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- Herausgeber: Geddes and Grosset
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015
Develop more confidence through exploring ways of looking and feeling better
Das E-Book How to Look Great on Any Budget wird angeboten von Geddes and Grosset und wurde mit folgenden Begriffen kategorisiert:
Diet, Beauty, health and fitness
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
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Introduction
It’s your duty to be beautiful …
We live in a looks-conscious age. Everyone is urged to look better, slimmer, smoother, more radiant, less stressed and just generally more gorgeous.Beauty writers tell us that beauty is easy and affordable and image consultants tell us that we should make the best of ourselves. Every media outlet – from advertising to films to television to newspapers – saturates us with pictures of perfect cheekbones, glowing skin, flashing eyes and lean bodies as if, somehow, all the ordinary people (with plain brown hair and slightly pudgy thighs) have left the planet, leaving only the beautiful beings behind.
In other words, beauty is no longer something possessed by a blessed few – it is within the reach of most people, so long as they have the discipline, the right products, the right diet and the right attitude. And according to the multi-billion pound beauty industry, you now have no excuse for not looking good.
And it’s certainly good to feel your best. Modern beauty products mean that boosting your looks is nothing like the chore it used to be. Few things put a spring in your step like knowing that you look well groomed are glowing with health and are dressed to impress.
An obsession
But at its most extreme, beauty can become an obsession that is impossible to satisfy. Endless, obsessive plastic surgery can result in strange and alarming results. In some cases people link beauty with happiness – they could be happy if only they looked a certain way.Three ways for three different bank accounts
It is possible, however, to reel back some years and seriously improve your physique, without becoming obsessed or having a big bank account. This book examines the three ways (for three different types of bank account!) by which you can change the aspects of your appearance you’re not happy about:—£££ Cosmetic procedures
Cosmetic or plastic surgery aims to enhance the appearance, but it also includes such procedures as reconstructive surgery and skin grafting. Cosmetic surgery is plastic surgery that is only concerned with improving looks – it doesn’t have a medical imperative.The origins of plastic surgery are surprisingly ancient, and date back over 3000 years. There is evidence of early plastic surgery procedures in ancient Egyptian manuscripts, and in the writings of the Hindu doctor Susruta (c. 600 bc). He pioneered rhinoplasty for those disfigured by the loss of their noses, either as a punishment or in battle.
Tens of thousands of young soldiers were disfigured as a result of their wounds during the First and Second World Wars. This prompted a steep learning curve within the plastic surgery community, as surgeons worked to minimise the effects of shrapnel wounds, burns and amputations.
It has been estimated that plastic surgery made as much progress in the six years of the Second World War as it would have made in fifty years of peace. During the 1960s and 1970s the rich and famous increasingly underwent cosmetic surgery procedures.
Cosmetic surgery used to be prohibitively.expensive, but this is no longer the case, and recent surveys suggest that over half of all British women fully expect to have some kind of cosmetic surgery in their lifetime. It is estimated that 11% of cosmetic procedures are now carried out on men.
Although sometimes cosmetic surgery can become an obsession, many thousands of people have had surgical procedures to enhance their breasts, lift sagging skin and exhausted-looking features, and subsequently report increased happiness and confidence.
So the industry – estimated to be worth £1 billion in the UK alone, with over 20,000 women and 2,500 men going under the knife every year – must be doing something right. The most popular treatments are breast augmentation, eyelid lifts, face and neck lifts and rhinoplasty or nose jobs.
The UK industry is well-regulated, but cosmetic surgery, like any surgery, carries risks. You should therefore ask your GP for a referral. Your GP will know who the good, local plastic surgeons are, will be in a position to inform your prospective surgeon of any relevant medical history, and will be in charge of your post-operative care.
All plastic and cosmetic surgeons must be on the General Medical Council’s special register (see www.gmc-uk.org). See also the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk) and the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons (www.b-a-c-s.co.uk).
There’s a category of cosmetic procedure known as a “non-surgical” or “minimally invasive” procedure. Dermal fillers, laser treatments, acid peels, cosmetic tattooing, Botox injections etc. come into this category.
