Need a new style? Online makeover tool

Taaz is a new free and easy site that allows you to upload a photo of yourself, and have a virtual online makeover.

Try out over 4000 of the hottest cosmetics colours from brands such as Revlon, Chanel, Maybelline and more. As well as 100’s of the latest hairstyles and colours all from the comfort of your home. You can create the perfect new look, or something for a special occasion.

Start by uploading a digital photo. The software will map out your face. Then you can go to town experimenting with a palette of thousands of colours and shades in products ranging from foundation and concealer to multi-tone eye shadow, lip gloss and contact lenses. Try out a new hairstyle or colour and your make over is complete.

When your done, the results are so realistic. You can easily test what best suits your face, a long with the helpful tips from Tazz along the way you can really pick what is best going to compliment your features.

You can then save or print or your new look and take them a long to your hair or makeup stylist to show the look you are after. Or use them as avatars and profiles in social networks or save and share your makeover with friends and other tazz users for ratings and comments.

Tools are the Trade – Makeup Equipment

The tools of Makeup Artistry are for the most part underestimated. The right tools can mean easier & more professional makeup application. This does not need to burn a massive hole in your pocket, however. Equipment does not have to be expensive and there are plenty of retail outlets that sell reliable tools at a reasonable price. Tools required vary person to person, depending on which makeup they use and how much. It is not necessary to purchase every item on the market, but buying a set of reliable brushes is definitely worth considering.

Brushes are preferred rather than sponge applicators that come with eyeshadow compacts, as brushes tend to sweep gently over the skin & sponge tips can drag. Brushes are widely available, varying greatly in price, depending on the hair type. Brushes made from synthetic hair can be purchased from many retail stores, usually in a pack and are very economical. For long term use, real hair brushes are preferred to synthetic ones, as they last much longer, are softer on the skin and tend to offer better blending properties. Real hair brushes are much more expensive, however. Your budget will often determine which ones you choose. If you prefer brushes with real hair, those found in art shops are a less expensive option with the same result (please be sure to purchase brushes that have been produced with no harm to the animal – for example, goat hair is quite popular and has simply been shorn off the animal).

As for cleaning, you can wash real hair brushes with shampoo and follow with conditioner to keep them soft, at least once a week if they are only for personal use. How often you wash your brushes will be determined by how often you use them. Synthetic brushes can be washed with soapy water. If sharing brushes with anyone else, spraying them with rubbing alcohol will purify them from any bacteria or infection; removing makeup and sanitising the bristles. After washing, be sure to gently squeeze out excess water then dry them overnight, on a towel on a flat surface, turning them over once. Drying with heat is not recommended because the bristles will eventually dry out. It is not recommended to share any tools that have not been properly washed and/or sanitised, as this increases the possibility of spreading infection from one person to another.
Buying brushes need not be difficult. When looking to purchase your brushes, whether real hair or synthetic, check that the bristles will not shed by gently pulling them. If many bristles come away, look for another brush!

Now, which brush for which purpose? One brush can be used for several things, so you need not buy a brush for every part of your makeup process. For example, one small tapered brush can be used to apply eyeliner, concealer and lip colour. Simply wipe off before using each product.

Powder/blush brush – try a large, rounded and flexible brush with soft bristles. This allows plenty of movement for blending (you may prefer to use a powder puff, but be aware that this will apply more product).

Concealer brush – small and fine with fairly stiff bristles for full control over movement. Can have a pointed tip for precision but is not absolutely necessary.

Shadow brushes – small to medium sized, fairly flexible to allow easy blending and can be tapered at side to allow movement into eye socket. Rounded tips are a must for smooth blending.

Eyeliner brush – small tapered and fine tipped for precision.

Lip brush – thin and tapered with firm bristles for full control.

