Beauty deeper than skin deep

 The double punch for beauty

by EVE MARX

They say beauty’s only skin deep and what counts is what’s within, but if your complexion is marred with dark spots, fine lines, or rosacea or rough skin, you’re probably feeling less than beautiful, and that hurts your self esteem. Fortunately, you can remedy these unattractive but not life threatening medical health problems with the help of a skillful and licensed medical aesthetician. Two unique services offered by a local med spa and a beauty bar done in tandem have produced excellent results combating the signs of too much sun and simple aging. I call them the Double Punch.

Kristen Evans is the new skin specialist at kdstudio in Katonah, a beauty bar. While the store specializes in hypoallergenic, non-animal tested and fragrance free skin potions and condiments, they also offer a variety of facials and natural tanning options. Among the newest offerings of facials is a procedure called dermaplaning, a somewhat controversial but increasingly popular with celebrities specialty Ms. Evans is licensed to implement. Dermaplaning is essence is shaving your face. It’s done with a surgical blade (yes, you read that right: it’s a scalpel) by a trained professional. Dermaplaning helps eliminate wrinkles, scarring,  reduces hyperpigmentation,  and it does remove every speck of hair on your face. That blond peach fuzz that no laser hair removal will make a dent in? Dermaplaning will get rid of it, and for a long time.

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I tried the process. I had been getting facials for years, and not just soothing, smoothing ones that leave you relaxed and glowing. I was prepared for some ouchiness since I’m one of those people who don’t think a facial is complete until my blackheads are extracted. During the dermaplaning, the blades glided smoothly over my face. Dermaplaning or blading as it is sometimes called, removes the outermost layers of dead skin, leaving what’s underneath immediately more smooth and supple. Appearance and tenderness afterwards varies from individual to individual. Some people leave the treatment and immediately apply their favorite cosmetics. My own skin was rather red and tender, even though for years I’ve been told my skin is thick.

During the dermaplanning process, the aesthetician gently scrapes what is most commonly a No. 10 scalpel along the surface of the skin, using short, brisk strokes. The sensation is not unpleasant. Afterwards Ms. Evans showed me a pile of scraped off, wafer-thin papery bits. Because the procedure is considered non-ablative, there is no cutting of the flesh. I was advised afterwards to not engage in my usual exfoliating rituals (I am a fan of scrubs of all descriptions) because the new skin was so delicate.

It was Ms. Evans suggestion to follow up the dermaplaning fairly swiftly with a photofacial, another skin rejuvenating procedure I told her I’ve been doing on and off for two years. Photofacials are a proven, effective method of reducing the signs of aging and sun damage on the face, neck and hands. It is a pulsed light procedure to  rejuvenate the skin by stimulating the production of the body’s own collagen and elastin. The procedure eliminates broken capillaries, minimizes fine lines, shrinks enlarged pores, and is one of the few proven methods to treat facial spider veins. While the tool used is always a pulsed light laser, age of the equipment does make a difference. Bellava MedAesthetics & Spa in Bedford Hills uses the Artisan system from Palomar, the leading generation of cosmetic lasers.

Ms. Evans suggestion to have a photofacial within a few days of the dermaplaning was a good one, because the photofacial, she said, would be doubly effective. With less layers of dead epidermis to penetrate, the laser could go deeper and be more curative. Anne Gentner Hughes is the photofacial expert at Bellava. She concurred with Ms. Evans. I scheduled an appointment for the photofacial four days after the dermaplaning.

While I’ve been having photofacials for quite some time, they never hurt like they did following dermaplaning. My skin was much more sensitive and every pulsed light pinprick really pricked, especially where the most dark sunspots I was trying to get rid off occurred on the left side of my jaw and my upper lip. Afterwards, Ms. Hughes handed me an iced roller to run up and down my sore chin and cheeks. 

Ms. Hughes and Bellava were adamant about after care. I received directions both written and verbal. A mild sunburn like sensation was to be expected that could last anywhere from 2 hours to 3 days. I could expect some mild swelling. Black lesions (the lasered sun spots) might even appear worse than usual for a few days. I was advised not to scratch at them, or pick. Some scabbing was not to be unexpected. I was to avoid using any hair removal process for several days, to avoid direct sunlight, and use at least a #30 SPF.

Unaware and unprepared how ugly I’d look for a few days (more like a week), at first I was dismayed by the Double Punch treatment. The black spots got even blacker and refused to be covered by make up. Then on Day 6 the spots began flaking off, and with a slight abrading with a washcloth, were erased. The redness disappeared, as did the slight swelling and touch of soreness. The fun and gratifying part was when people began telling me how great I looked, and asked what I did to make my facial skin look at least 10 years younger than it is.

It’s been six weeks since I had the Double Punch treatment and I’m extremely pleased. If blades scare you, Bellava recommends substituting dermablading for one of the VI or chemical peels offered there. The VI peel is blend of powerful ingredients including vitamin C and salicylic acid. It tackles a wide range of skin issues from uneven tone, to acne, to age spots. The spa also offers two different chemical peels; the Obagi Blue Peel, which contains trichloroacetic acid; and the D’Vine Wine Jessner Peel which contains lactic acid resorcinol, salicylic acid, raspberry and wine extract. But if you’re not afraid of the blade, submit to the scalpel treatment offered by the highly trained Kristen Evans at kdstudio. Like I said, I fell asleep on the table. It was that relaxing.

