How to age like a supermodel

Celebrity facialist Nichola gets everyone from Elle Macpherson to the stars at the Oscars looking radiant. She’s famous for her unique but instant ‘facelift’. She says, ‘I massage along the inner jawline to the back of the jaw, up and under the cheek bone area and around the masseter muscle and along the upper lip line. This helps to tone and firm the face’s muscle tissue. It’s not pampering but, the results are amazing!’

Anti-ageing tips

Improve facial contours

‘Focus on lifting and intensively massaging under and along the cheekbone. Apply a facial oil (I like Sanctuary Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil) then place the pads of your thumbs under your cheekbones with your palms facing outwards. Gently push up working along the muscle to firm, tone and lift it. Repeat six times.’

Bronze away flaws

‘Self-tan is brilliant at disguising varicose veins and age spots on legs. My current obsession is St Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse as it develops within an hour. As knees, ankles and feet tend to get drier with age, apply a fragrance-free moisturiser (fragrance can alter the colour of your tan) on to these areas first, then sweep on the mousse while you have breakfast, and shower it off after 60 minutes.’ 

Don’t be afraid to mix products

‘To create your own professional face mask, add a couple of drops of facial oil to your night cream. Apply in a thicker layer before bed, leave on for 20 minutes then massage the excess on to your décolletage and the back of your hands.’

The dermatologist and founder of New York’s Wexler Dermatology Clinic, keeps Iman, 59, looking her youthful best. She was one of the first dermatologists to use Botox and pioneered the use of liposuction to sculpt the body.

Anti-ageing tips

Exfoliate your neck daily

‘Take your scrub all the way down to the top of your chest as sloughing away the dead skin layer allows your skincare [products] to absorb better. Look out for a neck cream containing tetrapeptides, such as those found in Strivectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream. They’re one of my favourite ingredients as there’s plenty of scientific proof to show they help make new collagen and elastin, which is what the neck and chest area need to look firmer and younger.’

Don’t forget your hands

‘Sunspots, loss of volume and large veins are the curse of ageing hands so treat them with the same rejuvenating arsenal you use on your face. Fillers like Radiesse and topical creams containing peptides and hyaluronic acid will help to plump up the skin, making veins less obvious. As for sunspots, prescription hydroquinone and professional peels are your best bet.’

Avoid rapid weight-loss programmes

‘In particular, avoid the ups and downs of those 2.5kg to 5kg. We now know that facial sagging is more complex than purely being the result of gravity’s pull. Rapid weight-loss accelerates a loss of volume from under the skin and causes it to lose elasticity. So even when you put the weight back on, you won’t fill out the hollows under the eyes and cheekbones that make a face look older.’

He’s the founder of the New York Dermatology Group and the go-to dermatologist for Naomi Campbell, 44. He’s a big fan of laser treatments to build collagen and even out pigmentation. He champions The Triad Facial, which involves microdermabrasion and a gentle peel with lavender flower acids. ‘Don’t aim for wrinkle-free skin – looking fresh is what it’s all about,’ he says.

Anti-ageing tips

Use a facial oil

‘If you apply two drops of a facial oil before your anti-ageing cream, the oil molecules behave like tiny Trojan horses, tricking the skin into letting active ingredients – like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C – deeper into the skin and closer to the collagen-producing fibroblasts.’

Concentrate on skin-smoothing

‘Exfoliate two or three times a week, then layer on a serum that contains glycolic and hyaluronic acids.’

Plump up lips naturally

‘With age lips get thinner as they lose the collagen that gave them their plumpness. I’m a big fan of Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Lip Balm, which is made with jasmine oil so not only does it have a wonderful scent, but it really locks in moisture and makes lips appear fuller.’

Linda Evangelista, 49, has facialist Georgia on speed-dial for regular treatments at her New York-based atelier. She combines cutting-edge gadgets and peels with massage and her own line of natural skincare.

Top anti-ageing tips

Layer up your serums

‘Apply more than one serum underneath your moisturiser and make sure each one targets a different concern. I like to apply a thin layer of Environ Evenescence C-Boost to tackle uneven skin tone, followed by a slick of Medik8 Growth Factor Serum. It contains proteins that mimic the growth factors found naturally in your skin to help stimulate collagen production so skin feels firmer and lines look less obvious.’

Scan the ingredient list for omegas

‘I’m a big fan of omegas 3, 6 and 9 in a cleansing balm to hydrate the skin and make it plump. Use a small blob on dry skin and massage in an upward motion with your fingertips and knuckles. Do this for five minutes and the warmth of your hands will rid the skin of debris and bring colour and a springiness to it.’

Use a home needling roller

‘Roll the barrel, which is covered in ultra-fine needles, back and forth across your face allowing it to pierce microscopic-size holes in your skin. The benefits are two-fold: it’s brilliant for stimulating the skin before applying a serum and the surface exfoliation triggers skin to produce new collagen for deeper repair.’