Volumes have been written on anti aging, and there is a myriad of treatments and products to try and prolong youth. Truthfully, scientists do not fully understand the aging process so research and think twice before you spend a wad of money.

What causes aging? Aging is the process of changes in collagen and elastin, connective tissues which provide elasticity and firmness to our skin. Since everyone is different, this process occurs at different times in each individual's life but expect it to start in your twenties. Your skin dries out as it loses its elasticity and the fat underneath it begins to diminish.

This process - the loss of connective tissue and fat - makes your skin droop and wrinkle. The big culprit in aging is the sun. Too much sun, especially over a long period of time, will increase the aging process. So pick a moisteriser with sunscreening properties suited to your climate. Of course, too much sun is also the cause of skin cancer.

Another big culprit is cigarettes. Research suggests that smoking has a huge impact on aging. Smoking decreases the blood flow to the skin. These two big culprits probably impact aging more than chronologic aging itself and if addressed correctly will make you look younger for longer..