Tomatoes - the delicious fountain of youth you always took for granted.

The summer heat is on, and what better way to quench your thirst than with a delicious fresh garden salad? And what salad can be without juicy sweet tomatoes? This delicious antioxidant fruit (often mistaken for a vegetable) does wonders for your health, and your skin!

Did you know that tomatoes are excellent blood purifiers, and the Nicotinic acid in tomatoes can help to reduce blood cholesterol (helping prevent heart disease)? In addition to that, tomatoes help decongest the liver (protecting it from cirrhosis). Vitamin K in tomatoes helps to prevent hemorrhages, and large consumption of tomato can help improve skin texture and color. And of course, lycopene (the red pigment in tomato), is a powerful antioxidant that can also fight cancer cells. This is also an ingredient used in SAIAN Strawberry Cleanser (which was featured in this month's issue of DAYSPA Magazine on p.70.

Nutraceuticals World | January 1, 2009 Tomato lycopene complex offers skin benefits.(Research Highlights)(Clinical report) 

A recently completed double-blind, placebo-controlled study indicates that supplementation with Lyc-O-Mato tomato extract, from LycoRed, helps protect the skin against damage from UV radiation by reducing sunburn cell formation and protecting the skin's immune system by slowing down the depletion of Langerhans cells, following exposure to UVB/UVA solar simulator.

COPYRIGHT 2009 Rodman Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)

The use of tomato for skin care is ideal because of its cooling and astringent properties. It is rich in vitamin C making it helpful for acne and brightening dull skin and contains vitamin A needed for building healthy skin. Its naturally acidic properties help it balance the skin and get rid of excessive oil.

In the heat of summer, it is easy to get sunburned - fortunately this easy recipe will cool irritation and remove sunburn. Simply add 2 tsp tomato juice to 1/2 cup of plain yogurt. Apply it all over your skin. Wash it off after keeping it for 1/2 hour.

I recommend purchasing organic tomatoes from your local growers, whenever possible, or better yet - planting them yourself! Growing your own herbs, fruits and vegetables is a rewarding process that will yield natural produce without pesticides or hormones. Beautiful tomato plants are available at Trader Joe's starting this week (for under $5!) I picked one up, and placed it on my balcony! Can't wait until they ripen!

High-Frequency Machine - Rocket Science??

A piece of equipment that no skin care professional can do without is a high-frequency unit. This is why I am more and more surprised by how many estheticians don't know how to use this amazing machine! Hopefully this brief introduction will be beneficial to those in doubt.

The high-frequency machine utilizes the ozone gas in the form of neon or argon to kill germs and bacteria which cause the spread of inflammation and pustules. It closes pores after extractions, and cauterizes any exposed blemishes. High-frequency can also be used for normal skin, to tone, tighten, and stimulate natural collagen formation. Limit use to 3-5 minutes per session.

Currently, the most practical way to go, is with a portable unit, which fits conveniently into a case, and comes with several attachments. These attachments are called electrodes, and are made of glass, with a metallic tip. When cleaning the glass after clients, make sure that the tip never touches water, alcohol, QUATS, or any other liquid which can cause it to rust.

These are the most popular types of electrodes which come standard on most high-frequency units:

• Large mushroom electrode: for the face, back, chest.
• Small mushroom electrode: for very small areas close to the nose, eyes, inside the ear, behind the ear.
• Comb: (should have a metallic coil inside) is used to provide an invigorating scalp treatment which stimulates the flow of blood and oxygen to the hair follicle. Helps prevent hair loss, stimulates more hair grows, moves stagnation, oxygenates, treats dandruff, sterilizes and dries blemishes on the scalp (caused by product allergy).

There is also an option of a bar with a metallic coil inside, which is used to provide an indirect high-frequency treatment. The client should hold this electrode, while the esthetician provides a light effleurage massage.

Contraindications for this machine are:

• Pregnancy
• Pacemaker
• Large metallic implants
• High blood pressure

All this said, I must mention that many people don't know the correct way to apply the high-frequency to their client's face. You may apply the electrode to the clean face (with no products), or on top of a gauze mask. The mask serves the purpose of keeping the electrode clean, as well as creating a small distance which should allow for sparking to occur. For the high-frequency treatment to yield desired results, one must maintain a distance of a couple of millimeters from the skin. This is called "sparking", and must be done to effectively sterilize the area. When the electrode slides on the skin directly, no significant results will be seen, so make sure this is something you don't forget to do the next time you provide a high-frequency treatment!

Sunscreen 101

The summer heat is on in Los Angeles, and all of us are feeling it on our skin. Gone are the days when it was fashionable to drench oneself in baby oil and bake in the sun. The huge market for hyperpigmentation products just shows how much damage was done... unfortunately it may be too late to turn back the hands of time, but it is possible to prevent future damage with the right sunscreen.

I'm not surprised that many people, including estheticians have questions about sun products. How do I choose the right one? What is an SPF? Is sunscreen safe for my children?

What is an SPF?
The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) displayed on the sunscreen label ranges from 2 to as high as 50 and refers to the product's ability to screen or block out the sun's harmful rays. For example, if you use a sunscreen with an SPF 15, you can be in the sun 15 times longer that you can without sunscreen before burning. Consumers need to be aware that SPF protection does not increase proportionally with an increased SPF number. While an SPF of 2 will absorb 50% of ultraviolet radiation, an SPF of 15 absorbs 93% and an SPF of 34 absorbs 97%
- American Melanoma Foundation

I, personally, dislike oily fragrant products that clog the pores, and cause blemishes and irritation. Many of these over the counter lotions contain very high amounts of chemicals, propylene glycol and parabens that increase the SPF. The best way to go is definitely with a water-based physical block (Titanium Dioxide). The best sunscreen is SAIAN Sunscreen Mist SPF 29, which provides full UVA and UVB protection without irritation! Always read the ingredients on the back of the container, and don't go overboard with a high SPF - it is better to choose a mid-range SPF and re-apply often!

Here is some interesting and beneficial information from the American Melanoma Foundation:

http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/facts.htm