Professional Beauty Tip:

Using mineral makeup gives your skin natural UV protection and also antioxidants to help slow down the aging process.

Apples may have anti-ageing effect

The adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ may no longer apply to apples having the ability to keep just the flu bug away.

The discovery of phloretin, an antioxidant derived from apples, means that the fruit may also help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

‘Phloretin is a powerful antioxidant found to be effective in protecting human skin from the effects of the sun when applied topically,’ said Dr Sheldon Pinnell, founder of SkinCeuticals. He was the leader of the scientific team that made the discovery after five years of research.

The United States-based skincare brand is the first to combine phloretin with other well-known antioxidants like vitamin C into a single anti-ageing serum called Phloretin CF.

Early clinical studies showed that phloretin – found both in the flesh and skin of apples, as well as in the root bark of apple, pear and grapefruit trees – effectively fights the effects of photo-ageing.

Photo-ageing refers to the ageing of skin by ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a result of repeated exposure to the sun over many years.

A 2006 study published in the Biological And Pharmaceutical Bulletin found that phloretin reduces DNA damage caused by UV radiation by 80 per cent.

In addition, the compound also inhibits the enzyme elastase, which causes wrinkles and sagging skin.

Excessive exposure to UV rays causes skin cells to weaken.

The worst outcome of this damage is skin cancer, where skin cells start to multiply abnormally.

Resisting this process are chemical compounds called antioxidants.

Antioxidants guard against photo-ageing by transforming unstable molecules, called free radicals, into unreactive compounds.

The tricky part, when using antioxidants in skincare products, is combining them with other chemicals such that their efficacy will not be lowered. Vitamin C, for instance, is unstable and disintegrates after some time.

The development of the patent-pending technology in the formula Phloretin CF, now sold as a skincare product containing a cocktail of three antioxidants – vitamin C, ferulic acid and phloretin – is the cumulation of over 20 years of work, said Dr Pinnell.

However, this breakthrough does not mean that antioxidants can replace sunscreen entirely, he said.

‘At this point, I wouldn’t say that you can eliminate sunscreen,’ he said. ‘Maybe in the future, as antioxidant technology gets better.’

However, Dr Pinnell recommends the use of antioxidants in addition to the application of sunscreen in a daily skincare regimen.

‘Sunscreen contains a lot of synthetic chemicals,’ he said. ‘It works only on the outside, absorbing UV rays.

‘Antioxidants, on the other hand, work inside the skin and provide long-term protection.’

Having said that, it is important not to overdo things, added Dr Pinnell. This is because UV rays help our skin produce vitamin D that is vital for calcium absorption.

‘You can be relatively vitamin D-deficient if you use sunscreen and antioxidants very religiously,’ he said.

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Peaches And Cream

Great looks come with great skin, so get crackin’ on that epidermis. Dirt and oil blocks pores causing blackheads and pimples, while dirt, grime and pollutants are drawn to oily skin like moths to a flame. So wash your facem cleanse and tine  at least twice a day.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask 1.7 fl oz (50 ml) As we age, Collagen and Elastin degenerate within the skin, resulting in deep wrinkles and the loss of firmness and elasticity. This luxurious cream mask combines the power of Quartz with Padina Pavonica, adaptogenic Noni, Moringa and Argan Tree Oil to instantly uplift and hydrate the skin, minimizing the signs of ageing for a more youthful, firmer appearance.

Decleor Excellence de L’Age Divine Regenerating Mask 8 ea
is a concentrated formula of natural ingredients that quickly take effect. The formulation enhances your skin’s firmness and texture, leaving you with a refreshed look that begs the question “you look so great! What did you have done?”

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel (3.3 oz)
gives the illusion of an eyelift without the knife! The potent blend of ancient botanical beauty secrets, including arnica, juniper, and turmeric, helps firm and brighten the eye area, reducing the appearance of dull, saggy eyes.

Dustin Hoffman’s wife has skincare in the bag — literally
Lately all we seem to hear about is celeb couples going for the jugular. So you’ll be happy to learn that Dustin Hoffman, 70, and wife, Lisa, are still going strong after 28 years.

