Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey, Dr Dennis Gross has the skincare expertise to deliver proven products and treatment success with the education and support you expect.
To make the difference in the lives of all people everywhere by helping them have healthier skin.
Dr Dennis Gross’ philosophy and approach are cascaded into every aspect of the experience. The expertise, efficacy and trust that infuse every product and interaction create a brand that one should never need–or want–to switch from.
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare is constantly advancing based on Dr Dennis Gross’ professional experience as a clinician, practicing dermatologist and researcher and his life as a husband, parent and caring teacher.
This powerful sun protection prevents sun damage throughout frequent and high sun exposure while hydrating skin and reducing uneven skin tone. In addition to zinc oxide, tranexamic acid fights hyperpigmentation while a hydrating complex of humectants help bind moisture to the skin. A high performance sunscreen that keeps up with your active lifestyle while protecting you from the sun and preventing signs of sun aging dark spots, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles. Water resistant and sweat resistant to maintain coverage no matter the activity.
All- Physical Ultimate Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
An all physical, oil free, and sweat/water resistant fluid sunscreen with a blendable , lightweight finish. Antioxidants and anti aging ingredients are combined with zinc oxide for the best defense against the damaging effects of the sun.
Use daily in the AM as the final step in your skincare routine, after moisturizer. Massage a generous amount all over the face, neck, and décolleté 15 minutes before sun exposure until visible formula fully melts into skin. Reapply every two hours. For children under 6 months of age, consult a doctor.
It’s been a lifelong journey of looking in the mirror and trying to see beauty. The more I go through life the more beauty I see in the world – the little tender moments with a child, a majestic sunset or just an unexpected act of kindness like a smile or wave. It’s truly as if God has a paintbrush and creates the most aesthetically pleasing pictures for us – we must be willing and open to see them. We often go through life, looking at our phones, the Instagram feeds around us but do we look deeper at the people and experiences around us? Do we look at ourselves? I got out my mirror and looked into my blue eyes, hoping for more answers.
Have I always seen my own beauty? Of course not. For many years I was externally focused on my appearance and relentlessly hard on myself. I never felt I could measure up. As the saying goes, “a true lady will never reveal her age,” which is why I will not reveal mine, but more experience has truly made me let go and change my focus to beauty on the inside. I will say the bridge for me to do so was the notion of self-care and pampering. It all sounded like a cliché but when I put the self-care into action my life changed so much. While I always believed in being kind to others, I was not being gracious to myself. I would run myself ragged accomplishing things for others, but I rarely put that time and energy into myself. I felt unworthy of the pampering. I had to look deep inside on why I felt unworthy, and it was from some deep unresolved childhood wounds. I knew I not only had to change some of my habits, but I had to change who and what I allowed in my life for my own vitality and health.
Something in my life really needed to shift. I was not feeling well and did not feel good in my body. If someone told me I was beautiful I suspected they were just saying that to make me feel better. I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes. And I really depended on the compliments and encouragement of others. My inner spark needed to be reignited. Did I think I deserved to take the afternoon to have a massage and mani and pedi? No, I did not. Did I feel like the girl on the Loreal commercial from the 80s saying ‘I am worth it?’ No, I did not. But I so wanted to be like her. If only we could have the confidence of a woman from a Mentos commercial, Loreal Preference and Calgon (Calgon take me away) all combined into one! So, at that moment I decided to start a whirlwind beauty journey. I made many friends, lost weight, got in shape, had laughs and even got two jobs out of it! Most of all I put inner beauty into action, and it actually gave me the opportunity to extend my journey to other women. I am hoping sharing this helps reignite the spark in anyone who needs to remember who they really are! It’s time to tune into your inner beauty.
