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.

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• 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.

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.

JENNIFER ANISTON’S 10 YEARS YOUNGER TIP
Jennifer Aniston, 42, may have used injectables in the past to maintain her youth but her most recent anti-ageing secret is quitting smoking and gaining weight.

• Long Hair vs Short Hair
• Jennifer Aniston’s Hairstyle Evolution

BREAST IMPLANTS UPDATE
Intense gym workouts, rough sex, hanging out the laundry and “excessive” squeezing are likely to cause the controversial French PIP (Poly Implant Prostheses) breast implants to explode, according to a group of UK doctors.

The faulty implants were made with industrial-grade silicone intended for mattresses increasing the risk of rupturing.

Dozens of Australian women with the PIP implants have already experienced a rupture and fear the effects of silicon residue.

LATEST DIET & WEIGHTLOSS TOOL
LG has designed a fridge to help keep you thin. Revealed at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, the ThinQ Smart fridge has in in-built dietician that can tell you to put that piece of chocolate back.

ANTI-AGEING BEAUTY VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Tips for applying eye make-up to prevent the signs of ageing.

OUR FAVOURITE HAIRSTYLE THIS WEEK: MADONNA
Madonna attends the W.E. premiere at the Odeon Kensington in London on January 11, 2011.

 Your say: What has got  you talking this week? Share your favourite news stories with us.

“There are no rules,” Liz Tagla, salon manager of Bauhuas Hair in Sydney. “If you’re confident enough to wear a style then go for it. In today’s society, it is so difficult to guess how old someone is. It’s up to each individual but for some going against the grain and defying the `rules’ is what makes them younger.

“Today’s woman really looks after herself, inside and out. She eats a healthy diet, exercises, has a career and does what she can to take care of her appearance.

“No matter what age you are, the length that your hair `should’ be is quite an individual decision. You need to take into consideration your face shape, your body shape, your lifestyle, maintenance and so forth.

“It comes down to confidence and being comfortable with yourself and who you are – don’t try to be someone else.”

More…

• Beach Waves At Any Age
• Jennifer Aniston’s Hairstyle Evolution

But whatever length you opt for, Dario Cotroneo of DARIO salon in Sydney, urges mature-age women not to play it straight. “One very important tip for over-40s is to try to avoid straight hair. It draws attention to your face and emphasises any lines you may have, whereas waves and curls draw attention away from your face and therefore minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

LONG STORY
“If you feel longer hair suits you, then, whatever the length, you need to have a good cut regularly so that your hair has a style and is not just ‘long hair’,” says Liz. “The older you get, the more important this point becomes.

“Your hair needs to look healthy and well maintained and the longer the length, the more essential styling, colouring and density becomes. Keep your hair in good condition by having regular trims (this will also maintain your style) and treatments.”

SHORT STORY
“I would generally recommend short hair for women who are outgoing with big personalities and who are comfortable in their own skin,” says Dario. “The older she gets the more volume is required. To give a modern finish use Alterna’s Caviar Molding Crème, $37.95, 1300 437 436, to separate the style so it looks sharp and individual.”

Says Liz: “Short hair really has to suit your face shape and the style becomes extremely important – shorter hair draws attention to your face and your body at the same time. It can emphasise certain features and detract from others and because of this it can completely change your look.

“You need to find a stylist who is experienced at analysing features correctly while taking into consideration your lifestyle. A good cut `technically’ is crucial. It needs to be said though that you can’t hide behind your hair and therefore the shorter you go the more you need to be confident about your body and about who you are.

“Some women find it liberating to go short after having longer hair all through their teens and 20s. There is a misconception however that short hair is easier. In order for your style to be short and low maintenance, it needs to be very short, cut with precision and suitable to your hair type, growth patterns and so on.

“I’d recommend going shorter in stages – you can always cut more off but unless you’re going to opt for hair extensions, you can’t as easily add length on!”

THINNING AND HAIR LOSS
“A thick head of hair is better than Botox!” says Liz. “If your hair is fine or it has thinned out over the years, then you should definitely consider adding bulk and volume with hair extensions. I’d suggest only considering human hair extensions made from the highest quality hair. Permanent options are best as they fit in with your lifestyle and your everyday look. [At Bauhuas] we use and recommend only the best hair extensions, Great Lengths, as they have a large range of colours and lengths which enable us to create results that are completely natural.”

COLOUR YOUR WORLD
Says Dario: “Women must all have their hair professionally coloured. When we colour our client’s hair, the goal is to rebalance the face. Colour placement is based on face shape suitability, bringing life to their face and complexion. In my salon we use Lakme Colour because it gives us lots of flexibility when creating individual colour looks for our clients.  In general, my philosophy in regards to colour is lighter tones expand the face and darker tones slim it down.

“I can’t stand women above 40 going very dark using one block colour. This makes them look like they are trying extremely hard to be young. Women above 40 should always go for soft and flattering tones that work with their skin tone and their age. Not what used to work 20 years ago.”

Your say: What length do you like to wear your hair? What is the most important hair care issue to you? Share with us below?

Long gone are the days of blue rinses. It’s all about accentuating silver highlights and adding flattering low lights. Silver shampoos such as, Matrix Essential So Silver shampoo, RRP $24.85 (all prices quoted are recommended retail only), or System Professional 1.8+ Silver Saver Shampoo, $29, work to counteract the yellow tinge and bring out an elegant tone.

