Every Day Skin Care

Everyday you get older and the first place that age shows is on your face. By age 40, skin begins to lose its youthful bloom and most women begin to notice tiny wrinkles. Suddenly, laugh lines don’t seem funny at all.

In our 50's those lines become deeper, dilated blood vessels often emerge around the nose and cheeks. The regeneration of new cells and tissue slows down, the skin’s natural oils dry up and collagen production, which keeps skin flexible, is reduced to a trickle. It isn’t pretty.

While you can’t turn back the clock, you can slow down the ravages of time. Beautiful skin requires daily vigilance. Start taking care of your skin today and you’ll be rewarded with a lifetime of looking your best.

From morning to night, your skin works to protect your vital organs, to provide you with a sense of touch and to regulate your body’s temperature. Your skin works hard. Doesn’t it deserve to be treated well? Here’s a daily plan to keep skin looking and feeling great.

Morning

7am - Wake up refreshed. Like your other organs, your skin needs rest.

7:15 - Hit the shower. Use warm (not hot) water and a non drying shower gel. Keep showers short to conserve water and to retain the skin’s natural oils.

7:25 - Moisturize with an extra rich lotion. The best time to use a moisturizer is after bathing. Look for products that contain vitamins C, E, or co-enzyme Q.

7:30 - Eat breakfast. Choose foods that are rich in vitamin A, C and E. According to the American Medical Association, these anti-oxidants can help protect the skin from dangerous free radicals that can cause skin cancer. Cantaloupe, orange juice, fresh berries, whole grains and eggs provide you with a dose of immunity and are a delicious way to start your day.

7:45 - Apply sun screen. Use a facial moisturizer with a SPF of 15 and apply sun screen to any exposed skin about 15-30 minutes before heading outside. Like the look of a tan? Avoid tanning booths and opt for a self-tanning lotion or bronzer.

8am- Exercise. Exercise is key to overall good health. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and that benefits all of your vital organs - including your skin!

10am - Reapply sun screen. Always reapply sun screen after exercising – especially between the hours of 10am-3pm.

10:30am - Call your dermatologist. Make an appointment to get a baseline screening and then have regular checkups. Ask your doctor to remove any warts, skin tags and unsightly moles. It’s an easy way to make your skin look smoother immediately.

Afternoon

Noon- Eat lunch. Dig into a spinach salad topped with walnuts and a dressing made with cold-pressed olive oil. Leafy green vegetables and nuts are a great source of vitamin E. Avoid skipping meals or radical diets. Quickly losing or gaining weight can lead to stretch marks and saggy skin.

1pm - Smile! Turn up the corners of your mouth and it’s like an instant face lift.

2pm - Shed the stress. Visit with friends, practice yoga, take a walk. Stress affects all parts of your body - from your digestive track to your circulatory system - and it shows on your skin.

3pm - Roll in the hay. Sex is great for your skin. During intercourse, women produce more estrogen which helps keep skin smooth. It also burns calories and is a great stress reliever.

Evening

5pm - Have a drink. That’s right, pour yourself a tall one - a tall glass of water. In fact, to keep your complexion dewy, drink eight glasses of water every day. That’s how much your body (and your skin) needs to stay hydrated.

6pm - Dine al fresco. The sun’s rays are waning and the barbecue is fired up. Grill up some salmon (rich in Omega -3 oils) and serve it over brown rice (it’s loaded with vitamin E). Skewer some onions, too. They’ve got selenium, which helps to regenerate cells.

9pm - Wash your face. Use a gentle facial cleanser and blot dry with a soft cloth. Use a rich moisturizing emollient and pay special attention to the delicate skin around your eyes. Ask your doctor about a prescription for topical application of Retin A or vitamin A acids, which can help reduce the appearance of sun damage.

10pm - Sleep on your back. Smashing your face into a pillow every night can take its toll and result in wrinkles, puffy eyes and chenille patterns on your cheek that last until noon. Place a small pillow under your neck or in the small of your back to encourage you to lie flat.