Those of you who have taken care of your skin throughout your lives, do you currently look as if you take elixir of youth with your breakfast each morning?

[scouseontheinside]

Just that really! I've taken fairly good care of my skin, moisturised and suncreened fairly consistently... My mum was mad for skin care routines and always bought a full range on branded skin care products for our use when growing up.

However, DH wouldn't know a moisturising cream if it fell from the sky and hit him on the head - and his skin looks the same as mine!

Do you think it really makes a difference?

Canihaveonemoreslice interesting link!

I've gone for mid range moisturisers - I'm prone to dryness on the corners of my nose, and find that supermarket brands don't do a thing. Toners and scrubs I get with the weekly food shop.

I didn't realise that with the sunscreen Koala! Will have to see about getting some higher factor... Skin doesn't seem to have copped it too bad thankfully.

scouse, I've just received an order from the US today (bought on eBay) of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF55. It is the absolute bomb; not greasy at all and dries to an invisible, powder-textured finish. I put a thick layer on my face and neck every morning.

I agree with a previous poster that anything lower than 30+ is not sufficient.

Not only do I never get even slightly burnt any more, all the brown splotches and sunspots I had in my 20s have faded and disappeared.

I am two years off fifty and have no wrinkles and barely any fine lines on my forehead. It is pure genetics apart from not ever allowing my face to tan. I just have normal skin and quite a thick epidermis, hence the lack of effects of time.

I do use face creams but promiscuously and erratically.

I have always looked after my skin and think I do look noticeably younger than my closest friends who are the same age, however I think that is more to do with the fact that I don't smoke and haven't had a drink for 12 years, than anything I apply to my face.

Thanks for the tip Koala - can't stand the greasiness of really heavy sunscreens so I'll give that one a go!

By taking care of your skin, if you mean expensive creams, I haven't done that all my life, but I have stayed out of the sun because I am so fair, sensitive and burn easily. I have also always had to avoid anything harsh, peels, retinol-type things, oil-stripping treatments because they just make my skin sore. So I've always used things like Simple or Origins (when more flush), and vaseline around my eyes.

I'm now very happy with my state of wrinkledom at 44, it is not bad at all. My face is "falling" a bit making me heavier around the jaw, but I have hardly any eye or forehead wrinkles, which I have started to notice on other people my age. I often get mistaken for younger than I am (and not just in a "being polite" way). Although I think between 40 and 50 is the time when a lot changes, especially for women.

However I do think it is genetic too - my mum looks younger than her age, my grandpa was still dark-haired in his late 60s and looked like he was in his 40s.

I have another fabulous "skin secret" too - terrible acne and oily skin. It has been a total bastard that I wouldn't wish on anyone but OTOH having your skin drenched in oil 24/7 probably does help with the wrinkles. Luckily I now have a medication that works, but I wonder if that will mean I start to age quicker too.

SPF 15 is too little as most people use too little to get the full SPF advertised.

However SPF 15 blocks 94% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 about 98%. So the differences aren't as big as you might expect - SPF 30 isn't twice as good as SPF 15.

Given that you probably aren't getting the SPF on the bottle, many dermatologists will advise SPF 30 on the basis that you are probably then getting somewhere like 15 in real life. How much more effective it is going over 30 no-one knows and it's a personal choice over what product you like.

You also need to make sure your sunscreen has UVA protection (SPF only means UVB)

Oh and I made no effort with my skin until recently and it does look fab but you can put this down to:

1. Never smoking
2. Never tanning or actually going outdoors much
3. Oily skin and acne - usually means great skin in between the spots
4. Being overweight - helps pad things out, especially around the neck. You can see it really clearly on thin celebrities that their necks look old first. I wouldn't recommend being fat to others though!
5. Great genes

Am having a midlife crisis at 39 so suddenly gone skin crazy and now have the same great skin, minus all the spots and blackheads. Hoping to keep the wrinkles at bay a bit longer.

