ELIXIR > anti ageing

Pellevé ‘party-ready’ skin tightening treatment launched in UK

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Editor

A new non-invasive treatment claims to give you smoother and tighter skin without injections and anaesthetic.

PellevéTM is being promoted as a way to make yourself look younger and refreshed instantly.

How does it work?

PellevéTM heats the top layers of your skin using advanced radiowave technology without damaging the epidermis. The heat causes the collagen in your skin to contract and tighten, giving an immediate improvement to your skin: it also promotes the production of new collagen. This means you will notice the improvement in your skin quality and firmness over a number of weeks, or even months. The pictures above show the before and after of an eye and mouth treatment.

PellevéTM can be used on a number of areas, including:

– Skin under the chin
– Wrinkles around the mouth
– Lines on the forehead, including those in and around the eyebrows
– Crows feet
– Excess skin on upper eyelid

The best thing about PellevéTM is the immediate improvement to your skin, without the usual pain and irritations. We watched a treatment being done and then had an opportunity to experience it ourselves – on one hand! Your skin is heated to around 40°C and then cooled, which is repeated several times for maximum effect. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling at all!

The cost of the treatment starts from about £600.

We will be featuring a full review of this new treatment soon, so be sure to check back to learn more.

In the meantime, why not have a look at www.pelleve.com?

Xmas gifts – get 20% off everything at Club Cleo

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Editor

Cleo are the pioneers of non-invasive anti-ageing devices using electrical stimulation. There are two main gadgets the Cleo Q Facial Toner which costs £375 and the Cleo Q body toner which costs £525 – buy as a New Year treat for you or your friends. Elixir has got together with Cleo to offer you 20% off these excellent devices. If you have any Cleo Q items in your shopping basket you can get 20% off those and any other Cleo items at www.club-cleo.com. All you have to do is enter the code ELX20 when you place your order.

US older folk are sicker, but they live longer than Brits, new survey finds

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Editor

The elderly in the United States are sicker than older people in the UK, but they also live longer, a new study found.

Americans aged 55 and older suffer from a higher rate of chronic illness, but Brits are more likely to die younger, says research from the US’s RAND Corp.and the Institute for Fiscal Studies in Britain.

The findings have stirred up the long-standing debate over which country has the better health care system.

Study co-author, James Smith, an economist at RAMD said: “If you get sick at older ages, you will die sooner in England than in the United States. It appears that at least in terms of survival at older ages with chronic disease, the medical system in the United States may be better than the system in England.””

But Americans have to pay fare more than Brits for their healthcare – nearly double, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The most recent data, from 2008. shows that the America spent 16 percent their total expenditure on health, which amounted to $7,538 a person. The average health-care cost per person in OECD member nations is $3,000

Longevity expert Dr. Walter M. Bortz, author of Road Map to 100,” “Living Longer for Dummies” and a new book about health care called “Next Medicine” said: “Americans love to be sick. America is sicker because we love to go to the doctor, but the doctor loves to see us too,” he said. “We spend twice as much as any other country of the world – and we’re not better for it.That’s prolonging dying.”

The research also looked at the results from two studies of aged 50+: the Health and Retirement Survey, which examined more than 20,000 people, and the English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing, which covered 12,000 people. They looked at age of death, the ages at which new illnesses developed and the rates of common chronic conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, lung disease and diabetes.

The study published in the journal Demography, found that rates of cancer were more than double for Americans than for the British, 17.9 percent in America compared to 7.8 percent in the UK. The British had nearly half as many cases of diabetes than the Americans, 10.4 percent compared to 17.2 percent.

Though the death rates were almost the same among American and English people aged 55 to 64, those aged 70 to 80 died earlier in the UK compared to the US. The reearch team said the results showed that Americans lived longer despite being plagued by more disease.

“The differences are striking,” another of the article’s authors, James Banks of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, told Reuters. “That’s got to be an important priority for policy in terms of lifestyle or behavioral factors.”

Health care in the UK is provided by the Government-funded National Health System, which has come under fire and has been used as a bad example of a public health-care system by critics of President Obama’s plan.

Smith said the US system is better at treating sick people and prolonging their lives than the British one, even though it is not as good in at preventing them from getting ill.

“We are consecrated to repair in America,” said Bortz. “We should be consecrated to prevention.”

He believes there is a secret to a longer life.

“Aging is no longer an unknown. It comes down to fitness,” said Bortz, who just ran the Boston marathon for his 80th birthday. “Fitness is a 30-year age offset.”

Fuss about food – A new series on nutrition

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Editor

We are always hearing about the latest superfood, essential fats or good carbs but what do they actually do for you? Every week a new study tells us we should be eating more tomatoes, or how much more important omega 3 oil is than omega 6.

Sadly, with each bit of new information we find ourselves just that little bit more confused. In addition to the announcements of what we should be eating each week, there are also regular reports and scare stories on how fat we are all getting.

Diet food is getting us nowhere fast. Levels of obesity are going up as fast as the amount of money we all spend on the latest meal replacement, shake or appetite suppressant. We have also recently been told that extended periods of time on low carbohydrate diets can be extremely damaging for our bodies.

That news is going to be a ‘body’ blow to many of us: the revelation that cutting out carbohydrates was an easy way to a flat stomach meant many of us could get ready for a holiday or wearing a tighter dress in a couple of weeks rather than months.

It is not hard to see where the problem lies If you walk around a supermarket and pick up random items off the shelves, how many ingredients do you actually recognise? Most foods have extra salt and sugar added to them as standard – even so called diet or reduced-calorie foods.

This has a worrying effect on our health and energy levels. The only answer is for us to learn how food affects our bodies on a chemical level. In the coming weeks Elixir will break down each of the superfoods, oils, essential vitamins and magic ingredients into small manageable pieces of information which can help us lead a healthier (and skinnier!) life.

So look out for our future ‘fuss about food’ articles, starting next Monday – we promise you will be an expert on glycaemic load and complex carbohydrates in no time at all. Monday: All the fuss about…. Omega 3

Joan’s Way: Looking Good, Feeling Great by Joan Collins

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Editor

Joan Collins is one of the most flamorous women in the world, and in The Art of Living Well she reveals the secrets of how to look amazing, whatever your age. Now in her 70s she still maintains an eviable diet and exercise regime – so she does what she tells others to do. The book includes sections on Glamour and how to achieve it with examples from the women she most admires such as Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich and her own mother. On exercise, Joan’s programme is suitable for all women. She is photographed step-by-ste; as the works out with her daughter Katy. Looking good takes discipline and organisation and Joan does these exercises several times a week wherever she is in the world. Joan also reveals her makeup secrets: She is photographed from bare-faced to fully made up. The chapter also includes tips she learned from leading Hollywood makeup artists. Joan’s top tips on eating super-healthilty for super-youth and super-energy. This includes recipes from top restaurants around the world.

Cost £5.13p Buy here Joan’s Way: Looking Good, Feeling Great

The 10 Best look younger quick fixes

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Editor

SEMI PERMANENT MAKE-UP

A GREAT HAIRCUT

GREAT HAIR COLOUR

MINERAL MAKEUP

YOUNGER EYEBROWS

FULLER LIPS

WHITER TEETH

DERMA ROLLER FOR YOUNGER SKIN

YOUNGER HANDS LONGER LASHES

The Bonus Years Diet by Ralph Felder MD

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Editor

The Bonus Years Diet by Ralph Felder MD

On doctor’s orders you can indulge in the finest dark chocolate; enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner; snack on some tasty almonds.Miraculously, with every delicious bite you are lowering your blood pressure, keeping your cholesterol in check, and preventing clots that can easily cause a heart attack or stroke.

Make this routine part of your lifestyle, and soon you’ll be reaping the bounty of the Bonus Years Diet-an expanded lifeline and shrinking waistline!! How it is possible that such a great tasting meal can do so many good things for you? What is the secret behind all of those bonus years foods?

