Don’t let the credit crunch age you

The ‘credit crunch’ is enough to make the even the most laid back optimists start to tug at their dreadlocks, which isn’t just bad for stress levels, but our looks could be suffering too.

Stress has been shown by scientists to affect specific parts of our DNA which are involved in regulating cell division, meaning that the more stressed we are the more difficult it is for our cells to reproduce and this leads to our skin aging at a faster rate.

Many of the creams and lotions found on our shop shelves claim to help reduce the signs of aging, but they might just make the situation on our wallets and stress levels even worse, with some costing over £200 for a 30ml pot.

Help could be at hand however from an age old remedy that top celebs swear by for its anti-aging properties, and it won’t break the bank….

Sworn on for its anti-aging and rejuvenating benefits by stars ranging from Demi Moore to Zac Efron, Jason Donovan to Amanda Wakeley emu oil is a natural remedy that has been used in Aboriginal medicine for hundreds of years. The oil has recently become popular in the UK and the States as a skin care product however and you can get your hands on a bottle of the highest quality oil for under £7.

Its not just celebs that are singing the oil’s praises however, research shows there is real science behind this natural product. Like all oils emu oil is an excellent moisturiser, but unlike other oils it is seen to be absorbed quickly with comedogencity (pore clogging) tests showing it has a score of less than 1; which means that it won’t to clog up pores and cause irritation.

Perhaps most importantly however, studies have shown emu oil actively speeding up skin cell regeneration; making it potentially one of the most active anti-aging products available. One of the published studies shows how emu oil application onto wounds results in the wounds healing much quicker and skin cells regenerating at nearly twice the rate they normally do.

This regeneration of skin cells is probably the main factor behind emu oil’s benefits and the reason the likes of Demi Moore swear by its anti-aging properties and Zac Efron supposedly uses it to help with reducing scars.

It is not entirely clear what underpins emu oil’s properties, but studies have shown that the oil is packed full of the essential fatty acids Omegas 3 and 6, and is also high in Omega 9 (offered referred to as the third essential fatty acid). These Omegas are vital nutrients for healthy skin and act as building blocks in important cellular reactions.

Fashion designer Amanda Wakeley told Telegraph.co.uk, “I love emu oil, which you can't buy in this country, so I ship it in by the crate. It is great for my face and body - really regenerative”

Emu oil is now available in the UK under the brand name Golden Emu Oil. Golden Emu Oil is Europe’s leading brand of emu oil and is of pharmaceutical grade quality, with published studies showing it is the most effective emu oil available.

Golden Emu Oil comes in a number of varying size bottles but the 30ml bottle retails for £6.95 and as you only need a small amount of the oil at a time it will last for months.

Products are available directly from the Pioneer Trading Company – for more information, log on to Pion-tc.co.uk.