The Gold Standard in Laser Hair Removal!

You may think that if you want to be hair free you're going to have to pay the price in terms of time commitment and discomfort. And you may even think, depending on your ethnicity, that the laser won't work on your type of skin.

That might have been the case with some of the laser hair removal systems on the market in the past. But there is a new, improved laser in town and it's addressing all of those previous concerns.

Rockledge Medspa at the Dermatology & Clinical Skin Care Center www.dermskin.com in Bethesda is now featuring the Duet, considered to be the most exciting innovation in laser hair removal in over 10 years. The Duet is especially efficient for large areas which now can take half the time or less than they did before. And of course the reduction in discomfort would be enough to win us over since we like to keep our suffering for beauty to a minimum!

This is the time of year to start the treatments so you'll be ready when shorts and beach weather are in full swing. With that in mind we spoke to Jennifer Whitman, a Physician's Assistant at the dermatology practice who also uses Duet to answer some of our basic questions about how it works:

Q: Can you tell us about the Duet laser hair removal system and what makes it better than some other systems?

A: This laser is different from other lasers for a few reasons. It uses a 810 nm wavelength which is the most specific wavelength to target hair pigment. It also is much less painful than other lasers because it uses a suction device to pick the skin up before the laser fires and this greatly reduces any discomfort. The suction device also improves the efficacy of the laser because it blanches any competing pigments in the the skin and brings the hair follicles closer to the laser.

Q: Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal with this system?

A: The laser can be used on more skin types than the majority of lasers currently in use. We can treat skin types I-IV. This includes very fair skin, European skin types, Hispanic, and East and South Asian Skin types. Although the Duet has been used in clinical trials on darker skin types (African Americas), our providers’ personal experiences with this laser have shown that some undesirable pigment disturbances have occurred with the Light Sheer, so we still treat darker skin with a Yag laser which has been very safe and effective. All hair lasers work by targeting brown pigment so none of the hair lasers can treat blond or white hairs because they lack pigment.

Q: How many sessions will it take for some of the most popular treatments like underarms, legs, bikini and back?

A: For underarms, bikini, arms, legs and back most patients will need an average of 6-8 treatments to achieve 80-90% reduction. Facial hair can require more treatments depending on ethnic background, genetics and hormonal factors.

Q: Are there any risks or side effects with this laser?

A: The Duet has very few side effects. There can be temporary redness, swelling, or discoloration of the treated areas.

Q: Is the hair removal permanent or will it require touch ups later on?

A: With enough treatments, the hair removal will be permanent. With every treatment, the patient has a permanent reduction in the amount of hairs, the coarseness of the hairs, and the rate that it re-grows. For all these reasons, this is a great option for people who are prone to ingrown hairs, “hair bumps” and discoloration from shaving, tweezing, and waxing. Recently we have seen a great increase in the number of male patients who are choosing laser hair removal of their facial hair as an alternative to daily shaving.

Q: What is the approximate cost for the most popular areas to be treated?

A: Cost of treatments varies according to size and location of areas treated so it is impossible to give a complete price list. Complimentary price consultations are available in our Med Spa.

Rockledge Medspa
6410 Rockledge Drive Suite #205
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-968-1200
www.dermskin.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Your Skinny Jeans Want You Back!

When is the last time you fit into your skinny jeans? You know, the ones you keep around just in case the weight fairy comes along and helps you drop that extra 15 or 20 pounds.

Well in this case the weight fairy's wand is the Isagenix cleanse and she landed at Body Elements www.body-elements.com where there is a program to give you all the support you need.

If you are ready to take action to drop those extra pounds you don't have to do it alone. Body Elements has organized a two week, group cleanse with the Isagenix Cleansing and Fat Burning System.

The program will begin next Monday, March 1st and they'll kick it off with a party this Sunday, February 28th.

Get a head start before the warm weather kicks in and the layers we've been hiding behind start coming off. Just being on the program for a few days will probably have an impact on the way you look and feel so think about what two weeks can accomplish!

You should literally bring those skinny jeans to the kick off party at Body Elements on Sunday where you'll get to sample the decadent chocolate that is a part of the Isagenix program, get a free body composition analysis and hear more about the program.

Then starting Monday you'll be on your way with all the free weekly coaching calls and daily inspirational emails you'll need to inspire, inform and transform.


On March 20th you'll celebrate your victory at Body Elements with all of the other Isagenix winners and losers so to speak...since you will probably have lost some pound and you just might fit into those jeans!