Well to answer those questions you need to know a bit of the history and science of the Bonus Years. Based on revolutionary research over the past twenty five years, doctors now routinely prescribe a drug cocktail consisting of aspirin, a statin to lower cholesterol, and medications to decrease blood pressure and reduce inflammation. All of these drugs have been carefully chosen because they all also help to protect the lining cells (endothelium) of the body’s blood vessels, cells which we understand after decades of intensive medical study are critical in preventing the formation of those dangerous fatty clots which can cause strokes and heart attacks.

The Bonus Years Diet distinguishes itself from every other diet or “super foods” book because its eating plan is based on a proven medical protocol, which includes exactly which foods- and in what precise amount (“dosages”) -are needed to receive their full medical and longevity benefits. The result is seven Bonus Years Foods, recommended in exactly the right amounts to provide maximum cardiovascular benefit. They are:

                                                      Red Wine
One five ounce glass of red wine daily reduces overall cardiovascular risk by 32%. Red wine helps to increase the good cholesterol (HDL) and prevent the formation of fatty blood clots.
                                                     Dark Chocolate
A two ounce serving of chocolate daily reduces blood pressure due to its plant chemicals called flavonoids, leading to a 21% reduction in cardiovascular risk.
                                                 Fruits and Vegetables
Eating four cups (measured raw) of fruits and vegetables reduces cardiovascular risk by 21% due to blood pressure lowering effects.

Fish
Eating three five ounce servings of fish each week reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 14% because it helps to prevent heart rhythm disturbances and the formation of fatty clots in the blood vessels.

Garlic
One clove of garlic a day helps to lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk by about 25%.

Nuts
Eating two ounces of nuts daily reduces cholesterol and cardiovascular risk by about 10%.

The result, The Bonus Years Diet, features thirty days of meal plans and more than 125 recipes, which include the Bonus Years Foods along with Booster and Bonus Compatible foods.

The Bonus Years Diet: 7 Miracle Foods–Including Chocolate, Red Wine, and Nuts — That Can Add 6.4 Years on Average to Your Life costs $29.95 (£15,50, €22)

Buy Here:

Bonus Years Diet: 7 Miracle Foods That Could Help Add 6.4 Years on Average to Your Life

Corrie star William Roache talks about life and hearing loss

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Editor

Elixir was at the Sound Barrier Awards last week to see Corrie favourite William Roache OBE speak about hearing loss and pay tribute to the worthy winner of the title of Specsavers ‘Sound Barrier Star’.

The event, also sponsored by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, celebrates people with some form of hearing loss who have not let their condition stand in their way.

Before introducing each of the nominees William, better known for his role as Corrie favourite Ken Barlow, said a few words about his partial hearing loss and the surprising fact that only 10% of people will ever have a hearing test, in comparison with the 80% who get their eyes tested.

The ‘Sound Barrier Star’, Roger Hewitt, from Bromley, accepted his prize with a very humorous and humbling speech. He has been deaf since the age of 6 as a result of contracting meningitis and now is an ambassador, volunteer and consultant for the cause. It certainly seems like he has never let his deafness affect his life and is an example for us all.

We caught up with William for a quick chat afterwards. He told us that he suffered some ear damage from a mortar bomb as a 21 year old in the army; his hearing came back after 3 weeks but he never realised the extent of the damage until recently. After having a hearing test he was told that he had 50% hearing loss. William confided that he has hearing aids but he doesn’t use them very often at all. He doesn’t feel like his hearing loss is a barrier in any way to his life.

William is lucky to have enjoyed enviable longevity onscreen as Ken Barlow; only Don Hastings, who plays Bob Hughes on US show ‘As The World Turns’, has dedicated a longer service to Soap-dom. William confirmed that he loves playing Ken and is very proud to still be in Corrie after all these years. It’s a long day on set – 8am to 7pm – but he hasn’t got fed up of it yet!

The evolution of Corrie into the nation’s longest running soap is something which would have surprised the creators of the programme 50 years ago: William remarked that the name of ‘soap’ was something which Coronation Street had tried to avoid for many years – having marketed themselves as a cutting-edge drama series to begin with.

We concluded that one of the refreshing things about soaps, or cutting edge drama series (!), is that they do resemble ordinary people’s lives in some way – you are allowed to get older on screen and the more senior characters become something of an institution rather than fading into the background.

To learn more about Specsavers hearing centres, or to book a hearing test, please visit www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/

Actress Jacqueline Bisset is the new face of Avon ANEW Platinum

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Editor

New York: Avon Products, Inc. today announced a partnership with award-winning international actress, Jacqueline Bisset, who will serve as the face of the anti-ageing skincare line ANEW Platinum.

This new skincare line for women 60+ from Avon’s pioneering ANEW line was developed to recapture the appearance of youthful contours and will debut this fall through Avon reps.

“I am excited to be working with Avon on the ANEW Platinum Collection, as it specifically addresses the needs of women with my skincare concerns,” said Jacqueline.

“I want a skincare product that makes my skin look as young as I feel. ANEW Platinum helps recapture the definition and tone of younger skin.”

“Jacqueline embodies everything the ANEW woman aspires to be– beauty, poise and sophistication,” says Andre Baradat, Vice President, Global Skincare Marketing, Avon. “We are thrilled to have such an amazing international beauty icon as the face of our new breakthrough ANEW Platinum line.”

The ANEW Platinum Night Cream and Serum goes on sale in November and launched in an advertising campaign featuring Jacqueline Bisset. She will also appear in the pages of the Avon brochure for ANEW Platinum.

ANEW, the pioneering anti-aging line from Avon, delivers transformative anti-aging skincare to millions of women throughout the world. With almost 2400 jars an hour¹, the line has been helping women visibly outsmart the aging process from the brand’s inception in 1992.

Bisset is the most recent star to join Avon’s roster of celebrity partners, including Fergie, Courteney Cox, Patrick Dempsey, Salma Hayek, Reese Witherspoon and Derek Jeter.

Find out morea bout Avon ANEW in this video

About Jacqueline Bisset
Serving as the spokesperson for ANEW Platinum, actress Jacqueline Bisset has brought her stunning looks and tremendous talent to over 50 films. Born in Weybridge, England, the highly regarded actress has garnered prestigious awards throughout the world.

About Avon Products, Inc.
Avon, is a leading global beauty company, with over $10 billion in annual revenue. As the world’s largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through 6.2 million independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon’s product line includes beauty products, as well as fashion and home products, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, ANEW, Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and mark. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com.

Gene cocktail creates beating heart cells

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Editor

Los Angeles: A new technique, in which a gene cocktail, has been successfully to create beating heart cells, has been used on mice.

The new technique could also cut the need for transplants in people whose ailing hearts cannot mend themselves.

If developed for use in human patients the new treatment could change the lives of many thousands of sick people.

The experiments, which were carried out on mice, are still in the early stages, but they offer fresh hope for the future.

They centre on the large muscular cells that allow the heart to beat and go about its vital work of pumping blood. Normally, the body has little or no way of replacing any that die or are damaged.

But researchers at the California’s Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, have devised a cocktail of genes that trick other heart cells called fibroblasts into transforming into beating muscle cells called cardiomyocytes.

The journal Cell reports how fibroblasts treated with the cocktail in the lab turned into beating muscle cells after being transplanted into a mouse.

Masaki Ieda of the Gladstone Institute said: “Scientists have tried for 20 years to convert non-muscle cells into heart muscle. It turns out we just needed the right combination of genes in the right dose.”

Deepak Srivastava, senior study author from Gladstone, said: “The ability to re-programme fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes has many therapeutic implications.

“Half of the cells in the heart are fibroblasts, so the ability to call upon this reservoir of cells already in the organ to become beating heart cells has tremendous promise for cardiac regeneration.”

In time a drug that works in the same way as the cocktail of genes could be developed. Injected into damaged hearts, it would drive the growth of new muscle.

