Health Beauty & Fitness

My little sister was recently asked to produce ID when she was attempting to buy a bottle of pinot grigio in Tesco. Although she told the checkout operator her age – 32 – he didn't believe her. The same happened on a bus recently, when junior had to explain to the driver that she was old enough to pay the full fare.

Despite the similarities in our genetic make-up, this never happens to me. It probably never will now, I thought, when Annaliese Phillips, owner of beauty business Mi.Bo.So, invited me to the Leith-based spa Room4Health to try one of her new facials from Swiss natural skincare brand Arbonne.

After she'd talked me through this brand's FC5 range for "younger-looking skin", she said: "But we'll be using the anti-ageing line, RE9, on you today."

Drat and double drat.

Still, Phillips is a professional, and those crepey fine lines of mine couldn't get past her giant magnifying glass, which she uses to examine one's skin pre-facial. Not that she was too damning of my "slightly dry, but not bad" complexion, which she examined while I lay on the treatment bed.

The next step in my appointment was a deep cleanse with a natural product that had a cool, gel-like consistency.

This was gently wiped away with a hot towel compress (which punctuates each element of the treatment) before my skin was scrubbed with a mild exfoliator and a deep cleansing facial mask containing kaolin clay was applied.

While this was penetrating my ageing pores, I submitted to a lovely scalp rub. I'm not a fan of the usual acupressure point or hair-pulling head treatments, so I was glad that this involved some actual relaxing massage.

Phillips also manipulated some of the knots in my upper back (which were a bit tricky for her to access, as I was lying face-up) and the front of my neck, which felt very odd (but, according to studies, is great for reducing blood pressure).

Then it was time for an enzyme peel, before my skin was moisturised with Arbonne's eye cream and serum towards the end of the hour.

After undergoing this intensive treatment, my face felt freshly scrubbed and squeaky clean. Nobody has asked me for ID at the off licence yet – but I haven't given up hope.

Room4Health (41 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, 0131-553 2646, www.room4health.co.uk).

Arbonne Luxury Facial Treatment, 55. Readers get a 10 per cent discount if they book before 30 April. Fab facts for a beautiful life

HEALTH

Fitness food

If you're of a certain age and want to overhaul your diet, sign up for a Nutritional Wellbeing for Over Fifties talk at the Edinburgh branch of Neal's Yard Remedies. A two-hour session with dietician Jo Anderson, it covers foods to help keep you in tip-top condition. To raise your energy levels, they'll also serve smoothies and a specially designed HRT cake.

Nutritional Wellbeing for Over Fifties session, Weds 31 March, 6-8pm, 7.50, Neal's Yard Remedies, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, 0131-226 3223, www.nealsyardremedies.com

BEAUTY

Motionless make-up

Does your eye make-up start the day on your lids but creep down your face before lunchtime? Give Benefit's new Stay Don't Stray primer a try. Dab some of this potion above and below your peepers, then gently blend, before layering your regular shadow and concealer on top. This should guarantee that your eye make-up stays put all day long. Plus the added ingredients of vitamins C and E help fight the signs of ageing.

Stay Don't Stray, 19.50, Benefit counters nationwide or from www.benefitcosmetics.com

FITNESS

Boxing clever

To get fighting fit without having to step into the ring, try the Shadow Boxer, based on a workout designed by heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. It's a belt-like apparatus that straps to your waist, with stretchy cords attached to wrist bands to provide resistance when you're jabbing or hooking, to help build your upper-body strength. The manufacturers say it's ideal for tackling bingo wings or a flabby back.

The Shadow Boxer (includes DVD with workout routines), 49.99, www.jmldirect.com

This Article was first published in The Scotsman on Saturday March 27, 2010