You've got great skin!

Do you know what group of people have the worst skin care routines?

People with great skin.

Wha??

That's right. And no, I am not crazy.

Think of it this way. If you never had acne, excessively oily or dry skin, sensitivities, breakouts, or any other condition that has caused you to worry about what you saw in the mirror, would you think twice about your skin?

Probably not.

You would most likely ignore your skin until one of these conditions appeared. It's the same way with those genetically blessed individuals who haven't exercised a day in their lives, can live on a diet of cheeseburgers and milkshakes, yet manage to maintain perfectly toned physiques.

So, if you are one of these genetic freaks (can you tell I'm a wee-bit jealous?), you don't have to worry about your skin, right? Wrong. In fact, you should be more worried.

Why? Well, lets look at our perfect-body-without-the-sweat counterparts. Let's call her Polly Perfect (jealousy is an ugly thing). The age range for Polly is usually between 17 & 29. At this stage of the game, her metabolism is fired up and her body can handle the extra calories, fat and artificial ingredients consumed. It isn't until about age 30, when her metabolism slows down, that Polly Perfect starts noticing she is packing on the pounds.

What happens next?

Full blown panic. Just think of how much easier Polly's life would have been had she just started to develop good habits earlier!

A person (lets call her Patty) with perfect skin is no different. For years, Patty has never thought twice about her skin and it has been just fine. Suddenly, Patty reaches her 30's and her face has fallen to the floor, brown spots have mysteriously appeared, and her skin has the texture of shoe leather. Patty picks up the phone and dials the number to her friendly neighborhood esthetician and makes an appointment.

The following is an example of the conversation that follows:

Esthetician: What are your concerns?

Patty: I have been noticing some wrinkles, brown spots and my skin is not as smooth as it used to be. I have never had a problem with my skin, before!

Esthetician: Well, what do you use at home?

Patty: Um, soap and water. Oh, and sometimes lotion.

Esthetician: Do you use a sunscreen?

Patty: Only in the summer when, I am out in the sun.

Esthetician: (Sigh)

What follows is usually a laundry list of treatments, home-care and lifestyle changes aimed at correcting Patty's concerns. These do not come cheap. Remember: Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than correction. Patty will either commit to change and hopefully improve her skin (remember there are no guarantees), or be so overwhelmed, chuck the whole idea, and continue on her journey to look like a snake-skin handbag.

So what do you do? Recognize that just like everything else in life, neglect is not the answer!

In order to avoid Patty's fate follow these simple skin care tips:

1. Use a good cleanser. Even if you don't wear makeup everybody's skin is exposed to pollutants and needs a good cleaning at least once a day (preferably at night). Look for a non-irritating, non-drying formula. If your skin is dry and tight after washing, the cleanser is too harsh.
   
2. Wear sunscreen!!! This is my number one anti-aging product. Unless you live in a cave, you need sunscreen year round.
3. Load up on Antioxidants. Use a topical antioxidant serum (preferably liposome coated) daily and eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Dark berries, spinach & teas are especially high in antioxidants and can boost your skin's natural spf!
   

These aren't the answers to all your skin care problems, but they will put you on the right track!

Until next time!