She’s taken New York, Dubai…even Versailles. And now Kim Kardashian has taken to social media to declare her devotion to The Lancer Method and and the anti-aging advice of Dr. Lancer’s latest book Younger, writing “So proud of my dermatologist Dr. Lancer. I feel younger every time I see him.” When it comes to keeping up appearances, the 33 year-old adds, “I trust Dr. Lancer as my all-knowing skincare guru. Dr. Lancer and his products are perfection.”
Mogul, mother of four, fashion designer, pop star – how Victoria Beckham has time to look as fabulously flawless as she does is (almost) a mystery to us. Though we’re sure Becks has a bevy of beauty secrets, she has publicly revealed that she’s a devotee of The Lancer Method as well as our Lift Serum Intense and Sheer Fluid Sun Shield. A combination of healthy diet and lifestyle (which you can read about in Dr. Lancer’s anti-aging guide Younger) teamed with a strict adherence to our 3-step skincare Method, has helped the 40 year-old to overcome uneven, acne-prone skin. That radiant, blemish-free glow she now sports? Well, it has us thinking 40 may just be the new 20.
Let’s face it: skincare is just as important for men as it is for women, but most men don’t live by the “ounce of prevention” adage – and probably need a little prodding from the women in their lives to get going on a healthy skincare regimen. Here are three CORE reasons to get the men in your life protecting their largest organ ASAP:
Facial hair can clog pores. Men have fast-growing facial hair with strong hair follicles that can become easily irritated or congested. Daily skincare, especially exfoliation and hydration, is crucial to keep pores clear and skin healthy. With a little commitment, they can say sayonara to painful and unattractive ingrowns.
Thicker skin needs extra TLC. Men have thicker, more durable skin than women, which is a net positive because they are better protected from the elements. But this sturdier skin also makes the absorption of vital nutrients more difficult. Careful but simple skincare (think: the 3-step Method) will help keep skin healthy, hydrated and in great condition as men age.
Many men aren’t programmed to do it themselves. Women have been taught to care for their skin from the time they became teenagers (or before), and are conditioned to apply creams, makeup, masks and oils first thing in the morning. Men, on the other hand, are not used to wearing anything on their skin and often forgo the use of sunscreen leading to sun damage and prematurely aged skin. Daily sunscreen application is absolutely crucial for men (read just how important it is in Dr. Lancer’s newest LA Times feature); we just need to teach men to get started. Help your guy by finding a formula he likes – our liquid SPF is popular among many of Dr. Lancer’s male patients because of its quick-absorbing formula and non-greasy feel.
Pick up one of the three versions of The Method for the man in your life: https://www.lancerskincare.com/the-lancer-method
Recently, in an interview with The Cut, Dr. Lancer revealed a three-pronged approach to staying youthful: good skincare, low stress levels (which we covered here) and getting the proper amount of quality shut eye. Today, everyone leads such busy lives that sleep often suffers. Tossing and turning and even insomnia have become commonplace. So, if you aren’t feeling as rested as you’d like, here are a few simple steps to get your brain and body cooled off in time for a restful night’s sleep.
Sounder Sleep Tip 1: Fight the urge to fall asleep in the warm glow of your iPad (or TV). Avoid electronic devices at least an hour (or two!) before bed. The blue light of the screens signals brain activity, which can disrupt the natural, circadian rhythm that helps you sleep soundly.
Sounder Sleep Tip 2: Create a bedtime ritual. This can be as simple as taking a warm shower and lighting a candle for yourself or reading a good book and listening to soothing music – whatever you do, try to repeat it each night. Simple, relaxing rituals help the brain transition from wakefulness to sleepiness.
Sounder Sleep Tip 3: Maintain your sleep schedule. Waking and rising at the same time most days (even weekends and holidays!) will help your body maintain a strong circadian rythmn; you will find it easier to fall asleep and rise feeling refreshed instead of groggy and disoriented.
Sounder Sleep Tip 4: Avoid known sleep disruptors. Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and nicotine a few hours before bedtime. All of these substances greatly disrupt the sleep cycle.
