March 2014

I’m not often one to subscribe to conspiracy theories regardless of how rational or irrational they sound. There seem to be hundreds of them floating around, usually based on a government’s action. Even if you agree with me about doubting them, you’ve got to admit they are fun to speculate on. Often wonder how they get started and who embellishes them as they are passed along.

How about you and I starting one? Ok – here goes. About four or five years ago a confidential conference was called in Geneva, Switzerland. Attending were all of the companies in the world that made shoes. It was organized by the large manufacturers who specialized in tennis shoes (sneakers if you prefer.) Now you know their names and probably can identify their trade marks. Maybe Adidas, Nike, or New Balance, to name a few. But more conventional leather goods firms such as Ecco, Birkenstock, and Nunn Bush were also attending.

The group sat down to a Power Point presentation that focused in on the fact that the world was nearly saturated with plain old white or black tennies. Something needed to be done to increase sales. The agreed-upon solution was to introduce shoes in any and all imaginative colors, a wide variety of materials, and a bunch of new shapes. It was agreed to be a joint venture where all participated, and believe me it has worked. Worked extraordinarily well!! The colors were then assigned to different countries and aimed at different ages. The new materials were introduced worldwide.

A few months ago I spent a number of weeks over in Europe. It was a pleasant, relaxing trip including France, The Low Countries, and Germany. Several times during this visit I found myself sitting alone on a bench watching people stream by. Barb was shopping, and my tolerance for wandering through stores loaded with local items (some imported from China) is very short. While sitting there on the bench I became aware of the shoes people were wearing. I’m easily entertained as you can see. Nonetheless let me share a few of my observations with you.

Older, more mature women with longer, box skirts and proper jackets wear brown medium-heeled comfortable shoes. They often carry bags with expensive store logos. A hat or kerchief may be included.

Men in business suits wear lace-up shoes of shiny leather, usually quite well polished. The younger these men are, the more pointed the shoe becomes. Either their toes are more pointed than ones I know about, or there exists a large space between foot end and shoe end.

Younger, more casually-dressed people, invariably wear tennis shoes. (I’ll get to the Uggs and boots later.) Now these shoes are extremely colorful. Orange stripes or sections are the most predominant, but an iridescent blue comes in a close second. One can be sure the brand is identified as it stands out in some bold statement or color on the side of each shoe. The actual sole may be white or black but is hardly visible. Colorful shoe laces that may or may not match are also part of the ensemble. They appear comfortable so I guess they work.

A group of Eastern Europeans paraded by following a younger lady holding an umbrella aloft. They all wore beat-up looking black oxfords which to some degree matched the dour look on their faces. I tried a smile at them, but I was dismissed out of hand –or ignored, as the case may be. The shoe revolution has not reached these countries yet.

Perhaps the happiest of all groups was a gaggle of school kids about twelve years old. They laughed, pushed, hit one another, and overall seemed to be enjoying themselves. They all wore those brightly colored tennies I mentioned earlier, so perhaps the color works.

There was one pair of clean white tennies that zoomed by. They were on the feet of an older American lady who was passing everyone else. Maybe looking for a w.c.

Another tour group, which I would judge came from Southern Germany or maybe Switzerland wore very comfortable looking hiking boots. The sole left a design on the pavement as they passed. Their determination and general robust size gave their nationality away. They all seemed comfortable – content with their lot in life.

I did notice a fair number of boots. Mostly on ladies. The height of the boot seemed comparable to the length of the skirt. The higher the boot, the shorter the skirt.

There are also those feet things that look like bowling shoes used to look. They are low to the ground with very thin soles. They have funny lacing going almost to the toes, and they too come in all the colors of the rainbow.

I can hardly wait to get back to the United States and test out my new theory. We’ll go into San Francisco and see if the conspiracy theory which matches colored shoes with the personality of the wearers is valid there as well.

Oh – here comes Barbara. Time to move on.

The solution to obesity may be found in one four-letter word: MOMS.  That according to Jill West, Registered Dietitian, mother of three, and author of 400 MOMS: Discover What 400 Nutrition Experts Feed Their Kids.

Beyond obesity, West and health professionals everywhere agree that the foods we serve our children can make a huge difference in their behavior, school success, sick days, health, fitness, and even their self-esteem. But it’s not easy–with both parents working, running a household, after school commitments, homework, and modern-day stressors, getting something on the table that’s fast AND healthy seems nearly impossible sometimes.

