| Beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder. | | | | The Alchemists spent centuries looking for the 'Elixir |
| And youth, throughout the ages, has been | | | | of Life' - a mythical ingredient that would grant them |
| considered the epitome of beauty. Young looking skin | | | | access to the 'fountain of youth' and eternal life. At |
| continues to be a huge market worth millions of | | | | this point we did not understand about molecular |
| pounds in the UK every year, as men and women | | | | biology and that the ageing process is genetically |
| look for new ways to fight the signs of aging skin. | | | | coded into our DNA. Yet even today, modern |
| As a result, a plethora of anti wrinkle, anti ageing skin | | | | genetics is still searching to unlock the key to longer |
| care and skin conditions products flood the market | | | | life, and they are concentrating their studies on |
| on a regular basis. But is this obsession with young | | | | people who are over 100 years old to try and find |
| looking skin a new phenomenon? | | | | out what makes their bodies more resistant to the |
| The simple answer is no. The ancient Egyptians and | | | | cellular decay associated with ageing. This includes a |
| the Chinese were the first to document their | | | | study of the skin and how its structure alters over |
| attempts to halt the relentless march of time, noting | | | | time. This research was unavailable to our ancestors, |
| the effects of certain types of herbs, mineral | | | | who instead looked to the natural world to find an |
| treatments, diet and exercise on the condition of the | | | | ingredient that would work every time to keep the |
| skin, all destined to stop the inevitable first wrinkles | | | | skin looking young and beautiful. |
| and keep young and beautiful. But the study of anti | | | | But repeatedly, modern skin care products are |
| ageing techniques isn't just vanity - it has developed | | | | looking back to these ancient civilizations for their |
| over thousands of years into a complex study of | | | | inspiration, and olive oil has made a comeback as an |
| molecular biology, botany and even philosophical and | | | | anti ageing ingredient in many modern products. It |
| psychological research. | | | | seems that the Egyptians were onto something. But |
| During the ancient Egyptian dynasties, olive leaves | | | | rather than basing our trust in these new anti wrinkle |
| were promoted as an anti ageing remedy. The Vedic | | | | creams on mythology and esoteric reasons, science |
| culture focused on diet and exercise as a means of | | | | is now playing a major part in a multi-million pound |
| halting the ageing process, and on the Indian | | | | industry to find a modern day 'Elixir of Life'. Much of |
| sub-continent, and Ayurvedic medicine concentrated | | | | it is pseudo-science, designed to part a society |
| on the youthful effects of Yoga, meditation and, | | | | desperate to maintain its youthful looks from its cash. |
| once again, herbal remedies and anti ageing potions | | | | But in amongst all the pepto-thingies and 'here comes |
| and poultices. That research continues today, with | | | | the science' advertising that has little or no meaning |
| the 'next big thing' being proudly announced by major | | | | to the average person in the street, there may be |
| manufacturers. These 'magic' ingredients include | | | | an ancient remedy that actually does condition the |
| everything from ginger to caffeine, but is there any | | | | skin, reduce the signs of ageing and get rid of those |
| basis in these claims that one product will reverse the | | | | pesky wrinkles. Whilst nobody can beat the clock, |
| damage to the skin that is an inevitable part of life | | | | perhaps by looking back at the ancient civilizations, |
| itself? | | | | we can slow it down a bit. |