You can always use scissors to taper off and shape your brushes to suit your needs, especially if you cannot find what you want in the stores.
Cotton Tips are great for cleaning up excess eyeshadow/lipstick or fixing mistakes. Tips can also be used to blend liquid/cream foundations together in your hand or getting it out of the bottle when it is running low. Removing mistakes can be made easier by dipping the tip in some oil before use. They also make a great alternative to a lip brush for those suffering from cold sores, as they can be thrown away after use and prevent re-infection.
Tweezers can shape the brow to create different looks. Tweezing the brows can really open up the eyes and creates more space for shadow application. Tweezers also come in handy for holding false eyelashes, as fingers can be too bulky to place them accurately. Tip: To help ease the pain of tweezing, numb the area with ice and hold the skin taut before tweezing in the direction of the hair growth.
Latex Sponges are used for administering foundations and/or blushes and are invaluable. Used damp, they produce a dewy, sheer finish. Dry, they provide a heavier, matte coverage. They allow you to apply as little or as much foundation and/or face powder as you prefer. These sponges can be purchased singularly or in a pack from the Beauty Section of many retail outlets. They come in various shapes and sizes and are rubbery in texture. They vary in price so it is best to shop around. If using only on your own skin, they can be washed in soapy water and reused maybe once or twice before requiring replacement. Soaking them in nappy soak sanitises and whitens them after washing for your personal use. The larger, thicker sponges available are hardier and can be re-used more often before becoming flaky and requiring replacement.
Eyelash Curlers are an invaluable tool for long, curly lashes. It can be quite intimidating though! Practice does make perfect, however!

Regards,
Cassandra Rae Ferguson - Professional Makeup Artist

Summertime Solutions-Taking The Heat Off Your Makeup

With the warmer months fast approaching, it may be time to review the contents of your makeup bag! The arrival of summer often brings with it makeup dilemmas; with perspiration, oil production and dehydration that a hot climate can bring to our skin. Cassandra, a Professional Makeup Artist, has a few answers to commonly asked questions about summer makeup.

“my foundation never stays on in summer. It becomes an oil slick by the end of the day.”

The heat of summer can send our skin into an absolute frenzy, particularly if it tends to be oily. Oil is an absolute enemy of perfect makeup! Choosing a good-quality stick foundation may help. Stick or cake foundations usually contain less oil than liquids and so have longer lasting properties in summer. Applied with a sponge, coverage can be as heavy or light as you wish. Opt to use a sunscreen each day which doubles as a moisturiser and saves you using both, reducing oiliness. Allowing it to absorb into skin before applying makeup may also help. Dabbing your face gently with a tissue can remove excess oil without ruining your makeup.

“how do I get rid of shine on my nose, chin and forehead?”

No matter which foundation you use, warmer weather almost ensures that your face will begin to shine throughout a hot summer’s day. Some women love a dewy finish to their foundation, whilst others absolutely detest it! Whilst there are no hard and fast rules about what your foundation should look like, if you prefer a matte finish to your base, face powder is the answer to combating shine. Powder can be a translucent loose powder, which will provide a light coverage, a wet-to-dry foundation or a pressed compact, which will provide the most coverage. Powder can be applied with a large, round powder brush, makeup sponge, or powder puff. A light dusting should be enough to reduce shine and may be touched-up during the day.

“I want minimal makeup. Which foundation can I use?”

Rising temperatures teamed with perspiration can make wearing makeup quite uncomfortable! However, there are solutions for minimal makeup with maximum effect. For a healthy, dewy glow, tinted moisturiser and/or bronzer can be applied (a little liquid foundation can be mixed with moisturiser/sunscreen as an alternative to tinted moisturiser). For a little more coverage, liquid or mousse foundations are an option, but try to find one with low oil content. These foundations can be applied with a brush or sponge. For minimal makeup with a matte finish, a light application of face powder without any foundation underneath should do the trick.

“my skin is patchy and flaky, foundation makes it look worse”

Dry skin can become really dehydrated in warmer weather and poses all kinds of problems with makeup. Whilst keeping your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and exfoliating regularly to improve its condition, the appearance of foundation can be greatly improved with the use of a pre-foundation primer. Apply directly to your skin or after moisturiser, under your foundation. Apply over your entire face, including eyes, lips and neck. Primer will help foundation to glide onto skin, last longer and to appear smooth and flawless. It will also prevent powder and eyeshadow from caking in creases. It is wise to use a sunscreen each day or at the very least choose a foundation with sunscreen added.

