Looking Good in Later Life 37
December 2004

 
Nutrimetics for Christmas

Get hold of Nutrimetics delicious new gift catalogue for an easy way to buy Christmas presents. Highlights include organza-boxed Hand and Nail Treatment set, Aromatherapy Body Balm, a baby massage set with a hooded baby bath towel, pick’n’mix gift sets for men with a free holdall and special offers on the Restore anti-ageing range.

You can request a catalogue or obtain information  by completing the enquiry form.  

Hope for people sensitive to hair dyes

A new patch test has been produced that quickly and reliably detects hypersensitivity to hair dyes.
The launch of the test coincides with news that group legal actions are being brought against a leading manufacturer of permanent hair dyes for allegedly failing to protect customers from harm, following the death of one woman and injuries suffered by several others in Britain and Denmark.

The new test is quick-to-use, practical and effective. Called Coloursmart, it is a patch, applied just like a temporary transfer, except that it is impregnated with phenylenediamine (PPD) and its derivatives, and resorcinol, chemicals found in most permanent hair dyes. Adverse reactions range from irritation, inflamed scalp and blistering to breathing difficulties, damage to the immune system, and even, in rare cases, death.

While all hair colour manufacturers and insurers recommend skin patch testing, in practice many salons do not routinely offer a test prior to tinting, and this is particularly the case when a client has been many times before, with no adverse reaction.

Testing should be administered every time a colour is to be applied, even when using exactly the same product, because sensitivities can occur at any time. Medication may affect reaction to hair dyes. Anti-histamines may even suppress any existing hypersensitivity. Anyone with a sensitive or problem skin – eczema, for instance – is at risk of sensitivity.

How the Coloursmart system works

At the moment, the system is available only through hairdressers. Clients either call in to their hairdresser to pick up a test or have one posted to them, for application 48 hours before their appointment. A reaction may occur within minutes, while severe reactions may take 48 hours to appear. Coloursmart is water-resistant and remains in place until removed by the hairdresser, proving that the client has carried out the test.

The patented concept has been developed by Trichocare Diagnostics of Ridgmont, Bedfordshire, in collaboration with Cranfield University’s Institute of BioScience and Technology, where it has been clinically tested and approved.

To find a salon near you which offers the Coloursmart test, telephone Trichocare on 0845 602 4638 or visit www.trichocare.co.uk  Coloursmart say that the cost should be absorbed by the hairdresser.


DRY EYES IN THE HOUSE?

Try Eyerobics. That’s the word coined for exercises for tired or dry eyes. Makers of Systane Lubricating Eye Drops have developed Eyerobics, a simple eye exercise routine created to combat tiredness by giving stressed eyes a well deserved break. Visit www.systane.co.uk  to view the Eyerobics video workout.

You will, of course, learn about their product too.
Alcon Laboratories say that Systane is ‘revolutionary’, offering fast-acting comfort and long-lasting relief for dry feeling eyes. The aim with eye drops is to replenish the natural tear film that protects the surface of eyes with an effective lubrication.

Alcon say that Systane Lubricating Eye Drops have ‘a highly developed formulation that gets to work as soon as the eye drop comes into contact with the eyes…a unique polymer system means that, upon contact with the tears, the liquid eye drop turns into a thin protective gel layer. This thin gel stays on the eye surface longer than conventional lubricating eye drops for fast and long lasting relief’. Price is ?5.99. For stock enquiries call 0800 092 4567.

What causes dry eyes?
Ageing
Environment
Individual sensitivity
Heredity
Central heating
Air conditioning
Smoky atmosphere
Pollution
Heavy computer use.

Symptoms
Itchiness or scratchiness
Burning or stinging
Foreign body sensation
Grittiness
Tired eyes
Forced blinking


Christmas is coming….unusual ideas from the Looking Good column


Anti-Aging Spa Treatment (without the spa)

A battery-operated ‘facial vacuum massager’ plus Anti-Wrinkle Creme is being sold by Argos. The massager is apparently safe for all skin types and helps to deliver the Cr?e more efficiently to the underlying collagen and elastin fibres that always need a boost in later life. Can be used on face, neck and hands, and costs ?29.95 which is a lot cheaper than a real spa.