Jill West can relate. She’s the picture of health, obviously practicing what she preaches, but preaching is far from West’s style as she confesses that she doesn’t really like to cook and that the question at rush hour, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” isn’t exactly music to her ears. She has a way of making moms everywhere feel a bit better about the job we’re doing to healthfully fuel our families in a stressed out, non-stop world. In 400 MOMS, West surveys over 400 Registered Dietitians, also moms, to find out how they do it. The result is a comprehensive “Go-To” guide for mothers everywhere with hundreds of practical tips, strategies and solutions for raising a healthy child.

ALIVE Magazine: Tell me about 400 MOMS and how you came up with the title.

Jill West: The 400 MOMS book is about helping moms provide healthy meals and snacks for their children and shaping their eating habits for a lifetime. The idea for the book came after years of hanging out at sports events and waiting to pick up kids after school. Knowing I was a Registered Dietitian, other moms would frequently ask me questions about how I feed my kids, such as “How often do you let your kids eat fast food?” or “What do you think of sports drinks?”

I wondered how other nutrition experts would answer, so I surveyed over 400 dietitians, who are also moms, about how they feed their kids. I asked what they give their kids for breakfast, how they get their kids to eat vegetables, what quick and healthy dinners they serve their kids, and hundreds more relevant questions. 400 MOMS is my own personal experience and advice combined with the ideas shared by these 400 dietitian moms about what works with our own children.

AM: What is your breakfast suggestion for busy school mornings?

JW: Cereal was the #1 choice for the 400 Moms. Why? Because it’s quick, it can be eaten dry “on-the-go” or with milk, and it’s healthy, as long as you choose the low sugar cereals. Guess, which is the #1 cereal nutrition experts, feed their kids: Cheerios! Why? Because kids from highchair age all the way up to adults can eat them, and they’re healthy. My criteria for healthy cereals are six grams of sugar or less and three grams of fiber or more per serving. Cheerios is both: low in sugar and a good source of fiber.

I also have lists of “Best Picks” and “Worst Picks” in the book, which moms tell me they love!  Moms can turn to the “Best Picks” page for cereals and have many options to choose from. It simplifies their grocery shopping because they can go straight to the “Best Picks” list and know they’re making a healthy choice for their kids.

AM:  How important is eating organic?

JW: The most important thing is to eat fruits and vegetables, whether they are organic or not. I’m really concerned that focusing too much on organic will decrease the amount of produce kids eat, which is far more harmful. The produce grown in this country has tighter regulations around pesticides than many countries, so most importantly, choose produce grown locally if possible and, if buying organic is important to you, focus on the ones that have thin skins because these are likely to have more pesticide exposure. For example, apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, and cucumbers would be more important to buy organic than bananas, watermelon, green beans and cantaloupe. I have a list in my book, and the Environmental Working Group website also lists them (www.ewg.org).

AM: You have a section in each chapter called “Your Game Plan.” What is that about?

JW: My thinking behind this was to help moms take what they’ve just read to the next step, which is to decide on a few specific “action steps” to start with their families. I give some examples to help get moms thinking about what changes they want to make, for instance, in trying to get the kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, I suggest they commit to “serve fruit at all 3 meals” or “serve fruit as the afternoon snack.” Another commitment related to healthy snacks would be, “I will buy cookies with no more than five grams of fat” or “We will try snacks from the Healthy Snacks List.”

AM: Give us a Game Plan for the New Year. What are some quick and easy changes we can make in our children’s diet, as a resolution to better eating?

JW: I suggest moms think about what they want to see improve this year in their kids’ eating habits or what they are buying at the grocery store. Next, choose and write down one or two “action steps.” And finally, think about the specifics of how you will make that Game Plan work. For example:

I will decrease the sweet drinks my kids consume.

The Specifics or “How To” might be:

1. I will serve milk or water instead of juice at meals.

2. I will allow soda no more than once a week.

3. I will limit juice to a ½ cup serving and no more than two days per week.

AM:  What are healthy snacks Moms should have on hand?

