There is lycopene in raw tomatoes but not nearly as much as cooked tomatoes, organic varieties has proved to contain more than the quickly grown varieties. In a small controlled study carried out by Newcastle and Manchester universities, women were given 55g of tomato paste each day (to eat, no spreading of tomato puree on the skin please!) for 12 weeks. The skin protection against sunburn increased by 30% in the women. So combined with topical UVA and UVB protection it could offer greater benefits for your skin while in the sun. So when you’re on holiday boost your skin’s protection by indulging in lots of tomato based dishes and sauces, very tasty!

Grow your own! – It is so easy, believe me if I can do it then anyone can! I grow a variety that I can plant in hanging baskets – Tumbling Tom and hundreds and thousands, they require no pinching out or fiddling with and produces loads of sweet juicy cherry tomatoes! Use them for sauces, or put them on pizzas, home grown toms will contain more lycopene than shop bought ones, as you let them grow at their natural speed and the Lycopene has time to develop.

Suttons Seeds have a wonderful choice of Tomato plants and seeds

Quite simply, peptides mimic nature’s tissue regenerating processes. They assume the role of messenger and can signal specialised cells in the Dermis (Fibroblasts) to increase the production of:

• Collagen
• Glycosaminogylcans – which are key components of the dermis that give it strength and turgor.

There are many types of Peptides used in skincare products, for example: Palmityoyl Tripeptide-5, Oligopeptides, tetrapeptides, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 – this is marketed as the Botox alternative – but no topical product can stop muscle contraction in the way Botox can! All of these Peptides will have a slightly different way in which they strengthen the dermal matrix.

The Bottom Line on Peptides

These are very worthy ingredients to look for in any anti-ageing product you may choose, just make sure there is enough of them in the product. Check the ingredients list and make sure that your peptide ingredient is halfway or above in the ingredient list, this is normally reflected in the price. They are also a good choice for sensitive skins, who cannot tolerate Retinol or AHA’s. They won’t work miracles, but used regularly you will see excellent cumulative results and keep your skin in good condition – try applying after using a Derma Roller for extra penetration and results.

My Top Peptide Products

• Jan Marini Transformation Cream
• Jan Marini Age Intervention Peptide Extreme
• Dermalogica Power Rich
• O2 Intraceuticals Line Wand

Why is Salmon so Skin Friendly?

Wild Alaskan Salmon contains DMAE, which is a powerful antioxidant that has the ability to stimulate nerve function, so your muscles contract and tighten your skin. It can prevent, what is clinically known as  “Anatomical Loss of Position” – that’s a sagging face to me and you! It is also high in the antioxidant “Astaxanthin” which gives the natural red colour to Wild Salmon (as opposed to dye in farmed salmon). Astaxanthin comes from a type of red algae that the Salmon eat, then passes up the marine food chain.

So if your skin needs to look extra wonderful, try and follow the Perricone Prescription – even if it is only for 3 days! I noticed a difference in the smoothness of my skin and it definitely looked plump and pert! We should all aim for 3 portions of oily fish a week, so if you don’t like Salmon, try Sardines and Mackeral which are also rich in DMAE, or if you don’t like any fish (slap on the wrist) then try taking DMAE and OMEGA 3 supplements.

So forget fad diets with Jewels and Jill! instead of complicating things, they believe in cooking – simple, beautiful, wholesome food. If you follow this way of eating, then your body will respond with more energy and become slimmer and healthier. Ditch all the processed foods and drinks from your life and you will notice a huge difference in a short time.

They have cooked for many big celebrities, but best known for transforming Jennifer Aniston’s diet, and let’s face it – she looks pretty amazing! Combining exercise as well is essential for getting your body in tip top shape, so don’t just focus on what you are eating – you will only get half the results.

Jewels and Jills Food Philosophies

• Deprivation doesn’t work, so balance is the key to healthy living. If you have a heavy lunch, then balance it with a light dinner to make up for it. Balance heavy and light food throughout the day, and your weight will drop.
• Make veggies the star of your meal – eating one meal a day full of leafy greens is the perfect way to keep slim. Make 75% of your plate veggies, especially green ones and the rest is a little protein or a healthy grain.
• Variety is the key! So experiment with your veggies and fruit, try new varieties and combinations.

