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If we were ever in danger of forgetting why we adore Courteney Cox, her Instagram post celebrating her 60th birthday was a timely reminder. Courteney is at the gym, looking surprisingly youthful, running, lifting weights, doing pull-ups (pull-ups!) and then, ever the comic, poking fun at herself by emerging, clad in a tiny bikini, limbs contorted, from a tiny freezer. “What?” she asks the camera with a deadpan expression and perfect comic timing. “It’s cryotherapy!”
As far as anti-aging regimens go, this one seems extreme (and yes, we know you’re joking). But is Courteney’s routine worth trying? I’m a pro at tweaking, and over the past 20 years I’ve tried just about every anti-aging treatment out there. Like Courteney, I’m also extremely youthful-looking, in my mid-60s (a year older than her, at 61). In fact, I’m often mistaken for a woman in her mid-40s, so trust me when I say I know what it’s like. In fact It works. Read on for my ultimate guide on how to turn back time Courteney Cox style.
I am an extremely young-looking sixty-something, a year older than Courteney, 61, writes Alice Hart-Davis
ICE ICE BABY
What is it? Spend three minutes in a cryotherapy chamber No Cold water immersion (stored in the freezer) at -120 degrees C is not much fun, but many athletes find it helps muscle recovery. It can also relieve symptoms of joint pain and arthritis. It is not as popular as cold water immersion or ice baths which, if you ask me, are almost worse to endure, although the endorphin rush you get afterwards is fantastic.
Courteney steps out of the freezer. Evidence suggests that exposing the body to extreme cold reduces inflammation
Works? Evidence suggests that exposing the body to extreme cold reduces inflammation, including the low-grade inflammation that accelerates the aging of our organs and skin. Simply put, anti-inflammatory equals anti-aging.
How much does it cost? There are only a few cryotherapy chambers, so search online for the nearest one. You can expect to pay £90 per session at London Cryo in Belgravia (www.londoncryo.com) and £50 per session at AestheticsoftheRoyalLiverBuilding.Co.uk in Liverpool
Alternative at home? A cold shower. Yes, really. It’s not much fun, but many health experts recommend it and you don’t have to shower for long. Cold shower expert Wim Hof recommends just one or two minutes a day.
Anti-aging score: 3/5
If you have access to an ice bath or cold water bath and love the effects… go for it.
WE TAKE OUR HAT OFF TO THE LASERS
What it is? As she emerges from the freezer, Courteney holds in one hand a HigherDOSE baseball cap with red LED lights inside, which are said to promote and strengthen hair growth.
Courteney grabs her HigherDOSE baseball cap with red LED lights inside
Works? LED light, which is so popular for skin rejuvenation, has also been scientifically proven to stimulate hair follicles and improve hair growth. This is not something I have tried as my hair is quite thick and for the light to work, it has to be able to reach the scalp. What I would choose instead is a laser diode hat which uses a low intensity laser light that penetrates the scalp more effectively than LED light.
How much does it cost? Thrix diode laser cap, £40 per session from santilondon.com. “It’s about 100 times more effective than LED light,” says Tariq Karim, founder of Santi Spa in Kensington. You can buy the cap for home use (below), but Karim recommends trying it out for a few sessions first to see if it works for you.
Alternative at home: Thrix Diode Laser Cap, £1,100, santilondon.com (Courteney’s HigherDOSE light cap is not available in the UK).
Anti-aging classification: 2/5. LED helmets or caps can work depending on the quality and intensity of the lights they contain and whether that light can reach the scalp.
Laser diodes are much more powerful and more likely to deliver results, even up to a 4/5 on the anti-aging scale.
FACE MASK FAILURE
What is it? Courteney also appears in the photo wearing a sheet mask. This is actually a sheet mask or “hydrogel” mask soaked in serum that is placed on the face and left to take effect for half an hour. I love these for a quick rest.
Face masks like Courteney’s won’t rejuvenate your skin, but hey, every self-care gesture is a step in the right direction toward a fresher complexion.
Works? To moisturize your skin, of course. They won’t rejuvenate your skin, but every little gesture of self-care is a step in the right direction toward a fresher complexion.
How much does it cost? Choose according to your budget, from Garnier’s Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks (£3.49, Boots) to Meder Beauty’s Myo-Fix Mask (£80 for 5) with skin-smoothing peptides to alleviate wrinkles.
Anti-Aging Rating: Sorry ladies, but you have to face reality: I’d say a measly 1/5.
USE IT OR LOSE IT!
What is it: Get a workout! Courteney showed off not only running on a treadmill, but also lifting kettlebells and doing full pull-ups. “Look, we have no choice. You just have to do the best you can,” she says, drawing shouts of respect on social media. I work out with weights, too, because I know that exercise, particularly with weights, is one of the best things women over 40 can do to counteract the effects of aging. Building lean muscle — something that’s still very possible in your sixties — not only tones the body, but it also burns fat even when you’re at rest. If we don’t work to maintain it, we can lose up to five percent of our muscle mass with each decade, putting us at greater risk for osteoporosis, falls, and injuries.
Cardiovascular exercise, such as running or cycling, increases heart rate and improves heart health, and lifting weights (like Courteney does here) helps maintain muscle mass.
Works? Of course. When it comes to fitness, it’s a matter of use it or lose it. Cardiovascular exercise, such as running or cycling, increases heart rate and improves heart health, and lifting weights helps maintain muscle mass, which declines with age and leads to frailty. Is muscle mass that important? Yes it is! Plus, getting the blood circulating also helps keep your skin looking radiant.
How much does it cost? Any gym will help you get fit to a decent level. If you want luxury, you can join a luxury club (I used to be a member of a gym that charged up to £300 a month). You can also train at home for free (two one-litre bottles of water can easily replace two kilos of weight). The important thing is that you do it.
Anti-aging classification: 5/5 It’s never too late to start an exercise program. Start small, ask a friend to join you for a workout, and you’ll notice a difference in less than six weeks.
Alice Hart-Davis is the founder of thetweakmentsguide.com
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