In the House - TownVibe Bedford - March/April 2012

In the House - TownVibe Bedford - March/April 2012

The predator in the woods

The predator in the woods

Riding my horse o’er hill and dale over the Memorial Day weekend, I could not help  marveling at the natural beauty of where we live. In addition to the extraordinary homes and great estates, the horse farms, the beautifully maintained dirt roads, the picture perfect New England villages and greens, all around are natural wonders including wildflowers, a graceful canopy of trees; the calling of birds, the breathtaking sighting of owls and hawks, and deep in the deciduous forest, thrilling if annoying glimpses of Bambi and his numerous brethren devouring the undergrowth. Sometimes as I am riding along, I have to pinch myself. What luck it was in St. Barth’s so many years that I met a couple who rented a cottage on Pea Pond who told me about the area in such rapturous tones.

And yet, of late, a disturbing darkness is marring the loveliness. While some people have preoccupied themselves talking about the latest celebrities who might be calling Katonah/Bedford home (everyone knows about Blake and Ryan, but another Ryan might also be coming on board), in other circles people are worried and nervous, asking what the heck is going on. There has been an alarming uptick of violent and invasive crime. In recent months there have been two home invasions where people were tied up. There have been a rash of break ins and burglaries, including one where the homeowners were in the house. Last week in Lake Katonah a woman was shot by her neighbor who has an arsenal of guns. A barn housing chickens was burned to the ground. Cars have been broken into in broad daylight on a popular walking road. Mary Kennedy died by hanging. And last, but not least, a young woman walking her dog was savagely attacked in the woods behind St. Matthews.

The police aren’t saying much about these incidents because they are under investigation. Press releases from the station have confirmed only the most bare bones of info. And while many people are going about their business, enjoying their blissful days, every day someone tries to talk to me about these upsetting scenarios. Some people are shocked and in disbelief. They say how can this happen here. A Journal News reporter calling me for a quote implied that violent crime is out of character in Bedford. I scoffed when she said this. In addition to all the white collar crime and financial schemes, violent behavior is no stranger here. The public has a short memory. I recalled to her the Sperry murders that took place in the ‘70’s. Six or seven years ago in North Salem a  man murdered his sister and the family handy man. Two years ago a mentally unstable woman decided to stab her nieces. Less than a year ago a man bludgeoned his wife and shot his two young kids. If you choose to only notice the quaint notices in the Record Review police blotter about lost dogs, rabid raccoons, and shoplifters, you’re pulling the wool over your eyes.  Or that’s what I think.

I called the police to discuss the attack in the woods. Of all the terrible things that have happened, this one distresses me most. Like many others, I live for my time in the woods. I love the trail system and the symphony of nature and the chance to see untamed animals. And while I’ve always been aware of the predators, the foxes, the coyotes, and hawks, I didn’t give much thought to human predators. That innocence was shattered with the assault on that young girl. The police have been circumspect about what happened, but I have it on good authority she was badly hurt.

I admit to frustration there is still no police artist’s rendering of the alleged assailant, or signage on the trails warning joggers, walkers and riders to look out. The Bedford Riding Lanes Association took the brave initiative to send their membership a message about not riding alone. Lt. Jeffrey Dickan of the Bedford Police Department said people should not walk in the woods wearing headphones and to be aware of their surroundings.. He advised when parking in a lot at night to check the back seat and under the car. He mentioned the desolate and lonely stretches on the bike trails.

A dog walker told me about some signs the Mt. Kisco police have posted in their parks about coyotes grabbing and killing off leash dogs. A coyote hurts a dog and the police post a warning, she said. So why aren’t people better warned about a sexual assailant? It seemed a fair question. Meanwhile, take nothing for granted. Use your home security. Familiarize yourself with the panic button on the key to your car.  And keep your wits about you, especially in the woods.

What's with all the spitting?