Products for problem nails

A range of nail treatments from Elegant Touch is worth considering if your nail varnish chips almost immediately after application, or if you have brittle, splitting nails.
Nail Armour with Advanced Ceramic and Acrylic Formula sounds tough enough to extend the life of varnish on the most chip-prone nails. Can be used as a base coat or on its own for a natural, glossy finish. Price ?5.95.
Diamond Shield with Calcium and Protein is an instantly bonding top coat that claims to prevent nail brittleness and splitting. Price ?5.95.
Pro Cuticle Remover is a gel salon formula for overgrown cuticles. Price ?4.95.
See the complete range of Elegant Touch products at Boots, Superdrug, Lloyds pharmacies and some Tesco stores. See more on these and the Spa Treatment at www.eleganttouch.co.uk

 

Previous editions of Looking Good in laterlife 

Edition 1 (including a visit to Estee Lauder)

Edition 2 (including a visit to Clarins)

Edition 3 (including a visit to Medestea Internazionale

Edition 4 (including a visit to Martha Hill Skincare)

Edition 5 (including a visit to Harrods)

Edition 6 (including a visit to Belgravia Centre)

Edition 7 (including a visit to Vichy Laboratoire)

Edition 8 (including a visit to Avene Spa)

Edition 9 (including fashion tips)

Edition 10 eyebrows, eyelashes, sun and skin

Edition 11 (including a visit to Lasercare Clinics)

Edition 12 - Lasercare Clinics offer their expertise on common skin conditions

Edition 13 - Ageing skin in the new millennium

Edition 14 - A visit to Helen Sher

Edition 15 -  More from Helen Sher and Lasercare Clinics

Edition 16  A visit to Champneys London Clubs

Edition 17 - Seeking Cosmetic Surgery

Edition 18 -  Does hair dye cause cancer?

Edition 19 - How not to look like mutton dressed as lamb..    

Edition 20 - What cosmetic dentistry can do for you  - Part one

Edition 21 - What cosmetic dentistry can do for you  - Part two

Edition 22 - What's new at Estee Lauder?

Edition 23 - Lancome -  a perennial favourite

Edition 24- The latest from Clarins

Edition 25 - East meets west with Shiseido  

Edition 26 -  Nutrimetics

Edition 27 -  Nutrimetics - Special offer

Edition 28  - Nutrimetics workshop

Edition 29  -  Exfoliation

Edition 30  - Mail order shopping

Edition 31   - Sunscreen lotions

Edition 32  - Electrolysis

Edition 33 - Thinning Hair

Edition 34 - Helen gets rejuvenated

laterlife.com occasionally visits one of the great cosmetic houses, up-and-coming beauty collections or other organisations of interest to the more mature visitor.

Edition 1 Estee Lauder

Edition 2 Clarins

Edition 3 Medestea Internazionale

Edition 4 Martha Hill Skincare

Edition 5 Harrods
Edition 6 The Belgravia Centre

Edition 7 Vichy Laboratoire

Edition 8 Avene Spa  

Edition 11 Lasercare Clinics

Edition 14 - Helen Sher

Edition 16  A visit to Champneys London Clubs    

laterlife interest

Don't forget to take a look at the rest of the features sections of laterlife.com:

laterlife interest containing a variety of articles of interest for visitors to laterlife.com written by a number of experienced and new journalists.

It includes both one off articles and also regular columns of a more specialist nature such as healthwise  and talkback

Also don't forget to take a look at our regular IT question and answer section called YoucandoIT by IT trainer and author Jackie Sherman.

To view the latest articles and indexes to previous articles click on laterlife interest here or above.  To search for articles about a certain topic, use the site search feature below.

Site map and site search