gives the plastic surgeon a solid base for optimal body contouring. Patient willingness to invest time and commit to the MWMP likely translates into compliance postoperatively, and patients are given tools to make healthy lifestyle changes that maintain their results in the long-term.

You’re Not Alone: Resources to Consider

If this type of growth sounds intimidating, don’t fret! There are bountiful resources to help! Two of the most practical and informative tools available are the American IV Association and BuildMyHealth.

The American IV Association (AIVA) is a resource for anyone who is considering adding IV hydration therapy to their practice or starting their own IV hydration therapy business. BuildMyHealth is a platform that can be integrated into your current website to allow potential patients to check pricing for services online. Patients add the services that they’re interested in to their “wishlist” and a price estimate gets emailed to them immediately. Furthermore, patient information is collected when they are checking pricing, which builds a database of potential patients for the practice to market to.

The converse can happen, as well. Patients may discover the practice through the MWMP and depending on how much fat is lost and excess skin a patient has once they reach their goal weight, they may consider additionl treatments to maximize their results. Therefore, one side of the practice is feeding a market demographic to the other.

Furthermore, a MWMP fuels the need for vitamin therapy, including B-12, B complex, and Lipo-C injections. Consider offering a discount on injections to patients who are currently enrolled in the MWMP. Among other things, these services both increase a patient’s metabolism and energy levels—the perfect supplement for a MWMP that also creates a new revenue stream for the practice. Vitamin therapy attracts a much larger market. Patients who are not quite ready to commit to a full MWMP or plastic surgery may be interested in less invasive procedures, such as vitamin injections. These services become a less intimidating way for patients meet the staff, discover the practice, and learn about other potential services.

Let’s Talk Drips

Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin B complex are two of the original ingredients in the famous Myer’s Cocktail. While the Myer’s Cocktail has proven to be an effective treatment for a wide range of clinical conditions, in the realm of plastic surgery, there are two important categories: aesthetics and recovery post-surgery.

Also the Rapid Recovery contains vitamins, minerals, and medications to help post-op patients during their recovery period, including vitamin C and reglan. Not only does vitamin C support the

By Jan Ramiro, BSN, RN

immune system and decrease the risk of post-surgical infections, but it is also required to make collagen, which aids in healing of surgical incisions. Reglan addresses post-op nausea and constipation. On the other hand, the Diva is designed to improve skin health and prevent wrinkles with ingredients such as glutathione and biotin. Glutathione improves overall skin complexion by brightening skin tone and reducing dark spots. Biotin makes hair and nails strong and healthy.

These two specific IV hydration cocktails are geared to patients who are interested in plastic surgery and aesthetics. However, creating other IV hydration cocktails will fill different needs and, therefore, widen the prospective market to help drive patients into the practice.

Our Conclusions

While that does sound like a lot of work for a plastic surgery / aesthetic practice it doesn’t have to be! So, what’s the benefit? First, your practice becomes a full-service suite, which sets your practice apart from others. Patients can conveniently visit one location for various needs. Second, there are more touch points to get to know the patient, build trust, and set them up for success. Regardless of the type of appointment a patient has, they will be seeing the same staff. The ability to nurture these relationships translates into happier patients who are more likely to return for other non-surgical services in the future, such as neuromodulators , fillers, IV therapy, or vitamin shots. Lastly, by offering a wider variety of services, the market demographic for potential patients increases. While the end goal for a potential patient may be to book a surgical procedure, you now have multiple sales funnels to reach that goal.

About: Jan Ramiro, BSN, RN. Perioperative Nurse at Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery IV Hydration Therapy Specialist at Dr. Bae’s Health and Wellness Lounge Member, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; ACLS and PALS certified Paid contractor for AIVA, providing training and consulting services on a part time basis

The Latest On Non-Invasive Body Tightening and Contouring Treatments

Non-invasive body treatments are in big demand today, in fact, non-invasive body contouring is the fastest growing segment today within the world of aesthetic dermatology.

It’s easy to understand why. All over the world, society is under pressure to achieve the ideal body image. It’s everywhere – messages that promote weight loss, that push the idea that thinness for women and muscularity for men is best, and body confidence is tied to the idea of the “perfect body”. This is wrong on many different levels, because quite honestly, the perfect body doesn’t exist. Being happy and confident in how your body looks should not be connected to what society dictates how you should look, but actually should be based on what makes you feel the best about yourself.

Body positivity and confidence are the values behind 3DEEP RF body treatments. It focuses on the positive and not the negative, challenging you to appreciate and respect your body and understanding that there is no right or wrong when it comes to weight, shape, size and appearance. At the same time, 3DEEP RF treatments are available to support whatever aesthetic change you feel you would like to make – 3DEEP is an non-invasive technology option available that works with your body’s natural rejuvenating process to make the changes you want to make to your body, changes that will provide you with the results that will give you personal satisfaction, without invasive procedures that carry risk and long periods of after treatment downtime.

ENDYMED has three extremely effective 3DEEP RF body TC handpieces

– the Contour, the Shaper and Mini-Shaper – that provide amazing longterm results for:

• Circumference reduction

• Cellulite reduction (the Contour handpiece is amazingly effective for cellulite reduction. The Contour combines 3DEEP’s deep volumetric heating with our unique fractionated pulse vacuum technology to reach a heating depth of 26mm, unparalleled in the industry!)

• Arm tightening

• Thighs and buttocks tightening

• Waist and abdomen tightening

• Knee tightening

As with facial lifting and tightening, 3DEEP body treatments are suitable for all skin types, are safe and pleasant and have no after-treatment downtime. Typically offered in a series of 6-8 treatments, 3DEEP body treatments offer both immediate and long-term amazing results.

How Gym Culture Went From Punishing to Meditative

By Maggie Lange-The Cut

I used to complain, very charmingly, that my competitive spin class wasn’t competitive enough, because it divided its ranking of its fastest participants by gender. My argument was less “gender is a construct” and more “put me in, coach, I’m faster than all of them.” Coincidentally, I was also dependent on physical therapy and, not infrequently, I couldn’t walk without seizing pain in my glute. One appointment, my physical therapist questioned my activity earlier that day: Had I really biked across boroughs to a spin class, then to work, then to our meeting to address muscular fatigue? Of course, I answered: Biking was the most efficient way to get anywhere; spin class was the most efficient way to exercise.

At the age of 28, I was overexerting myself. And I might never have learned my lesson if left to my own devices, but in early 2020, exercise studios shut down and I stopped hurtling my bike across the city, because I had no plans anymore. Six months later, the competitive spin chain I used to attend filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and permanently closed its studios.

More than two years of pandemic — which shuttered gyms and boutique fitness studios globally — have quaked the fitness world and created an entirely new landscape in workout culture. This new mindset increasingly prioritizes restorative, mindful movement over punitive and aggressive challenges.

Fitness companies market themselves as tools for mental health. Top-tier exercise platforms — like Apple Fitness+, Peloton, Alo Moves, and Obé — foreground meditation classes, and Mirror, for example, reported that completion of its meditation classes grew by 80 percent in 2021. Market forecasters indicate that “holistic fitness” — an approach that emphasizes recovery and mindbody practices like Pilates or yoga — is set to become a dominant force in the exercise field.

And there are signs that the most challenging workouts are losing their stronghold; the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health and Fitness Journal showed that HIIT, high-intensity interval training, dropped in popularity from its No. 2 spot in the worldwide survey of fitness trends (sent to thousands of professionals in that field) to No. 5 last year — being just surpassed by the wholesomesounding “outdoor activities.”

In the past year, lower-intensity programs like dancing became one ofthe top-ten most popular fitness activities for the first time (in terms of attendees), according to Mindbody,the fitnessmanagement and booking software. Walking, both silly and serious versions, was one of the buzziest physical activities in the past two years. Some of these qualms about HIIT workouts might be based on new information: A prominent NIH study published in May 2021 reported that excessive exercise training impairs health functions in otherwise healthy volunteers.

Just a few years ago, “the primary motivation was to look good,” says Sunil Rajasekar, Mindbody’s

chief technology officer, “and now it’s pandemic stress management.” Mindbody’s 2021 trend report confirms this point: The new, leading motivation for exercise among its consumers is mental health. Rajasekar — who, when I met him a few months ago, told me he’d used an Instant Pot filled with water as a makeshift kettlebell in the early pandemic — says this is a dramatic shift in clients’ outlook. With the priority of reducing stress in mind, says Rajasekar, “People are expanding their fitness routines.”

One of the sharpest examples of this transition in fitness culture — from looking good to feeling good — is the Pilates platform Studio Qila. Until recently, the program was known as Body by Bridget, named by founder Bridget O’Carroll in 2016. “Back then, the goal was making it as hard as possible,” says O’Carroll. But more recently, the Body by Bridget name smacked of diet culture, and O’Carroll couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to shed a destructive, high-intensity mind-set. “I want this to be something I could sustain over a long period of time,” she says. She started to talk not about physical transformations, but mental ones. She turned to a dictionary for her Alaskan native language of Aleutian and found qila, a word for spirit, and relaunched her program this past November. “I loved the shift of the focus from body to spirit.”

The new prioritization of physical sustainability is promising, according to Pilates instructor Lia Bartha, who has developed a particularly restorative form of the practice called B the Method. “People are trying to find ways to connect deeper, inside of their bodies, instead of distracting themselves with movement — like you would with something highintensity,” she says. “With the pandemic, people are focused on long-term health to protect their body for the future.”

CityRow founder Helaine Knapp agreed that for many of us, our new relationship to fitness might reflect that we’ve gained a general sense of mortality: “We are realizing that we’re going to be moving every day for the rest of our lives, so we better be careful with our one body and not pound the pavement with high-intensity workouts seven times per week.”

A sense that life is short and fleeting has also reduced any patience, says Amanda Butler, a personal trainer with Onyx. She tells me, with emphatic, energetic pride: “Diet culture is finally starting to be shamed. There’s been a lot more progress in the two years than in the past ten years.” People are starting to insist that exercise express the pleasures of how they can move instead of being an obligatory regimen to punish the way they look. Butler, a former cardio obsessive, now loves walking — “I really love anything low-impact” —and has been trying to pass this appreciation along to her clients. “It has been ingrained into us that the harder you work, the more you sweat, the better the workout.”

Over the past couple years, it’s also been cheaper and easier for people to test new programs. Digital

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classes were often free to try, and no commute to work freed up a hunk of time for some of us.

