I've come here in desperation because I KNOW that mumsnet will know. Share your top anti-ageing wizardry with me please

[HeroineChick]

Am thirty five.

Face not quite as perky lately.

Alright, face not in any way perky lately; it's all fairly depressing in the mornings. I am not keen on botox / fillers idea, so it came to me that someone out there is currently marvelling / gloating in the bathroom mirror about their amazing wonder cream or serum or scrub or whatever that's revolutionised their middle aged skincare regime.

HALP

thanks in advance!

You can get away with less grooming and sleep when young and fresh faced. Past 35, pay more attention to eyebrows-make a huge difference to your overall look, plus finding a flattering but not ageing hairstyle. Keeping nails, teeth etc in good order too is also advisable.

Sorry OP, distracting the thread but noddy that's interesting re the water. Was the difference quite dramatic? Did many of you on the trial notice a difference? There is a theory that many of us are sub-clinically dehydrated and not drinking/obtaining (thru foods) enough water. We prob don't need the peeing-all-day amounts that some suggest, but maybe we I do need more.

Fillers - done well. Not tried botox yet, but again, if done well I'm sure it is fab.

Ageing sucks.
The alternative is worse.

water makes no diff

there is NO EVIDENCE that you dont just piss it out

Don't do nightshift

Hi Noddy, do you find that since your transplant you need tonnes of water? I need so much now and get dehydrated really quickly. Think the immunosuppressants give me a really dry mouth too which makes me drink more. That's interesting about the tests you took part in, I know when I've been in hospital and put on fluid drips that my skin looks amazing, all plumped up and glowing! Hope you are well at the mo.

I've also bought Decleor products as I'm at Center Parcs and had a facial today and as usual bought more things I don't need in the hope it makes me look better!

Things that help me:
Water, water and more water. If you don't have enough, your body keeps what little it has for the vital internal organs and processes and not skin, hair, nails, extremities etc. If you increase your intake (do it gradually!) at first you will pee more as your body adapts, it takes your body up to 2 -3 weeks to trust that the water will keep on coming, then it begins to use it properly to flush out toxins, and send the extra to the outer layers (skin) so after a month or so you should see an improvement.

Facial massage once or twice a week at night with a good face oil, leave it on overnight.
Exfoliate once or twice a week.
Always take makeup off at night with a good (I like a creamy) cleanser. Don't use wipes, they are loaded with alcohol which is very drying and damaging to the skin (both on the surface and when taken internally!)
Beware the sun, don't smoke, sleep and have FUN. Smiles take years off most people

sleep water and massage!! exfoliation! no smoking, spf in creams and make up and always wear make up and look your best

Yy to the drinking loads of water (and I don't care about clinical evidence, personally) I think that the more dehydrated you are the more the water just runs through you (like water runs off the back of a dehydrated sponge) but when you're nicely hudrated you can hold more water. My skin looks at least 5 yrs younger when I drink tonnes of water for a few days.

Amazing replies, thank you all from the bottom of my lacklustre heart.

I am a non-smoker, fairly good genes and good diet we won't mention alcohol.

However - water and sleep are currently big failing points, and - d'oh! - I've been overlooking both. I know I drink less water than I should & sleep before midnight is a rarity. I'll start there and have a read of the other excellent suggestions upthread.

Exfoliation also good suggestion and intrigued by double cleansing thing...

Thanks again!

Christ. The water myth. You need water you are thirsty. It's a finely honed trick.

Clucky yes I drink loads the immunos make you thirsty. The tests I did were pretty conclusive. Interestingly my dp used to always say that some of the dialysis patients looked so 'well' me included when he dropped me off for a session. Between sessions the water builds in your tissues and skin really hydrated and plump but after when they had removed it I always looked worse but felt better! The tests I took part in were scientific and based on the shape of the skin cells under the microscope at different levels of hydration. Was very interesting to see. I must dig out the info was a few (ahem) years ago. Sodium levels I think affected how much water 'stayed in" iirc

I dont think you have to over do it btw but I think if you drink 2 extra big glasses for a week and see what you think? Nothing lost really.

feel free to drink lots of water - but as so many have said, none of the creams do anything at all. It isn't illegal to sell snake oil to the stupid, and that is exactly what the beauty companies do. Don't be one of the stupid!

the magazine photos are airbrushed, the commercials are faked.

to look young for your age:

• choose the right parents with good genes
• don't smoke
• don't sunbathe. Go outside but wear a real sunscreen (not a teeny tiny bottle cosmetic version)
• eat properly. Good mix of nutrients, no diet food, no mushed up smoothies.
• freeze your face: never smile or frown.

or alternatively, ignore the first and last on the list, do the others and have a life!

Eat as many vegetables as you can.

Lots of healthy fat-avocado, olive oil, nuts, fish.

Loads of water.

Ditch the sugar. Apart from a little very dark chocolate which has antioxidants and boosts circulation.

Splash face with warm water in morning and use oil cleansing, exfoliant, serum and moisturizer at night. Seriously...go to bed looking like you've smeared butter on your face.

Exercise for an hour a day (preferably outdoors).

Take naps and go to bed early.

Sunscreen. Every day.

Limit alcohol to one unit a day at most (red wine is good for circulation).

Decent makeup. You're over 35...it's time. If you don't know how, watch Lisa Eldridge on the Tube for some good tutorials.

I'm 37 and have been told twice in the last week that I look like a teenager and I got carded at the wine shop last week !

Alcohol is a killer for skin.

For the past 6 months I've been drinking 2 litres of water a day. Where I once hovered on 9 stone ,I haven't changed my food intake and an now hovering on 8 and a half (think the extra half stone before might've been water retention ?) Not that this has anything to do with looking younger ,lol ,but just saying water can make some differences.

Yes LordP, I agree with you to a point. But a lot of us no longer recognise thirst when we should. Hence the sub clinical dehydration. I don't think we need the 3 litres or whatever they tell us, load of crap, but we prob do need a bit more than our current intake.

I've always been in the 'water is bollocks' camp, but since I've started drinking a pint or so on waking, I've seen a huge increase in my energy levels. I no longer spend the first hour of the day shuffling around and mumbling to myself.

And ignore everyone. There is such a thing as miracle cream: retin a

Can't help you with answers only to say people are right about external factors influencing aging.

Both stress and lack of sleep have put wrinkles on my haggard worn out face almost overnight.

I swear if I was relaxed and well rested I would look completely different.

That's the penalty for 2 preschool children, a medical problem and more recently a troubled marriage

I wish there was a magic cream to put my face back the way it was just a few months ago!

ProjectGainsborough I'm sure you know this but Retin A is a pharmaceutical and you need a prescription - that's exactly the point people are making. (Ok you might be able to find it on Ebay but as it's been known to peel your skin off I don't think I'll bother!) The version they put in over the counter 'miracle creams' is a very distant cousin. This is why we call it a con. It's like selling you a jar of Mellow Birds and calling it espresso.