HOLLYWOOD’S LATEST WEAPON AGAINST AGEING
Human growth hormone has become Hollywood’s latest anti-ageing fad.

According to The Daily Mail, well-known actors and household names are paying $240 a time to inject their bodies with chemicals they have dubbed ‘a fountain of youth in a syringe’.

HGH is unproven but the idea is that hormones age as we do and if they are replaced with younger hormones, then we will regain our energy, health and libido levels.

CHARLIZE THERON’S BODY SHOOT FOR VANITY FAIR
At the age of 36, Charlize Theron reveals her incredible body in a low-cut skimpy swimsuit for a Vanity Fair magazine shoot.  The actress, who recently revealed to a German women’s magazine that she’d like to have a baby soon, shows no signs of ageing or slowing down.

More

• Jennifer Aniston’s Hairstyle Evolution
• Fake Tanning Prep in 3 Steps

HOW TO REDUCE EXCESS SKIN AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
An unhappy side effect of weight loss is the loose skin that lingers behind as a constant reminder.  According to New Beauty website, minimally loose skin can be treated non-invasively to create new collagen (ask your plastic surgeon for advice). However, excessive loose skin will need to be surgically removed.

“With age, the skin loses elasticity. When the skin is not elastic and able to ‘stretch’ and ‘contract’ it won’t bounce back post-weight loss, leaving you with too much skin for your new body,” says Beverly Hills, CA, plastic surgeon Randall Haworth, MD. Fortunately, minimally loose skin can be treated noninvasively to create new collagen.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:  How to get Natalie Portman’s pretty pink makeup look.

HOT HAIRSTYLE OF THE WEEK: MEGAN GALE
At the inaugural AACTA’s Megan Gale, 36, shows off her glamorous mane.

Your say: What were your favourite moments this week? What do you think of Megan’s hair? Share your thoughts below.

Herbs
A number of green herbs, like parsley, coriander, rosemary and eucalyptus contain chlorophyll which has antibacterial properties that kill germs in the mouth. Chew on these fresh leaves between meals.

Dairy
The nutrients (such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D) found in dairy products like cheese and yoghurt can help neutralise plaque. Eating cheese after a sweet snack is great for fighting sugar (which contributes greatly to bad breath). The active bacteria found in yogurt is also good for oral hygiene. Make sure you’re eating unsweetened yoghurt, as many yoghurts contain sugar which can further fuel bacteria growth.

Green tea
Sipping green tea will help prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to your teeth (thanks to the flavanoids). Green tea is also rich in the antioxidant polyphenols, which protects your mouth from bacterial production.

Citrus fruits
Fruits that are rich in vitamin C help fight odour-producing bacteria from living in your mouth by increasing your saliva production and maintaining a moist mouth. These acidic citrus fruits also prevent gum disease and gingivitis for better dental health.

Fun Fact: Did you know that breath mints can actually make your breath worse? Most mints have a high concentration of sugar, which can fuel bacteria with energy, thus amplifying the problem.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon has strong antioxidant, antibacterial and antiseptic benefits, which prevents germs from producing in the mouth. Also, unlike flavours such as mint, cinnamon doesn’t just mask the smell of bad breath, it combats the odour particles to fix the problem on a more permanent level.

1. Switch to a creamier cleanser to prevent further dehydration. Try L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Cleansing Milk, $13.95, lorealparis.com.au.

2. Use a gentle exfoliantonce or twice a week to help active ingredients to penetrate more deeply.

3. If skin is really dry,a moisturising mask once a week will further ramp up long-lasting hydration. Smooth on L’Occitane Shea Cotton Ultra Comforting Mask, $39.95, loccitane.com.au.

4. Wear sunscreen at all times- even when you are just out and about doing the weekly shopping. Clouds do nothing to filter skin-damaging UVA rays. Australian researchers have found that daily sunscreen use not only provides topical protection, it stimulates the skin’s repair mechanisms to work better, too. Clinique Sun Face Cream SPF30+ with Solar Smart Technology, $36, not only protects the skin against damage, it adds a barrier repair to help minimise the signs of ageing.

5. Step up to a more hydrating moisturiser, day and night. But stay away from too-thick creams which tend to sit on the top layer of the skin. Top choices include: A’kin Rose de Mai Anti-Oxidant Day Creme, $39.95, purist.com, with a time-release formula that releases moisture onto the skin for 12 hours; Avon Anew Genics Treatment Cream with YouthGen technology, $59.99, or L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Hydrating Skin Re-Support Day Cream, $31.95, firms the skin, too.

6. For a bib and braces skincare strategy, use Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector, from $115, department stores, under your moisturiser night and day. One of the best over-the-counter products to repair sun damage, its hero ingredient – LR 2412 – is as effective as retinol at reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And there’s no irritating side effects, either.

7. Summer is also harsh on hands and many women “forget” to put sunscreen on the backs of their hands. Use a hand cream every time you put your hands in water and make it an anti-ageing one such as Nivea Hand Age Control Creme Q10 Plus with sunscreen filters and antioxidants.