Sweet dreams!
Last week, Dr. Lancer revealed to New York Magazine’s The Cut what the fountain of youth is: low stress levels and plenty of sleep (in conjunction with a healthy dose of preventive skincare). Living a stress-free life is easier said than done, of course, but you’ve gotta start somewhere. Here are 7 simple ways to reduce stress starting right now.
Meditate. Study after study has found meditation to have amazing stress-reducing benefits. If you’ve never tried it before, begin by sitting comfortably in a quiet place. Focus on your breath and choose a positive mantra (for example, “I am calm, centered and relaxed” or “I am happy and healthy.”) to repeat. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your mantra. Try doing this for ten minutes each day to center yourself and release built up tension.
Cook a healthy meal. If the mere idea of meditating makes you squirm, there are plenty of other ways to actively meditate. One option: lovingly prepare a healthy meal for yourself (and your family or loved ones). Cooking is very grounding and allows you to tap into your creative side at the same time. Try planning your meal ahead of time so that you don’t feel rushed while preparing it.
Exercise. Tired and stressed after a long day? You don’t have to run a marathon, just do something to get your body moving and energized. Try stretching out on your back or going for a walk in the sun (wearing sunscreen, of course!). It will help your body produce natural endorphins to fight off the stress and you’ll sleep better (the second key to staying youthful). Many more exercise tips and regimens can be found in Dr. Lancer’s book, Younger.
Laugh. It may be a cliché, but that’s because it’s true: laughter really is the best medicine. Seriously, don’t let a day go by without having a good laugh. Laughter releases dopamine, endorphins and growth hormone – and it helps us feel connected to others.
Pamper yourself. Take a few minutes (or more) to do something just for you – whether that’s taking a candlelight bath, giving yourself and at-home facial (recipe here), turning off your phone/computer/TV for half an hour—take some me-time to recharge and don’t feel guilty about it!
Set boundaries. A lot of us get caught in the trap of saying yes to everything – from dinner invitations to replying to work emails at 11 pm to picking up a neighbor’s kid from soccer practice on a crazy-busy day. And the truth is, no one can do it all. Develop the ability to say no when you need to, and watch your stress levels plummet.
Shop! Okay, it may not be scientifically proven, but everyone at our office agrees that a trip to shopping heaven significantly reduces the residual effect of a pressure-cooker day. Bonus Tip: We spent the better part of this week launching Lancer Skincare at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills and fell in love with Chef Tzu Chiang at Mariposa restaurant. He is serving an olallieberry dish that is packed full of antioxidants and so rare that it’s only produced for one month of the year in California. So, why not kill two birds with one stone? Indulge in some stress-relieving retail therapy and follow it up with a healthy meal at Mariposa.
We know you moms out there are busy – and that between carpool, your career and attempting to put a homemade meal on the table each night, it can be almost impossible to find time to take care of yourself, much less take a full hour for a facial or a visit to the derm. So, we put together a few quick fixes for common skincare problems so that you can spend more time helping with homework and less time worrying about how you’re going to get a few hours to yourself.
Quick Fix 1: Banish a Blemish with Greek Yogurt. You wake up with a monstrous zit and the last thing you have time for is a trip to the aesthetician to get it extracted or injected. Don’t stress: dab Greek yogurt on your blemish before going to bed. The probiotics in the yogurt will kill any bacteria while lactic acid will break down the bump. It may take a few days to heal, but it will eventually disappear.
Quick Fix 2: Unload Undereye Baggage with Green Tea Bags. If a teething baby or sick little one kept you awake all night, fake a restful look by steeping two green tea bags. Cool them in ice water, then place them over your undereye area for 10 minutes. The caffeine will reduce inflammation and increase blood flow for a fresh, I-got-a-full-8-hours appearance.
Quick Fix 3: Heal a Burn with Honey. The kitchen can be treacherous territory, especially if you’re rushing to put a meal on the table. If you happen to get a minor burn in the process, treat it by slathering on a coating of raw honey. Raw honey has antibacterial properties and will help to hydrate the skin all while making that stinging feeling dissipate.
