If you are in your twenties or thirties, you may be surprised to find yourself with maturing skin. Your skin may start to lose its natural glow or elasticity. It's likely to be developing more lines than you would like or becoming a slave to open pores. However, you can slow them down. Helen Foster who wrote Complete Beauty Book gives out some tips to banish the signs of aging skin.

How to care for maturing skin

Once a week, use a gentle exfoliating scrub (or a peel-off face mask). This will remove dead cells and keep the skin glowing.

In terms of moisturizing, you should be aiming to replace lost oils and water (the more hydrated the skin, the less noticeable lines and wrinkles are), so choose rich creams that provide oil and attract moisture to the skin. When applying moisturizer, don't make the mistake of stopping when you get to your chin - the neck and chest are some of the first areas to show aging yet most of us ignore them. It will also help to choose products that incorporate age-fighting ingredients - like vitamin A (also referred to as retinol), vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, kinetin, and copper. Which you choose is up to you, as they all do the same thing - fight molecules called free radicals that destroy healthy skin cells, collagen and elastin. Use these in your moisturizer or try serums which deliver intense bursts of nutrients to the skin.

Finally, always wear sunscreen. None of the rest is worth doing if you don't. Your moisturizer must contain sunscreen of at least SPF15.

Firming facial for maturing skin

1. Cleanse the skin using a milky cleanser, applying it directly onto your face with your fingers. Leave it to sink in for a few seconds, then, using circular movements (always moving up the face), massage it in. Remove with cotton balls in the same fashion. This will increase circulation to the skin.

2. Starting at your chin, move around the edge of the jaw and face, lightly tapping the skin 10 to 20 times at points an inch apart. Do the same around the eyes. This will help boost circulation and reduce puffiness, creating a firmer look.

3. Apply an exfoliating mask. This will get rid of dead skin cells. Apply tightening cucumber pads (or slices of the real thing) to your eyes and relax. Rinse off, finishing by splashing the face 10 to 20 times with cold water.

4. Apply a vitamin serum, again using upward stroking movements but this time from the neck. Slap the underside of your chin 20 times.

5. Finish with a thick coat of rich moisturizer. Leave this to soak in for five minutes, and then remove any excess with cotton balls.

Eat your way to younger skin

What you put inside your body is as important when it comes to creating younger skin. Here's what you need:

Vitamin A

Not only is it a powerful antioxidant, but vitamin A also helps your skin produce keratin (a substance that strengthens skin cells, maximizing their protective role) and proteins that help with cell regeneration. If you're lacking in it, your skin may be drier and flakier than normal. You can get your daily dose from fruits and vegetables that are high in an ingredient called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is found in the highest quantities in fruits and vegetables like orange, carrots, peaches, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin C

Collagen keeps your skin firm and well toned. Vitamin C helps fight free radicals that destroy collagen, and can be found in many fruits and vegetables - one of the richest sources is kiwi fruit. Other great sources are oranges, red peppers, blueberries, and melon.

Iron

Low iron levels in the body lead to reduced oxygen in the blood and this can be the cause of pale skin and pronounced dark circles under the eyes. In order to boost your iron levels, you should include more lean red meat and plenty of dark green leafy vegetables in your diet.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is vital for healing the skin. You'll find high levels of zinc in foods such as shellfish, hard or crumby cheese, nuts and seeds.

Essential fatty acids

One of the most frequent symptoms of deficiency of fatty acids is dry, scaly skin. EFAs are commonly found in oily fish, nuts, and seeds (which also contain high levels of another important skin nutrient, vitamin E).

Water

Without enough water in your skin, you'll never recapture the healthy glow. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day.

What you need to avoid

Salty foods - These dehydrate the skin and are high in iodine.

Caffeine - Caffeine increases the level of stress hormones, which can lead to poor skin health.

Hydrogenated fats - Found in margarine and nearly all processed foods, these are believed to generate free radicals in the skin.