Although these carry less danger to life than procedures carried out under general anaesthetic, they are certainly not without risk. These procedures are sometimes available from beauticians.
In order to minimise the risk to yourself we would advise that when choosing a practitioner you, where at all possible, only choose a doctor qualified and experienced in this area.
££ Salon and make-up counter
There is a bewildering array of beauty products and salon treatments on offer nowadays, from facial moisturisers to extraordinary creams that promise the world on a plate. Women spend an average of £3000 per year on beauty products, with male consumers and teens fast catching up.But are these “miracle-working” products actually doing anything other than filling up your bathroom cabinet?
Opinion is as varied as the products on offer. What is clear is that while the results may be less spectacular than those of cosmetic surgery, using suitable, high quality beauty products can make a difference.
This book aims to show you how to make the most of what you’ve got, with a little help from your salon or the make-up and beauty counter.
£ Lifestyle and natural remedies
There are many ways of enhancing your appearance, including those that cost only effort, rather than money.It’s only relatively recently that options such as plastic surgery and intense beauty treatments have become widely available and relatively affordable, and there are many old- fashioned tonics and treatments that can be very effective. They just require a little more effort and a lot more know- how. For instance, you don’t absolutely have to go to a top hairdressing salon to transform your “hair-don’t” into a “hair-do”. But you do need to know what suits your facial shape, what colours suit your skin tone, how to tint and streak without doing the same to your skin (or kitchen), and how to source reliable, good quality products.
You can also become your own home facialist and manicurist, without an enormous outlay. Home-made beauty can be enormous fun. You also have the freedom to experiment with all kinds of ingredients, from oatmeal to avocados and almond oil, so long as you have at least a rough idea of what you are doing with them!
Beauty, as they say, comes from within, and there’s no point in investing thousands on your looks if you carry on smoking or eating a poor diet. A good lifestyle, including regular exercise and plenty of good food and rest will help you look good and slow down the ageing process.
And these kinds of changes don’t need to be expensive.
Skin
Introduction
Skin is the body’s largest organ, weighing in at approximately six pounds. It does a lot more than just keep the other organs from falling out. It regulates body temperature, produces sweat and sebum, stores water and fat, and facilitates our sense of touch. It also protects us from the harmful effects of ultra-violet light, and from the millions of potentially hazardous microorganisms that live in the air all around us.Yet loving the skin you are in is easier said than done when yours flares up at the slightest provocation, is scarred, pockmarked or prematurely aged, or is paler than a shroud even after three weeks in Bermuda.
But do not despair. It is amazing what a regular dose of (fairly vigorous) exercise in the fresh air, combined with a daily one and a half litres of pure water can do for even the drabbest complexions. Add in a good diet (high in fresh fruit and vegetables and low in sugar, salt and saturated fats) good quality, regular sleep and a bright take on life and you might even discover that you don’t need that face-lift after all.
On the other hand, you might feel that the only way to rejuvenate your skin or to tackle permanent blemishes is through surgery. If you decide to take this route, however, you need to take good care of your skin after surgery, or you’ll probably find yourself back where you started. This includes ditching bad habits such as smoking and excessive drinking.
There is, of course, a middle way – beauty products. The beauty industry is keen to let you know all about them, even subtly hinting that certain products are as good as a face-lift. But these tend to come at a price. Don’t always assume that the most expensive product is the best. Shop around, and take note of popular products – they are usually popular for a reason.
The beginning and end of good skincare, over and above the lifestyle recommendations made above, is cleansing with a good quality lotion or facial wash every night. It’s best not to use soap, because this strips the skin’s natural oils, leaving it sore and raw and susceptible to skin rashes and sensitivity. Men should also invest in a good quality lotion or wash that clears the pores of the dirt particles that build up during the day.
Follow this with a good quality moisturiser, ideally with a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 for daytime, and your skin will feel and look noticeably better in a few short days. Eye-creams are a good investment for anyone over 40, as are neck creams, though both should be applied lightly and with upward strokes, to help counter the downwardly mobile effects of gravity.
