Author Archives: Editor

Britain’s oldest man – “love of a good woman” key to longevity

Posted on by

London: Henry Allingham, who lives in Eastbourne, Sussex, the oldest man in Britain celebrated his 109th birthday today.

Henry who recalls the death of Queen Victoria has been retired for 40 years. He is one of only 12 veterans from the First World War who is still alive. Henry took part in three of the major battles including Flanders, the Somme and the naval battle of Jutland.

He joined up in 1915 as a mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service, but was flying in time for the battle of Jutland. Then in 1918 it merged with the Armycontrolled Royal Flying Corps and he saw action at Flanders and the Somme.

His secret of a long life: “”If you want to know the secret of a long and happy life, I’d have to say that the love of a good woman is a big part of it, ” he said.

He has lived alone since his wife, Dorothy, a nurse, died in 1970. The couple had two daughters who both died in their 80s. Henry has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.

Diet and exercise balance key to bikini body

Posted on by

New York: A survey of 1,149 adults reveals that 65 percent of women will deprive themselves of sweets to slim for the swimsuit season. However, the key to success in slimming down is changing your routine and creating a balance between diet and exercise, says celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler.

Kaehler, who has shaped diet and fitness regimens for such celebrities as Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford, offers this advice to stay on track.

* Listen to Your Body. Most diets go off course when you deprive yourself of essential fats and carbohydrates. This can lead you to compensate by overeating. To avoid this trap, allow yourself a delicious, lower fat treat in moderation. “I often recommend bite-sized 3 Musketeers Miniatures to my clients because they have 45 percent less fat than the leading chocolate brands,” said Kaehler. “This fulfills a yearning without sacrificing long-term diet and fitness goals.”

* Mix It Up. Shake up your routine by changing the amount of repetition or type of exercise — increase the incline and speed, or take a different and more challenging class. Try hiking or running at the park once a week instead of going to the gym.

* Select a Training Partner. Choose a professional trainer who can provide the guidance and motivation to keep your fitness routine on track and help you focus on problem areas. If you can’t afford a trainer, ask a friend to become a workout buddy. It will help you enjoy your workout rather than view it as a chore.

* Get More Sleep. Sleep fuels the body and mind and allows you to recharge. If you don’t get enough sleep, you may feel sluggish or agitated, making it harder to focus and jeopardize your chances of staying on track.

* Set Realistic Goals. Keep your perspective — don’t unfairly compar yourself to Hollywood figures who have the money and time to spend all day shaping their bodies. Don’t expect results after only a few weeks in the gym. If you start with realistic goals, such as eating a healthier diet and doing 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week, it will be easier to stay motivated and see results over the long-term.

Anti-ageing pill proven in patient trials

Posted on by

New York: Backed by over 2,000 clinical studies — including the American Medical Association, Stanford University, and New York Academy of Sciences — 25AGAIN™ Improves Sex Drive, Energy, Lean Muscle, Fat Loss, Bone Density, Skin Moisture, Anxiety, and Depression.

In a dramatic medical breakthrough, 25AGAIN™ Anti-Aging Pill has been proven to quickly reverse the aging process by replenishing the body’s own production of Youth Hormone to normal 25-year-old levels. Youth Hormone, or DHEA, is the most dominant and plentiful hormone in the body, produced continuously by the adrenal glands. It declines rapidly after age 25, causing the onset of the aging process – impotence, fatigue, flabby muscles, abdominal fat, osteoporosis, dry skin, memory loss, anxiety, and depression.

Extensive medical research — over 2,000 clinical studies in the past 10 years, summarized at www.25again.com – documents that the body’s Youth Hormone releases over 50 essential anti-aging hormones, including testosterone in men and estrogen in women, that control the anti-aging functions of the body and maintain youthful physical and mental health.

After age 25, the body’s own production of Youth Hormone declines dramatically. At age 40, the level falls to only 60% of normal. At age 55, the level drops to 40%, and by age 70, we make only 20% of normal. 25AGAIN™ restores the level to 100% within days.

“As an aging baby boomer, I refuse to grow old gracefully,” states Wayne Josephson, 55, president. “25AGAIN™ has literally changed my life. The results were immediate. Within days, my mood improved, anxiety disappeared, and my sleep was deep and restful. After a week, I had more energy and handled stress more calmly. After two weeks, my sex drive increased. After a month, I began losing abdominal fat, muscle mass increased, and my skin was no longer dry. I have used 25AGAIN™ for over a year, and I certainly don’t look or feel my age.”

Passive smoking cuts IVF success

Posted on by

image

Hamilton: Passive smoking can be just has harmful as smoking to women having fertility treatment.

In a study that compared the outcomes of fertility treatment, researchers at the McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, found smokers and women who lived with smokers had about a 20 per cent pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in IVF treatment, compared to 48 per cent for non-smokers.

The researchers, who reported their findings in the journal Human Reproduction, said there was no difference in the quality of the embryos from the three groups of women but they found a vast variation in the number of embryos that successfully implanted in the womb.

“This was the most striking finding from our study,” said lead researcher Michael Neal. “When it came to implantation rates … we found that while non-smokers achieved a 25 per cent implantation rate, both smokers and side-stream smokers managed only around 12 per cent.”

Side-stream smoke is emitted from smouldering cigarettes and contains the most toxic constituents. Passive smoking includes side-stream smoking and smoke exhaled by the woman’s partner.

Smokers in the study smoked an average of 11 cigarettes a day.

The researchers do not understand why there is such a difference in implanting and maintaining a pregnancy in the smoking groups, despite the good quality and appearance of the embryos.

Elizabeth Arden Inc (Nasdaq:RDEN)

Posted on by

NEW YORK, May 4: Elizabeth Arden, Inc.(Nasdaq: RDEN), a global prestige beauty products company, has entered into anexclusive co-marketing agreement with Allergan, Inc., a specialtypharmaceutical company and market leader in dermatology.

Allergan is the maker of Botox(R) Cosmetic, currently the No. 1 non-surgical cosmeticprocedure in the United States, and M.D.Forte(R), a leading physician-dispensed skincare line in the United States. The agreement teams Elizabeth
Arden’s expertise in the prestige skincare industry with Allergan’s leadership
in dermatology.