JW: Some great snacks for the cupboard are almonds and other nuts, dried fruit, low sugar cereals, and whole grain crackers. Snacks for the refrigerator should include yogurt, cheese sticks, fresh fruit, and fruit cups. It really helps to have fresh fruit already washed and cut to make it easy for kids to “grab and go.”

AM: What about school lunch vs. packing a lunch from home?

JW: To buy or not to buy school lunch depends on the school district. Fifty-six percent of Nutrition Experts said they buy school lunch for their children one day per week or less. If the school lunches at your school are not very healthy, then I recommend once a week, which allows the child to participate and gives Mom a break from making lunch while still having peace of mind that most of the meals her child eats are healthy.

One of my three boys took the same lunch (peanut butter sandwich and dried mango) to school EVERY DAY for the entire year in 2^nd grade. I’ve had moms tell me what a relief it was to read that story in my book, because they worried about their child not getting enough variety. I believe what’s most important is that kids are getting refueled for the afternoon, so they can focus academically, and if packing the same lunch means they will actually eat it, then that’s a win! Moms can then focus on getting a variety of foods at other meals and snacks without creating a battle over lunch.

AM: Dinner is such a challenging meal. What do Nutrition Experts do?

JW: Yes, I agree dinner is challenging in many ways. And although I care very much about healthy eating and teaching my kids about being healthy, I really don’t like to cook. Every Mom can relate to the kids asking, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” Certainly my kids do! Then about 30 minutes later, I get the next question: “When will dinner be ready?” That’s code for “I’m starving and want it now.” After a full day, along with after school activities and homework, that’s a lot of pressure, so I consider myself a “cook to feed” kind of mom. Nothing fancy, just get food on the table quickly, and yet still keep it healthy.

Based on the responses from 400 MOMS about the quick, healthy dinners they fix, I’m not alone. The #1 quick and healthy dinner was pasta and #2 was sandwiches. That one surprised me a little, but it makes sense.Here’s why: My #1 tip to moms when it comes to dinner is visualizing The Healthy Plate: half of the plate grains and protein and the other half of the plate fruits and vegetables. A sandwich takes care of the grains and protein portion of the plate, and then you can cut up an apple, add a handful of baby carrots and a glass of nonfat or 1% milk and you’ve got a healthy plate. You can do the same with one of the quick recipes in 400 MOMS. The entrée takes care of the grains and protein half of the plate, so all you have to do is add a fruit or vegetable and milk, and you’re done.

AM:  I know a big struggle for parents is getting kids to eat their vegetables. What do you suggest?

JW: In my book I have 37 ideas that the 400 Moms suggest to help other moms get their kids to eat vegetables. A few of my favorites that Nutrition Experts suggest are:

1. Serve vegetables when kids are hungriest: right after school or right before dinner, while making dinner. I use this strategy myself. Before cooking dinner, I prepare the fruit and vegetable so it’s already on the plate. That way when my boys start hovering around the kitchen, waiting for dinner to be ready, they will often snack on what’s already on their plate.

2. Offer two options. Ask your child, “Do you want broccoli or carrots with dinner?” The child has some choice, which increases the odds they’ll eat some of it. If, however, the child says, “I don’t want either of them,” then I get to decide. Pretty quickly they realize they would rather make the choice.

3. Blend them in. Add vegetables to omelets, soups, pasta sauce, stews, and casseroles.

4. “It’s what we do.”  Many Nutrition Experts said that vegetables are always served and that Mom and Dad eat them too. It’s just a normal part of the meal and kids are used to it, so there’s no room for complaining or unnecessary drama.

I do have some Words of Caution, though, on the subject of vegetables:

• Don’t insist your child “Clean Your Plate” or eat all the vegetables served.
• Avoid power struggles about food and meals. Mealtime should be as pleasant and relaxed as possible.
• Mom’s job is to provide the fruit and vegetable; Child’s job is to decide how much to eat.
• Mom job is to model healthy eating.

AM: Let’s talk about childhood obesity.