“This is an amazing way to leave the hair looking fresh and achieving a soft colour result; transforming grey hair to elegant white tones,” says Martin. Blonde shampoos like John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonde Lightening Shampoo, $18, or Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde Shampoo, $23.95, are great to use if you’re losing that youthful element, they have direct pigment which brightens, adds shine and warmth to dulling locks.

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• Celebrity Hair Confidential
• Beach Waves at Any Age

Grey(ing) locks can either look amazingly elegant and chic, or extremely harsh and ageing. So it is important to keep hair in tip top condition, grey hair is coarse, more fragile and has a tendency to dehydrate easily.

The trick is to not go too harsh with the cut, instead opt for soft layers; think Helen Mirren and Sharon Stone. This will create a flattering youthful effect, and regular trips to the salon will help keep dry fly-a-ways at bay.

When styling grey hair, use a straightening iron, and run through your locks, using a protective spray like John Frieda FRIZZ-EASE Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray, $16.99, first. Next enlist a shine finishing gloss such as Schwarzkopf Extra Care 10 Carat Shine Gloss Finish Spray, $8.99, for a reflective lustre without weighing you down.

COLOURING GREY HAIR
If you decide you’re not quite ready to let nature take its course, bear in mind the biggest mistake women make “is  not understanding what kind of achievement they can get with hair,” says Sam McKnight, Global Pantene Ambassador, and “not trying hard enough or trying too hard.”
When choosing a colour, “Don’t work against your hair,” advises McKnight, “have good relationship with your hairdresser and get him or her to suggest what you should aim for.”

LIGHTEN UP
Some artfully placed low lights, will help lift tired locks and brighten up the complexion, creating a youthful glow. “This type of technique adds varying tones to the hair, to create soft blended looks,” says Martin. “Retaining youthful looking hair is very important to many women, therefore this technique will soften the colour,” adds Martin. The bonus, of lightening locks, is it helps blend in white and grey hair, making it less noticeable.

Hair that isn’t multi-dimensional might look glossy, but it certainly will not look natural. “I like to add a slight highlight to their hair or lighten their base colour by two shades and adding in deeper lowlights for softness and texture,” says Martin.

The lightening process to create these looks must be a gradual process, grey hair is coarse, more fragile and has a tendency to dehydrate easily – any lightening process will begin to leave to hair in a more fragile state. Martin says, “If we can maintain the softness in the hair, it will be much easier to style, look healthier for an amazing youthful look.”

GOODBYE GREYS
There have been a lot of recent innovations in salon colour for older hair. “Older hair feels, looks and reacts very differently to younger hair,” says Martin. “Previously, to have grey hair coverage like a blanket was considered the more youthful and desired result. This is no longer the case.”

The new Matrix SOCOLOR Dream.Age service, “create soft youthful ageless colour without sacrificing result, says Martin, adding “it can cover up to 100 per cent grey hair and creates soft, reflective tones which help lift the complexion.”

For renewed vitality, products that have been developed for older hair, “are now taking into consideration that, women want their ‘older hair’ to look younger,” states Martin. Therefore salon colour ranges coming out are allowing women to have more luminescent colour that grows out more naturally and is therefore easier to maintain.

HOME TIME
Home hair-colouring is now older, wiser, better, with new technology that has grown in length and layers.  Great buys are:

L’Oreal Paris Excell10’, $18.35, which works in 10 minutes to cover greys, using Ionene G and Ceramide R strengthening the hair’s cuticle at the same time.  If it’s just your roots that are really bothering you, the silver strip starting to creep through,  Clairol Nice’n’Easy Root Touch Up, $12.59, is designed to cover root regrowth and greys that show through around the parting, forehead and temples midway through the hair.

Our tip is to give yourself a deep-conditioning treatment such as Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Hair Treatment, $19.95,  or Garnier Fructis Dry/Damaged Nourishing Treatment Mask, $10.85, a few days before colouring your hair. Well-nourished hair locks in pigment better and more evenly than dry, porous strands. Your colour will stay vibrant, last longer and look a lot more lush.

Your say: How is your relationship with grey hair? Do you colour your hair at home? Share your tips below.

Run, don’t walk to our competition page to go in the draw to win 1 of 3 Clarisonic Mia’s. Even if you’re not one of the lucky winners, there are now more reasons than ever to ask the man in red for one for Christmas.

The little sister of the Clarisonic family, Mia has inherited all the best characteristics of the dynasty but all in a handy, compact travel size. Said characteristics include the deep pore cleansing brush head that has 300 movements per second and will leave your skin six times cleaner than manual washing.

If you want to know what a six times better clean looks like, watch the video below and prepare to be amazed. As the very serious voiceover man will attest, Clarisonic is great for those with oily skin and large pores.

In case you weren’t sold already, the Clarisonic Mia has now come down in price to a very credit card friendly $149. Perfect to ask the kids, or Santa, to buy you for Christmas. She comes in a range of 12 cute pastel colours so there is a shade you’re sure to love.

This waterproof cleansing champion has found a permanent home on my skincare routine and thanks to its light weight and compact size, it is definitely coming on holidays with me.

Your say: Have you tried any of the Clarisonic products? What have you asked Santa for? Have you entered our Clarisonic Mia competition?