Listen to the upcoming podcast on www.beautyindc.com to hear more from the president of Body Elements and a client who has had amazing results from doing the Isagenix cleanse. You'll want to hear about the unbelievable benefits including an amazing result that you would never expect from a cleansing program.




Body Elements
8230 Old Courthouse Road
Suite 100
Vienna, VA 22182
703-356-6601
www.body-elements.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Merging Manicures and Digital Technology

It's all the rage in Hollywood. Beyonce had President Obama's picture printed on her nails and a gossip magazine recently had a "match the celebrity with their digital nail art" quiz.

It's one of those things that is hard to imagine until you see it. But luckily you can check out this latest high tech manicure trend locally at Qi Spa www.qispadc.com in Georgetown. The ArtPro Nail Printer http://www.cybernail.com/En/V6-main.htm was imported from China and is the only one of it's kind in our region.

In the past if you wanted nail art it was a painstaking and lenghy process which involved a manicurist painting the image on each nail. That process has been streamlined and simplified by digital technology that is amazing to experience.

Technology has now entered the manicure arena to offer an almost endless choice of images which are digitally imprinted on your nail in seconds. You can even have a picture taken on the spot of you or something you bring with you and that image can be on your nails in minutes. The process works on both real and fake nails.

The manicure begins with a nail buffing, base coat and special polish. Then you'll insert your fingers in the printer for the image you've chosen followed by a top coat. The manicure should last 7 to 10 days and is being offered at a special introductory price of $65 during the month of February.

Want a flag or patriotic design for Fourth of July...you'll have your choice! The possibilities for incorporating the manicure into special occasions like weddings, birthdays and holidays are endless.

Qi Spa
3106 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-333-6344
www.qispadc.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Red Hot Beauty For Valentine's Day

There seems to be a growing trend in making Valentine's Day a day to look hot for the one you love! There lots of specials on treatments to help you look and feel your best with the idea of making the 14th a day to remember all year long.

BeautyInDC.com www.beautyindc.com has rounded up some of the most unique and affordable services you might want to check out leading up to the big day:

Heart Tatoos and Couple's Massage--Qi Spa in Georgetown www.qispadc.com offers a double heart permanent makeup tatoo for $85. Wouldn't your partner be impressed if you surprised them with such an obvious display of your feelings!

With their new digital nail art printer, Qi Spa can put your lover's face or any image you bring in on your nails! It's all the rage in Hollywood and just in time for 2/14 you can have a very personalized manicure.

Qi is also offering a special on Couple's Massage but you better book it soon...this is a very popular way for couples to be pampered together with Yin oil known for it's sensual properties. Receive both massages with oil for the special price of $200.

Facial Fillers--Maybe you would like to plump up your pout to make a statement on the 14th and many spas/medispas and dermatologists have specials on the most popular dermal fillers.
Vitalia Medspa in Falls Church www.vitaliamedspava.com is offering $125 off a syringe of Juvederm Ultra or Restylane in February.

Dermatology & Clinical Skin Care Center in Bethesda www.dermskin.com has a current special that can save you up to $390 on the Restylane family of products with a special rebate. Visit http://www.RestylaneUSA.com/restylane_rewards.aspx
for all of the details.

Body Treatments--If you have a special outfit or piece of lingerie you've been saving for Valentine's Day you might be interested in a body slimming massage to smooth some lumps and rev up your metabolism. Body Elements in Vienna, VA www.body-elements.com is offering 50% off their Lipomassage by Endermologie treatments. Bring your friend, sister or co-worker and you can both enjoy this FDA approved body sculpting technique for half price. The regularly $150 treatment is just $75 as long as you purchase it by February 14th.

Facials--If you don't want to go as far as fillers or Botox but you would still like to improve your skin tone and texture for the big day, a facial can help soften fine lines and improve your skin's tone and texture. Skin Therapy, LLC in N.W. Washington www.myskintherapy.net offers a special on a one hour Hydrating facial and a free hand treatment to go with it. You'll get glowing skin and soft hands for your partner to hold on that special day all for $125.

Parma Spa in Vienna, VA www.parmaspa.com is offering 50% off a second treatment when you book a massage. So you can save over $70 on a Facial Peel, Microdermabrasion or Hydrating Facial with your massage and be relaxed and beautiful at the same time! But hurry the offer ends on 2/13/11.

