This week the Australian world has been twittering about the governments proposed national strategy on body image. The proposals goal “to increase the positive thoughts and feelings that individuals have towards their own body as a means of improving their wellbeing.” is so needed according to psychologists. But why don’t we like our bodies?
There are many reasons why those of us with perfectly normal bodies feel inadequate and while wishing for bigger this or smaller that isn’t a new phenomenon something has changed over the last twenty or so years. The naughties world is fast paced, competitive and over sexed. Family life is happening later, jobs are changed more frequently and as 40 is the new 30 we need to look like we have it all under control. Maintaining our youthful looks and our lithe bodies is no longer optional it is strategically important.
OK but why?
While it is true that the media does play a huge part in seeding our views on normality there is more to this issue than that. Role models have existed since the beginning of humanity and these aspirational figures, so perfect and super human that us meer mortals would never dream of being able to emulate them have teased and inspired us in equal measure. Cleopatra’s beauty was discussed far and wide but as very few people at that time had the means or the knowledge to dress like her, bathe like her or eat like her most people left it at that. Today all of that has changed.
Today we can eat the “Hollywood” diet, we can have a “Model” tan, we can wear rock star shoes and we can even have our own personal trainer. It is all possible and therefore attainable and that adds to our problem. If we don’t look good now we are either lazy, sick or over the hill. I mean, why wouldn’t we want to jump on the “I’m a celebrity” bandwagon?
But that is still not it. We need to look further, many of our more serious body issues stem from the mind and that is having an impact on our resilience.
How much can you take?
Impossibly perfect (and often fake) images 24/7 via mass media + Our knowledge that looking good is only a $100 cream, a $20 per day diet, delivered to you door and a $130 piece of plastic away + our “Me first” lifestyles + Our “you too can own an investment property” addiction to easy money + Our 10 hour a day jobs + Our global awareness = A mind that’s fit to burst.
This is a big issue and 500 words won’t do it justice but some things are clear. Thinner models do look better in magazines, make up for 5 year olds is only ever cute when they “borrow” yours for dress ups, money can’t buy you love and nobody can have it all.
In this issue the mind matters and I for one hope that all stakeholders stop and think about life, beauty and the pursuit of happiness in the quest for dollars. You know it makes sense.
Another interesting take on events can be found on Glebe2037’s blog by clicking here.
You can also see how body image problems have influenced Robbie Williams, bless him!
Have you ever thought of hooping as a way of getting back in touch with the fun side of life? The chances are that you were around 10 when you last had a good hoopla and have long since given up on ever getting that thing to roll baby. Whatever your past experience I urge you to get on your best hooping gear and come along to the launch of the Hoopempires ”Hooping for Beginners” DVD. The event will be held On Saturday November 14th from 6-11 pm @ St Petersburg Warehouse Space, 11-21 May Street, St Peters, Sydney, NSW and is open to everyone!
With all of the talk here in Australia about body image, Hooping is a great option for those looking to escape the rat race and find peace within their own bodies. Bunny who stars in the DVD and is a key part in the Hoopstars says that hooping releases our inner child while providing a great workout. It can also help with relieving stress and is a great basis upon which to meditate.
At Realize Beauty we think that hooping is a great way to maintain a healthy body image while having heaps of fun. Come and join us at the party!
What have all of these scenario’s got in common?
- We roll over in bed for just a few extra moments only to find that 7am has turned into 8am and we are now late.
- The third day of our camping trip would be great but the only life left in our hair is a bug’s life…..
- Summer water restrictions are on again making long shower time a distant memory.
Yup, we have all been there. These are indeed BAD HAIR DAYS!
Recently I have been lucky enough to give the Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo a bit of a blast – the perfect answer to those running late/ water issue blues. But what is a dry shampoo and does it work?
Dry Shampoo facts.
By carefully dissecting the ingredients listing I can see that this shampoo is more than just a touch of magic. The first ingredients to be listed are just there to get the product out of the bottle (Butane, Isobutane, Propane) but then we get to Corn Starch and we hit gold.
Corn starch is a natural way to help mop up the grease and grime that our hair collects throughout the day. It is highly absorbent and has a very low likelihood of causing irritation. It is also pretty cost-effective and environmentally abundant.
The next key ingredient is the betaine and this is your surfactant or the thing that ensures that the corn flower sticks and binds to the dirt. Betaine is another widely used and quite mind (though not the mildest) surfactant and is well suited to this kind of product. It is also naturally derived and very cost-effective.
