An Age Old Dilemma and Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Is there a person among us who has never worried about growing old and all the afflictions which come with the natural ageing process? Weaker eye sight, deteriorating teeth, sore muscles, and cranky old joints are just some of old age’s side effects which terrify us. And yet, perhaps the scariest of them all is the inevitable arrival of wrinkles, especially on our faces.

I mean, these are faces we have been proud of all through our lives. They identify us, define us, and help us become attracted to another - or many others. In an increasingly appearance conscious world, one where we are constantly connected to everyone else on the planet through social media, a person’s face has become their single greatest asset.

Obviously then, if anything were to happen to our faces, be it accidental or natural, we would be completely terrified. So it is for most of us, and so it was for a dear friend of mine. Now, before I tell you about her dilemma and her experiences with the solution she found, let me quickly explain that Rachel, to me, is absolutely gorgeous. She is a little older than me, loves the outdoors, and has a constantly lively personality.

So what then, you ask, is the problem? Well, her lifestyle, with the prolonged exposure to the sun and the wind, combined with the fact that she is almost always smiling and laughing, had left her with the odd wrinkle on her face, and quite a few smile and laughter lines. If you ask me, they added a touch of wisdom and even more charm to her appearance, and I told her so. Yet, she was adamant about rejuvenating her skin and restoring its smooth and youthful appearance. Her solution: skin treatment with Botox for wrinkles from a private cosmetic clinic in Harley Street, London.

Source

Honestly, I was incredibly nervous when I first heard her intentions. After all, how many botched up Botox jobs had I seen on celebrities? I didn’t know much about anti-wrinkle injections then, and some of my uncertainty must have gotten to Rachel too, because she became rather nervous as the date of her first appointment at the clinic drew closer. She dove into research, having done none of it before making the appointment in her usual, act-first-think-later style.

I was curious myself, so I helped her with the research, and what we found on the internet didn’t quite help us reassure ourselves. The day of the appointment came, and Rachel begged me to go with her - for moral support, if nothing else. As it turns out, that first day was a simple consultation with the doctor to discuss Rachel’s background and medical history, but his answers to our questions did help to calm us down considerably.

Once the clinic had formulated a treatment plan for Rachel’s wrinkles, they called her back, and she dragged me along once again. The doctor began by examining her ability to move different facial muscles, and then mapped out the area which was to be treated. Then, and this was the really scary part for me, he made several small injections into Rachel’s face, explaining that they would target the muscles which were causing the wrinkles, and each worked at a different, specific depth and with varying volumes of fluid.

Ten minutes later, it was done, and a week afterwards, Rachel had her natural, smooth, glowing skin again. She told me the injections had felt like little mosquito bites, but that it had all been worth it, for she felt like she looked at least 5 years younger, if not more. She did too! The results totally amazed me, and have me convinced that when I eventually, inevitably get wrinkles, I would undergo the same treatment, and if possible, from the same clinic.

**Guestpost

LightStim for Wrinkles

LightStim for wrinkles** it clearly states on the box, the first LED device approved by the US Food and Drug Administration which is intended for the treatment of wrinkles on the entire face. Well when offered the chance to try it out, how could I say no? Especially when the Hubby wants to try and get rid of his Gordon Ramsey forehead (his description, not mine).  I am quite lucky I am not really showing any signs of ageing, though there are one or two lines beginning to make their appearance around my eyes.

The device in question is hand held and looks like a shower head, only it isn't. It uses 72 therapeutic LED lights which you hold against your skin on those areas you wish to target. LightStim emits a soothing warmth, it is totally painless and can be used to treat your forehead, crows feet, cheeks, smile lines, jawline, neck, decollete and hands.  

After being plugged in you simply hold the device against your skin for around three minutes in each place you wish to treat, the red LED lights are said to work by stimulating your natural collagen and elastin production which in turns helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. As we age, the volume of collagen and elastin in the skin decreases and this allows lines and wrinkles to form. The claims are that this device will:

• Reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles
• Restore your skin's youthful appearance
• Stimulate the production of collagen and elastin

As I have mentioned, the LED lights produce warmth but it is entirely painless and the idea is that after washing and cleansing your face, apply the accompanying (if you wish) collagen peptide serum and then sit back and relax whilst using your LightStim.

You are advised to use the device for around 8 weeks. Firstly taking a photo before using it and then another one after those 8 weeks to see for yourself what improvements there have been. For the best results, again you are advised to use daily, or at least 5 days of the week and each session should last around 10 minutes each time - taking into account that for each part of your face you wish to treat, you need to be holding the device against the skin for 2-3 minutes.

I have just started using this device and am really looking forward to see the differences in 8 weeks time. I have downloaded the LightStim App which I use the timer on whilst using the device on my skin. Also whilst I am using it, I tend to be laid or sat in bed reading, so the reminder is really helpful and useful.

LightStim for Wrinkles isn't cheap - at a cost of £250 it is one of those products which is more of an investment purchase and can be purchased from Space NK and QVC in the UK.

What do you think of LightStim for Wrinkles - is it something you want to try?

Is it really a Miracle Oil?

