Guide

Regular readers know that I'm talking Ageless Beauty not anti-ageing, it's the lasting kind of gorgeous that I'm interested in - a gorgeous that glows until the very end and can co-exist with a line or two, so in my quest for Ageless Beauty, this month it is all about strength.  We're talking firm faces, arms and resolve.  Keeping it together in times that challenge - being strong and staying soft. 

This Months Gorgeous Girl is a great beauty whose life's work is about teaching, healing and strengthening body and soul.  My Lust  of the Month  is the dumbell that will help you shake your way to strong and this month's Gorgeous Treat is a thirty minute complimentary wellness consultation with me.

I recently received a gift of a course in Kundalini Yoga at LA's Golden Bridge Yoga, after dipping my toe in the Yoga pool many times over the years I finally decided to dive in to the Kundalini side of life and loved it.  Not only did I see increased body strength in an incredibly short period of time but I felt stronger from the inside out and better equipped to deal with some of the things that keep life interesting but a little less gorgeous.  For those of you that are inclined - I say find a class and show up at least once a week.  For those of you that are not, commit to bending over and touching your toes when you get out of bed in the morning, come up one vertebra at a time and lean backwards, this quick simple act will keep your arteries supple and may reduce your risk of heart disease.  

I always say that sagging skin is a greater enemy of a youthful face than fine lines.  Those of us in the brown zone are lucky enough to keep deep lines at bay until late in life.  If your skin is fair deeper lines become a concern somewhere in the middle, but it is the drop that we all suffer from and perhaps surprisingly the darker your complexion, for more your face tends to shift - it's all about the breakdown of collagen and once its gone, its gone so prevent, prevent, prevent.   Formulations that firm as well as hydrate tend to be expensive but I have recently discovered a great mid-price solution from Bare Minerals.  Their new Active Cell Renewal Night Serum is packed with natural ingredients - it goes on like water and makes your face feel like silk, I tried it on my Mother who is in her 60's she woke feeling and looking smoother.  Designed to be used at night for optimum cell rejuvenation it's the new ultimate little brown bottle!

 

I'm all about the collagen and my favourite collagen supplement has just been given a boost.  Skin Plus by Proto-col contains type I and II collagen as well as vitamins, zinc and skin plumping Hyaluronic acid.  You should expect to see improved elasticity, firmness and a decrease in the finest of lines after 6-8 weeks of continued use.  This is a capsule, not a knife, results are tangible rather than dramatic but take them early and frequently and you won't need more drastic measures. 

Stay strong!

 

 

Hemalayaa is a fitness and wellness expert, whose fusion of yoga and Indian dance has inspired the millions of people that she has touched through her tv appearances and classes.  This month she is taking the show on the road to LA with the Enliven experience.

Using natural products to clean, moisturise and beautify my skin works for me.  I mix apple cider vinegar with bentonite clay and honey for a wonderful facial mask.  When we introduce natural products to our bodies, including foods, herbal remedies and beautifying products, our skin responds so nicely; it's as if our skin recognises the nature in the products which in turn inspires it to bring out it's own most natural beauty. The nature in the products and the nature in our skin are symbiotic, creating a lasting, natural and noticeable beauty together. Consistency is the key with using natural products but once the habit is formed, it becomes like a ritual in self-care and an honouring of the beauty that lies within.

 

 

 

My Lust of the Month

Moderate  cardiovascular exercise is great for heart health and weight loss, but when it comes to Ageless Beauty - strength training is key.  It is tone and definition that makes for a great looking, strong body that burns fat more efficiently and as we get older we need to add more weights to our workout.  The  Shake Weight is my new favourite fitness tool, it's the high tech, low maintenance, super fast work out that will tone your arms, shoulders and chest in just 6 minutes a day.

Gorgeous Treat

Sometimes we all need a little personal attention so this months Gorgeous Treat is a complimentary 30 minute consultation with me.  We'll talk about where you are and where you want to get to - wellness, weight loss or Ageless Beauty.

Just be one of the first ten to Email with Treat in the subject line.

 

 

Guide

 

We know at least intellectually that anti-ageing, both conceptually and practically is nonsensical.  It’s the ‘anti’ without the ‘pro’.  There is only one way to stop the clock ticking and that is to, well stop the clock. Where there is life there is ageing, which is why so many surgeons whose hands are too heavy seem to have reached beyond the eyelids and taken some of the soul out of their patients revealing perfectly smooth versions of old selves (read entire Huff Post piece).

Ageless beauty is the new ambition, it allows us all to grow – up, fully embracing the natural process whilst constantly striving to look and feel our best possible selves.  This months Gorgeous Girl, has made awareness, of both body and soul her life’s work and a way to stay young.  This months Gorgeous Treat is a little something off the best inflammation busting, youth supporting supplement around and my Lust of the month is the Jade facial massager that creates contours and combats sagging!

There are a few things we can all do every day and great skincare is the fastest way to a youthful complexion.  I always want to step it up a little in April, not only is spring in full bloom but it is my birth month so both the mind and the mirror are focused.  Thankfully ever year brings new innovative skincare solutions and a greater understanding of the how food can feed your face.

I’m am a fan of the Revive line and its signature Moisturizing Renewal Cream which minimises fine lines and creates the Revive glow but one of the biggest signs of the passing of time is discolouration. If you're are a quick fix kind of girl their Arrête Booster C will smooth out an uneven complexion in days.  Packed with stabilized Vitamin C this serum really delivers.  It isn't cheap but it is highly potent so use it sparingly all year round or two weeks before a big day – or night. 

