Look great as you age with expert skin care tips

As we all get older and our bodies and skin age, we don't always like what we see in the mirror. Due to this, the cosmetic and skincare industries are huge as people look for products and treatments to slow down the ageing process.

There are 2 main factors that influence the ageing process:

1. Genetics. We can't control this aspect of ageing.
2. Lifestyles. This we can influence! The healthier we live will usually mean that we will age more slowly. If you smoke and sunbathe, you are more likely to get wrinkles and lines earlier in the ageing process. Our skin also needs a healthy diet to stay healthy and young looking.

So what can we do about it? There are actions that we can take to make our skin look its best.

Everybody knows that smoking will age us more quickly and so will a poor diet. Therefore, if you really want to make an effort to slow down the ageing process you must stop smoking. You should also try to eat healthily most of the time and reduce alcohol consumption. Nobody is saying, never drink again or never eat chocolate again. Just try to increase fruit, vegetables, pulses and beans and reduce fat or sugary treats like crisps and sweets. Also, ensure you are drinking plenty of water.

Having said all that, did you know that it is the sun that contributes to 90% of ageing? In some ways that helps us in Scotland as we don't get as much sun as most other countries but it is still harmful here even on dull, cloudy days. To reduce ageing from the sun, do not use sunbeds and if you are sunbathing make sure you have a high factor sun cream on. You should really wear high-SPF sunscreen every day. This can be a specific sun cream or a moisturiser with SPF protection.

An issue that is very common is when people know all about what is making them age faster, and yet do not take any action, or seek help that is so readily available, to combat it.

They continue to use sunbeds because they love getting a tan, don't remove their makeup before going to bed and do the same skincare routine that they have always done. Taking care of your skin when you are young, will save lots of time and money when you are older.

How to look youthful for your age

As we said before, eat well, don't smoke and when outside wear a high-SPF sunscreen.

Then, we recommend making an appointment with a skincare specialist who will listen to your needs and wishes and then offer you some options that are specific to your skin's needs.

Dawn from The Goddess Clinic in Edinburgh, will meet with a new client for a free consultation before suggesting any skin treatments. She wants to ensure you feel safe and confident about any skin treatment you have. Over my 10 year career as a Nurse, I've learned the importance of seeing each patient as an individual, taking a holistic approach to their care. I believe helping people this way provides effective care, but also makes each person I support feel special. I created The Goddess Clinic to bring this holistic philosophy to my patients, making each person feel their personal best, rediscovering their Inner Goddess.

Skin treatments that may be recommended by your skincare specialist include:

• Dermal fillers
• Anti-wrinkle injections
• Skin booster treatments
• Medical skincare products and treatments

Many people find that once they have had a skin treatment they also feel happier and more confident which makes them look younger.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and hugely important so look after it. You visit a dentist for your teeth so visit a professional skincare specialist for your skin.