Live it Up

I want to live to 100 – so far, so good. And it seems I’m not alone. Interest in longevity is such that the Global Wellness Summit estimates the interconnected longevity economy including holidays, at-home devices and supplements will be worth around US$610 billion by 2025.

To clarify, in wellness circles, longevity doesn’t mean life span but health span. My cohort dreads the thought of a care home, condemned to a life of soft foods and daytime TV. The pandemic sharpened our focus so we biohackers (the nickname for those in pursuit of eternal youth) are increasingly heading to cutting-edge medical retreats that promise the inside track on staying healthier for longer than our grandparents could have imagined.

These clinics specialise in advanced diagnostics and AI analysis of every heartbeat and breath to create personalised real-time recommendations to stave off illness. Their methods are as eclectic as they are effective, ranging from ancient practices such as cold plunges to the latest scientific breakthroughs such as IV Blood Ozone drips, where a guest’s red stuff is extracted, infused with ozone and oxygen and returned, a technique that strengthens immunity and boosts brain function.

I tried ozone therapy at RAKxa, a stylish medi-spa in Bangkok, which has partnered with the city’s renowned Bumrungrad International Hospital. It was pain-free and amazingly invigorating. RAKxa’s 360 approach means it also collaborates with holistic gurus such as Deepak Chopra for meditation expertise.

For a high-tech solution served with generous spoonfuls of glamour, the glossy Bürgenstock Resort's uber-experienced doctors have some of the most-advanced medical equipment at their disposal to determine everything from lung capacity and bone density to genetic markers and metabolic rate. The spa’s serene views of Lake Lucerne don’t hurt either. And in the United States, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort has one-of-a-kind equipment such as a bed that uses vibro-acoustic, electromagnetic, and infrared technology to detoxify cells – no news on its tea-making skills.

Promises of a healthier older age are not a sales gimmick, so plug yourself in.

Top: Holistic treamtments at RAKxa in Bangkok; Above: Facial massage and luxury skincare (Photo: Content Pixie/Unsplash)

5 products that have stood the test of time

1. Eve Lom The Original Balm Cleanser: This is my Barry White of cleansing balms. It was my first, it will be my last, it is my everything. What this combination of aromatic oils and a hot cloth can do to a complexion has to be seen to be believed. From £48 / U$S63 / S$82, Eve Lom
2. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: This magical beauty balm moisturises, protects, highlights cheeks, heals wounds and helps you run 100 metres in 10 seconds. One of those claims isn’t true. Incredibly, the next one is: a tube is sold in the UK every two minutes. £31 / US$40 / S$53, Elizabeth Arden
3. Lucas’ Papaw Ointment: In 110 years, nobody has invented a better solution for chapped lips than Aussie surgeon and botanist Dr T P Lucas. His recipe, sold in an iconic red tube and beloved of Antipodean backpackers, is quite simply bonzer. £5 / US$7 / S$8, Lucas’ Papaw
4. Kiehl’s Creme with Silk Groom: Say halo to this legendary hair styling cream, which tames tresses and leaves locks silky, shiny and – best of all – non-greasy so you’ll never suffer the dread “dipped-your-head-in-a-chip-pan” malfunction. £36 / US$47 / S$61, Kiehl’s
5. Floris No 89: Floris is the UK’s oldest perfume maker, with almost 300 years of the sweet smell of success. Ian Fleming and his fictional hero James Bond wore No 89, as did David Bowie, and Benedict Cumberbatch is a modern-day fan of its grapefruit top notes. From £80 / US$104 / S$136, Floris