Sure-fire ways to turn back the hands of time without ever resorting to surgery.
1 PROTECT YOUR SKIN
The single most important thing you can ever do for your skin is shield it from the sun. "Ninety
per cent of premature ageing, from lines and wrinkles to age spots and sagging, is caused by free
radical damage to your skin - the result of sun exposure," says leading US dermatologist Dr
Karyn Grossman, "so it's critical to avoid it." Exposure to UV light (from the sun to sun beds),
coupled with pollution, fatigue and stress, is the major environmental factor in today's
lifestyle that speeds up ageing. This is due to the production of free radicals, which damage
the cells, thereby destroying the skin's soft supportive layers of collagen and elastin fibres,
resulting in tough, lined, pigmented skin.
"The best defence we have against premature ageing is the daily application of a good sunscreen
with equally high UVA as UVB," says Karyn. "We've been focused on UVB for so long that we've
underestimated the effect of UVA, which affects deeper layers of the skin and is responsible for
long-term damage." Prevention rather than correction is still at the forefront of ageing, as is
the use of topically applied antioxidants, which reach the skin in much higher concentrations
than those taken internally.
"A blend of stable antioxidants - as opposed to a single ingredient - is considered the most
effective protection against free-radical induced premature ageing," says Karyn. Favourite
antioxidants continue to be vitamins C and E, green and white tea, while new antioxidants
include Idebenone and ferulic acid. Watch out for Prescriptives Anti-AGE Advanced Protection
Lotion, which has SPF25 A and B protection and a blend of three antioxidants to provide complete
protection from free radical damage.
2 DEEP SLEEP
No complexion cream, facial or light-reflective make-up can give you that fresh-faced, radiant
glow that you get from a good night's sleep. Beauty sleep happens at night when all your muscles
and digestive system rest, enabling your blood cells to supply nutrients more effectively to
every cell in the body, including your skin. During sleep, the body's major organs such as the
brain and regulatory systems continue to work actively and the body ups production of certain
hormones. So a good night's sleep allows skin to repair and rest, with cells renewing fastest
between one and four o'clock. Likewise, too little sleep can make skin look tires, dull and
cause dark shadows, which leave you looking and feeling - yep - older. Evidence suggests too
little sleep may increase your risk of coronary heart disease. Average less than five hours of
sleep a night, an Archives of Internal Medicine study warns, and your chance of suffering a
heart attack nearly doubles. Hormonal disturbances can increase heart rate, blood pressure and
disrupt glucose metabolism, all factors that contribute to heart disease. Lack of sleep weakens
the immune system and aids middle-age spread as you're prone to overeat when tired.
"Sleep deprivation affects metabolism, sabotaging your efforts to maintain an ideal weight,"
says Jana Klauer, MD, obesity researcher at New York's St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital. Fat cells
produce leptin, a hormone which tells the body how much potential energy it has stored, but as
its production peaks at night when you're meant to be asleep, the body gets confused. With no
idea of how much energy it has reserved, the body starts storing fat rather than burning it. In
bed by ten tonight, then?
3 STAND TALL
There's something elegant about a woman who holds herself with effortless ease, comfort and
grace. Great posture goes beyond ageing. It exudes energy, youth and confidence. "Healthy
posture is an upright, well balanced looseness of the physique, usually found in children, whic
implies youth and vitality," says Noel Kingsley, teacher of the Alexander Technique and author
of Perfect Poise, Perfect Life (Hodder & Stoughton, £7.99).
Likewise, a poor posture, such as stooping and slouching, makes us seem older, because it's
associated with looking and feeling old. "Poor posture actually makes us older," says Noel.
"We're ageing faster simply because we're putting a lot of internal pressure on our organs. When
tension builds up in the body, we automatically hold our breath and since breathing and the
body's circulation are intimately linked, every muscle, the connective tissues and the body's
balance is disrupted, causing aching joints, muscle weakness, poor digestion, bad circulation,
cold hands and feet - even headaches."
The Alexander Technique not only improves posture, which benefits the body - especially during
and after the menopause when bone density and strength diminishes - it also encourages better
breathing, which leads to clearer skin, whiter eyes, shinier hair and a calmer you. "All the
things that keep you looking younger," says Noel, "for life."
4 HAVE A GREAT HAIRCUT AND COLOUR
Having the same hairstyle for years could delude you (and others) into thinking that you haven't
changed, i.e. you haven't aged. But restyling your hair is a very effective way to keep looking
fresh.
"The right cut and colour can take ten years off, " says Jo Hansford, London's leading hair
colourist. "It's hard to cut long hair that you've nurtured for years, but shoulder-length hair
with lots of texture and a wispy fringe gives your cheekbones an instant lift."
It's about attitude too, according to top hair stylist Lee Stafford. "I hate it when women of 35
feel they have to cut their hair because they've reached a "certain age". Everyone assumes only
young women have long hair, but if it's in great condition and you love it, then go for it." Lee
says fringes give a flirty new twist to an existing style, but recommends avoiding geometric
haircuts with harsh lines that can be ageing along the jaw.
Jo also advises rethinking your colour as skin tones change and pale over time, so your hair
colour should reflect this. "At 20, jet black hair may have looked brilliant," says Jo, "but
20 years on, it's too harsh." Use subtle shades with highlights instead. "Grey hair's difficult
to ignore once it takes hold and blending it in rather than covering it up is a great way to
deal with it."
Hair should look healthy and shiny. "Neglect it and, as with your skin," says Lee, "the years
will pile on!" Protect coloured hair with Jo Hansford Protect & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner
for Colour Treated Hair (£4.99 each for 150ml) or Lee Stafford Colour Love Shampoo and
Conditioner (£3.99 each for 250ml).
5 GET A FABULOUS SMILE
So your skin is great and your hair looks fab, but don't smile yet. While meticulous brushing
and hygiene will keep teeth and gums healthy (a six-month hygienist check-up is essential past
the age of 35), staining (from tea, coffee, red wine and smoking), receding gums and gum disease
all increase significantly with age.
"The lower third of the face ages quickest," says cosmetic dentist Justin Glaister of Umbrella.
"If someone's unhappy with their teeth they don't smile as much, so they look less happy, which
is ageing in itself." Your smile shows your age as teeth flatten from years of grinding. But
cosmetic bonding or veneers that are shaped to follow the natural curve of the bottom lip can
restore the curve to 15 years earlier, creating a happier, more youthful smile. Veneers also
hide receding gums and protect exposed roots, making them less sensitive and giving lips more
support, so they appear fuller, reducing the sunken appearance around the mouth and providing
a younger look. "Teeth whitening is one of the quickest treatments to turn back time. Have teeth
whitened before contemplating other dental work as it can hide imperfections (such as crooked
angles) that stand out more when they're yellow and stained yet appear more uniform once
whitened. This may prevent invasive and expensive dental work from being carried out."
YOUR CONTACTS
Noel Kingsley: (020) 7491 3505. For Alexander Technique teachers visit www.stat.org.uk.
BriteSmile: for your nearest associated dentist, 0800 0768768.
Justin Glaister at Umbrella Dental Group: (020) 7612 9810 or www.umbrella smiles.com.
Lee Stafford: 01702 471954.
Jo Hansford: (020) 7495 7774.
Prescriptives: 0870 0342566.