1. Nigeria: Shea butter
It’s made from the nut of Africa’s karite tree, indigenous to some 20 countries in the dry savannah belt, called the Sahel, which stretches from West Senegal to Sudan and it is used there for absolutely everything! For centuries African women of the Sahel have gathered shea nuts, drying, crushing and boiling them to collect the oil that floats to the surface, which they then churn. The resulting fat, which has a consistency like soft, thick butter, is rich in natural emollients – and has even been shown by modern science to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Why it makes us young? Well It moisturises the skin leaving it glowing, conditions the hair, treats skin irritations like eczema, rashes, acne and even a recent study confirmed that the African tradition of applying shea butter around the nose during a cold also works as a decongestant.

2. Japan: Meditative baths

For centuries, Japan has been known for its ritualistic devotion to the art of the Japanese bath, and for the belief that the ensuing Zen-like meditative state it instils will cleanse the soul as much as the body.

What does it consist of? Well the Japanese will scrub themselves clean first, with brushes or a loofah, then rinse off and fill the bath with clean water as hot as they can tolerate, often adding flower petals or slices of a fragrant citrus fruit called ‘yuzu.’ The lighting should be low and you’re not supposed to multi-task during the bath meaning no reading or music otherwise you distract yourself. The purpose is to just soak and meditate. My hot tip: add some scented oils to enhance the atmosphere of serenity and calm.

These baths are really good if you’re like me who is always keeping busy and running around, they really ground you at the end of a long day. Why it makes us youthful:  It helps us relax and get ready for a good night’s rest, one of the key factors to staying young both on the side and out. The humidity is also great for the skin.

3. Russia: Kefir

What’s the Russian’s secret to looking eternally youthful? Each night many of them drink a glass of homemade milk called kefir, a fermented drink similar to yoghurt that originated centuries ago in the Caucasus Mountains.

It’s a drink that may take some getting used to, but if you do like it, kefir is rich in probiotic organisms, low in calories and high in calcium, protein, nutrients and vitamins (particularly B vitamins). Scientific studies have shown it also promotes healthy digestion and inhibits microbes like E. coli, salmonella and other common diarrhoea-causing bugs. Kefir is known as the elixir of youth in Russia because it makes your digestive system work so much better and your skin glow.

In Slavic countries, kefir is also used topically in a wide range of beauty treatments, including a bath soak, massaged into hair as a conditioner, as treatment for dandruff or oily hair, used to remove makeup, or left on the face as a skin-brightening masque. Kefir is found in health food stores, or you can try making your own by adding a starter culture of kefir grains to milk and leaving it in a covered glass jar. For beauty recipes using kefir, as well as tips on how to make it at home, click here. Why it makes us youthful? Well I think you already know the answer to that one.

TT.

What’s one of your top beauty secrets to staying young?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Emily Blunt

A low chignon with face-framing layers is just as polished, as it is youthful. With this style you can still have your hair back without it being too harsh on the face and showing every fine line. Not to mention the layers give your face a softer appearance. Click here for the step by step on how to achieve this look.

Mena Survari

An angled bob with sweeping bangs and choppy ends is way more playful, and more age appropriate (a great style to hide some of those wrinkles you would rather people miss). The angular cut tends to make your face appear longer, which is a plus if you want to thin out a round face. The angles can accentuate your best facial features. If you have a heart-shaped face, ask your stylist to cut the angles to add volume at the back and crown of your head.

To copy Mina’s style, blow-dry your hair straight and lightly roll the ends between your fingers with a touch of textured styling clay.

 Julia Roberts

Caramel highlights warm up Julia’s skin and make her beachy waves seem naturally sun-kissed. Ask your stylist for highlights around the face, where the sun’s rays would normally hit. Go one or two shades lighter than your base colour which will brighten up your complexion and make you achieve Julia’s younger look.

 Elizabeth Banks

The lob really is the new bob in Hollywood to recreate youth. To achieve the look like these celebs have done here switch to a centre part and scrunch your hair in loose waves with a texturiser. This will create volume in your strands creating more think, youthful looking hair.

For more ways to keep your hair youthful check out my book here.

TT.

Which 2012 hairstyle are you going to have?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Now I am all for fillers, but I thought I’d keep you up to date on what’s happening in Hollywood. Plus, options never hurt!

Madonna, Demi Moore and Uma Thurman are also fans of electric current treatments. While Kate Moss loves the Tua Viso, a “salon-grade” at-home beauty device that tautens the face within two weeks of regular use. There’s nothing new about micro-current electric facials. Princess Diana was a devotee and the basic technology used today dates back to the 1980s. So what’s this new interest in electric facials you ask? Well the widespread use of Botox and other neurotoxins mainly. There’s no point eliminating crow’s feet and having a smooth forehead if the bottom half of your face is showing signs of ageing. It’s like having a vigorous beauty routine for your face but leaving out your neck and chest. Just not logical in the anti-ageing world!

