HEALTHY LOOKS
FACE-SAVING ALTERNATIVES

Article from: HEALTH Magazine, October 1998

These natural skin treatmens promise results withoug harsh chemicals or surgery.

HERBAL PEELS:

These gentler alternative to chemical peels work by drying the skin (chemicals burn through it). The secret:
a customized blend of desert herbs and other natural ingredients that's scrubbed into prepared skin for up
to 15 minutes. Two days later, the face turns brownish; on days three and four, skinflakes off, revealing a
fresh layer-much like what happens when a sunburn peels.
"I've seen very good results with acne-plagued and mature complexions, including smoother texture and more
even pigmentations," says Bella Schneider,owner of La Belle Day Spa in San Francisco. The procedure is
also suitable for dark skin, which can scar or discolor when chemicals like gylcolic acid are used. But doctors
says the results from herbal peels aren't as pronounced or as lasting as those from acid peels.
And like chemicals, herbs can sting. Expect to leave the salon with your face tender and red. A session is about $175.

COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE

Think of this as a 3,000 year old Chinese alternative to a facelift. An acupunctaurist places tiny needles on the face
and neck (with special attention to deep furrows like laugh and frown lines), as well as in positions below the knees
and elbows-favored points for balancing the body's "chi" or energy. The needles remain in place for 20 to 30
minutes, stimulating blood flow and relaxing facial muscles. Skin glows and wrinkles become a little less noticeable,
says David Bole, director of the Florida School of Acupuncture, and Oriental Medicine in Gainesville. Most
women will also see an improvement in skin tone, he says.
Acupuncture's not cheap (about $55 per session); for best results, plan on eight to ten visits with monthly follow-ups,
practitioners say. But it's virtually harmless, except for mild stinging when needles are inserted and occasional bruises.
To minimize these side effects, firnd an acupuncturist with training in cosmetic procedures, and avoid aspirin and
other blood-thinning drugs for 24 hours before a session.

OXYGEN FACIAL

This treatment, which promises to breathe new life into a dull complextion, has its origins in the hospital ward, where
oxygen tents and lotions are used to speed the healing of wounds. The facial itself is pretty standard; the difference is
in the final step: a 15-minute blast of oxygen.
Facialists insist the procedure works wonders on complexions damaged by sun and smoke, especially if clients follow
up at home with oxygen-enriched creams and cleansers. Doctors, though, doubt oxygen has any effect on healthy
skin. The facial does stimulate blood flow and the oxygen feels good, and that may be all you need to get glowing.
But at $85 or more per session, this trendy treatment gives less beauty for the buck than other facials.