Eating the A List Way – Tips and Tricks

• Add a little sparkling water when you’re cooking vegetables with only a small amount of oil – this prevents them from sticking, so just a splash of fizzy water will revive them!
• Swap bread for vegetables – Jewels and Jill make hearty turkey burgers, which can be served in huge lettuce leaves instead of carb heavy buns!
• Grate Veggies and use instead of pasta – yellow and green courgettes, carrots can be cut into thin ribbons and combined with a delicious pasta sauce – excellent low carb meal.
• Add tasty herbs or lemon and lime to your meal – this adds taste without calories.
• Eat some veg first before your meat or carbs – Jewels says this can make a great difference to your health

Check out some the delicious recipes on their website, or the book “The Family Chef” for a lot more. My favourites are the cleansing celery soup and the stuffed sandwiches! Yum – will they turn me into Jennifer Aniston? mmmmm, no but I will feel great!

What are the benefits of using Clarisonic?

Clarisonic’s soft, gentle brush oscillates back and forth more than 300 times per second. It claims to cleanse so well that products are better absorbed, one recent study showed 61% better absorption of Vitamin C cream. Skin is softer, oily areas and dry patches are reduced and pores appear smaller, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. The Clarisonic can be used in the shower, bath or at the sink and there is a choice of different brush heads and speeds.

The Risk of Over Exfoliation

Basically though, we must understand that the Clarisonic is an exfoliating tool, that physically lifts off dry skin cells and, in the process, remove dirt, oil and make-up. My only concern with the Clarisonic is how often they recommend you use it. They say it is gentle enough to use twice daily, which in my professional opinion, may be too much for most people – especially as we are all most likely using other exfoliating products with AHA’s or BHA’s, enzymes, exfoliating scrubs or masks and retinol products. So you can see how easy it would be to seriously over exfoliate your skin, and in the process cause dryness and damage your skin’s lipid barrier. When you damage your skin’s barrier, you allow moisture to leak out of the cells more easily, causing skin dehydration and sensitivity, this can also cause chronic inflammation (you may not even see any signs) setting off a cascade of free radical damage which is a major cause of skin ageing.

However if used in moderation then it’s a very useful tool! We don’t want to exfoliate to the point where we damage healthy cells, but a little skin trauma is good occasionally as it triggers our skin to go into repair mode and stimulates cellular regeneration. I found the Clarisonic gives your skin a nice glow and the sonic massage feels really nice on your facial muscles, especially if you hold tension in your face/jaw. I am using mine about 2-3 times per week, as I am using Jan Marini’s skincare management system with glycolic acid, so it can be useful to lift off any dry dead cells that the glycolic products have dissolved.  Do remember with any exoliation, that we must bathe the freshly exposed skin cells with a hydrating serum/moisturiser and antioxidants and most importantly an SPF!!

Buy a Clarisonic Cleansing Brush Online

Here’s what you need…..

• 1-2 cups of filtered or spring water
• 1/2 chopped cucumber (with skin and pips)
• 1/4 to 1/2 avocado (without skin!)
• 1 clove of garlic (optional!)
• 8 fresh basil leaves
• 2 sprigs of parsley
• juice from 1/2 lemon or lime
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 15 tablets of Sun Chlorella “A”

Blend the water, cucumber, avocado and garlic (optional) until smooth. Add the basil leaves, parsley, juice from a lemon or lime and blend again.

Finally, add the 15 tablets of Sun Chlorella “A”, and drink. You can also experiment with other Chloropyll rich fresh greens such as sprouts (alfalfa, mung beans) young courgettes, celery, spinach, fresh coriander etc.

Sun Chlorella “A” should be taken every day because it contains….

• The highest concentration of chlorophyll of any natural plant – to help cleanse and purify
• Protein – 60% of Sun Chlorella “A” is protein and this includes all of the essential amino acids
• Fibre – Sun Chlorella “A” contains around 10% fibre to help food move through your system more efficiently
• Easily digested nutrition – a result of Sun Chlorella’s unique, patented system which pulverises the tough cell walls but leaves all the nutrients intact, so it is easily digested by the body……. and it’s completely natural, with nothing added or taken away!

You can buy Sun Chlorella “A” in our online Skincare Shop

The 21st Century Beauty Bible is written by Josephine Fairley and Sarah Stacey – award winning journalists. Jo and Sarah’s wisdom about the secrets to looking and feeling fabulous is unparalleled.

The bestselling 21st Century Beauty Bible is the ultimate guide to the world’s beauty products, jam packed with tips on beauty queries from nutrition to make-up. A gold mine of practical advice…..beautifully illustrated and hard to put down. This book is updated with hundreds of beauty products that have been tried and tested by real women.

