Enjoy Life

Anti-ageing Options

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look younger, insists Sue Moxley in the first of a two-part series on anti-ageing treatments.

While I agree with many of the concerns people have about the pressure on women to look younger, I also think it’s perfectly natural to want to look as youthful as you feel inside.

I see no problem with seeking to restore the natural glow of your 20s, even if that means exploiting the use of good skincare, treatments and makeup.

Whether or not you want to keep ageing at bay, and whether or not you choose to go under the knife or needle, is no one else’s business. The results of cosmetic procedures can be excellent. Those who say Botox looks weird are talking about bad Botox. Administered correctly and in moderation, it can be fantastic and undetectable.

However, I do think it’s important to know you have anti-ageing options that don't involve cutting your skin or injecting your face with foreign substances. Sometimes, a perfectly satisfactory solution is available via the hairdresser, the dental surgery or the health shop.

Over the next two issues, I am going to look at 13 treatments that are the anti-ageing fixes I have either used or believe in. Here are the first six; there is nothing on this list that I wouldn’t recommend to a loved one.

1. Cod liver oil capsules (£3.99)

I am a nana about cod liver oil: it is extremely beneficial for dry, ageing skin, as well as joints, hair, nails and your digestive system. I take eight capsules a day; if I run out, my skin feels drier and looks older within a couple of days. And do buy capsules: the bottled oil is repellent to you and those around you.

2. Fringe cut (All good hairdressers, prices vary)

Fringes are very youthful: partly because they’re fun and cool, but also because they cover any lines, wrinkles and pigmentation on your forehead. They’re the cheapest and most effective substitute for Botox. Get yours cut by a professional; a good salon will maintain it for free. If you’re worried about it looking harsh, get your stylist to cut into the line to soften it, shaping at the edges to flatter your face shape.

3. Facial sunblock (from £4.49)

Still the most important and effective anti-ageing treatment we have. Always make sure yours is a broad spectrum sunscreen: one that protects against UVA (primarily ageing)and UVB (primarily burning and cancercausing) rays. The most important thing is not price or product; you just need to use one whenever you’ll be spending extended periods outdoors, whatever the weather. UVA doesn’t care if it’s hot or cold outside.

4. Caci facial toning treatment (from £49)

I’ve always rated these treatments, which use a special machine to deliver microcurrents to the skin, visibly toning and lifting it with immediate effect. Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and the unfeasibly young-looking Gillian Taylforth are all fans. Caci’s new Ultra system can be used on hands, face, scarring and stretchmarks, and combines a peel and LED light therapy with the original treatment. It’s pain-free and available in beauty salons nationwide

5. A good foundation (from about £25)

A must for anyone over 35 who wants to hide uneven tone and bring lost light back to their face. I will generally send anyone looking for a foundation to Bobbi Brown, since she has a great product for every skin colour and condition, as well as generally clued-up counter staff. I also love bases at Armani, Suqqu, RMK and YSL. I apply with a foundation brush or fingertips; sponges just waste the product.

6. Stop smoking (help available free on the NHS)

Smokers’ skin ages faster. The nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow on the surface of your face and hands, which impairs blood flow. As a result, the skin is deprived of oxygen and other nutrients that help it to stay looking young. The 4000 chemicals in cigarettes also damage collagen and elastin, the two main fibres that help skin retain elasticity. Even if you can't see the damage now, you will later.

Have you tried any of these? What do you think to these tips? Do you have any of your own?

Let us know what you think and share your experiences with us and others. Just follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and YouTube

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