“That’s our long-term goal,” said Srivastava.

Every two minutes, someone, somewhere has a heart attack. Many go on to develop heart failure, in which the weakened heart gradually loses its ability to pump blood.

Up to 40 per cent of these die within a year of diagnosis – giving heart failure a worse survival rate than many cancers.

Other organs could be patched up in a similar way, the researchers believe.

Skin Serums

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Editor

View imageSerums are one of the miracle elixirs for the skin, with higher concentrations of active ingredients they are ideal for getting your skin looking healthy after the long winter months.

Here we look at three of the latest serums on the market and give our verdict:

KARIN HERZOG Glyco Rose Serum

One of the greatest anti-ageing serums on the market. But also perfect for helping to minimise scarring such as that caused by acne. Key ingredients include Glycolic Acid – a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) with a small molecular structure allowing it to penetrate the surface of the skin. Apply Glyco-Rose Serum to entire face twice per week .
If the skin is dry and over 30 and has scarring; apply the gel then leave for 30 minutes. Apply Vita-A-Kombi Oil then your recommended Oxygen product (Vita-A-Kombi 2).
If under 30 and has scaring just apply Gel, leave for 30 minutes then apply Oxygen Face Cream on top. KarinHerzog gel [320x200].jpg

OUR RATING 9/10 £40 (30ml) Buy at www.karinherzog.co.uk or for stockists call 0800 056 2428.

BOOTS No 7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum
This is from the Boots range that has been proven scientifically to restore the skin’s structure and appearance and reduce deep lines and wrinkles by up to 50%.The magic ingredient is Vitamin A.

Boots serum [320x200].jpg Great for mature skin that needs perking up – and for optimum effect use for six months. A light creamy, silky serum that sinks into the skin, it softens and freshens right from day one. A brand your can trust to do what it says. Rating 8/10. £19.75 30ml

VITAL C Hydrating A C E SERUM from Image Skincare

An advanced polypeptide anti-oxidant formula of the three most important vitamins to protect skin from ageing A,C, E as well as the antioxidant super oxide dimutase. Suitable for all skin types but principally targeted at environmentally damaged and sensitive rosacea-prone skin.

102196 0075b [320x200].JPG This serum has a great orange smell and soaks into the skin with an instant tightening and rejunveating effect. Apply to skin after cleaning night and morning. The skin feels taut and radiant. This is a very light serum – non-greasy or oily. Fantastic – we loved it. Rating 9/10. £44 for 14.8ml www.skingeeks.co.uk

New anti-ageing serums – we give our test verdict

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Editor

Serums are one of the miracle elixirs for the skin, with higher concentrations of active ingredients they are ideal for getting your skin looking healthy after the long winter months.

Here we look at three of the latest serums on the market and give our verdict:

KARIN HERZOG Glyco Rose Serum

One of the greatest anti-ageing serums on the market. But also perfect for helping to minimise scarring such as that caused by acne. Key ingredients include Glycolic Acid a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) with a small molecular structure allowing it to penetrate the surface of the skin. Apply Glyco-Rose Serum to entire face twice per week .
If the skin is dry and over 30 and has scarring; apply the gel then leave for 30 minutes. Apply Vita-A-Kombi Oil then your recommended Oxygen product (Vita-A-Kombi 2).
If under 30 and has scaring just apply Gel, leave for 30 minutes then apply Oxygen Face Cream on top.

OUR RATING 9/10 £40 (30ml) Buy at www.karinherzog.co.uk or for stockists call 0800 056 2428.

Great for mature skin that needs perking up – and for optimum effect use for six months. A light creamy, silky serum that sinks into the skin, it softens and freshens right from day one. A brand your can trust to do what it says. Rating 8/10. £19.75 30ml

VITAL C Hydrating A C E SERUM from Image Skincare

This serum has a great orange smell and soaks into the skin with an instant tightening and rejunveating effect. Apply to skin after cleaning night and morning. The skin feels taut and radiant. This is a very light serum – non-greasy or oily. Fantastic – we loved it. Rating 9/10. £44 for 14.8ml www.skingeeks.co.uk

Sun is No1 cause of skin ageing, say cosmetic doctors

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Editor

London: As the nation prepares for summer, think twice before soaking up the sun or jumping on a sun bed to accelerate your tan as you could be one of the many people having to seek help from a cosmetic practitioner for their sun damaged skin. Despite the growing awareness of the dangers of sun exposure the message is still not getting through.

According to a new survey carried by Cosmetic News magazine at the launch the first Cosmetic News Expo conference and exhibition, 55% of cosmetic doctors cite sun damage as the most significant cause of ageing in the patients they see and a staggering 84% believe that sun beds should be banned. And while prevention is better than cure, 88% of women and 61% of men are having non-surgical injectable treatments to fill in lines and wrinkles, lift the face and hold back the years, but the frozen look is out with the majority of doctors predicting that the biggest trend for 2010 is a more natural look.

Survey Highlights:

· The most popular cosmetic treatment for women is botulinum toxin injections such as BotoxÒ/VistabelÒ and DysportÒ/AzzalureÒ (47%) followed by dermal fillers (31%) and Sculptra (10%). Botulinum toxin was also the most popular treatment for men (47%) followed by dermal fillers (14%) and laser hair removal (9%). Significantly 89% of doctors would not use permanent fillers because they deem them too risky and 39% did not think that mesotherapy works.

· 76% of cosmetic doctors were opposed to remote prescribing to nurses or beauty therapists stating that the practice was too risky with unexamined patients being treated.

· 71% think that newly launched IHAS Shared Regulation scheme will work.

· 29% of doctors surveyed stated that improved dermal fillers to treat the face were the biggest innovation in aesthetic medicine over the last five years and Sculptra (26%) and Juvederm Ultra (17%) were selected as the two treatments that had revolutionised cosmetic practices

· 84% believed sun beds should be banned and 55% cited sun damage as the most significant cause of ageing, followed by smoking (33%) and genetics (9%)

· The biggest trend in aesthetics for 2010 was predicted to be the natural look with treatments that stimulate natural collagen production.

· The age group having the most non-surgical cosmetic treatments was 40-50 years olds with botulinum toxin injections being the most popular procedure for mums post pregnancy followed by weight reducing treatments such as radio frequency and VASER Lipo (15%)

· 50% of doctors currently use non-surgical radio-frequency treatments for body contouring with 7% using VASER Lipo. 29% believed that VASER was the biggest innovation in medical aesthetics in the last five years.

· Laser hair removal was the most popular laser treatment for patients (50%)

· 86% of cosmetic doctors have their own private clinics but 59% are still working within the NHS.

Dr Patrick Bowler, Co Founder and Fellow of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors says:

Non surgical treatments are the most popular and fastest growing area in aesthetics. This survey shows no real surprises but it is pleasing to note the trend for natural looks rather than the overdone, overcooked appearances of the last decade. Subtle use of botulinum toxins and the latest fillers is the way forward. However I was rather disturbed that 24% of doctors thought it OK to remote prescribe to nurses and beauticians. There seem to be a significant number of doctors treading a dangerous path in the pursuit of commercialism.

The survey was carried out in association with the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD) and Cosmetic News readers.

Look younger – get firmer and plumper lips

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Editor

London: Fuller and firmer lips help a woman look younger, according to new research by scientists.

The scientists, in a study funded by Unilever, studies the faces of 102 pairs of white Dutch female twins aged 59-81 and 161 Individual British white women aged 45-75.

They found that ageing manifesting in wrinkles, sun damage and age spots was influenced by genetic and environmental factors in equal amounts. But lip height was genetic.

Most ageing of lips begins between the ages of 30 and 40 when shrinking first starts.

David Gunn, a research scientist at Unilever said they study noted that women who looked young for their age usually had fuller and firmer lips.

He added: “It is a feature that is strongly genetically determined and relatively easy to measure.”

He also said there was little advantage in middle-aged and elderly woman getting lip implants as it did not counteract the impact of ageing on the rest of the face.