Quick Fix 4: Keep Oil at Bay with Apple Cider Vinegar. If you run out of your favorite skincare products before having a chance to pick up replacements, tame oily skin by diluting apple cider vinegar with water and using the mixture as an astringent. It’s excellent for balancing the skin’s pH.
From all of us at Lancer Skincare, Happy Mother’s Day!
Last week we gave you the rundown of our marketing coordinator Madeline’s post-Coachella skincare rehab regimen. And now we’ve got the photographic proof of its speedy efficacy. Just one week after returning from the desert, Madeline’s Lancer Glow is back!
Upon returning from Coachella, Madeline’s skin was angry. Overexposure to the sun, heat and dry desert air had caused it to break out, dry out and become unevenly pigmented. To remedy this, Madeline exfoliated with Sensitive Polish for the first four days to jumpstart the cell renewal process. Exfoliation also causes blood circulation to increase, and this helped her blemishes to heal quickly without scarring. Plus, by using Polish in conjunction with a healthy daily dose of Sensitive Nourish, Retexturizing Treatment Cream and Advanced C Radiance and drinking a green juice and extra water each day, Madeline’s skin quickly regained hydration from the deep layers to the epidermis – hence her radiant glow. In the after photos, you can see what is, quite frankly, a miraculous recovery: redness is drastically reduced, pimples are nonexistent, her coloring is even, and her flaky, scaly skin is now smooth and soft to the touch. All just in time to go back for Stagecoach and do it again! (Kidding.)
No matter how well you care for your skin, there are times it can be hard to maintain a meticulous regimen, especially when you’re away from home. Last week we posted about how traveling can tax skin health: Flying speeds up dehydration and sun exposure, and upon landing, a change in hard or soft water and air humidity can easily irritate skin and cause breakouts and dryness.
But few climates are as brutal as the SoCal desert combined with the party atmosphere of Coachella. For nearly 15 years, Angelenos having been trekking to the desert to spend three days enjoying the music, sun, food and crowds that make up the famous festival. While we’re all for having some good, healthy fun—which Coachella makes easy with vegan and vegetarian food options, juice stands and fresh fruit—there are few things more taxing than three full days of sun exposure, ultra dry and hot temperatures, and the inevitable cocktail or five, we mean, two.
Our marketing coordinator headed to Coachella armed with her Lancer arsenal, but had a hard time maintaining her regimen in the desert. “My skin was super irritated from the heat, dry from the air, and so dirty. As much as I wanted to polish all the grime away, I knew I would be exposed to the same thing the next day, so I held off on polishing, and stuck with tons of Sheer Fluid SPF, Nourish and eye cream to stay as hydrated as possible.”
Even being so proactive, Madeline found that her skin suffered: “I can see the pigmentation on my nose, around my eyes and in the hollows of my cheeks from the sun. Plus some congested pores from all the sweat and dirt. I want my Lancer glow back!”
So what are the doctor’s orders for tackling post-Coachella skin? Check out Madeline’s rehab regimen below:
Diet. Beautiful skin starts from within, so the first step is to boost your daily intake of water and greens. This will make a big, and noticeable, difference. If you’re jonesing for something with more flavor than good old H2O and celery sticks, try Pressed Juicery‘s Greens 3 and coconut water for extra hydration.
Skin Care. It’s important to be diligent about your daily regimen once you’re back from the desert. Since returning from Coachella, Madeline has been following these steps:
In the morning:
1. Wash with Sensitive Cleanse and pat skin dry
2. Retexturizing Treatment Cream
3. Sensitive Nourish
4. Sheer Fluid Sun Shield
5. Eye Contour Lifting Cream
At night:
1. Remove makeup with grape seed oil
2. Steam face for 5 minutes in the shower
3. Polish
4. Sensitive Cleanse
5. Advanced C Radiance
6. Sensitive Nourish
7. Eye Contour Lifting Cream
Next week, we’ll be sharing Madeline’s before and after photos – be sure to check back!
