Sarah Mahoney has published a nice summary of skin care tips on Women’s Health magazine.

Mahoney compares Skin care to retirement 401(k) plan. Patience is important as skin care treatments applied today will take time for results to be apparent. However, the same way you can compare your fitness results in terms of weight and endurance to those that do not stay fit, eventually you will hear the comments from friends; “You look the same”, or “you have not aged a bit”. Here is Mahoney’s guide to an easy skin care routine for preventing the signs of aging.

Step 1: Skin Cleanser

The first step is to start with clean skin. It makes the rest of the skin-care treatments more effective. You can try a gentle cleanser that leaves protective oils and moisture behind (Mahoney recommends Dove Beauty Bar and Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar.) The article quoted Francesca J. Fusco, M.D; “For an extra boost, use a product made with alpha-hydroxy acids, or AHAs, to exfoliate the dead cells, help plump up your skin, and give a healthy glow,”. AHAs make the outermost layer of skin stronger and more resistant to irritation.

Step 2: Anti-Aging Serum

What is a serum? Does it sound like something straight from chemistry lab? These potent anti aging treatment formulas have concentrated power in small doses. The best anti-aging contain antioxidants (look for vitamins C and E and green tea) or peptides (amino-acid chains believed to bolster the skin’s collagen production), according to Diane Berson, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Blend a few drops onto freshly cleansed skin—it absorbs better when pores are wide open.

Step 3: Moisturizer

Ever wondered what causes the look of dry skin? Mahoney explaines that when skin cells become dehydrated, they shrivel up, making skin look older, dull in tone and texture, and even wrinkled. That is why your hands can look older during winter. The dry skin exacerbates wrinkle folds and deepens the skin creases. The same thing can happen to facial skin. Yohini Appa, Ph.D., a researcher at Neutrogena added, “free radicals can penetrate more easily through dry skin to attack the layers of collagen and elastin.” This is the fast track to saggy skin. Look for a lightweight formula that has an SPF of at least 25 and contains petrolatum or glycerin, the gold standards for moisture retention.

Step 4: Sunscreen

It is well known that the sun is a serious threat to any effort to slow the aging process. UV rays cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and cell breakdown. The sun screen tip is very important. Mahoney mentions that your best defense is to be thorough with your sunscreen. Use a sunscreen moisturizer or buy a foundation with SPF, especially if you will be out for more than an hour or so. When shopping online for cosmetics, look for sunscreen products that contain ingredients Parsol 1789 or Mexoryl. Both ingredients both block deep-penetrating UVA rays effectively. And reapply often.

Step 5: Retinoid

Anti-aging ingredients aren’t immediate people-pleasers; they need time to do their good deeds. Take, for example, retinoids. These vitamin A-derivatives—prescription-strength are sold as Retin-A and Renova; the similar but less powerful over-the-counter version is retinol—smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, help even out skin tone, and may even reverse the effects of UV exposure. However, they can make skin more sensitive to UV light, so doctors recommend applying a night cream before bed. That way, the retinoids are active while your body is repairing itself during sleep.

Step 6: Sleep

Getting plenty of shut-eye is as good for your complexion as it is for your body. When medical researchers at Cornell University deprived eleven women of sleep for just one night, it was enough to deplete their skin’s defenses. To make the most of your sleep, the general recommendation is to try to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Also, consider using a humidifier to keep your skin moist and help your nighttime treatment sink into your pores if you live in a dry climate.

Popularity: 35% [?]

If you have sound ground strokes and are looking to solidify your consistency at the baseline, a tennis pro to look to for inspiration is Novak Djokovic. Djokavic is known for a solid baseline game and he does not hit a cheap tennis ball with his Head racquet.  Djokovic uses the Head YouTek line of tennis racquets. In the case of the YouTek Speed Pro, a players tennis swing can feel pretty fast, hence the name.  It offers a heavier frame with a very thin beam, providing excellent touch for exceptional feel. The racquet comes with a leather grip for ultimate tour performance.  Tennis Warehouse testers were able to utilize the YouTek racquet head speed for top spin generation. However, the reviewers mentioned that the stability and drive proved to be the name of the game.  After using the Youtek Speed Pro from the beginning of 2009 through Wimbledon, Djokovic switched racquets to the Youtek Speed Midplus 18/20 for the 2009 US hard court season.  In the toughest tennis racquet test conducted to-date by the German magazine, Deutsche Tennis Zeitung, the YOUTEK Speed Pro came out on top, ranking No. 1 amongst other racquet brands for its thin and heavy frame. Tennis Express also has a published review of the Head YouTek (see link below).

Head YouTek Specifications

Popularity: 29% [?]

