Walking barefoot on sand, on pavement, etc. over the past few months has my feet totally beat. Looking for some therapy, much needed I might add, I ran across this Curel Targeted Therapy Deep-Penetrating Foot Cream on the self at CVS.

This cream is the answer I needed. It is thick and rich, and smells delightful. Not a strong smell, just a fresh and clean, yet soft scent. The cream itself is made up of Shea Butter, Coconut Milk and Vitamin E. For the feet, it really cannot get any better.

The cream is greasy until dry, so I like to put my feet up for ten to fifteen minutes after I massage them with the cream, just to be sure I don’t slip around on my wood floors. I suppose you could immediately cover them with socks to lock in the moisture, and I think I will try that method as an overnight treatment this winter.

Just writing this makes me want to treat my tootsies again right now. Heaven!

image credit: curel.com

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I consider it to be unfortunate that the bulk of the pro-longevity aging research camp is focused on an inefficient path forward that will in the end lead to lesser benefits. It is their belief that this is the only practical way ahead: a laborious slog towards complete understanding of aging and metabolism, followed by an even more complex navigation through re-engineering that metabolism to age more slowly. The sheer scale and difficulty of that task is why many scientists feel that meaningful engineered longevity - more healthy years through science - is a long way away indeed.

This true in a way: extension of healthy life will be a long time coming if metabolic manipulation is the only path taken by the research community. Fortunately, metabolic re-engineering is not the only way ahead. It's not the most efficient way ahead either. The better path is to refrain from changing the way in which our metabolic processes work. Instead we should indentify the biochemical differences between an old, damaged metabolism and a young, healthy metabolism - and then repair them, thus reversing aging.

It is likely to be easier and less costly to produce rejuvenation therapies than to produce a reliable and significant slowing of aging. A rejuvenation therapy doesn't require a whole new metabolism to be engineered, tested, and understood - it requires that we revert clearly identified changes to return to a metabolic model that we know works, as it's used by a few billion young people already. Those rejuvenation therapies will be far more effective that slowing aging in terms of additional years gained, since you can keep coming back to use them again and again. They will also help the aged, who are not helped at all by a therapy that merely slows aging.

All that said, I noticed that Pure Pedantry is commenting today on an analysis by researchers Jan Vijg and Judith Campisi. It's a view from the metabolic re-engineering camp, dug in for the long, slow haul:

All in all, this a very good review that I recommend reading in its entirety. They strike a note of cautious optimism that I think is right on: we are learning more about this field but there is no justification for irrational exuberance.

Not on that path, in any case. It's hard to be hugely overwhelmed by progress that might, maybe, do a little good for young people fifty years from now. What is needed today is a determined effort to do good for the aged people of twenty to thirty years from now.

You might recall that it was back in 2007 I first mentioned research into links between age-related changes in mitochondria, the power plants of the cell, and telomeres, the structures at the end of your chromosomes that form a counter for cell state. Your cell is a complex, unified machine, so in many ways its not surprising to find links between portions of the clockwork that are known to be important in aging. You should wander back into the archives and refresh your memory:

Linking Telomere Shortening and Mitochondrial Damage?

We know that mitochondrial damage is tied to aging via mechanisms such as the production of damaging free radicals such as [reactive oxygen species] - and that some researchers are working on solutions, such as the ability to replace all mitochondrial DNA in the body via protofection. We also know that progessive telomere shortening is tied to aging and age-related disease, and a number of different groups are working on strategies to safely lengthen telomeres.

There is strong evidence to believe that "tied to aging" in this context means "contributes to aging as a cause." Remember that aging is no more than an accumulation of damage in biochemical systems; when we look at these changes that take place with aging, we are looking at damage. This paper offers the possibility that if we repair or prevent the progressive accumulation of mitochondrial degeneration and damage, then the telomeres will take care of themselves - if the results are replicated, of course.

More On Telomere Shortening and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

So, poorly functioning mitochondria lead to telomere shortening, and telomerase somehow improves mitochondrial function to prevent that shortening. This is in place of the more expected path of undoing ongoing telomere shortening by adding extra repeat sequences to the end of the telomeres - that being the better understood function of telomerase.

As I said back then, this cries out for more research - which seems to be taking place. A recent paper pulls the antioxidant catalase into the mix:

Telomerase deficiency promotes oxidative stress by reducing catalase activity:

We used cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) isolated from mice lacking telomerase activity (Terc(-/-)) to analyze the redox balance and the functional consequences promoted by telomerase deficiency.