Dermal fillers are an option, of course to solve this but micro-current facials provide an even faster and less invasive way to regain youthful facial contours.

As we age, the 32 main muscles in the face lose tone and slacken. Micro-current therapy helps to shorten the muscle fibres to imitate the body’s own messages, sent by the nerves, to the muscles. The micro-current stimulation not only increases muscle mass to make the face look plumper, it also helps to give the face a firmer, more symmetrical appearance. A skilled practitioner can sculpt the face by creating arcs in the eyebrows or making the eyes look more almond-shaped.

Micro-currents also increase cellular regeneration and the activity of glycosaminoglycans, a.k.a. GAGs, the cellular material surrounding collagen and elastin that diminishes with age.

The machine bought by Jennifer Lopez was the CACI Ultra. CACI clinics nationwide popularised non-surgical facelifts in Australia and remain a go-to choice. A 40-minute session can cost anywhere between $170 and $250. Soft, cotton-tipped wands are used on the face to transmit the micro-current energy to the facial muscles to increase radiance, tone and elasticity. Visible results are immediate but a course of 12 treatments is recommended, followed by monthly maintenance sessions.

So I know your all wondering whether it hurts or not but it doesn’t. All you feel is a tingling sensation. However if you’re a Botox lover like me and want to tone your face following the procedure with an injection, it’s best to wait for two to three weeks until the neurotoxins have taken full effect.

If this is something you are interested in having done make sure you combine your electric facials with a healthy diet and the right skincare because that will make the results last even longer.

For more tips on how to create The Younger You check out my book here.

TT.

Are you interested in trying an electric facial?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

So what do I think the answer is? Well all the information we get tells us you are safe to be doing the service . The thing about pregnancy is that 3% of babies have birth defects and even if you move to the safest place in the country and drink the freshest milk and eat the best food there is a chance your baby won’t come out 100% healthy. It is kind of like how everything these days ‘supposedly’ gives us cancer. Does that mean if you had too many dental x-rays you would blame your dentist for getting cancer? It’s a tough call.

Now even thought I think it’s safe of course like everything you should take precautions like these celebs did. Firstly, maybe skip colouring your hair during the first trimester- I’ve been told that’s when all the important foetal development happens, then just resume your normal routine later in your pregnancy. Also, if you choose to colour  your hair in your house do it in a well-ventilated area, not a closed room.

My last tip is to switch to a non-ammonia colour like L’Oréal Professionnel’s INOA colour, as it has no odour and is gentler on the hair. To find out more about it click here.

TT.

Were you ever worried about dyeing your hair during your pregnancy?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Many beauty experts say fruits are the best skin polishers. This is because they contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which help fight harmful effects of pollution and delay the ageing of skin. Here are some of my favourites:

Papaya wonder
Papaya is great for all skin types as it removes tan, reduces acne and minimises pores.

Remedy: Mash half a cup of papaya with milk and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Berry goodness
Strawberries have strong antiseptic properties so do wonders for oily and dry skin.

Remedy: Mash strawberries into a paste and apply them on your face, or if you’re not a fan you can mix kiwi fruit along with some oatmeal together. Leave it on for 10 min and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

Watermelon cooler
Watermelons are great for reducing open pores and sun tans.

Remedy: Squeeze out the juice from grated watermelon and mix it with a pinch of gram flour. Apply the mask and leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse.

These homemade fruit facial masks are the best choices if you want to pamper your skin with pure, natural products. The major benefit of them is they are completely free of artificial supplements, perfumes, chemicals and added preservatives that can be harmful to your skin. Another great thing is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on them either. Now while these are useful masks, you can’t use any fruit mask on your skin and expect instant results. And like anything, if they are used in the wrong manner, they can harm your skin. So make sure you have a completely cleansed face first and don’t keep them on for too long. Also make sure you do a patch test before applying the whole mask to avoid any allergies.

For more tips on how to create The Younger You check out my book here.

TT.

Which fruit mask are you going to try?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

This collection addresses specific scalp concerns to achieve and maintain the ideal scalp balance whilst enhancing the beauty of your hair. Recent research from L’Oreal has shown that irritation below the surface of the scalp is a contributing factor to thinning hair and premature hair loss. This is why Kerastase has created Specifique, to solve that very problem.

So how does this treatment work?  Well it is super easy to start with.

1. Bathe the hair with kerastase Specifque Bain Prévention GL.

This will help stimulate the scalp as it contains Gluco-Lipid to provide energy directly to the root and help stimulate root activity. Plus it contains styling polymers to texturise the hair fibre.

The result:

• Hair fibre is nourished at the root.

• Potential hair fibre is stronger and existing hair fibre is given a boost.

• Hair is textured with an immediate volume effect.

