Looking Good in laterlife is a regular column reporting on the latest tips on beauty products and processes for the more mature face and body.     

Anyone who has looked after her (or his) appearance over the years has the edge in later life compared to ravers who burned all their candles at both ends.     

A vast industry is out there to help with all and every beauty concern. In this column  laterlife.com reports on ideas and products, old and new. All with the focus on maturity of course. 

Click here to view previous editions of Looking Good in laterlife

12 ways to stop wrinkles

It’s easy to feel as though you’re losing the war against wrinkles.  But you don’t have to admit defeat.  Here’s your battle plan for sunny days ahead.

• Wear sunscreen 

Sun is the number one cause of wrinkles, with dozens of studies documenting the impact.   Siblings who limit sun time have fewer wrinkles and looked younger overall than their sun-worshiping twins.  So every time you go out in the sun, wear sunscreen! It will protect you from skin cancer, and help prevent wrinkles at the same time.  

• Give up smoking

All the available evidence suggests that cigarette smoke ages skin.  Sibling studies done at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London found the brother or sister who smoked tended to have skin that was more wrinkled and up to 40% thinner than the non-smoker.

• Get adequate sleep. 

When you don't get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a stress hormone that breaks down skin cells. Plenty of sleep helps keep skin elastic and therefore less likely to wrinkle.  If possible, sleep on your back – because that way you’ll avoid getting wrinkles on your cheeks and chin.

• Don't squint -- get reading glasses! 

Squinting is known to overwork facial muscles, forming a groove beneath    the skin's surface which eventually becomes a wrinkle. And wearing wrap-around  sunglasses will also protect the skin around the eyes.

• Eat more oily fish

Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, all great sources of omega-3 essential fatty acid that will keep your skin plump and wrinkle-free.  So make oily fish a regular part of your diet – perhaps with a splash of soy which has also been shown to improve the firmness of the skin structure.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.

The antioxidants in fruit and veg fight damage caused by free radicals which in turn helps skin look younger and more radiant, and protects against some effects of photo-ageing.

• Use a moisturiser.

It’s simple: skin that contains plenty of moisture looks better and lines are less noticeable.  And don’t scrub your face with harsh soap – far better to use a cleanser that contains a moisturizer.

• Use an over the counter skin treatment.

The most popular are Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)., natural fruit acids that lift away the top layer of dead skin cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes. New evidence shows that in higher concentrations, AHAs may help stimulate collagen production.

• Get a prescription skin treatment.

See a private dermatologist to get a prescription for a retinoid such as Retin A.  It reduces lines and large wrinkles, and repairs sun damage. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A found in many over-the-counter products.

•  Use an antioxidant cream

Face creams containing vitamin c or Idebenone,  a chemical cousin to the nutrient coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), can be highly effective in smoothing skin and reducing roughness and dryness.  Sad but true: the more you pay, the more effective it is likely to be. 

• Try a pentapeptide.

There is evidence that pentapeptides can increase collagen production in sun-damaged skin.  Several subsequent studies (including one presented at a recent national dermatology conference) showed that when topically applied, pentapeptides stimulated collagen production and diminished lines and wrinkles.  Once again: you get what you pay for. 

•  Get therapy

View previous editions of Looking Good in laterlife   

laterlife interest

The above article is part of the features section of laterlife.com called laterlife interest. laterlife interest contains a variety of articles of interest for visitors to laterlife.com written by a number of experienced and new journalists.

It includes both one off articles and also associated regular columns of a more specialist nature such as Healthwise, Talkback, Gardener's Diary, and a beauty section called Looking good in later life.

There's also 'It could be you' by Maggi Stamp laterlife's counsellor on human relationships. 

Also don't forget to take a look at our regular IT question and answer section called YoucandoIT by IT trainer and author Jackie Sherman.

To view the latest articles click on laterlife interest or to view indexes to previous articles click on laterlife interest index. To search for articles about a certain topic, use the site search feature at the top of the navigation.