Eyes right

We all have laughter lines, but even outdoors you can avoid deep wrinkles by applying a light eye cream or even better, eye gel, using gentle patting action all around the orbital bones.

When you’re out and about, don’t screw up eyes to shield out the suns rays - invest in a good pair of sunglasses and wear them!

Here’s a few hints for last minute eye revival....

Refrigerate your eye gel before use.

Invest in a good concealer, and use after a late night to brighten eye area. Pat on with finger gently a small amount at a time.

Wake skin up in the morning by applying a very cold, wet flannel for a few minutes.

Helping hands

Skin on the hands is delicate and dries out easily, so the key is protect your hands before you get them wet. It’s so easy to apply sunscreen all over and forget your hands.

Even before you leave your hotel room you can give your hands a boost by using a handcream which contains an added sun-screen… and always use a barrier cream before washing your swimming things!

Neck-lines

How many of you remember your face cream but forget your neck? The skin on your neck is actually more sensitive than the skin on your face, so it needs extra care. Always apply a moisturiser to the neck using gentle, upward strokes to avoid pulling.

If you’re planning a day outdoors, avoid spraying perfume on your neck, as sunlight can activate it causing irritation.

Skin deep

Did you know that skin is relatively thin at birth, increasing in thickness during childhood?

In our early 20s the thickness of our skin gradually begins to decline and by the time a woman reaches her fifties the skin in thinning quite abruptly.

The sun is the skin’s worst enemy and sun-worshippers almost always appear visibly older than their non-sun lover contemporaries. So get that suncream out and use it!

Top-up tip

It’s great to sample local cuisine when you travel, and wash it down with the local brew. But remember - tea, coffee and alcohol all have a dehydrating effect on the skin.

If you do indulge, always drink a large glass of water before bedtime to re-hydrate the skin.

If you don’t do it already, you should start with daily body brushing (click here for article).

You can then exfoliate with a peel or a scrub. “Dead cells on the surface of the skin can give it a dull lack-lustre appearance, but you can improve your complexion tremendously by exfoliating and sloughing off the old, dead skin cells,” says dermatologist Dr Jennifer Joneyous.

Peels contain alphahydroxyl acids (AHAs) and those for home use can be found in creams from beauty specialists such as Gatineau and Natura Bisse (available online here. AHA treatments and creams are also to be found at many salons.

Try the Dermalogica specialist AHA treatment - contact Healthcare LLC on 04 2650201 for the salon closest to you.

Susan Harmsworth, founder of ESPA, stresses that this isn’t a summer one-off, but that you should exfoliate as often as your skin needs. “The drier the skin, the more often you can exfoliate” she explains.

ESPA treatments can be found at Assawan Spa, Burj Al Arab or telephone 04 3017777, but most salons offer a range of facial and body scrubs.

If you want to treat yourself at home, there are plenty of scrubs to be found around the beauty counters. Places like Body Shop have scrubs of all flavours including pink grapefruit, cocoa and mango - click here for full details.

Estee Lauder’s Body Performance Exfoliating Body Polish, and No7 Brightening Body Buffer, from Boots, both help to detoxify skin, while Clinique’s Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream, has a blue shimmer to leave a glimmering sheen.

Products with natural ingredients are absorbed into your body when you scrub, so they can also feed your skin. You could even make your own salt or sugar scrub at home.

“When you exfoliate, apply the paste to damp skin and rub very lightly using circular movements,” says beauty therapist Bharti Vyas. “Ensure you stroke rather than scour, and moisturise your skin well afterwards. Newly exfoliated skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so apply a sun block if you are going straight out in the sun.”

If you want to make your own scrub, here are some of her home recipes…

FACE FOOD

Gentle facial exfoliator for sensitive skin: “Oats and oatflakes have a gentle but deep cleansing action, and can correct skin imbalances, making them ideal for dry, irritated and sensitive skins,” says Bharti.
This scrub can be used once or twice a week to get rid of the dead skin cells and to reveal more radiant skin underneath.
2 heaping teaspoons fine oatmeal
2 teaspoons heavy cream
Combine ingredients, apply to skin, and lightly rub using the balls of your fingers, then rinse off. Do not apply sustained pressure to any particular spot.

Cleansing mask: “Runny honey is good for dislodging dead skin cells. It also has soothing, healing, emollient and mildly antiseptic properties,” says Bharti. This makes this mask ideal for congested skin.
2 heaping teaspoons gram flour [also known as chana flour, besan or chickpea flour]
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspooon runny honey
Mix to a thick, sticky consistency. Apply to affected areas and leave for five to seven minutes.