Mindbody’s survey noted that on days people work from home, they are twice as likely to try out a new fitness studio. Upended schedules prompt exploration and more introspection of what feels good, says Dr. Chloe Carmichael, a psychologist and author of the book Nervous Energy. A former yoga teacher as well, Dr. Carmichael has a bird’seye perspective on people’s relationship to fitness. Rather than a maximization approach, she sees a joyful sampling taking hold of attitudes about exercising. “It’s like the Montessori school of fitness — where a child gets to run around and do what they want to do.”

Pre-pandemic, I was constantly asking my body to do things for me — to pump my legs faster, to do this harder, do it for the glory and to ignore the warnings from my perpetually disappointed physical therapist. My body listened to my requests, because I am very convincing, but it also kept having meltdowns. Now, I think that my constant question to my body has adapted from something like, What do I want you to do today?to something more like, What do you want from me today? It’s possible I’ve become more humble. My relationship to exercise started to become less gladiatorial. Now, I prefer lower intensity. I do dancerly aerobic routines that I would have never wasted my time with, or even considered exercise.

I keep thinking about something O’Carroll often repeats in her Studio Qila classes: “Form over ego.” In the old-school hierarchy that I learned, ego (the mind) is meant to rule over id (the body). But this never quite worked out for me. And, though I never expected it, getting ego out of the way has been gloriously painless.

Top 4 Non-Surgical Treatments Of The Year

It is impressive what an impact non-surgical cosmetic treatment such as lasers, peels and fillers can have on our skin. Whether it is fillers used to sculpt and shape your nose or lasers to treat wrinkles non-surgical cosmetic treatments are more popular than ever. Here are the top 4 procedures of the year that don’t require going under the knife.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

A traditional rhinoplasty is painful, invasive and demands a lot of recovery time. A non-surgical nose job or rhinoplasty is performed through injectable fillers such as Juvederm which contains hyaluronic acid. Results are not permanent and can last between 12 to 18 months. This popular nose job treatment is perfect for people who wish to create nostril symmetry and correct bridge bumps. Non-surgical nose jobs can’t reduce the size of the nose, so those who want a smaller nose should not opt for this type of treatment.

Lip Injections

Some people want a full pout like Angelina Jolie, while others are concerned about their asymmetrical

lips. Either way, lip injections are famous for not only transforming the lips, but the way face looks in general. Injectables include commercial fillers like Juvederm which can last between 9 to 12 months. After applying a topical numbing agent to the area, the filler is injected in and around the lips, and normal activities can be resumed.

Laser Facial Treatment

For minor skin imperfections such as dullness, sunspots and large pores, the fractional laser treatment is very popular. The painless procedure is done quickly, and there is hardly any downtime. A patient may experience some redness that could be mistaken for not wearing your sunscreen. A laser handpiece is moved across your face to brighten skin tone and minimize the pore size instantly.

Chemical Peels

By removing old and dull skin, new layers can grow in its place, resulting in a clearer, brighter and more youthful-looking skin with vary in strength; some can be performed during a lunch hour, but the stronger

By Dr Alek Nikolic - Skin Miles

concentrations need longer recovery time. The stronger the peel, the more likely your skin would look sunburned and ultimately peel. This treatment is a good option for those who want to remove the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.

Some other popular treatments include Botox, oxygen facials, cool sculpting, and body contouring. People nowadays are turning to these procedures to get flawless looking skin.

SkinMiles: Your Personal Skincare Destination

SkinMiles opened its doors in November 2015 after Dr Alek Nikolic realised that doctor-only recommended products with active ingredients were difficult to access. Dr Alek also realised that many people are not sure which products or ingredients to use for their skin types and skin concerns.

“SkinMiles was created to allow for more convenient access to doctor recommended active ingredients, and to provide honest, reliable and effective advice for a personalised skin regime, to everyone.”

Visit: https://skinmiles.com

innovation

SKINOVAGE from BABOR

The Intelligent, Age-preventing Skincare System

Skinovage takes it back in time with the return of Alpine Rose as the main base ingredient of the range and the unique Marine Polysaccharide as its complement, This combination works synergistically to preserve the health and youthfulness of your skin by comprehensively protecting it from oxidative damage and efficiently supporting the skin barrier before the first wrinkles appear. Your skin is left strong, vibrant, and healthy-looking. The new packaging boasts sleek, sustainable boxes free from cellophane and resembles an elegant look and feel, matte, frosted glass bottles that enclose the products. This range is not only vegan but also contains clean formulas - with at least 90% ingredients of natural origin. The tailored solutions and highly effective formulas make it suitable for all skin types offering something for everyone.

The following SKINOVAGE ranges to address the different skin requirements:

MOISTURIZING– for dry skin

The SKINOVAGE MOISTURIZING range with intensely moisturizing active ingredients and selected lipids is designed for the care of dry, flaky and unpleasantly tight skin. The DEEP MOIST extract, which is composed of corn starch and beetroot, instantly increases the skin’s moisture content, with long-lasting effect, and increases the concentration of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) in the skin. After just one application, this synergetic plant complex also raises moisture levels and retains them over a period of 24 hours.

CALMING– for sensitive skin

Skin can be sensitive by nature, but it can also become sensitive in the course of a lifetime – as a result of environmental factors or personal lifestyle. The SKINOVAGE CALMING range soothes the skin, boosts its resilience and reduces its tendency to become hypersensitive. INTENSIVE CALM extract, an active extract of Albatrellus ovinus (sheep polypore) quicklyreduces irritations and calms the skin, making it less prone to hypersensitive reactions. As the formulas are designed for sensitive skin, they do not contain colorants.

BALANCING– for combination skin

The SKINOVAGE BALANCINGrange is specially designed to meet the complex

needs of combination skin. When skin is dull with dry patches and at the same time has shiny areas and enlarged pores, it poses challenging problems that require flexible skincare solutions. SEBUCON, an active complex with milk proteins and vitamins, rebalances lipid and moisture levels in the skin, improves sebum flow in dry areas of the face and simultaneously reduces excessive sebum production in oily areas, thus minimizing shine. Natural biopolymers and pullulan cover the skin like an invisible micro-plaster, regulate the skin’s moisture content, form a moisture reservoir and prevent dehydration.

PURIFYING– for oily, blemished skin

When skin is prone to blemishes, irritations and unevenness, the SKINOVAGE

PURIFYING skincare system with effective products designed to combat blemishes and refine the complexion is the ideal solution. The SUPER PURE extract, which is composed of triterpenes of Centella asiatica, helps to reduce existing blemishes and can prevent new ones from forming. The extract regulates sebum flow, balances the skin flora and combats the unpleasant bacteria that cause spots. In addition, rice starch lends the skin a more even and more matte appearance. PURIFYING products are effective against blemishes and also counteract the progressive loss of elasticity and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

VITALIZING– for tired skin

At times, skin can look jaded, tired and dull. Emotional strain and stress create problems for the skin, which then lacks the strength to defend itself against harmful environmental factors such as UV radiation and blue light. The SKINOVAGE VITALIZING range employs the concentrated power of active ingredients to revitalize exhausted, stressed skin and support all its regenerative and cell renewal processes. The ENERGY Plus Complex of ATP, algin and papaya extract stimulates cellular metabolism and skin renewal, and regulates epidermal moisture levels as a basic requirement for important skin functions. The Blue Light Protect Complex contains cocoa peptides, saccharides and polyphenols and acts as a radical quencher, protecting the skin against digital aging, UV radiation and blue light. Used regularly, it can create smooth out unevenness in the complexion. In addition, the finest clay mineral flakes in the PerfectionComplex create an optical blurring effect, and thus lends the skin surface a more even appearance.

DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen

For Young & Healthy Skin, Brain & Gut.

What does the DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen Contain?

• Nucleotides - a scientifically balanced and unique form of Nucleotides. The key ingredient in this product is a nutrient called Nucleotides, which are responsible for the efficient replication of every cell in our bodies as they are the building blocks of our genetic material (DNA/RNA).

• Collagen - It is a natural, high-purity, bioactive ingredient with a protein content of over 97% (on a dry weight basis). It is quite widely known that Collagen has numerous beneficial effects when taken internally, especially for Skin, joint, and cartilage health as well as vitality.

• Trans-Resveratrol - Is a natural compound found in several plants which has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are believed to be associated with aging, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammatory medical conditions.

Daily supplementation with DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen improves skin hydration and barrier function, contributing to a healthy skin, brain and gut function.Daily supplementation of 10g of DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen delivers the optimum dose of Nucleotides and Collagen peptides for DNA, gut and skin repair.

DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagenis in a convenient powder format that makes it an easy addition to water, juice, morning smoothies and yoghurt.

Normal signs of aging skin include dryness and break down of the collagen network that leads to fine lines. Your skin loses the ability to make collagen and heal itself. The skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity, begins sagging and develops wrinkles. A thinner skin also becomes more sensitive to sun damage and air pollutants.

The DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollagen delivers clinically proven ingredients which act as the building blocks needed to support a healthier and younger looking skin. The DrK cellREVERSE NucleoCollgen contains a unique balance of key nutrients to boost tissue repair and new skin cell growth. Giving your skin the nourishment, it needs for a youthful glow you desire.

Nucleotides:

Our body has a relentless demand for new cells and new cells need nucleotides to be formed • Diet alone is no longer sufficient to supply our daily nucleotide needs •Nucleotide supplementation has become essential •Nucleotides (NMN and NADH+) play a role in anti-aging •Nucleotides are critical for optimal functioning of the immune system and the repair of the gut lining and length of the villi in the small intestines

Trans - Resveratrol:

Resveratrol (a.k.a. trans-resveratrol or 3, 4', 5-

trihydroxystilbene) is a natural phytoalexin compound, found in red grape skin, Japanese knotweed, peanuts, blueberries, and some other berries. It is a powerful antioxidant produced by some plants in response to stress, injury, infection or ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation. In the mid-1990s, resveratrol was brought into the spotlight as the main polyphenol in red wine, in the context of the French paradox (i.e., the apparent contradiction between the French having a low rate of cardiovascular diseases despite having a diet rich in saturated fats, including the consumption of large amounts of alcohol, and cigarette smoking). It was hypothesized that the benefits for the French were due to their consumption of moderate amounts of red wine that contained 1 to 2 mg of resveratrol per 8 ounces. Since then, scientific interest for this polyphenol has increased exponentially. By 1996, there were 46 scientific papers on resveratrol, increasing to over 1,300 by 2006 and to more than 9,800 by August 2017.3 Now, resveratrol is recognized for its beneficial effects on, among others, cardiovascular health, blood glucose control, skin health, bone health and memory. Resveratrol is therefore widely used as a key ingredient to promote healthy aging.