After that the next key ingredient is the perfume. The look of dirty hair is one thing but the odour can be enough to send you rushing to the shower. This product has a pleasantly clean, lightly floral and slightly powdery smell to it – very tolerable and long-lasting.
Otherwise the product contains alcohol as the continuous phase (bit that holds it together) and as per European guidelines the product lists some likely fragrance allergens – Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol and Butylphenyl Methylpropional.
So, Does It Work?
I shampoo my hair every day as I am a complete grease ball without it (this may be self-inflicted but I have never dared go shampoo less for longer than 2 days). Anyway, I have given the product a go on three occasions now and have to say that not only did it spruce up my helmet hair it also made the roots look vibrant again. The weather here has been pretty hot so I did have to re-spray at lunch time on one day but overall, I would class this as a winner.
It has been said that over 90% of a shampoos carbon footprint can be attributed to the water used when rinsing and while I am inclined NOT to agree with this fact it is true that washing hair frequently has a big environmental impact. If only for this reason alone the Poker Straight is worth a try. However, we think that the fact that you can eek a few more days out of your blow dry, sleep in, camp in confidence and travel in style are also pretty fine reasons to buy.
If I could change anything it would be to create the product without the inclusion of fragrance allergens. This product is classed as a “leave on” and so could cause issues for people with sensitive scalps. Be sure to test it on one of those stay at home days first!
PHOTO SHOP ME PLEASE!
Before and After shots. The before are on the LHS and the after on the RHS. I did see a marked improvement on the volume of the hair and it also appeared less greasy. At the point when these photo’s were taken I hadn’t applied any product or used any “tools”.
To find out more about Lee and his funky hair range visit his web site Or pop into your local Priceline chemist (if in Australia).
Movember is all about men and for that reason we salute you! The Movember foundation was set up six years ago to raise awareness about mens health issues. The charity which focuses on both mental health and the impact of illnesses such as prostate cancer has raised over AUD $62 million to date while helping to raise awareness in a fun and retro funky way!
So, how do you get involved? Go to the Movember website and sign up – you have the whole month of November to get on board during which you have to pledge to grow a Mo in return for sponsorship.
Movember – Get it on!
Having just finished reading this book by Patrick Suskind I can tell you that humanity stank back in late 17th and early 18th century. It stank of blood stains, of onion breath, rotting fish and human waste and while this book is pure fiction, the environment that it depicts is chillingly real.
This classic tells of Grenouille, a man born with an outstanding sense of smell but no odour of his own in a stinking and overcrowded Parisien slum. The book brings the world of perfumery to live (albeit in a rather grizzly way) by describing in great detail the intricasies of the perfumers toolbox, the materials used and the methods employed to capture a materials essence.
The book makes for a thrilling and graphic read regardless of whether you are going to be the next big “nose” or have set your sights on detective work. What does humanity smell like today?
The cosmetic industry thrives on innovation and with the average life span of a “successful” product being only 18 months – 2 years that innovation has to be rapid. That is challenge number 1. Challenge two comes in choosing ingredients that are highly effective and challenge three is finding an active that can be sustainably sourced. So, when it became possible to grow our own rare and wonderfully active and innovative plants we jumped at the chance. Hello cell culture technology!
An Apple Tree?
Cell culture technology is at the cutting edge of anti-ageing ingredient research because using this technique means that you no longer have to trudge through rain forests, scale mountain peaks or dig deep underground to come up with an abundant source of highly potent natural ingredients. Of course, you have to discover the magical plant in the first place but after that its all done in the safety and cleanliness of the cosmetic chemists laboratory.
The bionic apple or Uttwiler Spatlauber has recently been the subject of cell culture technologies experimenting. This apple is well known in its native Switzerland for living much longer and being much hardier than its other apple cousins. It also keeps its full and fruity look for an incredibly long time after pickingm properties that are down to its uniquely interesting chemical structure. The only down side is that these apples are rare and so not a great option for a fast moving consumer marketplace. The lure of “grow your own” was just too much to bare.
The process of growing a fruit from scraps of its brother or sisters cells takes a lot of time and money. Stem cells are harvested from the seed plant and grown to produce a healthy plant cell line. As stem cells are pliable their destiny can be controlled to a large extent by careful selection of nutrients and living conditions. The “heart” of what makes that extract great is then cultured and extracted, leaving you with all of the goodness of the plant without the need for wanton plundering.
