The Habit of Frowning “Computer Face”

There is a growing evidence that more women in office-based jobs are developing a “computer face” and premature signs of ageing. Working long hours in front of a computer screen results – in a decade or so – in sagging  jawline, “turkey neck” and deep-set wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. 

It is a habit. When stressed or thinking hard, people often put on a grumpy face to appear more serious. 

• Concentration leads to frowning and squinting that overtime brings on the frown lines.
• Sagging is due to shortened neck muscles and sitting in one position for too long.  This repetition leads to pre-mature signs of ageing - and in two decades of looking at the screen - these may be really significant.

To me, it is not the Botox but small changes to break the habit include:

• taking regular screen breaks
• stretching neck muscles – Dr Prager, a London cosmetic surgeon, also recommends “Kiss the ceiling” exercise we teach in facial yoga classes
• and raise your computer screen higher so that you are not looking downwards at it.

Come for facial yoga tuition or organise a facial yoga party.

Source: Eccles, L. Screens put years on you.  Daily Mail Sep 2010.

On Beauty And Ageing

For so many women, life gets better in their later years. They grow into their looks and trade in their spotless perfect skin for experience and self-fulfilment. But if we are all living longer on average, we are going to spend most of our lives “not being young” and we might as well embrace it.

Women complain of becoming invisible to men in middle age and research supports this as our programming. But older women have their life experience written into their faces – all these fascinating, inspiring, individual stories. Young girls have inimitable, peachy, smooth skin with their future unmapped in their faces.

We can surgically enhance till we are blue in the face but we can never be beautifully young again. Instead, lets embrace our experiences and cherish the face that shows how interesting life we had.

Source: Walter H. Beauty and truth. Harpers Bazaar, August 2010, 76.

 

Facials With A Difference

What are your expectations of a facial? Is it that ”the glow” in your complexion will be short-lived as what you are really paying for is a quiescent body and mind? Are you reaching a point when – lovely and relaxing as a traditional facials are – you need to do more?

From a dermatology point of view, ageing should be considered in three dimensions: 

• 1. the internal skin structure,
• 2. the surface of your complexion and
• 3. the underlying muscles.

There is no quick fix that can stop ageing but a careful and diligent routine can help you look younger and slow down the rate of ageing. Go for facials with elements that were once mutually exclusive – pampering and lasting results.

What To Do: For brighter complexion

In autumn, repair of  an ageing complexion means having a seasonal facial peel. The benefits include

• brighter and even skin – and as we know pigmentation is ageing
• enhanced skincare penetration and improved performance
• fading of fine lines and acne scars.

Use products with a mix of acids (combination suitable for your skin type, not aggressive and irritating) that will make you mildly red afterwards but induce no flaking when removing the dull surface skin.

What to do: For internal skin structure (collagen production and alignment) and soft, supple muscles

Anti-ageing facial exercise. Reclaim your jawline without surgery! with facial yoga.  Anti-ageing facial massage. Just as you layer your skincare, layer up your treatments to ensure you are ageing as slowly as you can. Long and relaxing European massage that nurtures your inner wellbeing as well as lifts the jawline? A radical Chinese face-lift massage that works on relaxing or stimulating specific facial muscles and leads to a sunny, energetic and lifted face?

“With so many shades of grey between the facial and the scalpel, to age gracefully is not to do nothing but to look like youve done nothing.” Kelly Gilbert,  Beyond facials. Vogue 2010

Best Anti-Ageing Skincare? FaceWorkshops Expert Opinion on the recommendations given on the ITV This Morning Show

The ITV This Morning Show broadcast a programme about anti-ageing skincare! Looking at the overwhelming skincare market with too many products to choose from, they asked Dr Patrick Bowler for his expertise and tested his best anti-ageing ingredients in skincare: Retinol (vitamin A) in RoC Retin-Ox, Vitamin C, Co-enzyme Q10 in Nivea Q10, Idebenone in Prevage and Vitamin E in Liz Earle product range.

Ladies over age of 70, the “Bus Pass Beauties”, were encouraged to use one of these ranges each and rate them in terms of the effect on their face. It was the organic Liz Earle product range that got the “10 out of 10″ mark.

Although the producers caution us to consider that “everyone’s skin reacts differently to different products and it is important to find a product that suits you and your budget best”, my expertise enables me to raise a few comments:

• Subjectivity: Organic products have lovely textures that drive our liking of a skincare product more than its true efficacy and this may have contributed to the highest score of the Liz Earle product range.
• Period of Testing: A month of testing might be enough in terms of a subjective change but for any significant and visible difference to be achieved, we need a much longer time period as shown e.g. in the Boots serum trial.
• Holistic Approach: Not only the age group (70 +) but also your skin type and concerns, sun exposure, genetics, medical history and lifestyle need to be taken into consideration when recommending a personalised skincare routine.

Interesting to watch but not a shopping guide to skincare! http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thismorning/styleandbeauty/beauty/buspassbeautylookingyounger/

To Buy the Right Skincare Products for the autumn/winter season, book a Personalised Skincare Consultation on 01482 863807. http://www.faceworkshops.com/private-consultations/