The research was carried out by seven universities, including St Andrew’s in Scotland.

Clinique La Prairie – inside the world’s most exclusive anti-ageing clinic

Featured

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Editor

Montreux, Switzerland: For decades, the rich, famous and powerful have come to the Swiss town of Clarens, on Lake Geneva, in search of the elixir of youth.

Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, King Ibnsaud of Saudia Arabia, Charles de Gaulle and even one Pope (Pope Pius Xll) are just a few of the world elite who have sampled rejuvenation from a serum created exclusively at the world-famous Clinique La Prairie.

Recently I followed in their footsteps to sample what CLP has to offer to todays discerning client. In an era of advancing medical discoveries such as stem cells and the manipulation of DNA which make reversing ageing a real possibility, does Clinque La Prairie still live up to its reputation as a worlds leading medical spa?

My anti-ageing journey, began at Geneva Airport where I am met by one of the Clinques chauffeurs, holding a CLP board with my name on it. I am driven at high-speed along the motorway that skirts the edge of Lake Geneva in a black Mercedes. I pass the time during the 45-minute journey by trying to prise out any secrets of the celebrity patients from my Italian chauffeur, but he is no more revelatory than a Swiss Bank on client financial disclosure to Interpol.

CLP recently underwent a $40million renovation the original building, the Alpine-style Residence, built in 1928; the Château, build in 1865 as a girls school and the Medical Centre are now all linked to a new spa centre and reception.

Architecturally stunning CPL’s Swiss owner, Armin Mattli, had the new complex designed by Jacques Richter and Ignacio Dahl Rocha creators of the stunning Néstle HQ building in nearby Vevey it is built into a hillside so it melts into hillside. Each floor of the building having access to the outside.

I am checked into the original building, Residence, which reminds me of an Austrian skiing chalet from the outside. But the bathroom is marble, the sheets are of the finest linen and the press of a button changes the position of my bed.

The view from my balcony is spectacular. I look across classical Italianate ornamental gardens enveloped between the high mountains that surround this part of Lake Geneva. The view from the indoor pool also looks directly onto the mountains.

CLP first opened in 1931 offering patients its signature treatment, Revitalisation Therapy, an anti-ageing cocktail made of fresh animal cells. This cellular revitalisation therapy has since been refined and is now made only of fresh liver cells from fetal sheep.

These days CPL attracts a mostly European, Russian and Chinese clientele. During my two-day visit, most of the other guests were either Russians or Arabs taking those famous sheep extract shots, alongside cosmetic surgery and weight-loss packages.

The Clinique has a state-of-the art medical centre (pictured below) equipped to carry out the most sophisticated medical diagnostics including MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. The operating theatres carry out all kinds of procedures , including cosmetic surgery. As well as non-surgical aesthetics, it also specialises in the latest surgical hair replacement procedures.

There are 59 rooms, which can accommodate up to 100 guests and 200 staff, most of whom speak three languages. There are also some 60 consulting doctors, whose specialities range from cardiology and neurology to dermatology and cosmetic surgery.

Every patient at La Prairie undergoes a two day complete medical examination to check on current disorders and to pin point any risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic or cancerous problems and osteoporosis. It also includes detailed blood tests, genetic testing, an electrocardiogram, as well as a full dental examination.

Chief Physician, Thierry Wälli explains: ’We do routine tests such as for cholesterol and diabetes but our approach to every patient is individualised. It would be inconceivable for us to prescribe or administer care without understaking a thorough preliminary basic checkup.

“The majority of patients come to us in their mid-40s or 50s and they are probably thinking that they would like to stay as healthy as they are now or they are starting to feel the first symptoms of ageing: maybe they dont recover from illnesses as quickly, or they feel tired all the time or they may just have a feeling that something is starting to go wrong.”

There are several kinds of packages on offer, mostly lasting six days, including Revitalisation, Beauty, Thalassomed, and Relaxation. Beauty therapy is also taken very seriously here.

La Prairie’s famous anti-wrinkle creams

And as you would expect staying at CLP does not come cheap. Revitalisation Therapy costs up to $25,000, £12,500, 26,000CH per person. But this does not bother the super-rich – I am told an Arab princess stayed here for a year to loose weight.

Dieting at La Prairie is virtually painless. Every patient gets a bespoke programme, with lunch and dinner served in an elegant restaurant. I meet with the dietician, Cynthia Oulevay, as part of my Journalists Programme.

She puts me on the Menu Minimal, some 1,200 calories. You would hardly think this was enough for any kind of gastronomic experience. But you would be wrong. Lunch and dinner are based on a form of light Cuisine Minceur. There is a menu with several choices and I pick three courses, which would not be out of place in a Michelin Star restaurant: Cream of San Marzano tomato soup with mint, Canadian Lobster with a light Bisque sauce with tomato, truffles and artichoke, Gold Kiwi Flan with yogurt, flavoured with vanilla.

Days are structured, with lunch and dinner served at specific times and if you are late you get a phone call reminder. You need an appointment to go to the gym. There is a bar but few guests imbibe and in any case it closes by 9pm, by which time most of the guests have gone to bed as two Middle Eastern gentlemen discovered when they wanted a drink. I saw them later that evening sitting outside the brasserie of the Montreux Palace with large whiskies in hand.

Each morning begins with breakfast in your room at 8am. Mine is scrambled eggs and wholemeal bread, with tea. I can hardly believe its within the calorie count I am allowed!

Then I wander down to the Spa for my programme, in my robe. In the corridor I pass by cabinets of sparkling jewels and stop to look at the diamond studded dominos. There are gold and diamond watches and other fine jewels from the Haute Hologeries in Geneva. I am told at reception that they will come to the Clinique with a selection if there is something I require

The spa is minimalist except for a four foot high brass Buddha. I have a body peel and chromotherm an individual Turkish bath which bathes the body in seaweed, essential oils and mineral mud

I am also treated to a very special Ayurvedic massage from Alain, a pony-tailed yoga teacher, who has 38-years experience as a practitioner. He tells me he is a vegetarian so has not tried the sheep liver cocktail.

In the gym I get a check-up from François Victor, the Health Club Manager, who measures my BMI and other biomarkers. The bad news: he tells me that I only need 1,200 calories a day to stay the same weight and the good news: if I exercise I will build good muscle tone.

And so I retire to the pool where the heat makes me soporific .. I wonder where the other guests are as I am the only person there. I gaze out at the mountains and dream of treating myself later that evening to a glass of champagne!

The next morning its time for me to go. I depart feeling pampered and rested. True Clinique La Prairie offers rejuvenation at a vey high price but a price paying for your health wealth …

Revitalisation Therapy

CLP is best known for RT; injections of an extract from fetal sheep liver cells. The treatment dates from 1931, when the Cliniques founder Professor Paul Niehans, injected calf parathyroid glands into a woman who was suffering from tetany (muscle spasms associated with deficient parathyroid secretions). She recovered and lived another 31 years and Niehans concluded that animal cells might alleviate other conditions.

In 1953 the Vatican summoned him to treat an ailing Pope Pius Xll. His success put the Clinique on the map and brought in the big name patients.

For the first 50 years, the extract was a cocktail of organs, but in 1987, the clinic began research to lend scientific credence to its claims. Its tests determined that liver cells were the most effective component, and in 1988, they became the basis for the CLP extract. The cells are taken from unborn sheep that are bred on the clinics own farm, and the extract is produced refined, and purified at its lab, under the supervision of the
Swiss public health authorities. It used to be given as a series of 14 injections, which meant most patients had to recover in bed. Today it is given as a drink and there are plans to turn it into a pill.

While CPL Extract was originally given to heal diseased organs, its now used to slow the overall ageing process. Promised results include renewed energy, less fatigue, heightened mental powers, and improved immune resistance.

Studies carried out at CLPs Research Institute support these claims and have been published in medical journals such as Immunlogy and Experimental Cell Research.