BODY BATH TREAT
Bath of the five nectars: In Ayurveda, milk, honey, yogurt, ghee and banana are considered to be the five perfect foods, so this bath would be a real treat to nourish, soften, smooth and re-energize your skin.
1 banana, mashed
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon yogurt
1 teaspoon ghee/clarified butter
Combine all the ingredients before massaging the sweet-scented mix onto your skin. Plunge yourself into a warm bath and feel your skin gradually becoming softer and smoother.

SCRUB UP
All-purpose oatmeal scrub: This scrub is gentle enough to be used all over the body and will leave behind radiant-looking skin. The quantities given are enough for one thick application.
2 tablespoons finely ground oatmeal
1 tablespoon almond oil
Combine the two ingredients together and massage into your body. Rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry, making sure you moisturise well afterwards.

The key is to increase fibre to aid digestion, add enzymes to cleanse your liver, and rehydrate with nutrient rich foods that have a high liquid level.

Here are ten of the best

The Husks and Seeds

1. Psyllium. Rich in super soluble fibre, this husk will help control cholesterol, mop up toxins and cleanse your colon. It’s available at any health food store. It comes in different forms. But with all psyllium you need to drink plenty of water for maximum benefit.

2. Sesame seeds. They’re good for your liver cells and protect against the effects of alcohol and other chemicals. For a healthy dip, try tahini, the delicious sesame seed paste, or try a za’ata croissant for br4eakfast, filled with healthy herbs and topped with a liberal coating of sesame seeds.

The Fruits

3. Lemons and Limes. Add to warm water to kick-start your day, or drink whenever you feel thirsty. Packed with vitamin C, lemon/lime juice helps make toxins water-soluble so they can be flushed away. Add a little honey if you need to sweeten the juice.

4. The other fruits. They will build up your vitamin C levels, add vital fibre, with a side order of antioxidants - and they all taste great.

The Greens

5. Broccoli. This clever cruciferate promotes cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says it’s the top food to prevent colon cancer - and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that that broccoli, along with spinach, helped minimise the risk of cataracts. Eat it raw, boil it lightly, or steam it.

6. Green, leafy vegetables. Eat them raw, add to a broth, or better still juice them. Their chlorophyll cleans away environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides) and protects your liver.

If you want a new hairstyle, but haven’t a clue what will suit you, what not visit Stylicious on March 8th. It’s being held at La Maison de Hotes in Jumeirah, Dubai, and experts on hair, make-up and overall image will be on hand to give you expert advice.

For further information and to book online, visit http://www.cityshoppingdubai.com/stylicious.asp

Meanwhile, here’s a few tips if you’re thinking of a radical haircut:

• Try to take the hairdresser a photograph or two of the look you want to go for.
• Make sure your colourist has experience in the shade you want, especially if you’re going a dramatic colour - like red.
• If you’ve got a specific length in mind, never say you want three inches off. Instead, show the stylist where you want the length to be with the edge of your hand.
• If you’re going for a drastic change of style and/or colour, have at least a 10-15 minute consultation with the colourist and stylist. They need to see what your hair looks like dry and styled as you typically style it. This tells them a lot; how much time you really put into your hair each day, how your hair dries and how healthy your ends are.

• Listen to your stylist. If the woman in your picture is chestnut, you’d make a much better brunette – chances are your stylist will know from experience.
• Be honest. You’d probably love your stylist to think you’ll spend time on your new style every morning with a handful of products, 20 minutes drying time and 15 minutes styling time. However, if the truth that your morning routine for the past 20 years is a shower wash followed by a towel dry and ending with a soppy wet ponytail, you’d better confess – otherwise you might end up with a fancy, layered, curling ironed and hair-sprayed look that takes hours to replicate.

Shape it

No matter your face shape, there will be cuts that look best on you. The beauty editors at Allure magazine recently confessed their “untold secrets” including the perfect haircut. The most flattering haircut on almost every face type is shoulder length, a little shaggy and layered. How to get it? Here are some tips:

Layer: The key is not too layer too much in back. The best layers are left to the front and are meant to frame the face, but never go above the eye on short hair or above earlobes on long hair.

Don’t go too long: Don’t grow your hair more than a few inches below the collarbone. According to Allure’s editors, few women over age 18 can get away with hair that falls below their breasts.

Go for the “v-shape cut”: If you have long hair, get your hair cut at the back in a v-shape. It allows for extra length without leaving you looking too “high school,” plus it’s a classic look for long hair that’s universally considered sexy.

