Lesley and Dr Aamer
We all want to look youthful, but why have surgery when softer options can be just as effective – and much cheaper? Husband-and-wife team Dr Aamer Khan and skin care specialist Lesley Reynolds argue it out in the pages of best…
QHow can I make hands and nails look better? They really give my age away. Gemma,Penzance
ADR AAMER SAYS: To restore youthful plumpness, try an injectable treatment called Ellansé that will plump skin, smooth wrinkles and turn back the time on ageing hands. This super jab works beneath the surface to stimulate your own supply of collagen production so skin looks rejuvenated and fresh. The results are immediate and will continue to improve over the following weeks as new collagen is formed, with results lasting up to two years. From £650 per treatment.
LESLEY SAYS: Products that you use on your face are just as good for you hands, so exfoliate regularly – you can make your own scrub using a mix of olive oil and sugar – and use a plumping mask afterwards. If you suffer from extremely dry skin on your hands, try an overnight mask. Apply a thick layer of hand cream and cover with cotton gloves. I like O’Keeffe’s Working Hands, £8.49, as it contains a unique formula of moisturising ingredients guaranteed to improve dried-out mitts. A good manicure helps hands look more youthful, but if you have age spots, steer clear of polishes with blue undertones and choose bright pinks, reds or oranges. If your nails need a little TLC first, try Nails Inc Magic All-In- One Formula polish in Harley Gardens, £15, which reduces the appearance of ridges, corrects discolouration and strengthens nails. A tinted moisturiser on the backs of hands will also brighten skin and make them appear younger. And always wear sun protection every day to prevent age spots and wrinkles.
QMy knees look drier, darker and more wrinkly than the rest of my legs. How can I perk them up? Zoe,Bolton
ADR AAMER SAYS: Knee wrinkles – known as ‘ninkles’ – are the latest pet hate for women. The sagging and deep grooves above the knees occur as a result of the loss of collagen due to sun damage, ageing and weight loss. All that bending and stretching also means the skin can thicken and become dryer, which, along with overexposure to the sun, can cause skin to increase the production of melanin, which can make knees darker. Fractora is a fast, effective fix. It uses radio frequency energy to heat the subdermal layers to promote collagen and skin tightening without downtime or discomfort. A small hand-held device is placed against the treatment areas and radio frequency energy is passed through a series of tiny bipolar pins. These warm the skin and cause pinprick holes, which the body heals naturally to reveal smoother skin. From £1,000.
LESLEY SAYS: The knees need just as much pampering as the rest of your body. Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion, £9, contains lactic acid to smooth skin and improve elasticity. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £32, can also temporarily improve the look of your skin. Fake tan makes knees look slimmer and can cover tiny imperfections. Don’t go too dark, as it will only emphasise wrinkles. St Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Sculpt And Glow Lotion, £18, defines while gradually building to a healthy looking tan. Lastly, good nutrition and cutting down on sugar will help improve skin tone all over your body. Swimming, cycling and running will also help tone legs. Combine with squats, lunges and weightlifting exercises to add muscle definition above the knees.
QWhat can I do to disguise or fix my wrinkles? I think they make me look cross and worried. Trudie,Worcester
ADR AAMER SAYS: With repeated smiling and other facial expressions, inevitably lines will develop over time. The creases that make you look cross or worried are frown lines and these can be smoothed out with Botox, a toxin that works by relaxing the muscles that cause lines and wrinkles to form. One session will last up to six months and costs around £199. If you don’t continue to get injections, the lines will gradually reappear but won’t look any worse for having treatment. If your lines are very deep, sometimes filler, from £250, can also be used.
LESLEY SAYS: There are many bad habits that can accelerate the onset of wrinkles. Tugging eyes when applying eyeliner and sleeping on your front can result in lines. But the biggest cause is sun exposure, so always use a high SPF sunscreen, such as Ultrasun Sun Very High Protection SPF 50+ Glimmer, £24, which gives a subtle bronzed gleam. To soften fine lines, try Snoxin 11, £24.99, which contains a peptide that temporarily promotes muscle relaxation by blocking signals from the brain to the facial muscles. Primers help to create a smooth canvas for make-up, filling in lines. Try Carter Beauty Hold Tight Perfecting Primer, £8, or Clarins Instant Poreless Pore-Blurring Mattifying Primer, £24.