Moisture loss is a one-way ticket to wrinklestown . Don’t believe us? Next time you’re dehydrated – after a night on the prosecco or endurance event – look in the mirror at your décolletage. Here’s betting it’s wrinkled. The same effect applies to skin on your face, which can look years older within hours. “Moisture loss does not directly accelerate skin ageing , but it will accentuate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making a person appear older,” says Dr Hunt. The good bit is that you can wind back the visual clock just as quickly by replenishing your body’s fluid stores. As for moisturisers, they’re hit and miss. How does it happen? Dr Hunt explains how ageing skin loses moisture. 1. As we age, a reduction in function of the skin’s glands results in lower levels of natural lipids. 2. Levels of ceramide (a compound naturally occurring in skin’s outer layer) also wane as we age, affecting the layer’s water-binding capacity. Skin’s permeability is also damaged, making i...