4th January 1998

Resolutions made and broken

	Andal Rajakrishnan (19) from Colombo 3 said that every year she makes a New Year resolution and for '98 she hopes to be more ambitious. "But, these things never work out. I've never been serious about the New Year resolutions. It is just that I feel that we are supposed to make them. I think about it for a maximum period of 3-4 months and then it fades away. Never implemented," she said. Sashi Rekha who is employed at the Suduwella branch of Hatton National Bank said, "Yeah. I normally do make New Year resolutions. But, I've never stuck to them. For example, last year my New Year resolution was to never to bite my nails, but, in a few days time there I was back at square one." And for twenty six year old Nirusha Pieris, it is the same. "My resolutions last for one month at the most. Therefore I am not too keen on making them. It's just that with every year one feel as if one has to do it," she said. According to, R.Dora of Gateway International School he does make New Year resolutions. "I haven't thought of one yet for '98 but every year I tell myself I'll be a better boy this year and hope it will last forever. Maybe at least this year it will work," he said. For Ruben Thananayagam who is employed at Leisure Homes, New Year resolutions are something he changes and adjusts to his convenience. " Its the flexibility of it that I like," he said, "therefore it is fine to make resolutions because in the end I only do what I want to and don't do what is inconvenient." Patricia Thomas who works at Hong Kong Bank feels that although New Year resolutions are made, just like promises are meant to be broken, resolutions are not meant to be lived upto. " I don't stick to the resolutions for more than three months. I simply forget about it altogether. It's just a part of the new year but not a serious thing," she said. For 18 year old, N.Fareed, a student of Zahira College his one and only New Year resolution which he makes every year is to study hard to become a doctor. But, he says he still has to wait and see if he can fulfil this. But according to, Shovhie Handunheva, a young school teacher from Ambalantota, he has always stuck to his new year resolutions which he takes pretty seriously. "I always implement them. So far, not a single resolution has been broken," he proudly said.

Retinoic therapy

Retinoic acid or tretinoin (Retin-A ) is a derivative of vitamin A that has been used for over 15 years for the treatment of acne. More recently it has received a great deal of publicity as an anti-aging treatment.

Research is under way at a number of medical centres to determine just what potential benefits tretinoin may have in reversing certain aging changes. Researchers thus far have found that topical application of tretinoin can ameliorate some of the skin changes associated with aging, primarily photo-aging due to overexposure to the sun. There is evidence that it can make wrinkling less obvious, increase blood flow to the skin, and reduce the hyper - and hypopigmentation that is part of aging skin. Vitamin A acid produces some thickening of the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin), but it also produces thinning of the stratum corneum (the very outer layer of the epidermis). Cell turnover is increased and there is an increase in blood vessels in the dermis.

When tretinoin is applied to the skin, it initially causes redness, irritation, and peeling. The "healthy glow" associated with topical application of tretinoin may actually be a low-grade irritation, or it may result from new blood vessel formation in the dermis.

Tretinoin is not an easy medicine to use. To minimize problems, thorough instructions must be provided by a physician familiar with both the drug and the patient's particular skin. Treatment philosophies vary among physicians, some recommending more intensive regimens than others.

Increased blood flow and 'glow" appear after two months, but other visible improvements - if they occur at all - will not be evident for four, five, or even six months and gradually increase during usage for at least two years.

'Because retinoic acid treatment makes the stratum corneum thinner, the skin becomes more sensitive to irritation, so it is important to use gentle cleansers and nonirritating moisturizers. The skin will also be more sun-sensitive; anyone using the drug must wear a maximum sunblock (SPF 15 or higher) when likely to be exposed to the sun. Many physicians suspect that once tretinoin therapy is initiated for aging skin, it must be continued indefinitely to maintain the results that have been achieved. This raises the question of safety for long-term use. In its more established use as an acne medication, tretinoin has been used for only a few months - or a few years, at most - since acne eventually clears.

A final judgment on the benefits and limitations of retinoic acid for aging skin must await more extensive testing and use.

Lip tips for Luscious lips

You must remember this, "a kiss is just a kiss." Who hasn't hummed this tune, thinking there is more to seduction than meets the...lips? And who is to be blamed - and praised at the same time - for the irresistible, magnetic force a woman's smile has on the world? Mr. Lipstick! So here it is. His story:

From ancient Greece to mythical Mesopotamia, "post-jurassic" coquettes used to pound and amalgamate conchshell powder with the pulp of decaying white heart cherish, in order to obtain a scarlet paste they eventually used to redden their vibrant pout. The aim of such a stylish exercise was, of course, to attract the attention of eligible bachelors. .. !

Thanks to make-up artistry, specific demands and ultra high-tech scientific discoveries in textures and shades, today's "lippy' has long lost its mercurochrome-based, yacky-tacky chemical solution. And quite understandably so. This antediluvian process literally marked" the Roaring Twenties. It also, paradoxically, featured and stained; thus inflicting the "Vampirella, can I get you a drink?" look on our grand-mothers' smile at public functions!

Modern lipsticks have a lot to offer, from the cushioned soft shine texture to the flat-stark matte finish; from the Venusian - metallic - shimmer effect to the polyester-sealed-glossy kiss. It's all a question of sensations, expectations, feelings, comfort and wearability.

So, to help you kiss your doubts goodbye, here is an easy "pick your lipstick" guideline!

Comfort is the master word a great percentage of women appear to have in mind, when seeking a lipstick they will wear from dawn to dusk. So, for those "smooth operators", my advice is a creamy, moisture-sealing and - treating texture, which will feel quasi- imperceivable on. Vibrant with luscious pigments, such lipsticks add a bright, satiny shine to your smile - while guaranteeing a pleasant, emollient effect.

Before applying any lip makeup, use a bit of oil-free concealer all over the mouth, to even out contours and volumes.

Colour of lipsticks that changes during the day?

Make sure you contour your lips with a lip-pencil, matching the shade of your lipstick - and pencil it in as well as if it was a base for your lipstick. Not only will it help fix the colour of your lipstick, it will accentuate the stay-put effect.

Wanting to economise on lipstick?

Believe it or not, you will use far less quantity of lipstick if you apply it with a powder lipbrush, instead of pressing the stick itself directly on the lip.

Plus, you can be sure to scoop out until the very last bit of it!

Cannot do touch-ups during the entire evening?

No problem: before going out, do the oldest trick recommended by make-up artists. Apply a first, thin layer of lipstick. Then blot it with tissue paper, pressed against your closed lips.

Cover your now shineless lips with an abundant layer of loose or compact face powder. Gently brush off the excess of powder, before adding more lipstick; that's all.

What to do when you hear from your beauty consultant that your favourite lipstick shade will be discontinued?

Buy as many as you can or want, then deep freeze the lipsticks and use them one by one.

Continue to Mirror Magazine page 4 * Juinor Times

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