The partnership will bring a newly formulated PREVAGE(TM) to prestige cosmetic retailers worldwide through Elizabeth Arden. The new formulation will contain 0.5% idebenone, a patented, revolutionary, potent and effective antioxidant. The physician-strength product containing 1% idebenone will be known as PREVAGE(TM) MD and will continue to be sold by Allergan though physicians. PREVAGE(TM) was launched by Allergan in January 2005.

“The dermatology-inspired skincare market is experiencing explosive growth. The collaboration of Allergan, one of the world’s foremost specialty pharmaceutical companies, and Elizabeth Arden, a leader in innovative skincare since 1910, will bring PREVAGE(TM) and its breakthrough technology to the global skincare market,” said Scott Beattie, Chairman and CEO of Elizabeth
Arden.

“We intend to take advantage of this opportunity and establish a leadership position in this category. We expect the collaboration to grow the dermatology-inspired skincare market globally.”

Idebenone is a benzoquinone compound currently used by the medical community. In the medical field, idebenone has been used, among other things, to protect organs from the oxidation process prior to transplant surgery. This same oxidation process is one of the primary causes of skin aging, a fact that led scientists to research idebenone’s application as an antioxidant when topically applied to skin.

“PREVAGE(TM) represents a significant advance in skincare which is supported by scientific studies,” said Kenneth C. Hertz, M.D., a leading dermatologist based in Miami and former clinical associate in the dermatology branch of the National Institute of Health.

Experts in the field of aging recognize oxidative stress as a fundamental cause of extrinsic aging. “Idebenone is currently the most effective molecule for use in preventing and addressing the impact of oxidative stress on the skin. Idebenone retards the signs of aging and restores cell vitality.

PREVAGE(TM) is clinically tested to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, increase skin hydration, and improve the overall appearance of the skin”, said David H. McDaniel, M.D., Director, Institute of Anti-Aging Research at Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School.

PREVAGE(TM) is being lauded by dermatologists for its ability to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as protect against future damage. “PREVAGE(TM) is an antioxidant that is clinically proven to protect the skin against environmental factors and to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” added Dr. Hertz.

“The idebenone in PREVAGE(TM) has been shown to have more reparative effects on the skin than other commonly used antioxidants,” said Heidi Waldorf, M.D., Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, New York, and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

A six-week clinical study to evaluate the use of PREVAGE(TM), performed by Allergan’s independent testing lab, yielded these impressive results:

– 27% reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
– 22% reduction in skin roughness or dryness
– 37% increase in skin hydration
– 30% improvement in the appearance of skin

Elizabeth Arden and Allergan will collaborate on all aspects of PREVAGE(TM), including formulation, packaging design, and marketing. The new formulation, created by Elizabeth Arden’s research and development team and Allergan’s scientists, will begin being distributed through leading department stores and prestige outlets worldwide in early 2006 and the physician product later in 2005. Elizabeth Arden and Allergan will also collaborate on developing additional PREVAGE(TM) products.

“We will continue working together to create a portfolio of products and make the latest, most effective skincare anti-aging technology available to consumers globally,” said Beattie.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Elizabeth Arden,” said Bob Rhatigan, Vice President, Allergan’s U.S. Dermatology business unit. “Our relationship will benefit from our mutual rich heritage in skincare.”

Elizabeth Arden is a global prestige beauty products company. The Company’s portfolio of leading brands includes the fragrance brands Red Door, Red Door Revealed, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, Elizabeth Arden 5th avenue, ardenbeauty, Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman, curious Britney Spears(TM), Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds, Passion, Forever Elizabeth and Gardenia, White Shoulders, Geoffrey Beene’s Grey Flannel, Halston, Halston Z-14, Unbound, PS Fine Cologne for Men, Design and Wings; the Elizabeth Arden skincare line, including Ceramides and Eight Hour Cream; and the ElizabethArden color cosmetics line.

SOURCE Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
Web Site: www.elizabetharden.com

Ulpotha Yoga & Ayurveda Holidays

Posted on by

image

Ulpotha is open for 13 fortnightly periods between June and August and from November till March. Between these times Ulpotha is closed to allow the village time to revert to its natural state between visits. There is a maximum of only 19 places for guests per holiday.

Guests are encouraged to visit Ulpotha for a whole fortnight with bookings running from Sunday to Sunday. Prices are on a full board, twin sharing basis, inclusive of airport transfers (for designated group arrival/departure times), excursions, yoga and herbal steam baths; flights are not included. Personalised Ayurveda treatment packages are available separately – see below.

Two-week Summer 2006 holidays cost £1,200 (each extra night £85). One-week holidays can only sometimes be accommodated, depending on availability. These would run Sunday to Sunday and cost £600 (each extra night £85).

Two-week Winter 2006/7 holidays cost £1,300 (each extra night £95). One-week holidays can only sometimes be accommodated, depending on availability. These would run Sunday to Sunday and cost £650 (each extra night £95).

The Christmas/New Year holiday costs £1,830 for the full 16 nights; or £1,600 for 14 nights (each extra night £115). There is usually no availability for one-week holidays over Christmas and New Year but if there is, the cost would be £800 for the week, plus £115 for each extra night.

The Summer 2006 per night rate (for stays of less than one week) is £90; in Winter it is £100; at Christmas/New Year it is £120 per night.

Summer 2006 (Yala season)

18 Jun – 2 Jul Pilates with Aud Aasbo
2 Jul – 16 Jul Scaravelli Yoga with Lawrence Chapman & Audrey Tom
16 Jul – 30 Jul Astanga Yoga with Mark Hill
30 Jul – 13 Aug Astanga Yoga with Jane Kemlo

Winter 2006/7 (Maha season)

19 Nov – 3 Dec Astanga Yoga with Edward Clark
3 Dec – 17 Dec Hatha Yoga with Angus Ford-Robertson
17 Dec – 2 Jan Hatha & gentle Astanga Yoga with Nigel Gilderson (16 nights £1830; or 14 nights £1600)
2 Jan – 14 Jan Core Yoga with Martin McDougall
14 Jan – 28 Jan Yoga Teacher TBC
28 Jan – 11 Feb Yoga with Caprice
11 Feb – 25 Feb Chinese New Year
25 Feb – 11 Mar Iyengar & Astanga Yoga with Jean Hall
11 Mar – 25 Mar Yoga Teacher TBC

Please note, the above schedules may be subject to change.