JW: It’s a major problem that has really serious long-term consequences. For the first time in our history, this generation is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The reason is that obesity leads to many medical complications. For the first time ever, young teens are developing high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol that used to only be seen in adults, and this has the potential to significantly shorten their lives. If there’s one strategy I can suggest to begin reversing this trend, it is to stop sweet drinks of all kinds—not just soda, but sweet teas, juice drinks, coffee drinks, sports drinks, etc. When you look at the data since 1970, there is a striking correlation between obesity, sweet drinks and milk intake. In 1970, obesity in kids was at 5% and soda intake was 6.5 oz./day on average; in 2010 obesity in kids had tripled to 17% and soda consumption had quadrupled to 24 oz./day. That’s just soda. If we add in all sweet drinks that kids consume, then the amount they’re drinking is much, much higher. And these statistics only apply to obesity; if we combine overweight and obese kids, 34% (one in three kids), are overweight or obese.

It’s also important to look at what has happened to milk intake since 1970. Kids are drinking half as much milk now compared to 1970. Sweet drinks are pushing out milk, which is really alarming because kids are getting liquid sugar in place of really important nutrients, such as protein, calcium, vitamin D and potassium. This will have a major impact on their bones as they become adults.

AM: What advice do you have for picky eaters?

JW: The 400 Moms had many great ideas, but two that stand out for me are:

#1: Try, Try Again!

My oldest always loved to try new foods; my middle son would look at a new food and decide he didn’t like it. My youngest was somewhere in between. However, I would periodically keep trying vegetables and other foods they didn’t like because kids’ taste preferences change, and if you stop serving it, they never have an opportunity to discover they like it later.

It’s also important to avoid drama when using this strategy. The goal is to casually keep trying foods, minimizing the attention given, and oftentimes, kids will eventually come around to eating a wider variety of foods.

Moms need to remind themselves that their job is to model what a healthy plate looks like. That way the child has the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices as they get older, when he or she decides it’s important. An example of this was a former neighbor’s son. He didn’t like vegetables as a child, but his parents always served them, and his parents ate them. It wasn’t until after college that he started eating them regularly and paying closer attention to his diet because his body was changing, and it became important to him.

#2: The Bite Rule

Nutrition experts had several variations about how they implemented this strategy. The idea is to ask your child to try one bite, two bites or three bites, and then thank her for trying it, even if she didn’t like it. This strategy was very helpful with one of my boys who would look at a food and decide he didn’t like it. I would ask him to try it and if he said, “yuk,” then I would say, “Thanks for trying it!” The good news is, he also learned there were foods he didn’t think he would like that he ended up liking because he tried one bite. It avoids a battle at the dinner table yet gradually expands the variety kids will eat.

AM: Is fast food ever ok?

JW: In my opinion, once a week is not going to cause any health or nutritional problems. Eighty percent of the 400 Moms serve fast food once or less per week. The problem is, children are eating meals out four times per week on average. That’s a real problem! It adds up to too much sugar, fat, and calories and not enough fruits, vegetables, milk, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

I know families are busy and after-school schedules can be crazy. I’ve been there too! But there are many ways to get a quick meal on the table. It takes a little grocery planning and having some quick options in the freezer, but it’s definitely doable. For example, while frozen chicken nuggets are baking, you can steam some broccoli or make a basic salad, wash some grapes and pour a glass of milk. That’s a healthy, balanced meal in 20 minutes, with nothing fried and no added sugar.

AM: What’s some of the best advice Nutrition Experts gave?

JW: There are so many great suggestions, strategies and ideas, that’s a difficult question. And what works for each family can be different, so having lots of suggestions helps.

I love the idea of giving kids choices. For example, moms can give kids two fruit and vegetable options; you can involve them in deciding which school lunches to choose, and involve them in grocery shopping, cooking, and gardening, when possible. There are many ways to give them choices.

I also love the “It’s What We Do” concept. The whole family, including parents, is served the same healthy plate. It’s all about what’s healthy for our bodies, not about weight.

AM: How would you summarize the book, 400 Moms?

JW: The most important takeaways can be summed up in the acronym: BEST

        B: Breakfast everyday

        E: Encourage five servings of fruits and vegetables daily

        S: Stop sweet drinks and soda

        T: Trim down on fast food

I believe moms are the solution to raising healthy kids and reversing childhood obesity. My hope is that 400 MOMS will empower moms to make small changes that can have a big impact on the health of their kids. What a gift to give your child!

400 MOMS is available at Amazon and at www.400Moms.com.

The Second Annual San Ramon Arts Foundation DeliRadioHigh School Battle of the Bands is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2014.  This event keeps music alive for high school teens by providing much needed funding and a performance opportunity for young musicians.