The revitalisation treatments are meant to slow and reverse ageing, reverse mental decline and the symptoms of the menopause and andropause, which is why they are only given to people in middle age or older not to anyone aged under 40.

Side effects are rare, and after being monitored for two hours in case of allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock patients are free to use the other services. Patients are encouraged to repeat the treatments every 18 months to two years and maintain the effects by eating well, exercising, not smoking, drinking moderately and managing stress.

I did not take the extract myself so I cannot say how it feels. In theory, at its most basic, the benefit of CLP-Extract, is that it kick starts the cells, giving them albeit temporarily, the characteristics of younger cells and boosting the immune system. So if I could afford it would I be revitalised the answer is yes why not?

A picture show of Montreux, Switzerland

Switzerland-Montreux-1

ELIXIR tests the latest anti-ageing gadgets

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Editor

ELIXIR’s experts look at the latest anti-ageing gadgets on the market

TRIPOLLAR STOP FOR FACE

The Tripollar Stop for the face is the first salon-grade radio-frequency anti-ageing skin device.

It works by using two kinds of radio (Tripollar Radio Frequency) frequencies to heat up the collagen under the skin. This has an immediate and visable tightening effect. Over the next few weeks it works on the fibroblasts in the epidermis which create new collagen and younger skin.

This gadget, uses mains power, and has a safety feature which shuts down when the skin has reached the optimum temperature – and turns on again when it has cooled down. The radio-frequency energy penetrates a mere 1-3mm and feels like a warm massage.

STOP has four metal “poles” which you hold against the skin. It is recommended mainly for facial, neck and decollete use – for lifting sagging jowels and chin, neck lines, facial wrinkles and marionette (nose to mouth) lines. And should be used 2-3 times a week until the desired effect has been achieved. It comes with a contact gel and after treatment anti-ageing cream.

STOP costs £175 there is also a body anti-cellulite and toning device, Tripollar Pose, priced at just £350it is a mini version of the in-salon ReGen treatment – to combat wrinkles and cellulite.The gadget is fairly affordable and would probably achieve optimum results after a few of the more powerful salon treatments.Click on this link for more information/or to buy STOP

We tested the facial Tripollar and we loved it. It’s small and easy to handle so you can pop it in your suitcase when you go away. It takes only a few minutes and is painless. It starts working from the first treatment. We loved this device. TEST RATING 9/10

ULTRATONE FACIAL PLUS

This handheld device for home use is about the size of a TV remote control and gives the face a muscle work-out using electrical stimulation.

It has fourprogrammes: Microcurrent – for deep penetration of moisturising creams, skin rejuvenation and fine line reduction ;Non-surgical facelift and tone – for exercising and lifting superficial medium and deep muscles; Lymphatic drainage & toxin release – for the reduction of puffiness and toxin elimination, to achieve a fresher and clear complexion and Anti-Ageing and maintenance – to enhance the results and ensure your face stays toned and looking good.

Each programme operates on a different frequency and within each programme there is a cocktail of currents that penetrate different depths and muscles via two metal contacts. There is a gel to create the contact and after treatment anti-wrinkle cream.

As with all the Ultratone devices, they also have uses in medical treatment. In the case of the Facial Plus it is used to treat Bell’s Palsy.

The microcurrent penetrates and rejuvenates the superficial layer of the skin, stimulating the fibroblasts that produce youth-promoting elastin and collagen.

The best results are obtained by using the unit little and often – say five minutes on each side of the face daily.

The anti-ageing programme gives the muscles of the face a thorough workout, moving everything upwards.

You have to follow a facial workout map – each muscle is worked on for about one minute – 25 impluses, then there is a beeb to indicate that you should now move to the next muscle area.

The lymphatic programme works for people who have facial puffiness – the current stimulates the lymph system and helps the skin to detox.

Ultratone has gathered medical evidence to support the efficacy of its devices, many of which are used in rehabilitative medicine. You have to persevere and use this device regularly to see a result but if you don’t like the thought of using Botox then its worth the effort. Our tester noticed increased firmness and improved skin tone after three weeks of use.

The Ultratone Facial Plus costs £149.00 and can be purchasd by phone 44 (0)207 935 0631. More information is online at www.ultratone.co.uk
TEST RATING 7/10

HAIRMAX LASER COMB

A hand-held comb for home use for MEN/WOMEN who are worried about hairloss/hair condition. Powered by the mains, it comes with an adapter. It stimulates the circulation around hair follicles through low-level laser energy. Results vary on different people – as hair growth is different on everybody but it also makes hair thicker and shinier.

It is used every other day for around 15 minutes – its painless. It works at the root by improving blood circulation and encouraging the growth of new hair follicles. In medical trials in the US doctors found that around 90%+ of the participants had new hair growth and increased thickness. Results are usually seen within 8-16 weeks of treatment. It is the only non-drug treatment for hairloss that has been proven to work. The device has a 5-7 year lifespan. Normally costs around £245. Kit contains a worldwide power adapter, user manuel and instructional DVD.

What our male tester said: “I used it religiously every other day for 12 weeks. It was painless and simply left my head feeling warmed. I couldn’t see any difference at first but small baby hairs have started growing on areas which were completely hairless. I will need to use it for several more months before I know whether it is is really going to make a difference. But if the first results are anything to go by then it looks like I will at least have some improvement in my situation or at least will be able to stop hairloss with regular use.”
TEST RATING 6/10

To order LaserComb call 0844 567 9374 or go to www.innovate4u.com

NU SKIN GALVANIC SPA FOR THE FACE

This is an extremely handy and versatile device that comes with several different heads so that it can be used on the face, body and hair.

It uses galvanic electrical energy – either positively or negatively to cleanse and then penetrate anti-ageing gels and cream deep into the skin.

Its easy to use and the device itself is small so good to take away in luggage. Its relatively expensive though at about £266 and the makers say you have to use their gels and creams to get the best results. A package of before and after gels costs £41 and there are other treatment products for the body and hair.

A very pleasant experience, skin seems to plump up straight away and it helps the areas that age first such as underneath the eyes.

There is currently a 5% web discount applied on online purchase. Read more at www.nuskin.com
TEST RATING 9/10

CLARISONIC FACIAL CLEANING SYSTEM

Clarisonic® is a professional-calibre brush that uses a gentle sonic micro-massage action to cleanse deeply. It gently clears pores without harsh abrasion or chemicals, cleansing so effectively that skin care products absorb better. Study results of Clarisonic show that six times more makeup is removed than manual cleansing which can bring about the reduced appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and improved skin tone.

Using any nonabrasive facial cleanser, Clarisonic works to unclog pores for deeper cleansing, working with the skins natural elasticity without stripping it. It is safe for virtually all skin types and for daily use and studies prove it to be twice as effective at cleansing the skin as manual cleansing with soap and water.

With its built in one minute timer, Clarisonic beeps to indicate when it is time to clean the next area of the face and is as easy to use as a powered toothbrush – so no additional time is added to the beauty ritual. It is also waterproof so can safely be used in the bathroom and shower.

Because it cleans so effectively yet gently, Clarisonic is recommended by dermatologists for daily cleansing of skin even the sensitive skin of people with rosacea, acne or seborrhea. It reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes and diminishesthe appearance of pores, as well as helps men with shaving rashes. It has also been shown to be helpful for people with ageing skin reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Clarisonic Skin Care System is available to purchase initially at Space NK stores nationwidein the UK, , and replacement brush heads are sold separately. Costs £175

More information about Clarisonic:

Please visit www.clarisonic.comor telephone 0800 988 4864

What our tester said: “My skin felt really clean and it looked better from the very first time I used it. Its not difficult to use and my skin looks a lot better after four weeks of regular use.” RATING 7/10

MAXIMASQUE ANTI-AGEING SYSTEM

Although this device a Halloween masque it is one of the most popular beauty products in France. It’s also the favourite the glamorous former newsgirl Angela Rippon.The salon version is very popular in France.

