Ageing gracefully is the ultimate goal of hopeful, optimistic people everywhere, isn’t it? Today, turning back the clock is the quest for most women and men who simply refuse to age gracefully. With all that’s available aesthetically – the various forms of surgery with Botox being the frontrunner in time trickery – visible signs of aging can be erased altogether. But what is it they say about beauty being on the inside? Well, when it comes to how we feel and look on the outside it’s often psychological. If we feel good on the inside, this is reflected on the outside.

The key to a beautiful complexion is daily care and smart prevention
Our body’s largest organ – our skin – shows signs of aging more than any other body part. We’re constantly told that the key to a beautiful complexion is daily care and smart prevention. I know wrinkle-free is never an option, but who doesn’t want to look healthy and youthful as the decades go by? Apparently skin-repair replacement mech-anisms begin to slow by age 20 (yes, really!) and I bet if more people knew this, they’d be doing things differently when it comes to their skincare. What we do right now will determine how our skin looks later on in life. Now is the time for us to build up the proper discipline and habits that will help us age gracefully!

Don’t treat your skin like it’s the enemy. Even if you suffer with acne, blemishes or redness, trying to tackle the problem with harsh cleansers will only strip the skin, not treat it. Washing your face twice daily and for women, removing make up before going to bed, are essentials before starting your routine. We must stimulate our skin in order for it to repair itself. Therefore, dermatologists advise we exfoliate three times a week and the best time to do this is at night, so the skin has time to recover. The ideal exfoliator will be something relatively gentle with not too much grit – you don’t want to rub your face raw. A recommended product for this is Dermalogica’s Skin Prep Scrub.

A new wave of candyfloss curls
As I’ve spoken about before, the 70s era in particular has been revived in a big way for the season’s biggest trend, and unsurprisingly, is when this new wave of candyfloss curls was born. For this look, bigger really is better! If you want the perfect 70s hair, give your curls some added oomph with the help of one brand who is Queen of the curls, BaByliss. Try their Tight Curls tongs – ensuring you comb in a centre parting first – and recreate the 70s take on the original Gucci girl.

If you’re lucky enough to have a natural curl, you can enhance your own by the simple technique of twisting. Wash and comb your hair before twisting sections into ringlets and allowing them to dry naturally. To protect the process, don’t neglect a decent heat protectant. Apply L’Oreal Paris Elnett Sleek Heat Protect Spray before scrunching hair into a slide or clip (important not to hold with an elastic band, which will pull strands of your hair out) then dry with a diffuser.

Don’t neglect your neck
Once exfoliated, you need a moisturiser to lock in moisture. Personally, I use Olay Essentials Beauty Fluid and have done for as long as I can remember. Your skin is left feeling amazingly soft and it is absorbed really quickly into the skin, unlike others on the market, which leave you feeling greasy and shiny. It’s the ideal base for make up with it’s light and silky feel. Beauty tip – mix a little of the moisturiser with your liquid foundation base, as this will help you to create the coverage you want. Don’t neglect your neck! Like our hands, necks give away a person’s true age, so be sure to apply generously down onto the neck, smoothing away any fine lines.

A cocktail of organic essential oils and natural extracts
One moisturising cream that is perfect for applying to skin before you catch those all important zzz’s is the Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Night Cream, but there are similar creams for different skin types available in many health and beauty stores. This rich and nourishing cream is a cocktail of organic essential oils and natural extracts that hydrate the skin. As we are all aware by now, and as I’ve previously written, coconut oil balances the skin’s natural moisture levels, helping it to stay healthy, and improves the firmness and tone of the skin. This is why this particular cream is ideal for deep overnight hydration.

If you want to grow old gracefully, avoiding the surgeon’s chair and the dreaded Botox needle, invest in products like these so the only question you’ll be asked about your appearance is “How old did you say you are?”