Collagen:

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It's the main component of connective tissues that make up several body parts, including tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles.Collagen has many important functions, including providing your skin with structure and strengthening your bones.

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The Wellness Questionnaire with Jamé Heskett, Founder and Director of The Wellpath, a Wellness Center

By Heather Mikesell - Well Defined

With a passion for helping women to change their lives, Jamè Heskett, M.D., is founder of The Wellpath wellness center and retreats. She is also author of The Well Path: Lose 20 Pounds, Reverse the Aging Process, Change Your Life in which she shares a 60-day program for achieving optimal health by integrating a series of small steps, such as boosting circulation, learning the difference between real and false hunger, and more, into everyday life. As a mother of three, a wife, a yogi, and an accomplished hiker, Heskett practices what she preaches, prioritizing health and wellness in her daily life. Here she shares some of the ways she strives to optimize her own wellbeing.

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness to me is the overall wellbeing of my mind, body, and soul. Is my mind unbound from wasteful chatter and distraction so that it is free to be fully creative, curious, and efficient in the tasks before me?

Is my body in balance and in a state of homeostasis, so that I can build strength, endurance, and have the energy I need to participate in physical activities without limitation and with freedom from disease? Is my soul the primary driver of this life I am pursuing? Does it shine through with love and openheartedness when life confronts me with interpersonal challenges, and am I living an authentic life? If the answer is yes to these, then I am well.

What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?

Physical activity is very important to maintaining my personal wellbeing. Sitting for any period of time feels detrimental to my wellbeing. Being in nature is a critical factor of feeling well for me. I live on 37 acres and just visiting the trees makes me feel well. Time alone, practicing stillness, and rejuvenating is also very important.

Is there a specific fitness activity that you love and why?

I really love most fitness activities, but my favorites are yoga and hiking. Both are very meditative for me—a reset. Hiking combines intense physical activity with nature, and it always wins if there is a choice. I’m currently halfway done with hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I’ve started hiking all the 3,500-feet peaks in the Catskills. Endurance, high intensity, balance, full body—hiking hits all the important notes for me.

What is your favorite healthy food, and do you have a favorite way of preparing it?

I am a true veggie lover. I have an obsession with Brussels sprouts. I add them to everything. I have two favorite ways to prepare them. Easy prep is just spraying a little olive oil spray on them and tossing them into the air fryer with a sprinkle of coarse salt for four minutes at 400 degrees. When they are done, I add a few red pepper flakes. The other method is to mix honey, sriracha, and lime juice together to create a little sauce and warm it on the stovetop. When the Brussels sprouts come out of the air fryer, I just drizzle the mixture on top.

What is your greatest wellness achievement?

My greatest wellness achievement has been writing my book The Well Path, creating a retreat program and private community based on that methodology, and helping women to change their lives.

What person in wellness do you most admire?

Hippocrates, because I have always believed in a holistic approach to wellness. Hippocratic philosophy is basically the idea that the knowledge of nature is only possible from medicine when it is approached as a whole. It is the whole basis of everything I practice as a doctor, and it hasn’t always been popular or well accepted in my field or among my peers, especially early on in my career. I am proud that I have never compromised this philosophy.

What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?

The best advice I have received about wellness was from my mentor, Janet Hopkins, Ph.D., during my medical residency when I was struggling with the limitations of Western medicine. She always said, “There are many ways to heal people.” So, whenever I cannot find a solution, I just retreat to that basic principle and give support, advocacy, and empathy until a solution is found. Sometimes there are no solutions, and you can still powerfully contribute to healing others.

What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?

The most powerful wellness innovation that I use daily in my practice is carboxy therapy. I use injections of CO2 to powerfully rejuvenate the circulation, to stimulate angiogenesis to resolve many problems that result from

poor circulation, such as aging, hair loss, post-surgical scarring, cellulite, stretch marks, and more. It’s not a recent discovery, but everything always pales in comparison no matter how fancy or expensive or new it is. I’ve been doing it for 21 years, and every day, I’m still excited about it. I get excited about epigenetics and technologies that can harness the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate. I don’t get excited over quick fixes or band-aids that don’t consider the underlying physiology of the body, which is so powerful and necessary to leave intact for overall wellbeing.

What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?

Well, I don’t like the term “anti-aging,” although I am guilty of using it. I’ve been using vital aging for years now and hope it catches on. I also don’t really like “biohacking,” because it gives the impression that we can trick the body by adding this or that to change the course of physiology. Our physiology is too complicated to throw in a few things here and there and think it’s going to be the key to ultimate longevity. Eat well, find ways to consistently moderate your response from stress, get outside, and be physically active most of your day—there is no need to hack anything. Your body will be in balance. When your body is consistently in a state of balance, you will be well.

Do you have a secret health or wellness tip you would like to share?

The secret is that simple, sustainable actions are the key to achieving optimal health. If there was a magic bullet that would get you there, but it was not simple or sustainable, it would be worthless.

What aspect of your wellbeing do you struggle with the most, or would most like to improve?

I am a thinker, and thinking can be great when you are trying to strategize work and projects, but often it can overtake the parts of life that are better left to your heart and soul. I am constantly working on cultivating appreciation for my mind and honoring my true inner self.Forgiving the pain and living in a place of inner peace is a consistent place of work for me.

About Heather Mikesell, co-founder of Well Defined and the former editor-in-chief of American Spa, is an award-winning journalist and content strategist, skilled in writing, copyediting, and media relations.

Stem Cell Collagen Activators

Stem

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM,

Adapted from The Collagen Diet: A 28-Day Play for Sustained Weight Loss, Glowing Skin, Great Gut Health and a Younger You by Dr. Josh Axe

I know you care about healthy aging breakthroughs, so I'm delighted to be able to share this information on the importance of stem cells and the vital - and largely unsung role - they play in keeping your collagen healthy and abundant. If we want to shield our connective tissue, joints, gut, organs and skin from the havoc of age, protecting our stem cells must be part of the strategy. I like to think of it as a stem cell collagen activator strategy.

Why does it matter? Because throughout your life, the stem cells in your bone marrow, body fat, skin, muscles, blood vessels and brain have been working diligently behind the scenes to patch up and rebuild injured or damaged tissues - including those with the highest collagen content, like your skin, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, spinal disks, gut and blood vessels.

The stem cells responsible for this remarkable act of regeneration are known as adult stem cells. And here's why they're so special…

While the idea of using stem cells to treat illness is new and exciting, a similar concept, known as jing, or essence, has existed in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Jing is considered the origin of life. Similarly, embryonic stem cellsthose that are present when a recently fertilized egg is three to five days old - give rise to the entire body and every cell in it. Jing deficiency is caused by chronic disease, stress and aging - some of the same hazards that damage and deplete stem cells. Today, Chinese herbs meant to nourish jing are increasingly being shown to promote stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

And we know that stem cells age, just like all other living organisms. However, the aging of stem cells carries greater significance, according to some researchers. They've formulated the “stem cell theory of aging,” which speculates that the human body's aging process is the result of aging stem cells. In other words, as stem cells get older and become less capable of replenishing tissues and organs with sufficient numbers of new cells to maintain their function, our bodies themselves show more signs of wear and tear, falling into decline and disrepair.

The theory makes sense, stem cells, more than any other types of cells, are responsible for rejuvenating our tissue. And regardless of whether stem cells are responsible for aging or simply play an active role in the process, we know that these remarkable cells, along with the collagen they create, can help keep our bodies more youthful. As a result, it makes sense to do everything we can to protect this elegant, built-in biological repair system.

Like collagen - and every other tissue in your body - stem cells thrive in a wholesome, low-inflammation environment. The dietary guidance I outline in The Collagen Diet will go a long way toward creating the ideal internal milieu to foster stem cell replication and differentiation. But here are six other ways you can help your supply of stem cells thrive…

Slash your sugar consumption. That means staying away from sweets and limiting simple carbs, which cause a surge in blood sugar.Need

motivation? In a study looking at stem cell function in the adipose tissue of people with and without diabetes, researchers at Tulane University Health Center found that elevated glucose in both groups (but especially diabetics) reduced stem cells' ability to proliferate and turn into cartilage or bone cells - and could actually cause stem cell death. Limiting sugar, on the other hand, improves adult stem cell function and also prolongs the cells' life span.

Try short-term fasting. Studies have long shown that fasting can be good for the body. Now, research has revealed that it can give stem cells a boost, too. For instance, biologists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently reported that a 24hour fast can reverse the age-related loss of intestinal stem cells in mice - a vital finding, since intestinal stem cells are responsible for maintaining the lining of the intestine, which renews every five days, as well as repairing damage from infections or injuries.

Scientists don't understand precisely how fasting helps, but here's what we do know: When mice go without food for a full day, it triggers a metabolic switch that prompts intestinal stem cells to burning fatty acids instead of glucose, and shifting from glucose to fat revives the regenerative capacity of stem cells and significantly enhances their function.

Stay strong - and active. There's lots of research showing that exercise is good for stem cells - and having healthy stem cells is vital for the body's ability to repair muscle tissue, along with cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bones. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise increases the total number of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and restores muscle stem cell mobilization and regenerative capacity.

In one study, Polish researchers had a group of mice run on a treadmill at progressive speeds over a five-week period. At the end of the training, the researchers compared the quantity of the mesenchymal stem cells in their bone marrow with that of sedentary mice. They found that the fit mice had significantly higher numbers of stem cells than the sedentary group, and those stem cells were primed to create new specialized bone cells. They concluded that exercise may represent a novel, non-pharmacological strategy for slowing the agerelated decline of musculoskeletal functions. And other studies looking at stem cell transplants show that exercise stimulates your chondrocytes to grow new collagen-rich cartilage.

The specific type and intensity of exercise may be less important than the movement itself, seeing as everything from strength training to yoga seems to help, and mild to relatively vigorous exercise has been shown to be effective. If you have trouble motivating yourself to get to the gym or hop on your bike or go for a run, think of your stem cells and collagen - and do it for them.

Get enough sleep. You already know how important sleep is, but the health of your stem cells is yet another reason to make sure you get adequate rest. Stanford researchers found that hematopoietic stem cells (the type used in stem cell transplants for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant diseases) in sleep-deprived mice showed an alarming decrease in activity.