This particular extract has been found to slow down the senesence action of skin cells (that is how quickly skin cells die). As we age our skin cells die off quicker leaving our skin thinner and weaker than it was in our youth. Bionic Apple seems able to put some oompfh back into ageing cells which in turn helps in making the skin appear younger. The question now is, does this make this extract natural?
Some people would say that this type of hi-tech approach to skincare is anything but natural and for a plant to work it needs to be present in its entirity. These may well be valid points but consider this. If we want hi-tech skincare that is innovative and naturally inspired then we have two options: Go harvest our planet hoping that the new crops are able to keep up with demand OR use the technology that is at our fingertips to create highly reproducable and sustainable ingredients based on what nature has given us? From where I am sitting, the choice is ours.
Fresh and Juicy
Oh, just one last word. If we don’t want anything to do with hi-tech skincare I have heard that some vitamin E and a bit of Jojoba oil can work wonders……
These days you can’t visit a cosmetic counter without seeing a product that is “free from” something. Be it petroleum derivatives, palm oil, parabens, SLES or Silicones there is always something grabbing the headlines. However, much of this hysteria has stemmed from somewhat sketchy arguments, incomplete scientific evidence, a bad vibe or just a general feeling of unease over our addiction to chemical cocktails.
Now, after years of hearsay and urban myth making the BIG issue is being addressed (n.b: work on endocrine disrupting chemicals has been going on for some time but had also been classed as a bit whacky to be taken notice of. That is starting to change) Sweden is investigating what happens when you are exposed to various chemical cocktails over a period of time.
Before I go on I will very briefly touch on what has been a very difficult are for the chemical industry – the fact that in the chemical world 1 + 1 doesn’t always equal 2.
Every industry using chemicals (and all industries do) has to prove the safety of their products for the purpose that the products are designed. Food has to be safe to eat, cosmetics have to be safe to wear on the skin (and in it if it is lipstick), paint has to be safe to chew within reason (which means lead is out) and pesticides have to conform to strict guidelines. While each industry carefully toes the industry standard line (of course there are good companies and bad companies AND good governments and bad. That’s life) it is pretty hard for everyone to get together and test to see what happens when you use everything together over a lifetime. Too many variables.
Anyway, the issue of gender bending has become very real. Men around the world are suffering from reduced sperm counts (not all of them I have to say), in some areas fish are changing sex or becoming infertile and the composition of the soil in other areas is changing in a bad way. This seems at least in part, to be due to endocrine disrupters – chemicals that can change the way our hormones work.
Sweden’s environment ministry is looking into the effect of blends of known endocrine disrupting chemicals to see what effects a cumulative exposure may have. As I have mentioned before this work isn’t new and I remember watching a program about 2 years ago about an American endocrinologist who had been studying the same thing (can’t recall her name). Anyway, at least now the unspeakable issue has got onto the drawing board.
So, do we need to worry when we go to the cosmetics counter? Yes and no. Parabens are the endocrine disruptor most often found in today’s cosmetics. These are used as preservatives and are present in small amounts and while they are known to have endocrine disrupting properties their effect is thousands of times weaker than estrogen. In fact parabens are less than Pears (with natural paraben content) to change our sex. However, people are worried and so seek alternatives. Other than that sunscreens come under the spotlight as potential endocrine disrupting chemicals. With sunscreens the cumulative impact is not yet well understood although one by one sunscreens have been proven to be quite safe under usual conditions. What we need to do now is to look at their environmental persistence and the ability of them to affect the food chain when combined with other environmentally persistant endocrine disruptors. For the record, Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide are NOT that kind of chemical.
So, the debate is on. The work is being done and the results will be made public. Like any good science, finding the answers takes time so we must be patient and in the meantime think not just about the cosmetics that we use but the way we live our whole lives. Your lipstick may not turn Freddy frog into Franny but your contraceptive pill might.
It’s all about dose, persistence and solubility!
Here is a link to the news story from Cosmetic Design Europe.
OK, so I am 35 (ouch) and have suffered from acne since I was 11. That is just plain mean! I eat my fruit and veg (sometimes), go to bed early (in the morning) exercise regularly (that’s true) and have a “glass half full” attitude to life but that doesn’t seem to help. My skin is still intent on making me feel sad 
but I will not give in. I am just going to ignor it!
Let me tell you a little story…
As soon as puberty started knocking on my door the spots started. I shouldn’t have been that surprised as my parents had had a few spots in their time but I was to go where none of our family had gone before – into the purple zone. Having suffered from eczema since birth I was no stranger to skin ache and took the first few spots in my stride. In fact I quite enjoyed popping them (and still do).
