How to turn back time

There is no miracle cure to prevent the ageing process however there is plenty you can do to hold back the years until it comes along.

Grooming

Washing your face with tap water can strip the skin of oil and moisture as it can contain chlorine, which causes oxidative damage. Also excessively long showers overexpose your skin to chlorine.

Our skin's natural renewal process slows down as we get older, especially once we pass the age of 30. Accelerate the skin renewal process with the help of products containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids. These are gentle exfoliants that bring fresh skin cells to the surface and leave the skin looking younger.

Applying sun protection is essential as UV rays cause 80% of the lines and wrinkles on your face. It's not just sunbathing that’s to blame, even everyday low-level exposure takes its toll so use a daily moisturiser with built in sun protection

Give yourself a facelift by using an anti-ageing cream or serum which will help lift, tone and firm the skin, making it look more youthful. The best time for the body to repair itself is between 11pm and 3am so apply before getting your beauty sleep.

One third of men have their first grey hair by the age of 25 and there's no more obvious sign of ageing. Use a shampoo-in hair colour to disguise grey hair by using a comb to subtly blend colour into areas of the hair that are greying.
 
Teeth are also a strong indicator of youth and having healthy white ones can have an instant anti-ageing effect. Keep yours sparkling with the help of a teeth whitening toothpaste or system.

Diet
 
Alcohol increases the leakiness of small blood vessels, so more water moves from bloodstream into soft tissues. If you drink late in the evening this may result in facial puffiness, skin stretching and faster wrinkle formation.

Along with the sun, sugar is the skin's number one enemy because it bonds to proteins in collagen causing it to mesh and become stiff and inflexible, which in turn leads to wrinkling.

Men with higher levels of cholesterol look older so reduce yours by cutting back on red meat and dairy produce.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and is crucial for fighting the toxic free radicals linked with the ageing process. It's also important for maintaining skin's elasticity. Citrus fruits, potatoes, cabbage and peppers are other good sources.

Lifestyle

Sleeping on your back will help prevent the formation of vertical 'sleep lines'  - wrinkles that can, over time, become permanent.

Not only does smoking starve your skin of essential nutrients it also increases the body's levels of enzymes that actively attack collagen, the natural scaffolding for your skin.
 
Finally according to a recent Scottish study men who have a good sex life tend to look between four and seven years younger than those who don't. The reason? Sex it seems makes you feel more content, less stressed and enables you to sleep better - and all three things are reflected in your face.