At 35 years old thoughts of aging are frequently visiting my thoughts.  I have been lucky over the years of looking younger than my age but after the birth of my second child a few years ago and the constant stress of motherhood I am now starting to look my age.  The last time I was asked for ID was at the age of 27.  It was for glue in WH Smiths and I was over the moon!  The lady thought I was 16!  I know we all have to age at some point but I’m not sure I want to be an old wrinkled woman. 

Smoking and Sun damage are a major contributor to aging skin and wrinkles so I do make sure that I use factor 15 on my face in the sun and I gave up the cigarettes when I was 25 so I am doing the right things.   Just looking at pictures of Jennifer Anniston and Courtney Cox in the magazine inspires me to eat healthy and drink lots of water.  These women are in their 40s and its obvious they follow a healthy lifestyle to keep them young looking.  They look just as good as Cheryl Cole who is a picture of beauty at the lovely young age of 25.  Seeing the recent pictures of Kate Moss with her haggard skin and tired eyes goes to show that hard partying, late nights, booze and cigarettes will eventually take its toll on your skin.  Once a beauty, the skinny supermodel is not so easy on the eye these days according to the pictures published in magazines like HEAT.

A healthy diet is also good for your skin and there are many foods and products that keep your skin young and protect against aging.

Green leafy Vegetables like Kale are rich in iron and lutein a powerful antioxidant and contain Vitamin A which helps prevent premature wrinkles.

Red and Orange peppers are packed with Vitamin A, E and bioflavonoids to aid skin healing from within.  Other foods that contain Vitamin A are sweet potatoes, carrots, melons, spinach, tomatoes, liver, fish, egg yolk, milk and dairy products.  Vitamin A is important where anti-aging is concerned because it boosts general skin health and encourages regeneration of new skin.

Fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which prevent inflammation and lubricate your skin.

Nuts, especially walnuts and almonds are high in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and help replenish collagen.  They naturally moisturise the skin and promote youthful skin firmness.  They also prevent spots and keep skin smooth.

What I love putting on my skin before I go to bed is Clinique Repair Wear.  It’s absolutely brilliant for making your skin look smooth and plump.  Another favourite of mine is Lancôme but these are expensive products.  I tend to ask for them as gifts at Christmas and birthdays or I save my Boots advantage points to pay for them.    They are my two favourite creams that really make a difference and make my skin feel great.

I am also looking to buy the CLEO Q machine.  I’ve researched it and the testimonials I’ve read online and in magazines make me confident that this is a great product to buy.  The Woman and Beauty magazine voted it the best anti-aging product in 2009 which is promising.  An alternative to painful surgery this product will lift your eyebrows to give you a more youthful and alert look, reduce the appearance of frown lines and furrows and lift hooded eye lids.  Other benefits include;

• assisting with lymph drainage, removing metabolic waste from under the eyes
• Reducing puffiness and dark circles
• Lifting and shaping the cheek muscles and restoring lip fullness.    
• Tightening the jaw line, and reducing the “Jowls” under the chin. 
• Improving the complexion

This product sounds amazing – that it can do all that to your skin without the need for surgery it’s definitely something I will be looking into getting in the next few years leading up to the big 40!