Cosmetics and beauty

beautyBeating those blues

Mairead Robinson suggests ways of brightening your beauty regime

One of the things some of us have missed so much during these months of lockdowns - besides hairdressers - is beauty salons and spas. For many of us the ultimate indulgent treat is a holistic massage, a rejuvenating facial and some top to toe pampering treatments. So the alternative is to invest in a good home-spa treatment, and you will be surprised how well that can work once you get the right products. I recently came across Ziaja’s Baltic Home Spa Collection, and besides being extremely affordable products, they are actually beautiful to use and to find - you can buy them in your local Dunnes Stores, several pharmacies and best of all, you can shop on-line and have them delivered to your door from www.originalbeauty.ie Active ingredients in Ziaja products include skin hydrating fig extract and other nourishing items for skin firming and moisturizing, but it is the aromatic mango sent that really turned me on to these products. Start your treatment with a Mango micro-scrub to dissolve dead and dull skin cells leaving skin velvety soft and smooth. There is also a glycerine body scrub which targets rough, dehydrated skin, especially good for the feet. Then you can really pamper your skin with moisturising body mousse, serum, and my absolute favourite product, Anti-Cellulite & Firming Massage Oil. This is a richly - scented aromatic mango oil treatment that smells delicious and is full of Japanese ginkgo, caffeine and illipe butter to tone and eliminate toxins balancing and nourishing the skin for

Health Cardiologists get to the heart of the matter with special focus on coenzyme Q10

Cardiological science publications do not have a tradition of writing about nutritional supplements. That makes it even more noteworthy that the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) recently featured an article about the vitamin-like compound coenzyme Q10. What is especially noteworthy is that no less than four of the published studies mentioned in the article are conducted with Pharma Nord’s coenzyme Q10 formulation.

When you read the world’s leading cardiological science publication, which the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) is considered to be, you expect to find information about advanced heart drugs and groundbreaking surgery techniques.

News about nutritional supplements is normally not something that takes up a lot of space. Nonetheless, the February 9th issue of JACC contains a special focus seminar named “Nutritional Supplements and the Heart”.

Large concentrations in the heart

In this section, two leading cardiologists, Dr. Albert E Raizner from the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in Texas, and Dr. Miguel A. Quiñones, from Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Texas, describe multiple studies that have been conducted with the vitaminlike compound, coenzyme Q10, which we humans have in particularly great concentrations in our heart muscle tissue.

Pharma Nord’s Q10 is highlighted

No less than four of the included studies have been conducted using Pharma Nord’s coenzyme Q10 formula that is known and used by researchers worldwide because of its documented quality and bioavailability.

Among the studies mentioned by the two cardiologists in their article is Q-Symbio, a double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial of 420 patients that was published in 2014 in JACC, Heart Failure. They call it perhaps the most persuasive evidence in favor of using coenzyme Q10.

Helps cells make energy

One of coenzyme Q10’s key functions is to serve as an energy catalyst that helps cells convert fat, carbohydrate, and protein into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is energy stored in molecular form for future use. The process takes place inside the mitochondria, which are microscopic “powerhouses” that our cells are packed with.

Heart muscle cells have a particularly great need for energy and therefore have substantially higher mitochondrial density than other cell types.

The connection between statins and Q10

What the two cardiologists also address is the fact that the body synthesizes both coenzyme Q10 and cholesterol from the same basic are essentially made from the same organic compound. Because they share the same biochemical pathway, blocking the cholesterol production also affects levels of coenzyme Q10.

This disruption of the body’s endogenous coenzyme Q10 synthesis is one of the things that scientists are interested in investigating, and numerous studies have looked into the effect of giving supplements to compensate for the depletion.

Special technique solves absorption issues

Coenzyme Q10 supplements have been around for decades and they are some of the most frequently used preparations among seniors worldwide.

One thing about this natural compound that makes it challenging to take in supplement form is that the body has difficulty with absorbing it.

At temperatures below 49 degrees Celsius, the coenzyme Q10 molecules aggregate and form large, indigestible crystals that cannot pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.

Pharma Nord has solved that problem by developing a special manufacturing method that involves using different types of oil and a patented heat treatment. This alters the surface of the crystals in such a way that they are able to dissolve completely at normal body temperature in the stomach.

You can read about why Pharma Nord’s Q10 formulation has become the preferred choice among researchers worldwide because of its exceptionally good bioavailability here - www.pharmanord.ie

a more radiant appearance. Massage the oil all over the body after your shower or bath while the skin is still wet for maximum benefit. Check out their website above, prices are less than €10 for full 300ml and 400ml bottles, and shower gel and shampoo is just €4.99 Orders over €35 will qualify for free delivery within Ireland. This is certainly a lockdown treat that you can afford.

Luxury cosmetics brand Clarins have just launched some really exciting new products for those of us in the 50+ age bracket. Starting with the eyes - the first signs of aging appear here - the Total Eye Lift does exactly what it says on the tube. Application is simple, close your eyes and apply - its gel-cream texture enriched with Cassie wax smoothes the often tired skin of this fragile area. In sixty seconds your eyes look more open as it replenishes the skin around the eyelids and the eye contour for an open-eyed and visibly younger look. Special ingredient, organic Harungana extract is as powerful as retinol but gentler on skin.

It is one of the most efficient active ingredients at Clarins when it comes to anti-ageing and maintains the skin’s lifted effect. Day after day you can see the effects of lifted replenished skin. This is a key product in our anti-ageing arsenal. It takes just five seconds to apply and sixty seconds to see the results. This lift-replenishing eye concentrate is one of my favourite new products, as good eye cream is so important to keeping a youthful and healthy appearance. Do remember also to wear sun glasses when out and about on bright days, even the winter and spring sunshine can make you squint your eyes, and this is only encouraging those wrinkles.

Clarins have also just launched the Nutri-Lumiere range of skin care for the ‘silver’ generation – that’s us - which includes four new products to provide a complete pro-ageing nutrition action. Clarins laboratories tested the effectiveness of the Nutri-Lumiere range by measuring the skin’s luminance index, a combination of the light reflected by the epidermis and re-emitted by the dermis. For the 60+ age group, this is key to the skin’s appearance. The range consists of four key skin care products: Nourishing Revitalizing Day Cream, a sensorial, melting, oil-infused cream that revitalizes and intensely nourishes to restore radiance to nutrient-depleted skin. Nourishing Revitalizing Day Emulsion, lightweight, non-greasy, oil infused emulsion that revitalizes, nourishes and restores radiance. Nourishing Rejuvenating Night Cream, a comforting meelting night cream that revitalizes and nourishes the skin by morning. And finally Renewing Treatment Essence which is the first essential daily skin care step for skin full of vitality. This smooth, gentle lotion is perfectly absorbed by the skin, preparing it to fully benefit from products applied afterwards. Use morning and evening after cleansing/makeup removal. Along with their Total Eye Care, I have found their Double Serum (hydric + Lipidic system) to be wonderful for mature skin, as getting moisture into the face is the best barrier against the harsh wind, rain, sun and environmental impacts. Just put a little in your hands, then massage over the face and neck. Use morning and night time before applying your moisturiser for maximum benefit.

So as the days are becoming longer and brighter, and getting out to the garden is a welcome treat from our long winter, there are days to look forward to and things to enjoy. This includes the fact that there are a lot of new beauty products at every price point for pampering skin care and if ever there was a time to treat yourself – surely it is now!

Win a selection of Ziaja skincare products!

If you would like to be in with a chance to win a selection of Ziaja skincare products, just email me your name and address to; mairead.seniorbeauty@gmail.com

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