Elle Australia — May 2017

50 ELLE AUSTRALIA

Words: Janna Johnson O’Toole. Photography: Laure Bernard; Sevak Babakhani (still-life)W

As we age, the natural fat cushion in our

hands decreases, which causes tendons, bones

and veins to become more visible. “Due to the

loss of collagen and elastin, the skin can become

thin and crepey,” explains Abouchar, who uses

platelet-rich plasma (the patient’s blood is

drawn and the platelets removed) as a natural

ꕕŽ›’—“ŽŒŽ’—˜‘Ž‘Š—œǯȃ‘’œ›Ž‹ž’•œ‘Ž

skin from a cellular level and reverses damage.”

Such treatments work well because they

encourage elastin and collagen production.

Kotai adds plumpness with strategic

’—“ŽŒ’˜—œ ˜ ‘Ž ꕕŽ› Žœ¢•Š—Ž ”’—‹˜˜œŽ›ǰ

which increases hydration and smooths skin

texture. “It’s great for disguising veiny hands,”

she says. And she powers up her Lumenis IPL

laser to zap unsightly brown spots.

For a less intrusive approach, there’s also

a new crop of anti-ageing hand creams that

can, um, lend a hand. Laced with highly

ŽěŽŒ’ŸŽ ’—›Ž’Ž—œ žœžŠ••¢ ›ŽœŽ›ŸŽ ˜› ‘Ž

face, the new formulations employ retinol and

niacinamide to soften crepey texture, boost

collagen and lighten spots, transforming a quick,

haphazard ritual into a targeted treatment.

“We looked at creating a formulation that’s

richer and more moisturising than a face

cream but at the same time not greasy,” says

Lars Fredriksson, founder of Swedish brand

Ž›œ˜ǰ  ‘’Œ‘ “žœ ›Ž•ŽŠœŽ Š Œ•˜Œ”Ȭœ˜™™’—

Hand Serum. “Our vitamin-A complex

Ž’—˜• Ş ’œ •Žœœ ’››’Š’— Ȯ  Ž ŒŠ— žœŽ

Š Ž—•Ž ‹ž ŽěŽŒ’ŸŽ Œ˜—ŒŽ—›Š’˜— –’¡Ž

with a high-quality niacinamide for visible

›Žœž•œ’—“žœŠŽ  ŽŽ”œǯȄŽ›œ˜Ȃœ˜›–ž•Š˜ěŽ›œ

protection, but slathering on an additional layer of SPF

will do wonders in preventing further damage.

And it’s important not to dismiss the role your

mani plays in the perceived age of your hands. A nude

™˜•’œ‘ ’••–Š”Ž—Š’•œœŽŽ–’—Ÿ’œ’‹•Žǰ™žĴ’—‘Ž˜Œžœ

on the skin. So it’s best to opt for a classic, pigment-rich

œ‘ŠŽ ǻ—˜‘’— ˜˜ œ‘ŽŽ›Ǽ ˜ Ž—œž›Ž Š•• ŠĴŽ—’˜— ’œ ˜—

the tips. A soft pink will complement fair skin tones

while an orange-based red is youthful on medium-

dark tones(blue-based shades will accentuate veins).

ŽŽ ˜ž› ™’Œ”œ ‹Ž•˜  ›˜– Ȃœ —Ž  ’œ•Š—ȬŒ‘’Œ ’“’Ȭ

’—œ™’›ŽŒ˜••ŽŒ’˜—ǯ’—œŠ‘Ž›ŽŠ¢ǯ

You’re religious about skincare, pedantic about the gym

• but your hands? They’re likely undoing all that hard work.
  Meet the new treatments that can sort them out, stat

T

hey display our most sparkling possessions

and animate our every conversation, yet at

a certain point our hands start sending mixed

–ŽœœŠŽœȱ Ȯȱ Š—ȱ ‘ŽœŽȱ ¢˜žȱ ŒŠ—Ȃȱ ‹•Š–Žȱ ˜—ȱ

auto-correct. While our hands are constantly

Ž¡™˜œŽȱ˜ȱ‘ŽȱŽ•Ž–Ž—œȱȮȱȱŠ—ȱ›ŽŽȬ›Š’ŒŠ•ȱŠ–ŠŽȱ

ȮȱŸŽ›¢ȱŽ ȱ˜ȱžœȱŠŒžŠ••¢ȱ™›˜ŽŒȱ‘Ž–ǯȱȃ‘’œȱŒŠžœŽœȱ‘Žȱ

breakdown of collagen, elastin and fat,” says Natalie

Abouchar, cosmetic nurse and director of Privée Clinic.

ȃ‘Žȱœ”’—ȱ’—ȱ‘’œȱŠ›ŽŠȱ’œȱŠ•œ˜ȱŠȱ•˜ȱ‘’——Ž›ǰȱ ‘’Œ‘ȱŒŠ—ȱ

contribute to making them look much older.”

According to Dr Sara Kotai, the anti-ageing expert

who founded Man Cave Sydney, our hands are less

Žšž’™™Žȱ ˜ȱ ™›˜ŽŒȱ ‘Ž–œŽ•ŸŽœǰȱ ˜˜ǯȱ ȃ‘Žȱ ‘Š—œȱ

have fewer sebaceous glands than the face, meaning

they’re more prone to dryness and can’t heal as quickly

as more protected areas.”

Š—›ŽŠ–Ž—ǰȱ

mecca.com.au

ail Lacquer in

ŽĴ’—ȱŠ’ȱ—ȱ¢ȱ

oneymoon, $19.95,

PIǰŗŞŖŖȱŞŗŘȱŜŜř

GIMME A HAND

Nail Lacquer in

’Ÿ’—ȱ—ȱ‘Ž

Bula-vard!, $19.95,

OPIǰȱŗŞŖŖȱŞŗŘȱŜŜř

Š—œȱ˜ȱ

ŽŠ›ǰȱǞśśǰȱ

Goldfaden MD, mecca.com.au

HAND-Y BUYS The DIY treatments utilising the latest formulations.

u

Na

    Ž

Ho

OPOOP

’–ŽŽ›ŽŠ

Š

$$ 67 ,Eve Lom,m

Š—Ž›ž–ǰǞŞŖǰ

Verso,mecca.com.au

BEAUTY