The popularity of tattoos shows no signs of slowing down, with everyone and their grandmother getting one to commemorate a special event or birthday, but once you've made the initial decisions, such as choosing a design and an experienced, reputable professional, you'll want to give your skin some extra TLC.

Because a tattoo is similar to an open wound, caring for your body art is paramount: keep it covered, keep it clean, moisturize the area and protect it from the sun.  Here are a few tips on how to keep your skin healthy during the healing period and have your tattoo looking its best for many years to come:

1. Resist the urge to remove your bandage before the time advised by your tattoo artist. No peeking! You'll have a lifetime to admire the artwork.
2. Gently wash the area using a mild, unscented soap, patting dry with a soft towel.
3. Apply a gentle, unscented, non-petroleum based moisturizer (petroleum draws ink from the tattoo to the surface of the skin and may cause fading). Your tattoo artist may recommend waiting a few days before this step to allow the skin to begin healing.
4. Avoid submerging the tattooed area (no baths or swimming) until fully healed.
5. Because newly tattooed skin can be extra sensitive and feel like a scrape or burn, you may want to cover up with clean, loose clothing. Your skin may go through a phase of scabbing. Allow the skin to peel away on its way, no matter how itchy it may get! Removing skin and scabs may cause scarring and remove pigment.
6. As UV light can fade the ink, it's important to use a [Link Removed].
7. Because tattooed skin can make it  more difficult to spot moles, do a regular visual check.  If you see any changes to your skin, consult a dermatologist to rule out anything that may need medical attention.  

If you've done your research well, then trust in your tattoo artist. He or she will be your best source of information when it comes to taking care of your new body art.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti-aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed].
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I like to think that I take good care of my skin but there's always room for a bit of tweaking, especially when we start to make New Year's resolution. I've got the basics covered (cleansing and moisturizing, an [Link Removed] every day, without fail), but now's the time to amp things up a bit.  Adding to or changing up your routine doesn't have to mean more work, and you maybe surprised how small adjustments can reap big benefits.

Here are the top four skin care resolutions that I'll be adopting in 2015:

1. Stop Living in Denial:   It may be tough to admit but there are going to be some products that just don't work for you.  If you opened a product more than 12 months ago and it's still staring you in the face, it should probably be tossed out. And if you haven't used it up in that time, you may as well face the fact that it isn't the miracle you had hoped for.

2. Take it a Bit Further:  Past the edge of your face, that is.  Now is the year to include your neck, décolletage area and hands as part of your daily skin care routine.  These areas are constantly exposed to UV rays and are just as prone to showing signs of aging as your face. Unfortunately, they don't always get the same attention.  And since the skin on the neck, chest and hands tend to be thinner than on other parts of the body, they're more apt to be damaged by sun exposure and give away your age.

3. Out with the Old, in with the New: By this we mean, exfoliating. Exfoliating on a regular basis is a step that often falls by the wayside when we're pressed for time. If you choose a method that you can keep up with you're more likely to stick with it. Opt for a night cream with glycolic acid like [Link Removed] .  (And watch this space for a brand new Apothekari exfoliating cleanser that we're super excited about!)

4. Hold my calls:  A professional facial once every season is a well-deserved indulgence for faithfully following your daily skin care routine.  This relaxing escape from the rush of everyday life might just be enough to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Not a complete overhaul,  just a few simple suggestions that will be easy to put into action. Fresh new year, fresh new skin!

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti-aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed].
For a limited time, Fabulously 40 members save 5% off all purchases. Code fab40 at checkout.

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To celebrate National Healthy Skin Month, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has put together some top tips in choosing anti-aging skin care products.  Over the years, we've also touched on many of the same points that focus on protection, prevention and treatment.

We've always maintained that an effective [Link Removed]  is the No.1 thing you can do for your skin, and it looks like the experts at the AAD agree.  No surprise since this same organization created the Melanoma Monday campaign and the SPOT Skin Cancer initiative to educate the public about sun safety and encourage positive changes in the prevention of skin cancer.

