Ageing in Figures

According to Unilever research, these are the factors that bring about good ageing in 40 – 70 years old women.
In China
Less sun exposure – 2.9 years younger
Working indoors – 6.5 years younger
Pre-menopause – 3.5 years younger
Frequent use of moisturiser – 2.4 years younger
Frequent use of night cream – 2.4 years younger

In Spain
Eating fruit and veg every day – 2.1 years younger
Healthy diet – 1.8 years younger
Never using a sunbed – 5.7 years younger
Ever used HRT – 2.5 years younger
Frequent use of moisturiser – 2.8 years younger
Non smoker – 1.8 years younger
Falling asleep quickly – 2.5 years younger

Also in my practice – healthy lifestyle, lots of sleep and a good skincare routine accounts for 80 % of success in delaying skin ageing.

The Art of Ageing

“People believe that old age starts at 54 and youth ends at 32. The Government calls for reappraisal of attitudes towards age, given Britain’s rapidly ageing population.”   A survey by the Department for Work and Pensions

How To Age Well

“If I feel good, I am more confident and function better. I’ve learnt to love what I have. I’ve learned that as I age, less is definitely more. I decided never to change my face and embrace how I age. You have to do it with joie de vivre.”

“The great news about ageing is that you’re living and that you have had a full life and have wonderful memories. The sad thing is that you have less time ahead of you. Every day that goes by I look a little less good – that is the truth. My advice to women is:

• Don’t hide your age, either by saying you are younger than you are or hiding it by erasing features in your face. It is all about acceptance.
• Embrace who you are as soon as possible when you are young. Like yourself. Have a discipline. Try to be alert – have your body follow you, have your mind follow you.
• Embrace where you are at in life, every age brings a different pleasure. Feel relevant, active, working, curious. Live fully so that you cannot pretend you have not lived.
• I am afraid that changing my face surgically would make me feel insecure. I would rather be me, without erasing the life that can be seen in my face, erasing me.

  Diane von Furstenberg for Sunday Times

Famous Women on Beauty and Ageing: Quotations

In any culture, beauty has been about perfection but concepts of what constitutes “perfection” have changed over the centuries. As the population ages, it could well be that concepts of beauty will shift. We live at a time of great variety of age, gender, style, background, culture and attitude and contemplating beauty brings pleasure to each of us yet it comes in all shapes, colours and sizes.

Chic, Autentic and Natural

“Being an English person, and having lived in France for 40 years, I am not as nicely turned out as the French but I don’t care like the English.”  Jane Birkin 

“I never put my face in the sun. I am determined not to go the way of my contemporaries and get surgery. I have a lot of facials and take scrupulous care of my skin.” Joane Collins OBE

“Self image is a complicated thing. I campaign against cosmetic surgery because it a grave act in which you don’t necessarily foresee all the consequences. The people who have it are lacking in confidence.” Emmanuelle Beart, French acress by Matthew Campbell for Sunday times.

“The more healthily you live, the better you look. We still want to look like ourselves when we grow older. We lose our sensuality when we have surgery, it takes away a part of who you are. If you look after yourself and use good products, you won’t need surgery or any other intervention.”   Sharon Stone for YOU, January 2012.

The Botox Lovers

“Botox, lasers and fillers have given us new control over ageing. Not by making us look younger but by slowing down how we age. Now, if you choose to, from your early to mid thirties you can enter a twilight zone of ageing in which you are in a reverse version of dog years – for every seven years you will only age one.” Newby Hands for Harpers Bazaar

“The psychological effects of Botox and fillers have been as profound as the physical – the elongation of the life span in which we can feel good about ourselves. Psychologically, women feel empowered by the knowledge that they have this as backup. This may have contributed to a more relaxed approach to ageing, women beginning to feel more comfortable in their own skin. We want to take care of ourselves but we do not mind a few wrinkles or few signs of ageing to show we have lived.” Betty Catroux for Harpers Bazaar

