Living in Peru : your everyday companion

by
Marie-Louise Saina

Soon a friend of mine will be celebrating a change of decade birthday - or a zero ending birthday. All decade birthdays are significant as an age benchmark and so it is for my friend who is feeling a bit depressed over this particular birthday. I believe that as we get older we all experience this type of insecurity. After all, I remember having my first emotional meltdown at age 29 because I was about to turn 30. It felt like 30 was such an old age. Then when I turned 35, I realized that I was actually happier, healthier and stronger emotionally in my thirties than I had been in my twenties.

But if my friend has become age-conscious, today young women who are only in the early twenties are also afraid of aging and are obsessed with retaining their looks. In a popular fashion magazine the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has been quoted that “more than half a million Americans aged 19-34 had non-surgical cosmetic procedures…. And that Botox treatment is on the rise with those under 20.”

This unhealthy trend about wanting to look young forever is quite disturbing. It would seem as if aging is viewed as a disease that should be treated and even prevented. Perhaps one aspect supporting this anti-aging trend is how socially acceptable cosmetic procedures are. The cosmetic world pitches their procedures and products like something normal and that at the end of the procedure everyone will look like Miss Peru.

When I first arrived in Lima, I was blown away by the incredible number of advertising signs for cosmetic surgeries to alter one’s appearance and to peel away the years. I do not have anything against anti-aging cosmetics and non-invasive beauty treatments in order to give my skin the best possible care. And like everyone, I would like to stay looking youthful as long as possible but I just don’t want to become obsessed about it.

Personally, I find that women who have had face-lifts often look older. Their smiles seem difficult and unnatural, almost distorted, the speech changes and sometime the face morphs into someone new. Pictures of celebrities who have had poor results from plastic surgery are a common thing in fashion magazines. Melanie Griffith’s plastic surgery has made her look fake and old to the point that her husband Antonio Banderas was quoted in one magazine as saying “The lust for beauty and youth is a terrible thing.”

When I look in the mirror and see my many laugh lines it makes me happy. What better evidence could there be that I am living a good life? And as I continue to age gracefully I look forward to keep a body that moves with agility and freedom and a spirit that does not age. I want to continue to learn, grow and become a better person with each passing year. That is by far more important to me than a superficial looking taut face.

The topical wrinkle reducing market generated over 1.5 billion in sales in 2007 and it will double by 2010.

Here are a few suggestions in the age-defying face creams:

Unique - Peru - To order call # 501 1313

Sentiva Bio-lift and Sentiva Line correction

 Rejuvinol by Dermalogics is the face cream that received a lot of publication in many magazines. You can purchase it via internet.

The IFSCC – the worldwide federation dedicated to international cooperation in cosmetics science and technology held its 25 IFSCC Congress in Barcelona this year.

Here are some products that were highly talked about:

Natura Bisse a new cream called The Cure.

Elizabeth Arden - Time Complex Capsules – Intensive treatment for face and throat.

Regular facials and other salon treatments will help make the skin feel younger and give it a healthy glow.

Medspa Oxigen – Av.Angamos Oeste 1495, Miraflores - You can have a free consultation to find out if your skin will benefit from a treatment of peptide creams. It is apparently an option to Botox.

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Hi Maria-Louise

Age is just a numbers game.  We cannot turn back the clock but we can look back at how we live our life and say, "yes, I did it!" with pride.

I am a chinese, living in sunny Singapore.  Asians are no different from our western counterparts  -  we all want to look good and keep the age signs away for as long as is possible, me included.  This phenominal desire is also overflowing to the asian men here.  However, across the board, we are fortunate to be born with genes that enable us to look young er than our age.  I am one of them and constantly get surprised looks and compliments. 

My wise mum who is 93 years says the beauty is internal and there is no botox or cosmetic surgery that can change that.  Yes, I agree with her.  The modern age and constant technology has open up a market full of tools we can apply to prevent the full "onslaught" of aging  -  clean air, water, rest, positive attitude and thinking are traits we cannot buy over the counter but has to start from self.

The supplementary applications of creams and medicinal applications are what compliment our "man made" property that we are born with.  To 'improve" our facial and body landscape, we are exposed to colours in form of cosmetics, clothings to hide our flaws, exercise for a healthier body, etc ..... the list goes on.

There is a saying in chinese "There is no such thing as an ugly woman, only lazy woman".    How true. 

On this note, please let me thank you for taking time to read this note from your eastern friend and I look forward to more "anti-aging" dialogue.

Happy days to you all.

rosalind