Here are what we feel are their best and easiest tips to yield enviable results:

1.Start with sunscreen and moisturizer.   Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that will protect against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.  If you're spending time outdoors, remember to reapply every two hours.  Although a basic moisturizer may not be anti-aging per se, it will certainly help to minimize fine lines, reinforce the skin barrier to keep out bacteria and environmental irritants and minimize transepidermal water loss, all of which contribute to healthy skin.

2.Treat your #1 aging-skin concern.   This differs for each individual.  For some, it's dark spots.  For others, it's wrinkles or sagging skin.  Focus on one concern and choose a product with adequate concentrations of active ingredients that deliver results.

3.Buy a product formulated for your skin type.  Most of us can confidently say that we have either normal, dry, oily or combination skin.  With any one of these, we can also have sensitive skin, so more important than determining skin type may be identifying your skin's specific needs.  Keep in mind that skin also changes through the seasons and over time so don't be afraid to switch up your products if they aren't yielding results.

4.Have realistic expectations.  Alas, with all our advances in science and technology, there's still no such thing as a miracle cream.  Don't expect to turn back the clock 10 years overnight.  Even healthy skin takes approximately 28 days to renew itself.

For more insider tips and advice on how to get healthy skin, visit the AAD website [Link Removed] .

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed] 

For a limited time, Fabulously 40 members save 5% off all purchases. Code fab40 at checkout.

Pharmagirl, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

We admit it: we love Christmas and all its glittery trappings, including stocking stuffers that are practical and that we know will be appreciated.  So along with the chocolates, oranges and odd lumps of coal, here's what we're planning on slipping into those Christmas stockings this year:

For the ski enthusiast: [Link Removed] – Because our favorite ski bunny never fails to come back from a day on the slopes without dry, chapped lips.  And a big smile.

For the man of the house: [Link Removed]  – Because, whether he wants to admit it or not, he's definitely aging along with the rest of us.  Getting him to use them is a whole other story.

For the teen: [Link Removed]  – It's a thankless task, trying to get a teen to apply sunscreen every day without the usual grumblings.  New daily moisturizer Anthelios XL KA SPF 100 with Mexoryl XL, SX and Tinosorb S just makes the job that much easier.

For the weekend warrior: [Link Removed]  – Not just for those with arthritis, Voltaren Emulgel is also the occasional athlete's best friend.  Far be it for us to discourage those who decide to run marathons on a Saturday with no training, only to spend Sunday recuperating on the couch.  Voltaren is a quick way to speed up recovery and ease the pain.

For the woman who does everything (that would be all of us): [Link Removed]  – Even better than the delicious smell (you'll want to eat it up with a spoon!) and the soft, smooth skin is the implied understanding that you can take as long as you want in the bath.

For your friend who is off to sunnier climes: [Link Removed]  – We wouldn't be a true friend if we let her bake under the hot, hot sun!  With this easy-to-use and natural-looking self tanner, she can spend more time shopping for a gift to bring back for us.  Two words: duty free.

No matter what you find in your stocking this year, best wishes to you and yours this holiday.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed] 

For a limited time, Fabulously 40 members save 5% off all purchases. Code fab40 at checkout.

Pharmagirl, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

As some of us get ready to take a warm weather break with family during the holidays, now is the perfect time to revisit sun safety and teens.  We hate to break it to you, but the news isn't good.

Despite the amount of information readily available, the number of teens using sunscreen actually dropped by 12% between 2001 and 2011, this according to a recent study published in the "Preventing Chronic Disease" journal.  To add insult to injury, it seems that teens are still using tanning beds, despite 11 states banning their use for those under 18 years old.  Given that skin cancer is largely preventable, it's evident that teens are still not getting the message.

To help reverse this disturbing trend, the Skin Cancer Foundation has started a program through its youth education initiative to stress the importance of sun protection. This free interactive program is available to educators and targets middle and high school students at a crucial time when teens are beginning to make their own decisions regarding lifestyle choices.  These decisions are likely to have long-term effects not only on their health but also on the health care system where costs related to skin cancer treatments have increased 5 times faster than with any other cancers in recent years.