Personalised Ayurvedic Treatment Programmes
Ulpotha is a particularly suitable place in which to undergo Ayurvedic treatment as the food and the environment will complement the therapies and serve to underscore the holistic approach of Ayurveda itself. Ulpotha’s resident Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Sri Lal can draw up a personalized detoxification and rejuvenation treatment programme for you. Allow at least two days to acclimatise after arrival in Sri Lanka before start of Ayurvedic treatments.

The Ayurveda Treatment Programmes are charged for separately and available for a minimum of one week at £200 per person. There are also ten days (£300); two weeks (£400); three weeks (£600); four weeks (£800 per person). Pre-bookable via us, capacity is limited. Please ring 0870 444 2702 or email info@ulpotha.com

Contact
Neal’s Yard Agency
BCM Neal’s Yard, London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel/Fax: (44) 0870 444 2702 (national number)
or ++44 7000 783 704 (international number)
info@ulpotha. www.ulpotha.com

Epi Tan

Posted on by

Epi Tan is an Australian pharmaceutical company that specialises in dermatology treatments. It launched on the UK’s AIM in May 2005.

Epi Tan has developed a synthetic version of the naturally occuring hormone alpha-MSH, which stimulates melanin production. Melanin helps protect the skin against sunburn by increasing pigment.

Early clinical trials have shown a reduction in sunburn injury by up to 50 per cent. Called Melanontan, it is injected in a slow release form but a lotion and spray are being trialed.

The company is also listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Clarins

Posted on by

Clarins

OVERVIEW

Some people say that French women are born beautiful. Clarins prefers that women, instead, place their faith in its upscale skin care products, makeup, and perfume. The company touts ingredients such as herbal and marine extracts and air-pollution-defying complexes in its products, which are sold through department and specialty stores in Asia, Europe, and the US. The company targets skin-conscious consumers with antiwrinkle and firming creams. Clarins also serves the sweet-smelling fragrance market; its top scents include Angel and Azzaro’s Azzura. Founder Jacques Courtin-Clarins and his family control the company.Clarins sells its products primarily through pharmacies, department stores, and more than 50 of its own beauty treatment salons. The company also makes cosmetics, perfume, and high-fashion clothing. Almost 60% the company’s sales come from its skin care products. Made of all-natural plant extracts and offering anti-aging and anti-pollution properties, the products target a wide range of women — from the mature woman with wrinkles to teen-age girls with acne.The company has enjoyed a distribution deal with Procter & Gamble to distribute Hugo Boss and Giorgio Beverly Hills in US department stores. But with P&G’s acquisition of Wella in late 2003 and growth in its fine fragrance unit, the distribution agreement with Clarins was not renewed in mid-2004.Clarins’ products are sold in more than 150 countries. Nearly two-thirds of the company’s sales come from Europe, with North America accounting for another 25%. The founder’s sons Christian (who is Chairman of the Management Board) and Olivier (a dermatologist who is Managing Director of the Management Board), own two-thirds of the company.In 2003 due to poor financial performance, the company announced plans to terminate its Thierry Mugler fashion division.In 2005 Clarins plans to open more stores in the US — one on Columbus Avenue in New York and another in Short Hills, N.J. While it also focuses on fragrance, Clarins is working on women’s scents for Clarins, Thierry Mugler, and Stella Cadente.

HISTORY

Jacques Courtin-Clarins always wanted to be a doctor, but WWII interrupted his plans. He couldn’t afford medical school after the war, so he decided to become a chiropractor. While giving both chiropractic adjustments and body massages, Courtin-Clarins found that his clients — especially the women — were looking for information about skin care and for natural skin care products. He also noticed that the body massages resulted in better skin tone for his clients. In 1954 he opened his first beauty salon in Neuilly, an upscale neighborhood near Paris.From the beginning, the entrepreneur stressed personalized advice for his clients, and he offered only natural products made from plant extracts. The first products included an aromatic relaxation oil, a skin-toning tonic oil, and a water-retention oil (for cellulite). He soon developed the Paris Method, a manual method of massage — just for the face at first, but later developed for the body in general and the bust — designed to improve circulation, eliminate toxins, and tone the skin.Courtin-Clarins added more products over the years, and began moving the company toward an international presence in 1972 with some exclusive distribution contracts. But it was his son Christian, who joined the family firm in 1974, who made the company an international concern. Clarins led the skin care market in France by 1980, and the company established its first international subsidiary the next year, in the US.Clarins was listed on the Paris Bourse in 1984. The company increased its marketing in the US in 1988, and by 1990 product sales had risen 30% in the US. That year Clarins became the European market leader in skin care products sold in prestige distribution channels.Also in 1990 Clarins began expanding beyond skin care products as it started distributing fragrances such as Azzaro, Montana, and Giorgio through its German and Italian subsidiaries. The company also set up a perfume joint venture: Thierry Mugler Parfums. Clarins launched its first cosmetics products in 1991. The company also introduced an anti-pollution cream that year. By that time, Clarins had distribution centers in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the US, and minority stakes in exclusive distributors in other parts of Europe and in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.Thierry Mugler Parfums introduced its Angel fragrance in 1992. Following its usual strategy, the perfume was made available on a limited basis — just department stores and two Thierry Mugler boutiques in Paris and fewer than 300 stores in the rest of France. The perfume debuted later in the rest of Europe and in the US.Continuing its expansion beyond skin care products, Clarins acquired the Azzaro and Montana perfumes in 1995 (the Montana brand was sold in 2000) and a majority interest in Thierry Mugler Couture in 1997.In 1999 Clarins and Procter & Gamble agreed that Clarins would distribute Hugo Boss and Giorgio Beverly Hills perfumes in department stores beginning in 2000. Christian Courtin became CEO of Clarins in mid-2000. In 2001, the company bought a minority stake in L’Occitane, another French cosmetics company.In 2003 Clarins transferred its Thierry Mugler couture fashions and men’s boutique business to Italian company Tombolini.