Sony was the first Television Manufacturer to enter the market for organic light emitting diode, or OLED, television with the release of a 11 inch screen TV model XEL-1 in 2007. This TV still comes with a $2500 price tag, currently the same price level as TVs with screens 50 inches and above. That model screen was only 3 millimeters thick. Sony has recently pushed out the launch it its successor, a 27 inch OLED TV, until 2010 due to the cost of manufacturing. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Sony has lost money in the LCD TV division since 2004.

Sony tends to push the technological edge, but struggles to turn a profit. Sony TV division lost $1.3 billion in its most recent fiscal year.  Sony was also late to the market with LCD Televisions, and is lagging in market share. Display Search has reported that Sony lost market leadership in televisions to Samsung and LG in terms of revenue. OLED competitors could be LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics, who could assume leadership in the promising technology, touted as the future replacement of liquid-crystal displays (LCD). LG Electronics announced that it will launch a 15-inch OLED TV in Korea and other oversea markets. OLED displays are already designed into mobile phones and smaller MP3 players. OLED displays are thinner and consume less power. They also display color better and respond better to moving images than LCDs. OLED displays do not need a backlight behind the screen, allowing it to be flexible and bendable. Research firm DisplaySearch expects the market for OLED TV to reach 2.33 million units in 2013 compared with estimated 320,000 units in 2011, according to data provided by LG. However, LCD display prices are falling dramatically even while LCD quality improves and is considered the biggest threat to OLED’s future. OLED technology background and features is also covered in the LCD TV Buyers Guide.

Sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Display Search

Popularity: 24% [?]

Make SPF part of a daily routine. Rain or shine, experts claim it is important to use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and broad-spectrum coverage (protection from both UVA and UVB rays). Dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen daily, even for persons who spend most of the day indoors.  Even though sunscreen applications are considered when you go to the beach or pool, the fact is that sun damage can occur anytime you go out of the house, whether it be sweltering outside or cold and cloudy. According to a 2008 published study in the Archives of Dermatology, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that daily sunscreen application reduced the formation of actinic keratoses, a potential precursor to skin cancer.

There is a correct way to apply skin care products.  A recent article quoted Martin Weinstock, M.D., a professor of dermatology at Brown University, “You have to put it on before you go out, you have to put on enough of it, you have to reapply sun screen while you’re out, and you have to be sure not to wipe it off.”

Skin Care Products101:

There are a variety of chemical sunscreens as well as physical sunscreens available when you look to buy cosmetics online. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin for protection. Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin for protection. Some examples of UVB chemical sunscreens are Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone, and Octyl salicylate. In order to be considered full-spectrum, UVA blockers are added such as Oxybenzone and Avobenzone (Parsol 1789). Physical sunscreens contain Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide, which reflect UVA and UVB rays. Physical sunscreens and sunblocks are ideal for those with sensitive or reactive skin. If your trouble with sunscreens is the thick, goopy mess they can sometimes create, you’re in luck. Sunscreens are now available in a variety of textures and consistencies. You can use a light mist, a translucent or bronzing powder, a light lotion, or a more traditional, moisturizing cream.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has highlighted several facial skin care. A key issue is that melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, causing more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. It’s also the most common form of skin cancer for young adults age 25-29. The best way to prevent melanoma is with diligent, daily application of sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater. In the case of moles and birth marks, learn the “ABCDEs” of monitoring them, and examine skin regularly for irregularities. Risk of melanoma increases with new or atypical moles, a family history of melanoma or a history of any type of skin cancer. Experts suggest seeing a dermatologist for a thorough skin exam on a regular basis. Everyone, however, benefits from an annual cancer screening.

Popularity: 27% [?]

The goal is make sure that the bronzer and blush in your cosmetic stash make a great team when used together. Bronzer is used to warm up the complexion. Bronzer does not take the place of blush, which is adds color to the cheeks. The concern some shoppers have when they buy makeup online is that bronzer will make you look artificial, or the blush leaves you looking like a clown from the Ringling circus, you have not found the right shades of blush and bronzer face makeup for your complexion. Here are three simple blush and Clinique Bronzer pairings to work with either light, medium to dark complexions.

1. Blushing Orchid Blush + Clinique Sunkissed Bronzer. The pink blush and light gold toned bronzer is designed for women who have fair skin, including freckled skin.

2. Jane Blushing Petal blush + Clinique Sunblushed Bronzer. The blush is more of a rose color and combined with the terra-cotta bronzer work well for the woman with dark honey or light brown hair and skin that easily tans.

3. Jane Blushing Plum blush + Clinique Sunswept bronzer. The blush color is a darker shade of pink red similar to the color of watermelon, and combined with the deep bronzer flatter women with dark hair and eyes, and are especially great for olive skin tones that need a brighter spot of color to accentuate the brown colored features.

Popularity: 26% [?]