Fab skin over 40 : secrets of

[Earthstar]

Friend has fab skin and puts it down to regular facials...do they really make a massive difference? Has she had a chemical peel on the sly?

What is the key to fab skin over 40 other than no sun & no smoking, is it facials, chemical peels or something else entirely?

[purplepeony]

Genes

40s nothing dear- wait til you are over 50!

Healthy diet, fresh air, exercise, sun block 365 days, happy life.....

[KristinaM]

no kids. they are very ageing

[Zembo]

Agree with purplepeony - mainly genes - in my case lots of melanin - the 'black don't crack' thing - although I'm actually brown and not black

[BelleDameSansMerci]

I'm so white I'm actually pale blue in places but do have pretty good skin (so modest). I don't drink much and I don't smoke but I think it's mostly down to drinking lots of water and staying out of the sun (because otherwise I go bright red and burn in approx 10 minutes).

Very dull and no miracle creams involved!

[cornsilklikeshumous]

exercise helps
decent face cream - doesn't have to be ££££ but supermarket creams don't do it for me
sleep
healthy(ish) diet

[mazzystartled]

water water water
sleep sleep sleep
moisturiser
sunblock
foundation in winter to protect
thorough gentle cleansing and exfoliating
time travel back to being 17 and don't go on those sunbeds or beach hols

[hester]

Don't be thin. It really is face or figure at our age.

[BonjourIvressedeNoel]

dermalogica

[Earthstar]

dermalogica? is this a facial brand?

does nobody rate chemical peels then?

[BonjourIvressedeNoel]

Dermalogica is a face products brand. I'd not use a chemical peel. my skin likes it best if I'm gentle to it.

[AngelinaJolly]

I met a very good looking lady once- she was 79 and looked mid-50's. I asked her the secret and declared "Well my dear, I have simply never worked a day in my life!"

[Lilymaid]

It's your genes, I'm afraid. I'm over 50 with very good skin but I inherited this from my father.
I don't smoke (though did smoke in teens and twenties). I don't sunbathe, but don't wear sunblock 365 days a year. I don't drink loads of water but drink quite a lot of tea and coffee and I have never had a facial in my life let alone a chemical peel.
I put on moisturiser every morning but don't use any particular product - often use free samples from magazines. I don't moisturise at night generally as I don't find my skin needs it, but I do wash my face (up until 2 years ago with soap and water, but now with Liz Earle)
So, my conclusion is that skin care regimes make little difference and that it really depends on your genes.

[kerpob]

Another vote for dermalogica here - I am 43 and its the best my skin has ever looked - used it for past 3-4 years.

[spicemonster]

I do think it's largely genetic. I don't look anywhere near my age (so I'm told) and neither do my sisters, my mum or my nan (who's my dad's mum so we get it from both sides).

But I don't do sun, and having lived in LA for a few years, I'd say that sun damage is more ageing that any other thing on your skin.

[hester]

I think good (not necessarily expensive) skin care can keep your skincare a bit brighter and smoother than doing without. But the things that make the big diffference are definitely genetics, smoking, sun exposure, alcohol.

[Cortina]

Agree with the stress and ageing comments. Lack of sleep also is v ageing I believe as is alchohol and junk food.

Agree with the sun damage remark, compare the average Australian 45 year old to someone who has been in the UK all their life..ditto LA based woman.

Genetics also play a big part as others have said.

Many I know with the resources are having IPL type laser treatments to stimulate collagen and are no stranger to subtle botox and fillers. It's all a bit of a dirty secret though.

[MillyMollyMoo]

I have 4 aunties + my Mum and the two that never smoked look about 15 years younger than the 3 that have since their twenties.

[deaddei]

Dermalogica is wonderful stuff- but their moisterisers don't suit me. I use Garnier moisteriser for mature skin.
At 49, I have excellent skin- keep out of sun, never smoked. Don't drink lots of water- in fact not enough.
I have 4 facials a year (dermalogica).