How can I perk up dry, tired winter skin? (50+)

At this time of year, mature skin suffers the most thanks to the triple whammy of central heating, freezing conditions outdoor and, well, maybe one too many alcoholic drinks!

That doesn't mean, however, that you have to put up with rosy cheeks, dry skin or watery eyes; fight back with a few well chosen products (and an extra hour or two in bed on Sundays).

First up, we've recommended Lancôme's Absolu Premium range before and we'll recommend it again. Created with mature skin in mind and using the very best in cutting edge technology, it's designed to be used as an entire regime to target the signs of ageing from all angles.

If you can stretch to three products, use the Absolu Premium Bx Day Cream combined with the Advanced Replenishing Night Cream and Advanced Night Recovery and Replenishing Concentrate; all contain Lancôme's unique Pro-Xylane complex to fight loss of elasticity, deep-set wrinkles and lack of radiance.

All of this doesn't come cheap, of course, but there are less expensive options on the market. The two biggest-selling anti-ageing ranges of the year come courtesy of Olay and its Regenerist line, and Boots No7 Perfect & Protect (the latter of which sells out so quickly there's now a year's-supply version for a cool £99).

Both have tried and tested benefits and are inexpensive enough to experiment with. For best results, we suggest always applying a serum before the moisturiser in the evening and using with a specialised eye cream during the day for added protection.

Finally, there's lots you can do with make-up to help perk up your skin, too. If you wear foundation, switch to a lighter moisturising version in the winter, like Lancôme Photogenic Ultra Confort, £22.50, or Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser, £32, neither of which will sink into fine lines and wrinkles, nor dry out in the cold air and look blotchy on your face.

Monday 22 December 2008

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