“my mascara runs and smudges when I sweat or go swimming”

Waterproof mascara is an essential item to your summer makeup bag! Many mascaras available are not only waterproof, but also smudgeproof and non-flaking. If you intend to go swimming throughout the summer period don’t intend on getting your eyelashes tinted, then waterproof mascara may be the way to go. These mascaras tend to be difficult to remove, so you may want to invest in a good eye makeup remover.

“Is mascara the only waterproof makeup?”

No. If it was, Ursula Andress may not have looked so glam coming out of the water in James Bonds’ Dr. No (although I’m sure she still would have looked as beautiful!) Besides waterproof mascara, there are other waterproof products available on the market. These include eyeliners, oil-based foundations, crème eyeshadows, blushes and creamy lipsticks. Alternatively, tinted eyelashes and fake tan will keep you looking bronzed and beautiful in the water without makeup!

“my lips are so dry and my lipstick flakes off”

Unfortunately, dry lips are often part and parcel of a hot summer, as the skin on your lips has no oil glands. Keeping them protected with sunscreen balm is extremely helpful, as is exfoliating gently with a toothbrush. For hassle-free lipstick, apply foundation to the lips before using any lip colour. This will help lipstick to adhere to your lips and stay on longer (you may also wish to use a lip primer). Using a creamy lipstick will help to moisturise dry lips. For ultimate moisture, use a lip gloss instead of lipstick. Alternatively, mix a little lip balm with your favourite lipstick for a sheer lip stain.

“will my makeup melt in the heat?”

In the past I have had to store my makeup in an esky whilst working on location, to avoid melting! Creamy products such as lipstick, eye and lip pencils, stick foundation and concealor can most definitely melt in extreme heat. If in doubt, store your favourites in the refrigerator.

“my eyeshadow keeps creasing”

Moisture in your skin from perspiration can cause your eye makeup to crease in the eye socket. Applying powder underneath eyeshadow can help to smooth out creases and prevent this problem. A good quality powder eyeshadow is recommended too, which has more chance of holding its colour in warmer temperatures. A pre-foundation primer also preps your eyelids for eyeshadow and smoothes out creases.

“my skin has broken out but I don’t want to wear a full face of makeup to hide it”

Don’t feel you have to wear a full face of makeup all the time; sometimes less is more. Concealor works wonders to cover up under-eye circles, blemishes and uneven skin tone. Use one in a tone matching your skin as closely as possible. Applying concealor over your foundation (as opposed to under it) saves you work and product, as the foundation will do most of the concealing for you. However, you can simply apply concealor to only where you need it, rather than using foundation on your entire face. Apply concealor with a brush or cotton tip and be sure to blend well.

“do I have to use a darker foundation in summer?”

There is a theory that we must change our makeup with the seasons. This applies to foundation only if you tan. Foundation should always match your skin perfectly. So if your skin changes tone season to season, then it is advisable to change your foundation to match. This is also applicable if you fake tan.

Regards,

Cassandra Rae Ferguson - Professional Makeup Artist

Breaking All The Rules - Busting Makeup Myths

Makeup is a tool which is designed to be fun and boost your self-esteem. Your makeup usage is a very individual choice and is yours to make for yourself. I get so frustrated when I hear ‘experts’ touting rules and regulations on makeup application. Most of these are pure myth and serve only to limit creativity. As soon as you hear “must always” or “should never” be wary! Rules are meant to be broken. So this month, AFW is busting makeup myths and separating fact from fiction!

Myth # 1: You are either a ‘cool’ or a ‘warm’ colours person
This is absolute rubbish. Anyone can wear any colour, anytime. You may feel that some colours suit you more than others, but this is a personal choice, not anyone else’s. If you are tentative about trying new makeup colours, try softer tones or apply just a hint at first. For example, if you would love to wear bright purple eyeshadow, but are afraid to take the plunge, try wearing a little mauve or lilac at first and build it up until you feel comfortable with more colour.

Myth # 2: Mature ladies cannot wear shimmery/frosty makeup
Completely false! Shimmery makeup can be worn at any age. More important is how you wear it; you may want to wear a little less as you get older. Try small hints of it, such as only on the bottom eyelids or only on your cheekbones.

