Beauty Secrets
Anti-Crease & Cool Skin
Ageing gracefully, and staying comfortable in heat.
Skin ages in two ways: the passing of years, which nobody controls, and photoageing from ultraviolet light, which is most of what people actually see and is largely preventable.
What genuinely reduces wrinkles
Sunscreen, used daily and for years. It is the most effective anti-ageing product ever sold, and it is inexpensive.
Retinoids, the one topical class with strong evidence for fine lines. They irritate at first, must be introduced slowly, and are not for use in pregnancy.
Not smoking, and moisturiser, which plumps the surface and softens the appearance of fine lines even though it changes nothing structural.
Collagen creams cannot work as advertised - the molecule is far too large to cross the skin barrier. Collagen you eat is digested into amino acids like any other protein.
Cool skin in Indian heat
Heat rash comes from blocked sweat ducts, and the cure is airflow rather than product: loose cotton, cool washes, less occlusive cream, and shade in the middle of the day. Aloe, rose water and cold compresses are genuinely soothing. Talc in skin folds is best avoided - it cakes and makes matters worse.
Every rupee spent on anti-ageing serum before you own a sunscreen is spent in the wrong order.
Heat that becomes an emergency
Confusion, a very high temperature, hot dry skin with no sweating, fainting. Heatstroke is a medical emergency - cool the person and get help immediately.
Worth having
Picked to go with what you have just read. We only list ordinary, widely available things.