Thursday October 18, 2012
Ageing skin
Age seems to have finally caught up with me. I would love to restore my skin, and have it plumped up and youthful-looking with a healthy glow. It’s a little dry and if I’m in an air-conditioned room for too long, my skin feels tight.
What kind of moisturiser and anti-aging serum would be best for me? I’m also often exposed to pollutants which leave my skin looking dull and unhealthy. Would skin brighteners work in this situation? – Diana
Swiss line international training manager Laura Nicholson says that dry and dull skin tends to be a major concern as we age. This is because our oil glands become less active, leading to a smaller lipid barrier.
Our estrogen production declines, leading to thinner skin and less fat deposits. At the same time, our skin is constantly being assaulted by environmental stresses such as air-conditioning, harmful UV rays and pollution.
Regardless of the cause, our body reacts to injury and wounds with inflammation. This process is intrinsic to the skin’s self-repair and essential for recovery, but too much inflammation is a bad thing.
Our modern lifestyle and associated stress factors (“inflammation triggers”) can initiate acute inflammation. If this continues on an ongoing basis, it will destroy the tissue repair capacity and result in premature ageing. Therefore, it is critical to fight chronic inflammation, as it is not a consequence of ageing, but the actual cause of ageing.
To revive youthful-looking skin, you would need a serum to boost its recovery, and at the same time, combat the assaults it faces daily.
The Cell Shock Age Intelligence De-Aging Restorative Complex developed by Swiss line combats inflammatory chain reactions, slows down dermal ageing, and counteracts the loss of collagen and elastin. This product works great with the Swiss line Cell Shock Total Resurface Overnight Cream as the night moisturiser helps to retexturise and brighten the skin.
To boost anti-oxidants, collagen renewal and sun protection, use the Swiss line Cell Shock White Lightening Bi-Phase Veil SPF 35 and the Cell Shock Total Lift Rich Cream during the day.
Swiss line will be giving Diana a Water Shock Comforting Emulsion Cleanser worth RM198.
I have fine, frizzy hair. It is also thinning and unruly. I need to wash it every day or else it will look limp and even more unruly.
My hair is also dry and my natural curls aggravate the problem. Besides using a hair conditioner after shampooing, I also apply a styling cream to tame the curls. What can I use to promote a healthy scalp and keep my hair neat and orderly? – Mary
From the sound of it, your fine and frizzy hair is the state of your natural hair condition, however, it isn’t clear whether the thinning is triggered off by a change in circumstances recently or a condition that has been recurrent over the years.
Hair loss could be caused by various factors such as medication, stress, poor diet and vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance and unsuitable hair products.
What’s important is that you need to identify the root of the problem to prevent further thinning. If your hair loss is serious, you may want to consult a tricologist/dermatologist for this.
As for the frizzy and unruly hair condition, this can be solved by using the correct products.
First and foremost, you should ascertain whether you have a dry or oily scalp. If it is oily, then washing every day is important to remove excess oil build-up. However, if your scalp is dry to begin with, over-washing will only serve to strip it of its natural emollients.
According to Anderson Cheah, Kerastase educator, you could try using Keratase Bain Oleo-Curl when you shampoo. It gently cleanses the scalp and softens the hair. It’s a nourishing shampoo for dry, curly and rebellious hair, suitable for daily use. Apply a small amount to damp hair, emulsify, massage and rinse.
It is recommended that you alternate the shampoo with Age Premium Bain Substantif. This shampoo does wonders for people who have thinning hair as it revitalises, thickens and leaves your hair feeling beautifully light to the touch.
It uses Systeme Pro-Supplenium technology with calcium derivatives, and provides much-needed energy to the roots and substance to the hair fibre whilst ceramide helps repair the cuticle.
A regular hair mask treatment using Oleo-Curl Intense Masque will help you to control the dry unruly curls. Apply up to two hazelnut sized amounts of cream (depending on hair length) to clean washed hair. Massage onto the lengths and ends. Leave in for 10 to 20 minutes, emulsify and rinse thoroughly.
For added texture, use Oleo-Curl Creme, a serum for hair that deeply nourishes and disciplines the most rebellious and curly hair, and provides instant softness.
Apply onto washed, towel-dried hair. Massage and then proceed with styling. It gives a finishing touch to dried hair, leaving it shiny and tamed.
Do go to a Kerastase salon to try out our Scalp Treatment, specifically for your thinning hair problem.
Kerastase will be giving Mary a Kerastase Bain Oleo-Curl shampoo and masque altogether worth RM214.
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