Which anti-ageing products really work?

My granny had lovely skin. But she never went outside in late life. Well, only down the back steps to the lav. Everyone's skin needs some protection. Most, probably all, day creams have spf 15. I'm using Simple at the moment which I bought at the airport because I had forgotten to pack any of my usual. Seems fine.

You don't really need to spend much, though, if you don't want to. And sometimes it's worth splashing out a bit for a product that's not necessarily better, but just nicer to use.

Hard luck for those of us whose mothers died young then!

Just have to hope for the best, I suppose...

Bit late. But none work. As someone already said look at your mother and you will know what your skin will be like in later years. All the money women spend on expensive beauty products is futile. It is genetic. I dont and never have spent money on creams and potions. I use E45 lotion as I am allergic to perfumes etc. But even before I was allergic, I wouldnt spend a lot of money on creams. I look ten years younger than I am, always being told I cant believe you are 72, etc etc. when young, people thought my mother was my sister and my grandmother my mother. Celtic skin. Very lucky. Dont even take my make up off every night. Dont waste your money. Just use creams that are not expensive to cleanse and moisturise.

Meant to add that another benefit of the exercises is that more blood flows to the face taking more oxygen there, so skin and hair improve too. And the lifting effect makes the skin less wrinkled too.

jan I have a device called Oralift which is a kind of mouth guard made specially by a dentist. It was hideously expensive, and I got it made in a mid-life-crisis moment several years ago. It's easy to use and lasts for ever. I think it works it'd better. . I tend to use it in the car.

I also buy the devices you get on Amazon; gismos you put in your mouth and exercise with. I think they work too, but they're poor quality so need to be replaced often.

I also have s Slendertone Face which I haven't used as I'm afraid of it.

I've had a treatment called Genie which stimulates the muscles and lifts them.

I think all of these things work if you give them a chance.

gettingonabit, which face exerciser do you use? I love 'products', not sure if any of them work better than others but I will continue to use them! My downfall is, I love the sun, so brown and wrinkly does it for me! Having said that, for a 'nearly 70 year old' I don't think I look too bad!

I buy the Aldi skin products because they are very low in price and work just as well as some which are much more expensive. And for many years I have used Nivea tinted moisturiser as a foundation. I am 79 next month and have very few wrinkles. Don't know if it's because of the products I use or just good luck. By the way Aldi do a hyaluronic gel which is very cheap.the brand name is Lacura.

Love this from starbird (fat is nature's botox but it looks less attractive on the rest of the body). I haven't read all these postings but I was always told 'its your face or your figure after 50 - keep a little fat on. So I do plus a good moisturisers, loads of fruit and veg and don't look in the mirror too much.

I had a sample of Lancome Visionnaire a while ago and I thought it was amazing. I have never had great skin, having had acne as a teenager and into my twenties. It has left me with rough skin. I have tried many different face creams over the years, but none have done much. I used a sample of Visionnaire and after about 3 days my skin was smoother than it had ever been before, so I went out and bought a pot. It is expensive, but you only use a small amount and I think it will last 6 months or so. It has made an amazing difference to my skin, which I would not have thought possible, it looks so smooth. Worth a try if you can find a free sample first, I think mine was from the Lancome site.

Thanks LumpySpacedPrincess, I didn't know about this but will definitely sign up. Do find their products good anyway.

The best thing to look younger is a really flattering haircut.

My beautiful Egyptian DiL bought me some very expensive oil for everything but it just doesn't suit my European skin or hair. I am finding that, as other Gransnetters have said, Aldi caviar cream is excellent for my skin and cheap.I live in fear of Aldi running out of stocks.
I found Phil Smith Curly Locks hair cream in Sainsbury's and that makes my kinky hair smoother and shiny.I put a small amount, bit more than a pea, on dry hair.

I won't leave the house without eye make up - I practice with different products. Eyebrows and lashes get thinner when one is older and you need more skill.

NANNYLOVESSHOPPING WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE H.A. FOR YOUR KNEES????
I've got dodgy knees - do you rub it in?

