How to have a lovely skin in your sixties, seventies and beyond

The good news is that it is never too late to make a difference to your skin - even in later years, visible improvements are possible.

What's happening

From now on, there's unlikely to be anything new as - at last - your skin stops being subject to the vagaries of hormones. What's more, the incidence of sensitive skin appears to fall with age and your face can even benefit from the aging process: if you had a plump round face, you may find you have a more defined bone structure and the winged cheekbones you always longed for.

The downside is that the skin barrier declines as we get older, so more water gets out (TEWL or trans-epidermal water loss), increasing the problem of skin dryness. This is where plant oils really come into their own, as they provide the lipids necessary to strengthen the barrier. Your skin may also look paler, as the number of blood vessels reaching the dermis decreases: this can be helped greatly by exercising - and a bit of lipstick and blusher! Erratic overproduction of melanin may have contributed to dark circles under eyes, age spots and uneven color.

In general, this is a time for intensive cherishing and daily maintenance: a little bit of TLC will reap radiance in your complexion. The motto for choosing products at this stage? Rich is good. No, I don't mean moneywise (you really don't need to spend a great deal) but with regard to ingredients - and also how much you put on. I counsel you to be lavish, from head to toe.

Remember, older women may not have the skin they had in their youth - but they won't have the spots either. And mature faces have a depth which can be immeasurably attractive. Your face is the sum of your life - so make sure it's as full of joy and humor as possible.

TLC for your skin

For your face and body, I suggest continuing with the skincare routine I outlined for women in their fifties. A valuable addition, however, is body oil, which will boost moisturization in a way that a body cream alone can't quite achieve. Simply pour a dessertspoonful of almond, peach kernel or grapeseed oil into a saucer or the palm of your hand, add a scoop of body cream and mix. Apply this from chin to toe after bathing. (You can also add a little of one of the oils to your moisturizer or night cream.)

Incorporating massage techniques as you apply daily moisturizer and/or night products gives you a facial for free. Massage is particularly important during the winter, when the skin responds to the cold by closing down the small blood vessels in the dermis, which bring a glow to skin. This helps to prevent the body losing heat but leaves your skin looking dull, pale and somewhat lifeless. Be sure to stay warm, too: it will help keep your skin soft and lubricated by preventing excessive water loss.

If your eyes feel dry - which is normal, as mucus dries up - treat them to regular eye masks. Use cucumber slices, warm squeezed-out teabags (chamomile are particularly effective) or grated raw potato. Out and about, take soy-based drops, such as Clarymist.

Look after your teeth: gums slowly recede with time, but you don't want to add to the problem with gum disease, which can cause the lower half of the face to appear sunken. So floss twice a day, visit the dentist regularly and avoid sugar: if you use a sweetener, swap to xylitol, a delicious natural sugar that's proven to help strengthen teeth and bones.

Facial hair can be a problem; the easiest solution is to tweeze or wax away. All-over down (common on lower cheeks and chin) or moustaches also respond well to threading.

When you go near the sun keep putting on the sunblock everywhere that's exposed. 'You can't be lazy with your skin,' says supermodel Carmen Dell'Orefice, still sensational in her late 70s. 'I practically go to bed with it on.' Keep on eating as well as you possibly can; it can make a big difference.

Making up

* My observation from looking at glorious women in this age bracket is that the art is to use less make-up, but better. 'Color is essential,' says US-based make-up artist Craig Beaglehole, 'because as you grow older, your skin and hair color get lighter, so it's important to bring back that brightness with soft pretty colors and light textures -avoid hard lines and dark lips.' Aim for sheen, grooming and style, as well as femininity. 'Look like the most graceful and alluring lady in town,' as Craig puts it, 'with subtle make-up, well-kept nails, a great haircut and color.'

* So what do you need, cosmetic-wise? The lightest base or tinted moisturizer, a radiant blush, a dusting of bronzing powder and a gorgeous lipstick in a soft but vibrant shade (rose, fuchsia, nutmeg or cinnamon, depending on your coloring) and a fabulous long-lash mascara. Remember that applying a double coat of mascara on the outside lashes is more becoming than loading on black eyeliner. Just stroke a whisper of color on the lids - Nars make gorgeous sheer powder eyeshadows, which are long-wearing and crease-resistant.

* Do get your brows professionally shaped if you can, and if you need to use a brow pencil, choose a light taupe rather than anything beetling!

Nutritional needs

* If you're not already taking a green plant food such as chlorella, consider starting now. Packed with good nutrients, chlorella (and its other algae relatives) are foods, rather than supplements. Chlorella is one of the most ancient water-grown organisms and, among other skin-nourishing properties, alkalinizes the body - in other words, de-acidifies the gut. Regular users have noticed that their faces appear plumper and less elongated: this may, I'm told by a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, be down to the activity of two pairs of meridians which run down your face that are related to the health of the gut. If the gut is alkaline, the meridians become relaxed, giving an effect which has been called 'a mini-facelift'.

* Additionally, carry on with Ladies Choice, Essential Oil Formula, GliSODin, hyaluronic acid and bone formula.

* If your digestion is dodgy (you suffer bloating, wind, etc), consider digestive enzymes. Such a supplement should also help with maintaining regularity. If you feel you need further colon cleansing, consider a detox.

Facial meridians

I'm fascinated by the Chinese system of meridians so I asked Nadia Brydon, who is a qualified practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, to explain a little more. She says: 'meridians are invisible energy channels just under the skin, first mapped by the Chinese over 2,000 years ago. They form an interlinking network of pathways along which the energy (Qi) flows. Acupuncturists insert needles at specific points along these meridians.'

According to Chinese medicine, Qi (pronounced 'chee') sustains all life and holds all the organs, glands, blood vessels, skin and body parts in place. If the Qi becomes weak - through ill health, say, or aging - the body part or skin under which the meridian flows becomes loose and droops downwards. When the Qi flows strongly and freely through the meridians the body is considered to be balanced, healthy and 'uplifted'.

Each meridian is related to and named after an organ or function. There are 12 main pairs of meridians in the body that run either side of two central meridian lines. Several of these pairs of meridians run through the face, including the stomach meridian. This has the most visible effect, as it runs through the areas most noted for 'sagging' and 'drooping' as we get older.

Healthy foods help replenish the Qi lost through aging, overwork, poor sleep, exhaustion, illness and poor diet. Jowls, double chins, sagging necks, breasts and tummy can all become more toned, plumped and smoothed out if we eat foods rich in Qi energy, including fresh fruit and vegetables and particularly chlorophyll-rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables and algaes (such as chlorella).

Exercise also helps activate the flow of blood and Qi in the body, reducing stagnation in the meridians and thus helping to 'lift up' the meridians and therefore the body as well as the mind.