The iVillage anti-ageing guide

Today, skin repair is possible with a wide range of products, and again, vitamins are increasingly playing a role. Vitamin A can help diminish wrinkle depth, as its light inflammatory action ‘puffs up’ the skin so wrinkles look less deep and vitamin C has a brightening effect as it helps to boost circulation and collagen production. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), or ‘fruit acids’, can reduce the visible signs of ageing, but women with sensitive skin may find they cause redness and mild stinging. When Sarah Stacey and I wrote our anti-ageing bible, Feel Fabulous Forever (£16.99; Kyle Cathie publishers), we tested hundreds of miracle creams on 1,060 women (with 10 women per panel). The winning creams among those surveyed included Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (£29), Nina Ricci Time Defense Extract (£35), Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Cream, £9.50 (mail order 0161-831 7875) and Clarins Extra-Firming Night Cream (£38.50). Always remember to try skincare products before you buy. And if you have a skincare consultant at a beauty counter in a department store, fully explain your concerns. You’ll often be given samples, which should be sufficient in helping you to tell whether or not you’ll like the product.

Is there anything that can be done about age spots?

Skin protection in the form of an SPF moisturiser will stop these skin discolorations from getting worse, and certainly it’s never too late to start using them. Vitamin A skincare products can help fade these spots, as can mulberry extract and kojic acid which is derived from mushrooms. Hydroquinone is another common ingredient in skin-bleaching creams, but some experts advise caution when using it. According to Dr Maes, ‘…this ingredient basically kills the skin cells.’