4 Secrets For Younger Looking Skin

Did you know that the first thing people notice about you is your face? Also, did you know that having healthy skin is an important part of a great looking face? Caring for your face is an important thing that you can do for yourself... and it's not that hard. See below for some basic tips and simple guidelines meant to encourage you to care for your skin. After all, your skin is your body's largest organ... and it deserves some TLC!


1) Cleaning your Skin.
It is very important, no matter what your skin type, to cleanse your face every day. To keep pores clear and to keep your skin looking healthy, it's a must to use a good product for deep cleansing at least once a week. Your choice of cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Soaps containing perfumes and deodorants should not be used on your face because they have harsh ingredients and can leave a detergent film behind. Yuck! These cleansers can also irritate your skin and clog your pores (we all know what happens next!). When cleansing your face, select a product that is as natural and mild as possible.


Occasionally using a good scrub will remove dead cells and smooth the skin surface. Stay away from scrubs that contain ground bits of nuts or seeds. These particles may tear and damage your skin. A good scrub will invigorate without irritating or damaging. Basically speaking, the scrub should clean your skin without damaging it.


2) Moisturize your Skin

The most important thing you can do for your skin is moisturize it! A lot of people say that they have oily skin and have no need for a moisturizer. Quite the contrary! Everyone needs moisturizer... a really good moisturizer. Again, natural is better. Use products with the least amount of chemical additives. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and don't forget to put the moisturizer on your neck area as well. If you are going to be outdoors always use a good sunscreen. You can find good moisturizers that also have a sunscreen in them as well.

For more intensive moisturizing and to target damaged skin and wrinkles use products containing rich, healing ingredients, such as vitamin E, aloe vera oil or squalene. These oils are great for under and around the eyes.This is one of the first places to show age because the under eye skin produces less of the oil that occurs naturally on the skin (sebum).


3) Toning your skin
Our skin is exposed to environmental pollutants and the sun's UV and UVB rays everyday. Toning can help keep your skin clear and firm. As we age, it is harder is maintain the elasticity of your skin. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work well for toning the face. These acids can reduce the pore size, and unclog the pores... helping to reduce acne and avoid ingrown hairs.

4) Protecting your skin
Healthy, glowing skin is a reflection of overall body health. Protecting your skin can keep it looking healthier and younger longer. Key elements to the protection and health of your skin include:

a) Avoid over exposure to the sun. Sun damage may cause hyperpigmentation (brown spots) which can develop into cancer. Sun exposure also causes facial wrinkles. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on all exposed skin, especially your face. Remember, you are exposed to the sun even while driving your car to / from work, school activities, soccer practice, the grocery store, etc. There are companies that make moisturizers that actually contain sunscreen as well. However, make sure the products don't have any chemicals, artificial dyes or fragrances.

b) Exercise. Exercise promotes blood circulation which increases oxygen distribution to the capillaries and skin tissue. This oxygenation revitalizes the skin. As gross as this may sound, sweating helps remove dirt and toxins from the pores. Always clean your skin immediately after exercising so you can wash the sweat and toxins from the surface of your skin.

c) Eat Healthy. Eating healthy food, including lots of fruits and vegetables will keep your skin looking healthy. Foods rich in vitamins C and E also help to maintain skin's elasticity. Drinking plenty of water will hydrate and firm your skin as well. No time to eat healthy? Take a good vitamin supplement that contains anti-oxidants and plant/vegetable extracts to help your skin be healthy from the inside to the outside!

d) Avoid Excess. Too much alcohol, smoking, stress or fatigue can take its toll on the health of your skin. These factors can dull and discolor your skin making you look old and tired. Get a lot of sleep and avoid excess to keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant.

Prevention and Protection Are Key to a Youthful Appearance

Let's get one thing out of the way right now. You are beautiful. No doubt about it. But, what you may not know is that almost all of the skin care products that you have used to help you look younger and more beautiful today may not keep your skin beautiful as your age increases. And to make matters worse, most of the skin care products on the market today contain a lot of additives and preservatives that, quite frankly, I wouldn’t want in my own backyard, much less sealed up tightly in a pretty bottle or cute jar on my bathroom counter.

I know that you put forth your best effort to present yourself to the world and to look & feel your best. To do this, you are probably buying cosmetics, lotions and skin care products from only the best department stores or that have the most attractive packaging. Maybe you purchase products that are the most expensive because that means they contain only the best ingredients. That is not always true. .... During my research, I have found that prevention and protection are key to a youthful appearance. You need a comprehensive skin care approach that addresses both of the aging factors: Intrinsic Aging and Actinic Aging.

OK, so just what is Intrinsic and Actinic aging?

Intrinsic Aging: 10% of our aging process: In our mid-20s, the natural aging process beings. This is also know as Intrinsic aging and it is genetic, not much we can do about that. It is a continuous process that causes collagen production to slow down, and causes the elastin (the substance that enables skin to snap back into place) to have a little less ‘spring’. Our skin’s ability to reproduce collagen and elastin slows down 65% between the ages of 20 and 80. Our skin begins to thin at a rate of 6% every 10 years. As we age, our skin’s ability to hold moisture declines, and our skin become dehydrated. Our dead skin cells do not shed as quickly as before, and the turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. While these changes usually begin in our 20s, the signs of intrinsic aging are typically not visible for decades.

Actinic Aging: 90% of the visible signs of aging: Actinic aging is caused by years of skin exposure to UVA and UVB rays. That's right... sun damage. For those of you that like to play golf, outdoor sports, relax on the beach or by the pool, or even in a tanning bed need to be careful! Some of the typical changes that occur due to Actinic aging are that our skin starts to look leathery and thick and will have irregular pigmentation. Blood vessels may be visible on the surface of your skin, and deep furrows develop in the skin- in addition to wrinkles. Years of Actinic aging, starting from childhood, is responsible for up to 90% of the unwanted characteristics of aging skin.

By the time you have reached adulthood, you have had decades of exposure to free radicals that destroy cells. You’ve been exposed to UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are the sun’s silent killers. You don’t feel them, but they are the primary cause of skin cancer and wrinkles. Did you know that UVA rays penetrate through clear glass windows that do not have a UV coating? UVA rays also destroy collagen and elastin, which creates sagging.

UVB rays have an immediate, harmful impact on your skin. Damage from UVB rays takes place within the very first minute of walking outside. These rays are those that cause your skin to ‘burn’, and with that you increase your risk for skin cancer.

Don’t get too freaked out. The good news is that only 10% of how you age is directly related to your genes. The other 90% is due to how many free radicals you’ve been exposed to that destroy your skin.

Using the right products, with the right ingredients, can reverse the signs of aging. Some products have 3 of these ingredients and some have maybe 1 or 2 of them, or none at all. First, you need a skin care product that doesn't contain mineral oil, so that the ingredients can actually get below the surface of the skin and rebuild the damage you've been exposed to. Secondly, look for products with a combination of Vitamin C, Copper, Elhibin & Stimu-Tex, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Kojic Acid and Peptides (to name a few).

When choosing any product that you are going to put on your skin, remember that the skin absorbs everything very quickly. Many products on the market today contain harmful chemicals and other ingredients that can cause additional skin problems. Anything that you put on your skin will be absorbed into your bloodstream. Your skin is your body's largest organ and needs all the TLC it can get!