The first barrier you have to overcome is the FAT THING! From teenage years, right through to maturity, a good portion of women "watch what they eat". 
This generally means instead of being selective of the fats they cut out everything including our precious EFA’s. 
In that pursuit of a trim figure, they have been unknowingly creating a bigger monster for later years, namely an ageing skin!
It is now understood that the skin is the last organ these essential fats reach - the body's vital organs consume them first, and any lack of EFA's means the skin often gets no share of these valuable nutrients.

Essential Fatty Acids help to:

• Breakdown saturated fats.

• Normalise skin lipids.

• Prevent dehydration.

• Balance the acid mantle.

• Assist in oxygen transfer.

• Helps the immune system.

• Increases the metabolic rate.

• Assist in the formation of ceramides.

Normalising Lipids (Oil)
The top layer of the skin (stratum corneum) is made up of layer of keratinised cells bound by both lipids (oil) and water (bilayers). Skins lacking in lipids appear dull, coarse and unpliable. In severe cases, we see evidence of conditions such as eczema and dermatitis, with scaling and cracking. Essential fatty acids from within are a vita component on normalising these epidermal lipids.

Prevents Dehydration
We are at last realising the importance of the epidermic lipids for the health of the skin and body as far as preventing dehydration, by acting as a barrier to lock in moisture. Topically applied it is believed that EFA’s may be metabolised by the skin and the resulting free fatty acids incorporated into the lipids making up the barrier, decrease the evaporation of water from the skin.

Balances the Acid Mantle
Protection is the primary function of the skin. The acid mantle, which has a high content of free fatty acids, is the first major deterrent we have for penetration of unwanted compounds. Thus, here again we see the importance of external and internal application of EFA’s.

Assists Oxygen Transfer
EFA’s encourage the oxygen transport through the body, across cell membranes to assist with the oxidation of foods for energy.

Vital for the proper functioning and formation of Ceramides
Ceramides represent a major percentage of the stratum corneum lipids, and are thus important for the maintenance of water in the skin. The essential fatty acids Linoleic Acid has been found to be linked to the formation of ceramides and therefore the presence of EFA’s is vital for the ceramides found in the bilayers of the stratum corneum.

Increases the metabolic rate
An increased metabolic rate burns for saturated fat into carbon dioxide, water and energy.

Helps our immune system
To resist and fight infection and to prevent allergies.

Along with skin ageing comes joint stiffness and pain, perhaps the result of earlier injuries or just years of wear and tear.

Improved energy levels and a relief of skin dryness are the most common benefits gained from taking Essential Fatty Acids. Of particular importance during and after menopause is the role of EFA’s in increasing calcium absorption from the diet. This enhances calcium levels in the body and helps maintain strong bones.

Omega 6. Head of the omega 6 family is linoleic acid. Good sources are oils from safflower, sunflower, sesame and corn. Linoleic acids is converted in the body to gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is also in abundance In human breast milk (deficiency of GLA may be linked to babies suffering from skin problems such as cradle cap).

Omega 3. The omega 3 family is alpha linolenic acid, found particularly in flax seed (linseed) oil, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. This converts in the body to EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are found in cold water fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines.

We need two to three servings of any of these fish every week plus a good supply of nuts, seeds and their oils, so it is not surprising many of us are deficient in our intake.

So what should we eat?
To ensure you obtain sufficient EFA’s in your diets your should include the following foods:

Fish: Two to three servings of fresh salmon, mackerel (preferably not smoked), herring and sardines per week.

Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, and pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds, one to two tablespoons per day. Mix and store in the fridge, then sprinkle over salad or grind them up and have with yoghurt or cereal.

Oils: Flax, sunflower, corn, evening primrose and starflower oils. One to two tablespoons of flax seed oil daily initially. 
Use oils on salads or vegetables – but, for cooking, only use olive oil as the others become unstable when subjected to heat.

Vegetables: Green leafy vegetable, particularly spinach and cabbage. Aim to have five different types each day, including a good proportion of dark-green, leafy ones.

Experts tells us the skin is the last organ these essential fats reach – the body uses them up first for vital internal organs – which is why each of us should aim to have a soft, velvety skin. 
If we do not, it is a sign we need more EFA’s in our diet.
In addition, if we do, we can feel reassured we are properly oiled on the inside too.

Note: The Heart Foundation has an excellent source of reading material about foods and the Vitamins and Minerals they supply.