If we were ever in danger of forgetting why we love Courteney Cox so much, her 60th birthday Instagram post was a timely reminder. There’s Courteney in the gym, looking surprisingly youthful, running, lifting weights, doing pull-ups (pull-ups!), and then, ever the comedian, pushing herself up by emerging, clad in a tiny bikini, her limbs twisted, from a tiny freezer. “What?” she says dryly to the camera with perfect comedic timing. “It’s cryotherapy!”
When it comes to anti-aging regimens, this seems extreme—and yes, we know she’s joking. But is Courteney’s routine worth trying? I’m a tweaking expert, having tried almost every anti-aging treatment under the sun over the past 20 years. Like Courteney, I’m also an extremely youthful-looking 60-something—a year her senior at 61. In fact, I’m often mistaken for a woman in her late 40s, so trust me when I say I know what Real works. Read on for my definitive guide to turning back the clock, Courteney Cox-style.
I’m an extremely youthful-looking sexagenarian, a year older than Courteney at 61, writes Alice Hart-Davis
ICE ICE BABY
What is it? Spend three minutes in a cryotherapy chamber not your own freezer) chilled to -120 degrees C isn’t much fun, but many athletes find it helps with muscle recovery. It can also relieve symptoms of joint pain and arthritis. It’s not as popular as cold water immersion or ice baths, which, if you ask me, are almost worse to bear, although the endorphin rush you get afterwards is fantastic.
Courteney Gets Out of the Freezer Evidence Suggests Exposing the Body to Extreme Cold Reduces Inflammation
Does it work? Evidence suggests that exposing the body to extreme cold reduces inflammation, including the kind of low-grade inflammation that accelerates aging in our organs and skin. And simply put, anti-inflammatory equals anti-aging.
How much is it? Cryotherapy rooms are scarce – search online for your 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 for home? A cold shower. Yes, really. Again, it’s not that fun, but many health experts swear by it—and you don’t have to do it for long. Cold-water bath expert Wim Hof recommends doing it for just one to two minutes a day.
Anti-aging rating: 3/5
If you have access to an ice bath or cold water bath and you love the effects, do it.
Hats off to lasers
What it is? As she climbs out of the freezer, Courteney holds in one hand a HigherDOSE baseball cap with red LED lights on the inside, which are said to promote and strengthen hair growth.
Courteney holds her HigherDOSE baseball cap with red LED lights on the inside
Does it work? LED light, which is so popular for skin rejuvenation, has also been scientifically proven to stimulate hair follicles and improve hair growth. It’s something I haven’t tried because my hair is quite dense and for the light to work it needs to be able to reach the scalp. What I would opt for instead is a Laser Diode hat which uses low-level laser light that penetrates the scalp more effectively than LED light.
How much is it? Thrix laser diode cap, £40 per session at santilondon.com. ‘It’s around 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 advises trying it out for a few sessions first to see if it works for you.
Alternative for home: Thrix laser diode hood, £1,100, santilondon.com (Courteney’s HigherDOSE light hood is not available in the UK.)
Anti-aging classification: 2/5. LED light caps or helmets may work depending on the quality and intensity of the light inside them and whether the light can reach your scalp.
Laser diode caps are much stronger and deliver better results, even up to a score of 4/5 on the anti-aging scale.
FACE MASK FAILURE
What is it? Courteney is also pictured wearing a sheet-style face mask. This is essentially a serum-infused cloth or “hydrogel” mask that you drape over your face and leave on for half an hour to work its magic. I love these for a quick downtime.
Face masks like Courteney’s won’t rejuvenate your skin, but hey, every little bit of self-care is a step in the right direction toward a brighter complexion
Does it work? To hydrate the skin, absolutely. They won’t age your skin, but hey, every little bit of self-care is a step in the right direction towards a brighter complexion.
How much is it? Take your pick based on your budget, from Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks (£3.49, Boots) to Meder Beauty’s Myo-Fix Mask (£80 for 5) with skin-smoothing peptides to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Anti-aging rating: Sorry ladies, but you need to face facts. I would say a measly 1/5.
USE IT OR LOSE IT!
What is it: Exercise! Courteney put herself out there not only by running on a treadmill, but also by lifting heavy kettlebells and doing full pull-ups. “Look, we don’t have a choice. You just have to do the best you can,” she says, prompting gasps of respect on social media. I also weight train, because I know that exercise, especially weight training, is one of the best things women over 40 can do to combat the effects of aging. Building lean muscle, which is still entirely possible in your 60s and beyond, not only tones your body but 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 every decade, putting us at greater risk for osteoporosis, falls, and injuries.
Cardio workouts like running or cycling increase your heart rate and improve heart health, and weightlifting (like Courteney is doing here) helps maintain muscle mass
Does it work? Absolutely. It’s use it or lose it when it comes to fitness. Cardio workouts like running or cycling increase your heart rate and improve your heart health, and weightlifting helps maintain muscle mass, which declines as we age and leads to frailty. Is muscle mass that important? Yes, it is! And when your blood gets pumping, your skin glows, too.
How much is it? Any gym will help you train at a suitable level. If you want luxury, join a fancy club – I belonged to a gym that charged up to £300 a month. You can also train at home for free – two litre bottles of water can easily replace two kilos of weights. The important thing is that you actually do it.
Anti-aging classification: 5/5 It’s never too late to start a workout program. Start small, recruit a friend as a workout buddy, and you’ll notice a difference within six weeks.
Alice Hart-Davis is the founder of thetweakmentsguide.com