Evolving Beauty: Past And Present Therapies For Face And Body

Beauty is beauty. Revered, wanted, longed for. Though the definition may vary from culture to culture, the desire to attain that which is considered beautiful remains. And through the years, there have been rather extreme methods to ensure the longevity of one’s beauty.


Thanks to technological advancements in the area of beauty, cosmetic treatments have come a long way.

Here, we take a look at the unconventional methods of yesteryears and their equivalent to today’s modern beautifying techniques with Amaris B. Clinic.

Beautifying For The Face

One of the first few things people notice is your face – and we know you put a lot of effort into taking care of it. These include applying cosmetics to  enhance your features, or various creams and treatments to prevent visible signs of ageing.

Wrinkles

Then: Frankincense

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, was known to stimulate collagen formation and reduce scarring. It is an aromatic resin that was used in perfumes and incense back in the day. This essential oil has been utilized since biblical times to heal acne, cuts and wounds. Its natural antibiotics properties were much more valuable than gold.

Now: RE:VOLUME Faceworks

We are no strangers to the harsh effects of ageing, environmental pollution and an unhealthy lifestyle. Re:Volume Faceworks uses a wrinkle-smoothing injection – botox – to relax facial muscles, and dermal fillers to achieve a fresher appearance. With this, a more revived, volumised and rejuvenated appearance is achieved.

Note that there is little recovery time for an injection, so you don’t have to skip a beat for business or pleasure!

Anti-Ageing
Then: Honey And Olive Oil

Honey and olive oil were used in a lot of cosmetic anti-ageing preparations in Ancient Greece. Wild olive trees were favoured due to  their plethora of beauty benefits, and were considered sacred. Women applied olive oil to protect their skin, while also using it as a facial mask for  clearer complexion. Honey was mixed as well to lighten the skin.

Now: RE:VIVAL Faceworks

This non-invasive treatment combines focused ultrasonic energy with dermal fillers to address common ageing issues such as sagging skin around the eyes and cheeks. The result is a more youthful appearance so you can be confident putting your best face forward.

Skin Tightening And Firming
Then: Egg Whites

Imperial Consort of the Chen Dynasty Zhang Lihua  was said to have kept the earliest recorded skin care recipe. The concubine applied egg whites on her face and neck to tighten the skin for a temporary face lift.

Now: RE:VIVAL SkinWorks

Ageing and environmental pollutants are some examples of aggravating factors that can cause various unwelcomed, unwanted, and unsightly skin issues. Sagging skin is one of the most common and dreaded of them all. It makes us look aged and worn.

This non-invasive treatment utilises High Intensity Focus Ultrasound technology to deliver ultrasound waves deep into the dermis, stimulating collagen production. This treatment can be used for areas around the eyes, eyebrows, jawline, cheeks, and upper neck.

For A Svelte Body

Another aspect of aesthetic beauty that a lot of people take care of is their body. There’s always that conscious effort to keep down weight to look and feel good.

Sagging Skin
Then: Snails

Snails secrete a visco-elastic slime or mucus, which acts as an adhesive and lubricant that enables them to adhere to and glide over all types of surfaces. This mucus helps prevent snails from drying out, making them unappetizing for predators.

In ancient Greece, women would harvest this slime as a beauty product, as it contained moisturizing compounds that plump and refine skin texture. The slime would be used sporadically as skin treatments. Even Hippocrates recommended the use of crushed snails to relieve inflamed skin!

Now: RE:VIVAL BodyWorks

The causes of sagging skin may vary –ageing, environmental factors, weight loss, and for women, postnatal. RE:VIVAL BodyWorks uses High Intensity Focus Ultrasound (HIFU) technology to lift and tighten the skin from inside out. It delivers ultrasound waves deep into the dermis layer, precisely targeting problem areas without harming the skin’s surface. The result aims to deliver a more youthful appearance and physique.

Body Contouring

Then: Ayurveda

While still in practice today, the Indian medicinal practice of Ayurveda has been around since 5,000 BCE. Originating as oral tradition, this practice aims to balance all the elements to create harmony in mind and spirit, and to cleanse the body of toxins.

One of the principles of Ayurveda focuses on igniting the digestive fire to burn off stubborn fat, which accumulates due to stress, improper diet, and pollution. Ayurveda gets rid of these impurities through a healthy detox program, which shrinks fat cells.

Now: RE:SHAPE Silhouette

One of the more modern ways to achieve weight loss is through the RE:SHAPE Silhouette treatment. It is a non-invasive body therapy, which aims to reduce stubborn fat tissues, leaving one with a more contoured physique.

Weight Loss
Then: Tapeworm

Before the thought of worms brings shivers down your spine, hear this out: For over a century, tapeworms (yes, those ribbon-like long worms!) have been used as a weight loss solution. When swallowed, tapeworms absorb the nutrients along the passage of our intestines.  The tapeworms are then excreted out as feces – that is, if all of them pass out and don’t breed in your gut!

Now: RE:SHAPE Body 360

Thankfully, there are now safer and more high-tech methods to lose weight. One of them is the RE:SHAPE Body 360 which combines the use of non-invasive fat reduction High Intensity Focus Ultrasound (HIFU) technology and a weight loss program for  comprehensive treatment.

This treatment works through focused ultrasound waves which target and address problem areas on the body. Targeted fat cells are disposed of via the body’s natural elimination process. The weight loss program also consists of meal replacement, specially designed by Dr. Ivan Puah.

Achieving beauty back in the day may have been extreme, with some of these extreme practices still in use today. However, achieving a beautiful face or  svelte figure is now easily attainable to many thanks to advancements in science and technology making modern treatments safer with guaranteed results. These safe, non-invasive and modern treatments are available at Amaris B. Clinic, which believes that affordable beauty treatments are for everyone – even for the busiest entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by Amaris B. Clinic

Visit the Amaris B. Clinic page to find out more about Dr. Ivan’s work.



Specialists in:  Liposcution, Breast Enhancement with ADR-C, Gynecomastia Surgery

Edited by Amber Valencia
Image credit: Amaris B. Clinic, Shutterstock

Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/eating_tapeworms_for_weight_loss-page2/views.htm
http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/makeup/a9340/anti-aging-10-skin-secrets-from-the-ancient-world/

http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a14382/anti-aging-beauty-through-history/

http://www.annmariegianni.com/ancient-beauty-rituals/

http://stylecaster.com/beauty/ancient-beauty-secrets/

http://www.healthydietbase.com/beauty-tips-from-ancient-greece/

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2013/July/Thomas/slug-steve-thomas.html

http://www.ivlproducts.com/Health-Library/Health-Concerns/Weight-Management/Three-Ancient-Indian-Fat-Busters/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20695743


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Monina Eugenio

Monina is passionate about words and telling a story, which she brings to the table as Executive Lifestyle’s Features Editor. When she’s not writing and editing, Monina is up for a good off-the-beaten-path backpacking adventure - either roughing it up on a mountain trail or chilling at the beach.

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