Holland and Barrett Dr organics snail gel serum I'm really impressed with results I suffer from sensitive skin and most products cause my skin to go red but this is very gentle.

I agree with you icyalittle, the 5-2 diet makes you feel younger . Also Liz Earle cleanse and polish and Superskin moisturiser are great for mature skin.

You can't stop the ageing process but you can help yourself by exercising and keeping slim? keeping well groomed, clean and smart. The basics of life really.

I think it also depends what your aim is. Do you want to look younger, or do you want your skin to look better.

Using the right products in the right order can make your skin look and feel lovely. You'll look the same age but you'll have amazing skin. The same as exercise, you can't exercise years of your body but you can make your body look strong and toned.

Interesting that there are far fewer recommendations of actual products in response this than I think there would be on a younger forum. Obviously we have all been there, done it, and decided nothing works. I do think slapping something on helps, but agree it doesn't much matter what. I have loads of products at the moment which I acquired at huge discounts, and do tend to choose hyaluronic acid stuff in the day, and retinol stuff at night, which is sun sensitive.

Aging is 80% genetics and sun exposure, always wear a factor 50, I recommend Biorre watery essence. Trust me, you will never put any other suncream on your face ever again.

Although a lot of products are snake oil, some things will make a difference to your skin.

Vitamin C serum - used correctly and over a period of time really brightens skin tone.

Retinol / Vitamin A can do wonders

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant moisturiser that binds 1000 times its weight in water which makes skin plumper, I really recommend this one

Bha and Aha acids exfoliate skin and clear oil.

Plus, don't forget the snail gel, that's amazing!

Cambia are you signed up to the Oz Naturals VIP programme, basically they give you free stuff so long as you review it. I've had tons and it's all very good.

Really like Oz natural products. Have just ordered the serum for the third time which is unheard of as I like to try new products! Am also trying their moisturiser this time too. Don t like products with a thousand chemicals in! Would like to drink less wine too as I am sure that would help but then I would be miserable and miserable people always look older!!

I agree about the Touch Eclat. It covers up dark lines under the eyes beautifully. Great for uneven skin tones too.

I think the idea that the more you pay for face creams the better they work is true. I didn't think like that until I won some extraordinarily expensive face cream that was about £5 a squirt !

My skin felt fabulous.

(One regret is that I ever smoked, it certainly aged me )

anna what's HIFU please?

I recently had a HIFU treatment on face and neck and also on lips for plumping. The results of the face and neck take a few months to develop but the lips are instantaneous. It s the next best thing to a surgical face lift but without any of the risk and a fraction of the cost. It's taken years off my face.

I think what we eat and drink is more important than what we put on our skin - as lots of people have already said, fruit, veg, no sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol (I can hear the groans) and lots of exercise. Having said that, I'm slarting coconut oil everywhere and, for a really rich night cream there's Baby Bottom Butter from Waitrose.

Thanks to you all for these replies so far and for the advice/recommendations.

It always makes me laugh that womens mags feature older attractive celebs who are Gransnet age and airbrush out their wrinkles - must make their readers feel old and wrinkly! Most celebs have work done anyway and know where to go for reliable plastic surgeons that only they can afford. Sharon Osbourne is the only one I know who mentioned once on a chat show how she's had everything done over the years.

Goose1964 - I too wore glasses all the time till I was 60 and still have plenty of crow's feet! Glad it worked for your friend though.

I agree that genetics must play a major role. And apart from genetics, I suppose it all boils down to plenty of water, plenty of sleep, a good diet and protecting your skin from the sun.

Caro66 - I hadn't heard of the Look Fabulous Forever range - will look into that, thanks. The facial exerciser idea might do no harm though.

Let's see if any more Gransnetters reply........

i've used m&s royal jelly with honey - both as a facial and a body moisturiser - for several years. i've also used some of the expensive anti-aging, anti-wrinkle creams around [when i was working and had money] but i've found the royal jelly is very good.
i suppose having had a greasy skin for most of my life - and being on the large side, my skin has been "plumped up". so far i have no wrinkles at all on my face and the skin on my arms and legs is looking good too.