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Say goodbye to wrinkles

Celebrity beauty consultant Colleen Kirk was in the city to launch Artistry's anti-aging serum

PHOTO: D. GOPALAKRISHNAN

SOLUTION TO STAY YOUNG Colleen Kirk with Ron Sharpe at the launch of the anti-aging serum.

Whether Cleopatra really bathed in ass' milk is something we may never know. But one thing is certain; the fascination for clear skin and a beautiful face has been there for a long, long time. And that fixation with fair skin and a wrinkle-free visage is strong even today. The shelves of lifestyle stores are lined with anti-ageing and fairness creams like never before, and the cosmetics industry the world over has never seen it so good in a long time.

Ask Colleen Kirk, an independent make-up artist and beauty consultant, who has worked with such companies as Lancôme, Estee Lauder and now Artistry Cosmetics, and she says, "Today's woman has come to realise that to feel good you have to look good."

In the city with fellow American Ron Sharpe to launch Artistry's new product, Time Defiance Intensive Serum, Colleen believes beauty isn't just a business anymore; it's a way of life. "It holds a mirror to your inner self." You wonder if it isn't another one of those anti-ageing treatments. "No, this is different," says Ron, the scientific brain behind the product. He is part of Artistry, a beauty and cosmetics brand under the umbrella of U.S.-based Alticor.

"The serum actually reverses signs of ageing, and that too in just 14 nights. What it does is penetrate the three layers of the skin and repair the collagen damage. The advanced anti-enzyme and anti-glycation technology protects the skin. And it is safe."

The serum, marketed directly by Amway distributors, comes in a pack of 14 vials. Each vial has to be used continuously for 14 consecutive nights after cleansing and toning the skin. Well, beauty does not come cheap and this treatment comes at Rs. 9,999 per pack.

Colleen, who has worked on such faces as Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, Cher, Janet Jackson and Susan Sarandon, says, "Women in their 40s and 50s often tend to neglect their skin, and this leads to dryness, dark circles, acne and, of course, wrinkles. This is where the serum helps." This mother of a two-year-old believes "make-up is an illusion, an art, an expression and momentary. But skin care is reality and permanent."

Have you used it, we ask Colleen, whose skin has a lovely glow. "Yes," says Colleen with a smile. Ron cuts in to say that he too has tried the serum. "It works wonders on men too!" He continues, "Till a few years ago, the joke doing the rounds was that men actually had skin! There is a slight difference in the way a man's skin is made. The collagen structure is slightly different and of course, the skin is thicker. And so, the ageing process is different." So how often does one use the serum? "Ideally, four times a year," says Ron.

What about the side effects? In recent times, several doubts have been raised about the safety of using such products. Botox is said to affect the nerves, while fairness creams are believed to damage the outer layer of the skin. To this, Colleen says, "Any treatment can prove to be harmful if not administered in the correct way. Also, using the right quantity is vital. When we say use the serum for 14 nights, it means just that. People forget that a little is good but a lot is not."

Isn't the world obsessed with beauty today? Colleen replies in the affirmative. "I think Hollywood is largely responsible for this. And I can tell you that most actors feel survival out there is near impossible without looking young. Most people forget that the time you are in now is the most beautiful."

That perfect face according to Colleen? "Angelina Jolie. She has a superb bone structure and flawless skin. I find Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler graceful. And I think Aishwarya Rai is stunning." As an afterthought, she adds, "All the Indian women I've met have that inner glow."

SAVITHA GAUTAM

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