Oval Face Shapes

The oval face is the most versatile face. You can pull off almost any look - short, long, straight or wavy. No matter the length of your cut, you’ll look best with layers near your cheekbones, lips or chin -basically whatever feature you want to highlight.

Avoid: Short layers that add height on top of your head. This will make your face appear long. If your hair is thick or curly, avoid a blunt cut. You’ll look like a pyramid.

Long or “Oblong” Face Shapes

The perfect haircut for us is one that doesn’t drag down the face, yet adds width.

Avoid: Stay away from extremely long or short cuts. These elongate your face. Long hair looks best with a few layers cut in, especially around the face. You might also consider a v-shaped style, where the length is mainly in the back, while the sides and front of your hair appear shorter.

Round Face Shapes

Your goal is to create less volume around the face. You also want to minimize the appearance of roundness.

Try cuts that fall just below the chin. Soft, graduated layers are a great bet because they make your face appear slimmer and tend to remove bulk and weight from the sides. Consider wispy and tapered ends. These de-emphasize the roundness of your face. Bangs are flattering, but keep them long or sideswept.

Avoid: One-length, blunt cuts if you have short hair. Curly, short hair is also a no-no. These only emphasize your roundness.

Square Face Shapes

If you have a square face, you’ll want to play down your strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, do this brilliantly. You can also get away with short, spiky cuts and long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline and continue downward.

Avoid: One-length bobs (especially chin-length) and blunt-cut bangs. These will make your face look even more square.

Heart Face Shapes

Your pointy chin tends to be the focal point of your face. Draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones instead with sideswept bangs, brow-grazing fringe, a strong part and hair that falls at or below your jawline. Have short hair? Keep top layers soft and long. Long hair? Go for long layers that graze your cheekbones.

Avoid: Short, blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers.

Oh no! It’s the curse of the dreaded cellulite! Luckily, help is at hand to banish those unwanted dimples.

First look at your diet

Here’s a list of the cellulite busting foods:

* Fibre speeds up the digestion and prevents toxin build-up. Add more brown rice, oats, veggies and fruit.

* Fats aren’t all bad. Get rid of saturated and trans fats. Up the intake of essential fats such as cold pressed hemp, linseed or walnut.

* Fruit such as grapefruit is great for an empty stomach. It cleanses the system and helps detox the liver. Berries are a great source of anti-oxidants (especially goji berries).

* Greens are great. They are packed with phytochemicals to support the liver. Up your intake of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and watercress. Try this old fashioned remedy - it works. Boil a couple of spoons of cabbage every day in unsalted water and drink the water after eating the cabbage.

* Lethicin repairs skin cells, and is found in soya, green veg, seaweed, lettuce and apples.

Then give it a rest

Treat yourself to a detox day, with fresh fruit such as apples and vegetable juices. This will help cleanse your system while giving your gut a well-deserved rest.

Cut out or cut down on alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, sugar, fatty meat, refined carbs, dairy and salt.

Don’t mix protein and carbs at the same meal.

Ditch the S words...smoking, sunbathing and stress.

Next the action plan

Get a skin brush and do it every day. This stimulates the lymph, which drains the toxins (see this article on skin brushing).

Take at least 30 minute vigorous exercise a day.

Finally, some lifestyle changes

Drink plenty of water to flush out the system (one to two litres a day)

Get plenty of sleep. It’s a proven fact that sleep deprived people are much more likely to put on the flab.

Try supplements such as gotu kola for improved lymph and circulation, algae, spirulina and milk thistle for the liver, and agnus castus for balancing female hormones.

Body Shop’s Japanese Cherry Blossom limited edition has a light and breezy scent with a hint of the exotic.

Top notes are Fuji apple, Chinese magnolia and ostmanthus, with mid notes of star jasmine, Japanese cherry blossom and persimmon and finally base notes of sandalwood, hinoki wood and fruity musk.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom Range is available as fragrance, body puree body lotion, bath and shower gel, body butter and reed diffuser.

The report, from market analyst Mintel, says the demand for cosmetic treatments will continue to rise, particularly for non-invasive treatments such as Botox and collagen wrinkle fillers, which soared in popularity during 2007.

During that year more than 570,000 cosmetic operations and treatments were carried out in the UK alone, compared with 300,000 for that country in 2005.

The number of non-surgical procedures such as laser and teeth-whitening treatments rose from 230,000 to 472,000, with a marked increase in demand for Botox and collagen wrinkle fillers.

