Treadmills, cross-trainers and weight machines – they’re all necessary workout evils we use daily here in the UAE to get our bodies buff. But what if we told you there was a way to slim down without all that effort and that you could throw away your lycra, spanx and gym membership?
Who has time to hit the gym when we all live super-busy lives, juggling work, children, friends and family? So it would be silly not to make the most of body products that will banish wobbly bits without gym time, or give us instant cheekbones.
Even if you love your bodycon dresses and Pilates sessions, everyone needs an off day off. Ready, set, slim…
Body blitzers
These beauty products will take the work out of your workout;
* Izil Natural Argan Beauty Green Tea Body Scrub, Dh115 is available in the Izil Natural Argan Beauty store in Dubai Festival City. Use the scrub before you get in the shower, dry buffing it up from your legs and arms in towards the heart. This helps banish wobbly bits. It also gets the lymphatic system – which carries toxins out of the body super quick – going, so you will be fitter and healthier by the time you turn on the shower.
* Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control, Dh280 at all Clarins counters, smooths down existing lumps and bumps thanks to its active ingredients, as well as prevents new ones from forming. Double beauty points.
* St Tropez Tanning Sessions are available at Sisters Beauty Lounge, Dubai Mall, (www.sistersbeautylounge.com). Don’t just go for a gorgeous glow though, ask your therapist to do your usual colour all over and then go in for a second, lighter coat – just down the middle of your legs, across your tummy in an ab-like shape and also along the thinnest part of your arms. Say ‘hello’ to instant definition and slimness.
Skincare slimmers
Healthy, fresh-looking skin makes you look thinner instantly. It gives the impression that you work out, while focusing people’s attention on your face rather than the bits of you that you haven’t actually put through their paces. And it’s super-easy to get that dewy impression with our simple complexion perfection plan.
* Clinique Comforting Cream Cleanser, Dh140 at all Clinique counters, ditches grime and product build up, leaving skin squeaky clean. Use this, then use it again as a beauty-editor-tried-and-tested double cleanse will ensure your face is as fresh as possible.
* Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Tonic, Dh165 at all Bobbi Brown counters, is the perfect thing to spritz on next. Not only does it balance out the skin before and after a hard day, the vitamin b5 ingredient preps skin so it’s ready and waiting for the hydration steps, meaning your face will be able to make the most of them.
* Estée Lauder Perfectionist Wrinkle Lifting Serum, Dh644 (50ml) at all Estée Lauder counters, boosts the skin’s ability to make collagen by 50 per cent. Collagen holds our faces together to keep things firm looking, so slather this on.
* Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream, Dh349 (see www.elemis.ae), finishes things off nicely as it’s made using desert plants, myrothamnus and tamarind, that nourish the skin due to their antioxidant properties, while helping it cope with dry, sunny environmental conditions.
Face-ercise
Still no sweating, we promise. Just a tiny little workout – for your face. Inge Theron has just launched Face Gym in Selfridges, London, as part of the famous store’s Beauty Project. This kooky concept involves going for a massage where you make your face do some serious exercise to help it look younger, prettier and slimmer.
Inge, a journalist who has spent the past four years secretly visiting and reviewing spas as the Spa Junkie, has collected all info from her pampering research to create this treatment. And we are now revealing her secrets to Friday readers.
Limber up for some complexion-gymnastics tips you can take away from her facial plan. Inge describes each stage of the process:
1 Warm up A deep cleanse with vigorous knuckling movements followed by skin brushing to remove dead skin cells, boost the lymphatic system and kick-start the detox process.
2 Cardio A combination of high-energy, quick, whipping and rhythmic percussion movements to stimulate blood circulation, collagen production and cell renewal, bringing a rosy, fresh glow to the face and neck.
3 Strength training Deep-sculpting, contouring movements targeting the network of connective tissue and muscles to lift, tone and tighten the face, spliced with high-intensity interval training to boost energy flow.
4 Cool down A cooling jade roller with healing properties is glided across the skin to even tone and calm the complexion. This is followed by a splash of hydrating toner to awaken the face. The treatment ends with lymphatic drainage movements to support the elimination of toxins.
Make-up magic tricks
Not so double chin: Ditch jowls with a soft powder blush. Go for taupe if you’re fair skinned, while a deeper brown will work a treat for darker tones.
Carefully brush your correct hue along the jawline on both sides, to create definition, with one blusher brush. Then swap the brush for a clean, fluffier one and buff the shading in – no-one wants a beauty beard! You should barely be able to see the line, blending it away to nearly nothing – don’t worry, it will do its job of slimming down that area.
Eye, eye: Unless you fancy extreme surgery, you can’t get rid of weighty-looking eye bags, you can, however, detract from them and any wrinkles, while making the while face appear slimmer. All you need is some clever under-brow highlighting.
Gently sweep a shimmery powder with gold or pearl pigments right beneath the arch of the brow. Work into your eyeshadow when you add this, so there’s no seam – effortless, yet totally effective.
Kimmy contouring: We’ve all seen that Kim Kardashian photo where she shows off her concealer lines, used to give her that sculpted face. You can opt for a less harsh, more natural version and still enjoy super-slimming results.
Instead of bronzer or heavy concealer, select a foundation three to five shades darker than your natural base colour. Carefully work this down your cheeks, starting near the middle of your ears towards your mouth in a diagonal direction. Remember, less is more and make sure you blend well so you’ve create a thinner shape that no one will know about. Finish with a touch of cream highlighter buffed just on to the tops of your cheekbones, don’t take it too far towards the nose or else you will look shiny.
Pout it out: If in doubt (and all else fails) make people focus on your lips with a bold, statement look. There are a host of hues to pick from this season from out-there oranges to classic reds, pretty pinks and berry delicious purple shades. Pick your favourite and then find a matching lip liner. Using the latter will give your lippie something to stick to as well as giving you the perfect outline. Start at the cupid’s bow, drawing in a slick shape bit by bit with small, sharp strokes. Follow the outline of the lip around the edges, adding a little extra where needed to even things out. Then colour in your pout completely before adding the lipstick straight from the bullet.
For even more staying power, especially in summer, pat translucent powder over the top. It will sink in so it doesn’t show, while locking your lip look in place.
