Health and Beauty

Having a facial that suits your skin type at a spa is great for your skin, particularly in winter when the demands of artificially warmed environments takes its toll on our skin’s moisture however, it’s also expensive and time-consuming. Talk believes that at home, masks are a more realistic way for most of us to get a dose of moisture on a regular basis.

You may have noticed that Chinese women don’t start ageing as early as many women in the West do. A major reason for the youthful appearance of many Chinese women is that here, when people talk about ‘beauty’ they are most often referring to ‘skincare’, rather than cosmetics. The Chinese secret anti-ageing ingredient is basically just common sense. Caring for your skin is, quite simply, the best way to keep it from looking older or more wrinkly than necessary. So take a leaf out of the Chinese book of beauty and start incorporating an at home mask into your beauty routine.

“Be upstanding, court is in session, the Honourable Judge Talk Magazine presiding. Today’s case is the People vs. the Egg”. Your honour, members of the jury, my name is Mr Robinson and I intend to prove to you that the recent (and not so recent) adverse hype surrounding egg consumption is entirely misplaced and resultant of either overlooked or misinterpreted research. Egg-haters have been clucking too loudly of late but Spinback Fitness is not chicken. We’ve been cooped up too long and are hatching a plan to separate the hardboiled facts from the scrambled, and to bring the issue to the table. It initially seemed a pretty fair assumption: elevated cholesterol is a marker for Coronary Heat Disease (CHD), and eggs are fairly high in cholesterol, so cutting down on cholesterol consumption will reduce the risk of CHD. Yet, there are several other processes involved, meaning that this isn’t actually the case. The higher levels of cholesterol that accompany CHD (furring and thickening the arterial walls) are believed to be a symptom of CHD, not necessarily a cause, and dietary (ingested) cholesterol doesn’t play a huge role in this anyway. Many studies also state that egg consumption actually lowers cholesterol and heart disease. This is partly due to the cholesterol being a slightly different structure as well as having the presence of co-active ingredients such as lecithin. In spite of the evidence, GPs and health professionals still advise limiting egg consumption. It’s no yolk (sorry I couldn’t resist) and adding to the eggism, a recent study in The New England Journal Of Medicine claimed that increased levels of choline and TMAO from egg consumption, adversely affect bacterial mechanisms in the gut, which leads to increased CHD risk. The findings of the study, however, appear to be misinterpreted leading to false conclusions, again acquitting the persecuted, but it seems if you fling enough droppings, they’re going to stick, leaving the shattered egg to again pick up their broken shell of a reputation. You can’t be blamed for thinking that all the King’s horses and all the King’s men are out to get you… but even Humpty never had it this bad. Biological science can never be 100% exact. There are simply too many unknowns and variables, but simply observing case studies is a valuable indicator of whether a factor causes an effect. To this end, if eggs are so bad for you, then why does Japan, with a common diet which ranks amongst the highest consumption of eggs, choline and TMAO in the world, have the lowest incidence of CHDD? But why should I care anyway? Well, simply, pound-for-pound, eggs are both one of the most nutrient-dense, most filling foods per calorie. The lack of feeling full, or satiety, is one of the main reasons people put on weight, so eating eggs can be a marvellous addition to a diet: they keep you fuller for longer!

Jon Robinson is an Exercise Physiologist (not Personal Trainer) and co-owner of Spinback Fitness. www.spinbackfitness.com

MTM Skincare Custom Blended Hydrating Miracle Mask

This Hong Kong brand promises custom blended skin care combining manufacturing know how from Japan and Swiss ingredients. Before getting your own tub of Custom Blended Hydrating Miracle Mask, an indepth skin consultation comes first. This involves a number of (frighteningly) ultra close-up pictures of your skin, which are then displayed prominently on an LCD monitor so you can examine every dry, sundamaged pore in supersize detail. With the results of our consultation in, a consultant donned a face mask and entered the glass enclosure of the store’s on-site lab, where a custom blended creation was made in front of our very eyes. A blue gel concoction, we used the Miracle Mask weekly and found it to be super-hydrating and non-reactive, even to very sensitive skin. The solution goes on cool (a comforting sign for sensitive skin) and should be left on for at least 15 minutes. In summary: It’s expensive, but definitely does the job. Perfect for those with specific skin issues that make buying “off the rack” skincare difficult.

Price: RMB 800/30mls.

Usage: Once to twice weekly. Apply a thin layer to cleansed skin.

MTM Skincare, Shop SL3-04B, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu. Web: www.mtmskincare.com

Fresh Rose Face Mask

This mask, a gel formula containing real rose petals and pure rosewater, has become something of a beauty phenomenon with beauty editors and other in-the-know types swearing by it. After even one use of this mask, skin feels moisturised, softened, smoothed and soothed. As well as the rose-related ingredients, the mask also includes cucumber extract and aloe vera gel to calm skin, algae for moisture and anti-oxidant-rich green tea to make skin immediately look brighter. Although it states that the mask can be removed after five to ten minutes, having the delicious, rose-scented concoction in close proximity to your olfactory senses is a delicious experience and we were tempted to leave the mask on for thirty minutes or more. In summary: The smell and aftereffects are equally exquisite.

Price: RMB 750/100mls.

Usage: Gentle enough to be used daily, for most people, twice weekly would probably be optimal. Apply a thin layer to moist, cleansed skin.

Fresh products are available from Lane Crawford, Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Pu’an Lu.

Web: www.fresh.com

Ban Yan Kan La Ultra Hydrating Mask

This great local skincare brand uses traditional Chinese medicine ingredients to make its synthetic-free formulas. Natural plant extracts and active herbal elements are cultivated and harvested according to the traditional lunar calendar – for added goodness. Taking Chinese Mulberry extract as its main ingredient, these moisturised paper masks need to be fitted and smoothed onto the face in order to make as much contact with the largest area of skin as possible. The best way to describe the effect of this mask would be “refreshed”. As well as the Chinese Mulberry, which brightens skin at the same time as smelling delicious, this mask also contains witch hazel, a famous astringent useful for toning the skin, bergamot, nutmeg and sage oils all contributing added hydration (and lovely smells) In summary: Immediately leaves skin looking brighter and more toned.

Price: RMB 225 buys a box containing five masks.

Usage: The recommended usage is two times per week. Leave on for 20 minutes or more.

Ba Yan Ka La, 1221 Changle Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Web: www.bayankala.com