...

6-month-old Terc(-/-) [mice] showed higher oxidant capacity, lower catalase activity, greater oxidative damage, and higher TGF-beta1 and fibronectin levels ... In summary, telomerase deficiency reduces catalase activity, determining a redox imbalance that promotes overexpression of TGF-beta1 and extracellular matrix proteins.

Back a few years, researchers demonstrated that pouring extra catalase onto the mitochondria - via a genetic mutation to target the chemical to where it was needed - extends healthy life span. Catalase soaks up some fraction of damaging free radicals before they can degrade the mitochondria that produce them, and slowing mitochondrial damage is very beneficial to health and longevity. Is catalase level the mechanism by which telomerase helps out the mitochondria? Stay tuned: the more we know, the easier it will be to develop repair technologies that can set things back to the way they were when we were young.

In case you have not ever heard of the brand Philosophy, let me introduce you.

Philosophy “is a lifestyle brand that celebrates feeling well and living joyously.” The star products of the brand are it’s skin care products, inspired by years of medical research that have changed the way plastic surgeons, leading dermatologists and customers treat their skin. The company believes in heath and wellness rather than health in beauty - saying that “only when you feel good, can you truly be the best that you can be”. The company tag line -Philosophy: the best cosmetic is great looking skin.

Best known for Hope in A Jar, as it was named by Oprah in the mid 1990’s as one of her favorite things. The brand, and the hope, took off from there.

 
Hope is what Philosophy brings to the market. If Hope in a Jar original formula is not for you, there is hope, as there is the perfect formula for your skin care needs.

Hope in a Jar SPF 20

This is the original high-performance moisturizer with the added benefit of a must-have for daytime, SPF 20. This light cream hydrates the skin, provides a gentle exfoliation, and helps improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and tone.

Hope in a Jar Therapeutic Moisturizer for Dry, Sensitive Skin

 
This is a more rich, high performance moisturizer with antioxidants to help reduce environmental damage. The additional ingredient of rice bran oil, is an excellent source of vitamin E, as well as vitamin A for softening skin, increasing elasticity and preventing thickening of skin.

When Hope is Not Enough

This facial firming serum contains a powerful blend of potent ingredients to revitalize and firm the skin, while working to reduce the signs of premature aging.

Hope in a Tube Eye & Lip Cream

This is a spot treatment aging skin around the eyes and lips. It works wonders on skin that is dehydrated and showing signs of environmental stress.

Hope in a Bottle

 
This bottle contains a formula for more problematic, oily, or acne prone skin. It is a daily oil-free moisturizer that contains microencapsulated salicylic acid to help correct then enhance the skins texture and appearance.

When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing Night Cream

 
This is the richest cream of them all, but is a non-greasy formula. The cream not only works on it’s own, it works with your other night time treatment products to help seal in the benefits for the optimal results. This cream is full of important antioxidants, to help smooth and soothe the skin while building up the skins defenses.

You can learn more about Philosophy online at philosophy.com You will also see them on QVC regularly and in a huge section of Sephora and Nordstrom.

My philosophy - there is hope for us all!

images credit: philosophy.com

This post is part of a group writing project going on over at problogger.net. Take a few and check out some of the other wonderful posts that have been submitted to the project.

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I am a faux-tan fanatic. I self tan some part of my body almost everyday. As Summer is coming to a close, I won’t even go there with how weird my self-tanning routine is, but it is insane.

Over the last few weeks, I have spent a lot of time at the beach, and while I do use a sunscreen and apply it over and over, and spend most of my time under an umbrella, a real tan is peeking through. It is more golden than the olive tone I get from my self-tanners, and I want to make this color last.

I found my way to making this color last with Clarins Self Tanning Milk SPF6. I am so thrilled about the SPF element in this self-tanner. It glides onto my skin and sinks in almost immediately. I wish I had used this Self-Tanning Milk from the beginning of the season, especially on my legs. The golden glow is so natural, long-lasting and gorgeous!

Whether you have a real tan or want to extend your faux tan, give this one from Clarins a try. If you are new to self-tanning and are looking to extend your real tan, I would start out by exfoliating your skin in, moisturizing it, then about hour later apply the self-tanner. Once or twice a week should be enough to make the golden glow last and look natural, fading away on it’s own, just like a real tan.

Clarins Self Tanning Milk is available at you Clarins counter where they can give you more recommendations for self tanning products to make your tan last as well.

image credit: Clarins

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