Find the fountain of youth with these everyday products and expert tips.

Put on the back-burner any plans for expensive beauty treatments - or cosmetic surgery procedures - that are designed to takes years off your appearance.

Here are five of the best ‘look younger now' make-up secrets. And the great news is, they only require 10 minutes of your time, five easy-to-find beauty products and simple but effective techniques used by make-up professionals.

So set your alarm clock that little bit earlier in the mornings and get your illuminator, concealer, foundation, blush and lipstick ready. You won't believe the difference these simple products will make to your look.

 

Illuminator

No matter how vigilant you are in drinking eight glasses of water a day, skin tends to lose its radiance with age. But don't fret - a bit of illuminator will have it sparkling again and no one will be any the wiser.

Illuminators are a relatively new beauty category and lots of women aren't entirely sure how and where to use them.

Liquid illuminators work best when mixed with your foundation to give your entire face a healthy glow. Pour your usual amount of foundation onto the back of your hand, or use a small mixing palette such as a clean soap dish or saucer.

Add a fingertip of illuminator and mix well, then apply your foundation as normal.

Creamy products are the easiest to apply. Using your finger, apply the illuminator to the top of your cheeks - right on your cheekbone - starting from under the outside corner of your eye and blending towards your nose. To get the best effect, use a pressing motion.

You can also apply creamy illuminators underneath the arch of your eyebrows for an instant lift.

Powder highlighters and illuminators can work with your blush to help create a healthy glow on your cheeks. Apply blush as usual, then dip a big brush into your highlighter and sweep a thin layer of powder onto your cheekbones, blending it back into your hairline.

 

Concealer

Direct attention away from age-revealing expression lines around your mouth and eyes by using a liquid concealer with light-reflecting properties.

These concealers contain similar ingredients to those used in full-face illuminating or highlighting products. They work by making light bounce off areas of your face so it doesn't cause shadows.

Steps

Start by using the illuminating concealer to hide any shadows or fine lines around your eyes. Do this after applying your foundation so the foundation doesn't cover up the illuminating effect of the concealer.

Apply concealer to any lines around your mouth and forehead.

Blend by gently pressing the concealer into your skin, rather than rubbing it in.

 

Foundation

Foundation instantly evens out your skin tone, covering imperfections. Apply it only where you need it - too much can be ageing.

Start by applying foundation to the centre of your face - your nose, forehead and chin - then smooth outwards to your cheeks. This makes it easier to blend and also means you won't be tempted to use too much product.

 

Blush

The look you're going for is the rosy flush your cheeks get when you've just come in from the cold. Shades of pink work best, but if your skin is prone to redness, look for coral hues instead.

Cream blushes tend to look more natural than powder formulations and are easier to blend. Start by applying a small round swirl to the apples of your cheeks. Using your fingertips, smudge the edges outwards.

 

Lipstick

It's all about choosing the right shade - pink or apricot complements most skin tones. A guideline is to stick to one to two shades darker than your natural lip colour. Avoid shades that are too pale or too dark.

 

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