Have you ever looked at your skin under one of those machines that reveals sun damage? Some of the larger branches of Boots have them, as well as dermatology clinics of course. Anyway I did once and it's a scary business. What looks to you like a healthy glow and a sprinkling of friendly freckles just appears as a messy blotchiness each splodge representing sun damage.
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While not necessarily life-threatening (although it can be) it is a salutary reminder of the ageing process. Unless you happen to be in your teens or twenties or you've never been in the sun without a wide-brimmed hat, thick cover-up and SPF50 this is something that will affect you.

In fact my advice to anyone reading this who does happen to be under 30 is "start taking care now". I wish someone had said it to me and in particular I'm talking about an area of my anatomy that I reckon I neglected until relatively recently.. I'm talking about neck and chest (or décollétage if we're going to be poshly french about it). It's a delicate zone – no fatty tissue, so less elastic and less oil glands therefore prone to crepiness wrinkles and sagging. Lovely. While I've been taking care  of my face everything below my chin has been falling to bits.

I don't believe that major damage can be completely reversed by a cream but you can make repairs soothe and help to prevent further deterioration. So I am trying out  Dr Nick Lowe's 'The Secret is Out' (£29.99 - 50ml). The dermatologist has specifically formulated this Neck & Décollétage Firming Cream with 'carefully selected' active  ingredients to do the job of protecting and correcting the signs of skin damage and ageing.

So, what's in it? As you'd expect there's an SPF (15) which contains advanced UVA and UVB protection. Then there are extracts of microalgae which act as skin tighteners thanks to having been combined with a peptide. Sunflower seed oil works on the collagen in the skin to improve firmness while other anti-oxidants prevent and protect against cellular damage. There's even something to lighten the skin by inhibiting melanin production.

I've given the cream quite a tough job having started using it  after a sunny holiday and during that freakishly hot spell a while ago. It's really pleasant to use – very easily absorbed, a fresh, feminine smell and no tackiness. And after three or four weeks I  really can feel a difference. My skin has lost its slightly papery crepey  texture that I always get with a tan and it's much softer to the touch. In the  cruel reflection of an illuminated magnifying mirror it looks a lot less old-ladyish than it did. Hurrah. Still have to face up to one of those high-tech machines though.

Stockist info: From Boots stores or call 08450 708090 (www.drnicklowe.com)