OFFICERS

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Jacques Courtin-Clarins

Chairman of the Management Board, Christian Courtin-Clarins

Managing Director of the Management Board, Olivier Courtin-Clarins

Chief Financial Officer, Pankaj Chandarana

SVP, Marketing, Bradley J. Horowitz

SVP, Sales, Bradley T. Mandler

VP, Finance and Administration, Pierre Milet

VP, Industrial Operations, Lionel de Benetti

VP, Marketing Clarins Fragrance Group, Brad Horowitz

President, Clarins USA, Joseph Horowitz

Chairman of Thierry Mugler Parfums, Vera Strubi

Chairman of the Clarins Brand, Patrick Bizot

Chairman of the Azzaro Brand, Gerard Delcour

President, Group Operations Division, Marc Rosenblum

President, Thierry Mugler Fragrances Division, Benjamin M. Gillikin

SVP, Marketing, Clarins Brand Division, Caroline Pieper-Vogt

Director, Marketing Clarins Fragrance Group, Michele de Bourbon

LOCATION

4, rue Berteaux-Dumas

92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Neuilly-sur-Seine

France

Health Anti-Aging Lifestyle Options (HLOI)

Posted on by

Health Anti-Aging Lifestyle Options, Inc.

Health Anti-Aging Lifestyle Options (HALO) is a multimedia marketing company that offers health, wellness, and anti-aging programs and products. The company’s HALO media program is intended for home-based entrepreneurs; HALO offers products to “maximize human potential” and enhance the entrepreneur’s financial and physical life. Programs feature host Jesse Dylan and include interviews with popular endocrinologist Dr. Deepak Chopra, Real Age author Dr. Michael Roizen, Oprah fitness guru Bob Greene, and psychic Sylvia Browne. The company was founded as Daur & Shaver in 1986; its name was changed to HALO in anticipation of the 2003 near-buyout of Network Lifestyle Radio Corp., an offer that was later rescinded.

www.haloonair.com

L’Occitane

Posted on by

L’Occitane, pronounced “lox-ee-tahn,” gets its name from the ancient province that once stretched across the south of France. The company, founded in 1976, manufactures body and skin care, men’s grooming items, hair care, and home fragrance products incorporating natural ingredients from the Provence area. L’Occitane owns Olivier & Co., an olive oil producer and retailer, and operates subsidiaries in the US, Hong Kong, and the UK. Products, most of which have Braille labeling, include Precious Cream from Immortelle (anti-aging), shea butter lip balm and hand cream, orange nutmeg incense sticks, Lavender Harvest fragrance, and the L’Oranger line. Clarins holds a minority stake in L’Occitane.

www.loccitane.com

Senetek PLC (SNTKY)

Posted on by

2005 FEB 4 – Senetek PLC (SNTKY), a healthcare technologies company engaged in developing products for the anti-aging market, announced positive results from its initial multi-faceted study of the effects of an adenine derivative, Zeatin, and 2 other new compounds representing new cytokinin classifications, AK801 and PRK124.

The study was conducted over a 3-week period at the Department of Dermatology, University of California at Irvine using the hairless mouse model.

This study model is designed to evaluate new compounds for safety and efficacy in the potential treatment of skin anti-aging and to investigate the mechanisms by which they affect the skin aging process. The study evaluated 3 groups of mice that received daily applications of Zeatin, AK801 and PRK124, respectively, versus a “placebo control” group that received applications of only the topical vehicle and a “therapeutic control” group that received topical tretinoin 0.05%, trade name Renova, the only prescription drug approved for anti-aging in the United States.

The “therapeutic control” group exhibited significant skin irritation and thickening of the dermis and epidermis and a significant decrease in skin conductance, a measure of moisture retention, while the groups treated with Zeatin, AK801 and PRK124 showed very low skin irritation and significant increases in skin moisture content compared to both the “placebo control” and “therapeutic control” groups. In addition, an absence of thickening of the dermis and epidermis was equivalent to the “placebo control” group over the three week treatment period indicating the skin tolerance of these new compounds.

Parallel to the UC Irvine study, RCTS, Inc., an independent commercial laboratory in Irving, Texas, completed an initial skin irritancy study of various formulations of Zeatin with a group of 70 human subjects using the Repeated Insult Patch Test (RIPT) model. The study, conducted over a 5-week period, found that none of the Zeatin formulations tested, which included concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1%, caused any measurable irritation or showed any evidence of induced allergic contact dermatitis in human subjects.

Based upon the findings at the Department of Dermatology, University of California and RCTS, along with the previous cell culture work completed at the University of Aarhus, Senetek will be accelerating the clinical development of Zeatin and conducting further testing of AK801 and PRK124.

Senetek is a life sciences-driven product development and licensing company focused on the high growth market for dermatological and skin care products primarily addressing photo damage and age-related skin conditions. Senetek’s patented compound Kinetin is a naturally occurring cytokinin that has proven effective in improving the appearance of aging skin with virtually none of the side effects associated with acid-based active ingredients.

www.senetekplc.com

Exercise helps cancer survival

Posted on by

Boston: Women with breast cancer who walk at least an hour a week have a better chance of beating the disease than those who don’t exercise at all, researchers said this week.

But the study said many women hurt their chances of survival by cutting back on exercise after they were diagnosed.

“We found that women who are physically active after breast cancer diagnosis may lower their risk of death from breast cancer and cancer recurrence,” said lead researcher Michelle Holmes of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Regular exercise is believed to lift survival rates by diminishing production of the hormone estrogen, which promotes tumour growth in the most common type of breast cancer, the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association said.

Based on up to 18 years’ worth of data from 3000 breast cancer participants in the hospital’s study of female nurses, walking three to five hours a week cut in half the risk of dying from the disease compared to women who exercised less than an hour a week or not at all.

Even walking an hour a week lifted survival rates but exercising more than five hours a week did not confer any added survival benefit.

The study noted discouraging estimates that women with breast cancer tend to decrease their levels of physical activity by two hours a week and those who are obese reduce activity even more.

