New research has revealed that if you’re trying to fight the signs of ageing, you should ditch the anti-ageing face creams as trying to eliminate wrinkles will not create a rejuvenated complexion.

In fact, in the battle against the ageing process, skin tone is apparently much more important for a youthful complexion. Those in pursuit of a fresh-faced look might be better off concentrating on the condition and colour of their skin instead of trying to smooth wrinkles.

The advice comes after researchers took high-resolution digital images of 170 women between the ages of 11 and 76 and showed them to members of the public. Those shown the pictures were able to guess how old the women were from their skin colouration alone.

‘In a young, healthy face, the only contrast is due to the features – the mouth, nose and eyes – but as you age, you acquire concentrations of haemoglobin and melanin, and shadows due to lines and wrinkles, and it is this contrast that gives a major cue to our perception of age,’ said Dr Paul Matts, a research fellow at Procter & Gamble, who helped carry out the study.

So as we grow older, it is more important to battle against the melanin and haemoglobin that are distributed unevenly in our skin, giving us brown age spots and spider veins.

However, best not to go overboard with the foundation as a separate study found one in five men wish the ladies in their lives would wear less make-up with caked-on foundation being the biggest turn-off!

Amy Lindsay – MyFaceMyBody.com Journalist