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5 Yellow-toned foundation or tinted moisturiser will tone down ruddy skin and rosacea Bronzer helps to counteract redness as well. Strong facial scrubs often aggravate ruddiness. Rosacea can be treated topically: ask your doctor.

6 Brown spots can be removed Try laser resurfacing, performed by a dermatologist, or cover with the lightest pink or peach corrector and yellow-toned foundation set with powder.

7 Colour will make you look pretty and fresher Experiment.

8 Eye contour gives droopy eyelids a lift The contour shadow needs to look blended and natural.

9 Add a gel bronzer (aka, fake tan) Used sometimes, it can give a nice boost for a healthy look.

10 Crepey eyes Moisturise at night, and stick to formulas that are not too dry.

MOISTURISERS

Hydration

The most important skincare step is hydration. Skin tone and flexibility depend on the presence of water in the underlying tissue — water drawn from humidity in the air and moisture added to the skin’s surface. Oil is the skin’s natural protectant, preventing moisture from leaving the skin. Oil in the skin functions as a defensive barrier. It smooths the texture and helps to maintain skin-cell health. When oil glands overproduce, the skin appears greasy, and when the glands underproduce, it becomes dehydrated and flaky. Adding moisture to the skin helps to maintain firmness, smoothness, softness and luminosity.

Facial moisturisers

Moisturiser is the true fountain of youth. Moisturisers form a barrier between the skin and the environment and holds water in the epidermis. They hydrate and plump up the skin so that it looks smooth and bright. The right moisturiser will enhance the look, feel and health of the skin, and can even temporarily eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. Moisturisers can also protect the skin from pollution, debris and weather. The right skincare products help make-up go on smoothly, properly adhere to the skin and last longer.

There are two types of facial moisturisers. Oil-in-water emulsions usually contain humectants, such as glycerine, which attract water. Added water from the environment is wonderful for the skin. The second category of moisturiser is the water-in-oil emulsion. These creams and lotions work by forming a water-trapping barrier on the skin’s surface. Look for the ingredient sodium hyaluronate, which locks in moisture and prevents it from leaving the skin. Humectants are often added to these products as well.

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