Lifeline Therapeutics Inc (OTBB: LFLT)

Posted on by

About Lifeline Therapeutics

Lifeline Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly-traded company (OTC Bulletin Board: LFLT)based in Denver, Colorado, that is dedicated to the manufacture, marketing and distribution of therapies that promote “healthy life expectancy.” The Company is initially focusing exclusively on unique antioxidant products under its Protandim brand and in the future will develop an array of product candidates for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications. To underscore the Company’s commitment to higher quality of life and healthy life expectancy, Lifeline Therapeutics has pledged 10% of its pre-tax profits to support orphanages and other global humanitarian needs.

www.lifelinenutraceuticals.com

Biocompaticles International (BII.L) in

Posted on by

UK’s Biocompatibles in deal to combat ageing

LONDON, March 4 – Britain’s Biocompatibles International (BII.L) agreed to buy Germany’s CellMed AG for up to 22.2 million euros ($29.3 million) on Friday, gaining access to an experimental Botox-style drug to combat ageing.

Biocompatibles, which focuses on the treatment of heart disease and cancer, said it would pay an initial sum of 5.2 million euros, including 3.0 million in cash and the rest in Biocompatibles shares.

Of the maximum consideration, around 70 percent is payable in Biocompatibles
shares and the rest in cash. Both firms specialise in bead technology, in which a potentially toxic drug is encapsulated in a bead, a delivery vehicle which regulates a drug’s release into the body.

“This is exactly the kind of deal we wanted to do … to add to our bead technology programme, Chief Executive Crispin Simon.

Biocompatibles said it would prioritise three of CellMed’s products which it hoped to launch in Europe by 2008, including a treatment to address the $700 million anti-ageing market.

The therapy would be used to treat wrinkles. “It’s more biocompatible than Botox,” said Simon.

Biocompatibles also said group turnover increased by 23 percent to 2.6 million pounds in 2004. The firm ended the year with 45.2 million in net cash, ahead of
analysts’ expectations.

Simon said the group had delayed spending in some areas but that none of its programmes had been compromised. But some analysts were still cautious on the outcome of the acquisition.

“On the surface, this small acquisition appears to fit very well … (but) we require further detail to enable us to assess the valuation impact of this acquisition,” analysts at Nomura Securities said. Biocompatibles shares rose 2-1/2 percent in early trading to 276-1/2 pence.

www.biocompatibles.co.uk

Get checked out with the experts

Posted on by

Each year more than a million people die from old age. Experts in the field of anti-ageing medicine, are at the fore-front of what is actually preventative medicine. Most ageing diseases are caused by lifestyle – things that we do to ourselves either by a poor diet, lack of exercise, too much alcohol or smoking. The world’s leading anti-ageing experts are here.

Starting with a simple blood test medical specialists can determine what diet and supplements you need to look better from the inside out and help you live a better quality of life for longer. Other experts can assist with motivation and feelings, cosmetic surgery and rejuvenation.

Americans celebrate living longer

Posted on by

As Americans celebrate “Older American Month”, statistics reveal that more people are living longer than ever.

When Older Americans Month was first observed in 1963, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday. Today, there are more than 36 million people age 65 and older, and by the year 2030, there will be about twice that number.

Older Americans are living longer than ever before. In 1935, the life expectancy of a 65-year-old was 77. Today it is 82, and rising. Many Americans are living long beyond this expectation. In fact, centenarians are among the fastest-growing population groups in the United States.

Of course, longer lives mean that Americans need to plan even more carefully for the future. As more Americans are able to enjoy longer lives, it is important that they also have enough income to provide for those additional years.

The Social Security program provides an economic foundation for older Americans. Social Security pays monthly retirement benefits to more than 32 million retired workers and their family members. And more than nine in 10 Americans who are age 65 or older get Social Security benefits.

The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker is about $955; the average monthly benefit for a retired worker and his or her spouse is about $1,575. But Social Security is only a financial foundation for retirement and Older Americans Month might also be a good time for all workers to assess their financial prospects for actually being able to “celebrate long-term living.”

For younger workers, a good first step would be to take a look at your Social Security Statement, which comes in the mail each year about three months before your birthday. It will tell you how much to expect from Social Security. Then you can make plans to supplement your Social Security benefits with pensions, savings and other investments.

The important thing to remember is not to delay making financial plans for a long and happy life. Begin today.

For more information, visit the financial planning section of our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners

GI diet good for the heart

Posted on by

London: Doctors are praising a new diet craze for its benefits for helping the heart and controlling diabetes. Low glycaemic index diets involve replacing high GI foods potatoes and white bread with low GI options such as apples, pasta and beans.

At London’s Hammersmith Hospitals doctors found eating just one extra low GI item per meal cut blood sugar levels, a report in the British Journal of Nutrition said.

Although the British Dietetic Association has warned against over-reliance on such diets, pointing out ice cream has a low GI value, and the key to losing weight was cutting down on calories.

The Hammersmith team measured the blood sugar levels of nine people on normal diets, and then put them on a low GI diet involving replacing one low GI item per meal for two weeks.

When the readings were taken again eight out of nine subjects had lower blood sugar readings.

Dr Gary Frost, head of nutrition and dietetics at the Hammersmith, said: “The scientific benefits of low GI diets are becoming increasingly clear, and this new research is a further indicator of the potential that including these foods in a balanced diet has.

“What is interesting is that replacing just one item per meal has this beneficial effect on blood sugar levels, putting people at lower risk of metabolic syndrome, a condition which can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”

And Dr Frost said the low GI diet had the potential to have a huge impact because of its simplicity.

“Radical changes to diet and increases in exercise levels have a big effect on an individual’s diabetes risk, but in today’s western society achieving this on a population-wide basis poses an enormous and probably unrealistic challenges.”

A spokeswoman for Diabetes UK said the low GI diet was the only one the charity recommended.

“It is a good way of controlling blood sugar levels, but it should form part of a balanced diet.”

And diabetes dietician Paul McArdle, of the Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust, said: “The GI index is a useful concept. It should not be taken out of context, but diabetes dieticians are increasingly referring to the GI index.”

Sir Alexander Macara, of the UK National Heart Forum, said the study confirmed what was already known.

“For busy people it points to an easier way to reduce the risk of disease by recognising the value of avoiding high levels of sugar in the bloodstream.

“The GI diet reinforces the old message that it’s wise to consume lower sugar foods.

“Interestingly, given a choice many people now do eat wholemeal bread and pasta rather than potatoes, for example, which maybe a sign that the healthy eating message is getting through.”

