Surgery-free ways to instantly look younger

• Plump your skin. "Layer skincare formulas (a wet, hydrating cream under a rich, dense balm) to give your skin a plumped-up cushiony look, " says make-up expert Bobbi Brown in her book Living Beauty.

• A primer can be used to help smooth out your complexion, creating a more even base for your make-up. If you have large pores (a sign of older skin), you may wish to try a pore minimiser such as Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector, $42.

• "Don't use foundation as a mask," explains international Laura Mercier make-up artist Jeffrey Tasker. Use foundation to even out your complexion, and concealer to hide blemishes. When applying foundation, smooth it downwards on your face so that any fine hairs (also a sign of older skin) are pushed down and become less visible.

• If you have a ruddy complexion, opt for a yellow-toned foundation to counteract the redness. If you still see redness once applied, skip blush and finish off you cheeks with a little powder bronzer.

• Heavy, matte foundation will make your face look just that: heavy and matte. Sheer coverage looks more youthful, and you may want to try foundations targeted at mature skin (such as Max Factor Age Renew, $34.95) as many offer the added bonuses of lifting, firming and hydrating. While powder is required to set concealer, go easy: powder will emphasise lines, especially those around the eyes.

• A yellow-toned light-reflecting concealer will help diminish the appearance of under-eye circles by bouncing light off the area. Use sparingly, and, says Brown, "Be sure to apply [it] close to the lashes and to the inner corner of the eye as well". She also offers this titbit of advice: Applying concealer to the hollow sides of the nose (the spot next to your eye socket) will open up your eyes and make them look bright and awake.

• The best shade concealer to disguise brown spots? Peach.

• As women get older, their necks tend to become lighter than their face. Fix this by dusting a litte bronzer down the neck, especially in the middle.

• Dark colours — whether they be on your eyes, cheeks or lips — are always more ageing than light ones. Don't be scared at the thought of using a brightly coloured blush — so long as it's lightly applied to the apples of your cheeks, it won't look out of place on older skin.

• The exception to the no-dark-colours rule? Eyeliner. If you feel your eyes need defining, a little navy blue or deep purple can make eyes look youthful. Coral- and neutral-toned shadows with a slight shimmer will make peepers appear vibrant.

• Brows tend to thin out as we age, so using a brow pencil or powder, lightly fill in gaps to make them appear thicker.

• Dark colours will make lips appear thinner, so stick with light-to-medium shades. If your lips need defining, use a lip-toned shade, or a colour that's no more than one shade darker than your lipstick or gloss colour, and don't line outside your lips to make them appear bigger.

• When it comes to mascara, give fine lashes a boost with two-to-three thin coats of mascara, rather than one thick coat.