25 budget ways to turn back the clock

SHE beauty editor Eve Cameron reveals the 25 best beauty tips and top products to look younger. All under £30!

When I ask women for their anti-ageing beauty tips, no one ever says that their secret is a £300 wonder cream. So here are my top 25: a combination of new products, personal research and some tried and-trusted favourites. None of them will cost you more than £30 - and they'll all help make you look years younger!

 

1. Eat right

Chronic inflammation is thought to lead to ageing. And while genetics play a part, some foods can reduce inflammation, says US health guru Dr Andrew Weil. "Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, nourish skin and reduce inflammation, while fruit and vegetables are anti-ageing as they contain phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, along with other compounds that help maintain your skin's natural defences."

And in order to really turn back the clock, cut your intake of sugar, processed foods, trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils - as all of these cause inflammation.

 

2. Face value

Having a facial is a great way to de-stress your skin and leave you looking fresh. But they can be expensive, so I'm going to let you in on a secret: Origins offers a 45-minute Organic Mini Facial for just £15, redeemable against any purchase! The only downside is that it takes place either behind a screen on the beauty counter or in a nearby beauty room, so you won't be able to quite escape the bustle of the store.

Call 0800 731 4039 for details

 

3. Chill out

Stress shows in your skin as accelerated ageing, so managing your anxiety levels is vital. Shabir Daya, the pharmacist at victoriahealth.com explains, "At times  of stress, the adrenal glands produce excess cortisol. This increases the levels of the enzyme responsible for inflammation, which is linked to skin ageing."

Magnolia Phellodendron Complex, by Doctor's A to Z, £21.95 for 90 capsules, is a natural stress reliever and may help to eliminate excess cortisol.

 

4. Skin sense

Treat the skin you see in the mirror, as opposed to the skin you've always had, says Merri Mayers, MD of Comfort & Joy (comfortandjoy.co.uk). "The change of seasons and passing of birthdays means that the lightweight skin lotion you've loved for years may no longer deliver. It could be time to upgrade to something richer. And remember that dry or dehydrated skin always emphasises lines."

 

5. Get even!

New research has revealed that in women aged 40+, the less facial discolouration you have, the healthier and younger you are perceived to be. So tackling redness, pigmentation and blotches is key to looking better for longer. Ingredients to look out for are niacinamide and n-acetyl glucosamine - both found in Olay's Definity Eye range, from £22.99. To deal with redness, try Good Skin All Calm Moisture Lotion or Cream, both £18 (Superdrug), which has an anti-irritant, anti-redness effect.

 

6. Fuzz off

The only permanent way to remove hair is by electrolysis - a method that is often overlooked in these days of lasers. But the problem with lasers is that they're not great at removing fine, downy hair or dark hair on dark skin.
Vicki Smith, director of Absolute Aesthetics (absolute aesthetics.co.uk), maintains  that with regular treatment, electrolysis will completely rid you of an unwanted moustache, downy cheek hair, chin hair and even nasal hair - all of which are not just ageing, but confidence-destroying too.

From £12.50 for 10 minutes

 

7. Make-up magic

Make-up artist Louise Constad (beautyqueenworkshops.com) advises: "If you use eyeliner (liquid or pencil), always take it up slightly at the end for a more youthful look. If it's too thick or goes down, it will make eyes look old and droopy."

 

8. Shape up

Well-defined and shaped eyebrows can take years off you. I go every six weeks to Nadiya Bekkar at Bloww (020 7292 0300) to have mine waxed and tweezed into shape (she'll also trim any brows that are too long). Or look out for brow bars around the country, such as Blink, Benefit and the brow bar service at Estée Lauder counters (£15 redeemable against purchase).

 

9. The ultimate 98p hair miracle

I'm so excited to have found the best intensive hair conditioning treatment ever for coloured hair - at just 98p! If you use Clairol home colouring kits, then you'll already be familiar with it, because it's the Clairol ColourSeal Gloss, which comes in the pack for after colouring care. The good news is you can now buy it separately in the same aisle as the hair colourant.

Why is it so special? If you've been colouring for years, you'll find your hair inevitably doesn't look or feel as soft and silky as it once did. But this super-strength conditioner seems to turn back the clock and really leaves hair feeling smooth to the touch and shiny. It's all down to amino silicones, which grab the surface of coloured hair more effectively than regular conditioning ingredients, leaving a thin, even layer of glass-like gloss that lasts for a few shampoos.  

 

10. Eye opener

I've been wowed by Eyliplex-2 Eye Cream, £27.99. There's a day gel, which smoothes and lifts, while the night balm combats shadows and firms and hydrates.

 

See the next 10 beauty tips from Eve here

 

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