8. Antioxidants are the first line of defence against sun damage so try to use creams and serums that offer a cocktail of antioxidants. Ingredient names to look for on labels are: Vitamin C and E, green tea, rooibos, grapeseed extract, co-enzyme Q10 and coffeeberry.

9. Your eyes are one of the first areas of the face to show sun damage because the skin is thin and prone to wrinkling. Don’t panic, though. Crow’s feet often look worse during summer because the wrinkles are often paler than the surrounding, lightly tanned skin and look more prominent. To rehydrate and protect the eye area use damage-correcting eye creams such as Christian Dior Capture R60/80 XP Wrinkle Restoring Eye Creme, $110, department stores, which targets each wrinkle with stem cell technology. Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Line Smooth Eye Cream, $44.95, burtsbees.com, is also formulated to repair and restore over-40s eyes.

Your say: How do you keep sun damage to a minimum? How religious are you with sunscreen application? Share with us below. 

GOLDEN GLOBES CELEBRATE WOMEN OVER 40
In January 2011 the hottest female names in Hollywood were Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway.  A year later and the awards were dominated by women decades older, lead by winners Meryl Streep and Laura Dern.

The nominees over 40 also included Juliana Margulies, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Laura Linney, Jodie Foster, Tilda Swinton, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Callie Thorne, Emily Watson, Diane Lane, Glenn Close and Madonna.

SECRET TO ETERNAL YOUTH?
Russian scientists have discovered a type of bacteria that has not only survived permafrost but have been found to slow the ageing process in ice during clinical studies.  “Bacillus F injections have favourably affected the quality of being of the ageing animals,” the scientists were quoted as saying in Cosmos Magazine.  ”First and foremost, this concerns immunity and the speed of its activation.”

HOW TO BOOST COLLAGEN NATURALLY
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to anti-ageing so it stands to reason that we should be doing all we can to boost collagen production before it starts to slow down.

1. Use skincare products with ingredients that are believed to boost collagen: amino acids, vitamin C, copper peptides.
2. Eat lots of dark fruits and vegetables.
3. Drink green tea

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
How to get Angelina Jolie’s “pillow” lips.

HOT HAIRSTYLE THIS WEEK: ELLE MACPHERSON
At this year’s Golden Globes Elle, 47, showed them how it’s done. She may be known as The Body but she can also give great hair.

shu uemura depsea hydrability alnight quench (30ml), $95, available exclusively at David Jones

If  your skin is dry, dull and dehydrated, this is the product for you. This essence acts like a water mask over your complexion while you sleep, leaving the surface smooth while also penetrating deep into your skin to intensely moisturise and protect from further loss of hydration throughout the day. Use this serum after cleansing and toning, and before your night cream.

The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth (30ml), $59.95, thebodyshop.com.au

This serum helps combat the signs of ageing with its use of plant stem cell technology, using certified organic ingredients. Your skin surface will be renewed and smoother with a more youthful appearance. Use this product in combination with your day and night cream, and also with an additional serum if you wish. Massage 2-3 drops into your skin and allow a few seconds for the product to sink in.

Available: 30 January, 2012

Chantecaille Anti-Glycation Primer SPF 15, $135, meccacosmetica.com.au

This new product is much more than a primer. Along with an SPF 15 protection, the natural and effective anti-glycation ingredient Carnosine protects collagen in the face while powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients like cherry blossom, lemon balm and white tea extracts protect your skin further from environmental aggressors. Apply to a clean face before makeup for a lightweight, oil-free and mattifying effect.

If you’re not liking what you see, it might be time to start formulating a skin revival plan and we have real-life success stories to give you some inspiration:

Danielle has the fair skin of her Celtic ancestry, prone to freckles, hyperpigmentation and other forms of photo-ageing. She had Fraxel re:store Dual laser rejuvenation and says, even a year after treatment, she looks at least five years youn ger than she did before.  Click here for her story.

Sue jumped on the acid (as in AHA and BHA) bandwagon when it was The Next Big Thing for skin rejuvenation in the 90s. Initially thrilled with results she began to suffer signs of accelerated ageing of her skin and problems with breakouts. She now advocates “rebuilding” rather than “stripping” the skin and says her own is proof positive. Click here for her story.

Chris was devastated by the dark pigmentation on her fair skin – aggravated by an inexperienced laser operator’s earlier attempt to reverse it – and was too self conscious to be seen without thick makeup. After an 8-week series of light therapy treatments, peels and antioxidant-rich cosmeceutical salon and home care products, her pigmentation has all but disappeared and her confidence has soared.  Click here for her story.

Kimberley has undergone the new “nocedure” Jet Peel, which claims to have the benefits of Botox and fillers without the needles. She says in the wake of the treatment her skin was plumper, more hydrated and luminous. Click here for her story.

Are you thinking about leaving the country to get a little nip & tuck? Before you make any snap decisions, you should make sure you’ve done your research. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS*) have issued a warning to all Australians travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery to Beware of Overseas Cosmetic Surgery Disasters. Their latest survey shows the number of Australians returning home with complications is on the rise. Australian plastic surgeons are being forced to fix more and more botched jobs.