2. Use Treat Cure Intensive Antichute à l’Aminexil® GL® M

Now this is where the intensive six week take-home programme comes in to play to help counteract the occurrence of hair loss and preserve hair density. It contains:

• Aminexil®: which helps prevent the accumulation and hardening of collagen.

• Gluco-Lipid GL®:  provides energy directly to the root and helps stimulate root activity and

• Madecassoside®: which reduces scalp irritation.

It is really simple to use as well. All you do is apply one vial of Cure Intensive Antichute à l’Aminexil® GL® M per day directly onto the scalp in cobweb sections and massage it in. You don’t even have to rinse it out and you can style your hair as usual. For optimal results use it in conjunction with the Bain Prévention GL and you will discover that:

•  Your scalp irritation is reduced.

• The life of the hair follicle is prolonged.

• Your hair density is improved and

• The hair is strengthened, nourished and revitalized.

In other words, your thinning hair will be a thing of the past and it will be replaced with a younger, healthier set of locks.

For more information on the products we use in my hair salon click here.

I think this new range is worth a shot don’t you?

TT.

Have you tried any effective hair thinning programmes? I want to know about them!  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

With all this social media pressure, there has become an increasing amount of expectations on looks and this is where I believe The ‘Bro-tox’ revolution has evolved. More men are turning to cosmetic procedures to enhance their appearance than ever before and personally, I think this is great news for people like me who are still looking for ‘the one,’ it just increases my chances, don’t you think??

It’s just as important for men to look good as it is for women… many of us just took longer to realise it and I believe the wake-up call is finally here. Some of the men who are a part of this revolution came on The Morning Show to discuss the reasons why they opted for cosmetic procedures. Their answers were so varied and somewhat surprising.

Dying your hair at home is one of the biggest mistakes you could possibly make. Here are a few reasons why. There are many facets of becoming an expert colourist, choosing a colour can be one of the most difficult things to do, let’s not even get into knowing or understanding the colour wheel and the worst mistake is at-home application.

Now, it’s great that most colours bought at supermarkets and chemists come with step-by-step instructions, but they don’t take into account whether you’ve dyed your hair before, your natural hair colour, the colour you’re aiming for and whether you already have damaged hair or not. In the end, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get the exact colour that’s pictured on the box without a professional to assist.

Moral of the story: Don’t make a rash decision to dye your hair at home. Otherwise, you might spend more time and money than you would have and guess what?

it can make you look older. Colour is not something to be messed with.

TT.

Have you changed your mind now about DIY hair colouring?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Over 220 plush clinics throughout the country, mainly in Rio and Sao Paolo now offer cosmetic treatments free of charge to those who normally only spent their nights dreaming about Botox injections and anti-cellulite treatments. At just one of these clinics alone doctors have performed more than 14,000 procedures since 1997 – that is a lot of people desperate to gain more self-esteem and look younger.

This got me thinking should cosmetic surgery be a right? Should anyone be allowed to look and feel younger instantly no matter what the cost?

Dr. Pitanguy with a prospective patient, watched by his team of trainee plastic surgeons.

Brazil is the world’s second largest market for cosmetic surgery after the US and looking good is viewed almost as a birth right there, not like some of the stigma cosmetic surgery has here where many celebs are too ashamed to even admit they have had the odd nip and tuck. In Brazil it is glorified because they know looking good means feeling good.

Of course there is always a catch. The free services are only performed on a few days of the year and the queues to sign up are monumental. Once a treatment is approved, patients often have to wait months for the big day, but that’s to be expected right?

The celebrated Brazilian plastic surgeon, Dr Ivo Pitanguy, the “Michelangelo of the scalpel” whose clientele includes kings, presidents and movie stars, founded the practice of offering free cosmetic procedures to the poor in Brazil a couple of years back saying “The poor have the right to be beautiful, too,” and I couldn’t agree more!

TT.

Do you think Doctors in Australia should offer free cosmetic surgery to the less fortunate? Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

This is Madonna in 1985 looking smoking.

Skip to 4 years later and what happened? Awful dark eyebrows with platinum blonde hair? That’s enough to make anyone age faster than you can blink an eyebrow. Not to mention the white foundation completely washes out her skin adding at least 3 years to her real age.

1995

The over-done heavy make-up and curly blonde locks make Madonna look much older than she is here and dare I say quite like something you’d find lurking around Kings Cross. As I say, less is more.

2002

Madonna finally has it right here, with more understated hair and make-up to suit her pale complexion. I think she looks younger here then she did in the 90’s!

And now my fav look of all…2005

Practice makes perfect! The honey blonde ‘Farrah Fawcett’ locks teamed with long, dark lashes definitely make her look 10 years younger!

For more of Madonna’s looks, the good and the bad check them out here.

TT.

What do you think Madonna’s best look is? Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page