It doesn't get any more decadent than a Chocolate Mousse Hydration facial from Laser Plus www.laserplus.biz in Vienna, VA. The masque from the Eminence Organics line has the richest, chocolate aroma you've ever smelled and will leave your skin soft and smooth and leave you feeling very sweet. Right now you can indulge for only $79 instead of the regular price of $99-$125 depending on the length and type of facial.

Events--Maybe you'll still be craving a sweet fix after the 14th so stop by the Rockledge Medspa www.dermskin.com in Bethesda on February 18th between 1 and 4pm and enjoy a chocolate fountain and strawberries with your treatment!

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

The Wellness/Beauty Connection

Atlantic Medical Wellness Center is unique in that not only can you get a full range of aesthetic services ranging from Botox to SmartLipo, but Medical Director Dr. Ben Gonzalez also addresses general health, age management and wellness issues. Issues like preventative health care and weight loss that can have a huge affect on how you look and feel from the inside out. You may have found that general practice physicians have been reluctant to focus on the reasons you're tired or overweight or suffering from hormonal imbalances.

But Dr. G as he is referred to, can do an assessment of your overall health and put you on the path to wellness with some wonderful side effects like weight loss, energy and glowing skin.

We addressed some common myths and concerns about issues that affect women of all ages and particularly as we hit our 40's and approach menopause.

Q: Dr. Gonzalez how do we know if we should be taking supplements and which ones to take?

A: First, go see a physician who knows how to correlate where your body is physiologically, interpret a full metabolic functional lab panel to what is optimal for you and use expert knowledge and experience in medicine, nutrition, and supplementation to manage your overall health. Second, look at any marketing claims concerning any supplement with a critical eye. If you are considering a supplement for whatever reason, take that supplement to an expert and see if the claims are legitimate or whether it may be useful to you. It is worth a consultation fee that may at least save you some money, at most, save you from a bad health outcome.

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center has also added added a new Anti-Oxidant scanner to their lab and for the low price of $25 can do a non-invasive, painless and accurate assessment of your nutritional status in 15 minutes.

Q: What about women who are approaching or experiencing menopause, is there one standard treatment for everyone?

A: Absolutely not. Each person needs individualized treatment based on lab results and symptoms.

Q: Are there specific tests that can tell you which hormones someone is deficient in?

A: There are many types of tests to determine the many types of hormones in our bodies. There are hair samples, skin, saliva and blood tests. For now the best tests are direct blood tests. There are specific types of blood tests that many physicians aren't aware of. Finding someone trained and experienced in hormone therapy is important. It's not always about the blood tests but correlating a person's symptoms and complaints with those tests. There are many diabetic and pre-diabetic and hypo and pre-hypothyroid people out there with "normal" lab tests. Remember, normal doesn't always mean optimal.

Q: Can we reverse the aging process with treatment?

A: No, sorry nothing reverses the aging process! You can however slow it down with good, healthy choices in exercise, nutrition and hormone balancing. Decreasing the risk of certain cancers such as colon, breast and prostate cancer is an important part of hormone balancing and optimizing. It's not about "anti-aging" or extending life. It's about improving the quality of life.

Atlantic Medical Wellness Center
12200 Tech Road Suite #102
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-637-2721
www.atlantismedispa.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Beauty Resolutions I Can Keep

They say the best way to sabotage your resolutions for the new year is to make them difficult to keep. If you try to change too much you may be setting yourself up for failure. So I thought about the really simple things I could do that would have the most impact. Here are some ideas that might lay the groundwork for your health, beauty and well being in 2011!

1) Wash my face every single night before I go to sleep.

We are all guilty of going to sleep with our makeup on sometimes...we've had a long day and are just too tired to properly cleanse our faces. This year I'm going to make an effort to do it no matter what so I'll make it easy by keeping a great cleanser nearby...I'll also keep some of those easy face wipes near my bed so there is absolutely no excuse. There are some inexpensive and effective ones at your local drug store by Neutrogena, Lumene and Garnier Fructis. And this resolution also leads to another we are hearing more and more about regarding our health, weight and the way we look--I'll do my best to get 8 hours of sleep a night!

2) I'll drink more water.

I read that we should calculate half of our body weight and drink that many ounces of water a day to keep our bodies hydrated. It's so incredibly simple and has so many benefits on our skin, metabolism and energy level. Straight water gets boring so I usually add some lemon or a splash of flavored Vitamin Water or juice to make it more palatable...but be careful as there is a lot of sugar in juice so try to keep it as pure as possible.

