A good anti aging strategy for your face and body depends on knowing what you're up against - understanding what to expect decade by decade.  If you want to look younger than your age then you need to decide what you can fight and what you have to accept as a normal part of the aging process.

Of course, we're all different and our genes play a large part in how well we do in the anti aging lottery.  Whether you've been lucky with your anti aging genes or not - here's a quick count down of changes most of us can expect from our 30's onwards:

In your 30's

Fine lines develop as collagen and elastin break down in the skin

Delicate skin under the eyes becomes thinner and under-eye puffiness can be more of a problem

Pore size may increase and skin can become noticeably rougher and more coarse

First signs of broken veins show up as small red dots - in the late thirties the first age spots and brown pigmentation will appear depending on your level of sun exposure

Overall your complexion will be drier than it has been before - whatever your skin type

In your 40's

Deeper lines around the mouth and eyes (if you smoke - you'll have seen these in your 30's) and furrows in the forehead

Loss of bounce-back in the skin due to declining elastin levels

Circles under the eyes may be starting to look like bags

Noticeably drier skin

In the pre-menopausal years - skin balance may be upset and become oily and prone to breakouts or ultra dry and sensitive

In your 50's and beyond

Lines and wrinkles deepening into folds - in the 50's and beyond loss of estrogen impacts the skin's elasticity and plumpness

Sagginess and droopiness may be apparent for the first time and - depending on your genes - a jowly look can develop

Skin tone becomes more uneven and you may see an increasing number of 'sun spots' and hyperpigmentation

This may sound like a depressing list - but the most important thing to remember is that many of these changes are accelerated by our own actions and the environment we live in.  Sun exposure, smoking, stress, polluted cities, crash dieting - all fast forward the aging button.

Heavy smoking and sun worship will add 15-20 years to the natural age of your skin.  Stop smoking, protect yourself from the sun and follow a good anti aging skin care routine and you'll cut back the natural aging process by many years.

Anti aging is really in your own hands.

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• Anti aging beauty: look younger by acting your age
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