Exercise reduces colon cancer risk

Posted on by

ORLANDO: Regular exercise cuts the risk of people re-developing colon cancer, researchers told a Tuesday meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study found a 40 percent to 50 percent reduction in the recurrence of stage III colon cancer for people who exercised regularly after undergoing chemotherapy and surgery.

Regular exercise was defined as walking briskly for one hour six days a week — or playing tennis or jogging several times a week.

“There is a growing body of evidence that there are things you can do in addition to chemotherapy for colon cancer survivors to reduce the likelihood that the disease will recur,” lead researcher Jeffrey Meyerhardt said.

A separate Dana-Farber study involving the same group found regular use of aspirin reduces the risk of re-developing colon cancer about as much as exercise.

Dermacia Inc

Posted on by

Dermacia Inc. Successfully Raises $10 Million to Date in First Round of Private Funding; Gemini Partners Engaged to Explore Additional Financing Opportunities for Cosmeceutical/Skin Care Company

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif, May 19, 2005–Dermacia Inc. today announced that it has raised $10 million since commencing its first round of private funding and that Gemini Partners, Inc., a Los Angeles-based investment banking group, has been engaged to explore additional opportunities to finance Dermacia’s rapid growth and new product initiatives.

The Company recently announced the introduction of a new line of specialized cosmeceutical products designed for a mass worldwide market, augmenting its proprietary Lycogel(TM) line of camouflage makeup designed for post-surgery, post-treatment and dermatological conditions. The term “cosmeceutical” denotes the rapidly growing market for cosmetics and skin care products formulated to provide therapeutic benefits and active ingredients to the user in addition to color and coverage.

Matt Nicosia, Dermacia’s chief executive officer and co-founder, said, “Dermacia’s success in this initial round of private funding is a validation of our business model by accredited investors. We are taking the next step with Gemini to evaluate and meet our capital needs in view of our rapid sales growth and aggressive marketing and product initiatives, including research and development of nanotechnology and genetic science applications in cosmetics and skin care.”

Gemini Partners’ Principal Nathan Johnson added, “Gemini Partners is very excited to work with Dermacia. We believe the Company has a significant opportunity to expand its business and are committed to helping them attain the proper capitalization necessary to realize this potential.”

Dermacia has recently started marketing products over the Internet and is currently in production on an infomercial scheduled to begin airing in September. The Company’s new product line is scheduled for presentation on QVC this summer and fall.

The new exclusive line of foundation, facial concealer, moisturizers and powders addresses the estimated 50 million people who cannot use traditional cosmetics due to sensitive skin conditions, including rosacea, acne, psoriasis, and eczema. These products augment Dermacia’s existing Lycogel(TM) and Dermesse(TM) “medical” product lines, sold today through more than 1,000 physicians’ offices as well as surgical and dermatology centers and pharmacies across the U.S. and Mexico. The new line will be sold to consumers via the Internet and TV direct marketing, and in selected high-end retail locations.

The Company identified a major market void for cosmetics and skin care products combining color and coverage superior to that of traditional makeup brands with revolutionary breathable formulations and therapeutic properties and ingredients. The result was Dermacia’s successful Lycogel(TM) product line. Unlike ordinary cosmetics that suffocate the skin, Lycogel — and all of Dermacia’s product lines — have a patent-pending tissue respiratory factor that increases the amount of oxygen reaching the skin — in effect, allowing up to 300% more air to reach the skin than with leading makeup brands and, most notably, 10% more than wearing no makeup at all.

Lycogel, developed four years ago and exhaustively tested prior to its 2003 market introduction, is available in the U.S. exclusively through physicians. Lycogel is used in numerous top medical clinics, hospitals, universities and burn centers to speed recovery and minimize scarring of burn victims and patients undergoing reconstructive surgery.

Gemini Partners is a Los Angeles-based boutique investment banking firm focusing on small- and mid-cap companies. Since 2002, Gemini Partners has sourced and raised capital in the form of private equity, venture capital and micro-cap public offerings for a number of companies in four focus sectors — healthcare, technology, financial services and media & entertainment. To date, Gemini Partners has been involved in more than 10 micro-cap public offerings, acting in a capital sourcing as well as consulting role. For further information, visit Gemini Partners at www.geminipartners.net

Dermacia Inc., established in 2000, combines biotechnology, cosmeceuticals, cosmetics, nanotechnology and leading edge genetic science as the technology hub for skin care products marketed under the Lycogel(TM) name and a growing portfolio of other brands. Lycogel products, sold exclusively through medical professionals, are designed for post-plastic surgery cover and special camouflage applications, facilitating rapid healing of wounds and minimization of scarring while providing effective, flawless cover.

The Company’s proprietary Lycogel Complex(TM), with tissue respiratory factors and a breathable triple-silica gel base, delivers additional oxygen to wound areas to promote rapid healing and minimization of scarring. The line includes a camouflage foundation, concealer and a moisturizing recovery serum spray. Extending Lycogel technology to the broader public, Dermacia has recently introduced its first consumer lines, offering similar therapeutic benefits, color correctness and Dermacia’s legendary sheer cover. The Company, based in Newport Beach, California, sells its products in the U.S. and internationally. More information is available at www.dermacia.com

Human embryos cloned to create stem cells

Posted on by

Human embryos have been cloned to create stem cells, in a scientific breakthrough that has opened the door to revolutionary treatment of spinal cord injuries and a wide range of incurable diseases.

In a breakthrough by Korean researchers, skin cells were taken from people with spinal injuries or genetic disorders and used in a cloning process to extract embryonic stem cells for future therapy.

The scientists yesterday revealed they had succeeded in creating 31 cloned human embryos, and cultivated 11 embryonic stem cell “lines”. The cell lines are cultures of “master” cells that can go on to become any type of cell in the body.

This may lead to treatments where stem cells are grown outside the body and then re-introduced without triggering an attack by the body’s immune system.

All the donated cells used to make the cloned embryos were from volunteers with spinal cord injuries, Type 1 diabetes or a genetic immune system disorder called hypogammaglobulinaemia.

The confirmation that it is possible to create embryonic stem cells that are a genetic match for an adult human also opens up the possibility that stem cells could be grown in a laboratory and then reinserted into a patient to repair or replace damaged organs.

As the DNA in the replicated cells would be identical to the patient’s, there should be no danger of the injected cells being attacked by the body’s own immune system.