In fact, a sleep deficit of just four hours triggered

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a 50% drop in stem cells' ability to transform into specialized cells in the blood and bone marrow. And chances are, the same forces that damage one type of stem cell take a toll on the others, including those that help maintain healthy collagen.

Reduce stress. Here's one interesting example of what stress can do to stem cells: In a study published in the journal Cell Death Discovery, researchers created a stressful situation for mice with liver injuries. In response, the mice secreted corticosterone, a stress hormone, which impaired the ability of the rodents' mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into the types of cells needed to repair the damaged tissue in the liver.

Add these foods to your diet. In addition to eating bone broth (the marrow contains a potent source of mesenchymal stem cells - make sure you get plenty of these stem-cell-producing nutrients into your diet.

Vitamin D3-rich foods include: Wild-caught salmon, Mackerel, Tuna, Sardines, Beef liver, Eggs, Caviar.

Vitamin C also helps bolster stem cell production, and vitamin C foods include: Black currants, Red peppers, Kiwifruit, Guavas, Green bell pepper, Oranges, Strawberries, Papaya, Leafy greens, Parsley, Pineapples.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a freeradical-killing polyphenol found in green tea. It accelerates the differentiation of stem cells in human skin and can even encourage older skin cells that normally would die off to become more robust and live longer.

Rich food sources of EGCG include: Green tea, Matcha green tea, Cranberries, Apples, Cherries, Avocados, Pecans, Pistachios.

And don't forget these TCM herbs and foods for building and protecting jing and stem cells…

• Schisandra helps balance jing with two other treasures of the body, the shen - our spirit or mind - and the qi, our life force or bodily energy.

• Reishi mushroom nourishes the heart, preserves liver health, promotes a sense of calm, slows aging and enhances vitality, strength and stamina.

• Panax ginseng is used in TCM to enhance longevity and studies show it promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells.

• Fo-ti root is a herbal medicine derived from the Polygonum multiflorum plant. Revered in the TCM world for its ability to fight aging, research shows its anti-inflammatory effects are similar in strength to prescription anti-inflammatory medications.

•A plant in the legume family, astragalus impacts stem cells in a number of ways. A study in Medical Science Monitor, found it can regulate inflammation of mesenchymal stem cells; and a paper in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy found that astragalus promotes proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow, in part by activating an intracellular signaling pathway that plays a role in regulating the cell cycle.

•In one study, rehmannia, a type of flowering perennial plant, is considered a “general tonic” by both TCM and Japanese medicine, helped keep stem cells from dying when researchers administered hydrogen peroxide to the cells to kill them.

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Two Treatments With One Unit from Looking Good LCN

Beauty has never been this easy! Two services, two treatment prices - but just ONE unit. This elegant 2in1 Artist Pen combines precise pigmentation with effective Micro Needling. In addition, this black pen offers absolutely free movement for both treatments due to wireless attachments. After only 30-45 min. the battery is fully charged and can be used continuously for approx. 2 hours. Both attachments can of course be used with a cable as well. The battery can be charged on any USB compatible outlet including your car or your PC.

Micro Needling

Cosmetic needling is still considered a revolution amongst the Anti-Aging methods. With the needling attachments you can offer a minimal invasive treatment that provides effective results without minimal strain to the skin. Cosmetic Micro Needling is a very successful procedure to achieve a significantly fresher and tighter skin. Micro Needling is also suitable for the treatment of scars. The needling attachment offers several speed settings in order to enable the ideal treatment tailored to the respective skin type. There are four speed settings available to choose from: Level 1: 15.000 U /min. Level 2: 20.000 U /min. Level 3: 25.000 U /min. Level 4: 30.000 U /min.

Permanent Make-up

With the lightness of the 2in1 Artist Pen pigmentation feels like painting. The cordless pen has low vibrations and is extremely light weighing just 80g approx. The Permanent Make-up attachment offers three speed levels. Treatments in sensitive areas like the eye or lips are best implemented in

level three (70 - 90 Hub). Level one and two are perfect for the pigmentation of eyebrows i.e. powder technique (120 - 150 Hub / 90 - 120 Hub).

Hyperrealistic Eyebrows

The permanent make-up technique “Hyperrealistic Eyebrows” is currently experiencing an extremely popularity. It is a combination of drawn hairlines and naturally grown hair - the result is indistinguishable from real eyebrows. The play of light but also the density of the drawn eyebrow is absolutely crucial in order to create a realistic and lively effect. Due to the use of different colours and a special drawing technique we create a natural 3Deffect and the illusion of more volume. This trend technique is ideal for clients who value naturalness or clients that are looking for realistic eyebrows due to an illness like Alopecia.

Advantages At A Glance:

• dermatologically safe and the highest quality standards

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• very good skin compatibility

Endocrine Disruptors

By Leah Zerbe, MS, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES

What Do Endocrine Disruptors Do?

First we need to ask: What is an endocrine disruptor?

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. The damage is believed to be most severe during prenatal or early pregnancy exposure.

“From the day of conception until an individual is born or hatched, the development of each stage of life is fully under the control of hormones. “Changes that happen during development are far less reversible [than those occurring in an adult]; you can’t go back and rewire the brain.”— the late Theo Colborn, Ph.D., zoologist and founder and president of the Endocrine Disruption Exchange

What Makes Up Your Endocrine System?

The endocrine system, made up of all the body’s different hormones, regulates all biological processes in the body. This includes the: •development of the brain and nervous system •growth and function of the reproductive system •function of metabolism and blood sugar levels

Major components of the endocrine system include:

Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus links our endocrine and nervous systems together. The hypothalamus drives the endocrine system.

Pituitary Gland: The pituitary gland receives signals from the hypothalamus. This posterior lobe secretes hormones that are made by the hypothalamus. The anterior lobe produces its own hormones, act on other endocrine glands.

Thyroid Gland: This gland is critical to the healthy development and maturation of humans. It also regulates metabolism.

Adrenal Glands: Made up of two glands, the cortex and medulla, the adrenal glands produce hormones in response to stress. Adrenal glands also regulate blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and the body’s salt and water balance.

Pancreas: The pancreas is responsible for producing glucagon and insulin. Both hormones help regulate the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Gonads: Both produce steroids that affect growth and development and also regulate reproductive cycles and behaviors. The most prominent gonadal steroids are found in both men and women but at different levels. These includece: androgens, estrogens and progestins.

Endocrine Disruptors: The Dose Doesn’t Make the Poison

When it comes to chemicals and toxicology, it seems logical to think higher doses of something aremore dangerous because the health impacts are more immediate and obvious.But when you’re looking at endocrine disruptors, it’s different. Even seriouslytiny doses can lead to devastating health effects.

Butsometimes these health impacts don’t show up for years or even decades down the line after exposure. And unlike high-dose poisonings, it’s not as easy to make the cause-and-effect connection.

Researchers are making huge breakthroughs showing how endocrine-disrupting chemicals impact human health. And it’s not pretty.

“For decades, studies of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have challenged traditional concepts in toxicology, in particular the dogma of ‘the dose makes the poison,’ because EDCs can have effects at low doses that are not predicted by effects at higher doses.” — Lauren Vandenberg, Ph.D.,. “We present the evidence that endocrine disruptors have effects on male and female reproduction, breast development and cancer, prostate cancer, neuroendocrinology, thyroid, metabolism and obesity and cardiovascular endocrinology.”

How to Avoid Endocrine Disruptors

Research spanning the last 25 years implicates endocrine disruptors inmanyhealth problems, including male reproductive disorders, premature death, obesity and diabetes, neurological impacts, breast cancer, endometriosis, female reproductive disorders, immune disorders, liver cancer, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s symptoms, prostate cancer, and thyroid disorders.

Our current laws and policies aren’t working, to protect people from the harmful consequences of EDC exposure. So, it’s unfortunately up to us to do our best to avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Avoid Plastics

Plastics contain endocrine disruptors that leach into food and water, particularly when heated.Opt for glass when possible, and don’t heat food in plastic containers.

University of Missouri analysts studying breast cancer growth found that a brand of water bottled in plastic caused a 78 percent increase in the cancer cell proliferation. Grecian researchers at the University of Ioannina found that after heating olive oil for 10 minutes at full power, 604.6 milligrams of the plasticizer DOA leeched from the plastic wrap into the oil. Researchers Oi-Wah Lau and Siu-Kay Wong found that the fat content in cheeses caused the migration of plasticizers from cling wrap to increase exponentially:

Take on BPA: This is one of the worst hormone disruptors out there, in my opinion. Animal studies suggest exposure to it today can actually impact threefuture generations.Therefore avoid canned food and instead choose fresh or frozen. And just eat less packaged foods in general.

Use Safe Household Cleansers

Buy environmentally safe laundry detergents and dishwashing liquid. You can alsomake your own cleansers of every type, like all-natural homemade laundry soap, homemade oven cleaner and homemade household cleaner. Back off on the antibacterial soaps and cleaners, and use less chemical disinfectants.

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Rethink Your Birth Control

Choosing a more natural approach to birth control is safer than hormonal forms of contraception, especially since we now know birth control causes depression in some women.Conventional birth control pills work by putting synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin into the body. Adding unnatural hormones throws off the natural hormone balance in the body, resulting in unwantedbirth control side effects.

Read Your Health and Beauty Product Labels

The average person uses nine different personal care products a day that contain a whopping 126 different ingredients, according to EWG. While the list of hormone-disrupting chemicals in cosmetics is long, here’s a great trick to quickly weed out products that likely contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates. Look on the ingredients list. If you see “fragrance” or “parfum,” avoid it. Those are catch-all terms that can include 3,000+ chemicals that often include phthalates.

Change Your Diet

What we eat and drink has a great deal to do with how many hormone disruptors we end up with.Antiestrogenic diets have three major components: eating farther down on the food chain, eating less processed and chemically laden foods, and supplementing your diet with compounds that decrease estrogen excess and help your body to eliminate added hormones.

•Avoid processed and refined foods. Besides the many food additives and chemicals that processed and refined foods contain, the extra sugar overwhelm your colon and liver so that circulating hormones are reabsorbed rather than eliminated. •Avoid pesticides and herbicides. Buying organic can limit your intake of endocrine disruptors in and on fruits and vegetables.

• Buy pasture-raisedanimal products. Your best bet is to connect with a local farmer and learn about their farming practices. The ultimate goal is for the animal to to eat a natural, pesticide- and GMO-free diet. “Natural” means nothing, so don’t trust that on the label.