This is a short cut through the beauty jungle! And guides you to beauty products that are worth splashing out on. In this uniquely comprehensive and acclaimed beauty guide, you’ll find the results of the world’s biggest consumer survey of thousands of beauty products – each tested by a panel of 10 women. Fab fake tans, anti-cellulite preps, mascara that won’t run in the rain – and many, many more….

· Brilliant make-up tips from the world’s top experts

· The easy-as-ABC skincare routine to keep your complexion glowing

· Fast beauty fixes from Botox and non-surgical facelifts to teeth whitening & facial massage

· How to get a great haircut and perfect colour

· Home-made treats for face, body and hair

· Food for mind and body, with juice recipes to make you zing

· The simplest ever Yoga exercises to keep you sleek, slender and flexible

· How to think yourself beautiful

So leave behind the hype and discover true wisdom on health and beauty! Well worth a read, the beauty bible is jam packed with tips on beauty, make-up and nutrition, with beautiful photography.

Botox is actually a bacterially borne substance called Botulinum Toxin that was identified in the 1970’s to cause food poisoning. Since then, it has been used widely in medical practises to help, among other things, correct facial asymmetry related to paralysis and control muscle spasms, its use in cosmetic applications is relatively recent.

How does it work?

Because it temporarily paralyses muscle tissue and breaks a muscle protein called SNAP-25, which is necessary for muscle contraction. localised injections of botox smooth out the lines caused by common facial expressions (frowning, squinting), crows feet, frown lines and furrows in the forehead are the most common areas treated, and just one session can last up to six months and when used properly is perfectly safe.

Like everything else in life, however more is not better! – unless you like looking expressionless, so take it easy!

What’s important to remember is that botox only smooths lines caused by repeated muscle contractions. Lines caused by sun damage and other causes of premature ageing are not remedied by the injection because they are not caused by muscle activity, but rather by the collapse of collage and elastin.

So whether or not you choose to get botox, you should still take good care of your skin and keep your skin protected from the sun. Injections should not be an excuse to forget to look after your skin – prevent the damage before it is done.

A good skin routine with products that contain antioxidants, cell communicating ingredients (vitamin A, peptides), AHA’s and most importantly sun protection. Remember that whether you get a facelift, injections/fillers – it is still the same skin you are lifting or filling! So take care of it!

The risks

Do your homework and find a reputable doctor or clinic – go with a friends recommendation, and be aware that things can go wrong!

Botox like products are no substitute for botox, no matter what they say on the label! Hexapeptides do have firming properties but cannot stop your muscles from contracting!

Allergan are the makers of Botox (Botox is the Trade name) – For more information take a look at their website.

An up and coming rival for Botox is Dysport, also known as Azzalure, this is made in the UK and first came on the market about 10 years ago. This competition will probably bring the prices down and make these injections more accessible for many people.

I don’t frown (sorry!) upon anyone who has opted for Botox! I think it has a place in an anti-ageing strategy if you desire it! For now though I am quite content with managing without it, and far too much of a wimp!

This affects 40% of the population – 50 – 80% will affect adolescents and often appears in individuals when they are children, it is more common in women than men.

Keratosis Pilaris occurs when the body produces excess Keratin – a natural protein in the skin, the excess keratin surrounds and traps the hair follicles/pores, this causes hard plugs to form and cause the red dots that you see – this is known as Hyper-keritinization. Ingrown hairs can also result from the keratinized skin trapping the hair follicles and preventing the hair from growing out.

Many doctors will just dimiss this as a genetic cosmetic problem and regard it as untreatable but there are a few things that have shown to give results.

Retinoid (Vitamin A) creams have proved very effective as they have a normalising effect on the skin and speed up the rate at which skin cells shed, also has a clearing effect on pores and discourages the blockage of dead skin cells. It may take a few weeks for changes to be seen and monitor for any irritation.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids like Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid have proved effective at reducing the build up of dead skin cells that block the follicles/pores (they can exfoliate inside the pore and the lining) - look for treatment serums or body lotions that contain these ingredients. Beta Hydroxy Acids are also effective – Salicylic Acid also gets into the follicle/pore to exfoliate the lining and discourage blockages.

Microdermabrasion is very effective and I have used this on clients with Keratosis Pilaris with very good results! It is a mechanical form of exfoliation with a suction action, it can actually remove some of the more stubborn keritinized plugs! and leave skin very smooth and even in tone.

The avoidance of Pore Clogging ingredients is also key to prevent further problems – so steer clear of mineral oil in body lotions, also known as Paraffinum Liquidum and  Petrolatum, these will only sit on the surface and possibly cause more congestion and build up of dead skin.