Sweet sixteen forever: Tips to keep your skin looking young

1. Keep your face hydrated Beautiful skin is hydrated skin. Moisturiser plumps up your skin and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Apply a hydrating moisturiser all over your face and eye cream around your eyes. Avoid products that contain petroleum or mineral oil as they trick the skin into thinking that it doesn’t need to produce its natural oils. This in turn leads to dryer skin.

2. Defy gravity We can delay but not escape from the dreaded droop. All skin starts to sag with age due to a decline in collagen, which gives our skin strength and flexibility. Look for products that contain retinol, peptides, or vitamin A, which boost the production of collagen and elastin.

3. Groom your eyebrows A clean brow line can dramatically change a person’s appearance even if they forgo make-up. When shaping your eyebrows, ensure  they look as natural as possible as thin eyebrows can be aging. If you have over-plucked your eyebrows, fill them in with a dark pencil or brush that matches the colour of your eyebrows. Avoid black which can be aging.

4. Create an even skin tone Camouflage your dark circles by applying concealer under your eyes. Apply lightly to avoid a cakey appearance. Next, apply a tinted moisturiser or foundation all over your face to even out your skin tone. Use a light hand and only cover up the areas that need foundation. A heavy layer of foundation may appear too “fake”.

5. Apply colour to the lips Choose a colour that flatters your skin tone. Before you apply lipstick, exfoliate and moisturise to avoid scaly lips. If you feel uncomfortable using lipstick, keep your lips looking good by applying a balm or gloss.

6. Always protect yourself from the sun A beautiful friend of mine who is now almost 50 keeps several pairs of shades. One in the car, one in her purse, one in her handbag and some in the house. She always wears them outdoors because they protect her eyes and the delicate skin around the eyes from the harsh sun and dust. They also help prevent wrinkles from squinting in the light. It is also a good idea to pair these with a hat to protect your forehead and cheekbones from the sun, as these are among the first areas to get burnt and to age faster from such direct heat.

7. Get weekly facials or do them yourself Facials are a great way to exfoliate dead skin, remove blackheads and encourage the face cells to rejuvenate themselves. Removing the deep layer of dust, make-up, and sludge from everyday living becomes harder as we age. Facials keep your skin youthful, especially when you use natural ingredients even with a home-made facial. Finish off with a natural oil like avocado, jojoba or even lanolin.