From wrinkle-busting creams and skin-boosting vitamins to age-spot-zapping lasers and cosmetic fillers – the anti-ageing industry is worth billions.
But with so many line-blitzing products on the market, it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed.
We caught up with top facialist and skincare guru Louise Tear to glean her top tips for targeting wrinkles and plumping your skin to its youthful best.
“Wrinkles are an annoying but mainly inevitable part of getting older,” says Louise.
“There’s not much we can do to stop lines actually developing because as we age, our skin produces less collagen and elastin which causes skin to become thinner, sag and develop fine lines.
“But there are so many brilliant products, treatments and cosmetic procedures available these days,” she adds.
Here are Louise’s top tips for youthful skin:
Check ingredients
Look for products containing collagen, retinol and hydroxy acids. Retinol is basically a compound that works as an antioxidant. It has been proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by helping skin cells regenerate better and increase the amount of skin-support substances that are produced. Meanwhile hydroxy acids add radiance and smooth lines by chemically exfoliating the top, dead layer of skin for a refreshing result
Go cosmetic
Botox is now one of the most popular cosmetic beauty treatments around. It basically stops the process of deepening facial wrinkles by weakening the muscles which cause them in the first place. Facial fillers are also good at replacing the volume lost as ageing takes place. They help restore cheeks, make smile lines shallower and re-contour jaw
Keep hydrated
Wrinkles are also a symptom of dehydration so make sure you drink lots of water. Regular exfoliation can help the skin with cell turnover and increase the production of collagen. Plus, a regular monthly facial helps boost the effects of the products and encourages proper re-hydration of the skin. So why not treat yourself!
Sleep soundly
Skin-cell growth and repair happen while you sleep, so when you don’t get enough rest, these processes are affected. Sleep deprivation elevates stress hormones, which can spur wrinkle-causing oxidation and inflammation. Sleep position matters too. Lying on your side or stomach with your face pressed against the pillow can create chin, cheek and forehead lines - which won’t go away without adequate collagen to spring it back into place. Snooze on your back to avoid developing new wrinkles.