As the skin ages it looses elasticity because of slower cell renewal process and lack of hydration. MaxiMasque moisturizes and hydrates your skin tissue by a process called osmosis – this means it helps the skin retain moisture. The masque takes 10 minutes to heat up electrically. The heat encourages water to penetrates into the deeper layer of the skin cells-(dermis), as a result the cell swell up, therefore tiny lines and wrinkles are plumped up on the surface of the skin, giving you instant and visible results.

Results from a clinical trial conducted by the prestigious Department of Dermatology at Amersham Hospital (Buckinghamshire NHS Trust) showed enhanced levels of hydration, increased skin softness and a significant reduction in wrinkles. Many found the experience of using the mask relaxing, soothing or therapeutic. Colour white On sale in Fenwicks/Harrods normally costs £39.99

This anti-ageing gadget is a great value for money device which can be used over and over again for pampering facials and other treatments.
TEST RATING 8/10. Buy online at www.maximasque.co.uk

TUA VISO

Tua Viso is powered by batteries. It uses an electrical charge to stimulate the facial muscles and lymphatic system. This jump starts the process within the cells that helps grow collagen so skin thickens and lines diminish.

Tua Viso resembles a cordless telephone in shape and features two electrodes that work neatly and simply with soft, changeable sponges and water from your own tap.

The practical design of Tua Viso makes it easy to hold, keeping the regulator wheel under constant control with your thumb or forefinger, and positioning the electrodes on any part of the face without effort.

Tua Viso can be taken anywhere. Its compact dimensions, light weight, battery power and illuminated panel enable easy use anywhere and in any situation – even in the dark! You can use it while youre relaxing about watching your favorite television program, or curled up in bed reading a book. Since you can easily manage Tua Viso with one hand, you can even use it while doing chores around the house or checking your email.

Costs £175 Buy at www.tuaviso.com
What our tester said: “It didn’t work straight away about after two weeks my skin started to look fresher. It didn’t hurt and it only two a few minutes each day.”
TEST RATING 6/10

New laser treatment for age-related sight loss launches

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Editor

London: A new laser treatment to correct the need for reading glasses in ageing adults has been launched in the UK.

Ultralase has launched the new laser-based procedure, UltraRenew, which will be available for the first time in the UK to treat presbyopia, the age-related condition resulting in the need to wear reading glasses. The treatment, available to men and women, corrects the problem in just 15-20 seconds.

Staggeringly, this common condition affects everyone during their 40s. Symptoms, including eye fatigue, increase the need for reading glasses as the eyes natural lens starts to harden and the focusing mechanisms naturally decrease.

With reading glasses voted amongst the top five premature ageing factors, approximately 4.5 million Britons* could soon be binning their readers in a bid to turn back the years as a result of this breakthrough.

Mark Korolkiewicz, Clinical Services Director, commented: This truly is a revolutionary treatment which will make a huge difference to many individuals lives. It will appeal to peoples vanity, as well as to those involved in reading or detailed work as part of their professional life.

Its a real first to be able to offer this laser treatment to men and women in the UK who are generally in their 40s. The procedure brings a host of advantages over existing treatments, essentially offering a solution to presbyopia without affecting distance vision.

The advanced technology, linked with the fact that the treatment is carried out by surgeons certified by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the very highest industry accreditation, means patients should be able to throw away their reading glasses within 24 hours of surgery.

As part of the development into the treatment, Ultralase questioned over 1,000 individuals into their feelings around wearing reading glasses to reveal that almost half of short-sighted Brits feel self conscious wearing them in public. Reading glasses were highlighted as one of the top five ageing factors alongside hairstyle, posture and dress sense.

Many stressed vanity as the reason for not wanting to wear their readers, with one in ten stating it makes them look old and an unlucky 13% highlighting they feel unfashionable. Interestingly, when broken down by gender, it is actually men who feel more conscious about reading glasses aging their looks than women.

Hassle was stated to be the key annoyance helping to drive the requirement for the treatment, with one in five fed up with constantly having to take reading glasses on and off during the day.

With prices starting from £2,195 per eye, free consultations for UltraRenew are available at all 31Ultralase clinics throughout the UK and Ireland.

Treatment is available from the Ultralase Hammersmith clinic with plans to expand UK wide by 2010. For more information about Ultralase and to book a free consultation visit www.ultralase.comor call 0800 9888 237.

*4.5 Million, based on total number of people needing reading glasses, approximately 42% of 45-62 year olds.

Actress Helen Mirren to front Boots new anti-ageing skincare?

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Editor

London: BOOTS is to launch a new range of anti-ageing skincare aimed at the more mature woman in the New Year.

Boots is planning a huge TV and print campaign for No 7 Lift & Luminate which will be fronted by a new celebrity. The product is due on the shelf on January 27.

Though officially lips are sealed until near the launch date, a Boots insider let slip this week that it is a “really good actress.” In that case it would mean the lovely Helen Mirren (pictured below) must be the front runner!

The insider said that lovely actress Keeley Hawes (below right) who is the current face of Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect, is too young at 33 years. This is surprising as the product has flown off the shelf, with most purchases being made by older women, after it was given top scientific acclaim on TV for its ingredients.

Life & Luminate is the name of the new range and it contains several of the key ingredients from the Protect & Perfect range including an extract of lupin.

Boots say the difference between P & P and L & L is that the latter not only reduces wrinkles but also firms and brightens skin – and it does it in just four weeks. It also contains a patented mix of “energising” ingredients including Hawaiian Algae and vitamin C that help to make it feel younger.

There are four products so far in the skincare range – the Lift & Luminate Day Cream – pictured below (50ml, £19.50), which also contains at SPF15

Night Cream – pictured below (50m, £20.50) which also contains shea butter and glycerine

Eye Cream – below (15m, £16.50) with peptides

Instant Illusion Wrinkle Filler – right- (30ml, £16) with particles fill in lines to deflect light and “blurr” wrinkles

The original Protect & Perfect Serum (30ml, £18).

Ingredients in Perfect & Protect:
Contains ingredients:Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua, Butylene glycol, Dimethicone corsspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone copolyol, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium sulphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Retinyl palmitate, Methylparaben, Propylene glycol, Lupinus albus, Carbomer, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Panax ginseng, Morus alba, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl pentapeptide-3.

Tried & Tested – ROC’s new Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Serum

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Editor

Women queued in the streets of London’s West End when ROC announced a new range of anti-wrinkle creams combining all the lastest scientific discoveries.

ELIXIR has managed to get a sample of ROC’s new Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion range to find out if it really does live up to the hype. This is what we found:

We are big fans of serums, mainly because they are light and less greasy and mature skins seems to absorb them better. So we chose to review the Intensive Serum (pictured) in the range.

Luxuriously packaged in gold and lapis blue, this serum contains pure Retinol (Vitamin A), Hyaluronic Acid (the natural humectant and collagen building block in the skin), Biopeptide (an intelligent biopeptide that signals the skin to produce more collagen) and squalan (a lipid that improves skin texture.)

Our tester (in her 50s)used the serum morning and evening before the daily moisturiser, as recommened by ROC. After just two weeks this is what she said:

“This product smelled wonderful and the fine texture of the serum meant that it was easily absorbed by my skin. I am only two weeks into the 8 weeks that ROC says it takes to see results but my skin is definitely looking smoother and firmer. Many wrinkle creams have strong ingredients in them and my skin ends up looking far worse because I get an allergic reaction. But I had absolutely no problems with this product. Another bonus is that a little goes a long way. So its a great product, great price and it delivers. After just two weeks of use I would give this product 8/10 Costs £26.99 Available at Boots stores in the UK.

