Get younger-looking skin

Who doesn't want to look younger? Taut, blemish-free, smooth skin is what most women dream of and are even willing to go under the knife for. Few realise that a stress-free life and a daily skincare regime can help you postpone looking your age. Inside out You are what you eat. Just scrubbing your face clean everyday will not work well enough if you do not cleanse your system internally by eating the right food. Clinical nutritionist Dr Nupur Krishnan says, "Eating a diet rich in colourful fruits and vegetables can help protect against ageing. Tomatoes, red bell pepper and citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C, while green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes and bright orange vegetables have carotenoids that also reverse ageing." Vitamin E is essential for skin elasticity and can be found in avocado and nuts like walnuts and cashewnuts, she adds. Dietitian Deepshikha Aggarwal says, "Anti-oxidants that are present in blueberries, cranberries and aloevera can help fight bacteria and keep your skin looking bright." Fluid formula With age, you are more vulnerable to dehydration and your dry skin can make you look older than you are, as it encourages fine lines to become prominent. You may have already heard this a hundred times before, but at least eight to ten glasses of water a day is essential. Deepshikha says, "Avoid caffeinated drinks. They increase wrinkle formation and also lead to skin darkening. Have green tea instead if you want to bring a healthy glow to your skin." The idea is to keep your body hydrated all the time - if you are not too fond of water you can have fruit smoothies, chaas, vegetable soups, unsweetened natural fruit juice, low-fat milk and soy milk. Screen your skin People have not really understood the importance of sunscreen - they are neither regular nor very particular about the sun protection factor (SPF) of their sunscreen. Doctors say unprotected skin can get irreversibly damaged, and this damage invariably shows up on the skin in the form of fine lines, dark spots and pigmentation. Cosmetologist and dermatologist Dr Jamuna Pai says, "You should apply sunscreen regularly and not just once a day." Make sure the SPF is at least over 30, say experts. Do it daily If you want your skin to retain its healthy radiance and youthful look, you must stick to a basic skincare routine. Dr Apratim Goel, dermatologist, says, "Before your go off to bed, remove all traces of makeup with a makeup remover and then cleanse your skin with a facial cleanser. Then use a toner and a hydrating and nourishing moisturiser. Do this without fail." Tips and toes If you want to guess the age of someone you should look at their hands and feet, because age lines appear there first. Aesthetician Ritu Tanwar states that one should care for the skin on the hands and feet just like the face and neck. "Ideally, you should use creams that are meant especially for hands and feet rather than the general moisturiser, because it is quite different from facial skin. Exfoliate and scrub your hands and feet regularly and before retiring for the day, make sure that you apply something creamy and nourishing on them. A fortnightly (weekly would be better) pedicure will do you good in the monsoon because feet tend to get dirty. A monthly manicure is also recommended," she suggests.