Myth # 3: You should never sleep in your makeup
This is actually good advice. Statistics show that you can age up to seven times’ more if you go to bed each night with makeup on.

Myth # 4: Not everyone can wear red lipstick
Pure fiction. Anyone can wear red lipstick – just choose a shade of red with which you feel comfortable. Wearing a red lip tint is a more conservative option, or applying lip colour then matting it down with a tissue can soften the strong effect of red.

Myth # 5: Pale skin requires darker foundation
Many believe that paler skins require ‘warming up’ with a darker foundation or bronzer. Firstly, there is no such thing as pale skin, unless you are sick! Fair skin, rather, does not need to be altered with makeup, the same way that darker skin does not need to be lightened. Your foundation should match your skin tone perfectly, whether your skin is fair or olive. If you feel pasty and want to warm up your skin, add some blush to your cheeks.

Myth # 6: Heavy makeup is for after dark only
Not true. There is no such thing as ‘day makeup’ or ‘night makeup’. Feel free to wear your makeup as light or heavy, colourful or neutral as you wish, no matter what time of day.

Myth # 7: You cannot wear eyeshadow the same colour as your eyes
Of course you can! It is true that contrasting colours do make your eyes stand out more, but that does not mean that blue eyes cannot wear blue eyeshadow, for example. Here are some ideas for contrasting eyeshadow colours to try:

Brown eyes: turquoise, mauve/lilac, purple, gold, bronze, silver

Green/Hazel eyes: dark blue, purple, mauve/lilac, silver, turquoise

Blue/Violet eyes: gold, bronze, copper, pink, peach, chocolate

Myth # 8: Warm, yellow tones of foundation are the most flattering
This is true, if you have yellow-toned skin! Pink-toned skin should wear pink-toned foundation. As mentioned before, your foundation needs to match your skin perfectly. The best place to test colour is on your jawline, where it can be compared to both your face and your neck, where it ultimately has to blend in. If you wear a foundation which does not match your skin tone, it will look like a mask. Foundation is designed to look like flawless skin, not foundation.

Myth # 9: Spritzing water on your face will freshen up makeup
Err, no it won’t. Spraying water onto your made-up face will only cause your makeup to run.

Myth # 10: Wear products from one brand/line only
Totally false! Your face does not know you’re mixing brands and neither does anyone else! You may have brands and/or products which you prefer, but using only one means limiting your options. This myth was most likely invented by a cosmetic company to sell more product.

Myth # 11: Always apply makeup in natural light
This is ideal, if possible. Natural light is less forgiving; therefore applying your makeup in it gives the most desirable results. If natural light is not available, use the strongest light possible.

Myth # 12: Only those with large eyes can wear liquid eyeliner
On the contrary, use of eyeliner on the upper lash line can make smaller eyes appear larger. If you feel confident applying and wearing liquid eyeliner, go for it! Applying along the entire lash line is fine, as opposed to the belief that eyeliner should only be applied to the outer corners. However, sweeping up at outer corners lifts the eyes.

Myth # 13: You should never ‘pump’ the mascara wand in and out of the tube
True, this isn’t recommended. Doing so pushes air into the tube, hence drying out the mascara and increasing the risk of bacteria getting in. A more effective way of getting mascara onto the brush, is turning the wand inside the tube, and then gently pulling it out. Because mascara is a breeding ground for bacteria, it is recommended that you do not share it with anyone else. For the same reason, adding water to mascara isn’t advisable.

Myth # 14: Concealor should always be lighter than your foundation
False. Concealor has many uses and its tone depends on its use. You may use a lighter-toned concealor for under eye circles to counteract the shadow, but to cover a blemish you would use a similar tone to your foundation. There are also other tinted concealors available for specific uses, such as green tint to cover redness. Whichever concealor you use, it must be well blended to avoid being seen.

Myth # 15: Redheads can only wear earthy colours and blondes cannot wear blue eyeshadow
Nonsense. I am a redhead and I rarely wear earthy colours! Redheads can also wear black mascara, contrary to being told to wear brown only. Discover your own style and don’t let it be dictated by others!

Myth # 16: You should never pluck hairs from the top of your eyebrows
False. If you have stray hairs at the top, pluck away! However, eyebrows play a very important part in framing your face, so whichever method you use for shaping your eyebrows, it is recommended that you do not stray too much from their natural arch.

