Look years younger

Think you need a battalion of Hollywood cosmetic surgeons to help you look years younger? Not so. You can soften time's toll yourself, with our expert tips for hair, skin and makeup.

5 steps to thick, glossy, richly coloured hair
1. If you have fine, limp hair, ask your stylist for a cut and colour that makes hair look full. Thickening or volumizing shampoo, conditioner and styling products are must-haves. Colouring your hair will also help because colour coats the hair shaft, which thickens it a bit.

2. Lighten your hair colour a couple of shades to counteract the unflatteringly harsh contrast with an aging, paling complexion. "Go for a cool colour if your skin tone is cool, or warm if your skin tone is warm," says colourist Christopher Martin, co-owner of Shagg Salon in Toronto. If you're completely grey, take your hue cue from your childhood colour.

3. Keep your dye job vibrant with colour-enhancing shampoos and conditioners -- they're also good for giving natural colour a lift. If you've embraced grey as your hair colour of choice, use a shampoo and conditioner specially designed to brighten grey.

4. For youthful-looking hair, take your shine to mega-watt levels with an at-home shine kit or colour-glaze treatment.

5. Rejuvenate your cut and style. "Stiff, set hair looks old," says Daniel, a stylist and owner of Salon Daniel in Toronto. "Swingy hair is young. Ask for a style with easy movement, that doesn't need a lot of work to look great."

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5 steps to soft, supple, glowing skin
1. We've said it before: wear daily SPF to protect against the sun's damaging UVA and UVB rays. A minimum of SPF 15 is the route to minimizing fine lines, deep wrinkles, brown spots and uneven pigmentation.

2. Rev up a dull complexion with mild exfoliation, either daily or three times per week, and boost the process occasionally with a gentle at-home peel-and-microdermabrasion system. Follow with moisturizer. "Exfoliated and moisturized skin makes makeup look better, more natural," says Toronto-based celebrity makeup artist Alice Kilpatrick, whose clients include Gena Rowlands and Reese Witherspoon.

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