Call to Action: Get Moving
I decided to go to a local Bollywood Dance class taught by a fabulous woman named Sheri with purple streaks in her hair. This was such a good time, dancing to popular Indian music from the Bollywood movies and using tie-on Bollywood skirts with jingling bells. I felt more in my body and that led to going to Zumba classes. I remembered how much I loved to dance. Then the teacher Colleen and several students suggested I become a Zumba teacher myself. Becoming a dance teacher was something I dreamt of years ago when I was living in Chicago and taking WERQ. After sweaty workout sessions I would come home and still create my own choreography. I decided to take the plunge and I became a Zumba instructor, that led to certifications in Bollywood Dance and Mixxedfit. Teaching dance is one of my favorite things to do and I love to help my students feel beautiful when dancing. Coincidentally there is a mirror there and a student recently told me in my class she feels confident enough to look at herself in the mirror when she dances. It meant the world to me.
You are What you Eat? Houston, we have a problem. I decided to examine my diet. I knew I was eating some things that didn’t make my body feel good and I was always sluggish and I had a hard time losing weight. Ok, to be honest my diet was terrible and devoid of many nutrients. I loved noodles and cheese. I took a test with York and found out I had food intolerances to most of what I was eating. With an entire diet overhaul, I felt myself nourished and looking to food as fuel instead of comfort. And I combined this with intermittent fasting and I was able to get into the best shape of my life. It’s simple – you can send a blood sample from home to the lab and they analyze about 200 different food and drink. It was life changing and I am very careful to avoid inflammatory foods and the good news is that food intolerances can eventually go away.
Becoming Elsa with Cryoskin
After losing weight from all my efforts I decided to treat myself to Cryoskin toning. It’s a non-invasive procedure that involves skin sessions with cold temperatures to tone the skin. I went to Cryoslim and Tone in Barrington, Illinois and loved the owner Patti immediately as she did toning treatments on my stomach, backside and facials. I felt safe in her cozy sanctuary spa and salon and soon enough I was telling her my life story as she did the treatments. It was amazing what a difference it made, and I quickly became such a supporter of the brand that I was offered a job there. Now I get to help women look and feel their best with this amazing technology and method as we also offer Cryoskin Slimming which uses apoptosis (programmed cell death) to kill fat cells as it is released through the lymphatic system. I truly feel like Elsa the Disney ice princess now and I even get to use a wand. The joy I see when women look in the mirror after the treatments is such a reminder there is magic in the beauty industry and I also love the intimate part of helping them accomplish their goals.
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
I met some beautiful friends along the way. Even though I was nervous, I went to Prima Medspa in Algonquin, Illinois and had amazing experiences. I won’t tell what services I got but I have to say the results are extremely natural. I met Gina there and she stood out to me because of her ability to make others feel and look more beautiful. And then down the road I met Andrea who is fantastic at what she does and always a text message away with my questions. I am so proud of Gina who just started her own company in Schaumburg, Orb Medspa and it’s been so wonderful seeing her blossom. I have become friends with them along the way because it’s a personal process to work with someone on your skin and aesthetics and it’s always best to stay more natural to how you look to exude a refresh.
Spirit Fingers
And yes, I did end up getting the mani and pedis I deserved. My favorite place to go is Spirit Nails in Island Lake, Illinois and I always ask for Amy. I love the simplicity of a French manicure and pink toe polish. I realized how much I dislike doing my own nails and I can extend a manicure longer than they prefer if I am careful. I truly enjoy the massage chairs, the fancy chandelier and the hand and foot massages that come along with the services. It’s really the little things and it sends the message that “yes, I am indeed worth it.”
What is True Beauty?
For me, true beauty is having a good heart and loving others. I think the missing part for me was to extend this love and self-care to myself. I feel when I was able to do that I found myself getting closer to God, deep healing and also less focused on my appearance and way more accepting of my appearance. My work requires me to help women love themselves, accomplish their fitness goals and feel good in their bodies. Helping them feel better is the most rewarding part of all and I see so much beauty in them even when they do not. It is as if we hold up a mirror of truth for each other with love and see what really matters and tune out the distortion. Am I perfect? No, of course not but I know in God’s eyes I am perfect. Do I think I am beautiful now? Yes, because I see my soul in my eyes -the true window to the soul. And I see the joy in my smile. And that is beautiful.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Sarah Vargo
- Image courtesy
- Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
- Image courtesy
- Lanae Dostal Photography