ROC’s new Retin-ox Wrinkle Correxion range

Forever Young – can you really reverse ageing? Ask the experts today

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Editor

Forever Young? Log into our WebTV Show today for revolutionary advice on anti-ageing without creams or cosmetic surgery…

Show date: Tuesday 8th September
Show time: 3:00pm 3:15pm

We are a society that is obsessed with physical appearance and the battle to stay looking forever young is one aspect of that. However, the missing key to the anti-ageing process has now been unlocked, with facial muscle care now being shown to be the vital ingredient to naturally restoring the youthful appearance of the face.

Many women will go a long way to preserve their facial beauty. Avoiding the sun, treating your skin and eating and drinking healthily are all universal factors in the battle against the aging process. In fact, the average British woman spends hundreds of pounds a year on beauty products and some will even resort to cosmetic surgery in a bid to beat the signs of ageing.

Today there are many alternatives to going under the surgeons knife and the findings about facial muscle toning is heralding a revolution in terms of helping to delay the ageing process in a natural way.

While muscles in the face and the body naturally waste as we get older, the majority of women are unaware that as part of their beauty regime they should not only be toning their skin, but they should also be toning their facial muscles too which will help provide a visible and natural face-lift without the need for surgery.

Our live and interactive WebTV Show will show you how you can keep your face looking younger through muscle-toning without the need for expensive treatments or cosmetic surgery and will include a look at the new Slendertone Face, which has been tried, tested and approved by the European Medical Device Directive.

So if you want to know how best to keep your facial muscles toned to reduce your crows feet or smooth out frown lines, submit your questions before the chat.

Dr Trish Smith, the CEO of Slendertone, and Margret Dalton, whos tried and tested Slendertone Face, join us live online at ForeverYoung on Tuesday 8th September at 3:00pm to tell us how we can keep our facial muscles toned to reduce the chances of your age being guessed in the wrong direction again.

Click here to submit questions before the chat Submit Your Questions

For more information visit www.slendertoneface.com

Exclusive discount on tickets to Anti-Ageing Conference London

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Editor

London: Find out the secrets of healthy ageing that even your family doctor doesn’t know. Discover how you can live longer, healthier and happier- from the world’s top medical experts at Anti-Ageing Conference London 2009.

You will discover the latest science on how to halt ageing on the inside as well as the outside. Whether its the latest science on hormone replacement, the diseases of ageing such as cancer or how stem cells can rejuvenate the face, body and mind – you will find an expert at Anti-Ageing Conference London 2009.

ELIXIR has joined with the UK’s foremost conference on anti-ageing to offer you a discount on the full £450 fee for this unique event – you pay only £300. All you have to do is flag up the discount in your registration application at www.antiageingconference.com

WHERE:
The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Centre is situated in Stewarts Grove, London, SW3
WHEN: FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2009

WHO: The names and subjects of the speakers are shown below but you will find more detailed information on them at the conference web site www.antiageingconference.com

Dr Olivier Dan Amar
Breast Surgery, Results and new trends in Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Dr Roger Elie Amar
Cell therapy for facial rejuvenation (F.A.M.I.) Fat autograft muscle injection

Mr Geoff Bond – pictured
Ageing – Reverse the ageing process by learning the vital secrets of longevity which lie in our genes

Dr Tatyana Bosh MD
Presomatic syndrome and psychosomatic body work

Ing. Luigi Alfonso Cuozzo
Is the market ‘mature’ enough for entrepreneurs to move into the scientific world of AA Medicine?

Dr Christophe de Jaeger
How to measure brain ageing

Dr Wendy Denning
Bio identical hormones – what are they, do they work are they natural and safer than conventional HRT

Dr Nyjon Eccles
The forgotten cure for heart disease

Dr Richard Fuller
Activated Cancer Therapy Using Light and Ultrasound – A Case Series of Sonodynamic Photodynamic Therapy in 115 Patients over a 4 Year Period

Professor Syed E A Haq
Anti Ageing medicine and molecular signalling

Dr Masud Haq
Clinical effects of testosterone deficiency in older men

Mr Greg Hayman
The creation of a biological age measurement tool

Dr Thierry Hertoghe MD
Oxytocin’s potent effects on orgasm and warmheartedness

Dr. Patrick Kingsley MD
Clinical approach to Multiple Sclerosis

Mr William M A Kuteesa
Ageing and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. A View of Treatment: Past, Present, and Future.

Diana MacLellan
Ageing and The Alexander Technique – how to get the spring back into your step with the Alexander Technique

Professor Francesco Marotta
There is no Prevention without Prediction: How to implement your Practice through Innovative Genomic and Cellular Biopotential Monitoring Tools in Nutrition-Driven Medical Strategies

Dr Giovanni Dicran Megighian
The power of Isometrics: Expression lines disappear in 30 days by training facial muscles 30 minutes a day

Dr Sandra Rose Michael

Bio-Scalar Technology: Regeneration and Optimization of the Body-Mind Homeostasis

Dr Jean-Pierre Naim
Vitamin D : A wonder Vitamin with new Indications and novel Therapies

Lorraine Perretta
From tongue to tail: the role of digestion in anti-ageing

Dr Andy Pickett
Myths and Realities: The Science of Toxins

Dr Ascanio Polimeni
What to learn from centenarian secrets to promote a healthier and longer life?Syncrinology and Hormonal harmony:from Italian centenarian studies a new endocrine approach to improve the health and the length of our life.

Dr Bobby Prasad
IBS: Am I irritable or is it just my bowels?

Professor Giovanni Scapagnini
Bio-markers of ageing:longevity predictions

Dr Damir A Shakambet
Bio-facelift (non surgical natural facelift)

Can Yoga stop you ageing? by Patricia Ezechie

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Editor

London: In a society obsessed with looking young and where youth and beauty are prized above all other attributes, it is not surprising to learn that more than 22% of women in Europe use anti-ageing skin creams every week, spending billions of pounds every year on treatments and preparations in the hope that any signs of ageing can at the very least be halted if not reversed.

With more and more people also viewing cosmetic surgery and non surgical interventions like botox, fillers, peels and plumpers as essential tools in the battle against the ravages of time, could a practice as simple (and inexpensive) as yoga be the answer? Can yoga halt and maybe even reverse the ageing process?

Before you start reaching for the phone to cancel that botox appointment while simultaneously hurling your eye wateringly expensive skin preparation into the bin lets agree on what constitutes ageing. Is ageing the fact that your breasts and bottom are not quite as pert as they used to be, or is it that when you smile you have laughter lines? Is it the fact that your waist is not quite as waif like as it once was, or that when you look in the mirror these days its seems to be your mother looking back at you?

I would agree that all of the above are physical manifestations of the ageing process, but only part of the picture with the focus being purely on the external. Is it these physical changes or the number of years you have been around that should define how old you are or feel?

The Eastern view of age is very different. In Yoga it is the age of the spine, not the number of years (or pertness, or evidence of wrinkles) that determines an individuals age. It is the elasticity and flexibility of the spine, the tone of the tissues, ligaments joints and nerves and the relative smooth functioning and health of the bodies systems that determines age.

Before you groan and switch off please note that an added benefit of increased mobility and flexibility is increased tone (pertness), increased blood supply to all of the bodies organs (including the skin which is one of the largest organs in the body leading to plumpness and firmness) and improved posture (strengthened and toned abdominals and back). Yes, the regular practice of yoga does provide all these benefits.

Spinal health is key in the battle against age. The spine, made up of 33 irregularly shaped bones (or vertebrae), intervertebral discs, facet joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, cord and canal act as a strong yet flexible column and support for the whole body, providing and enabling the power of movement and bearing the weight of all the organs and appendages attached. When practicing yoga, the joints of the body are moved through their full range of motion, encouraging mobility and easing pressure.

The gentle stretching during asana practice (this is the physical element of yoga), releases muscle tension, stretches the joints causing the secretion of synovial fluid into the joints keeping them healthy and supple resulting in reduced stiffness preventing conditions such as arthritis and helping to improve the condition if it already exists (by very gentle practice with a qualified and experienced teacher).