Myth # 17: Bright lipstick makes lips look smaller
Incorrect. It is true that pale, glossy lip colours can make lips appear fuller, but wearing bright or dark lipstick won’t actually make your lips appear smaller (it just won’t make them look bigger). Wearing bright lip colour will draw attention to your lips; paler colours less so.

Myth # 18: You should never apply mascara to bottom lashes – it casts a shadow
Fiction. If you apply mascara to your top lashes, you should apply it to the bottom ones also. Mascara will only cast a shadow if it is smudged, or runs. Avoid this by using a waterproof and smudge proof one.

Myth # 19: You must always wear foundation
A complete fallacy. You do not ‘have’ to wear foundation, nor do you have to apply it to your entire face. If you only want to cover up a few blemishes or smooth out skin tone in certain areas, simply apply it where you feel you need it and blend well. If the foundation tone matches your skin well enough, you won’t have to smooth it over your whole face. Then again, if you prefer a strong coverage, applying it to the entire face is fine too!

Myth # 20: Blush is for adding colour, not definition
Actually, cheek colour does both. It can be used to add warmth to your face, to shape and contour, enhancing cheekbones or to make your face appear thinner. More neutral tones of cheek colour can also be used to contour other areas of the face, such as the jawline, temples and the sides of the nose.

Guest post by Cassandra Rae Ferguson - Professional Makeup Artist and Mobile Makeup Artist, specialising in Wedding Makeup in all suburbs of Sydney.

Introducing Cassandra Rae Ferguson, Professional Makeup Artist.

Cassandra has joined forces with AFW as a Beauty Editor. She will offer advice and reveal trade secrets in her monthly articles on Makeup Application, featured here on AFW. Cassandra Rae Ferguson is a Freelance Makeup Artist of over 8 years.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Fashion, Film and Television industries, Cassandra has worked alongside many of Australia’s best photographers, fashion designers, stylists and cinematographers.

Cassandra is well-versed in Makeup Artistry and her accomplishments extend the Makeup industry. Since gaining qualifications in 1999, Cassandra has built a career from experience in Sydney and in Perth. She has worked on television programs, commercials, films and catwalk events such as Fashion Week and the Perth Fashion Festival. Her makeup design has featured in catalogues, magazines and calenders nationally. In addition to this, Cassandra’s roles include Makeup Instruction and Styling for Australia’s top model and casting agencies, as well as Beauty Editor and Columnist for various online Bridal and Fashion Magazines.

Cassandra currently resides in Sydney, specialising in Bridal Makeup, having gained a high profile in the Bridal Industry over the past 8 years. She is always happy to share trade tips and secrets with her clients. With the belief that makeup application should be fun, Cassandra aims to cut out the myth and mystery, without being dictatorial.

Therefore, Cassandra is delighted to offer beauty advice on All For Women. Cassandra will provide advice on all aspects of makeup application. Learn how to achieve different looks, use products/equipment and get great makeup looks on a budget.

Are you stuck in a makeup rut and need some expert advice, or would simply love to learn some insider tricks? Ask Cassandra!

For more information on Cassandra’s Makeup Artistry service, visit Cassandra Rae Ferguson

Keep an eye out for Cassandra’s first article coming soon!

The best kept secret in Cosmetic Medicine-The liquid facelift

The ‘Liquid facelift’ refers to a TGA approved cosmetic treatment that provides facial rejuvenation, tightening and lifting without surgery. Considering the benefits, it is surprising it has not become a household name. So why haven’t you heard of it, what is this product and how does it work?

What is a ‘liquid facelift’?

liquid: the treatment involves injection of a ‘liquid’ collagen stimulating product into the skin.

facelift: the liquid stimulates skin fibroblasts to produce collagen where it is injected. The increased skin collagen results in tightening, lifting and filling of facial aging i.e. the sagging, folding and wrinkling we do not like.

Why has it remained a secret?

The liquid facelift has been approved for cosmetic treatments in Australia since 2002, it has a well established safety profile so why has it failed to become as famous as other cosmetic injections?

