You just need to look around and you'll see salons, therapy centres, holistic centres, aromatherapy places, multi-ads for plastic surgery, personal health consultants ' you name it, there's just an abundance of choice out there.

However, at the same time, there's more confusion, concern and frustration because what seems to be working at the outset for people interested in better complexions and smoother, clearer skin doesn't seem to last.

Many women are feeling just as concerned and bewildered about their appearance, complexion and skin condition than they ever were.

Why is that?

It could be because there is conflicting and sometimes downright dangerous advice which educated, informed professionals throw around.

What can a woman do to avoid the traps and pitfalls when navigating the health and beauty minefield?

Well, the first thing is to take complete charge and control about the whole process of care and treatment. Yes, there's something to be said about being pampered by someone who is there to look after our health and beauty needs. However, being in charge by making ourselves knowledgeable and educated about the whole process is something that all of us can do and the benefits can last a lifetime.

Not only that, but these very same regimes, tips and health secrets are very valuable; they can be passed down to another generation which is being bombarded with a diet of flashy, glitzy glam-type adverts for skin products that do not live up to their claims and cost a fortune to purchase because of extravagant advertising campaigns.

There's a better, proven, less expensive way to get the type of results that would make a difference to how you want to look and that is to be your own health and beauty consultant.

What that means is you should get the correct information from the right sources in order to become an informed and educated person when it comes to your own well-being.

Arming yourself with tips, techniques, regimes and health secrets is key in looking your best ever... without having to pay the earth for it.

For example - choosing the right moisturiser, one that's right for YOU, can be like taking part in an archery contest with your eyes blindfolded with no idea where the target is.

Not only that, but when you DO decide that you want to get what you consider is the RIGHT moisturiser, you'll find that there's an army of people with very limited knowledge who believe each one of us has exactly the same skin type, the same skin tone, and that their products... FIT ALL!

Nothing could be further from the truth and, to prove it all, just look at the poor looking skin and complexions of some of the people you know.

So, what type of mistakes do most of us make when choosing moisturisers and skin products? Well, a huge error is deciding on a moisturising product because a celebrity endorses it. The problem is that most celebrities we see have admitted that they've had face lifts, plastic surgery, nips and tucks here and there, and... a good many other 'unnatural' processes. That's a huge sign to let you know that what you're buying may not entirely give you the results of those celebrities.

Another mistake is trusting the sales assistant who really can't give you any definite, specific, demonstrable difference between the various products. Many people behind the sales counter are simply order-takers. They've no real in-depth knowledge about the tangible benefits you may receive. So be very wary of those people to whom you're entrusting your appearance, well-being and hard earned cash.

Do you know which type of moisturiser is best for your skin? Quite frankly, most people do not know the difference between oil-in-water creams and those that are water-in-oil based potions.

Theres no need to spend ridiculous amounts of cash and just remember that the market for high-tech anti-wrinkle creams has more than doubled in the last 5 years and actually exceeds £100 million pounds.

It is common for advertisers to make often absurd claims for their products. In effect, they have a huge queue of suckers all waving their credit cards and cheque books.

Preserving youth has become an obsession, a huge booming market with miracle creams that promise much yet do nothing.

PS

Can I leave you with a top tip? A simple treatment to refresh and tighten your skin is to tone it with vodka! I've tried it and it really works.