Anti-ageing products are virtually fighting for space on the shelf at the department store or supermarket, but there’s a lot more to looking younger than simply applying an ingredient-rich day and night cream (although they certainly do help!).

There are a lot of extra little changes you can make to ensure you look your best – and the good news is that none of them require a visit to the surgeon!

Change your hairstyle
Sticking with the same haircut and colour you’ve always had can look dated and make you look older. Get an instant fix by asking your hairdresser to help you choose a fresher, more modern style. Layers are a great way to update your style easily and they needn’t change the shape of your haircut too drastically. A sweeping side fringe is another easy way to create a new look. It’s modern and will also hide fine lines or wrinkles on your forehead – no Botox required!

Freshening up your hair colour is another great way to take years off your appearance. To hide greys, women with darker hair should always stick to a shade that’s true to their natural colour, which may require using a semi-permanent rinse every six weeks to keep your hair looking healthy and shiny.

Natural blondes can simply use highlights to help their greys blend seamlessly into their natural colour. If you’ve decided you want to embrace your grey hair, its best to enlist the help of a professional. Ask your hairdresser to gradually lighten your hair colour using a mix of shades until the greys are just part of the mix.

Beauty sleep
Your skin’s natural renewal process occurs at night-time, and lots of rest also helps reduce dark circles under the eyes. But there are things you can do to revitalise your skin while you’re sleeping. Slather on a rich night cream before going to bed, avoiding the eye area, then apply your eye cream in a thicker layer than you usually would and let it work like a mask.

You can also use bedtime to help renew your ’do. Rub conditioner into the ends of your hair and always sleep with your hair loose rather than tied back with an elastic so you avoid hair breakage. 

Keep your tootsies in tiptop shape by using a foot cream before you go to bed. Wear socks to intensify the treatment.

Take care of your hands
Your hands can instantly give your age away – just think of all of those photos of celebrities’ hands, so make sure you take good care of them by using a nourishing handcream with an SPF in it every day.

Believe it or not, taking proper care of your nails can also make you look younger. Take the time to file and buff your nails about once a fortnight to get rid of rough edges and surface ridges and apply a strengthening polish as often as you can.

If you paint your nails using a colour, choose one that flatters your skin tone for the best effect. Lighter shades are easier to apply and any mistakes will be less obvious. If you have fair skin, choose pale pink and if you have a more olive tone, go for a nude shade close to your skin colour.

Broken and dry skin around the edges of your nails is a problem for a lot of women. Cuticle oil applied daily (or as often as possible) works well to repair and soften the skin.