Aycliffe Monthly #2 | Page 30

30 | www.aycliffetoday.co.uk AycliffeToday HEALTH & BEAUTY George Clooney’s is suave, David Beckham’s is sexy and Russell Brand’s is just downright rebellious. Beards are the latest celebrity obsession and where their heroes tread, our fellas are bound to follow. But what makes a beard good or bad? Can whiskers ever really be winsome or are tickly tashes just too much for us girls to take? If you’ve made a decision to grow a beard, the most important thing is to be confident in your decision - don’t let other people’s personal opinions change yours. The best time to start growing a beard is on holiday or the week before. This will give your beard the chance to develop enough growth so that when you return to work it will look substantial. It will take approximately four weeks for your beard to start to take shape. Once you have grown your beard to a reasonable thickness and length, it is time to start the exciting part - shaping. The best place to start is the neckline; using any good high street neck trimmer, and start at the neckline at your desired perimeter. Although the skin is covered with hair, you must take care and remember to look after this area with cleansers and moisturisers. Shampooing and conditioning your beard is also essential. Last but not least, try to set yourself a six to eight week target. This should stop you getting tempted to shave it off and will give your beard a chance to develop to its full potential. Sun Shines On Skincare Sun-seekers are getting savvy, and with the holiday season just around the corner, we focus on how attitudes to sun and skin are changing… Although a sun-kissed complexion is still seen as healthy and attractive, a growing number of sun-savvy shoppers are concerned about the damaging effects on their skin. Moderate amounts of sunlight can be good for us as it improves our mood, helps the skin to produce vitamin D and can be used to aid treatment of some skin conditions. But too much of a good thing can cause sunburn and premature ageing, and, in some cases, lead to skin cancer, incidences of which are increasing in the UK. According to latest research from Mintel, almost half of sun worshippers use protective creams during a day out in the sun and around a quarter use it to prevent premature ageing. Spanish consumers are among the most sensible about suncare in Europe with half using sunscreen to avoid the risk of burning or developing cancer, the highest percentage within the Big 5 European countries surveyed. Nearly 20% use sunscreen to avoid tanning altogether, more than twice the average for the UK’s 8%. Brits, the researchers found, are fans of self-tanning products, with a 30% increase in new products between 2009 and 2011. Remember, sunscreens are only one component of skin protection and should be combined with wearing protective clothing and avoiding the midday sun. Sunscreen should be applied up to 30 minutes prior to exposure, reapplied after swimming or exercise and again after two hours in the sun. Ultraviolet rays can also damage your eyes and cause cataracts so sun worshippers should also ensure they wear good quality protective glasses. QUIZ ANSWERS (from page 23) General knowledge: 1 Butterfly, 2 None, 3 On the side of a ship, 4 Alan – a – Dale, 5 Rand, 6 Wolf, 7 Siam, 8 Six,