We look into the latest and greatest youth generators to make you, as Carrie Bradshaw said, feel like a girl of 35 again. So, as Cher sang, If we could turn back time…
What’s the biggest concern of women around their skin? Looking older. "You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old" said George Burns, and I’ve to agree, you can’t help getting older but you can try to not look old and feel old.
Maybe we can just quote that Peter Panette of pop-rock, Cher, on turning back the clock. All together now. If I could turn back time. If I could find a way…
Time stops for no man (or woman) so there’s no time to waste. Let’s look into the latest and greatest youth generators to make you, as Carrie Bradshaw said, feel like a girl of 35 again.
First up: Tablets
Not since Moses took two tablets up Mt Sinai and came back with the ten commandments have there been so many vital tablets to live by.
Collagen from BioBalance New Zealand is a marine-sourced dietary supplement harvested from NZ coastal waters sustainably. And you know why mermaids always look so young: marine collagen! Just kidding, but this stuff is no joking matter; it actually improves the structural integrity of skin from free radical damage which leads to the big A. BioBalance Collagen feeds skin the nutrients it needs for regeneration, strength, and elasticity. It is $29.50 from HealthPost. For more info see www.biobalance.co.nz
Radiance Ageless Beauty is another NZ marine collagen product, that combines collagen with antioxidants for a super nutrient cocktail to kick ageing out the door and dust off the doormat behind it. I’ve been taking these and expect to get a new passport photo soon as I will look so much younger. Ageless Beauty is usually $80 but www.healthpost.co.nz has it on offer for $58 right now. It was the winner of Australian Women’s Weekly Women’s Health Product of the Year 2012 and also contains Vitamic C, Vitamin A, and Vinanza from kiwifruit skin and grapeseed extract for younger looking skin.
Secondly: skincare
Trilogy has various ranges in its comprehensive skincare offerings, and its AGE PROOF line is particularly impressive; especially when you consider they are priced around the mass-market pharmacy level, for this high-end natural botanical and NZ made skincare.
The latest goody from AGE PROOF by Trilogy is Trilogy Botanical Lightening Treatment ($48.90). It contains natural actives to brighten and illuminate where dark spots from ageing, pigmentation, and sun damage have darkened the skin. If you’re hesitant to use chemical lightening agents such as hydroquinone, try this natural alternative. Trilogy CoQ10 Booster Serum and Nutrient Plus Firming Serum are two fantastic age fighting serums in the AGE PROOF range, both priced at $48.90. CoQ10 boosts collagen and elastin and gives powerful antioxidant benefits.
And like all Trilogy products, they display the NATRUE logo which instantly tells you they have natural and organic ingredients, environmentally-friendly practices, no animal testing, and no synthetic fragrances and colours / genetically modified ingredients / petroleum derived products / or silicone oils and derivatives in any product. www.trilogyproducts.com
YesTo Blueberries Age Refresh Intensive Skin Repair Serum is part of the American skincare brand that’s available at Countdown exclusively. The serum is part of their blueberries anti-ageing line, and retails for $39.99. Its powerful vitamins rich in essential fatty acids feed skin. Use under your moisturiser.
L’Oreal Paris AGE PERFECT Cell Renewal Advanced Restoring Golden Serum has the most attractive packaging I’ve ever seen come out of L’Oreal. It’s literally golden; the pump bottle looks and feels prestige, and the clear case reveals the luminous serum with gold lights held within. The Age Perfect line is aimed at 50+ age group as cell activity drops at 50 (it decreases 40% between 50 and 70 years of age) and it aims at protecting epidermis mother cells with Natecium, called an ultimate antioxidant for cellular protection. The range includes a serum, restoring day creamSPF15, and restoring night cream, all with Natecium.
Thirdly: anti-ageing make-up
Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector is our cheapest product in today’s feature, priced at $17.49. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Anti-Ageing is available in two shades – light and medium, and is like a tinted moisturiser with a sun protection factor; it gives a fresh glow and light coverage with some sun protection. Available now at supermarkets, The Warehouse, selected pharmacies and department stores.
L’Oreal Paris NutriLift Gold Anti-Ageing Serum Foundation ($43) is my personal pick of the lower priced foundations; it really works at giving a smooth and dewy finish that doesn’t settle into lines. I’ve used half of it up already and would buy again. Available now at supermarkets, department stores and pharmacies.
This Clarins foundation is amazing. I’ve been wearing it – even through workouts at the gym- and it does not budge. In fact I did the media yoga class in it (yes okay I wore makeup to a yoga class, so judge me – we were being photographed!) and it stayed on and didn’t wear off. The Extra-Comfort formual lives up to its name and it has SPF15 for added sun protection. The only downside I can think of (apart from it’s a bit pricey for many) is that it’s in a tub so is less hygenic than a pump bottle. But, again, the formula is incredible! Available at Clarins counters for $102.
To use in conjunction with the Extra Comfort Foundation, or perhaps by itself to conceal just what you need to, is this new Instant Concealer from Clarins. Aimed at age control of dark eye circles and dark shadows under the eyes, it is out now retailing at $54 and comes in three shades of light, medium and dark.
Clarins has created age-defying lipsticks as lips are definitely one area that really do show your age. Lipsticks tend to bleed into the fine lines and pale lip glosses just don’t flatter. Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Chocolate Rose is the perfect colour. It’s neutral enough to go with everything, but has enough depth of pigment to not blend in and look like nothing at all. Available from Clarins counters at Farmers and department stores. Did I mention this is the perfect colour?
Lastly, haircare
I’ve been using this personally since it arrived and it feels so good. Kevin Murphy Young Again Wash (shampoo $48), Rinse (conditioner $48), and masque (mask $68) are part of a three step process to restoring hair to a youthful condition. What does that mean? Shiny, and lustrous hair! No point taking care of your face if your hair is letting you down and looking tired and dull. Thus, taking its cues from luxury anti-ageing skincare regimes, Kevin.Murphy YOUNG.AGAIN attacks the root (excuse the pun) of hair ageing: chemical damage, environmental damage, and hormonal. The three step process uses Bioflavonoids from berries and citrus with twenty essential amino acids, baobab seed oil, and immortelle essential oils, with anti-ageing qualities. A side effect is it smoothes hair and fights the frizzies. It feels completely smooth, rich and luxurious, and I look forward to using it every time I wash my hair. Available now at selected hair salons. See www.kevinmurphy.com.au
Wittily-packaged haircare label evo has a raneg of colour intensifying conditioners that are ideal for ageing hair in need of a bit of a szhuzh. Does it revive like a lifegaurd on relaity tv? The package asks. Oh yes, like two, and it tones like a Fonda workout video. evo Fabuloso Platinum Blonde $44.90 helps to tone red shades out of red hair effectively removing the warmth and bringing it back to true blonde. Leave on for 3 minutes after shampooing, and wash out. Sulphate and paraben-free. Sold in selected salons. See www.evohair.com
davines have long been on my radar for high quality yet sustainably produced and cruelty-free natural haircare. In their anti-ageing line of shampoo and conditioners, they have the fantastic Glorifying Shampoo Shimmering ($39), and Glorifying Pak Anti Age Shimmering ($43), both with polyphenols for sensitized coloured hair. The Glorifying Pak is more of a treatment than a conditioner, as it’s an intensely moisturising botanical hair conditioner that you leave on for five minutes. It’s deliciously thick and gloopy like yoghurt and you simply scoop it out with your hands and it feels divine. From selected salons. See www.davines.com
Words and photos, Megan Robinson
20 October 2013
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