When Bio Oil first hit the UK market back in 2002 I remember quite a few of my friends buying it and using it and over the year a lot of my friends who have had children have used it to keep their stretch marks at bay.  I have never had children, but I naturally have a few marks on my body, some of which I more than want to hide from view.

The Bio Oil bottle is encased in a cardboard box which is both white in colour and detailed with a bright orange, almost luminous writing.  You are told on the box that it is for specialist skincare and that helps scars, stretch marks and so on.  Everything you need to know about this product can be found written on the box - everything from what it is, how to use it, what it does and its ingredients are all detailed.  

Opening the box there is a further information leaflet inside which re-iterates what you will have read on the box.  Then comes the Bio Oil bottle -  a clear see through plastic bottle with a white screw on and off lid, your eyes are immediately drawn to the Oil inside the bottle which you can clearly see, a first description of it, I would say it is a slightly orange colour.

One of Bio Oils key ingredients is called 'PurCellin Oil' which is easily absorbed into the skin and this particular ingredient is said to help with : 

Dehydrated Skin: Helps replenish the skin’s natural oils, stripped away by factors such as extreme weather, water with high chemical content, frequent bathing and the drying effects of central heating and air-conditioning



Weight Related Stretch Marks:  Helps prevent formation of stretch marks during periods of rapid weight gain or loss and helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks



Uneven Skin Tone: Helps improve appearance of uneven skin tone caused by hormonal fluctuations, skin lighteners or excessive sun exposure



Ageing Skin: Helps smooth and tone ageing, sagging and wrinkled skin on both the face and body, including skin over exposed to UV light. Plus ideal for age spots and softening cuticles



Daily Moisturiser: Helps moisturise the skin and can be used in conjunction with other skincare products as part of your everyday skincare routine. Built into a daily skin care routine, Bio-Oil can be applied all over the body, including the face, on its own or underneath a daily moisturizer, or as a night treatment. Great for dry patches such as dry elbows, heels and anywhere else that needs some TLC
• Scars:  Improves appearance of new and old scars whether from surgery, accidents, burns, insect bites, scratches and chickenpox.

You can see more information on Bio-Oil and all of its claims here - http://www.bio-oilprofessional.co.uk/

Bio oil is designed to help improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks, help with uneven skin tone and hydrate aging skin, whilst combating fine lines and wrinkles. Bio oil is made without harming animals and contains an ingredient called PurCellin Oil, it is toxicological safe and can be used by pregnant women. Other ingredients within this product include:

Vitamin A – helps improve the skin’s elasticity, texture and tone
• Vitamin E – helps increases the moisture content of the epidermis, thereby making the skin softer, smoother and more supple. Vitamin E also assists in the maintenance of healthy-looking skin
• Calendula Oil – has the ability to clarify and stimulates the growth of new skin cells
• Lavender Oil – known for calming and soothing benefits
• Rosemary Oil – helps to invigorate and it has a mild antiseptic capabilities and thus eases congestion, puffiness and swelling of the skin
• Chamomile Oil – has a calming and soothing effect and is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin

Further details on the rest of the ingredients can be found on the Bio Oil homepage which you can find HERE

As this oil has quite a thin consistency, you might need to be careful when dispensing it, though the bottle has its own inbuilt dispenser to help with applying it, but I tend to use it by pouring some into the palm of my hands and then rubbing my palms together before applying to the skin.  When you apply this oil to the skin, it wont come as a surprise to find that it is greasy, but only for those few seconds it remains on your skin without being massaged in, the second you begin to massage your skin it disappears immediately and all it leaves behind is a lovely rose and lavender scent on your skin.

I have a few scars on my body from injuries, one which really makes me feel self conscious was on my foot.  When I was 10 years old I managed to put a gardening fork through my foot (yes I did) and then pulled it out again.  I am sure you can imagine the damage it caused and over the years this scar has been something I have been embarrassed by, so this was my main ‘attack’ area with Bio Oil, the other being a scar on my wrist from an iron.  So since the beginning of February, I have used Bio Oil, as instructed on many scars across my body, but mainly on these two and I am amazed by what I have found.  Below is a photo of my ironing injury, as you can see there is a slight outline of what was once there, usually I have my watch covering the majority of the scar, so there are no other photos of it, but the difference for me is amazing.  The scar on my foot is much older than the one on my wrist and again there has been a noticeable improvement in how the scar looks, it has faded a lot and again for me this is brilliant.  

Bio Oil does advise that you should use this oil for a minimum of 3 months and whilst for me we are almost at the 6 week stage, half way there, the changes are really significant. I am beginning to feel much more at ease and I know that it cannot remove these permanent scars, but it has made living with them much easier.

For me, this has been a brilliant oil  and with its many uses, it is something I think everyone should try, if they haven’t done so already and probably something someone should have in their home somewhere for when they need that little extra bit of TLC or want to try it for themselves.  It is available in three different sizes:

• 60ml rsp £8.95
• 125ml rsp £14.95
• 200ml rsp £19.95

And you will find it in a whole host of stores, such as -  Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Savers, Wilkinsons, and many independent pharmacies nationwide.   Bio Oil also have a Facebook page which you can find here -https://www.facebook.com/biooiluk

Finally Bio-Oil is preservative-free and is not tested on animals. 

Have you ever used Bio-Oil?  What did you think to it?