Anyway, it was when I was about 14 that things went pretty badly downhill. I started to get some awful pimples that just wouldn’t go away. My mum took me along to my GP for some therapy!
I was put on antibiotics and things got better. For a while….
After a year or so my spots started to come back and I was put on the combined oral contraceptive pill alongside my antibiotics (the dose of which was increased).
And things got better again. For a while….
Then when I was 17 things crashed. My liver started to fail and I got a wicked orange tan because of the build up of bile in my system. I felt terrible and looked like the Tango woman. I only had a few spots but I did have lots of itchy skin, a terrible headache and the inability to digest anything fatty. I lost a lot of weight and started to feel like I was going to die. Things were not good!
My body had started to reject the drugs that I had been taking to make my skin better. I had become allergic to the antibiotics and the pill and would never be able to use either again! Oh dear. Oh, and my skin was still rubbish.
So, I decided that having spots was just my destiny. I tried to go back on the pill later in life and ended up with tango tan again. They were binned and I gave up.
You see, acne is one of those things for which there is no “cure”. There are many ways of treating it and lots of ways that it can be brought under control but a magic bullet? There isn’t one. My acne has changed over the years due to the fact that in my case it seems to be caused by hormones (skin was great during pregnancy but awful after the babies stopped feeding), a genetic defect (eczema means that my skin renewal process is a bit whacked out) and a bit of an adrenaline addiction (mountain bike racing).
Due to my bad reaction to previous hormone treatments I have decided to wait that one out until mentalpause, the eczema part can be controlled by a good diet BUT I am lazy AND a bad cook. The adrenaline / stress part can be controlled by meditation and a bit more “me” time, but guess what? I am not that good at doing any of that. I am a little bit lazy in the “me” department and what’s more, I don’t really mind!
Yes I would LOVE better skin, I would love to not have the pigmentation problems that have come on in the last 5 years and yes I would love to rid myself of the feeling that spots leave you with so what little steps can I take to improve my lot in life without breaking my stride too much?
Retinol creams – Retinol (Vitamin A) is great. It has been clinically proven to improve the appearance and severity of acne outbreaks and can be used on and off for long term treatment. While retinol is available in over the counter anti-ageing creams you will need to see a dermatologist for something strong enough to treat stubborn acne.
Microdermabrasion - This extreme exfoliation can help to reduce scarring and bring forth great looking skin. The process also stimulates the skins collagen production which can help it rebuild. However, this treatment can be quite harsh so should only be undertaken when acne eruptions have been brought under control.
Multi-Vitamin Moisturisers - Anyone who has had or has got Acne will know that moisturisers can sometimes feel like they are smothering the skin. A lightweight formulation based on silicones or natural oils such as Jojoba or macadamia enriched with vitamin’s A, C and E help to nourish the skin from the outside and keep the barrier functioning.
Water – Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea as it helps the body to flush out the unwanted toxins that build up.
And keep up the healthy eating and plenty of sleep routine!
There are lots of ways to manage adult acne but as with everything, it takes time and effort. Ongoing time and effort. In the meantime I have found it really helpful to make the mental decision not to let acne scar my life, a state of mind that took many years to come to terms with and that also needs constant work. I have my good days and my bad days but now they are less determined by my skin and more determined by my bank balance. I haven’t found a cream to fix that yet but I keep looking.
For more acne info check out this web site. Stay beautiful X
Amanda Foxon-Hill
Direct marketing company Nu-Skin launched their new age-loc technology in 2008 and have been rolling out the age-loc range and galvanic spa system globally ever since. With nearly 4000 facebook fans and sales agents spanning the four corners of the globe this brand had to be worth a look. So what does this range have that is so special? I went along to a launch earlier this year to find out and have since been digging around in the deepest darkest biology books to put it all into perspective.
BEFORE?
The Age loc range’s unique selling point is the way that it markets its approach to “anti-ageing”. As our skin ages our cells become less energetic, start making a few mistakes here and there and generally slow down. That, you would think is quite acceptable being, as though they have put in 24/7 hard labour for god knows how many years. Only for some, it isn’t great. Our genetics, pollution, diet, overall health and stress levels all take their toll leaving many of us reaching for the instant lift face cream long before our 60th birthday.
So, can we turn back the clock?
Nu-Skin have patented the name “ar NOX” and use this to describe an enzyme that occurs in the skin and is present in increasing concentrations as the skin ages. Apparently the higher your level of Arnox the older you will look. The “discovery” of arNOX has been hailed as a breakthrough for anti-ageing products as once this can be controlled, the ageing process can be halted from within.