“You can get an instant snapshot of a woman’s character by looking at from whether she says yes or no to Botox… Just from that one apparently superficial decision…Botox lover likes to keep up appearances, is insecure to some extent in either in her relationship, social circle or work. She is competitive, keeps secrets from her partner, is a natural townie, on a diet of some sort, permanently, and not actively involved in the community. She does not have men friends, only admirers. She has women friends but the sort you meet for a glass of bubbly before shopping at the sales, not the sort you watch TV in bed with. She dresses for bed, exfoliates regularly. The un-Botoxed are brave. They will not be coerced – even by the threat of looking uglier than everyone around them – and that suggests a degree of courage as well as confidence.”  Shane Watson for Sunday Times

And Going for Surgery

“Another facelift? I’ll do whatever’s required.” Anne Robinson for Sunday Times

Smart Shopping for Skincare

Shopping for skincare is becoming smart. Where SpaceNK apothecary used to be the only shop to find niche and interesting brands, online retailers are finding new and exciting ways for us to spend our money. 

Feelunique – The website has hired Newby Hands from Harpers Bazaar to write exciting words about their products. Check their offers at http://www.feelunique.com

Glossy Box – The Botox and Fillers guru, Wendy Lewis, advises Glossy Box customers on skincare.

Beauty Mart – Last but not least, Anna-Marie Solowij, a former Vogue beauty director, launched a new concept store opening in Harvey Nichols, London, that sells only the best products – not entire product lines – from all natural (Weleda) to high-tech skincare brands (Dr Perricone).
http://beautymartblog.com/wordpress/about-us/

The Science Of Facial Massage

I would like to highlight the benefits of facial massage to broader audience.

The Science Of Facial Massage – Benefits Beyond Beauty

It might be a cliche that facial massage leads to relaxation. But how does it work? I have looked into all that is known about the physical and psychological benefits brought about by a structured, deep and long facial massage.

We are getting older and feel the need to stay looking young with the best anti-ageing skincare products and therapies. Touch, as a human need, is vital for our emotional and physical health and the face is the most accessible part of the human body. Regular facial massage is a health affirming, anti-ageing therapy with significant benefits for both skin and our psyche. It is an alternative to Botox, which has been shown to impact negatively on our social communication by changing our emotional experience. By evoking in-the-moment positive emotions, facial massage contributes to our well-being and it is its psychological effect which provides the rationale for the physiological basis underlying mechanical stimulation.

In order to be effective, clinically proven anti-ageing treatments have to stimulate the production of new, non-fragmented and well-organised collagen and/or papillary reconstruction in order to improve the appearance of aged skin. It is well-known that body massage impacts on vital body signs by inducing a state of relaxation and has a positive effect on neurosis, stress, pain, anxiety and depression. Stress has been shown to play a role in the onset of skin ageing and deterioration by compromising the epidermal barrier function and impairing the inflammatory response.

Facial massage is a form of psychological intervention; a relaxation technique with music and focused attention to the massaged area of the face. Research confirms that stress management techniques lead to reduction of skin disease symptoms.

Having done massage treatments on a day-to-day basis, I am able to compare published research to my client’s experiences. For more information about my treatments, please go to www.faceworkshops.com

Facial Massage & Relaxation At Home

• It is a nice feeling to indulge in a relaxing afternoon with a scented candle or calming eye pads but making time for relaxation in our demanding day to day life is essential for our health. Goal setting and stressful, aggressive work environment changes our hormones (adrenaline, testosterone levels are higher) and this can have a negative impact on our skin. As 80 – 90 % of illnesses are stress related, relaxation should be an important part of our life.
• The main benefits of a facial massage are calming effect, increased blood and lymph flow, muscle relaxation and increase in endorphins that make us feel good.
• Start with massaging decollete, shoulders and neck with flat hands. Sweep upwards and outwards in a slow motion, use organic plant oil and remove it with a hot flannel. Invest time into massaging the areas prone to sagging (use your thumbs and index fingers) to increase blood flow and slow down the ageing process. 

Choose the Right Oil

• Use light oil with sensual, smooth feel (not a sticky base) and pleasant aroma that transports you to a far away place.
• Dim your lights, wrap in warm towels, light a scented candle – breathe deeply and listen to relaxing music.

 Inspired by Pure Beauty (October 2011).