Especially be careful with facial exfoliators and scrubs as you can damage capillaries and cause inflammation, one of the leading causes — along with sugar intake and sun damage — of wrinkles and sagging skin. A small sea sponge with a few drops of an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory liquid cleanser is the ideal face-washing medium. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, followed by an anti-inflammatory facial splash.

Another trick of the spa trade is cryotherapy. After applying the face firming treatment, place an ice cube inside of a small plastic bag and gently rub over the face and eye area for several minutes to plump up and tone the skin.

Nature's Beauty Breakthrough
Alpha lipoic acid (not to be confused with alpha hydroxy acid) is nature's most powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant treatment. Lipoic acid has been found to be 400 times more powerful than anti-oxidant vitamins C and E combined.

Human clinical trials, many which I have conducted myself, have shown many benefits to the skin, on both face and body — many of them visible within minutes, while others work over the long term to improve the signs of aging skin.

These results may be seen in minutes to days:

• Decreased puffiness under eyes
• Decrease in redness
• Increase in healthy color (increased radiance)
• Dramatic increase in skin clarity

These results are usually seen within weeks to months:

• Decrease in pore size
• Decrease in fine lines
• Decrease in wrinkle depth
• Increased muscle tone
• Fading of age spots
• Decrease in creped-look in eye area and neck
• Increase firmness
• Decrease sagging