This San Ramon Arts Foundation event is a truly unique event in the Tri-Valley area, with great media exposure through our partner, DeliRadio to extend the experience online.

The competition is free and open to high school bands throughout the bay area. Imelda Alejandrino, a President at AP42 is a volunteer and the event organizer for the San Ramon Arts Foundation. She says, “Students with a passion for the arts and music need a positive environment to showcase their art and play their music. The battle of the bands is an opportunity for local student bands to play at the Dougherty Performing Arts Theater and play their music to at least150 fans. It’s also, a fun-filled day of music, food and student artwork!”

The winner of the event gets a free professional recording session at Ninth Street Opus Studio in Berkeley. Last year’s winner, Rundown Radio, has performed locally at Red House, Starry Plough, and at San Ramon events such as Run for Education. They also recently recorded their latest EP, professionally, in Los Angeles.

The Tri-Valley ins the home of numerous up-and-coming young bands such as, Minute2Midnight, Crossout, Adelyne. MdK, Scarlet Machine and Fallen Impact, to name a few.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center

10550 Albion Road, San Ramon, CA 94583

 

For Event & Sponsorship Details, email Imelda@ap42.com or steve@coastlitho.net

 

Tax Exempt ID #: 94-2833174

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear HSSS-

My 23-year-old son recently moved back home after graduating college nine months ago. He’s having a hard time finding a job and needs my financial assistance to get his life started. So how do I teach him responsibility and motivate him to stand on his own two feet?                                                                           ~ Jennifer in Dublin

She Said: Getting a job is a lot tougher for college graduates than it used to be, so compassion and understanding for the returning young adult is necessary. But failure to launch is what happens if parents make it too easy, so finding the balance is key. Definitely do not give him money!  If you are providing a roof over his head and food in the fridge, he’ll survive without pizza and beer. He should be spending most of his time looking for a job in his field (great resource: dearjane.info), and ask him to share with you his progress at the end of each day. Encourage him to take a part time or freelance job to cover some costs while he’s waiting to land the career job. Once he starts earning some money, have him pay rent (no more than 33% of what he’s earning) and put it into your own retirement account. As soon as possible, he should be paying for his gas, cell phone, car insurance, etc. I’ve seen these modern-day arrangements work out really well, and you may even find you like having a roomie you know and trust. To be sure, your son will feel a lot better about himself when he’s contributing to the household, and you will have better prepared him for the real world.

He Said: Let’s clear something up right off the bat: Your son’s not having a hard time finding a job, he’s having a hard time finding the job he wants. And unfortunately, as Robin mentioned, a college education doesn’t guarantee that dream job nowadays the way it used to. If you have the means, you should help your son, but within some well thought out guidelines. Absolutely DO NOT give him money. This includes not paying off his credit card bills. If he doesn’t have the money, he shouldn’t be buying it. Let him know he can stay with you for six months, but charge him a small amount of rent beginning immediately. After the six-month period, let him know that you will start charging him something equivalent to the market rents in your area, maybe with a $100 discount for being your son. This will both motivate him to support himself financially and move on from your home. As a parent, you’re walking a fine line here: you want to make sure you’re not an enabler and shirking your responsibility of giving him a reality check, but at the same time, lending a helping hand is what family does.

Robin Fahr and Shawn Alikian host Conversations and He Said/She Said seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30. Send your questions to AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.

Q. I have a sixteen-foot by eight-foot vegetable garden that I maintain organically year round but my neighbor’s weedy yard is a big headache. I’d like to wipe out the weeds before I till the soil this month with some sort of natural herbicide. Do you know of any; as of yet, I have not found one?

A. I’m not aware of any herbicide, organic or non organic, that is applied prior to tilling that kills both the actively growing unwanted weeds and grasses along with the dormant weed seeds. It’s going to be a two-step process with post and pre-emergent herbicides. There is herbicidal soap available for the actively growing weeds but cultivation is by far the best organic control. It shouldn’t be a big deal based on the size of your garden. I might hoe and remove the largest weeds and then till the area. It’s the weed seeds that are going to be problematical during the growing season. Concern Weed Stopper Plus is an organic pre-emergent herbicide made from corn gluten. It’s applied to control the weed seeds around edibles and other plants. It’s not recommended if you’re starting your vegetable garden from seed but it okay around transplants or seedlings. Any type of pre emergent herbicide can’t tell the difference between desirable and non- desirable seeds. Concern Weed Stopper Plus does an okay job with grassy weeds but it’s very weak controlling broad leaves and deep-rooted perennials. Hand cultivating and mulching could be just as effective. You can also lay down a landscape fabric or a thick layer of newspaper. A thin layer of organic matter is then place over the material to cover it and weight it down. I wouldn’t make it very thick otherwise you provide for an excellent area where the weeds seeds that blow in can germinate. The lack of light will prevent the dormant seeds from germinating.

