Posts Tagged ‘anti-ageing’

Susan Sarandon, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Fonda, Sigourney Weaver all have something in common and I’m wondering if this is a hinder or a help to us Fe-mortals. Is their age defying sexiness an inspiration or another reason to stare glumly at ones reflection, pondering if they in fact exist in a different gravity field from the rest of us.

I think they are an inspiration, these ladies are hot because they are confident, a wrinkle and a sag here or there does nothing to dent this, more to emphasise the experiences they have lived through and mark them down as the one you want to sit next to at a diner party. I’m really happy to see that V Magazine agree, with their ‘Who Cares About Age Issue’. alexia inge

For some help defying gravity from Cult Beauty click here

StriVectin made a name for itself with StriVectin-SD, an ultra-concentrated formula for stretch marks that when trialled by consumers was also found (by “dumb luck”) to significantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face. 

Actuated by this cosmetic triumph, StriVectin developed the new Instant Facial Sculpting Cream, which uses active ingredients including plant based peptides from soy and sweet almonds, amino acids and a skin brightening compound to reduce wrinkles and redefine the cheekbones and jaw line. It claims to visibly and immediately tone, tighten and lift the skin, allowing the face to appear more youthful, sculpted and defined.  

Having already received rave reviews stateside, and with A-list fans including Kylie, Jennifer Lopez and Tamara Mellon, there’s sure to be a buzz in the beauty hall when it launches in Harvey Nichols next month.

Available from 1st September 2009 at Harvey Nichols, £69.00

Made from tender leaves and buds handpicked from the top of the Camellia sinesis plant, white tea is a purer, unoxidised variant of the more traditional black and green teas.

Already applauded for its ability to break down fat stores, researchers from Kingston University, London, have found that white tea has significant potential to prevent skin ageing by inhibiting enzymes that attack collagen and elastase. In addition it mimics the actions of one of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes, preventing the skin from oxidative stress which causes a breakdown in cellular strength and function.

The study, published in the BioMed Central Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, tested 23 extracts from 21 plants for their anti-ageing capabilities and found white tea to be the runaway success story. Its showed the highest levels of defence against collagenase (87 per cent) and elastase (89 percent), two enzymes which pose a serious threat to skin by breaking down the natural collagen and elastin that keep it youthful. White tea also displayed the highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity, with levels of 87.92 per cent. SOD is believed to slow the process of ageing by reducing free radical damage.

Cementing the strength of white tea’s anti-ageing capabilities, the concentration of white tea used in the experiments was significantly weaker than that of a normal cup of the tea. Professor Declan Naughton, who led the study, told Cosmetics Design, “We were pretty blown away by the results.”

The study also found that white tea may have anti-inflammatory benefits, while a team of US-based scientists at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University have proven that ingredients in white tea are effective in boosting the immune function of skin cells, protecting them from DNA damage caused by exposure to the sun.

White tea extract has already been harnessed in a variety of cult beauty products, which have pioneered its use for antioxidising, anti-inflammatory and sun protection benefits. Here are some of our favourites.

Sophyto Pholyphenol Drops uses white tea to create an extremely gentle, non-irritating serum that is effective in the fight against free radicals. £45.00

BECCA Mineral Primer not only moisturises and prepares a canvas ready for make up, it utilises the antioxidants found in white tea extract to prevent ageing and keep skin healthy in the sun. £33.00

DuWop Revolotion Bronzing Body Moisturiser lends skin a bronze tint with a slight shimmer. It’s rich in antioxidants, including white tea extract, which soothe irritation and reduce skin puffiness. £27.00

Neal’s Yard Remedies White Tea Eye Gel is a brilliant natural eye rescue gel for people who don’t like putting chemicals near their eyes. It uses bioactive white tea extract to reduce puffiness and combat the signs of ageing. £18.00

Famed for pioneering procedures including face lifts, tummy tucks, botox and skin peels, America’s obsession with youth is no secret. For people with a bit of nerve and a lot of cash it’s now considered the norm to do what it takes to claw back the last few years of their radiant youth. But how far is the average American willing to go? A few botox injections leads to liposuction, a face lift, and then where?

The latest craze to sweep the States is human growth hormone (hGH) injections. Going beyond simple external aesthetic enhancement, medical practitioners have claimed that a hGH regime can actually reverse the physical effects of ageing leaving subjects not only looking younger, but feeling it too.

Doctors advocating the use of hGH suggest getting older and fatter need no longer be inevitable. It’s the result of a glandular disorder that is caused, in part, by diminishing hormones. By replenishing hormone levels to that of a 20 or 30-year-old, it is possible to once again feel that young.

Growth hormones (which are naturally produced in the pituitary  gland of the brain) work by inducing the liver to produce inculin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which triggers the growth of bones and tissues. Levels of hGH and IGF-1 naturally decline after the age of 30, though the pituitary never stops producing them completely. Some small studies have shown that boosting these levels with hGH injections can lead to an increase in muscle mass, improved exercise capability and an increase in skin elasticity.

But of course, it comes at a price. Enterprising cosmetic doctors charge between $500 and $1,000 a month for hGH injections, but the real cost lies in the risk to an individual’s health. Studies have shown that high levels of hGH can lead to an increased likelihood of breast and prostate cancer. Scientists believe this could be because IGF-1 promotes the growth of cells and prevents them from dying – this is the same as with cancer cells which grow rapidly and don’t die.

Other risks (which can be seen in sufferers of acromegaly, a disease caused by a tumor that makes growth hormone) include swollen features, hypertension, heart disease and arthritis.

Aside from the glowing anecdotal testimonies, there is little scientific evidence to support the anti-ageing claims made by fans of hGH. In fact, a 2007 study of healthy elderly men and women showed that the positive effect of the hormone was comparable to what could be achieved by moderate weight training in the gym.

For now it seems we must continue to herald a diet rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), along with regular exercise, as our best weapon in the fight against ageing . It’s not the secret to eternal youth, but it may just help you grow old gracefully.