While grey hairs have been encroaching on my otherwise lustrous locks since I was in my 20s, I've been pretty fortunate on the skin front. No spots and acne worth writing home about when I was a teen and not much in the way of wrinkles as I hit middle youth. Even now, as other women my age bemoan crows feet and the like, I feel relatively unscathed in that murky department.
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However there is a sign of ageing that is bothering me – and one that I am constantly watching out for an monitoring – which is sagginess. To me it is this (along with elasticated waist skirts and looking forward to a sit-down with a nice cup of tea) that really gives the age-game away. Jowls. I never had them before and I don't want them now.

So hurrah then (hopefully) for Estee Lauder's new Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting collection, which they coyly say is for 'mid-life' skin. Well, in my book (and experience) that could be anything from 35 to 55, maybe, at a push, 60. These new face and neck creams aim to help restore the skin's weakened support structure and in doing so bring back a youthful radiance – a loss that goes hand-in-wrinkly-hand with tired, sagging skin.

As you would expect from Estee lauder, plenty of research and development has gone into the new line and there's no shortage of detailed techno stuff to explain how these products will do their thing. Do you need to know that something called Sirtuin 3D technology has been employed to support the skin's natural production of collagen, elastin and laminin to create a more 'luminous, lifted look'? Perhaps not, but it's just part of the very intense formulation – along with a very stable form of vitamin C and a 'photo-activated lift complex' that harnesses  beneficial visible light. There's also an SPF15 to guard against the harmful rays – which is something I DO understand.

I've been treating my skin to Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme SPF15 (the dry skin version - £58 - 50ml) for three weeks, which is probably not quite long enough to notice a huge difference... but i love using it. The texture is soft and silky and very easy to apply, absorbing well. The scent is lovely – floral and warm and even slightly old-fashioned (there's rose, orange blossom, amber and sandalwood there) emphasized by the pale pink colour perhaps. Certainly my skin feels nourished, protected and just a little brighter than before.

I'm also becoming addicted to the Instant Action Lift Treatment (£45 - 30ml) which performs a sort of mini face lift on targeted spots. It feels very cool as you stroke it on(via the rather handy 'flex-tip' applicator and yes, you really can feel a pleasing tightening effect! Now, where's my cuppa?

stockist info: 0870 034 2566 www.esteelauder.co.uk