Some products promise the earth and cost a fortune, so here are some good rules to bear in mind when buying a moisturiser or face cream.
First, always try before you buy. Most high-end companies offer samples, but if not, a beauty counter assistant will doubtless let you try the product, to see how you like it. This will help you to find out whether your skin will respond positively to the product, or flare up angrily at the first whiff of it.
Secondly, always use sparingly. Sloshing on skin creams can be as damaging, pore-clogging and, ironically, drying, as not using skin cream at all.
Third, seek out products containing anti-oxidants, usually billed on the packaging as vitamins A, C and E. These nutrients seem to absorb or eliminate free radicals, which damage collagen production and reduce the skin’s lipid layer, where all the moisture is retained.
And finally, if the product in question is a daytime moisturiser, make sure it includes a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Otherwise, the damaging effects of the sun, even on dull days, can cancel out all the good work your product is trying to do.
Crow’s feet
Crow’s feet are the fine lines that appear at the outer corners of the eyes as you age. They are caused, primarily, by the ageing process itself, when the body starts to lose some of its stocks of collagen – the all-purpose protein that gives skin its suppleness and strength. Pronounced or premature crow’s feet could be the result of excessive exposure to sunlight, smoking, squinting, laughing and smiling. If they are not too deep, there is a lot you can do to mitigate your crow’s feet.£££ Cosmetic procedures
Collagen injections and dermal fillers
Non-surgical intervention, in the form of collagen injections or dermal fillers, is a boom industry. These injections claim to fill out fine lines, making the skin appear plumper and firmer. Synthetic collagen is the most popular type.The procedure should be carried out by a certified practitioner. It begins with the application of a topical anaesthetic, followed by a series of injections, using a very fine bore needle, directly into the areas affected. These areas are then massaged, and in the following days, the filler will combine with water produced naturally by the body to produce a firmer, more youthful appearance.
The procedure can take up to an hour and you can usually leave the clinic shortly after this. The results should be apparent within one to two weeks, and can last for between three to nine months.
Allergic reactions are associated with dermal filler injections, so ensure that an allergy test is conducted beforehand, as the treatment cannot be reversed afterwards. If you are prone to cold sores, you might experience an outbreak following this treatment, unless you take anti-viral drugs as a precaution. Side-effects can also include discomfort and bruising. Serious side-effects such as prolonged redness, tissue hardness and bumps are much more rare.
Costs can vary from £200 to £1000, depending on the reputation of the clinic, the quality of the filler used, and the level of treatment you request.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels can help to reduce fine lines, but be prepared to cover up in the sun afterwards, as they leave skin thinner and more prone to sun sensitivity. A light chemical peel used to treat fine lines is quite different from a deep peel, so take good advice, preferably from a qualified dermatologist.A light peel begins with the face being swabbed with acetone, a strong cleansing solvent. The face is then swabbed with a safe, relatively lightweight acid such as glycolic or trichloroacetic acid. Within one to two days, several layers of skin will peel off, leaving you looking noticeably rejuvenated in appearance. Several peels, applied at intervals of several weeks, may be required to make a lasting impression. A deep peel involves a much stronger acid such as phenol, and is only recommended for very deep lines or specific problems, such as scarring.
While a light peel might feel slightly nippy, a deep peel can actually be painful and a local anaesthetic might even be required. The after-effects are quite severe, with skin becoming sore, crusty and oozing until the layers peel off, leaving the face very reddened and sensitive for up to six weeks. The deeper the peel, the more severe the long- term risks. Scarring can occur, although this is rare, and changes in skin texture are also possible. About one in ten people experience an alteration in skin pigment. For this reason, chemical peels are generally recommended for very fair-skinned people only.
Chemical peels can cost from £600 to £2000 for a full course of treatment.
