Recent studies suggest that caffeine may be far more powerful than previously thought. Not only does it wake up millions of Americans, but it can also reduce the chance of depression in women by up to 40%.

Not just that, but another study conducted at Rutgers University suggests that caffeine may be highly effective at reducing the risk of skin cancer. Scientists found that caffeine, when applied directly to the skin, inhibits an enzyme called ATR.

To prove their theory, they genetically modified mice to have lower levels of ATR. When exposed to UVB radiation, they developed cancerous tumors much more slowly than the unmodified mice, and had 65% less tumors than the unmodified mice.

What does this all mean? Caffeine sunscreen might be all the rage next summer. Would you use it?

1) Tanning Beds are Bad! Ah, this is not something women want to hear, but the World Health Organization has classified tanning beds as carcinogenic. Women who spend too much time in the tanning beds usually always end up having skin that looks like leather.

2) Not Using Moisturizer with SPF 15  You should be wearing SPF 15 every day. While it may sound extreme, even being out in the sun for brief periods of time will show itself years down the road.

3) Using the Wrong Cleanser If you have oily skin, a foamy cleanser can send put your sebaceous glands into overdrive, making your oily skin even more oily. Try Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel (no affiliation, just love it!).

4) Use Retinoids- Retinoids are Vitamin A creams that help smooth out existing wrinkles, prevent acne, and gently exfoliate your skin.

Let’s face it, ladies-most makeup and soap we buy is industrial waste. Yep, most of it is manufactured directly from oil.

If you want long lasting beauty, vitality, and youth, use mother nature’s ingredients to make your own soap. Here’s a list of a few fruits and herbs that can be put in your soap to help you stay beautiful and young.

Orange peels or oils add a wonderful aroma.

Blueberries contain huge amounts of antioxidants that are wonderful for your skin.

Strawberries will help you exfoliate your skin.

Raspberries are an awesome astringent.

Thyme oil will help soothe irritated skin and help relax your muscles.

Basil adds a wonderful touch when added to your soap. It also smells wonderful.

Mint  will help relive itching and soothes your irritated skin. You can also place it in your soap.

Admittedly, most women  don’t have time to make their own soap, and the process isn’t easy;but the next time you’re shopping in your favorite boutique shop, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for in your next bar of soap.

More than half of people over 50 are plagued by spider veins. Old age, hormonal changes, and lack of movement are the leading causes of these unsightly veins. Not only are they ugly, but they will cause your legs to swell, itch and cramp.

While you can treat spider veins with exercise and weight loss, often times they just won’t go away. Many people choose laser treatments to help reduce and remove their unwanted spider veins.

Here are some tips to prevent spider veins:

1) Always wear sunscreen

2) Don’t cross your legs when your sit for long periods of time

3) Exercise to increase circulation throughout your body

4) Elevate your legs when you’re resting

5) Avoid salt- it can cause swelling

6) Don’t wear high heels for long periods of time

7) Eat a lot of fiber, as constipation can produce vericose veins.

If you have bad spider veins and want them removed immediately, Sona offers expert spider vein laser treatment removal.

Yes, that’s right, you can now inject yourself in the comfort of your own home . . . Who wouldn’t want to inject their own face, right? What could possibly go wrong?

Oh, wait, A LOT. 

Companies are popping up all over the world that now provide amateurs with low quality kits and fillers. Because these DIY kits are not regulated, they may very easily be contaminated. Injecting yourself with these kits could expose you to staph infections, blisters, lesions, and even deadly blood infections.

While at first the though of a DYI botox kit sounds appealing, you won’t be happy when you’re in the hospital with a serious infection.

If you’re considering botox, leave it to the experts at Sona MedSpa.

Scientists in Scotland have discovered how skin cancer is capable of spreading to other parts of the body. A protein called Rac1 prompts pigment cells to produce what can only be described as long legs, allowing cancer cells to move down them and establish new cancer.

Scientists found that when Rac1 was present in mice, it caused pigment cells called Melanobalsts to sprout legs and travel during the early stages of development.  This can cause moles which can become melanoma in the future.

The good news it that once the Melanoblasts mature they are no longer capable of sprouting legs.

This will undoubtedly help in the development of new treatments for cancers still in the early stages.

The first step, however, is to not engage in actives that cause skin cancer to begin with. If you’ve had your fair share of sun, then check out Sona’s sun services.

And stay safe!

Ladies, how much makeup do you really wear? A bit? A lot? Well, if you’re wondering what it might look like to have a year’s worth of makeup on your face in one day, then wonder no more.

We all have our favorite celebs who would we die to look like. From their beautifully sculpted jaw-lines, to their gracefully curved brows. But have you ever considered just how much someone’s brows frame their entire face?

Well, take a look at these famous celebs without brows! 

Anna Paquin

Russell Brand

Would Katy Perry have married him if he didn’t have his brows?

Liv Tyler. . . Is it me or does she still look beautiful without her brows?

Despite growing awareness about the sun’s detrimental effects on skin, young women around the world continue to bake themselves beneath the sun in order to achieve that perfect, sexy brown skin. However, a growing number of young woman are now showing up at the doctor’s office with Melanomas.

But who’s responsible for ingraining tanning into our culture; the idea that a toasty complexion is sexy and desirable? You can thank Coco Chanel.

It is widely believed that Coco, while on vacation in the French Riviera, got a terrible sunburn; but her zealous fans, thinking everything she did was absolutely fabulous, followed suit and began to bake themselves in the sun. And now nearly a century later, the occurrence of Melanoma in women ages 15- 39 has nearly doubled in the past 30 years.

Can you say SNOOKI?

While our knowledge of skin cancer and the sun’s harmful effects has never been higher, Americans, and others around the world, for that matter, are not acting on it. The fact is that intense, intermittent exposure is what causes skin cancer. Even if you only lay out in the sun once a year, that’s enough to increase your risk of developing a Melanoma.

Ask yourself: do you want a temporary tan or a longer life?

If you suffer from sun damaged skin, Sona can help you.

How often do you tan? Do you use tanning beds? And lastly, have you ever had to have a Melanoma removed? 

There are a lot of products out there that were made to help your skin and give you a more beautiful look. However you will find that you can naturally protect your skin and achieve the same beauty without resorting to an expensive cream. There are a few ways that you can do this.

First up, beware of the sun. You will find that many people tell you to stay out of  the sun altogether. Yet most people find this hard to do. So if you are going out, it is a good idea to put on sun screen. No matter what your skin tone may be. Even the new miss universe agrees with and uses this tip.

The second, which is as much of a health tip as it is a beauty tip is, don’t smoke! Aside from killing you slowly from the inside, you will find that smoking also makes you look older and even contributes to wrinkles. And if you are already smoking the best thing that you can do for your health and your skin is to quit. 

Next up, having a healthy diet. With a healthy diet you will be getting the vitamins that  your body needs. And to add to that you won’t just look better, you will feel better as well. And along with the diet you may want to drink plenty of water as well. This can help your skin from becoming dry and flaky.

And to end it, we have sleep. Getting enough sleep can really help you to look several years younger. And it’s also another one of the tips that the new miss universe gives. So if you can’t take beauty tips from the one of the most beautiful women in the world, who can you take them from?