• Eat detox veggies.The more fresh vegetables you eat, the lower you’re eating on the food chain.Toxins accumulate in the tissues of animals.Fresh veggies have a whole host of health benefits, as well as the ability to deflect excess estrogens.Cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli and cabbage, contain flavones and indoles that are particularly effective at battling estrogen excess. And, of course, avoid thehighestrogen foods.

•Buy local. Local farm methods are more transparent and often a safer bet even if they haven’t been certified organic.

•Avoid soy. We’ve all come to think of soy as a healthy alternative for protein and calcium.It hides on labels as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, lecithin, starch and vegetable oil.Soy is a source of phytoestrogens. Because we are exposed to it so much in all of our foods, it’s becoming an endocrine disruptor.

Chemicals might be just about everywhere, but you can make simple changes that greatly reduce your personal load of endocrine disruptors and what you pass on to your children.

Skincare Science Updates

By Ted Lain, MD, and Patricia K. Farris, MD

Several areas of research are changing the topical skincare landscape.Some of the most promising skincare ingredients are backed by solid research. Here’s a look at recent developments.

Tyrosinase Inhibitors.

The most obvious way to determine whether a new compound is a tyrosinase inhibitor would be to replicate human tyrosinase (HTyr) in vitro, but this has proven to be exceedingly difficult. Industry was forced to turn to a non-human model, with mushroom tyrosinase (MTyr) being the most widely adopted. Extracted from the common species Agaricus Bisporus, MTyr has three important characteristics for its use as a substitute for HTyr: it is plentiful, cheap, and its chemical and 3D structures are thought to roughly resemble those of its human counterpart. In addition, compounds that inhibit mushroom tyrosinase could have utility both as a whitening agent for humans and to reduce browning due to the natural aging or large-scale handling of fruits and vegetables.

Using homologous modeling (predicting the 3D structure of an unknown protein using known proteins that are assumed similar to the unknown protein) to predict the structure of HTyr, scientists found that this bacterial tyrosinase had a high similarity (33.5%) to the assumed HTyr. Using docking simulations and molecular dynamic calculations of various known tyrosinase inhibitors to MTyr, B. Megatarium tyrosinase, and HTyr, the histamine binding residues responsible for the enzyme/inhibitor interaction were completely different in all three. Thus, while the bacteria-derived tyrosinase exhibited higher similarity to HTyr, the modeling showed that it likely is not sufficient to replicate HTyr function.

Included in this compound library were numerous well-known lightening compounds, such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, resorcinol derivatives, and arbutin. The results are enlightening. Comparing Ki values (Ki is the inhibitor constant, a measure of inhibition potency, or the concentration required to produce half-maximum inhibition), the three resorcinol derivatives had Ki values between 9.1 and 39; kojic acid’s value was 145; and hydroquinone’s value was not determined (ie, unmeasurable).

Exosomes.

Wound healing is divided into five stages: inflammatory, epithelialization, wound contraction, collagen deposition, and remodeling. Intercellular communication is essential in wound healing as it requires a coordinated effort by keratinocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, and inflammatory cells. Exosomes from macrophages promote wound healing by stimulating angiogenesis and cell proliferation. These macrophage-derived exosomes cause conversion of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages, resulting in enhanced fibroblast migration, collagen production, and endothelial cell tube formation.

ADSC exosomes loaded in an alginate-based hydrogel that functions as a scaffolding was shown to provide continuous release of bioactive materials into the wound site in animals. This dressing promoted wound closure, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis. In addition, exosomes may help minimize scar formation.

Skin pigmentation is a coordinated effort between melanocytes and keratinocytes. Both cell types can secrete exosomes and can take up exosomes from each other. It is known that keratinocyte-derived exosomes contain miRNA and other soluble factors that are involved in pigment modulation. Co-culture of melanocytes from human skin and exosomes derived from keratinocytes promotes melanocyte proliferation and tyrosinase activity. In contrast, murine keratinocyte exosomes that over-express miR330-5p significantly decrease production of melanin and expression of tyrosinase in melanocytes. Interestingly, the miRNA profile of keratinocyte exosomes is altered by UVB exposure. Exosomes isolated from UVB-irradiated keratinocytes contained miR-3196 that increases the melanin content of human melanocytes suggesting that altered exosomes may play a role in UV-induced skin pigmentation.

Exosomes are also of interest for skin rejuvenation. Exosomes from 3D cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) were delivered by needle-free injection into the skin of photoaged nude mice. HDF exosomes increased procollagen 1 and decreased MMP-1 by down-regulating TNF-? and increasing TGF-?. The HDF exosomes also resulted in a greater increase

in dermal collagen deposition when compared to bone marrow stem cell derived exosomes. Pluripotent stem cells in culture produced exosomes that mitigated changes seen in senescent human fibroblasts. These exosomes reduced expression of beta galactosidase, MMP 1, MMP 3, and restored collagen type I mRNA expression. Human ADSC exosomes injected subcutaneously into photoaged skin of rats markedly decreased epidermal thickness and increased the dermal thickness of photoaged skin in 7 days. There was an increase in mRNA expression of type I collagen while type III collagen, MMP 1 and MMP 3 was decreased.

Niacinamide.

The anti-aging benefits of niacinamide are due in part to its ability to increase intracellular NAD and NADP, whose reduced forms (NDAH and NDAPH) function as antioxidants. Topical niacinamide increases collagen production, inhibits deposition of excessive glycosaminoglycans, and prevents protein glycation. Glycation results in the crosslinking of collagen and elastin molecules making them stiff and ridge, changing the viscoelastic properties of the skin. Glycated proteins are also responsible for sallowness seen in actinically damaged skin. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face clinical trial, 50 subjects used either a 5% niacinamide moisturizer or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Subjects in the test group saw an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, texture, red blotchiness, and sallowness compared to control. The niacinamide moisturizer was well tolerated.

Niacinamide is an effective skin lightening agent that combats hyperpigmentation by preventing the transfer of melanosomes to epidermal keratinocytes and interfering with cell signaling pathways between keratinocytes and melanocytes. Due to its unique mechanism of action, niacinamide is helpful when used in combination with other skin lightening ingredients.

Excerpted from Practical Dermatology magazine.

6 Steps to Get Your Cortisol Levels Under Control & Turn Down the Stress

By By Jillian Levy, CHHC

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Do you find yourself overly stressed, tired and even notice weight gain despite not changing your diet or workout frequency? Your cortisol levels may be out of whack. More specifically, they may be too high.

Cortisol is often called the primary “stress hormone” because it’s one of the main hormones we release when we’re under any sort of pressure and our evolutionary-based “fight or flight response” kicks into gear. Although most think of cortisol as a bad thing— such as contributing to acne, weight gain or high blood pressure — there’s actually a lot more to cortisol levels than just our stress response and its unwanted symptoms. We need it to live.

While producing cortisol is a necessity for life and helps keep us motivated, awake and responsive to our environment, maintaining abnormally high circulating cortisol levels can become dangerous and contribute to long-term problems. Long-term use of corticosteroids and chronic stress are two of the biggest contributors to high cortisol. Chronic, highcortisol production is tied to symptoms and ailments including weight gain, anxiety, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances and fertility problems, in addition to many other problems. The good news is there are many natural ways to get your cortisol levels in check. For instance, adaptogen herbs are known to lower cortisol, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

How to Lower Cortisol Levels Naturally - 6 Steps!

You can greatly help manage cortisol levels and regain your health by changing your diet, exercise routine, sleep and stress levels. Here are steps you can take to help lower high cortisol levels naturally:

1. Switch to a Whole Foods, Anti-inflammatory Diet

Poorly managed blood sugar levels and high levels of inflammation can contribute to high cortisol levels and other hormonal imbalances. Following an antiinflammatory dietlow in processed foods and high in antioxidants, fiber and essential nutrients is key to balancing hormones, controlling your cravings and getting you on the right track. These same strategies can also help with adrenal support, allowing you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, boosting energy during the day and helping you sleep better at night.

A low-glycemic diet, include healthy fats and proteins with every meal, and make sure to get enough fiber and phytonutrients byeating plenty fresh fruits and veggies. Some of the most useful foods for lowering cortisol and stabilizing blood sugar include vegetables; fruits; coconut or olive oil; nuts; seeds; lean proteins like eggs, fish and grass-fed beef; and probiotic foods (like yogurt, kefir or cultured veggies).

2. Reduce and Manage Stress

Fortunately, stress management is something you can begin without too much trouble. The natural stress relievers listed below areproven to help lower cortisol and decrease the negative impact stress has

on yourhealth:

• Meditation or “mindfulness”: This practice has been shown to help train the brain and body to turn off the stress response and promote more relaxation. And these benefits are possible without impairing alertness, concentration or memory. Many studies showthat daily mediation or even healing prayer for just 15to30 minutes can offer significant reductions in cortisol. Participating in a regular “mindfulness-based stress reduction” program also offers significant reductions in cortisol and stressrelated symptoms or diseases.

•Acupuncture: Trusted for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture treatments help naturally control stress and reduce symptoms like muscle or joint pain, headaches, fertility problems, troubling sleeping, and poor circulation.

•Deep breathing exercises: Taking deep breaths helps turn down the sympathetic nervous system and kick in the body’s natural relaxation response by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Diaphragmatic breathing is an easy technique to learn on your own and practice throughout the day to relieve muscle tension and anxiety.

•Spending time innature/outdoors: Studies show thatphysical settings play a role in stress reduction, and being in nature is a well-documented way to promote relaxation. Try going for walks or runs outside (especially barefoot running or walking, a practice called “earthing“), spending time at the ocean, walking through forests, gardening at home, or doing other things outdoors and away from technology to reduce anxiety.

3. Exercise Regularly

According to research published by Harvard Medical School, regular exercise (about 30to60 minutes most days of the week, depending on the intensity) is one of the best ways to manage stress, balance hormones, sleep better and aid normal metabolic functions (like balancing blood sugar levels). The key is to avoid overtraining andoverexerting yourself, which can actually cause even more cortisol to be released.

Exercise benefits hormone levels because although it temporarily increasesadrenaline and cortisol production, it generally helps bring cortisol back down to normal levels afterward.This cycle helpsyour body better handle stress and gives your autonomic nervous system (the one that controls your stress and relaxation responses) its own workout. This means the next time your stress hormones rise due to a perceived threat, you should be able to lower cortisol levels more easily, since your body becomes primed to this during physical activity.

