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subscribe to beauty counter blog via RSSEat Your Way To Better Skin
February 3, 2012 1:40 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I’ve always heard that chocolate and cheese can cause breakouts. Is that true—and more importantly, are there any foods that are considered anti-acneic or antiaging?
I believe there is definitely a connection between acne and dairy. Dairy causes spikes in certain pimple-producing hormones (the various forms of testosterone or androgens) and insulin. Another lesser-known problem is difficulty digesting [the protein] casein from cow’s milk. When casein is not properly digested, it gets into your blood and the immune system reacts, causing inflammation, which can then lead to acne. Someone prone to acne should try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet and stay away from dairy, sugar, and processed foods in particular, but also gluten and factory-farmed meats. Eat whole foods—fruits, vegetables, especially leafy green ones, and anti-inflammatory fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. They can have almond, rice, coconut, and hemp milk instead of cow’s milk. They should also take a probiotic, which helps reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne. Sometimes a zinc supplement (30 mg of zinc citrate a day) can help, too.
A lot of the same holds true for aging. Sugar and processed foods are the most aging foods. So a similarly anti-inflammatory diet will have great antiaging effects for the skin and also help reduce aches, pains, and fatigue; your energy will improve and you will look and feel younger.
In the nearly 30 years since Dr. Frank Lipman landed in New York from his native South Africa, he has established himself as a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. He founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in 1992, has two wellness-minded books under his belt (Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again and Total Renewal: Seven Key Steps to Resilience, Vitality and Long-Term Health)—not to mention countless acolytes: High-profilers like Donna Karan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all keep him on speed dial. His latest venture, out this month, is Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a collection of supplements and nutritional cleansing products.
Fad Or Fact: Dr. Frank Lipman Talks Wellness Trends
February 2, 2012 2:23 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
There has been a lot of talk lately about taking B12 shots for energy, eating chia seeds to curb appetite, and juicing as a way of life. I’m curious if these health trends are just fads or if there is some long-lasting legitimacy to their purported benefits?
Vitamin B12 is definitely beneficial. If your vitamin B12 levels are low, this is essential for boosting them and increasing energy. I also often give B12 shots to patients who have totally normal B12 levels and they often feel extra-energized from that as well. As for chia seeds, I’m not sure if they curb appetite per se, but since they do expand and swell in your stomach, they will leave you feeling less hungry. But regardless, they are totally safe and beneficial for overall health, so I’m a big fan. And juicing is great, but you have to be aware of your ingredients. Focus on getting a lot of alkalizing green veggies in your juice, such as cucumber, celery, and leafy green vegetables. You can add some apple, pear, lemon, and ginger to sweeten it, but be careful not to overdo it with fruit in your juices as they are very high in sugar.
In the nearly 30 years since Dr. Frank Lipman landed in New York from his native South Africa, he has established himself as a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. He founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in 1992, has two wellness-minded books under his belt (Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again and Total Renewal: Seven Key Steps to Resilience, Vitality and Long-Term Health)—not to mention countless acolytes: High-profilers like Donna Karan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all keep him on speed dial. His latest venture, out this month, is Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a collection of supplements and nutritional cleansing products.
tags: Dr. Frank Lipman
Dr. Frank Lipman On Pill-Popping Like A Pro
February 1, 2012 12:39 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
With so many beauty-from-the-inside-out pills on the market these days, are there certain supplements that you would recommend every woman should have in her diet, no matter what?
Yes, there are supplements I recommend everyone should take on a daily basis. First, a good multivitamin to get the vitamins and minerals that we all require and are difficult to get from diet alone—even if it’s the most healthy diet! Fish oil is a good source of essential fatty acids, which most people are deficient in; probiotics for the beneficial bacteria that allow for a healthy balance of microflora in the gut, which is essential for optimal health; and finally vitamin D, because studies show that as many as three out of four Americans suffer from a deficiency. Vitamin D is involved in making hundreds of enzymes and proteins and is necessary for hundreds of vital functions crucial for preserving health and preventing disease. To make it really easy for people, I put all of these supplements into single-serving daily packets called the Daily Dose.
In the nearly 30 years since Dr. Frank Lipman landed in New York from his native South Africa, he has established himself as a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. He founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in 1992, has two wellness-minded books under his belt (Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again and Total Renewal: Seven Key Steps to Resilience, Vitality and Long-Term Health)—not to mention countless acolytes: High-profilers like Donna Karan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all keep him on speed dial. His latest venture, out this month, is Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a collection of supplements and nutritional cleansing products.
Dr. Frank Lipman Talks Better Beauty Sleep
January 31, 2012 1:02 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
My sleep cycle has been abysmal of late; either I can’t get any shut-eye or the sleep I do get is restless and I wake up feeling unsatisfied. How can I sleep better without resorting to pharmaceuticals?
