Skin Ageing and Wrinkles

Shazanne

I am looking for some really good advice on what to do about skin ageing and wrinkes. I have tried numerous creams etc but the problem continues to get worse. I am 48 and I smoke (yes I know it does not help!) but I feel that the area around my eyes is far too wrinkled for my age and I also notice the early stages of sagging on my cheeks. I have forehead lines as well and, of course, smokers lines around my mouth.
This whole situation is totally destroying my confidence, particularly as none of my friends appear to be ageing quite so quickly.
I am currently using the Elite three step range, which I bought on line from the US. It includes an eye gel, a neck cream and a face gel. I use it under a pretty basic moisturiser as I feel a strong one might be too much for my skin.
At this stage I am open to any suggestions regarding good cream or even treatments that might help. I welcome any suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to read this:)

How Strange

You could try microdermabrasion or a gycolic peel. As for products I don't really know what to recommend.

I'm sure it's the last thing you want to hear but the best thing you can do is give up smoking asap as you can spend a fortune on treatments and creams but they can't fight the effects of smoking. It's not a case that smoking doesn't help but more that it suffocates your skin.

lindtee

I'm sorry to say but I think genetics is a big part of how well your skin will age, I know smokers who have aged incredibly well and likewise I know non-smokers who haven't! I'm a smoker and I don't think I have aged too badly (I'm 32 now but am told I look younger). Saying that of course smoking is not good for your skin, and doesn't help matters!! I gave up using expensive creams and lotions and potions a good few years ago, and now use Aldi creams(or what ever is cheap at the time:pac:) and find them just as good as the clarins and lancome I used to use. Bar plastic surgery I don't think there is anything that can turn the clock back on wrinkles but you can make your skin look better.

Lots of people recommend primers under makeup to give a nice smooth base, you don't have to pay loads, I got an E.L.F one which worked fine. Drink lots of water and eat well. Make sure your moisturiser has an SPF, as the sun can age skin too. And of course, try and give up the smokes.

anniehoo

+1 lindtee

I also dont use expensive fancy schmancy creams and lotions. I think top of the list for how your skin ages is genetics, then sun exposure,smoking, diet, dehydration levels in that order.

After 30+ your skin collagen levels start to decrease. Collagen is vital for keeping it supple and non saggy. Vitamin E and CO Q10 supplements are known to help maintain or at least support collagen levels.

You should be:
-wearing high spf (30+) sunscreen everyday on your face
-stay hydrated
-give up/cut down on smoking (you know yourself)
-glycolic peel as suggested.Will rejuvenate your skin and make it look fresher.
-If you have the money theres lots of non surgical face lift procedures that can work wonders.
- a primer and a line minimiser under your makeup

You have to put major effort in though im afraid. The wrinkles and sagging are there, end of. They dont happen overnight just like fixing them wont happen overnight.Haphazardly applying random creams and drinking a few extra glasses of water a day are not going to fix it unfortunately.

Shazanne

Many, many thanks to you all for taking the time to reply. I am prepared to put the work in - even to try and quit the pesky weed - if it makes an improvement. As regards genetics, my mother (a smoker and a half!!) is 70 and has excellent skin. However, she is sallow skinned whereas I am fair like my father - perhaps that's a problem too?
I will most certainly try a glycolic peel - any recommendations on where is best to go as my local salons don't appear to offer this? And I will up my SPF as it's only 15 at present.
Again, thanks for the replies:):):)