When do we start ageing?

We all begin the ageing process just as soon as we pop out into the world. Every day of our lives our bodies change and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes place when we are children is vastly different as we get older.

I cannot tell you at what specific age you start to notice your skin is starting to sag, or when one starts to see wrinkles appear. Its different for everyone, some people age slower than others and some faster.

Every day you are bombarded with commercial messages that attempt to lure you into believing that the most recent miracle drug is just what you need to fight off the ravages of Mother Nature.

At times it seems as though there are more miracle methods than ever being flashed in front of your eyes each day, and there are. Ask any advertising executive and they will admit that there are more advertisements than ever touting everything designed to cash in on a huge market.

What is that market?

It’s the beauty market. Its a booming market in comparison to how it may of been 25 years ago. Billion pound industry cashing in on the desparate consumer. The media has changed the way how anyone feels about themselves. We are constantly seeing the beautifulest of men and women on our shelves in the grocery store, on television, on billboards etc, so with it always being a constant reminder, we go out looking to achieve the same result forgetting that some of these people in the media have been carved out with surgical knives to make them what they are.

How well does any product work?

Anti-ageing creams, potions and drugs is what everyone will explore at least once in their lives. It may be at a time when you first notice your wrinkles, or at a time when you need to inpress that special person in your life, or when you feel the need to get noticed. It can be at any time.

So you rush out to the chemist and you spend the best part of an hour sizing up the advantages and disadvantages of every anti-ageing products on the market. You wiegh up the S.M.A.R.T. option.

• S - Specific,to your skin
• M - Measurable, comparison of cost, quality and brand
• A - Acheivable, which may work and which seem safe
• R - Realisitic, within a realistic
• T - Timescale

How does anyone know?

We dont. Nobody does. We are all different and so its a fact that what may work for one person may not work for another.

What works for me and the cost.

• I use a mild soap on my face and wash with lukewarm water two times twice a day. (0.68p)
• I use a facial scrub twice a day. (1.89)
• I use moisturiser with protection once a day. (4.25)
• I use facial cleaning milk and toning lotion twice a week. (24.95)
• I use a face mask once a fortnight (0.99)

And that is it, barely enough to break the bank but extremely good products to keep me looking and feeling great.

I also feel that what you eat has a lot to do with it too, so my diet is nothing special, I dont like much meat, so my main dishes are vegatables and lentils with rice or chappatti's, wholegrain bread etc, Fast food I restrict to once a week and chocolates, well am still struggling with that. I need that once a day minimum.

And finally I believe that if you enjoy your life no matter what challenges you may have to face personally, and you can keep smiling, it will keep you looking young.

Taking control of yourself. How you feel inside will determine how you look on the outside. Life is too short, so enjoy it while you can, and have lots of fun and laughter along the way!