There are literally hundreds of thousands of skincare products on the market today.  Choosing what to use can be intimidating, to say the least.  Let’s take it back to the basics and think about what skin care in its simplest form, should accomplish.  There are three basic things a good skincare routine should include:

Cleansing: Remove makeup and daily grime/oil.

Moisturizing: Replenish and hydrate the skin after cleansing.

Sun Protection: At all ages, you should protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.

About your cleanser – : Your cleanser should effectively remove your makeup and facial oil, but be gentle enough not to irritate your skin.  The rule of thumb that dermatologists use is that a cleanser should be gentle enough so that it does not burn your eyes.  First, determine your skin type – sensitive, dry or oily and choose a cleanser for your specific skin type.

About your moisturizer – The older you are, the more crucial a moisturizer is.  When we hit about age 30, our body’s natural ability to moisturize is decreased, and will continue to decrease the more we age.  (Keep reading for more information on anti-again product recommendations.)

Many women think that if their skin is oily, they can skip moisturizer and that isn’t true.  If you are experiencing breakouts, and you are attributing that to oily skin, it may be because your skin is irritated from being dry.  Try a lightweight, water based moisturizer and see if your breakouts decrease.

For all skin types, you will want a moisturizer with a combination of ingredients.  Your moisturizing goals should be to:  1)  replenish your skin’s natural ingredients, 2)   decrease damage from free-radicals and 3)  support normal cells function.

Some basic moisturizer ingredients to look for are:

• Glycerol – to help water and other moisturizer ingredients penetrate your skin
• Ceramides – to help replenish your skin’s natural oils
• Hydroxy Acids – to help with exfoliation of dead skin cells

About your sun protection - The final but most forgotten step in a good skin care program is using sunscreen.  Unfortunately, most of the damage to the skin from UV radiation is beneath the surface and happens so slowly that we don’t realize how much damage is being done.

Most people know that exposure to UV rays can cause damage, but most don’t know that this damage also occurs when you walk from your house to your car or sit next to a window during the day.  In fact, you very likely have more sun damage on the left side of your face from driving than you do on your right side.  This damage can come in the form of wrinkles, dark spots and skin cancer.

When choosing a sunscreen, there are several things to consider such as, should you use an everyday sunscreen or a full on sun exposure sunscreen?  Should you use a sunscreen alone or a sunscreen plus moisturizer?  All skin colors and types should make it a point everyday to use a good broad spectrum sunscreen on your face, neck and even hands.  The easiest way to do this is by using a moisturizer with sunscreen.  When referring to “broad spectrum, I mean a sunscreen that absorbs both UVA and UVB rays.  Products that meet these criteria will indicate this on the product label.  Always choose a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 – higher if your skin is fair, if you are in higher altitudes, high humidity locales, or will come in contact with water.  It is always a good idea to reapply often.  Actual sunburn can take up to 24 hours to show on your skin.

Anti-Aging Products: If you are doing all of the above, but feel that it is time to incorporate some additional steps into your skin care routine to assist with anti-aging efforts, here are three fairly new product ingredients that you should know about:

Resveratol – an antioxidant compound found in red wine.  It is said to stimulate collagen production and increase skin’s firmness.

Activin Boosters – an enzyme that naturally occurs in skin to help repair damage caused by sun exposure or acne scarring.  May help skin cell turnover, which in turn can decrease fine lines and brown spots.

Quercetin – derived from oak tree bark, it is said to improve skin’s texture and firmness.  It contains strong antioxidants and also has been proven to increase proteasome function which encourages growth of healthy cells.  That means that skin will stay younger looking longer.

Skincare can be overwhelming, not to mention, expensive.  How do you know which products are right for your skin?  One simple way would be to talk with your girlfriends.  Describe your skin and listen to what products they are using.

Another way I recommend choosing a skin care line would be to visit www.dermadoctor.com.  Created by a dermatologist, Dermadoctor has feature articles sharing the most current developments in skin care technology and research. All products are approved by a dermatologist and accurate information gives you the power to make the right skin care choices from the wide array of products offered.

Hands down, the best way to determine products for your skin care routine would be to see a dermatologist in person.  A good dermatologist practice will have aestheticians in house to perform non-invasive procedures, including everything from microdermabrasion to your basic facial.  Dermatologist offices should include 1 -2 skincare lines for sale and these will most likely be available by prescription only.  They should also be able to point you to an over the counter solution when asked.

See Skincare 101 – Post B for more skin care info and a Philosophy skin care sample giveaway!