The skin care lesson your mother always told you...wear sun screen! Not only do you need to wear it (everywhere), you need to reapply it every hour or so, if you're out in the heat or at the beach because the wind, sand and salt water will take that protective sheild right off, leaving your skin vulnerable to sun burn.

However, I work in an office and not at the beach. The most sunlight I receive in a workday is at 6am on my five block walk to Spinning, streams of light through the window near my desk (on a nice day) and by the time I head home the sun is beginning to set. Yet, I still wear SPF all over my face. I make sure all of my daily moisturizers are SPF-friendly and always have chapstick or lipgloss in my oversized Rebecca Minkoff with sun protection.

The problem with my SPF overload? Vitamin D levels can suffer from not enough sunlight and overuse of SPF.

According to Palm Beach-based dermatologist and Professor at University of Miami, Dr. Kenneth Beer, says that Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise. "Practice moderation and get some sun exposure, but avoid getting burned. You should also get your Vitamin D levels checked and if you're deficient, and if so replace it with oral supplements. It's easy to do and essential to your wellness. Avoid getting burned," Dr. Beer explains.

Where else can you get Vitamin D? Milk, citrus fruits, salmon, tuna, a whole egg, sardines...the list goes on!

Chill out on the SPF until you hit the beach! Advice from our very own expert.

I’ve always wanted longer, thicker lashes – who hasn’t? Now, there is an FDA-approved Miracle Grow for your lashes called Latisse, produced by Allergan (the makes of Botox and Juvaderm). The drug is traditionally used to treat glaucoma, but now women are demanding its beauty benefits! 

But is it safe? Will I need to trim my lashes?

I decided to go to the expert, Dr. Kenneth Beer, a cosmetic dermatologist, professor at The University of Miami, founder of The Cosmetic Boot Camp and author of Palm Beach Perfect Skin.

So, tell us Dr. Beer…

Q: What is Latisee?

A: Latisse is bimatoprost, a prostaglandin type of molecule. It is the first and only drug approved by the FDA to grow eyelashes.

Q: How does it work?

No one really knows exactly how Latisse works, but when used consistently it increases the length, thickness and darkness of the eyelash hairs.

Q: Is it safe? Why or why not?

It is safe to use, but as with any product, can have some women can experience issues such as irritation.

Q: What results can patients really expect?

A: Thickening and darkening of the lashes begins at 8 weeks and really becomes prominent at 16 weeks.

Q: How long do results typically last? To maintain longer, thicker lashes Latisse should be used continuously. As long as usage is maintained, patients can expect lash enhancement.

Q: How much does the treatment cost?

A: It costs about $120.00 per bottle, which can last 1-2 months.

Q: Do you apply the treatment in your office or do patient apply it at-home?

A: Latisee is applied at-home, but it can only be dispensed in office or at pharmacy.

Q: Have you had patients who need to trim their lashes? 

A: Not yet.

Q: Are there any over-the-counter products that can produce comparable results?

A: The over-the-counter products that produce similar results are knock offs that copied the molecule without conducting the FDA testing or registration, so it is hard to know much about them.

Have you tried Latisee? Tell us about it!!!