The mainstream press have made a big deal about a new "second skin" which can be painted on. This second skin is supposed to pull the skin on to which it is painted, together - making wrinkles seem reduced. The second skin is suggested to show more of the light reflection and lustre of young skin. As far as your skin is concerned, the differences between you ger and older skin are not just on the surface. Beneath the epidermis layers of the skin sits the dermis, which contains most of the collagen and elastin fibres that give your skin its elastic recoil and firmness. And after the teenage years, we lose the collagen at a rate of 1.5 per cent a year – before taking sun damage and smoking into account. Collagen creams and consuming collagen are becoming increasingly popular for counteracting this – but there’s no convincing evidence that they work. Before you get too excited and for a more sensible and reasoned anaylsis, I suggest that you read the article in the New Scientist which is available (and from which the above synopsis is taken) here: