Forever young ! - Femina

If you happen to meet a mother who looks like a classmate of her two college-going children, ask her for the secret of her sparkling, youthful skin. Chances are, she'll say, "Nothing, really. I just use lots of moisturiser." She's probably not lying.

The greatest secrets in the world are sometimes the simplest: Give your skin a little more love and moisture, and it will reward you with radiance.

To help you on the road to looking more youthful, we asked leading aromatherapist Blossom Kochhar to serve up some skin-softening suggestions.

Use The Right Cream

Look at a typical day in your skin's life. Dust, smoke, lead, sulphur, nitrogen... they start ravaging your skin as soon as you step out into the world. They not only rob the skin of its essential moisture, but also coat it with harmful chemicals. Walk into your office, and the warm air of the heater or the cold air of the air-conditioner leaches your skin of whatever moisture it has left.

Whatever the climate, one thing is for sure - the only way to zap that dryness out of your skin is to give it lots of moisture.

So, first things first, take a fresh look at your bottle of day-cream. Are you using one that is too light? If yes, switch to a richer, heavier formula that provides deeper, longer-lasting humidity to your skin throughout the day.

Those with oily skin mistakenly think they don't need moisturiser. True, they don't need more oil than they naturally have, but they do need hydration, or water-based moisture. Blossom suggests a gel-based lotion for oily skin, which will replenish essential fluids without loading the skin with greasy fatty acids.

A tip to help you seal in moisture throughout the day: Before you apply the cream, spray rose water on your face.

If you spend the day inside a centrally heated office environment, carry a bottle of glycerine mixed with rosewater and spray it on your skin from time to time. You can also use this spray with make-up on.

Don't Neglect Your Neck

Often, we're so focussed on pampering our faces that we tend to forget the delicate skin of our necks. Well, it pays to remind ourselves that the neck is the first area that will show signs of ageing.

The solution? When you apply moisturiser on your face, make sure your fingers travel down to include your neck too. If you're in the mood to lavish some extra care on your face and neck, here is a make-it-yourself oil that Blossom recommends:

Two tbsp almond oil

Two capsules Vitamin E (crushed)

Three drops geranium essential oil

Two drops orange blossom oil

One drop rose essential oil

Mix these together and store in a clean bottle. Apply on your face and neck in an upward, outward motion every night.

If you have oily skin, you can use different essential oils. Blossom recommends:

One tbsp aloe vera gel

Two drops tea tree oil

Two drops juniper berry oil

One drop orange oil

This cream should last up to six months, if the bottle is kept in a cool, dry place.

Guard Against Time

Did you know that dry skin ages faster because lack of moisture promotes wrinkles? But relax, even if you have extra dry skin, you can beat back the wrinkles and crinkles with a time-tested weapon: Aromatherapy. After all, the ancient Egyptians used it to preserve mummies for all those centuries! Here's how to make an anti-ageing aroma pack:

1 tbsp almond oil

1/2 tsp castor oil

1 tbsp sunflower oil

2 capsules Vitamin E (crushed)

1 drop pachouli oil

2 drops sandalwood oil

3 drops geranium oil

Each drop of these oils is packed with vitamin-rich goodness, guaranteed to perk up sagging, sallow skin. Apply every night for maximum benefit. You can also use this lotion in the morning after your bath, but since it can leave the skin feeling greasy, dab your face with a warm compress a few minutes after you apply the lotion.

A word of caution from Blossom: If your skin is sensitive, a combination of essential oils could inflame your skin and cause a breakout. But this doesn't mean you can't enjoy the benefits of an age-defying lotion. Keep it simple. Mix together:

1 tbsp plain sunflower oil

2 drops of lavender oil

No time to do any of these? Just check into one of the several day spas in your city, and treat yourself to an hour of skin-pampering bliss.

Glow, girl!