It could be that the former attorney has got her own thing going on: a portable beauty line called Lisa Hoffman Night & Day 24 Hour Skincare. Accompanying Dustin on all his exotic shoots (eek — Ishtar?!) inspired Lisa to create these travel-sized packets of creams and other gook.

To her credit, she doesn’t drop the Rain Man’s name when promoting the stuff, which, incidentally, is getting so well known, he may have to drop hers.

Aging Gracefully Inside and Out

Whether you’ve noticed the signs of aging in family and friends, or acknowledged how it affects your own mind and body, getting older is an unavoidable part of life. And while Ponce de Leon never found the Fountain of Youth, daily preventative measures can be taken to help you age beautifully both inside and out.

The most frequently recognized signs of aging include extrinsic indicators such as gray hair and wrinkles. But have you ever stopped to think about other factors that influence how young we feel and how young others perceive us to be? Here are some tips on how to take aging in stride and help you look and feel your youngest:

* Heart-felt: Choosing a heart-healthy diet may not only lengthen your lifespan by helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, it will also help you age healthier. The FDA recommends eating well-balanced meals low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Additionally, heart-friendly foods, especially those high in fiber, such as salmon, soy protein, oatmeal and spinach, will help you stay “young at heart.”

* Smile On: Tooth stains and red gums can age the appearance of your smile and impact its health. In fact, gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease that affects one out of every two adults, can be a major cause behind prematurely aging smiles. “The good news is that it’s preventable,” says Dr. Jamie Sands, D.D.S. “I recommend using Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, which helps stop gingivitis before it starts and protects all these areas dentists check most — plaque, cavities, tartar, sensitivity and stains and a power toothbrush, such as Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean, which reduces up to two times more plaque than a manual brush.”

* Work It: No one is too old to reap the benefits of exercise. Regular physical activity provides endless advantages — from reducing the risk of osteoporosis to increased energy and feelings of well-being — even a brisk 20-minute walk several times a week can improve your overall health.

* Skin Deep: Although genes are a major factor in how skin ages, a great deal of visible aging also stems from environmental factors. Just a few minutes of sun exposure a day can cause noticeable changes to the skin, such as freckles, age spots, spider veins, fine wrinkles, and of course, skin cancer. To maintain your youngest-looking skin, avoid deliberate sun exposure, wear protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat, and apply sunscreen, preferably SPF 15 or higher, year-round.

* Thought-provoking: Studies suggests that people who engage in logic-based activities, such as crossword puzzles and games that involve strategy like Scrabble or chess, are less likely to develop memory loss. Not only will these hobbies keep your vision and hand-eye coordination sharp, but such challenges also help to keep your mind active.

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Spa Reference Quick Links

When you begin your skincare regimen, sometimes it is confusing to know the order of what should go on first.

The general rule is that light products go under heavy ones. Think about it: If you try to put a thin serum over a thick cream, there’s no way it will penetrate. Here’s what else to keep in mind:

• Soak it up. After you cleanse in the morning, apply products with therapeutic ingredients—lighteners that contain hydroquinone or kojic acid, anti-aging serums with peptides, and eye products like depuffers and wrinkle plumpers, all of which work best in direct contact with skin. If you’re trying to target several problems (say, fine lines and adult acne), consider buying one multifunctional product.

• Seal the deal. Now you can go ahead and moisturize. Some women rub on makeup primer or sunless tanners as their daytime cream to save a step—that’s fine, but just make sure your formula contains sunscreen. If not, that should go on next, right before your makeup. Apply any products with luminizing particles, such as eye brighteners, last, since they need to refract light to work properly.

• Save for later. Because of the time involved, I usually recommend that patients exfoliate at night (either with a microdermabrasion-type scrub or a chemical exfoliant like a mild home peel). Afterward, you can put on your night serums followed by a p.m. moisturizer, but try not to irritate the skin by layering on too much of the same ingredient. For example, if you use a glycolic-acid peel, don’t also use a glycolic-based cream or you might end up with redness and flaking.

• Watch for interactions. Certain ingredients have specific restrictions. For example, lighteners like hydroquinone can be very drying, so they need to be followed with a gentle moisturizer and sunscreen to prevent further damage. And some prescription acne treatments shouldn’t have anything applied on top of them—so use them at night and always follow the directions.