Regular and continued practice of asana encourages strength and endurance, leading to increased tone in all the muscles of the body, improved blood circulation with the added benefit of the focusing on the breath helping to soothe and calm the nervous system.

The beauty of the practice of yoga is the more continued and sustained the practice the more cumulative the effects, with the long term benefits including reduced stress and anxiety levels and increased feelings of health and well being. As the nerves of the brain and spine go to every tissue in the body and therefore every tissue in the body depending upon the health of the brain and spine, the importance of the spine in the fight against age becomes apparent.

Healthy and flexible spine, healthy, flexible and youthful body! When we also factor in that during the practice of yoga the skin is continually being stretched causing stimulation of the skin cells and endocrine system resulting in firmer, healthier skin, I think the assertion that yoga can slow and possibly stop the ageing process is no idle boast.

The miracle of yoga is that it is suitable and can be of benefit to everyone, irrespective of age, size, sex, or ability. It is never too late to begin, does not require loads of costly equipment and the benefits can be felt almost immediately. The practice encourages and engenders balance in all things and an awareness of the mind and body that will enable all those who participate to begin to make positive and healthful changes to their lives.

In a society so highly focused on the external it is perhaps a timely reminder that the most sustained and maintainable changes and improvements to the visible body are as a result of the correct and efficient working of the internal elements of the body. Get the inside working efficiently and the outside will reflect these changes with lustre and youth.

Getting older is inevitable and no amount of lotions, potions or interventions (surgical or otherwise) can hide the results of age indefinitely. We should be aspiring to embrace the wisdom and freedom that comes with increasing age while maintaining our physical and mental health, fitness and mobility, by practices like Yoga that both nurture and nourish the body and mind.

Can yoga stop you ageing? If youthfulness is defined as energy and vitality, mobility and strength, suppleness and stamina then yes yoga can!

Patricia Ezechie, is a BWY, Sivananda and Birthlight trained yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 13 years and is the owner of www.yogastickmen.com where full details of all her classes and workshops can be found.

Yogastickmen.com have launched a new range of T-shirts, for autumn/winter 09. Perfect for wearing in yoga class or out for a jog in the park, the T-shirts come in an array of brooding autumn colours. To look at the range of colours visit www.yogastickmen.com

Banish wrinkles with radio waves – see the video

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Editor

London: The world’s first salon-grade radio-frequency anti-ageing skin device is now on sale in the UK.

This is yet another amazing anti-ageing gadget from those technical innovators in Israel. Priced at just £470 (Euro 490) it is a mini version of the in-salon ReGen treatment – to combat wrinkles and cellulite.

This new gadget, is plugged into your electricity powerpoint, has a safety feature which cuts out the power when the skin has reached the optimum temperature – and turns on again when it has cooled down. The radio-frequency energy penetrates a mere 1-3mm and feels like a warm massage.

It seems easy to use and only takes a few minutes for each session. See the video…

Certainly the before and after photos at the London launch this device looked fantastic. The gadget is fairly affordable and would probably achieve optimum results after a few of the more powerful salon treatments.

Click on this link for more information/or to buy STOP

Get younger eyes with Swiss o Par – reader offer

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Editor

Get rid of the grey and emphasis your beautiful brows and eyelashes with Swiss o Par…

This is the only totally peroxide free eyelash and and brow tinting product approved for home use.

Guaranteed waterproof, non-smudge and semi-permanent – it lasts several weeks, and grows out with your natural lashes/brows growth cycle.

A pack for £8.95 does around 10-12 applications which means it lasts for a whole year. You can’t get better value than that.

Well you can with Elixir – take advantage of the special Elixir offer of £6.95

Very very easy to use – it only takes about a minute to do the brows and all the lashes of both eyes. Just two actions and its done

All the details are on www.eyestodyefor.co.uk/elixir or call + 44 (0)117 968 1414 and quote ‘elixir’

Red Reishi – the magic mushroom of immortality?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Editor

Red Reishi, was once so rare that its use was reserved solely for Chinese emperors who revered it as the secret to youth, health and beauty.

Today though reishi is available around the world, but it appears the Emperors were onto something as research, just published, shows the unusual mushroom has real anti-aging properties and deserves its name as the Mushroom of Immortality.

Two new studies just published have further re-enforced the research that red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) can be hugely beneficial for helping to protect our bodies from the ravages of old age.

The first new paper, published this month 1, shows that in aging cells an extract of G. lucidum (reishi) has a significant effect on reducing the processes that cause cells to age and improves their energy production systems.

The second paper 2 also used an extract of G. lucidum and showed that it may be effective at improving the function of mitochondria, the factories that produce energy in our cells, and whose function is reduced with age. The researchers go onto suggest that there could be a therapeutic application for red reishi against ageing associated neurodegenerative diseases.

These new studies add further weight to the anti-aging research that has gone before – papers have shown that these mushrooms can have potent immuno-modulating action so could potentially have a real complementary effect for people with, or who are recovering from, cancer 3, 4, 5, so much so that Cancer Research UK commissioned a paper on them. The mushrooms have also been seen to contain active molecules which could help reduce the effects of arthritis 6, 7.

It is easy to see then why the Emperors were so keen to keep this secret to themselves and it appears nature could have provided the anti-aging remedy we have all been looking for.

Making it harder to argue against the benefits of Reishi is the fact that its effects can be felt so quickly and there are no side-effects from its use. It is however important to bear in mind that the key to Reishi mushrooms effectiveness are their adaptogenic qualities; that is to say that they help to normalise the body and aid its natural processes via active substances found in the mushrooms such as water-soluble polysaccharides and triterpenes. The efficacy of the mushrooms can vary dramatically depending on how they are grown. The mushrooms draw nutrients up through their stalks from the medium on which they are grown and this determines the quantity of active substances within the mushrooms themselves. Mikei Red Reishi Essence mushrooms are grown in aged Japanese Oak logs in the most natural conditions possible and take a full year to reach maturity, resulting in one of the highest quality and most effective extracts available.

Mikei Red Reishi Essence is a Reishi extract that couldnt be easier to use and comes in ready to swallow vegetable based capsules; for general health and well-being only one capsule needs to be taken daily. Extracted from mushrooms grown in Japan, Mikei Red Reishi Essence is the most concentrated Reishi extract on the market and is now available in the UK from Haeon Limited. Buy online at www.haeon.com or from leading health stores.

Editor notes and example studies

1. Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst enhances activities of heart mitochondrial enzymes and respiratory chain complexes in the aged rat.

2. Effect of Ganoderma lucidum on the activities of mitochondrial dehydrogenases and complex I and II of electron transport chain in the brain of aged rats.

3. Medicinal mushrooms: their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatments.
John E Smith. Emeritus Professor of Applied Microbiology, University of Strathclyde. Chief Scientific Officer, MycoBiotech Ltd, Singapore. Neil J Rowan. Lecturer, Department of Bioscience, University of Strathclyde. Richard Sullivan. Head of Clinical Programmes, Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK – 2003

4. Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor-promoting effects of triterpene acids and sterols from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Akihisa T, Nakamura Y, Tagata M, Tokuda H, Yasukawa K, Uchiyama E, Suzuki T, Kimura Y. Chem Biodivers. 2007 Feb;4(2):224-31.

5. Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells by down-regulation of estrogen receptor and NF-kappaB signaling. Jiang J, Slivova V, Sliva D. Int J Oncol. 2006 Sep;29(3):695-703.

6. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines in activated rheumatoid synovial fibroblast. Ho YW, Yeung JS, Chiu PK, Tang WM, Lin ZB, Man RY, Lau CS. Mol Cell Biochem. 2007 Jul;301(1-2):173-9. Epub 2007 Jan 12

7. Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor-promoting effects of triterpene acids and sterols from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Akihisa T, Nakamura Y, Tagata M, Tokuda H, Yasukawa K, Uchiyama E, Suzuki T, Kimura Y. Chem Biodivers. 2007 Feb;4(2):224-31.

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