££ Salon and make-up counter
There is a huge array of anti-ageing potions currently on the market, but there are specific products aimed at the kind of fine lines found around the eye area.Alpha-hydroxy acids or fruit acids
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), also known as fruit acids, are the most prominent, and the most common form they come in is glycolic acid. As the skin ages, it becomes less efficient at sloughing off dead skin cells, causing a build- up that can leave skin looking tired and lined. AHAs cause the skin to shed these dead layers of skin through a process not unlike a chemical peel. They should be used with caution as the risks include itching, increased sensitivity to sunlight and even burns. Ideally, seek out AHAs available in products at a concentration of 10 per cent or less, and with a pH of 3.5 or less. Furthermore, avoid exposure to sunlight or wear a strong sunscreen when you are using them.Retin-A or Tretinoin
Tretinoin, available in such products as Retin-A, is another popular, high-tech solution to fine lines. Its manufacturers claim it can actually help boost collagen production, which rejuvenates lined skin. However, use it sparingly and don’t expect a result for at least a few months. It can cause itching, peeling and increased sun sensitivity, so monitor its effects as you go along – prolonged use can actually speed up the ageing process. Alternatively, use a good quality eye cream and apply sparingly, but regularly.It’s available from pharmacies, prescription only, as a cream or a gel.
£ Lifestyle and natural remedies
You actually can avoid laughter lines by never laughing, but this is not necessarily recommended!Stay out of the sun
Covering up in the sun is a great preventative measure. Always have a pair of sunglasses to hand and put them on as soon as the light is bright enough to make you squint.Stop smoking
If you want line-free skin, then stop smoking, or don’t start in the first place.Diet
Finally, look to your diet and eat foods rich in vitamins A, C and E if you want to keep wrinkles at bay. A study of 453 Greek, Swedish and Australian people aged 70 and over was carried out in 2001 by Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. This study concluded that foods associated with younger looking skin included fresh fruit and vegetables, tea, lots of water, fish, olive oil and olives, wholegrain cereal, reduced fat milk and milk products, nuts and pulses. Foods associated with ageing skin included meat, full fat milk and dairy products such as butter and margarine, sugary foods, refined flour and, perhaps surprisingly, potatoes.Frown lines and forehead lines
These lines start forming from a young age, particularly if you are short-sighted or short-tempered. This means that they can run deep and, unfortunately, make you look both aged and angry. As with crow’s feet, there are a number of solutions to hand.£££ Cosmetic procedures
Botox ®
The most popular non-surgical method of treating frown lines is with Botox injections. Botox – Botulinum toxin A – utilises minute, diluted quantities of the nerve toxin which causes Botulism, the paralysing, potentially fatal disease. When injected into skin, it blocks the release of acetylcholine, the chemical that triggers the contraction of muscles. Botox therefore paralyses the facial muscles whose actions, repeated over time, caused the wrinkles in the first place. Skin instantly looks smoother and rejuvenated. Over the coming months lines might fade a little, and they will be prevented from deepening.If you have Botox treatment regularly, you could eventually find that you no longer need it, because your forehead muscles have become accustomed to non-activity.
Dermal fillers, are another non-surgical alternative, and can be combined with Botox for longer- lasting results, or to treat very deep lines. Chemical peels are a further option. For those who want more dramatic results, and are willing and able to have surgery, then a forehead or brow lift could be an option. Brow lifts work by cutting out or partially disabling the muscles that cause the brows to contract and the forehead to rumple into horizontal lines. It is a serious operation, requiring a general anaesthetic, and all the usual health issues must therefore be taken into consideration. AHAs and Tretinoin or Retin-A can also be helpful in treating frown and forehead lines. Topical line fillers, which claim to plump out fine lines through boosting the production of collagen have recently reached the mass market, but no hard evidence is available as to whether they truly work. If they contain anti- oxidants, then they will at least help to combat general signs of ageing, but get youself some free samples from the beauty counter and try before you buy. Another popular treatment is “Frownies”, which are patented adhesive patches applied directly to the source of the problem to inhibit frowning and moisturise intensely. They have been in circulation since 1889 and have even featured in an early Hollywood movie. They are low in cost, non-invasive and have developed a celebrity following. The same points that apply to crow’s feet also apply here. However, consciously learning to keep your forehead smooth, even in times of stress, should lead to your unconsciously maintaining a more relaxed appearance, which in turn should iron out some of those lines and halt the development of many more.
