#anti-ageing

#anti-ageing

When pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter shared a TikTok video talking about her favourite lip balm, she described how it absorbs the lips' natural pH and "brings out this beautiful pink" and keeps them "super moisturised." The product went viral, as did the concept of pH-reactive make-up.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Aiza Jamil says facial puffiness is usually caused by fluid retention and common triggers include high salt and alcohol intake, allergies and lack of sleep. Dr Tina Tian, also a consultant dermatologist explains most viral hacks fall into three categories - cold exposure, massage and temporary tightening effects. They can "genuinely reduce visible swelling and provide relief but the key word is temporary - they won't permanently change facial structure".

I am familiar with this feeling. Breadcrumb trails of heat lead to pain that's called minor, pressure that's called surprising. Rooms like this-the salon where my scalp scalds as my curls burn away or the aesthetician's office where I lie as vulnerable as I might in a hospital bed-are drenched in anxiety's musk, scented with antibacterial spray. The women who leave me their warmth are like older sisters, evidence files, guinea pigs, role models, comrades, and competition.

I'm 65, so I'm not pretending I'm young, but I felt there were things about my face - the bags under my eyes, the skin under my chin, the wrinkles - that were making me look older than I actually felt. I'm very busy. I have a lot of energy. I work out, I'm into health, and I'm very active. What I was seeing in the mirror didn't match how I felt inside.

Two women, probably in their sixties, were debating whether to stick with their usual brands or try something new. "I've been using the same foundation for twenty years," one said, "but it just sits in my wrinkles now." Her friend nodded knowingly. "Mine makes me look like I'm wearing a mask." This got me thinking about how the beauty industry has evolved, yet somehow the biggest names-Revlon, Maybelline, CoverGirl-haven't quite caught up with what mature skin actually needs.

I caught myself doing it again last week-meticulously applying sunscreen to my face while completely ignoring my neck. It wasn't until I saw a photo from my friend's wedding that I noticed the difference. My face looked smooth and even-toned, but my neck? Let's just say it was telling a different story. The fine lines and slight sagging made me realize I'd been treating my neck like it was somehow immune to aging. Turns out, I've had it backward this whole time.

You know those people who make you do a double-take when they mention their age? The ones who casually drop they're 52 but look like they could be in their mid-thirties? I met someone like this at a coffee shop last week. She mentioned her adult son was turning 30, and I nearly choked on my drink. I would've guessed she was maybe 40, tops. When I asked about her workout routine, she laughed and said she hadn't been to a gym in years.

'Stem cell-based' treatments and just the latest aesthetic treatment marketed to those seeking to maintain or obtain youthful skin, but what exactly is involved and what's the evidence that they work It's hard to keep track of the number of scientifically based beauty treatments on offer these days. Most are aimed at middle-aged females with disposable incomes, who are willing to splash large amounts of money on their skin to counter the effects of time.

Remember that viral TikTok showing someone's $500 skincare routine? I watched it three times, mentally calculating how many months of rent that collection represented. Then I looked at my own bathroom shelf, packed with Korean beauty products that cost me less than a nice dinner out, and realized something: My skin had never looked better, and I'd spent a fraction of what my luxury-brand-devoted friends had.

Lotus sprout extract is derived from the young shoots of the lotus plant, which are rich in antioxidants and protective phytonutrients. Because sprouts are in an active growth phase, they contain concentrated bioactive compounds that help defend the skin against environmental stressors.