New technology + old science = amazing results

The American cosmetics market spends its resources on beautiful 16-year-old models, who look “air-brush” flawless in television commercials and magazine ads. They entices you with flashy packaging, pretty smells and expensive marketing.

by Linda Leibl — 

I love America; I could not imagine living anywhere else. But in many areas, our culture has perfected the art of what “does not work.” Look at our diets, eating habits and lifestyles, compared to those of Europeans. If you have ever traveled to Europe, you likely observed the difference between the appearance of their citizens and Americans, and their noticeably more positive attitude toward healthy longevity.

Europeans are way ahead of us, not only with regard to fashion, but also in skincare and all aesthetic areas. They use facial and body-care therapies, applications and modalities that are enhanced with pure, safe and beneficial herbal ingredients and botanicals. European skincare companies spend their money on research and development to create the highest grade of plant botanicals possible. They search for the purest forms of raw organic ingredients available and centuries-old remedies that have worked for generations in many cultures.

In contrast, the American cosmetics market spends its resources on beautiful 16-year-old models, who get paid buckets-full of money to look “air-brush” flawless in television commercials and magazine ads. In essence, the American beauty industry entices you with flashy packaging, pretty smells and expensive marketing.

The European market thinks differently. They would rather spend five years working on a product line, quietly researching and developing it to perfection. Then, they still may not reveal their process until they are sure they have developed it to the highest standards possible.

This may take more money, time, energy and risk up front; however, when their products are finally launched, they’re already perfected. Europeans’ fabulous products are unique and usually difficult for the average American consumer to obtain. One reason is that the European approach does not include flashy advertising or targeted marketing techniques to attract unsuspecting consumers.

European cosmetics companies have great integrity and sincere dreams of helping others experience great products. Founders and employees work side by side to create the most beneficial business environment for everyone. This, in turn, creates a positive atmosphere in which to create great products for the rest of the world. It is a great model of a working team working together.

Take the Swiss, for example. They are largely known for their breathtaking landscapes and precision watches, but few know about their unparalleled aesthetic standards regarding skincare and anti-aging. My research in aesthetics over the last 20 years has not uncovered a single product line that can deliver even half of what the Swiss offer. Others have come close, but the Swiss remain unmatched. I’m pleased to say that my clients have been open to trying new products, and every day they tell me how pleased they are with their choices.

Baby boomers are fighting back

If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are among a group that is fighting back. By now we know what we want and what we do not want regarding our health and appearances. One thing we should all want is to take charge of our aging process, now, rather than later.

To reverse your aging process, there are four areas to consider.

The first is diet. Most of us know about the SAD — Standard American Diet — which truly is sad. In the area of nutrition, we are either shaping up by exercising and watching what we put in our mouths or, like some, we have given up. My clients haven’t given up; they are fighting back — looking and feeling their very best.

The second consideration is hormonal balance. By now, we are familiar with wise alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). We are making our choices by looking into our souls and deciding what we can live with or die with.

Another cultural culprit is stress. Americans, driven by power and the almighty dollar, achieve dis-ease and death faster than many other modern cultures. Some even choose to hasten the process with alcohol and cancer sticks. And all the while, we find ways to justify everything, and blame someone else when the inevitable occurs.

Last, but not least, the fourth area is the environment. We each determine and choose our own personal environments, through our awareness of the cosmetics and personal care items we use on and around our bodies every day.

Shockingly, 98 percent of our personal care products contain mineral oil, SD alcohol, lanoline, artificial chemicals and fragrances, to name just a few. These harmful ingredients are absorbed through the skin and into the organs in just 26 seconds. Yes, 26 seconds!

I have said this before, but I want to reiterate it now; the three biggest enemies of the skin are: the sun, mineral oil and smoking.

Most of us have known about the sun and smoking for years. And now, a very wise group of you also know about the toxic ingredients in mineral oil. If you are reading this fact here for the very first time, I applaud you — and I urge you to carefully read the labels on all of your cosmetics and beauty products.

If you are older than 35 years and want to make changes in your health, consider a healthier diet, balancing your hormones and injecting fun activities into your life for stress release. Trust me, the bathroom will be there for you to clean next weekend. You deserve to treat yourself and nurture yourself, because if you don’t, no one else is likely to do it for you.

Linda L. Leibl, B.S., has been a clinical aesthetician since 1986 and founded Advanced Skin Technology in 1993 in Scottsdale, Ariz. She recently created the four-component Anti-Aging Facial. 480-443-3445, LindaL@myarbonne.com or www.SharingTheMagic.MyArbonne.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 25, Number 3, June/July 2006.