* TGA regulations in Australia restrict naming of this product as it is a class S4 medication to be administered by a Doctor or Nurse with training. This in part explains why you might not have heard of it, however these regulations apply to all medical cosmetic injections and some have become quite famous. No need to mention the B word.
* It has only been accepted for cosmetic use in America recently. This is perhaps the biggest reason. America has different regulations on advertising of medical treatments and they can name and discuss the product freely. It appears in the past it has been press from the USA which has fed us medical brand names and treatments. (Once it appears on Oprah the whole world will know about it.)

‘Liquid facelift’- what can you achieve?

Depending on the area of sagging and wrinkling or lines that concern you, the collagen stimulant is injected across the whole face, so a total rejuvenation is achieved. The product works over months creating a slow progressive lift of the face as new collagen is laid down.
• redefining of jaw line- lifting of jowls,

• filling nasolabial lines

• filling marionette lines and returning a new uplift to the mouth

• treating wrinkles across cheeks

• treating of wrinkles around the eyes

• refining the cheekbones.
In fact most grooves, lines and wrinkles, folds and sags can be filled,
tightened, plumped, lessened and rejuvenated over a series of injections.

The ‘Liquid facelift’: an affordable alternative to cosmetic surgery.

Comparatively a series of three treatments can cost about $2200 against $10,000 for a surgical facelift. The cost is broken down into smaller payments as you receive each injection treatment, making it more affordable to a broader group of people.

Superior outcome for many people.

With a surgical facelift the skin is pulled tighter, but it does not address the underlying cause of facial aging, the loss of collagen and other support structures of the skin
Many Doctors who use the ‘liquid facelift’ believe the outcome is superior to surgical facelifting for many people. Because it stimulates increase in collagen it addresses the underlying problems with facial aging: the volume loss.
For further information on this product Surgery free face lift

Or on anti-aging treatments in general Aging with beauty

Thankyou Leigh for allowing me to contribute to ‘All for Women’. If you are interested in further skin care or information on Cosmetic treatments visit our blog.

Dr Jo Turner
Skin Revision

Do cosmetic injections keep you looking younger?

Part two of our three part series on how the face ages and surgery free options to prevent progression of visible aging by Dr Jo Turner; Cosmetic Physician Brisbane. Dr Jo has her own business Skin Revision and Blog on skin care and Cosmetic medicine. Skin Revision

There has been controversy recently over very young people commencing with cosmetic injections in order to prevent progression of aging. Although I recommend you at least wait until you see visible signs of aging to start treatments, starting early does prevent progression and keep you looking younger.

Prevention of aging appearance.

There are two main groups of cosmetic injections available and the preventive action is different for each group.

Yesterday I discussed visible signs of aging and the key concepts of: movement…volume…texture

When you think of prevention you also need to think of these concepts.

Prevention of movement wrinkles- wrinkle relaxing injections.

Movement wrinkles develop because of repeated facial movement or expression, they start in the mid to late 20’s and progress to eventually become permanent.

Crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead lines

Repeated muscle action causes folding in the skin on the surface. Muscle movements that are repeated minute by minute, daily over many years cause defects to develop in collagen and elastin in the areas of folding. With loss of elasticity in the skin the wrinkles become deeper and eventually they will become fixed or fibrosed. When they are fibrosed no treatment will fix them entirely.

Muscle relaxing injections prevent the movement in specific areas, resulting in a smooth wrinkle free appearance on the surface. With these injections, over time, because you do not have repeated folding there is less ‘wear and tear’ on the skin and permanent defects are prevented.

Prevention of Volume loss –
Dermal fillers and collagen regenerating treatments

As we get less young our skin looses collagen volume (the main support structure for the skin) at a rate of 1% per year. This loss of volume results in sagging of the skin and we see wrinkles, lines and folds developing across the mid and lower face and thinning of the lips.

Temporary dermal fillers.

Temporary dermal fillers are used to rejuvenate lips (increase volume and treat lip lines) and plump our specific areas of collagen loss. (Nasolabial and marionette lines) Research released earlier this year showed dermal fillers do not merely plump out lines and folds but also stimulate skin cells to produce more collagen.