Immunocolgie is a small line that delivers big results.   Developed by a biochemist whose bio technical fermentation process ensures that the exceptional ingredients like Elk Antler Velvet, Snow Algae and Venomax can be assimilated into the epidermis, preventing the cellular imbalance that can occur when ‘foreign’ ingredients are introduced to the skin.  This line is all about the science and the hero product is the Venomax Treatment Cream.  I did feel as if I was applying medicine, not because of the texture – which I neither loved nor hated but it seemed that there was an almost immediate sigh of relief from my skin, it felt repaired and looked brighter as the formulation penetrated beyond surface of my skin to work its magic.  They call it light from within – I call it one of the most effective creams on the market.

 

I always say that a fine line here or there is not nearly as ageing as skin that sags.  Youthful skin is firm skin and one way to keep the face firm is to work it!  The Organic Pharmacy has an enzyme peel facial which involves some pretty intense massage – the result, an immediate lifting that lasts for days and muscles that feel worked out.  Like everything Organic Pharmacy, the peel is gentle on the skin - no downtime required so this is the perfect treatment to have the day before a special occasion or better still buy a course of 5, they’ll throw in session number 6 and wipe a few years of your face!

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous Treat

This months Gorgeous Treat is another chance to stock up on Omega 3 – order anything from Vital Choice and receive 15% off your order, just type in promotional code GtoG15 at check out (Fish delivery available in the US only).

 

 

 

My Lust of the Month

Yuroll is the the low-tech beauty tool that I can’t live without.  It is a facial massager that uses the cleansing properties of jade as it helps to drain the lymphatic system and re-define facial contours.  You need to use this consistently to see results but it feels wonderfully calming so dedicate a couple of minutes at the end of your day to roll your way to gorgeous!

 

 

Gorgeous Girl

Lisa Garr is the broadcaster, commentator and healer that understands that we are what we think.

 

 

For me what works is positive language. I believe what you tell yourself (your thoughts too) resonates throughout the 3 trillion cells in your body, so your thoughts become things. This is one of the main things I live by. Also, anyone who knows me knows I have a regular gratitude practice. I set “gratitude anchors” around my house and in my routine to give me the chance to be grateful in case I forget. For example, there is a certain corner I turn several times a day to get to my house, and when I see that corner, I have set a sort of “floating” reminder to be extra grateful for everything in and around me at that moment. It keeps me in the space of gratitude and that makes me happy!

Favorite cream: My favorite face product is called I Am Beautiful by Ascended Health, it’s a super-charged oxygenated facial essential oil for with regenerative frequencies.

Exercise: I literally exercise 7 days a week or I am not at my best. Exercise for me pushed the reset button on my mind and body it is a major priority for the beginning of my day because it lifts my spirits. I mix it up between mountain biking, jogging with my dog & daughter, working out with my amazingly positive trainer named Linda, spinning, dancing in my living room with my daughter, whatever gets me sweating!

What makes me feel good is making other people feel good about themselves on the inside that’s what makes people feel beautiful and glow on the outside!

 

 

The weather is all over the place and my wardrobe and my complexion are out of balance.  It’s all silk and glowing skin one minute, chunky sweaters and dry patches the next but there is something quite exciting about the uncertainty of it all, it is the ultimate commitment phobic month and the tease of a glorious spring is making me want to clean up from the inside out.  I’m not talking the serious detoxing of post holiday excess, just some gentle cleansing of body and soul.  

My Lust of the Month is the manicure essential for girls on the go that really works.  This month’s Gorgeous Girl is the TV presenter and writer that thinks, feels and looks gorgeous and this month's Gorgeous Treat is your last chance to win a 3-month supply of lash beautifying Revitalash

I have been starting each morning with a warming, cleansing tonic that is also quite delicious.  The juice of half a lemon, mixed with a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar and a spoon full of Manuka honey it is perfect for this time of year as it is both alkalizing and immune boosting and packed with minerals. 

Skin was glowing on the Red Carpet during awards season and Mila Moursi is responsible for some of the best complexions in Hollywood from Jennifer Aniston to Courtney Cox  - her secret weapon – the humble hot wash cloth, it ensures that the make-up and residue is moved out rather than just around!  Combine with her Anti-Age Cleansing Milk and you have the perfect recipe for a super clean complexion, perfectly prepared for treatments.

 

Sunday Riley is a small skin care line that is making big noises and gaining superstar status amongst its superstar fans.  Its Ceramic cleanser tightens pores whilst increasing circulation and stimulating collagen – if you are not too dry and like things smooth and tight this will be the best cleanser you ever used.

 

 

Skin care guru Ole Henriksen likes to add essential oils to the cleansing process and his Blackcurrant Complexion Oil is the perfect compliment for this time of year.  Infused with tea tree oil, lemon cypress and sage the formula will enhance metabolic activity whilst purifying the skin  - your complexion will feel renewed, refreshed and energized.

 

The Organic Pharmacy also believes that cleansing should be somewhat of a ritual.  Their Carrot Butter Cleanser is a rich antioxidant infused balm that decongests, soothes and removes all traces of make up with the help of a muslin cloth.  It smells and feels gorgeous and is a great way to get the clean without the squeak!

 

My Lust of the Month

I have been travelling a lot recently which means DIY manicures in hotel rooms, but bottles of acetone are not easy travel companions and I have not found a decent protable alternative - until now.  Deborah Lippmann's Stripper to Go is a fantastic product, the little finger mitt removes all traces of polish from all 10 fingers.  No oil, no mess, no drying.  Buy a box and keep individuals sachets in your handbags - I won't leave home without it!