Intrinsic ageing (ageing due to natural causes) has been widely studied and it was back in 1965 that a major breakthrough was made in understanding how cells are renewed. This study carried out by Dr Leonard Hayflick identified an enzyme called telomerase and showed how this enzyme was responsible for ensuring that cells replicate accurately – it acts like the tip of a shoelace, stopping the cell DNA from becoming unraveled. This work went on to inspire the group of scientists, which included Dr Elizabeth Blackburn, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. Recent work by Dr Blackburn et al showed that as we age and when under stress the activity of the telomerase enzyme slows down and becomes less effective at cleaning up.
As cells age they start to release free radicals as part of their apoptosis (or programmed cell death). This is a natural process but it makes sense that as our skin cells age, the cleaners eyesight gets a little bad and fluff is missed! Hence, as we age we have more free radicals spinning around. In young people, this may cause many problems as free radicals can start all manner of weird and wonderful reactions but in older people, all of our cells slow down so for the most part, the free radicals just burn out without causing too much fuss.
So, biology lessons aside, what about Nu-Skin and its “ar NOX” technology? Well, the active used in the Age Loc brand works on the principal that it mops up these free radicals BEFORE ageing occurs rather than trying to prop-up an already aged skin. A case of prevention is better than cure maybe. The arNOX antidote is a plant based extract that is shrouded in secrecy and protected by patents (patents list several possible sources of this wonder cure: broccoli, Shitake, lotus, carrot, olive…) so it is a little hard to know what exactly is in there. However, the product is backed up by numerous clinical trials and well; the sales surely speak for themselves. This stuff must do something right!
Overall I would say that the Nu Skin Age Loc technology is probably not as new and unique as it is making out via its excellently crafted (and broad spectrum) marketing approach but let’s not split hairs. The people seem to like it!
Teamed with the hand held galvanic spa machine you can have hi-tech anti-ageing delivered right where your skin needs it, in the comfort of your own home.
AFTER?
On Monday I had the privilege of being invited to the set of the Stevie English Australian Hair Fashion Awards shoot at their Glebe salon. The AHFA’s are held annually and celebrate Australia’s talent in the fields of hairdressing and make-up artistry and with entries closing on 6th November there was no time to lose!
Being designed with the environment in mind Steve’s salon epitomizes eco street style from its funky décor and visionary staff through to the choice in high performance yet thoroughly green product ranges – O&M and Kevin Murphy. So it was that on a wet and chilly spring morning the tongues, defusers and bobby pins came out.
Game on!
The salons art director Verity ran the shoot making sure that her styles were impeccable and that the models were not bothered by us “other bodies” on set. With what seemed like tens of styles to create, make-up to check and lighting to fix I began to think that there must be two of her. Steve, having done his bit the night before and first thing this morning (as chief colourist) was having fun feeding the troops and recording proceedings for his blog. Grey was chosen as the colour theme – a shade not usually renowned for its beauty but transformed by the addition of some strategically placed Green, Violet, Blue and Black shading.
So, let’s meet some more of the team.
Georgie, Zoe, Naomi and Ruby were there other stylists on set and were carefully following Verity’s direction to transform the grey bobs into something sexy, dramatic and edgy. All are regular stylists at the salon and are well known for their attention to detail and skill.
The makeup artist for the day was freelancer Joel who would like nothing better than to be whisked away to Paris to work on the Italian edition of Vogue Magazine. He was putting his brushes to good use creating a look that was more edgy than traditional beauty yet still “mainstream” so as not to overpower the hair. Raquel assisted, keeping her head down painting nails and spotting the hair during shooting.
Andy and Dave from Andrew Goldie Photography were the photographers capturing some amazing shots of the girls under difficult circumstances (it was cold and the audience were a little off-putting!) These guys are masters of Beauty photography!
Hollie the first year student was on set to observe, take notes and assist with the styling and the models (Britney, Sophie, Britney, Carla, Clemency and Meg) who were all fabulous were provided by Chadwicks modeling agency.
So, when do we find out if they won? The finalists are due to be notified by 14th December but as the competition isn’t drawn until April, we may be in for a nail biting few months. I loved the looks that were created and have to say that my favorite was the one inspired by what Margret Thatcher hair might have looks like after having a good time in the back of a taxi! Then the purple curly one was great too. All I can say is as Grey is THE ‘hot’ new colour at Chanel I am sure that it will bring on gold for the salon.
