Expert: Judy Frayne - 11/13/2011

Question
Hi Judy
I was wondering,with all the anti-ageing creams out there.What would you recommend.Of the well known products you see when shopping? I was looking at them today & with there being so many.I didn't know witch one to choose,because they all say the same thing.How do you know the one you choose,will do what it says on the box?

Thanks for yr help
Julie-ann

Answer
Goodness me - that's a loaded question Julie-ann. You are quite right that there are so many products out there, it's so hard to decide what ingredients do, and many do make fantastic claims. With all products you will find some suit some skins more than others, and I guess twenty different people will probably put forwards as many different products as being their personal favourite. There's no harm in researching products on the Internet - forums are especially useful for getting other people's opinions of products.

Although you will have heard this before ,I think the key points to keeping skin looking young and healthy are regular cleansing, toning and moisturising the skin with products that suit you personally. The other side of healthy, young looking skin is what lies underneath and good circulation and a healthy diet with plenty of water, fruit and veg. And of course the quickest way to age the skin is to smoke and expose unprotected skin to the sun in hot weather.

I have used different anti ageing creams myself. I have a very dry skin and have been moisturising since I was a teenager. However I also find that some of the oils I use for aromatherapy are very nourishing and make my skin feel fantastic.   There is an excellent book called 'The Fragrant Pharmacy' by Valerie Ann Worwood, which gives wonderful recipes for home made beauty products, and another brilliant book by Liz Earle called 'Vital Oils' which looks at oils for keeping the skin looking young and healthy.

With regard to aromatherapy oils - some of the best essential oils for the kin are those that also relax and de-stress. Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, Patchouli, Benzoin, Jasmine, Rose .... there are many oils that when blended with a good base oil, or cream will give wonderful health and vitality to the skin. Vitamin E cream or oil, Wheatgerm oil and Jojoba oil are all fantastic moisturisers. you really need to determine your skin type and then choose accordingly.

Some of the products on sale are also very good, and some folk wouldn't consider making their own skin products. However, I heard someone talking about avocado one day, as a wonderful face treatment. I followed instructions - (ate the avocado first) and then used the stone to roll over my face.This gets the blood circulating all over face. Then I took the avocado skins, turned them out the wrong way and used them to rub the remaining avocado flesh all over my face. I then waited while the most amazing feeling crept over my skin. My face started to tighten up and tingle. Eventually, after the avocado face pack had dried I rinsed it all off in warm water and my skin felt truly amazing. So it's really worth giving some of the more ordinary products a go too. I could go on - there's an great recipe that uses oats....

If you let me know your skin type, I could send you some formulae using essential oils . In the meantime - chat with the people selling those products, do some research on the Internet and try the avocado face pack next time you have one !

Best wishes

Judy