While teens and young adults see being tanned as "healthy" and fashionable, nothing could be further from the truth.  Unfortunately, the exact reasons for the drop in sunscreen use once children hit the teenage years is not clear.  As parents, we can certainly take steps to make it easier for teens to make sunscreen a regular part of their daily routines by:

•Setting a good example and using a [Link Removed] as an alternative to lying in the sun
•Trying different sunscreen products that provide good protection and are suitable for teens' changing skin with a pleasing finish that will encourage them to wear it every day

Give us a call.  With our huge range of sunscreens and [Link Removed] , we'd be happy to discuss what may work best for your teen in what is sure to be an uphill, but ultimately rewarding, battle.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed] 

For a limited time, Fabulously 40 members save 5% off all purchases. Code fab40 at checkout.

Pharmagirl, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

Whether it's the food we eat or the personal care products we use each day, we're all concerned with reducing chemicals and additives in our lives. While we associate the word "organic" with something that is healthier and better for us, it's important to keep things in perspective. An organic may not always be your best choice.  After all, poison ivy is organic, but it isn't necessarily the best thing to put on your skin!

When it comes to skin care, are organic or natural products better for you and worth the premium price?  The (long) answer may surprise you.

Consider the following 3 facts:

1.There is no substantiated, published research anywhere proving that organic ingredients are superior to non-organic or synthetic ingredients. There are good and bad ingredients in each category. For this reason, it's important to see beyond the marketing so that you can select the formulations best suited to your skin type and concerns.

2.Many organic and natural products include synthetic ingredients, and many are exactly the kinds of ingredients they proclaim they don't include.

3.Organic also does not mean cleaner or safer. They may contain essential oils or other ingredients (like fruit acids) which can irritate sensitive skin. Natural essential oils such as peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and sandalwood are routinely included in natural and/or organic products – these clearly established irritants can actually harm skin. Organic products may have a short shelf life and can harm skin if the product is expired.

So when it comes to "organic", what does this mean in the world of cosmetics, especially for skin care?

You may be surprised to learn that it really means nothing—nothing at all. However, if you're still set on using them, look out for two labels – the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ECOCERT (an international organic certification organization), who have their own systems for approving some standards of organic plant claims. Many other random companies have developed their own sets of guidelines for organic cosmetics and then charge a fee for their seal of approval. So, if you're a cosmetics company who really wants to be certified as organic and are willing to pay for the certification, the "organic" label is yours.

Regardless, if you're set on using organic skin care products, look for the USDA Seal or Eco-Cert certification. These organizations carry strict criteria for certification.

When it comes to USDA Certification, the following labelling guidelines apply:

•"100% Organic"—The product must only organically produced ingredients contain (excluding water and salt). Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent's name and address.

•"Organic"—The product must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). The remaining ingredients must consist of non-agricultural substances approved on the National List of non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent's name and address.

•"Made with organic ingredients"—The product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and the label can list up to three of the organic ingredients or "food" groups on the principal display panel. For example, body lotion made with at least 70% organic ingredients (excluding water and salt) and only organic herbs may be labeled either "body lotion made with organic lavender, rosemary, and chamomile," or "body lotion made with organic herbs." These products are not permitted to display the USDA Organic Seal, but they must display the certifying agent's name and address.

ECO-CERT certification involves both an "organic" and "natural" certification.  For both certifications, the following standards apply:

•The use of ingredients derived from renewable resources, manufactured by environmentally friendly processes. Ecocert therefore checks for the absence of GMO, parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and dyes, animal-derived ingredients (unless naturally produced by them as with milk, honey, etc.).

•The biodegradable or recyclable nature of packaging.

•On site audit is performed by an Ecocert auditor.

•For both labels, Ecocert Standard imposes that a minimum of 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin.

•For Eco-Cert Organic Certification, a minimum of 95% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming.

•For Eco-Cert Natural Certification, a minimum of 50% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 5% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming.

Ultimately it's up to you whether you buy organic skin care products.  Just remember that the label is not indicative of the quality of what's in the bottle so it's important to choose wisely.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed] 

For a limited time, Fabulously 40 members save 5% off all purchases. Code fab40 at checkout.

Pharmagirl, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.