The latest Korean research — published yesterday in the journal Science — came as British researchers announced they had also succeeded in producing a cloned human embryo, using the same technique of injecting genetic material from a donor cell into a human egg cell that had had its own genetic nucleus removed.
Unlike the Koreans, the British scientists have yet to extract any stem cells.

Australia currently bans this “nuclear transfer” procedure altogether, and the US has withdrawn government funding for it.

Britain and Korea allow it, but only for “therapeutic” reasons where the resulting “blastocyst” – a young embryo of about 100 cells – is used for medical research or treatment.

Many countries, including Britain, have banned so-called “reproductive cloning” that would result in a cloned baby, and many scientists worldwide – including those behind the Korean and British results – oppose its use for this purpose.

New skincare range claims the ultimate anti-ageing title

Posted on by

New York: neaclear, a new range of skin creams, developed by a plastic surgeon, is being promoted as the “ultimate anti-ageing product” because it is the first to combine stabilized liquid oxygen as well as Vitamins C & E into all of its products. What they are really doing, however, is merging the very best of skin care treatments with the latest in anti-ageing medicine. The concept is appealing because it is so simple and makes so much sense! Add to this the fact that it took between 1-2 years to develop each individual product, the tremendous attention to customer service and the fact that the products are easy to use and actually work, the neaclear buzz is only going to continue to grow.

“neaclear is definitely becoming the hottest skin care line,” says Dr. Sam Speron, plastic surgeon and skin care expert and consumer advocate. “The latest trend in skin care is anti-aging. neaclear represents the ultimate anti-aging regimen. The benefits are quickly apparent and are obvious to patients and physicians alike. neaclear is starting to get a lot of press lately and I imagine this is only the beginning!”

The entire product line includes the neaclear advantage:
• each product is specially formulated to include OXYGEN (the source of life).
• each product also includes the most powerful anti-aging treatments (Vitamin C & E).
• clear, natural & healthy skin care products.
• hypoallergenic & fragrance-free.
• specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

For more information, visit www.neaclear.com

Trials on stem cells for heart failure to start

Posted on by

Pittsburg: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is about to start clinical trials to evaluate whether bone marrow stem cells can treat congestive heart failure.

The procedure in which stem cells are injected directly into the heart muscle, will be performed on up to 12 patients who are awaiting heart transplants.

The trial is one of only a few cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for heart disease. Since the patients will receive transplants it will be the first time that researchers will be able to examine the affects on a human heart.

Despite advances that have given rise to more effective medical and surgical therapies, including the use of heart assist devices, heart disease continues to exact an economic burden and be a major cause of death in the Westerm world.

UPMC plans to enroll five to 10 patients. To qualify, patients must have congestive heart failure and require implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD) as a bridge to transplantation.

Unlike the other FDA-approved trials, surgeons will not deliver the cells through a catheter leading into the heart’s coronary arteries but will instead inject them directly into the diseased heart tissue during the VAD implant surgical procedure. With the patient under anesthesia, Dr. Patel’s team will harvest bone marrow from the patient’s hipbone, and the cells believed to have the greatest therapeutic benefit, CD34+ cells, will be isolated. About three hours later, once the VAD has been implanted and connected to the heart’s main pumping chamber, the ventricle, the cells, together with a small amount of the patient’s blood plasma, will be injected into about 25 to 30 sites of the diseased heart in a process taking no more than five minutes. Depending on their weight, each patient will receive between 25 and 45 million stem cells.

In order to help the researchers better understand what effects the stem cells have on the cellular structures that surround the injection sites, they also will give patients injections containing only plasma to a different area of the heart. That way, once the native heart is removed, pathologists will be able to compare the differences between tissue samples from both areas, as well as make comparisons to tissue samples removed during routine biopsies, which are done at the time of the VAD implantation.

What is stem cell therapy?

Posted on by

image

These miraculous cells have the potential to heal all kinds of degenerative conditions and injuries. Research is on-going but stem cells appear to work by migrating to the site of disease and dividing to replace the damaged cells. Reseach so far appears to show they have the potential to regenerate all kinds of body tissue. Scientists have used them to reverse diabetes, regenerate the liver and brain.

It is possible that they have the potential to be the ultimate anti-ageing treatment.

There are three types of human stem cells:

Embryonic cells from fetal tissue. These are technically the most powerful stem cells.

Adult stem cells are taken from the bone marrow of adults which need to match the donor to avoid rejection and are less powerful.

Cord blood stem cells extracted from the discarded umbilical cords from natural full term births. Although technically adult they contain much of the power of an embryonic cells. These cells are processed so that they have no red or white cells so there is no need for matching and no rejection. In most cases, cord clood ctem cells therapy involves one simple IV (intravenous) injection.

The use of stem cells for research is tightly regulated in most countries but there are a growing number of private stem cell “banks” where parents can deposit stem cells from umbilical cords for future use should the child or another family member fall ill.

To find out more about stem cells by visiting the sites of the Research bodies

Stress

Posted on by

Stressful situations release the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone-S (DHEA-S) in the body which helps us look and feel younger, as well as boosting sex drive and improving memory. Those who produce more of the hormone are better able to deal with stress.

DHEA-S is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stressful situations. It assists brain and body function, boosts memory and mood and keeps skin supple, weight down as well as boosting libido. Like other hormones production decreases as we age.

Ultimately it is the way that we deal with stress that has the potential to allows stress to become a negative or positive force in our lives.

For example, when we find ourselves in a threatening situation, our heart beats faster and our muscles tense. This is known as the fight or flight response and our ancestors depended on this reaction for their survival – to escape enemies and predators. We still use it today but in lesser situations and the body returns to normal.

It is constant stress when the body does not return to normal that can result exhaustion and illness. In life crises such as bereavement, marriage breakdown or depression, doctors have found that the immune system becomes impaired and the
body manufactures large quantities of stress chemicals particularly corisol. At the same the activity of “natural killer” (NK) cells, which circulate in the blood ready to attack foreign bodies and mutant cells are supressed.

