Have you ever experienced anti-ageing wellness envy? You shamelessly stare at your hairdresser, dermatologist, or dentist and think, How the heck does she pull it off? What’s the secret to her great hair, pore-free complexion, or flawless teeth? Well, read on to find out how the beauty industry’s top experts take care of their own wellbeing, so you can better take care of yours.
1. Open Sesame: According to Lisa Hedley, founder and creative director of the Mayflower Inn and Spa, ‘First thing every morning, I massage organic sesame oil from the health-food store all over my body. Working it in wakes me up and really gets my blood circulating. Plus, the oil hydrates my skin, giving it a healthy glow. Then I jump in the shower—the oil naturally cleans away dead skin cells.’
2. Go Fish: ‘Anti-inflammatories are the best anti-agers out there,’ asserts Arlene Noodleman, MD, medical director of the Age Defy Dermatology and Wellness Centre. ‘From improving heart and immune functions to helping hair grow and skin look supple, they truly do wonders. I take three 500 milligram capsules of omega-3 fish oil in the morning and at night. I look for labels that say, “molecularly distilled for purity,” which means pesticide-free.’
3. Java Stripped: ‘I avoid stained teeth by drinking my coffee quickly,’ says cosmetic dentist Elisa Mello, DDS. ‘If you sip it over the course of an hour, it keeps coating and recoating. The same goes for other staining liquids, like tea and dark juices.’
4. Turn the Base Down Low: Joanna Schlip, celebrity makeup artist for Physician’s Formula, notes, ‘I’ve stopped using foundation every day, because it settles into wrinkles and makes them more noticeable. I start with a concealer just where I need it (under-eye area, blemishes, etc.) and follow it with an all-over application of tinted moisturiser.’
5. Simple Plan: Karen M. Horton, MD, plastic surgeon and reconstructive microsurgeon at the Women’s Plastic Surgery Centre, details, ‘Because I’m a plastic surgeon, companies send me so many skin-care samples—and some of them have 10 different steps! But I’m realistic, so there’s no way I’m going to sign up for some huge beauty system that costs hundreds of dollars and requires a commitment that I’m not willing to make. Honestly, here’s my daily skin-care routine: I go home, wash my face with a drugstore cleanser, put on a moisturiser, and fall into bed. I find that this simple regimen works well for me.’
6. Ditch the Sweet Tooth: ‘The number-one ingredient that I avoid in my diet is processed sugar,’ says Ava Shamban, MD, dermatologist and owner of the Laser Institute for Dermatology and Skin care. ‘The reason: It speeds up the ageing process by binding to and eventually weakening the collagen in your skin, which can lead to premature wrinkles and sagging. I eat lots of vegetables and fruits every day—and I steer clear of Twinkies at all costs!’
7…and Scrub It On Instead: ‘In the shower, I lather my hands with a mild cleanser, add a handful of white sugar, and slather it all over my face and body,’ celebrity makeup artist Carmindy reveals. ‘It makes my skin so smooth and creates a great canvas for makeup.’
8. All-Night Hair Care: Laura Hittleman, corporate director of beauty services at Canyon Ranch, admits, ‘At night, I straighten my hair with a flat iron and put it up in a loose ponytail right above my forehead—it’s not cute, but I don’t care—and wear it like that all night. When I take it down in the morning, it has such a youthful bounce to it.’
