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CAROL'S
COLUMN |  | Views
& tips from your side of the counter........
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LUSCIOUS
LIPS – – – – –
Isn't it typical that during middle age it gets increasingly difficult to
get rid of unwanted fat areas on the body, whereas the fat in the lips decreases
rapidly and we lose our pout. The less fat we have in our lips, the more wrinkled
and uneven they look. Add to that the changes in weather - hot sun or chilly winds
- and lips can easily start to look a little ragged. And if you're a smoker, the
fine, feathery lines around your lips will appear even earlier than they should.
But never, fear, before you resort to injections of fat from your buttocks, there
are quite a few ways to improve the look and condition of your lips.
To keep
lips in tip top condition use a really good quality lip balm rather than the cheap,
waxy stick variety. Our favourites are Superbalm from Liz Earle, Molton Browns
Lip Balm or Palmers Cocoa Butter Stick.
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When looking for a lip brush make sure it has short, firm bristles, as using a
floppy one can give an uneven line. Prescriptives do a retractable lip brush as
do Christian Dior.
• Don't worry
about trying to match your lip pencil to your lipstick. Make-up artists agree
that most people suit a nude shade to line the lips, and don't overdo it - a harsh
line is really dated, use a softer line just to stop lipstick 'bleeding'. Try
Colourings Lip Liner in Beech or Tesco Makeup Lip Pencil in Fig.
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Gloss makes thin lips look fuller by highlighting them. Put gloss just in centre
of mouth to really accentuate or create a pout. |
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 | Unwanted
facial hair is a problem for quite a lot of women. Most of us have
very fine 'downy' skin down our outer cheeks, but for some women dark facial hair
around the upper lip and chin can be undesirable.
• Electrolysis
and laser therapy can eliminate unwanted hair permanently.
• Laser
therapy works best on dark hair as it's the pigment
that absorbs laser energy and destroys the hair. Mild stinging and burning sensations
are common. Two to five repeated treatments are usually necessary at four to six
week intervals, and treatment is fairly expensive. Electrolysis is less expenditure
but more time consuming as individual hairs have to be treated, and it can be
painful. It's really important to be treated by a reputable therapist to avoid
scarring and repeat sessions are usually needed.
• Epilation plucks
hairs out at the root and whilst effective for legs, it is less suitable for the
face.
The best treatment for dark hairs on the upper lip is a depilatory
cream especially for the face. This will dissolve away the hairs and only
has to be repeated every few weeks. |
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TOP
TIP – – – – –
Never choose your lipstick based on how it looks on the back of your hand.
You must try it on your lips to get the true shade and also the feel. Ask at the
counter and the assistant will produce a spatula to scrape some from the sample
to you to apply. If you decide you like the shade, don't buy it straight away.
Walk around the store for ten minutes or so. Then check in the mirror - has it
dried out too much, changed colour slightly? Does it still look as good as when
you applied it? If it does, reach for your purse! |
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 | POSITIVE
THINKING
According to recent research, pessimistic thinking
makes you more prone to colds and flu! Optimists have far higher levels of the
disease - fighting antibody IgA, but pessimists are drained of IgA every time
they're stressed. Even if you are normally well-adjusted and happy, becoming negative
just before encountering someone with a cold makes you more likely to catch the
infection. So it really pays to be a positive thinker! |
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