Sharon Stone is throwing her supporting behind a new campaign Proof in Real Life' to help normalise aesthetic treatments.
Sharon Stone
The actress talks about the campaign, why she got involved and her use of aesthetic treatments.
- What is the campaign about?
Proof in Real Life is a project I am working on with the pharmaceutical company Galderma to challenge misconceptions that aesthetic treatments create extreme results.
Many people are interested in aesthetic treatments but some are put off because they only see one side of the story - the images in magazines of extreme looks and altered facial features.
Actually, people these days want more subtle enhancements so they look like a healthier version of themselves, just taking off a few years or refreshing their appearance.
This campaign says you can't always trust the images you see in the media; it has showcased in real life, with the help of real people, how subtle and natural-looking results can be achieved.
- Why did you decide to get involved in the project?
I was excited and interested by the idea of providing first-hand evidence that allows people to judge the results for themselves.
I really support the concept of encouraging greater openness and awareness of aesthetic treatments. Although it is becoming a much more accepted practice, people can find the choice daunting and are scared of making inappropriate decisions.
This campaign is about addressing those concerns and ensuring that people are helped to feel more confident as a result of more reliable and clear information.
- So how can people avoid these extreme looks?
Many of the twins were concerned about images they had seen in the media and were worried about not looking like themselves after the treatment. From my personal experience, it's important to pick a credible physician who you trust and who will put you at ease.
- What do you hope to achieve with this campaign?
I hope that this project will improve awareness of aesthetic treatments and the results so that people are better able to make an informed decision.
I think people find it increasingly difficult to trust images they are presented with in the media and by advertisers, so hopefully this real-life format will help to build trust and understanding of the different treatment options available to consumers based on their needs. Restylane fillers helps add volume and definition to the skin, whilst Restylane Skinboosters increase hydration.
- What's your reaction to the results of this test with the twins?
The twins have been on a journey and it has been fascinating to follow their progress. Many of them had never considered aesthetic treatments before and some were scared of pain as well as being concerned about unnatural looking results. These are thoughts and feelings that people often experience before starting treatments.
The results are subtle but impressive. Most importantly, the twins who have benefitted from treatments are feeling refreshed and more energised than ever. Just the slightest of tweaks can deliver a real confidence boost.
The twins who did not receive treatments will be offered treatments after the campaign has ended. All untreated twins are eager to get the same treatments and results as their siblings; that's testament to the results.
- Have you ever used aesthetic treatments?
In 2001 after I had my stroke, I used Restylane fillers to help rebuild the damage done in my face. It helped me heal physically but also psychologically as it felt like I looked like myself again. I have since used Restylane Skinboosters (outside of the US) in my hands, as they say you can always tell a woman's age by her hands.
- Apart from Restylane, what is your beauty secret?
My mother taught me from a young age about the importance of taking care of your skin. She would encourage me to cleanse and moisturize twice daily, and I still follow that advice today.
- What is Restylane and what does it do?
Restylane is a brand that comprises of a range of injectable gels containing a substance called hyaluronic acid, which is naturally produced in the skin, but less is produced as we grow older.
Restylane filler products are intended to correct wrinkles, shape the contours of the face and enhance lips. Restylane Skinboosters are intended to restore the skin's natural hydration to deliver lasting moisturisation and improvements in skin quality.
- How important is a natural look for you?
A natural look is hugely important to me and a lot of people I know. These days people don't want to look like someone else, they simply want to look their best version of themselves. That's certainly true for me and facial fillers and skinboosters can have a really natural-looking result despite the scary images people are used to reading about.
- Why do you think there's a stigma about using these kind of treatments?
I think the extreme looks that have been associated with aesthetic treatments have certainly played a part in creating a stigma and a mistrust of these types of treatments. However, I do think that people are slowly becoming more accepting.
Hopefully this campaign will help to promote greater openness and understanding about the positive results of high quality aesthetic treatments administered by qualified and experienced practitioners.
- Do you think there's a pressure on stars your age to have work done so they can compete with younger actors?
I think there is a pressure on everyone at any age to look their best, no matter what industry they are in. I certainly don't feel my age, and I know that lots of women are in the same position; small tweaks with Restylane fillers help me to look more like how I feel, and Restylane Skinboosters help to refresh my skin.
Of course, aesthetic treatments are not for everyone, but they are a useful option for women and men who want to take a few years off the clock for a confidence boost.
- Does everyone in Hollywood have some sort of work done?
The entertainment industry is a heartland for cosmetic enhancements. However, I think we are moving towards an era where more natural-looking results are preferred and where people are starting to become more open about treatments. Ultimately whether people talk about their experience or not, is their own choice but they should not be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed for having received treatments.
- Would you recommend having an aesthetic treatment to a friend?
I would certainly recommend to friends to consider aesthetic treatments. It is a personal decision and it isn't for everyone, but the twins involved in the Proof in Real Life project have proved the strong benefits of the results can be physically and emotionally.
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