Most of you already know how important it is to work out on a regular basis, but what some, especially our uber-fit clientele in Los Angeles, might be surprised to hear is that there is such a thing as working out too hard. Despite what Hollywood might tell you, you really can be too thin and too fit. Too much strenuous exercise causes inflammation in the body and doesn’t just damage joints – it also damages the skin and breaks down collagen and elastin. What you should aim for while exercising – instead of racing the guy next to you on the treadmill – is to gently increase the blood flow to your organs, stimulate your metabolism and help your body eliminate toxins so you leave the gym look radiant, rather than run-down. Here are 5 forms of moderate exercise that will help you get – and stay – younger.
Elliptical. You don’t have to measure up to the meatheads at your gym. Hop on the elliptical with a magazine (or maybe a book – hint, hint) and spend 30-40 minutes moving at a moderate pace of 3.5 – 5 miles per hour.
Yoga. Tap into your spiritual side at a Hatha yoga class that focuses on deep breathing and stretching. This will do wonders for oxygenating your muscles and detoxing your system.
Pilates. Pilates is a wonderful way to both gently strengthen and stretch the body. Our good friend and Broadway actress-turned-Pilates instructor Debi Monahan created a simple, anti-aging Pilates workout for us that you can do anywhere. It is outlined on pages 205-211 of Younger.
Stroller Pushing. This one’s for all you moms out there. Having little ones makes it tough enough to sneak away to the gym, so do yourself a favor and kill two birds with one…well, stroller. Pushing a stroller a mile and a half in 30 minutes is an ideal moderate work out. Even better: do it while catching up with a friend. You’ll get some added stress relief from spending time with a pal.
Swimming Laps. If you have any sort of injury, swimming is an excellent form of exercise. You’ll get a great cardio workout without all the pressure on your joints. Swimming is also very meditative and great for reducing mental as well as physical tension!
Oh, and one last thing: if you choose to exercise outdoors, don’t forget your sunscreen!
When it comes to staying youthful, there are tons of little tweaks you can make to your lifestyle to keep aging at bay. And, many of them aren’t too arduous. Here are 5 quick and easy tips from Dr. Lancer’s best-selling book Younger that you can implement today:
Move. You don’t have to hit SoulCycle five times a week or train for a marathon. (In fact, working out too intensely can actually speed up aging.) But you do need to make moderate exercise a part of your routine. So take a long walk with a friend, attend a yoga class or go for a bike ride. If you can’t get outdoors, spend 30 minutes doing a workout video or using resistance bands at home.
Pass the salt. Well, what we really mean is pass on the salt. Too much salt causes inflammation in the body and can exacerbate acne. Try seasoning your food with fresh lemon, lime or roasted garlic instead. This week, Dr. Lancer shared a list of the foods he suggests avoiding with StyleBistro. Following these guidelines, by the way, caused him to lose 60 lbs – no joke. Click here for the complete list.
Check your water levels. Staying properly hydrated means more than just downing your eight glasses of H2O each day. If you drink coffee or alcohol, make sure you drink at least one extra glass of water to offset each cocktail or caffeinated beverage. And fill your plate with foods rich in Omega-3s, which help to keep skin supple.
Sleep in. Now you have a valid excuse to hit the snooze button. Your body repairs itself while you sleep, so make sure you’re getting enough and give yourself those extra few minutes of precious shut-eye in the morning whenever you can. If you’re a morning person, move your bedtime up a half hour and catch some extra nighttime zzzzs.
Change up your sleep position. You know when you wake up with creases from your bedding criss-crossing your face? Well, when you sleep in the same position every night, your cheek, jawline, and neck are pushed against the pillow, causing your skin to be folded or creased for several hours. Over the years, those folds become etched into your skin to form sleep lines. So alternate the side you sleep on, or better yet, sleep on your back.
Wanna get even younger-looking? Then pick up a copy of Dr. Lancer’s ultimate anti-aging guide today!