The total cosmetic surgery market is now worth just over 900 million UKP - more than double the 430 million spent in 2005.

Non-invasive treatments, such as Botox and collagen fillers, have become much more popular because they are seen as less risky and require repeat top-ups, the report adds. Breast enlargements remain the most popular type of surgery for women.

One well-known consumer group is sounding a note of caution over this expansion in busines. Which? says that in a boom sector there is a real risk that in the rush to make money some businesses will cut corners.

Health campaigner Frances Blunden said: “This report underlines the fact that cosmetic treatments industry is now big business and companies are trying hard to maximise their share of this growing market.”

Which? is concerned that the lack of effective regulation in the rapidly growing market could leave consumers vulnerable to sharp sales and marketing practices and unregistered or unqualified practitioners and providers, particularly of non-surgical treatments. 

The idea is that instead of staring at your games module with a fixed expression, you spend ten minutes a day playing Face Training - to give you a kissable face.

“Through a camera and a series of daily exercises the computer helps improve facial muscle tone, improving your appearance,” claims Nintendo.

Computer games that make you photogenic are a great idea. But do they actually work?

When you switch it on you get 70s music, and a blue clad figure with an eerie resemblance to Posh Spice.

After a head and shoulder warm up, you get into the face-training zone, with a series of facial contortions following the androgynous woman on screen. First the eyes, then the rest of the face, until you feel you resemble someone slightly demented.

You then get an action replay of your own movements on screen - not a pretty sight.

More advanced programmes are all there to choose from if you can bear it. The game is supposed to be out in time for Christmas. Watch this face!

Armed with this information, I sent one of our team to the nearest branch to find out more.

Turns out that they were happy to do a complete makeover for us using their new autumn range. Take a look at the results.

Makeovers are available year round at all Body Shop branches, with trained makeup artists to cater for all nationalities and skin types. Just phone them or drop in your nearby store to book.

These are the products used in the makeover…

Shimmer Squares are two unique palettes of luxurious velvety shimmering powder for the eyes, cheeks and face, with four shades which can be used separately for definition, or mixed together for a natural shimmer look. A truly multifunctional gem recommended by Now magazine

Eyes are brightened by Shimmer Smudgers in mega intense shades of colour powder, enriched with iridescent glitter.
Lips go ultra glossy, with Precious sparkling lip colours for rich, intense long-lasting colour and a beautiful shimmering finish. Each shade is shaped in an innovative, precious diamond mould. They’re also recommended by UK’s Hello magazine.

Combining these senses, Estee Lauder has created pleasures delight - a new addition to their pleasures collection. Food like fragrance can be sweet, sexy and seductive, so this new scent of fashion has the sweetest culinary delights in focus,

Its playful side of pleasure is simply irresistible - a floral gourmand confection blending juicy fruits, tangy citrus and irresistible desserts and sweets - deliciously creamy, playful and irresistibly rich.

The use of gourmand food elements tempts the sophisticated palate of a woman who seeks more texture and depth from her fragrance. 

The pleasures delight eau de parfum spray is now available at all Estee Lauder counters throughout the UAE.

It’s Dhs155 for 30ml, Dhs219 for 50ml and Dhs325 for 100ml.

This special promotion runs for the whole of October and is available at all electronic goods stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets, throughout the Middle East.

Kate

Wouldn’t be without
A good black mascara such as Rimmel Volume Extend.
She Uemura eyelash curler.
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal black eye pencil.

Favourite salon treatment
Massage - though she really prefers this at home.

Favourite spa
Chiva Som, Thailand.

Best kept beauty secret
A really high factor sun protection cream. Kate uses factor 35.

Lily

Wouldn’t be without
Dermologica Special Cleansing Gel.
Nars Hydrating Moisture Cream.
A really good black mascara.

Favourite salon treatment
The Oxygen Plasma and Ultrasound Facial at BeautyWorksWest, London.

Favourite spa
The Elemis day spa in London’s Mayfair.

Best kept beauty secret
Wear suncream and don’t overpluck your eyebrows.

So there you have it - advice from both models is choose a great black mascara, and slap on that suncream. Make sure you’ve got both in your handbag at all times!

* Soak feet regularly in a salt bath to help improve circulation and control bacteria.

* Have a weekly massage to encourage blood flow to nourish skin and toenails.

* Stick to natural fibres on feet and expose them to the air for a short period each day.

* Spread and wiggle toes in the bath to liven up inert feet.

* Care for your feet as you do your face - exfoliate once a week and moisturise regularly.

