Anti ageing: how lifestyle factors can take years off our skin!

Bad habits make us look old! Our bodies are designed to eat certain certain foods, get regular exercise, breathe in fresh air and live in healthy environments. In other words, we're at our best if we stick to some basic lifestyle rules.

Pile your plate with fruit and veg. They're bursting with vitamins and antioxidants, scientifically proven to have anti ageing properties. Vitamins A, E and C protect us from free radicals. So treat yourself to some oysters, liver, dark chocolate and wheatgerm. They all contain copper - great for skin's elasticity - and zinc, which boosts cell renewal.

There's nothing prettier than a youthful sun-kissed glow, but if we don't tan sensibly, then we'll only end up with wrinkles, lines and liver spots. Overexposure to UVA and UVB rays is the No.1 cause of premature ageing skin. Our skins loses elasticity, thins and becomes fragile, leaving us prone to wrinkles and liver spots. So rain or shine, down town or up a mountain, make sure you religiously apply a sunscreen.

At night, whilst we snore under the covers, our skin gets to work! It's at night that skin regeneration reaches a peak: cells in our epidermis multiply at full speed until 1am. Which means that if we lack shut-eye we're leaving ourselves open to wrinkles and dark circles. So aim for around 8 hours sleep a night so that your skin can recover.

Smoking clogs our pores and weakens blood vessels, leaving us with tired, dull skin. Smoking ages us and women are more susceptible than men! So give up the wicked weed - or at least do your best to cut down!

Exercise improves muscle tone, oxygenates our bodies and kick-starts our happy hormones! It helps our skin to eliminate toxins, allowing it to more easily regenerate. No need to run a marathon or spend hours in the gym: moderate exercise is all it takes for a youthful look!