Premature or Ahead of the Game... Where do you draw the line?

Large, tanned and perfectly smooth. In an ideal life I would be talking about my new Mulberry bag but no, I am in fact referring to Maria’s forehead. Those of you familiar with ITV2’s The Only Way is Essex will know who and what I’m talking about and those of you who are not? Well, I suggest you use your time procrastinating from revision productively and acquaint yourselves with the show.

                A few weeks ago now (sorry essay obligations have left me sadly behind the times) the female stars of the show congregated in one of their glittery abodes to sip champagne and exchange gossip. So far so normal but this was no usual afternoon gathering- this was a Botox party. Yes that’s right, one by one each tango-tastic lady set down their Moet and scampered upstairs to a waiting beautician who pumped their already flawless foreheads to a taunt perfection a newborn would envy.

                Now I’m well aware of the various negative reactions this party should spark in me. Outrage that girls younger than me feel the need for anti-ageing treatment; fear for a society in which getting your face pumped full of chemicals constitutes a social activity; confusion at why Maria’s forehead resembled one of her artificially inflated breasts etc. etc. I am slightly ashamed to admit however that the immediate question that leapt to my mind was... ‘Am I getting wrinkles?’ Now in my defence I have been plagued by age related worries recently. Having just finished my last essay, and consequently my university career, I think I may be excused in these.

                Afflicted with feelings of insecurity there was of course only one thing to do. Consult Nims. Together we inspected our faces and pointed out our flaws to one-another (NOT one-another’s flaws- very crucial difference there). After a thorough consultation we had reached one clear conclusion. It is never too soon to start anti-aging cream. The rejuvenating properties of the latest poly-protein may be completely fictional but, like belief in God/ Aliens, isn’t it better to abstain from complete scepticism until there is definitive proof to the contrary? After all, even if they are just glorified moisturisers, they’re not going to do you any harm.

                Unlike most religious beliefs however, a dedication to anti-aging cream requires a bit more than emotional investment. The majority available at boots came in between the £10 and £30 marks and there was only one I could find purchasable within my self-imposed budget of £5. Some of you may have heard of Ponds which for decades, perhaps centuries, has been a favourite with Grandmas the world over. Recently however the brand has undergone a rejuvenation all of its own and with fans like Kylie Minogue coming out the woodwork, I was ready to give its new anti-ageing cream a go.

                Now the problem with testing anti-aging creams is that it really is very hard to tell whether they’re working. I can’t say that I’m back to my 12 year old self but as this is a terrifying prospect (flared-jeans and buck-teeth ahoy) I can’t really fault it for this. Nevertheless I can provide you with an initial reaction which is... mixed. It is very thick and slightly greasy and although one application left my skin feeling silky smooth and well nourished, the next one left me considering whether you could have too much of a good thing. By night three my T-zone had a distinct shine and I suspected that sustained use on my nose area (already prone to spots) could have dire consequences. This is certainly not a rave review but neither is it all negative. If you suffer from dry skin then this would be great for you and I’m going to continue using it around my eyes and neck, areas prone to ageing but without the tendency to get greasy.