Although the extent of natural collagen production has not been measured, starting early with filling of folds, lines and wrinkles with dermal fillers means more natural collagen in your skin, less volume loss and a younger looking you.

Collagen regenerating treatments

More obvious in preventing progression of aging is a unique product that is injected into the skin and directly stimulates skin cells to produce more collagen. This treatment is referred to as ‘the liquid facelift’. The ‘liquid facelift’ is used for rejuvenation over the entire face, and because it stimulates natural collagen production it replaces lost volume and prevents progression of visible aging.

Tomorrow the third part of this series I am going to discuss the ‘liquid facelift’ in greater detail. I consider it the best kept secret in Cosmetic Medicine, because although it has been available in Australia for Cosmetic purposes since 2002, very few people have heard of it, and considering the potential for facial rejuvenation without surgery it astounds me it is not the name on everyone’s lips.

If you are interested in further skin care or information on Cosmetic treatments visit our blog.

Dr Jo Turner

Your face as you get less young

Three part series on how the face ages and surgery free options to prevent progression of visible aging by Dr Jo Turner; Cosmetic Physician Brisbane. Dr Jo has her own business Skin Revision and Blog on skin care and Cosmetic medicine. Skin Revision

As we get less young, and we see visible signs of this in the mirror, it can erode our self confidence, our esteem and how we view the world.

Understanding how skin ages and what can be done to prevent and reverse the progression of visible aging is my work. So when Leigh invited me to contribute to ‘All for Women’ I decided to write a series on just that. Over the next three days I will share some, hopefully interesting, information on visible signs of aging, surgery free treatment options to prevent progression of visible aging and what I consider the best kept secret in Cosmetic Medicine ‘the liquid facelift”.

Visible signs of aging.

Visible signs of aging are the changes you see when you look in the mirror. There are three concepts to think of when looking at the changes that occur to your face as you get less young.

movement… volume… texture…

Movement

Wrinkles appear because of repeated movement principally in the top half of the face. Movement wrinkles or expression lines start to appear in the late 20’s to early 30’s. Frown lines, crows feet, forehead furrows and bunny scrunches from Frowning…squinting…worry… and even laughter.

Repeated folding in specific areas cause defects to develop in deeper layers of skin. When you are young these movement lines spring back. As you get less young these deepen and left untreated eventually become fibrosed and fixed.

Volume

As we get less young we lose collagen, elastin and underlying support for the skin. This results in loss of volume to the face, and like a balloon that slowly deflates, our facial skin starts to wrinkle and sag and deep lines and folds develop.
• nasolabial lines

• jowls

• marionette lines and drooping of the side of the mouth

• lip thinning and lip lines

In The 40’s we see prominent volume loss changes in the mid face with lines and folds developing from the nose to mouth, wrinkles across cheeks and even early jowl formation. By the 50’s we have prominent volume loss, with sagging across the entire face, jowl line and thinning of the lips. From here on our face continues to head south.

Texture

The skin texture and colour changes as you get less young. This is predominantly from unprotected sun exposure.
• pigment spots or age spots appear.

• pores enlarge

• skin becomes rough and leathery

• broken capillaries appear

Texture changes start in late 20’s to early 30’s, by the 40’s many women must wear makeup to hide the colour and texture changes and by the 50’s and 60’s many women will not hide these changes even with makeup.

Now I have thoroughly depressed all of you, the good news:

Surgery free treatments to keep you looking younger

Movement - Muscle relaxing injections treat movement wrinkles to smooth away crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead wrinkles

Volume - Collagen regeneration with the liquid facelift treats volume loss: to tighten sagging, plump or fill out folds and lift jaw line and mouth drooping.
Dermal fillers treat volume loss of the lips to rejuvenate lip thinning and lip lines and plump or fill folds and lines around mid face and mouth.

Texture - Resurfacing techniques - microdermabrasion, IPL, laser resurfacing and cosmesceuticals treat pigmentation and texture changes to improve the quality of your skin.

Tomorrow I will look at why starting early with Cosmetic treatments prevents the progression of aging.

If you are interested in further skin care or information on Cosmetic treatments visit our blog.

Dr Jo Turner

Part 2 Do cosmetic injections keep you looking younger?