What’s with all the spitting?
I was talking to a woman the other day about her use of porn movies as training films to awaken her to new things in the bedroom. So what have you learned, I said, ever curious. Well, spitting, my friend said. I do that a lot now. That’s hot.
Spitting, I said, somewhat incredulous. Spitting, to me, is nothing new. I first noticed it when I was reviewing adult films in the early ‘90’s, which is so Last Century. I suppose you could almost call spitting Old School. But this was a nice suburban lady I was talking to, and I realized she probably was new to watching porn, so spitting to her was unique and original. What she likes about it, she said, was that spitting on a cock, or having her vagina or rectum spat on seemed really dirty and nasty, nasty sex being her obsession. Her one question/problem to me was how did the porn performers manage to have so much spit. How do they have that much saliva? she asked.
I told my friend that a lot of the spit you see in a porn movie is like styled food. In other words, it’s not real, or it’s been enhanced by an artificial spit substance. That’s why spit on film it’s always so viscous and foamy, I added, knowing all the tricks of behind the scenes. I reminded her that spitting was not a romantic act; in fact, in some states, spitting is a crime. It’s considered a kind of assault, and not so long ago in Florida, a woman who spit on someone was even charged with a hate crime.
If it’s down and dirty sex you’re after, you can’t go wrong with spit. It’s aggressive. It’s assertive. And it’s the world’s cheapest lubricant. Don’t have enough natural saliva to make it work? So far no sex toy or aid manufacturer has marketed anything resembling artificial spit. And you do know silicone based lubes taste terrible and shouldn’t be put in your mouth! The solution is simple glycerin which can be purchased in any drugstore. Not only does glycerin have the added bonus of being a natural tooth cleaner, it also has an antibacterial potential. That makes using it a win-win. So spit away.
Eve Marx
Eve Marx is a professional ‘sexpert,’ and author of “101 Things You Didn’t Know About Sex,” “What’s Your Sexual IQ?” and “The Goddess Orgasm.” Log on to her website or check out her blog.

"50 Shades of Grey" sends a wrong message

Lately I’ve been barraged by women asking me what I think about “50 Shades of Grey,” the erotic novel the New York Times deemed fit to write about on their front page. As a professional sex writer, the assumption is I’ve read the book and love it. It’s undoubtedly unfair for me to be so opinionated about a book I’ve barely skimmed; what fascinates me the phenomena of so many women embracing an open fantasy about sexual subjugation.

“50 Shades of Grey,” is the story of Ana, a young, unsophisticated girl who, surprise, surprise, succumbs to the attentions of an attractive older man. It’s basically “The Story of O,” a novel about dominance and submission first published in 1954 by French author Anne Desclos, writing under the pen name Pauline Reage. In “50 Shades,” the man, called “Grey,” is consumed by a need to be controlling. As he and Ana’s relationship progresses, Ana discovers a taste for punishment and discipline.

Thirty five years ago in her ground-breaking, nonfiction book, “My Secret Garden,” feminist author Nancy Friday who writes about female sexuality and liberation, noted that a significant number of women entertain erotic fantasies of being raped and forced to perform sex acts against their will, which they enjoy despite their protests. Unfortunately, many women who have been raped for real are accused of having enjoyed the experience, if not having asked for it; for decades it wasn’t uncommon to call raped women whores, and allow accused rapists to roam free to assault and rape other women.

How you feel about “50 Shades of Grey,” could be construed as political. As a feminist who for years edited and wrote for sex magazines, I find myself upset and repelled by its message. In a restaurant the other night a young woman eagerly handed me her copy. She said she was only a third of the way through the book, but so far, found it thrilling. Skimming through the first few chapters, "Grey,” seemed a simple formula of chick lit crossed with romance genre. Then I got to an appendix which had a questionnaire inquiring what kinds of torture could be enjoyed/inflicted as a route to orgasm. The check off list included “biting,” “slapping,” “hitting,” and “nipple clamps,” the last a medieval tool of torture designed to wrest confessions from prisoners. Driving home from the restaurant, I wondered out loud if fans of Rick Santorum find the novel compelling because it reinforces those old traditions of feminine docility and men in power. From Santorum’s position, you could argue the story is almost biblical. And it’s not just Republicans. Explain to me how the same women who claim they stand for reproductive choice, and who don’t want men telling them what to do with their wombs, at the same time yearn to be controlled and dominated in the bedroom? Talk about a disconnect.

Another troubling thing about “50 Shades of Grey,” is that while the book is fiction, reality is not so far away. Right here in Pound Ridge, for years a man kept 3 women as sex slaves in his home before one escaped and he was brought to justice. The Northern Westchester Shelter and Hope’s Door and My Sister’s Place know all too well how many women in Westchester County are abused and subjugated by men who forcibly control them. The majority of domestic violence cases are never reported. With violence against women on the rise, I don’t think we need popular fiction to encourage it.

I’m not a prude. I’m all for sexy books. I’m a huge fan of John Updike, Phillip Roth, Erica Jong, Terry Southern, Henry Miller, Anais Nin, to name a few. I was practically weaned on Jackie Susanne and Jackie Collins. I still vividly recall the sexy passages from books like “Candy,” and “Boys and Girls Together,” and “The Sensuous Woman.” But none of those books had a theme of sexual violence.

Be careful for what you wish for, I say to women who fantasize about a sexy controlling master telling them what to do. You could find yourself like the heroine of another seductive, kinky novel, “9 ½ Weeks,” who after lovemaking stood in front of the bathroom mirror, applying ice to her split lip. “50 Shades of Grey,” is an important demonstration of the power and commerciality of ebooks, self-marketing and promotion. But as erotica, I find it scary.

http://www.record-review.com/record-review//Record-Review_022412_Auction_files/widget1_markup.html

http://www.record-review.com/record-review//Record-Review_022412_Auction_files/widget1_markup.html

Sans Gluten - TownVibe Bedford - March/April 2012

Sans Gluten - TownVibe Bedford - March/April 2012