I'm coming to terms with the fact that I am ageing. It's inevitable, after-all. I've always felt young. I'm the youngest child in my family. I'm four years younger than my husband. I feel young; I feel 18 Goddamnit. But these days, I just don't look it. I double-take when I pass a mirror now. Who is that staring back at me?
I blame the pregnancies (because there's always someone or something to blame): the sleepless nights, the over-working, the caffeine, and the sugar addiction primarily. Oh, and the raging parties and non-stop good times in my 20s, and the complete over-indulgence when you try and squeeze ten nights of missed partying into one night when you manage to get a babysitter. But hey, everyone needs an outlet (or two).
Each teeny part of my saggy facial bits and wrinkles tell a little story of my life, and I'm pretty much okay with that. I've had a blast.
I said
pretty much. I am still vain, of course, and I really wouldn't mind a face to match my youthful outlook. But what to do to give my tired mug a little lovin'? Friends recommended botox (and a whole heap of other things. Thanks, for the kind words, folks!), but I've witnessed
way too many rubber-look faces in my days working in the fashion industry, plus despite the fact that some dermatologists claim injecting botulinum into your body repeatedly is totally fine – is there really any way of knowing that it doesn't contribute to health issues later on in life? We don't know what causes a whole host of diseases and illnesses, so how can we be so sure injecting things into our skin don't contribute? That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. For now, anyway...
So driven by fear of the ‘boiled’ botox look, and the fact that people who get botox for years become so accustomed to not having any facial expressions that their faces start to become a little distorted, I decided to give cosmetic acupuncture a go. It's supposed to be the natural-looking facelift alternative to botox. In an effort to look like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie, of course – all advocates of facial acupuncture to keep their youthful glow.
Cosmetic Acupuncturist, Brian Condon from
Dynamic Skin Therapy is responsible for taking years off many a London-based star. And he's in Dublin now, once a month for two days. In London, there's usually a long waiting list of high-profile Westend clients waiting to try his use of non-invasive techniques to detox, clear, plump and re-energise your skin, without a single chemical. He's just a little bit of a legend.
On my in-need-of-serious-help skin, he used methods like acupressure massage to promote circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage; acupuncture for wrinkle reduction and facial re-sculpting; LED cosmetic light therapy to produce collagen and improve circulation; tuning forks – the needle-free therapy that exposes acupuncture points to varying frequencies to lift, tone and firm areas in the face; micro-needling to penetrate the upper layers of the skin to improve skin thickness, texture and reduce wrinkles, and lastly auricular acupuncture which helps alleviate stress and anxiety. Phew!
The results..... drumroll. I think a course of these treatments would be needed for a dramatic effect, but I noticed the difference instantly. Like, I couldn't stop looking at myself in the mirror. Tighter, less defined lines around my mouth and much tauter skin around my eyes. It's the most instant result I have had from any facial treatment. And the treatments don’t just address the skin, muscle and tissues; they calm the mind too so I felt like I had a massage as well as a face treatment. Boom, double whammy effect.
I'm saving for more while trying to work out what possessions I can sell to get them! It doesn't come cheap at €220 a pop (ouch), but as something to invest in before a wedding or a big milestone, or a gift that you will actually appreciate from a loved-one, I'd hugely recommend it. (Hint to husband, THIS is what I would like for my birthday).
Cosmetic acupuncture if the way forward, I think. You can't help facial ageing, but you can help fight it the natural way. Gwyneth Paltrow-skin here I come.