Q. Can you tell me when it is safe to plant seeds? The robins are chirping, the daffodils are budding and the trees are in bloom. I don’t want to be too early.

A. Planting seeds is a year round activity. They’re generally started indoors and the seedlings when ready are then planted outdoors. But I think your question is, when is it okay to plant directly into the open ground, and that depends on what you’re planting. Carrots, beets, turnips, other root crops and lettuce can be sown now. But, I’d wait until mid April to sow all the tomatoes, squash, melons and peppers. The same is true with seasonal color and it’s not too late to sow wildflowers. Seeds started today should be ready to be planted outdoors in late April. The benefit of planting in flats is that you are only transplanting the most vigorous plants. I would avoid sowing Pansies, Violas, and Iceland Poppies, as they will fade when the temperatures get warm. Instead, I would sow Marigolds, Petunias, Impatiens, or Vinca. They’ll grow and flower all summer and fall.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

 

 

 

 

We are going to look at some of the most popular problems women face today in allergic reactions to cosmetics. I see more and more women acquiring rashes, flakey dry skin and peeling lips, like never before. Here we will take a look at the problems, symptoms and solutions to these complicated conditions.

Problem: Time Sensitive Skin Care Products

Symptoms: Some women think by using the same skin care product for years is good for the skin. Sometimes it is okay, but if women are suddenly having skin problems, like rashes, breakouts, and dry flakey skin, the product you have been using may have harmful effects, causing the skin to be irritated. It is hard to believe that their precious products they’ve been using for many years, could possibly harm their skin. What women don’t know is that companies will try to cut costs, sometimes taking out the expensive ingredient and using fillers in their product, with a less expensive ingredient. What used to be a wonderful product is now causing havoc on the skin.

Solution: Check the label from time to time to see if the ingredients are different, especially if the bottle or jar has been changed. Changing the label, jar or bottle is a red flag; because the packaging has not only changed, but they most certainly altered the ingredients. It would be worth the time to research a new skin care line that is updated and with the latest technologies for optimum skincare health.

Problem: Dry Chapped Lips

Symptoms: When you are allergic to a lip product, lips will peel, dry and crack. Lips do not irrupt in rashes or bumps they peel and dry out. Women think they need to use more of the lip product, almost like an addiction, to keep their lips moist and hydrated, but what they don’t know is they are making the problem worse, by using the same product. Chapstick and mineral oil based lipstick are the number one problem associated to dry, peeling, cracked lips.

Solution: Stop using the lip product immediately and find a lipstick or lip hydrator that has a Vitamin E base. This will not only solve the allergic reaction of dry cracked lips, but it is a healthier choice.

Problem: Dry Peeling Skin Around The Eye Area

Symptoms: The skin peeling and drying around the eye area indicates a severe allergic reaction to the product the consumer is using. Like the lips, the delicate area around the eye, does not irrupt in rashes or bumps, it dries out and peels. It could be the eye cream, the concealer or the eye shadow the user is applying that is causing this inflammation. In addition, old eye shadows and dirty cosmetic brushes cause severe allergic reactions to the eye area, causing it to break down, dry out and wrinkle.

Solution: Clean all instruments, including eye shadow brushes, with an anti-bacterial soap. Try a different concealer, eye cream or eye shadow. Throw away all old eye shadows, if they are older than one year. After changing products, you should notice a dramatic difference in the eye area in less than a week and the eye area should look smoother and healthier, not dry. Diagnosed early you can save your eye area from future damage and wrinkles.

At The Rouge we are committed to excellence in analyzing skin and the problems associated with cosmetic related conditions. If you are suffering from unexplained rashes or if you have problem skin, we are here to suggest options and offer you skin care consultations, so you can get on the right path to a healthier looking skin.