Your skin starts ageing when you are somewhere between 17 and 25 years old, and damage may not show on the skin until well in your 30s so it is important to protect your skin as early as possible.
Never leave the house without wearing a moisturiser that is at least SPF25, to ensure skin is protected around the clock from harmful UV rays. Taking time to simply cleanse, tone and moisturise each and every day will make a significant improvement to your skin. All that partying and those late nights will take their toll on your skin as you get older, and if you find yourself too tired to remove make-up after a big night out, remember that your skin ages eight days for every night that you don't. It might feel like a hassle in the early hours, but just giving your skin a good cleanse before you go to bed will make a huge difference on the fine lines and wrinkles that will appear in your 30s and 40s.
In today's increasingly polluted environment, our skin is constantly subjected to harmful outdoor elements which heavily contribute to premature aging, making antioxidants relevant as ever. Ingredients which protect from damaging free-radicals such as Vitamins C & E and Green Tea are very commonly found in most skincare lines, while groundbreaking discoveries of the latest and most powerful antioxidants are frequently surfacing. Whether they be natural finds such as Acaï Berry or scientific innovations like Idebenone, antioxidants are still key in modern skincare and will always be an essential ingredient.
Oxygen is an ingredient which consistently crops up in new skincare products, such as Dr Brandt's Detoxygen Experience, and seems as essential as antioxidants in maintaining bright and healthy skin in heavily polluted environments. Fantastic for decongesting toxic build up from years of harmful free-radical attack which cling onto the walls of your capillaries and prevent healthy circulation, oxygen will rid your skin of blocked up pollutants to stimulate collagen and regenerate skin cells.
They say 35 is D-Day and when ageing really starts to show on your face, if you've been good to your skin, there shouldn't be a sudden difference, but if you have partied hard and spent too much time in the sun, you might suddenly wake up and wonder where all the fine lines and wrinkles suddenly came from! It's really important that you look after your eyes as we begin to see a loss of elasticity in the skin in our 30s and a few fine lines and wrinkles, particularly in the under-eye area where you can spot the first visible signs of ageing. If you haven't already, you should invest in a good eye cream, it's important to keep this delicate area really hydrated. You want to avoid seeing fine lines due to loss of elasticity and dehydration.
To rejuvenate, plump and firm mature, lacklustre skin look out for products containing Coenzyme Q10 - a substance naturally found in our cells and provides energy for healthy cell growth. As we age, our CoQ10 levels decrease causing cells to weaken and reproduce less rapidly, as well as slowing down the production of collagen and elastin - both of which are essential for supple, plump and firm skin. Using products rich in CoQ10 will diminish fine lines as well as protect from harmful free-radicals due to its anti-oxidant properties. Try lavera MY AGE Organic Cooling Eye Roll On (£16.90, www.lavera.co.uk) which combines CoQ10 with natural ingredients such as Organic White Tea and Karanja Oil.
By the time we are in our 40s collagen production really drops down and the skin is not actually producing as much as it used to. Plus we begin to lose a lot of volume in our face as a result of fat loss under the skin which means the fine lines and wrinkles we had in our 30s may deepen and we might see folds appearing on the skin around the 'nose-to -lip' lines and the jowls, and a general loss of vibrancy in the skin. Invest in products that will plump, boost collagen production and firm.
Serums are the name of the game. If you're not using a serum yet, I definitely suggest you start now. Serums are usually oil based and will penetrate the skin far more deeply than any cream can, meaning you will get the nutrients your skin needs deep down into the dermis which can help stimulate collagen production. I love Avon Anew Reversalist Renewal Serum which leaves a velvety soft finish and boosts your skin's repair process for brighter, fresher-looking skin.
Scientifically formulated ingredients that have been inspired by the sheer power of nature have revolutionised the way we look at skincare, providing significant results instantaneously. Look out for ingredients such as Syn-Ake, an advanced neuropeptide which mimics the effects of a snake bite to instantly freeze muscles for up to 9 hours, and if used over a longer period of time, can actually reduce fine lines by 52%. Glamoxy Snake Serum by Rodial and Sarah Chapman's Skinesis range both include this active ingredient to enhance the anti-ageing benefits of the products.
In our 40s we might want to consider non-invasive procedures such as Thermage are fantastic for eliminating fine lines and wrinkles. Thermage uses radio frequency to stimulate the body's own collagen production and the effects are apparent over a period of six-months and often last for over two years with a top-up. Dr Rita Rakus carries out more Thermage treatments in the UK than any other practitioner and has recently been awarded the Solta Medical Black Diamond Award!