In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, getting enough restful sleep is the most important thing you can do for your health, and to look and feel your best. But it’s estimated that up to 70 percent of Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. You need 7 to 9 hours to let you body repair and heal. And good-quality sleep is just as important. That doesn’t come from sleeping pills; they just mask the problem but don’t address the underlying issues.
Here, Dr. Lipman’s favorite natural, drug-free sleep-better tips to help improve your complexion, energy, and overall health:
1. Limit bedroom activities
There are only two things you should do in bed, and they both begin with the letter “S.” Conduct all other activities, like watching TV, working on your laptop, and reading, elsewhere. Your bedroom should be a peaceful, distraction-free oasis that’s completely conducive to unwinding, resting, and sleeping.
2. Keep it dark
Though we may not realize it, even with the lights out, most of our bedrooms glow with the flicker of seemingly innocuous little lights blinking, flashing, and distracting our sleep, like charging phones, sleeping laptops, and light-up alarm clocks. Banish them from the bedroom or cover the lighting mechanisms with a bit of electrical tape.
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Dr. Frank Lipman’s Breakfast Of Champions
January 30, 2012 12:59 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I am a total breakfast failure: I either skip it or carbo load. Can you offer up some guidance for how I can start my day on a better track?
You want to start the day with protein, good fats, and some high-quality carbs. I think a breakfast smoothie is the perfect rhythm-restoring, nutritious, delicious, and efficient way. My patients are always telling me how they go to bed at night dreaming of their morning smoothie. Smoothies are easy on the digestive system, so the body doesn’t need to work to break down the food and nutrients. Digestion takes up a lot of energy, so by partially resting it, you can save on energy that can be used elsewhere. And though it seems unusual, avocados are a great smoothie ingredient. They add a wonderful creamy texture, plus healthy fats and magnesium, and they have less sugar than bananas. I’m also a big fan of my new Recharge . It’s a blend of whey protein and nutrient-dense greens designed to boost energy and revitalize your system any time you are feeling exhausted or depleted. The whey protein comes from grass-fed cows for optimal purity, and helps build lean muscle mass and speed muscle recovery, which also makes it great post-workout. And it’s infused with organic, nutrient-rich greens for a healthy dose of veggies in every shake.
Dr. Lipman’s Favorite Smoothie Recipe
Greena-Colada Avocado Smoothie
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup coconut water (or if you can’t find it, use almond milk or plain water)
1/4 avocado
1 packet Recharge
1/2 to 1 tbsp coconut oil
4 ice cubes
A native of South Africa, New York-based Dr. Frank Lipman is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. The founder of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, Dr. Lipman has two wellness-minded books under his belt—not to mention countless high-profile acolytes: Donna Karan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all keep him on speed dial. His latest venture—Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a collection of supplements and nutritional cleansing products—is out this month.
tags: Donna Karan, Dr. Frank Lipman, Eleven Eleven Wellness, Gwyneth Paltrow, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Hitting The Gym While Cleansing: Good Idea, Or Bad Idea?
December 30, 2011 1:12 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
What’s the opinion in the fitness community about exercising while cleansing? Are the two mutually exclusive or do they work well in tandem together?
It depends on the cleanse. I have tried many. Recently, I’ve been liking the Ritual Cleanse, which has a pre-workout and post-workout drink along with six bottles (8 total) that you drink every couple of hours for three days or more (there are various programs). I worked out during this cleanse. The only cleanse I did not work out during was the first three days of the Master Cleanse—which I personally wouldn’t do again. I do believe in cleansing—it helps us get realigned with eating right if we’ve been “bad” and it gives our colons a chance to clean out a bit; we change the oil in our cars, why not clean our systems out? But it’s important to listen to your body. The first few days of the Master Cleanse I was wiped out and thought it would have been dangerous to lift weights. After day three (it’s a ten day cleanse) I was much better and resumed. For the remainder of the ten days I worked out and had no problems.
There are many cleanses out there and I think in the name of keeping our bodies fit it’s good to do them a couple times a year. But it is important to remember that it’s not a weight loss trick. If you’re doing it to lose weight you’re fooling yourself. Even if you do [lose weight], when it’s over and you resume eating as you did you’ll simply gain the weight back.
As the director of curriculum and founder of Barry’s Bootcamp, Barry Jay has been sculpting some of the best bodies in the biz since launching his revolutionary exercise concept in West Hollywood, Calif., in 1998. Billed as “an efficient and fun workout in a nightclub party environment,” the combination of interval cardiovascular routines and strength training has spawned an international movement—and eight locations worldwide.
Go Barefoot, Or Go Home?
December 29, 2011 12:51 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
When running, where exactly should I be falling on my feet? Is there any validity to all those barefoot running sneakers that reportedly help train you to run more ergonomically?
