www.womanthismonth.com January 2016 45 I MUST admit, I’m always pretty sceptical when asked to try yet another antiaging treatment particularly since, being a smoker who really does not drink enough water, I know I’m my own worst enemy. However, the Feeling Time treatment at Charm Salon in Juffair is a bit different. It piqued my interest because the products, from Italian company Farmogal, contain no paraffins, silicones or preservatives and, more importantly for me, there are no animal products and they’re not animal tested. I was welcomed by salon owner Tatiana, who carried out my treatment first giving my face a thorough milk clean using gentle, relaxing massage strokes. Next came a peel, which felt slightly gritty, a bit like dermabrasion. My skin was massaged for several minutes with a special substance containing hyaluronic acid, very important in skin rejuvenation, which Tatiana explained was to warm my skin prior to the next step. One of the main secrets of this treatment is a technique called ‘gomming’. The skin is first massaged with a vial of collagen rich cream and then after several minutes the substance becomes sticky and the massage involves manipulations which pull and stretch the skin as it adheres to the therapist's fingers. Fortunately, I’d seen the technique on Tatiana’s screen otherwise it might have come as a bit of a shock. It wasn’t uncomfortable but was certainly a very strange sensation to feel my skin being pulled, albeit gently, and, to be honest, I really didn’t expect it to produce a good result. The next stage was even stranger. My face was again massaged before being spread with a cooling mask. This is made from the something called Blugum which set into a kind of rubbery solid. Tatiana had advised me to close my eyes and mouth and, when she removed it, all in one piece, it was rather weird to see a perfect cast of my face, almost like something from a James Bond film. The last step was the application of what is called a lifting shock serum. However, rather than shocking, this actually felt very soothing and calming and left me ready to face the mirror. Tatiana actually snapped before and after pictures and I could definitely see an improvement in the lines around my eyes, my skin also appeared marginally tighter so it’s a treatment I might recommend if you have a big night out coming up. However, it’s recommended at one session a week for four weeks followed by monthly updates for three months to reap the full benefits, and I could actually see that making a significant difference. What: Feeling Time facial treatment Where: Charm Salon Favourite Feature: The James Bond face mask. disease and lung cancer, the first and most visible adverse effect of smoking is on your skin. When subjected to the toxic concoction of carbon monoxide, cyanide, tar, formaldehyde and other chemicals, our brain diverts vitamins away from your skin to be used elsewhere. Nicotine also reduces blood flow and hence less oxygen gets to the lower living layer of skin, or dermis, leaving your skin dry, flaky and less resilient to external stress. 3) Stay Hydrated: Drinking water gives you a radiant, healthy, younger-looking complexion. Our skin is made up of cells and skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water. Without water, they will certainly not function properly or at their best. So drink lots of it, cut back on coffee and soda and moisturise regularly. 4) Proper Rest: The expression ‘beauty sleep’ actually has some science behind it. The deepest stages of sleep are when your body produces the most growth hormone, which aids in cell and tissue repair. Sleeping well can make you look younger, decrease fine lines and dark circles and, in some cases, has even helped against conditions like eczema, acne or rosacea. 5) Use a Retinoid: Out of all of the ‘anti-aging’ ingredients available on the market today, retinoids are the only ones scientifically shown to work on a molecular level. Their regular use improves skin texture and reduces dark spots as the compound speeds up skin cell turnover. Most importantly, they not only help to decrease the amount of collagen breakdown from sun exposure by preventing the rise of an enzyme called collagenase, but they also help to stimulate the production of new collagen 6) Eat Right: We are what we eat, and the first organ that reflects any change in diet is the skin. The more balanced your diet, the younger you'll look. And if you're not taking a multivitamin, start now. To keep skin happy, eat more oily fish (such as salmon), dark green vegetables (like broccoli and spinach), almonds, and walnuts. Drink lots of antioxidant green tea and stay away from refined sugar and alcohol. There are also many clinics that specialise in treatments that can rejuvenate your skin with facials and masks and wraps. In addition to the above, regular exercise and keeping your mind relaxed and stress free will go a long way to keeping you looking younger and feeling great.
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