Your skin is the first place to show your age. But the products and techniques that keep it young change as the years add up. Whether you’re battling teenage acne or those first crow’s feet, you need the right weapons in your bathroom arsenal.

Consider this the intelligence that will arm you in the war against Father Time.

Teens

Some teenagers breeze through their years with no skin problems. For others it can be breakout ground zero, as the hormones coursing through your body cause your skin to OD on oil and sebum.

“The T-Zone is a focal area for young skin,” says Mankind skincare expert Terri Lowe. How to reclaim this T-shaped territory, which runs down your nose and chin and across your forehead? “Fight against excess oils, and keep your complexion hydrated.”

Lowe recommends equipping yourself with men-ü Matt Moisturiser as it’s grease-free, so stops shine but still locks in moisture.

Twenties

Your skin is like a pension: early investment pays dividends. “The more you take care of your skin now, the better it will look later on,” says skincare expert Andy Millward. “Prevention is always better than cure.”

To avoid an hour in front of the mirror every morning, opt for ‘all-rounder’ products. “The Lab Series Pro LS All-In-One Face Treatment soothes, moisturises and repairs,” says Lowe. “It’s an easy-to-use formula that satisfies all your skincare concerns.”

But products can’t do their work if you’re smearing them on grubby skin. “Cleansing is the cornerstone of keeping skin healthy,” says Millward. It’s how your body clears toxins, so needs regular scrubbing down to stay looking its best.

“CosMedix Purity Clean respects the integrity of the barrier function, plus contains 5% L-Lactic Acid to gently exfoliate and help keep your skin clear.” Spend 10 minutes deploying it now to ensure you’re still getting ID’d into middle-age.