There’s a lot to be said about [running] form—many articles have been written [on the subject]—because people’s feet vary whether they point inward, outward or straight. I land striking down mid-foot and I don’t change the way my feet point—it’s more important that my knees are naturally forward. It’s also key to not bounce—I glide—looking straight ahead, shoulders back, chest up, back straight, stride open, hands relaxed, eyebrows and jaw relaxed. Runners sneaker stores, like Phidippides in Encino, CA, [have] you run in the parking lot and they help you find the right sneaker for your feet. I have not used the barefoot running sneakers (yet) but the few people I know who take classes while wearing them swear by them.
As the director of curriculum and founder of
tags: Barry Jay, Barry's Bootcamp
To Eat, Or Not To Eat And Run
December 28, 2011 1:12 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I find I need an extra boost of energy before physical activity, and I’m wondering what kind of meals are good pre-workout—and how long I should wait between eating and exercising.
This changes with each person, and you’ll need to experiment with what works best. Some people (like me) can’t eat at all. They get nauseated or cramps or just feel bloated. Others need something or they feel weak or light-headed. I suggest a bowl of oatmeal, maybe a banana—an hour before a workout. If you do this and find that you’re someone who can’t “eat and run,” then try two hours before—or two-and-a-half; maybe that’ll be long enough.
As the director of curriculum and founder of Barry’s Bootcamp, Barry Jay has been sculpting some of the best bodies in the biz since launching his revolutionary exercise concept in West Hollywood, Calif., in 1998. Billed as “an efficient and fun workout in a nightclub party environment,” the combination of interval cardiovascular routines and strength training has spawned an international movement—and eight locations worldwide.
tags: Barry Jay, Barry's Bootcamp
Working Out At Work: It Can Be Done
December 27, 2011 1:34 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I’ve been chained to my desk for the better part of the past few months and am wondering if there are any exercises I can do at my office, while pretty much stationary, to stay in shape.
Sure. I would of course give yourself a quick life check—you shouldn’t be chained to your desk. That being said, even a brisk 20-minute walk outside for a break would be something good for you physically and mentally. If you have room in your office, get some free weights—light ones—and you can grab a set of arms (biceps, triceps, shoulders) between calls and meetings. You can always drop and do sets of push-ups between calls and meetings as well. A set of 25 push-ups doesn’t take that long, and eight sets throughout the day is 200 more push-ups than you’ve been doing! I would get a resistance band as well. Those things are great.
As the director of curriculum and founder of Barry’s Bootcamp, Barry Jay has been sculpting some of the best bodies in the biz since launching his revolutionary exercise concept in West Hollywood, Calif., in 1998. Billed as “an efficient and fun workout in a nightclub party environment,” the combination of interval cardiovascular routines and strength training has spawned an international movement—and eight locations worldwide.
tags: Barry Jay, Barry's Bootcamp
Dr. Amy Wechsler Gets The Itch Out
December 23, 2011 1:28 pm
This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I have particularly reactive skin and sometimes it gets itchy when I get nervous. It can erupt into hives—or my cheeks will flush. I’ve been treated with prednisone in the past, but I’m wondering if there is another way to relieve these symptoms going forward.
When people get anxious, the adrenaline surge brings more blood to the surface of the skin, and you get a flush—the blood vessels just dilate and you turn red. For some people, this is also accompanied with a histamine release, and that causes itching and hives. For that, we usually just prescribe an antihistamine and if there’s a particularly stressful period of time, you can take those daily. They’re over-the-counter now—something like Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin. The nervousness—and there’s usually palpitations that go along with it—often comes around public speaking or a social phobia, and if it happens a lot, we prescribe beta-blockers. You still feel anxious, but you won’t vasodilate and bring more blood to the skin. I always have patients try that at home first, though, because even though I prescribe a very low dose, you can get tired and feel a little dizzy.
Some people need to be on an SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) like a Lexipro or a Prozac or Zoloft if it’s a daily thing. Wellbutrin is another antidepressant that’s also a good antianxiety medication. Rarely, patients take a benzodiazepine like a Xanax or Ativan or Klonopin.
I’ve also sent patients for biofeedback, where you go into a little lab and you’re set up with electrodes and it really shows you how you can decrease your own heart rate and your breathing rate by doing relaxation techniques—like rhythmic breathing and imagery and all sorts of neat things. It’s really interesting to learn about your body and different ways to control it.
One of only two physicians in the U.S. board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry, Dr. Amy Wechsler understands not only patients’ emotional states, but also the impact they can have on the outer surface. A specialist in the fundamental connection between the mind and body, Dr. Wechsler literally wrote the book on the subject. A frequent contributor to nationally recognized television programs and magazines, she has a private practice in New York.
tags: Dr. Amy Wechsler, Skincare
