Most of us long for beautiful, younger looking skin, but don’t do what is needed to maintain the appearance of it. So would you prefer skin as soft as a baby’s bottom or as wrinkled and craggy as an old lady? Below lies the key to longer lasting, youthful looking skin

Recently we spoke to a rather stunning, young client who was enquiring about the latest anti-ageing creams. She wanted something expensive and effective, but all she really needed was a product that maintained her great complexion, until there was reason to change to something slightly better.

Look after your skin

Apart from being the largest organ of our body, the skin also self-maintains. It has the ability to cool and renew itself as well as ensure that even balances of moisture levels remain. It also produces sufficient oil levels, allowing it to stay flexible and supple.

When we are young, we tend not to give the skin much thought, since it takes care of itself. However, there are some exceptions. Skin which is very oily and active needs to be kept away from bacteria - if you wish to avoid a breakout. For drier skin, correct levels of oil and water are needed. This allows the skin to function as it should. And of course, we all require protection from pollution, the environment and the ravages of UV light.

As we age, our skin begins to get sluggish and looks dull and lifeless. It thins by around 50%, causing it to become more delicate. The ability to maintain water levels is also reduced and oils within our skin are not as efficiently produced. Our skin support system also begins to break down, due to the large amount of facial expressions that we make. And since it takes a staggering 10,000 repeated facial expressions to leave us with a permanent line or wrinkle, you might want to think twice before getting angry!

Although the skin possesses some wonderful abilities, it's also incredibly lazy. When young, the skin cares for itself but as you get older, you need to start doing things for your skin. That's why it's important to use the correct level of skincare needed. If, for example you start to use a skin firming cream before you actually need to, your skin loses its elasticity. If you start slapping on the moisturiser, you're causing it to become addicted to high water levels and this can lead to problems later.

Use sunscreen daily

It might seem strange, but the best anti-ageing product is daily sunscreen. According to the FDA, the lowest level of protection is an SPF15, which shields you from daily exposure to the sun as well as artificial lighting such as halogen and computer screens. You should also be aware that sunscreen should be used as early on as possible, since most of the skin problems we notice later on in life, occurred back in our childhood days when we were too young to notice anything.

An important factor to consider is eye-cream, which can be used as early on as 18. Surprising? Hardly, since the first place we notice fine lines and wrinkles is indeed, the eye area. The eyes are our most expressive feature, so opt for a simple cream, since not a lot of expertise is needed in the early stages. You are simply trying to build up a daily regime, where your skin will adapt to the product you are using.

Next, consider genetics. If the men and women in your family tend to develop saggy skin along the jaw- line, look for a product that will support your jaw area. This will help to keep the area firm, therefore reducing the chance of your jaw line becoming saggy also. There are also some serum weight products that can help those whose skin becomes thinner with age. Although it might not seem like they're not doing much for you at first, remember to be patient and give the skin time to adapt to them.

Use what you need, when you need it. Regular examinations on your skin are vital in making sure skin is receiving what it needs. So like you would with your car, a complete check-up is necessary. If there's a problem, do something about it!

If it starts to feel tired and sluggish, look for a product that will speed up the renewal process, and if it starts to slacken, add a firming product. Each time you purchase a new product, ask yourself if it's doing what it's supposed to. Are there any visible changes to your skin?

Apply a product underneath your regular moisturiser until it's finished. Then have a good look and assess whether the problem has subsided. If it has, there's no need to continue using the product. If, however, the problem persists, simply repeat your cycle as before, or switch to a new product which you know will deal with the problem in a faster, more effective way.

And it's as simple as that: use what you need, when you need it and enjoy that beautiful skin you've always wanted.