Beauty has forever lain in the eye of the beholder. In recent times, however, more beholders are so inundated with photo-shopped images of the most perfect men and women that beauty, the natural, divine, poetic, elusive, ever-changing, definition-defying quality has now become a major commodity.
Mere mortals like you and I believe that the fountain of youth (the pre-requisite for perfect looks) can be found at the bottom of a jar of anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle, anti-just-about-every-imperfection cream or lotion until it dawns on us that our quest is killing us slowly and that we are getting poorer in the flesh, in spirit and in the pocket.
So what do we do? Wait for the next best thing!
The beauty business is worth tens of billions of dollars worldwide. The majority of products are very poorly regulated and therefore there are over 1,000 chemicals that are hazardous to human health currently being used by the industry.
There have been controversies in the beauty industry galore over the use of mercury, lead, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulphate - most of which are chemicals used in the manufacturing of industrial cleaners and yet they end up on the largest human organ - the skin.
Unfortunately newer and more sophisticated toxins like botulinum, the bacteria that causes food poisoning, and alpha hydroxy acid, which was originally used in cleaning compounds and for tanning leather, came around to provide that freeze-framed, vacuous but wrinkle-free look. Cosmetic companies are now using nano particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in their anti-ageing creams and make-up ranges, which, without proper safety testing, can cause serious bodily harm.
Despite the bell ringing on the dangers of toxic chemicals, cosmetic companies keep churning out newer improved products and consumers continue to slather face and body in the hope of finding the panacea to old age.
I must confess that I am as guilty as the next woman in the "hoping to look good forever" stakes and heaven knows I have slapped on creams by the truck-loads despite being thoroughly informed on the dangers. The latest product that has caught my eye is a reportedly revolutionary serum which contains syn-ake, a neuropeptide that mimics the effects of the temple viper's potent venom to instantly lift the face, freeze muscles and plump fine lines and wrinkles.
A secret weapon, I've been told, that will make me radiant without the hiss.
How far will you go? The flyer challenges me. I really don't know. Maybe Dh675 for a 25ml pump of instant perfection paradise could be worth it. What do you say? I'm aware many will want to know where it's available, others may be shocked. Write and let me know. Should I? Shouldn't I? Are you going to get it? Are you going to recommend it? Think about it.
After all, even in the Garden of Eden the serpent won!
