What’s the Real Danger of Red Lipstick?

Gwen Stefani rocks her signature red lips. Although reports have surfaced that lip gloss may increase your chances of skin cancer somewhat (by reflecting the sun’s damaging UV rays), your lipstick does not seem likely to harm you, even when it does not say lead-free.  According to William I. Manton, professor of geosciences at the University of Texas at Dallas in the December 2007 Allure magazine, “The danger is negligible.”  In fact, even though the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics ordered an independent test of 33 lipsticks... read more

How to Evaluate a Skin Care Study

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With more and more readers subscribing (thank you!), I am always happy to hear from such well-informed, well-read men and women.  Recently, many of you have been forwarding me studies and asking me if I could report on them in-depth on the blog.  And while I am happy to oblige, I think that Chinese proverb applies best here: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Always remember:  Not all studies are created equal.  Not even all published studies.  For... read more

Vitamin D: What’s the Big D, Anyway?

Cornflakes are often enriched with vitamin D.

Cornflakes are often enriched with vitamin D. You know something is going on with a vitamin if it has become so fashionable Vogue is featuring it on its cover (February 2009, in case you’re looking). Sure enough, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements is currently reviewing its recommendations for vitamin D intake for adults, and no wonder: it seems that approximately half of us in the northeast simply aren’t getting enough vitamin D. An editorial in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that... read more

Product Review: Kiehl’s Highly Efficient Skin-Tone Corrector

  Without the requirement of FDA approval for many products, cosmetics companies can introduce new formulations and ingredients to the skin care market at an alarming rate.  In fact, MIT biologist and genetics researcher Dr. Leonard Guarante, Ph.D., states in the March 2009 Elle, “Beauty companies are able to get products on the market early because they’re not regulated by the FDA…In a way, they’re the vanguard.”  That’s clearly evident with Kiehl’s Highly Efficient Skin-Tone... read more

So Who’s Batting 1000?: Allergan Latisse vs. Marini Lash

Even in the midst of a troubled economic climate, some beauty products seem more like investments than indulgences.  For instance, the new eyelash serums hold the potential for market-breaking growth.  In fact, for the first time in cosmetics history, a product can make your lashes grow in a manner that is substantiated by controlled, published, peer-reviewed studies (Allergan Latisse, $120.00 for a 1-month supply).  Yet, a cult classic and beauty editor favorite, Marini Lash ($160.00 for a 6 month supply, Amazon.com) still has what it... read more

3 Recent Skin Care Controversies to Ignore…for Now

From Desperate Housewives to Brangelina, it seems that everyone loves a good controversy. And even the medical world is not exempt from being infected of a few of its own.  Here are some of the most recent shockers in the world of dermatology (and while there isn’t one misplaced stocking in sight, they’re still pretty juicy…): 1.  Sunscreen may increase free radical-induced damage (and signs of aging). In a 2006 study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Kerry Hanson et al. demonstrated for the three sunscreen... read more

Mono and Strep Throat

Dear Readers, It turns out that my lack of blog posts lately has not been due to apathy or laziness (thank goodness!), but it turns out that I have mono and strep throat. I have to get better, get caught up with medical school work, and then resume research before I am back to blogging full-time, but I am going to do my best to be back on my blogging feet soon. Thanks for understanding.  You’re all wonderful!  Take... read more