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Excess Weight
Excess weight around the middle; Emma Smith, ELLE and ELLEuk.com Beauty Director
So I’ve made a serious rookie error. I failed to actually measure my waistline before I began on this journey of mid-riff-shrinking. I know, I know, ‘how will you actually know of any difference?’ – I hear you asking, outraged. Well, the truth is, in many many ways. In fact, I’ve never really relied on scales anyway. It’s always been about how my skinniest, stiffest pair of jeans from J Brand fit. And the truth is, these babies have always been snug, so they are as good as any tape measure or scales.
I started with a visit to Urban Retreat for a treatment called Bootcamp for Tummies by Mama Mio, which is an hour long massage on the mid-riff, which starts with exfoliation which tones and tightens, followed by a peel, a circulations boosting pummelling of the stomach (in the same direction of your intestines – clockwise) which ensures smoother digestion, and finally an algae mask to tighten the skin. This was followed by instructions to apply the products in the Bootcamp for Tummies box: A tummy toner skin tightener to get the skin looking smooth on the stomach, followed by Get Waisted body shaper, which stimulates your body’s production of beta-endorphins, increasing Lipolysis in the fat cells within your skin. Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat stored in fat cells which actually reduces the size of your fat cells. This daily application of the products is paired with simple exercises that involve you sitting upright and prompting your abdominal muscles to activate.
In the meantime I’m trying to follow the basic principles of James Duigan’s Flat Tummy Fast diet: lean protein, alkalining vegetables (cucumber, spinach etc).
I’m also working hard with Dalton Wong in the gym – the circuit work swings from high-intensity cardio work to resistance work using my own body weight. I still have the distinct bit of squidge around my waistline but at the same time things are definitely flattening.
Watch this space, another few weeks of this and I might be able to slip on those jeans with no holding in at all.
Clean & Lean Flat Tummy Fast! By James Duigan at amazon.co.uk
Visit the Bodyism website…
http://www.bodyism.com/
Click here for all Mama Mio products and treatments
Teeth
Uneven teeth; Georgia Collins, ELLE Deputy Beauty Editor
I’m well over half way through my treatment to straighten my teeth and already I’ve noticed a difference in how my teeth look. As far as treatments go, this couldn’t be easier – there are trips to check in with Dr Thorne once every couple of months but apart from that I’m left to change my own aligners once every two weeks from a batch I’m given by the clinic at the start.
The aligners are made of strong, durable clear plastic and sit snugly over my teeth as they’re specially shaped to fit perfectly. Unlike fixed braces there’s no pinching, no painful mouth ulcers and joyously, despite what I’d heard, no lisping when I talk. It took a while to get used to the sensation at first (it’s strange not biting down on bone initially) but it’s not uncomfortable and I quickly got used to them.
Getting used to every day habits is another matter though, as you have to remove the aligners every time you eat, drink (except water) and of course, brush your teeth. For a serial snacker like me, this has actually come as a bit of a godsend, because removing and washing the aligners after every minute morsel is frankly a bit of a bore. As a result I’m grazing a lot less than I used to and drinking less tea and coffee.
The more I wear the aligners the less I notice them and slipping them on and off now has become routine. Although I’m not quite finished my treatment yet the results are already impressive, and everyday I’m noticing gaps closing up and teeth shifting further back. Everyone around me has commented on the changes, saying how straight and neat my smile now looks, which of course has boosted my confidence hugely. The best testament to the treatment though has been seeing pictures of myself (taken unawares) laughing and smiling with my mouth open and my teeth out for all to see.
Read more about Invisalign here…
http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/default.aspx
Acne
Teenage skin in my twenties; Amy Lawrenson, ELLEuk.com Beauty Writer
As predicted, my skin got worse. ‘It’s a cathartic process’ Dr Sam Bunting told me. You can say that again; it seemed, for a while, that every spot was making its way to the surface. Thankfully now, after two weeks, my skin has calmed down. I still have the odd new spot appearing now and again but the stubborn blocked pores around my nose and chin, that I’ve lived with for years, have cleared up already with just a few still lingering at my jaw line. I’m confident that by the end of the month my skin will be looking better than it has in years.
So, as mentioned last time, if your acne isn’t bad enough to seek the help of a dermatologist there are plenty of over-the-counter products that have the seal of approval from Dr Sam Bunting.
‘You really need to become an expert in acne to know how to treat it’ says Dr Bunting. So now for the science part (don’t worry, I’ll keep it short). Spots begin life as a build up of sebum showing themselves as small raised bumps just under the surface of the skin, these are called comodones. ‘Each one is a time bomb waiting to happen’ explains Dr Bunting. Bacteria grows in the blocked area and as an immune response your body produces what we call a spot.
The best place to start is with a gentle cleanser. Try Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, £9.18 (this is the one I’ve been using daily), or La Roche Posay Physiological Cleanser, £11.50, (both at boots.com).
Salicylic Acid is fat soluble so it gets into the blockages and melts away the sebum, while also being anti-inflammatory. Murad Clarifying Cleanser, £23 (murad.co.uk), and Neostrata Blemish Spot Gel, £21.99 (dermacaredirect.co.uk), are worth a try. I also like Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, £8.99 (lookfantastic.com), which I’ve used very occasionally when my skin has needed a boost.
A cream containing a Vitamin A derivative is really important as this speeds up cell turnover to bring new skin to the surface faster and more effectively. ‘Generally, a prescription retinoid will work best, but one to try is Avene Ystheal+ Emulsion, £22 (lloydspharmacy.com)’ says Dr Sam Bunting. If you’re using a Vitamin A derivative at night you need to use an SPF of at least 30 during the day as it can make skin sensitive to UV rays. Avene SPF 50 Emulsion, £15 (boots.com) is good.
Your complexion can become dry from acne treatments so make sure you use a good moisturiser that is non-comedegenic (these won’t worsen your acne) morning and night. Try Cetaphil Lotion, £9.18 (boots.com).
Click here to visit Dr Sam Bunting’s website…
Pigmentation
Pigmentation; Suzanne Scott, ELLE Beauty Writer
It has been about two weeks since my freckles were lasered by Dr Berkowitz at Wimpole Aesthetics. The procedure itself wasn’t terribly painful - more uncomfortable than anything. After 45 minutes of preparing my skin with a topical aesthetic a small laser was fired in sharp bursts from my shoulders all the way down to my wrists. The whole thing took less than 20 minutes and whilst there was no pain involved the heat that flared up my skin immediately afterwards more than made up for it. 20 minutes later, and now freezing under a cold air pump (to put out the heat in my arms), I was sent away with some antibiotics, nourishing oil and a thick moisturiser. I am warned not to allow my skin to dry out so I diligently apply the moisturising products constantly. My skin feels rough to the touch and is slightly hyper-pigmented where the lasers penetrated my skin, but during my recent check up with Dr Berkowitz I am assured everything is coming along nicely.
Visit Wimpole Aesthetics’ website...
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