Personal Care

February 2019

Like many people I know, myself included, lack of sleep is a recurrent problem.  To be able to get a good night's sleep is a luxury many of us yearn for.

However, does the lack of sleep cause wrinkles?
Yes, lack of sleep causes wrinkles and increases the aging process of the skin, according to beautypress.com.

Due to lack of sleep, the body produces too much cortisol, the stress hormone. As a result, the formation of hyaluronic acid is reduced, thus losing the necessary hydration for the skin and that damages its protective barrier function.

By sleeping less, the body also produces less melatonin, the sleep hormone. In sufficient quantity, it protects against cell damage, helps the skin to regenerate and promotes collagen synthesis.

The conclusion: eat well, sleep well and your skin will say thank you!

January 2019

I thought I know myself quite well - flaws and all.  That's until I came across two new products that could potentially help improve the state of my lips.  I have been quite pleased with my often well-moisturised lips but as I read about these products, I think they may have a point or two.

For one, Kapland MD's  Perfect Pout offers to exfoliate,  plump and hydrate one's lips making them "instantly smoother and fuller naturally. " Its Perfect Pout XL set has special formulae for anti-ageing purpose too. Instant Effects Instant Lip Plumper proposes to make one's lips look luscious and fuller in minutes.  The product provides a glossy glide on lips while it also blends oxygen and hyaluronic spheres to increase lip volume by 30 percent in two minutes with effects that can last up to four weeks.  Lips are volumised and hydrated  with a healthy hint of colour. Also the on-trend description here is the product is "Vegan - friendly".  

Meanwhile Perricone MD No Makeup Lipstick also proposes revolutionary anti-aging lip treatment,designed to give the appearance of more youthful lips. Now who wouldn't want that.  It claims that its "universally flattering shade" adapts to individual skin chemistry while neuropeptides help to boost suppleness and fullness. Its unique solid to serum texture allows for sheer, buildable colour or coverage while hydrating and conditioning lips mimicking the natural rosy colour of youthful lips.


November 2018

Being able to spend time with family, visiting old friends, and catching up with peers are not only a privilege but these social encounters are essential for us to stay mentally sound and relevant in relationships.  However they can also be stressful when we want to look our best when meeting people we haven’t seen for a while.  What signs of ageing would they notice?

Content Editor, Lucia Carpio, taking the iconic Star Ferry to cross the famous Victoria Harbour with the Hong Kong island skyline in the background.   Photo by Lucia Carpio's dutiful husband.

In preparation for an annual trip at the end November back to my home city of Hong Kong, I was keen to prepare myself for scrutiny, especially from discerning relatives.  

So when I was offered advice on products to try out to improve my skin, hair and eye-brows even, I was obviously eager to give them a try.  Any help I can get is most welcome, thank you very much.

Of the various products I have tried lately, a few have stood out for me.

A visit to my local hairdresser for a good trim is a must before such a journey, and having had that ticked off my to-do list, my attention turns to how to make it look full and healthy.

Then a friend also recommended trying L’Oreal Paris Elvive Fibrology shampoo and conditioner for “thicker-looking” hair which would be useful for disguising my thinning hair, she said.  Sure enough the shampoo is easy to apply and seems to add volume while  the conditioner that follows does help to detangle hair.  Otherwise nothing special.

But then it was at a recent Beautypress Spotlight Day,  which was held at London’s Shangri-La Hotel in the Shard, that I was introduced to the Alterna brand of haircare products which I was told would be beneficial to my fine, thinning hair. 

Far-reaching views over the River Thames towards north-east London
from the Shangri-La Hotel, in the Shard, London.

Photos © Lucia Carpio

After discussing my concerns with the Alterna representative Peter Todbolski  at the Beautypress event, I was given two products, the  Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner to try at home.

I was assured that I would be impressed even after one use with these products.  As this was the day when a Beluga whale was spotted in the River Thames in London, I was intrigued that the Alterna haircare products claim to contain Caviar extract.  

The list of benefits promised included restoring moisture and protecting colour, and promoting radiant shine, and contains the brand’s own Age-control Complex® (comprising Caviar extract, Vitamin C and Cytokines) to protect against the ageing process and promote stronger, healthier, youthful-looking hair, according to Peter. I do not have the clinical means to prove if the “sulphate free" shampoo can indeed protect my hair from the stress caused by the environment, the sun, aging, everyday exposure to chemicals and styling damages, I can only judge it on how if feels after I have used it.  And I must say I was pleased with the result.  The accompanying CAVIAR Anti-Aging® Replenishing Moisture Conditioner is said to be formulated with pure caviar extract—rich in omega 3 fatty acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins A, C, and D.   I am sold after my first use.  I'm impressed with the way it makes my hair feel moisturised and silky, without being weighed down.  Indeed the products allow my hair to style easily with a blow dryer and an infrared hot iron without feeling dried out.  I'm looking forward to seeing a difference after many uses, and will bring them along to Hong Kong.

Photo © Lucia Carpio

Another feature I am concerned with are my eyebrows.  Having had a bad eyebrow shaping experience by a beautician a few years ago I have not had my eyebrows serviced professionally for a while.  Then also at the Beautypress Spotlight event, I was introduced to the andmetics Brow wax strips.  A brand representative showed me that these are very easy  to use, by placing the strips below the brow in a couple of easy steps  to remove unwanted hair in a couple of minutes. 

Photo © Lucia Carpio

Without the need to rely on a beautician, it is already a bonus.  There is no plucking of hairs, which can be painful, and it is more pleasant than warm wax.  As the hairs would grow back in 3 to 4 weeks later, I was given extra strips to try at home in due course.

Meanwhile my skin tends to break out when I’m stressed.  While contemplating whether to go to my local beauty salon to have expensive facials as I would normally do in the lead-up to an overseas trips, my local pharmacy recommended trying out Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser which she said is the nation’s most favourite cleansing routine. 

She gave me a sample size that comes with its own net cloth to try out at home, and it includes a three-step procedure:-  

Step 1: Dispense 1-2 pumps of cream into my palm.  

Step 2. Massage onto dry skin over make-up on face and neck, finishing over the eye area.

Step 3. Rinse the  supplied pure cotton cloth in hand-hot water and wring out before gently wiping off the cream. Finish by splashing the face with cool water.

I found these steps easy to follow and a particularly refreshing way of removing make up while exfoliating my skin at the same time, without my previous habit of needing to remove make up  before hand and washing off with a cleanser, thus saving me extra bottles to carry in my suitcase.

Now as I’m packing my bags for my long haul flight, all the uncertainties behind the Brexit talks have been sending the British Pound yo-yoing, bad news for the fluctuating exchanging rates.  As preparations for my stressful journey were underway, news has been breaking about the Prime Minister Theresa May’s controversial and divisive Brexit deal she has been negotiating/about to sign with the EU I’m hoping that the British Pound will strengthen so the trip I am embarking on will not be too expensive.  

Separately and simultaneously, I have been diligently going to my local gym and joining fitness classes in the past few months while also attending valuable “Healthier You” programmes run by the NHS (National Health Service) so as to learn to eat the right food – lots of fibres (taking10 fruit-n-veg's a day, not just 5), less sugar, minimising saturated fat in our diets etc. so I can look reasonably good, well at least fitter.

Now with a better-toned body, thanks to my diligent work-out regiment, what am I going to wear on this trip?  My worry list continues.