Just to add to the sun debate.... it depends on your skin type because although very pale I am not fair, I tan easily and have virtually no photo damage (as proven by UV torch thingy). Someone with pink fair skin could do half the sunbathing I have and have skin damage. So it's important to act according to your skin type I think.

Also I once asked a lovely old lady aged about 85 at the time if she had any regrets in life. I was expecting something profound but she just said 'I wish I'd moisturised my neck'!

Oh I don't know...

I'd rather go out, have some fun the sun - I do it responsibly though, and stay in the shade, but am not paranoid about it than have good skin for a few years when I'm old.

Ageing is normal.
I do use skin care, and skin supplements but don't obsess with sun cream when in the UK.

My mother has good skin, so I do think it's also down to that.

I don't think I obsess about the sun really - I just wear a hat/suncream/avoid actual sunbathing. I like hot days and some sun on your skin is good for you.

But I do remember meeting someone when I was early 20s who had a very tanned, wrinkled and leathery neck/chest/cleavage area. She was a friend of the person I was with, who told me afterwards she was 40-odd. I resolved then and there to keep that area well-SPFd or covered. And sure enough it is still pale and peachy and that does make me happy.

Totally agree that there are no magic creams, you just need to find a moisturiser that suits your skin. For me, that's cheap old Astral - I can't imagine how anything could be better.

Lifestyle factors are way more important IME - sleep, water, vegetables, watch the sugar including booze, no smoking, high SPF. And eating good fats - oils, nuts, avocados. And a good sweaty run is the best facial ever - makes your skin glow!

I have no wrinkles at all at 36. Not even fine lines you can notice. I had acne too so I think my skin was always oily. I don't even really use moisturiser. I go through phases. I don't smoke but I don't particularly look after my skin. Certainly no toners and all that malarkey.

My 74-year-old mother looks very very young just due to the skin on her face. She has been using Retina A for 30 years. She literally looks 55. She has always worn foundation makeup, too.

I think, going back to your OP, that men don't put their skin through the same battles we do daily with makeup. I wash my face in the morning, put makeup all over it, and then wash it again in the evening. My OH simply rinses his face in the shower. He occasionally uses sun protection if he's going to be out for a day of sport, and is partial to a long steamy bath which is probably good for his pores. As for genes he certainly looks young and everyone else in his family looks their age. As for me, I have pot luck genes and am doing ok with it, it's my hair that ages me!

Ooh wrapdress your Mum sounds very wise! How did she know about retin A for all that time? Does she also whack on the sunscreen?

Not for me . I spend a lot of time and money on my skin, always looking at the beauty pages, researching different ranges etc. I don't drink a lot (none for a couple of years now) have never smoked, avoid the sun bug none of it shows. I look spotty, dehydrated, slightly aged which really pisses me off. I look as though I have never heard of double cleansing, wouldn't know what to do with serum and never use SPF. I am blaming my hormonal skin.

I'm not sure the beauty pages help - they spend most of their times telling you something is pretty or smells nice or feels nice. Not what the ingredients are (the sciencey ones, not the random plant extracts to make you think it's natural) or what sort of routine you really need.

I learned more from here esp the thread about facial peels, the Sam Bunting Q&A (and then reading her blog) and a friend's tip to look at the Beautypedia site.

Now spot free for first time in 25 years and no faffy double cleansing either.

Certainly think sun beds are to be avoided at all costs.

I don't think you can compare men to women really, they have thicker epidermis's than women & oilier skins so they won't age as badly as us.

I do look young for my age but I've applied proper sunscreens every day since I was 22. I think it has helped.

My mum looks great for her age (67).

She:
-smoked for 20 years
-never bothered about spf
-isn't interested in skincare products particularly

However she:
-has always had a stable healthy weight
-has always cleansed and moisturised
-doesn't drink much
-exercises and always has done
-eat lots of fruit and veg
-has regular haircuts and always puts on make-up if she's out
-dresses well
-has great posture

I have been religious about spf and have never smoked, so am hoping to do as well as her if not better. However at 40 I look my age, no younger or older!