4. Use Adaptogen Herbs and Superfoods

Adaptogen herbshelp naturally lower high cortisol levels in several key ways. They help balance hormones; reduce inflammation due to their strong antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial effects; have natural antidepressant effects; lower fatigue; and help balance blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Many adaptogens, such as reishi mushrooms and

cocoa, have been safely used for thousands of years to promote better overall health with no side effects.

There are at least 16 different proven adaptogenic herbs that can help lower cortisol, including:

• ashwaganda

• astragalus

• licorice root

• holy basil

• medicinal mushrooms, including resishi and cordyceps

• rhodiola

5. TryEssential Oils to Promote Relaxation

Similarly to adaptogen herbs, essential oils are also helpful for fighting stress and balancing hormones. Essential oils, including lavender, myrrh, frankincense and bergamot, contain potent, active ingredients that have been shown to naturally lower cortisol, reduce inflammation, improve immunity, and help with sleep and digestive functions.

6. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep helps us control cortisol production, but having high cortisol levels can make it hard to rest. In people with normal circadian rhythms, cortisol levels rise during the early morning hours and then drop very low at night prior to sleep and during sleep. People who develop high cortisol levels can wind up feeling the opposite: wired and anxious at night, but then fatigued during the day — thus, they can’t sleep well at the times they’re supposed to.

This overactivity of the adrenal glands is one of the biggest signs of adrenal fatigueand is usually tied to stress and hormonal imbalances. By taking the steps listed above, you should be able to rest more easily. Ideally, you should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night to reset your circadian rhythms and bring hormones back to balance. Related: How to Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Stress & Pain Relief

What Is Cortisol?

The adrenal gland, followingsignals from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, is responsible for thesecretion ofcortisol, a type of essential glucocorticoid steroid hormone. Cortisol levels are highest in the morning around 7 a.m. and lowest at night (called a diurnal rhythm). Cortisol is also presentin both chronically stressed individuals and those who are perfectly healthy. This vital hormone possessesdozens of different purposes within the body and makes numerous chemical interactions every single day.

Levels of cortisol risewhen the pituitary gland releases another hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH signals theadrenals to pump out more cortisol. Many different things trigger this release,includingvarious forms ofphysical or emotional stress, a poor lifestyle, too little sleep, or illnesses and infections.

innovation

DermaFix Mandelic Retexturising Wipes

There's no denying it, skincare wipes are gaining popularity at a rapid rate. DermaFix Mandelic Retexturising Wipes, brand new to the MD Range, contain high levels of actives that the DermaFix MD Range has come to be known for. Utilizing the versatile acid that has inspired DermaFix right from its inception, Mandelic Acid has stood the test of time and continues to deliver incredible results in this formulation. This acid has a high molecular weight, allowing for a gentle action as it resurfaces and retexturizes the skin. Its 3-in-1 action improves acne, photo-ageing skin as well as hyperpigmentation.

Niacinamide moisturizes, provides anti-wrinkle, anti-acne and skin barrier protection properties whilst increasing skin radiance. DermaFix has also included a powerful ingredient duo made up of Rumex Extract and Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract to calm environmentally sensitized skin, reduce inflammation and offer tyrosinase inhibition.

Due to the high level of active ingredients, DermaFix recommends that these wipes be used on alternate nights. After cleansing, ensure that the skin is dry before wiping over areas of concern on either face or body, avoiding the delicate eye area.

These wipes have a variety of applications for both face and body. Formulated for use on acne, problematic, ageing and pigmented skin, the possibilities are endless.

Prospectus

Skin types: Acne, Anti-Ageing, Hyperpigmentation

Mandelic Acid is a multifunctional acid that treats a variety of skin concerns.

It has a larger molecular structure than other Alpha Hydroxy Acids and

limits skin penetration making it an ideal treatment for ageing, sensitive and darker skin types. Benefits include melanin inhibiting, micro-exfoliating and anti-microbial.

Target: Retexturising fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne, enlarged pores and folliculitis. Suitable for skin on the face and body

Benefits: When used 1 -3 times weekly provides the right amount of exfoliation and brightening for all skin tones and textures.

Key Ingredients:

Mandelic Acid: A large molecule alpha-hydroxy acid that assists in exfoliating rough textured skin, providing a 3-in-1 action for the improvement of acne, hyperpigmentation and photo-ageing.

Niacinamide: Improves skin moisturisation, anti-wrinkle, anti-acne and skin barrier strengthening properties. Brightens the skin whilst also reducing age spots for a radiant skin tone.

Rumex Extract: Powerful tyrosinase inhibitor to reduce the formation of melanin in the skin.

Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract: Potent anti-inflammatory to calm down sensitised skin from environmental stress.

Directions: Apply on alternate nights to clean dry skin by wiping over areas of concern. As skin tolerance is achieved, increase usage to every night or as required. Use alone or under moisturiser. Use both sides of the wipe for maximum product penetration. Your DermaFix Skin Care Professional will advise on the best application for your skin type, concern and condition. It is essential to protect your skin against UVA/UVB damage protect with DermaShield SPF 40 /50.

Ice-slurry Fat Melting Technology

Injections May Melt Subcutaneous Fat as per Modern Aesthetics®

Cryolipolysis with injectable ice-slurry may soon become an efficient, effective and customizable method of body sculpting, according to new research

Modern Aesthetics® forecasted that this iceslurry fat melting technology will be the next big thing.

The basic science report, led by Lilit Garibyan, MD, PhD and Peiyun Ni, MD used modeling to determine the dosimetry for injectable iceslurry treatments and demonstrated the important role that the physical properties of the slurry and the composition of target adipose tissue can play in treatment outcomes.

“We had already demonstrated that ice-slurry injection is a novel method for efficient and effective subcutaneous adipose tissue reduction,” says Dr. Garibyan in a news release. “We did the current study to better understand the heat exchange and phase changes that occur after ice-slurry injection into subcutaneous tissue. This work is important as it helps determine the important parameters of ice-slurry and adipose tissue that influence the amount of fat reduction with this treatment.”

Dr. Garibyan is a physician-scientist and boardcertified dermatologist with appointments as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and a PhysicianScientist at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Garibyan is the co-inventor of the injectable ice-slurry technology. Dr. Ni is a resident in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Award Winning Innovative Tightening Treatment

The Juliette Armand SKINBOOSTER products mainly focus on a botox-like effect and are definitely a worthy alternative to botox injections. It is a time to hear about the latest MIRACLE of Cosmetology, which “erases” wrinkles of expression without the use of a lancet or a surgical intervention and manages to restore skin firmness with proven effectiveness. With the power of yo ur own cell! Thavma Therapy is based on the EFFECTOX technology that inhibits the mechanism that is responsible for the creation of expression lines and wrinkles. But there’s more: it also offers protection from the main types of ageing (biologica l ageing & photo-ageing).

innovation

The Science of Regenerative Medicine and Exosomes

Exosomes hold promise for medical and aesthetic applications, but there is much to learn about sourcing and optimal application.

In today’s aesthetic world, the heat around exosomes is palpable. From medical dermatology to aesthetic medicine, exosome technology offers the potential to change our skincare practice. This newly developing asset in the regenerative aesthetics toolkit is starting to outshine the promise of stem cells. Decades of stem cell research has shown that it is a specific population of exosomes, not stem cells, that are the drivers of tissue regeneration and skin renewal. Yet, the promise of regenerative medicine is often alongside the hype. As medical professionals, it is our responsibility to distinguish between the hype and hope.

Bottom Line

The latest addition to the regenerative medicine toolbox is a cell-free option: exosomes or extracellular vesicles; they are the messengers that carry key signals in your body. Topical application of exosomes derived from validated sources may be used to enhance the appearance of radiant skin for aesthetic purposes. Exosomes can vary by the source; it can be derived from platelets, mesenchymal stem cells, or other body fluids—all written in a different molecular language.

Regenerative Medicine 101

Let us start with the lexicon. Regenerative medicine is at the forefront of disruptive innovation as a new and evolving field that harnesses the body’s natural healing mechanisms to restore form and function. The toolbox of regenerative aesthetics includes stem cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), growth factors, peptides, and exosomes. Stem cells are the building blocks of life with the ability to self-renew and differentiate. There are several types of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, adipose tissue, or umbilical cord blood; induced pluripotent or bioengineered stem cells; and embryonic stem cells. There are currently no FDAapproved stem cell therapies for skin regeneration.

Platelet-rich plasma or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a concentrated blood product with a cocktail of growth factors that can promote regeneration. Its effects can widely vary. It is offered as an off-label application for aesthetic use.

What Are New Exosomes

Not all exosomes are the same. Extracellular vesicles or nano-carriers come in various sizes and types that contribute to its variability in cargo (what is inside the vesicles) and surface decorations (what is outside the vesicles). It is important to have the right extracellular vesicles for the job (exosomes), which carry the regenerative cargo. If exosomes can be considered a gift box that carry your birthday present, aesthetic providers need to ask key questions from exosome companies to ensure that the gift box is not damaged or empty. These question categories include exosome source, exosome isolation technique, exosome concentration, exosome purity, and exosome efficiency.

Top 5 Questions To Ask Exosome Companies

• Exosome Source: Ask about the cell of origin for your exosomes. If the source is mesenchymal stem cells or blood-based products, then ask about the patient donors and how these donors were screened prior to collection. These products are typically derived from human tissues or blood. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes are often expanded outside the human body in cell culture for days or even weeks before isolating the exosome product. Ask about their cell culture expansion process, as exosome sources can change in cell culture during manufacturing.

•Exosome Isolation: Ask about how the exosomes are manufactured or isolated from the cell sources. Is this performed in adequate manufacturing facilities? How do they avoid contamination? If high-speed spinning is used for isolation, how do they ensure that the exosome outer shell remains protected?

•Exosome Concentration: Ask about the exosome concentration and how the number of exosomes

By Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD

per vial is determined. Based on isolation strategy and exosome source, some products require refrigeration versus room-temperature storage. How long is the exosome product stable after reconstitution?

•Exosome Purity: Ask about how the exosome company has validated the cargo within the exosomes. What is contained within the exosomes? Is the exosome quality and purity consistent from batch-to-batch?

• Exosome Efficiency: Ask about the effect of topical exosomes alone—without combination treatments such as microneedling or device-pairing. It may be prudent to request “before-and-after” photographs of the effects of an exosome product alone to review its singular potential.

