Admit it!
You will tune into the Academy Awards on Sunday to check out how good, or how bad, the celebrities look.
The biggest question on the red carpet is always, “Who are you wearing?" Perhaps it should be, “What are you doing to your skin?”
Barrie cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Barb Loiskandl says it really all begins, and ends, with good skin care.
“The most cost-effective, anti-aging magic cream is sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen,” says Dr. Loiskandl.
“The most basic beauty regime is sun avoidance, sunscreen, hats and washing your face twice daily, especially if you wear makeup. When it comes to show business, there is all kinds of camouflage makeup which is amazing at hiding flaws or contouring and adding a glow.”
Loiskandl says, despite the fact we look to Hollywood for the latest trends, “Canadians are very much ahead of the curve on almost all injectables. We are innovators.”
The doctor came up with a technique in 2011 to use restylane injections to uplift the face. She travels the world teaching doctors about the so-called Barbie-lift.
New to her tool belt are restylane skin boosters, which are injectable and soften fine lines around the mouth, cheeks and neck by hydrating the skin.
The procedure that has been hugely popular and is still “bigger and bigger” in popularity is botox.
“Eighteen years ago, when we did botox, patients had that frozen Hollywood look whereas now there is facial movement but no at- rest wrinkles,” according to the doctor.
When she does some star-gazing, Dr. Loiskandl points to two classic actresses who are stunning into their 70s.
“I think both Helen Mirren and Jane Fonda have aged well, but with distinctly different approaches. Fonda has been honest about having a lot of work done (plastic surgery) but she still looks like herself while Mirren has aged more naturally, but still has such a glow.”
She also loves having millennials in her practice.
“I love to work with them and get them into a good skin care routine going back to basics."
While there are always new trends Dr. Loiskandl believes some things remain true.
“Good genes play a large role. Avoid smoking and alcohol. Pay attention to nutrition and remember everyone has their own sense of beauty.”
Dr. Barb Loiskandl operates Laser Health Works in Barrie and Midland.
