20 simple ways to get a healthy glow

It was sometime during the 1980s that an advertising executive first dreamt up the phrase “anti-ageing” as a way to sell beauty products to older women. It worked: women were drawn to the prospect of looking even a fraction younger than they really were.

But selling youth no longer yields the power it once did. According to a recent study carried out by British beauty brand Avon, 66 per cent of the 7,000 women it surveyed felt getting older was something to appreciate, not fear.

In fact, the study revealed that when women reach 40 and beyond, they feel they have reached their most authentic self, with half longing to look vital and healthy, rather than younger.

So how do you radiate health and wellbeing without changing your lifestyle completely? Here are some tried and tested beauty hacks to enable you to glow, from the inside and out.

Use a light-reflecting concealer

Concealers have a reputation for being too cakey or matte, so if you’re in the market for a new one, look for formulas that reflect light: the key to looking healthy is to boost radiance. Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat is a classic choice, or try Rare Beauty’s brightening concealer (£18; spacenk.com) for something new.

Get rid of your straighteners

“Choose an everyday hairstyle that works with your natural hair texture,” recommends French celebrity hairdresser Frédéric Fekkai, who tends the locks of Martha Stewart and Hilary Clinton. Focus on hydration, no matter your hair type, to banish frizz, and encourage healthy-looking hair. We recommend Fekkai Brilliant Gloss Multi-Tasker Perfecting Crème, 120ml (£22; selfridges.com).

Start using a product with Vitamin C

Slather on a few pumps of this antioxidant to instantly perk up your skin – from improved radiance to a reduction of pigmentation, if used over time. Garnier’s Vitamin C serum (£7.99; boots.com) makes for an affordable option – dab on just before using hyaluronic acid or your everyday face cream.

Upgrade your blusher

Combined lip and cheek colours have pushed their way to the front of many make-up bags over the past year, for good reason. These multitaskers mean it’s out with drab powder blushers and in with creamy, hydrating pigments to instantly lift the cheekbones. Try Trinny London’s Lip2Cheek balm pots (£25; trinnylondon.com) for an instant “I woke up like this” look.

Keep up with face-framing trims

Fekkai also recommends booking in for an “invisible haircut” every six to eight weeks. This involves cutting in layers, unnoticeable to the naked eye, to reduce bulkiness at the ends of thick hair and add volume and texture to finer hair types, while offering major movement: “It’s the movement of the hair that makes it vibrant, youthful and alive,” he says.

Invest in a smart hair mask

We all know a face mask feeds our skin with goodness, but our hair needs a hardworking treatment, too. Philip Kingsley’s hero conditioning treatment, the Elasticizer (£35; boots.com), is one of the best available to correct and soothe frazzled, damaged hair. Use twice a week for optimal results.

Invest in an LED mask

LED masks are powered by different coloured lights, which penetrate deep into the skin to zap acne from the root and stimulate collagen production. Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis, 57, revealed she’s a fan of the CurrentBody version (£279; currenbody.com), which she popped on just before the And Just Like That premiere.

Subtly enhance your eyebrows

Whether or not you wear make-up daily, groomed, full-looking brows perk up any complexion. If yours are on the sparse side, a quick fill-in with a gel pencil or putty can make all the difference. For a long-term fix, an eyebrow serum formulated for growth can help correct over-plucking. We like Revitalash Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner (£99; revitalash.co.uk).

Take year-round pride in your feet

Groomed toes aren’t just for summer. Although booking in for a monthly pedicure may not always be feasible, there are no excuses for not keeping skin soft and exfoliated all the time. Slather on a foot lotion just before bed so your feet are ready to go the next day. Try Margaret Dabbs Cracked Heel Treatment Balm, 30ml (£18; margaretdabbs.co.uk).

Go back to facials

Bookings for facials have soared in recent months: French brand Clarins has recorded a 154 per cent rise. If you can get your name on the list for its Radiance Booster facial (£74 for 70 minutes; clarins.co.uk), it does exactly that. But wherever you book in, the power of someone else’s touch does wonders to your face, from relieving water retention to boosting circulation.

Boost your body all year round

Don’t keep your body brush at the back of the cupboard any longer. Lock in 10 minutes or so before you step into the shower to buff your entire body. It may sound like a chore, but you won’t be alone: Gwyneth Paltrow often picks up hers to keep water retention and toxins at bay. If you don’t have one, try Body Shop’s Round Body Brush (£10, thebodyshop.com).

Use moisturising sun protection daily

If you rely on the SPF found in your foundation, think again. Dedicate a separate step in your routine to ensure both maximum sun protection and glow. A favourite among experts this year is Ultra Violette’s serum-like SPF 50+ (£36; cultbeauty.co.uk), which is so nourishing, you can happily skip your usual moisturiser.

Swap black mascara for brown

Brown mascara is an unsung hero in our beauty bags, delivering the same impact as jet-black without being too harsh. You will be surprised how a warmer toned mascara – like Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk in the shade “Dream Pop” (£25; spacenk.com) – can emphasise your natural eye colour.

Don’t forget the power of ingestibles

Collagen helps give structure to bones, muscle and skin, but the protein depletes with age. Taking marine-sourced collagen to boost your levels can have significantly beneficial effects. Try a sachet of Revive Collagen’s hydrolysed marine drink (from £27.99; revivecollagen.com) mixed with your morning coffee.

Refresh your lipstick

When was the last time you took stock of your lippie? If it’s been a while, it may be making you look washed out without you knowing it. Make-up artist Lisa Eldridge’s recent additions will give you an instant dopamine hit. Try “Strawberry Shock” (£26, lisaeldridge.com) for a punch of coral and you will hardly need to touch the rest of your face.

Spritz on citrus

Fragrance bottles are often thought of as miniature time machines, transporting you to a time you long to re-live (or not). But for a youthful reset, look for all things citrusy. Acqua Di Parma’s timeless classic Colonia (£116; spacenk.com) makes a zesty start to your day – Audrey Hepburn was a fan, too.

Micro-whiten your teeth

I was once told that a stranger first sees the whiteness of your eyes, then the whiteness of your teeth, within 10 seconds of meeting. Whether or not this is true, dental health is as important as a diligent skincare routine. If your teeth could do with a spruce up, visit your dentist, otherwise there are numerous at-home kits to get started with. Try the Spotlight starter kit (£49.95; uk.spotlightoralcare.com).

Dial down your foundation

Less is more when it comes to base: you want lightweight consistency and a believable finish. Yves Saint Laurent’s Nu Bare Look tinted moisturiser (£27; lookfantastic.com) offers breathable cover. If you still want a foundation, makeup artist Pat McGrath advises applying “a small amount to the centre of the face and blend outwards”.

Don’t be afraid of fake tan

With autumn just around the corner, swap your body moisturiser for a gradual tan cream every other day. This way, your summer colour will be left intact and prolonged well into the colder months. Try the light, fast-absorbing and non-sticky St.Tropez Gradual Tan Tinted Daily Firming Body Lotion (£17.99; superdrug.com).

Add an exfoliating toner

An active toner works harder than any granular product in your cabinet. Trinny Woodall’s brand offers a toner to suit you, no matter your skin type: “If you are feeling that kind of tiredness and ‘saggyness’, a toner sloshes off the dead skin cells and your skin feels like it’s had a facial,” she says. Her ‘Tiptoe In’ (£34; trinnylondon.com), used after cleansing, is fail-proof.