Give up smoking and beat premature ageing

Jun 28 2007 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

Close-up shot of woman smoking

The secrets of reviving your skin

COMPLEXION

Creme De La Mer’s Radiant Facial and Clarins Bright Plus are intensive brightening treatments that will instantly turn the years back. The Radiant Facial, £245 (0870 034 2566), is a two-step system consisting of a primer to soothe, followed by a cotton mask enriched with specially harvested white algae.

Nivea Visage Oxygen Power Skincare System, from £7.99, contains 15% oxygen to breathe new life into your skin, and Skin Wisdom Age Reverse, from £2.49 at Tesco, has a time-fighting blend of ingredients and antioxidants to firm the skin, boost collagen levels and fight wrinkles.

Face masks are very nourishing – Biotherm Hydra Detox 2 Mask, £23 (0800 037 1020 www.biotherm.co.uk), Eve Lom Rescue Mask In A Jar, £48 at Space NK, and Olay Total Effects 7x Mask, £16.99, will work wonders on parched complexions.

MOUTH

Smokers often get unsightly lines around their mouth.

Protection from the dreaded smoke comes in the form of anti-oxidants so products such as Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme, £35 (0870 034 2566) have been proven to help reduce the appearance of visible lines and wrinkles by up to 54% after eight weeks.

Clinique Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment, £20, can help delete those lines.

Years of puffing can lead to stained teeth, so after banishing the habit, try and take those away with a whitening toothpaste like Colgate Total Plus Whitening, £1.09, or Janina whitening toothpaste, £10.95 from www.Beautyexpert.co.uk

Oral-B Vitality Pro-White Power electric toothbrush, £24.99, includes a rubber polishing cup to remove stains, and promises naturally whiter teeth within 21 days. BeneFit California Kissin’, £12.50 (0808 238 0230), is a shiny lip gloss that tastes minty fresh and makes teeth look whiter.

NAILS

Unsightly, discoloured fingernails are often a concern for smokers, and are a real give-away sign – but they aren’t a permanent fixture once you’ve kicked the habit.

Leighton Denny Brilliant Regime Treatment Kit, £29.50 at www.leightondenny.com, contains four products to whiten and brighten dull, yellow or discoloured nails.

Nailoid Results Instant White, £4.95 in Superdrug and Wilkinsons, has a colouring extract to disguise stains in one application, and can help protect against further discolouration.

Alternatively, Barbara Daly For Tesco Goodbye Yellow nail varnish, £3.50 at Tesco, is a clear polish that reacts with UV light to give a fresh French manicure effect.