Creme, pill, food,make-up,therapy - what actually works in the battle to look younger & slimmer?

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I want to believe every magazine article or item on tv that says buy this face creme and your wrinkles will go, or see this therapist and you'll be slimmer. Experience tells me that it's all marketing, but surely some of this stuff works, doesn't it?

So what have you done or used thats actually worked to make you look younger/more beautiful/slimmer etc?

Genes.

Wearing sun protection and never sun-bathing.

Not being too thin.

Diet.

Sleep.

Water.

Clothes that suit your body shape.

Positive outlook.

A smile.

Enthusiasm.

Makeup.

Hair up (if long), not grey.

Upright stance, shoulders back, tummy in, walk quickly, do things quickly, no slouching, moaning or looking defeated.

Also white teeth. Yellowing/greying teeth is as sure a sign of ageing as grey hair. Lipstick or gloss with red/crimson tones make your teeth look whiter than those with orangey/brownish tones.

Apparently.

anyone else?

I'll second the teeth comment, the posture comment as well

Good haircut and colour

Good quality clothes...particularly a good bra to life your norks up...saggy norks make anyone look older

Not too much makeup and spend spome money on a good base for under your foundation. The la prarie rose illusion line filler is brilliant if expensive.

A heated eyelash curler helps to open up your eyes and makeyou look younger and more awake

Have your eyebrows plucked professionally - can give the impression of an eye lift if well done

SLEEP!

Lots of fruit and veg

Being the right weight - not to fat, not to thin...you need some fat to push out the wrinkles

pay attention to your neck and your hands - they give the game away in terms of age....exfoliate and use a good cream on both, plus sunscreen every day. Also don't forget your decolette...no point in having a wrinkle free face and crepey skin lower down.

Exfoliate your skin on your face - icrodermabrasion once a week. Basically if you scrape all the dead skin off your face cream will sink in better and your makeup will sit better on your face

Use a serum at night (estee lauder night repair - it does work), followed by a good cream and an eye treatment

these are the things I do anyway

The biggest impact IMVHO is to be the right weight for your build and height. Slim (not thin), flat tummy etc - as near as possible to your late teenage build. Help yourself with good underwear.

Plenty of rest / sleep.

Healthy eating - three meals a day.

Clean, buffed skin all over.

Clean, bouncy hair in a cut that suits you, preferably in a natural colour.

Perfectly clean, white teeth in an excellent state of repair.

the way you think

and water can help, but it begins with genes

Lots of exercise.

Interesting thread. I was reading French Marie Claire the other day and it had a very seductive headline along the lines of "Lose 5 years and 5 kilograms in a month" or some such promise. I do 90% of the things they recommend so I guess this is as good as it gets

Since my baby started sleeping through the night everyone has commented on how well I look so I will echo the advice to get a good night's sleep.

Forgot to say: not smoking is obviously the single most important thing to looking younger.

Exercise, makes you look better, feel better about yourself, gives you me time, makes you happier.
All in all makes you sexy and young.

At the gym all of the 'fit' older women look great. That's good enough for me!