* Add milk to soften water in a footbath.

* Always dry carefully and avoid moisturising between toes.

* Before painting toenails, clean them with polish remover and apply a clear base coat to prevent nails from discolouring.

Scrub off dry skin gently.

* Be extra careful softening and cutting cuticles on toenails, which grow twice as fast as on hands.

If you have problem feet, specialist ranges help you cope with corns, callouses, bunions, blisters, verrucas, athlete’s foot and ingrown toenails, but it does pay to get expert advice from a pharmacist or chiropodist.

Walking in sand is great exercise for feet.

Instant fix

Here’s the easy way to get your feet looking fabulous for summer without spending a fortune on a pedicure.

Difficulty: Easy. Time Required: 20 minutes

1.  Soak your feet in warm water for about ten minutes.

2.  Pat feet dry. Don’t forget between the toes.

3.  Clip toenails straight across. Or, if you would rather, use an emery board (but wait until toenails are completely dry).

4.  Using pumice stone, remove any rough areas from your heels.

5.  Massage cuticle area with a little oil or moisturiser.

6.  Gently push back cuticles.

7.  Apply foot lotion and massage into each foot.

8.  Remove any excess lotion.

9.  If you wish to apply polish follow the procedure below.

10.  Clean nails with polish remover, then use a base coat and let it dry thoroughly. Then put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the centre of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough colour to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done.

11.  Wait until polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don’t skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will protect your nails as well.

12.  Sanitise all of your equipment with alcohol and when it’s dry, store away until the next manicure or pedicure.

Tips:
Nail polish can be stored in the fridge.
To prevent the cap from sticking, coat it with a little Vaseline.

Now Estēe Lauder has expanded the range even further with a serum created to deliver an outstanding whitening result. Re-Nutriv Ultimate White Lifting Serum is specifically designed for the Asian woman for “virtual immunity” against the appearance of age spots and skin discoloration.

The lush milky fluid combines advanced technology with the most precious ingredients to clarify, increase visibly lift and smooth the skin.

“The development of dark spots, loss of clarity, lines, wrinkles and sagging and other changes in pigmentation all represent visible signs of aging”, says Dr. Daniel Maes, Vice President, Estēe Lauder Research and Development. “The luxurious, silky serum fuses rare natural ingredients with exclusive bio-technologies to provide immediate and long term benefits ensuring that skin is protected against the loss of clarity that results from ageing.”

With a distinctively rich, velvety touch and subtly scented feminine fragrance, the serum leaves skin feeling ultra-smooth, soft, and comforted, and looking brighter, clearer and more even-toned. The treatment has both immediate and long-term benefits.

Using biotechnology to combine only the best and most precious ingredients, while drawing from powerful ancient remedies, Estēe Lauder’s White Gold Elixir was created. This elixir is the basis of their new serum. Crushed pearls give brightness and luminosity, a type of yeast literally digests the melanin in pigmentation spots, colloidal gold and gentian calm the skin, and lactokine – derived from milk – builds up the skin’s defences against further ageing by boosting its natural collagen building.

Re-Nutriv Ultimate White Lifting Serum is specially formulated to work with the other products in the range for the ultimate skincare and repair experience. Just smooth over your skin morning and night after the Ultimate Lifting Lotion and follow with Ultimate Lifting Creme and Lifting Eye Creme.

The serum is quasi-drug whitening formula and has been ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested and is non-acnegenic. It will be available at all Estēe Lauder counters in the UAE this month at Dhs845.

Their Summer Indulgence package is two hours of bliss, starting with an exhilarating outdoor rain-shower to wash away the stifling summer heat.

Next is a cooling, refreshing and balancing aromatherapy body polish with the essential oils of pink grapefruit, peppermint, juniper and lavender followed by an aromatherapy massage - using the purest essential oils of lavender, rosemary, peppermint and cooling muscle gels, to revive and awaken the body while relaxing the mind.

Once you’re relaxed and revived, there’s a Anne Semonin Phyto Aromatic Facial to cleanse, exfoliate and envelope with trace elements to restore water balance, alternating with mineralising moisturising masks and gentle steam to sweep free radicals from the skin. Customised regenerating serums and drainage massage, along with essential oils, leaves the complexion supple, smooth and revitalized.

This summer package includes complimentary lunch at the Amara poolside, and full day access to the swimming pool, fragranced steam room, lounges, terraces and gymnasium, all for Dhs700.

To book this treatment, or find out about their other summer specials, just call 04 6021234.