Perhaps Sitting Bull said it best: “Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”

For many people, a wrinkled rug corner is nothing of importance; while walking, they’ll step over it or brush it back into place. If that person trips on the rug, they may pop back up immediately and only suffer a bruised ego. But if that person is an older adult, the rug might go unnoticed, the fall could be catastrophic—and the damage to the ego might be the least of the concerns.

For most of us, work is stressful. But for Avani Nayak, her job actually makes her more relaxed. “We have a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere; and it always smells wonderful in here,” she says of her Avani Day Spa in Frontenac. “And I love seeing the looks on people’s faces when they leave: They’re smiling and have more self-confidence, and they feel relaxed and invigorated.” We asked her about the rough and dirty business of getting the best care for your skin.

Want a look that lasts? Primers are the solution. Just like an artist who prepares his canvas for his next masterpiece, your face needs proper ‘prepping’ before makeup application for the best results possible.

You won’t find my go-to tool box in the garage. If you’re like me, your most valuable tools are stored away by the vanity, at the ready to address any and all predicaments when it comes to your most visible asset.

Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up. If your face is looking a bit dull, regaining a youthful glow can be as easy as an hour or so in the esthetician’s chair, and you’ll likely walk away feeling refreshed and relaxed all over.

It’s a new year; and if you’re wanting a new look, consider the new concept in facial rejuvenation: pan-facial volume augmentation.

Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital St. Louis

OSEA founder and ‘chief seaweed officer’ Jenefer Palmer comes from a long line of healers. In fact, her grandmother was one of the first female chiropractors in the world, who always told her granddaughter, Always read the label. She took the advice to heart when working as spa director at Murrieta Hot Springs, which at the time was a premier holistic destination spa. But what she found came as a surprise: Many of the most expensive products used inexpensive and sometimes dangerous synthetic ingredients. Palmer now uses 100 percent natural marine-based organic ingredients in her products, which are carried at luxury spas around the world. We caught up with her on a recent visit to Soft Surroundings, St. Louis’ exclusive provider of OSEA products.

With the bounty of products promising dramatic results for aging skin, we have narrowed this month's beauty selections to serums--highly concentrated facial elixirs that address everything from lines and wrinkles to hydration and radiance.  

Summer vacation has ended, the kids are back in school and trips to the beach are over. However, those hours spent outdoors under the brutal sun have wreaked havoc on your face, and your upcoming schedule is booked full of events where you want to look your very best. With a variety of skin resurfacing techniques, Dr. Gregory Branham of Washington University Facial Plastic Surgery Center can help you achieve that glow. “We’re ending the season where we’ve done the most damage to our skin, so it’s an ideal time to repair and correct before winter,” Branham says.

Had a little too much fun in the sun this summer? Unfortunately, extended sun exposure helps contribute to all those things we’d rather hide: dull skin, discoloration and wrinkles. So what’s a girl to do? First things first: Un-furrow your forehead and un-pout that pucker; then, read on. We may have just the solution for you.

All summer, conservators have worked diligently at the Saint Louis Art Museum to restore a 19th-century American treasure: The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley, the only survivor of six Mississippi panoramas known to have existed. With significant progress gained during the exhibition, visitors to the Museum were permitted to observe as nine of the scenes were repaired, resulting in 18 finished panels of 25 overall. Curator Janeen Turk says that conservators hope to complete three more by the end of the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 3.

When it comes to wrinkles, it’s easier to prevent than erase these early signs of aging. Procedures ranging from laser resurfacing to Botox to dermal fillers are available weapons in the war on wrinkles, but no one can ignore the importance of a good skin care regimen and top-notch products to help postpone the need for more invasive tactics.

Wrinkles come in many forms, settle in many places on the face and are caused by several common aging processes. Just as there’s no single type of wrinkle, there’s no one perfect solution. However, almost as many approaches to minimizing them are available as there are types of wrinkles themselves.

When it comes to the aging face, wrinkles are among the first and most obvious features. And rather than embrace this badge of longevity, many women seek ways to erase these telltale signs.

The war on wrinkles really is a war on aging, says Dr. Joseph Muccini. Beyond just wrinkles, the enemies in the fight include skin damage, laxity, changes in tone, surface and color. With more than 20 years of experience in dermatology, Muccini is equipped to help his patients wage that war at MidAmerica Skin Health & Vitality Center. “Wrinkles don’t occur in isolation; you need to consider everything in context to find the best approach for the patient to achieve the desired results.”

What do all those technical terms mean when it comes to our bodies and the procedures that can transform them? Although by no means an exhaustive list, the following may help decipher some alien terminology—and help you become more aware of your options.