Worth the Wait

Exosomes have several benefits for tissue regeneration including anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory effects. They can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. For patients with chronic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, there is potential for liquid biopsy and calculating patient-specific outcomes. Such medical indications require FDA approval through an investigational new drug (IND) application. Topical exosomes also have the potential to disrupt the aesthetics market. Yet use via injection into subcutaneous tissues or microneedling requires FDA approval. Targeted clinical trials with FDA IND could offer insight into their respective mechanisms of action for future use as a novel biostimulatory injectable.

In the aesthetic market where the fear of missing out on the latest technology can be a strong force, the pause for good science and validated technology is worth the wait.

About Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD. Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Regenerative Medicine

spa therapies

By Neurologica SA

A quick Google search and you’ll discover that nootropics – otherwise known as ‘smart drugs’ – are rising in popularity, but one question we get asked frequently is do these supplements for energy and focus really work?

In short, yes – but it’s vital that you opt for a product that’s safe and has been manufactured responsibly, using only the very best ingredients. Gone are the days of quick, pick-me-up stimulants; modern innovations and technological advances when it comes to neurological products mean that ‘smart pills’ have come a long way. More than just a quick fix for fatigue and flagging concentration levels, these clever little pills can help unleash your mental energy, bolster your creativity, conquer your stress, and even tame anxiety – and naturally so.

But what exactly are nootropics?

The term ‘nootropic’ comes from the Greek for ‘to bend or shape the mind’ – and that’s exactly what they do; they help to enhance your memory, improve overall cognitive function, and even reduce stress and aid sleep. Nootropics can contain both natural or synthetic ingredients (or a combination of both). Neurologica is committed to using only the highest quality ingredients for optimum brain function.

Which natural ingredients should I look out for?

The brain health supplement you choose is largely dependent on your own, personal needs. If you’re looking for a natural energy boost and to increase your productivity, pick a product that contains Bacopa monnieri (to speed up information processing in the brain), Shilajit (to combat chronic fatigue), or energyboosting Guarana, among others. For a natural anxiety treatment or to help combat stress, try Rhodiola rosea or L-Theanine, which both have a proven track record when it comes to treating these concerns.

Neurologica’s products have been designed with the knowledge that we all have unique needs, and

What are Nootropicsand do they really work?

the range provides you with options to mix and match – catering for your specific situation.

Need help finding the smart supplement suited to your lifestyle? Take the nootropicsquiz!

Take regular breaks and go outside

Make sure that you take regular ‘brain breaks’ and try to get as much fresh air as possible. This will not only help prevent cabin fever, but it will also help keep you awake and alert.

Let Neurologica help

Get brain health support to help you concentrate

Nootropics are gaining recognition worldwide, and with good reason: these brain boosting substances harness the power of natural ingredients to enhance mental focus and flow, while helping you to stay on top of your game as you tackle working from home. They’ve become an increasingly popular way to enhance concentration, improve mental performance, treat anxiety, and even help you get a good night’s sleep. Certain nootropics are also adaptogenic, which means that they calm the nervous system and help your body manage stress.

Nootropics can be taken as and when needed, but since they work best cumulatively it’s likely that you’ll get the most out of them when used consistently on a daily basis.

If you’re battling to focus and would like to better manage your stress – or even if you’d simply like to get a better workout in – you might want to consider adding nootropics to your daily routine.

How do nootropics work?

Ashwagandha, provide natural anxiety relief and may help those who can’t sleep.

Nootropics can either be taken alone, or combined

with other nootropics for enhanced benefits. This is known as stacking. Given the incredible benefits of nootropics, it can be tempting to go all-out and try everything at once, but it’s better to start with a good quality product that has already ‘stacked’ several nootropics for you. Neurologica has a number of products to target specific concerns, and since the nootropics are already stacked for optimum functioning, it reduces the risk of overwhelm (or going overboard!)

For more information on Neurologic’s brain health products, visit ourproduct pagesto help pinpoint the right one for you!

For stockist / retail enquiries:

lifestyle

How Joyfulness Can Lengthen Your Life

No one can avoid the gray malaise that hangs over everyday life right now. The constant flow of 24–7 media thrives on anger, anxiety, climate change worries, mass shootings, and Russia’s insane invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, politics churns along in an angry and divisive rut, and the isolating effects of pandemic lockdowns have added to higher rates of depression, domestic violence, and suicide, especially among teenagers.

As bad as the impact is for our daily lives, it might be even worse for our health. When we hold on to anger and lash out at others, even the people we love, we hurt ourselves in ways we hide from and deny. The body responds physically to emotions, and the damage caused by festering anger, resentment, and anxiety accumulates over time. This is scientifically proven: persistent negative emotions get translated into impaired functioning of the heart and digestive tract, for example, and make a person prone to being immune compromised. Special attention is now being paid to contributing factors that take years to develop into symptoms, such as stress and low-level chronic inflammation, thought to be a key factor in cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more.

All the research data points to low-grade stress and inflammation preceding chronic illness by 10 to 20 years. If you can address these largely invisible culprits, you can potentially prevent most chronic disease. Prevention begins by choosing to feel better about things, if you can.

If you counteract the early warning signs of anxiety, depression, and anger to focus on love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, your body shifts for the better biologically. When we hear that love is the ultimate healer, it turns out that there is a biochemical reason for this that reaches to every part of the body through the central nervous system. Brain scans reveal that the signature neurological expression of love overrides the impact of stress. This rather amazing confirmation could be life-saving.

Here are some ways to practice self-healing.

Embrace empathy and kindness. Be a better tipper, give to a charity, listen to others, and express sympathy. If you find a stray dollar bill on the street, give it to

someone who needs it, says William Mobley, chairman of the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California at San Diego. Research shows an act of kindness gives the brain a shot of oxytocin, the “love hormone” that can lower blood pressure and help social bonding; along with a surge of dopamine, which offers a euphoric “helper’s high,” and serotonin, which can improve mood.

Reduce stress. Constant everyday stress increases levels of the hormone cortisol, which ultimately kills nerve cells and penetrates the brain to spark inflammation. Do five minutes of meditation in the morning, renew your faith, take long walks outside, watch a comedy that makes you burst out laughing, have an all-hands family dinner on Sundays. In a word, find a healthy stress antidote that works for you.

Form bonds with others and avoid loneliness. Studies show that feeling lonely can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, says Dr. Douglas Nemecek, chief medical officer at Cigna. He sees loneliness as a long-term health risk tantamount to tobacco use. It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, raising the potential for premature death at least as much as obesity, as shown by a meta-analysis of 70 studies covering 3.4 million people. On the other hand, greater social connection leads to a 50% lower chance of early death, according to a review of 148 studies involving 300,000 people, reports Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University.

The problem is worse than most of us suppose: a Cigna survey found that the 75 million Americans ages 18 to 37 feel lonelier than other age groups. These people, although in the prime of life, also report feeling in worse health than their elders.

Take a timeout for gratefulness. Life is better and richer than we take the time to acknowledge. Choosing to believe this, no matter what lies in the future, can make us live longer, stronger, and happier lives. In a conversation with Dr. William Li, author of the bestseller “Eat to Beat Disease,” Cindy Crawford, the still-luminous supermodel from 30 years ago, tells of waking up every morning, stepping outside, and taking a few moments to feel grateful for what she has.

By Deepak Chopra MDand Robin L. Smith MD

Self-healing has risen to become at least as important as relying on doctors to cure what ails us. The essence of self-healing isn’t the same as prevention, which is typically based on risks. Risk generates fear, and fear is a poor motivator in the long run. Far better is a healing program based on what is most positive in your life. It involves turning away from the automatic response of gloom and apprehension that has seeped into our lives. We aren’t designed to be anxiety robots, but to choose a better way to live. The path to a better way lies through what we most value in life: love, compassion, creativity, insight, and hope. Such a path has always existed and can never be closed—it is one of the greatest gifts of being human.

About Deepak Chopra™MD, FACP, founder ofThe Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, andChopra Global, a whole health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation.Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 90 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book and national bestseller,Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential(Harmony Books), unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.”

About Robin L. Smith, MD, MBA, Founder, President & Chairman, Cura Foundation and Stem for Life, VP & Director, Science and Faith (STOQ) Foundation. Robin is a business leader, medical doctor and philanthropist. She is a trailblazer in regenerative medicine and predictive analytics and has focused on turnarounds, M&A and disruptive innovations driving interest and growth. Dr. Smith co-authored “Cells Are the New Cure” and “The Healing Cell: How the Greatest Revolution in Medical History Is Changing Your Life”.

Remarkably Resilient

By Elizabeth Blau Founder & CEO, Blau & Associates

spa business

"Unprecedented times." "New normal." "Contactless."

These phrases and their pandemic-era meanings would never have occurred to us in February of 2020. Two and a half years later, they have become common parlance of a time and place that none of us could have imagined, and we'd all soon like to forget. But the lessons we've learned are too valuable to forget, and we must now more than ever, be willing to share best practices.

As a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic every industry was immensely impacted, but the hospitality industry had to navigate near impossible commercial seas. Over the last two years, hotels and restaurants have been forced to close by government mandate, and then attempt to reopen while their customer base was still fearful of travel and dining indoors. As lockdowns and mandates were lifted, the whiplash of pent-up demand brought new challenges with dramatic increases in tourism and dining out forcing hospitality to contend with supply and labor shortages. In a cruel twist of fate, rising prices, logistics, and labor have now created an environment where restaurants struggle to maintain service levels that customers expect.

With the immediate crisis of COVID-19 in our rearview mirror, it has become somewhat easier to plot our post-pandemic future, and embrace the "new normal," in our pro formas and strategic planning.

Two years our primary concern was literal survival, with our frontline staff immediately affected and the real specter of liability, each operator had to determine how to move forward in the face of the unknown. Beyond the challenges of capacity limitations, contact tracing, daily PPE regulations and the real time management of often contradictory guest expectations – we had to contend with industry "experts" from all corners offering opinions and predictions on the future of hospitality. In May of 2020, it was a popular conclusion that buffets would be a thing of the past, paper menus would never again be in the hands of diners, and dining rooms would be significantly empty for years.

Thankfully, many of the most dire forecasts have not played out, and the new normal, is actually at least adjacent to the old normal. The fretting over scanning QR codes, erecting plastic barricades, and obsessing over high-touch items like spoons in a buffet line have ultimately proven temporary.