3) I'll have my eyebrows professionally done.

Whether they are unruly and need to be waxed or are sparse and need to be tinted, getting your eyebrows done professionally makes a huge difference. Sure we can all pluck them and fill them in with pencil but it's hard to duplicate the polished lookwe get from a pro. It's a relatively inexpensive service that can have a lot of impact on your looks!

4) I'll throw away old makeup.

Have you hung on to old lipsticks and eyeshadows thinking you'll use them someday? I used to think that makeup could last for years but the pros say that certain products have a short shelf life and are a breeding ground for germs, especially the ones that come into contact with our eyes and lips. Mascara probably had the shortest window of time for use and you should throw it away after 3 months, period. Foundation can last up to a year if you keep fingers away from the bottle and use a sponge to apply. Eye pencils can last longer if you sharpen before each use and powders, concealers and lip balms can actually last a few years since they don't contain water. Check to make sure nothing has a bad odor or has changed color or consistency. Oh and well we're at it let's make it a habit to clean our makeup brushes on a regular basis too. Sally Beauty sells a cleaner by Face Secrets under $6 and Sephora has a product in their own collection for $6 that you can use daily. Not only will they rid your brushes of bacteria but they'll extend the life of your brushes at the same time so they're a good investment.

5) I'll use a sunscreen daily.

We hear it constantly--if we want to protect against skin cancer and aging we have to use a sunscreen with at least a 15 spf, even if we are just exposed to the sun for short periods of time. So many of the moisturizers out there in all price points do include an spf so choose the best one for your skin type and apply more often if you exercise outdoors or will be sweating. And don't forget your lips--a lip balm with spf is a good idea too as our lips are also vulnerable to the suns damaging rays.

6) I'll pamper myself more.

This might be the easiest resolution to keep! Taking the time out for a massage, facial or mani-pedi keeps us sane when things get really stressful and out of control. So be good to yourself and it will probably pay off in the way you look and feel!

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Winter Beauty Strategies

Based on the weather so far this November and December we might be in for a frigid winter in the Washington area even if we don't get the "snowmeggedon" of last winter.

The freezing temps and cold wind takes it's toll on our skin, lips and hair and you might already be feeling like your skin is dry and flaky, your lips are parched and your hair is brittle and flyaway.

You'll probably have to step up your beauty routine and bring in the "big guns" so to speak to give them extra attention.

BeautyInDC.com has done the research for you and found the highest tech products to address the most basic problems we face this time of year.

If your skin is feeling irritated from the elements it might go against basic instincts to use an exfoliator because you might be afraid of causing more irritation. But any esthetician or skin pro will tell you that you need to remove the dead skin for your products to be more effective. And there are some exfoliators on the market that are more gentle but just as effective.


Kate Somerville is known for enhancing the skin of Hollywood's most famous actressses before walking the red carpet. But her products are available to anyone and her exoliants always get top reviews. For winter her ExfoliKate Gentle ($65) will leave the most sensitive or delicate skin refined and ready for hydration. The product even scored an Allure Beauty Editors 2010 Best of Beauty Award. Kate's Quench Hydrating Mask ($45) would be a perfect follow up treatment to give extra boost to skin that has been exposed to the harsh enviornment. They are available at www.katesomerville.com.


L'Occitane is a brand known more for their soaps and scents and for their stores in the mall but they also feature a skin line. Their Ultra Rich Face Cream is just what it says--a dense and creamy formula that is rapidly absorbed and provides hydration for up to 24 hours. The price point is also reasonable at $38 and it is available at L'Occitane stores or at www.loccitane.com.





Our lips are extremely delicate under the best of circumstances but they are very hard to protect or cover up in winter. A simple lip balm in a stick may not be up to the task. And the same principle of exfoliation applies here too. The beauty of Ole Henriksen's African Red Tea Exfoliating Lip Salvation ($15) is that it multi-tasks to provide both of these treatments in one. Apparently red tea offers even more anti-oxidants than green or black tea so you're getting all of that protection as well as the hydrating properties of the product. You can find it at www.sephora.com.

Your hair may be reacting to the drastic change in temperatures from outside to inside and it might be static and flyaway in addition to being brittle. You'll need an intense mask or conditioning treatment to put the moisture back into your locks and prevent further damage Fekkai's Protein RX Reparative Treatment Mask ($29) is made for broken, brittle and weakened hair and would be a great weekly treatment to restore strengh and managablility to your hair. Find it at www.fekkai.com.



http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.