These are some of the symptoms of long-term stress:

* Fast and shallow breathing
* A racing heart which can led to chest pains, tingling, palpitations and asthma
* A dry mouth
* Muscle tension and pain.
* High blood pressure
* Nausea, indigestion, heartburn and ulcers.
* Sweating
* Sudden feelings of fear and panic
* Feelingtense, nervous or wound-up
* Difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or waking
early
* Constant feelings tha something awful might happen
* Feeling irritable, edgy and bad-tempered
* Irregular eating patterns and often eat too much or too little
* Smoking or drinking too much, or take tranquillisers or other drugs
* Suffering from upset stomachs, diarrhoea or constipation
* Difficulty with concentration, memory or making decisions
* Constantly feeling exhausted
* Worrying that you will lose control, crack up or become ill
* Feeling apathetic – like nothing matters
* Feeling short of breath even when resting
* A feeling of tightness in the neck, chest or head
* Avoiding worrying situations
* Unable to turn off certain worrying thoughts
* A loss of interest in sex
* A sensation of palpitations or butterflies in the stomach or chest
* A lack of self-confidence
* Constant worrying that you will not be able to cope
* Frequent headaches
* Feeling thatlife is not worth living
* Feeling pessimistic about the future
* Feelingunder strain.
* Feeling obsessive about certain issues
* Constant aches and pains that worry you
* Feeling very emotional and crying easily
* Feeling physically run down
* Feeling dizzy, remote, unreal or faint.
* Can’t be bothered to see friends or take up interests

What can you do about stress?

Although there is no magic cure or pill to cure stress, there are certain lifestyle changesthat will help you better cope with it and diminish its impact on your health and life.

Look after your health by eating foods that help you to be fitter and strengthen your immune system. There are also mood-enhancing foods that trigger the release of the serotonin which has a soothing effect – these include vegetables and
wholegrains. Vegetables contain high levels of the amino-scid L-Tryptophan which is also a serotonin trigger.

Take more exercise. Go for a 15-minute run before work. Don’t eat lunch at your office desk – go and sit in the park and take a walk. Take the dog for a walk before dinner.

Do something to make you laugh.

Develop a positive attitude.

Express your feelings

Learn to delegate

Relax and take time out for yourself

If you do feel stressed breath deeply and slowly, close your eyes and go to a place where you feel good – like a palm-fringed beach, where you can listen to gentle waves lapping back and forth. Practice this several times a day and it will help you relax and refocus.

There are a number of alternative therapies that can help with stress such as massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, flotation and Bach Flower Remedies. Read about these in more detail in Alternative Therapies

Anti-ageing skincare for men launches

Posted on by

Nevada: Bio-Vel Technologies says it has launched the first anti-aging skin care system designed and marketed exclusively for men onto the US market. The range includes a number of innovative ingredients aimed at tapping into the growing market for increasingly sophisticated male cosmetic and personal care products.

The Elements for Men range contains two of the newest designer peptides, manufactured by Spanish pharmaceutical innovator Lipotech, as well as one of the oldest and time proven skin protectants known to man – shark liver oil.
“We originally went into business with the idea of developing a new anti-aging skin care line for women,” says Bio-Vel CEO Gina Gaede. “But when we saw how the market was completely inundated with women’s products and how the expanding male market was virtually untapped, we re-focused our sights on developing a line of products exclusively for men.”

After a year of scouring the market for the ingredients to develop a line of skin care products to control aging, Bio-Vel selected two new active ingredients, Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-3) and Aldenine (Tripeptide-1).

These newly developed, designer peptides were developed through clinical trials, with twice daily use of a 10 per cent concentration of Argireline – the active ingredient in Bio-Vel’s Erase line control serum), applied topically – said to significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and the signs of aging in the test subjects in as little as 15 days.

Aldenine, which is the active ingredient in Bio-Vel’s Enforce Re-generate, boasts intense anti-aging claims as well, which according to clinical research, has been proven to increase collagen III levels in the skin by nearly 300 per cent in only 7 days, the company claims.

To provide the optimum benefit to control and reverse the signs of aging in a man’s more rugged, less-sensitive skin, the Bio-Vel team increased the concentration of Argireline in its line control serum to 16 per cent, the highest concentration available on today’s market in the men’s skin care segment, and included proven vitamins A, C, and E to further ‘power-up’ its’ Re-generate.

Bio-Vel a renowned ingredient that is infrequently used in the west into its formulation for the range – shark liver oil.

“Shark liver oil has been used for centuries as a healing agent in Japan. It is also believed, in to possess abilities to fight off skin cancers. The Japanese call it Samedawa, or ‘cure all’,” says CEO Gaede.

The group then decided on a basic, 3-step system for their product line. “In our early field research we walked the floors of a lot of department stores and browsed their cosmetics counters,“ explained marketing director, David Gaede.

“It was daunting, not just the number of women’s products that are flooding the market, but then the sheer volume of choices and sub-choices you have to make once you finally decide on a brand name. For example, you have to decide if you need a facial scrub, an exfoliant, a toner, an astringent, a moisturizer, an eye cream, day cream or night cream, and on and on and on. It is all just overwhelming, especially for men. We’re not used to making all of those choices and options. Men like things simple and no-nonsense.”

Given all factors involved, Bio-Vel decided on a, 3 step skin care line: facial scrub, line control, and re-generating moisturizer, under the brand names Eliminate, Erase, and Enforce for the 3 products.

“Our products are unique because they have been developed from the ground up exclusively for a man,” Gaede concluded, “even the packaging. The Elements4Men System is handsomely packaged in silver foil tubes with black logos and clearly labeled as Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3. It can be placed out as inconspicuously at home as at the gym or health club, passing the all important ‘locker room test’ for men’s products. That’s very important to men.”

The new line is muscling in on a market that is constantly growing and evolving. In Europe L’Oreal recently launched a men’s skincare range which also markets a number of anti-wrinkle products – Expert. This line is also about to be launched onto the US market, no doubt proving to be compeitions for Bio Vel’s range.

“There are signs everywhere that men are concentrating more on their appearance,” says business bible The Wall Street Journal in a recent article. The International Spa Association reports that the fastest growing group of spa customers is now males, who made up 29 per cent of their business in 2004.

And male grooming products sales are predicted to increase at twice the rate of women’s products in the next three years, up 67 per cent to a total of $20 billion, according to a EuroMonitor International 2004 report – suggesting that this could be the first of a plethora of launches aimed at anti-aging.