As many of us have known instinctively our whole lives, hospitality was ultimately the industry people were most anxious to return to and treat as a safe port in the storm – the one they needed to feel normal in their lives despite everything else to the contrary. As we continue to emerge from the clouds cast by 2020: guests are back in line at buffets, servers are passing menus out at tables, reservation lists are again prime real estate, and hosts are once again warmly greeting regulars with physical contact.

Within the hotel industry, many concessions to service and amenities were frequently centered on a more

long-term strategy; with no real way of determining a return of group, leisure, and international travel in force, hotel operators were emboldened to take risks they may never have imagined. In their food and beverage divisions, efficiencies in in-room dining, coffee service, and hours of operation have shifted from "let's give it a shot" to best practices. There are few executives I know of prior to the pandemic would have pictured themselves replacing elegant in-room dining service at their 5-Star properties with take-out food wrapped in saran wrap, placed in disposable containers and dropped outside the guestroom door.

Expanded reservation systems have replaced busy walk-in style seating at three-meal venues, streamlining the experience of both guests and staff. The return to "normal" in hotels is taking longer, but the decisions made during these have become better with practice and fully integrated into what a hotel stay is. As guests return to hotels for longer stays and a greater list of to-dos, feedback is appreciative of both the return to what they love about being in a hotel and the new and/or revised service they are surprised has made it better than before.

This realization of the role that hospitality plays in peoples' lives has led to an increase of attention and awareness of the industry's susceptibility to collapse. Advocacy on behalf of small restaurants, boutique hotels, and local watering holes was almost instantaneous. The simple act of placing a take-out order became a performance of civic duty, an earnest choice to support a neighbor. Perhaps buoyed by this, a wave of self-determined advocacy from chefs, restaurateurs, and purveyors has emerged as an incredible by-product of this time. In their quest to create a more secure future for themselves and their businesses of passion, these individuals continue to gain strength and power through organizing and legislating on behalf of the entire industry.

While we, as restaurateurs and chefs were trying to make our guests more comfortable by playful ideas such as filling empty dining chairs with giant teddy bears to space out tables, presenting virtual at-home cooking demos and providing imaginative curb side to-go cocktail kits – the reality was those facing food insecurity were on the brink of devastation. As a restaurant community of people responsible for dreaming up beautiful dining concepts, innovative cuisine and feeding the community, this devastating reality became quickly apparent that there was going to be an unprecedented number of food insecure people that would quickly no longer have access to meals. In Las Vegas especially, after the absolute shut down of the hospitality industry, none of the normal channels of food distribution to shelters, food pantries and nonprofit organizations could be followed and came to sudden halt.

Out of a necessity to fill this void, Delivering with Dignity was born; a nonprofit organization that I helped co-found and launch in March 2020, along with other community leaders and local restaurant partners. The Delivering with Dignity program is a novel system that simultaneously feeds those in need,

while supporting the economically devastated restaurant industry by providing supplemental revenue through the meal program. Through private financial donations and government grants, Delivering with Dignity partner restaurants create and average of 4,500 weekly nutritious, wellbalanced meals cooked by chefs which are then picked up and delivered daily by community volunteers.

Today, over two years later, Delivering with Dignity continues to operate daily and has safely delivered over 600,000 meals to the doorsteps of the Las Vegas community. To me, there is no better definition of resiliency than the outcome of this program thanks to the determination of our community leaders, volunteers, donors, and incredible hospitality industry. As a restaurateur, I am incredibly proud of my community, our restaurant teams and their resiliency during these challenging last few years. It is my sincere hope that the connections and progress that this time has forged within our industry will only continue to intensify.

Publications like HotelExecutive are important tools in staying connected with each other. The amplification of ideas across the diverse spectrum of hospitality in articles and pieces like this one provide us another bond in our community and our ability to thrive within it.

The vulnerability of hotels and restaurants to longterm impact is not necessarily surprising. These are, after all, businesses which operate on razor-thin margins, even in the best of times. Knowledge of this did not lessen the heartbreaking swath of closures and operational shifts which (in many cases) remain. Professionals across the nation have stories of staff trauma, service challenges, and supply hurdles which all altered their businesses.

From the ashes of these devastating industry burdens, though, are stories of innovation and perseverance. The good faith efforts of leaders in the industry have level-set expectations for guests and staff alike. As the industry moves out of survival mode and into its next phase of evolution, these expectations move in tandem. Some will remain and others will become relics of the era – the former will shape who we are today and who we will be in the future.

About Ms. Blau: James Beard Award Nominee Elizabeth Blau is the founder and CEO of restaurant development company Blau + Associates, a firm dedicated to creating world-class hospitality experiences, and is widely credited with transforming Las Vegas into the world-class culinary destination it is today. A judge on CNBC's Restaurant Startup, she also operates several restaurants in Las Vegas and Vancouver with her husband chef Kim Canteenwalla including: Honey Salt and Buddy V's Ristorante, a collaboration with TV's Cake Boss Buddy Valastro. Ms. Blau also is author of "Honey Salt: A Culinary Scrapbook," which was named Best Cookbook of 2018 by Food & Beverage Magazine.

Three Big Barriers to Collaboration

By Jacob Morgan

The ability or inability to collaborate can make or break an organization. Teams and companies that excel at collaboration tend to work more efficiently, be more innovative, and create an engaging culture.

Here are three common barriers to collaboration to watch for with your team:

Hierarchy

If your organization is built like a pyramid where information only flows from the top down, it’s nearly impossible to collaborate. True collaboration happens when ideas come from all sides. You can still have some structure, but the information and ideas need to flow side to side, up and down, and throughout the organization so that everyone is involved.

Fear

Collaboration requires speaking up, being visible, and having confidence in yourself. But that can be scary to employees, especially if there is a culture of shooting down or criticizing ideas. Create an environment that is safe for risk-taking to help employees overcome the fear of collaborating and communicating.

Over-collaboration

Collaborating too much is just as harmful as not collaborating at all. If employees need approval for every little idea or task, it significantly stunts productivity and creativity. Fight over-collaboration by giving employees trust and autonomy. Research has found that providing employees autonomy is

the best way to build their engagement in the team. Have an open dialogue with employees about expectations and guidelines so everyone is on the same page.

Knowing these common barriers to collaboration can help you deal with issues when they come up and address red flags before they grow into bigger issues. By addressing these challenges, you can be on your way to creating a collaborative organization.

spa lifestyle

We Could All Use a Health Coach

By Jane E. Brody

Are you among the million of people worldwide suffering from one or more chronic health conditions?

Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, arthritis, respiratory or digestive disease, among others that can diminish the quality of your life?

How well do you understand your condition and its treatment? Do you know how to minimize potentially disabling effects and delay its progression? Are you having difficulty following your doctor’s advice?

Or maybe you’re currently healthy but one or more of your habits could ultimately undermine your health and result in a chronic disorder.

In either case, you’d likely benefit from the help of a health coach, whose job it is to give patients the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence they need to participate fully in their own care and well-being.

While anyone can claim to be a health coach (as with nutritionists, there is no standardized certification), some health coaches specially trained in behavioral health, nutrition and other areas that doctors aren’t traditionally taught in medical school are gradually being incorporated into primary care practices. In addition to fostering better health among patients, they support doctors whose time with each patient is likely to be limited to 12 to 15 minutes.

“The doctor may tell a patient ‘eat less, exercise more, take your medicine and come back in three months,’ but not how to execute this plan,” said Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle.

As founder of Iora Health, a national network of primary care practices, Dr. Fernandopulle has made health coaches an integral part of patient care at dozens of medical sites around the US. Even if doctors had more time, he said, they’re not taught — and few know how — to motivate patients to make changes that would improve their health.

Currently, however, health coaches who assist in medical practices are not common. Clinics that utilize

them can be very expensive, and they are not always covered by medical aid. There’s not even a code under which doctors could submit insurance claims for the services provided by health coaches. To help cover the expense and improve their patients’ health, most primary care practices that utilize health coaches include the cost in the patient’s overall care.

Courtney Hamilton, a publicist in Los Angeles, is a prime example of someone who has benefited from a health coach. She had suffered for more than 20 years with the debilitating digestive symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome until a health coach at Parsley Health, a national network of primary care clinics, told her it wasn’t normal for her belly to “blow up” as if she was six months pregnant after eating an ordinary meal.Tests at the clinic in Los Angeles revealed that her gut was overrun with gascausing bacteria that thrived on her often haphazard diet. Treated first with antibiotics to kill off the harmful organisms, she was told she had to make drastic changes in her diet to keep them at bay. A health coach taught her how and was on call to help whenever she had problems or questions.

“It was very difficult to navigate at first,” Ms. Hamilton said. “All the fun foods in my life were banned for the sake of my quality of life. But the health coach helped me over the rough spots and made healthier decisions easier. She gave me recipes and cooking tips and taught me what to order in restaurants. In a matter of months my bowels were normal for the first time in decades.”

Erica Zellner, a health coach at the Parsley clinic, said, “I never met a patient that didn’t have some resistance to change. Coaches take the time to get to know patients fully, find their internal motivation and set them up for success that’s personalized.

Health happens in the 99.9 percent of your life when you’re not in the doctor’s office.”

Angela Hill said her goal as a health coach at Iora Primary Care in Seattle is to build a relationship

with patients, learn what concerns them, what their health goals are and what might be keeping them from making needed behavior changes.“ I meet the patients where they’re at, find out what’s holding them back and go forward from there,” she said. “Together we come up with attainable goals and a plan that’s easy and accessible for the patient to implement”.

Dr. Russell S. Phillips, director of the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care, told me, “Health coaching should be an integral part of primary care. It helps patients better manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension and improves outcomes. “As a primary care doctor,” he added, “I’m focused on diagnosis, treatment and a lot of other medical issues. It’s great to have health coaches available to help patients make needed changes and sustain them over time.”

Alison Tibbals, a 76-year-old in Seattle, said she struggled to control her fluctuating high blood pressure until the health coach at Iora helped her learn how best to regulate it. “My health coach is deeply committed to my well-being,” she said. “As I grow older, it’s thrilling to know I’m heard and cared for, that there’s somebody out there who’s really interested in me and knows me.”

Katie Bernard, who manages a wellness coaching team at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, told of a 66year-old woman on the waiting list for a lung transplant who was very stressed and sleeping terribly. “A doctor would have said she was doing fine,” Ms. Bernard said, but by helping her make gradual changes in her diet and exercise routine, “the woman’s sleep did a complete 180.”

As leading causes of disability and premature death, chronic disorders are responsible for the majority of the trillions now spent on health care and insurers would be wise to include health coaching among the services offered.