So you are in your 30s and ghosts of spring breaks past are beginning to rear their ugly heads.  If you took moderate care of your skin in your 20's, this may not have happened, but that is neither here nor there.  Hope is not lost, as at this point the damage should be minimal and you can still take steps to imporove the life of your skin!

1.  STILL...NO SMOKING! The same damage it did in your 20s is being amplified now, so cut it out before its too late!

2. EXCERSIZE! Working out will keep your muscles and skin taught.  Keeping your body weight down in your 30s is crucial, as if your weight fluctuates, skin will lose elasticity and therefore result in more wrinkles later.

4. EAT RIGHT! Getting the proper nutrition now will set you up for healthy skin later.  It's not about just popping vitamins, but eating foods that will get your vitamins.  One vitamin I do reccommend taking is L-Lysine, which is an essential amino acid that the body CANNOT produce, and it is essential for cellular regeneration and tissue function.

5. EXFOLIATE! This is the time when cellular regeneration slows, which can leave your skin looking dull and lifelike.  Using a regular exfoliator will keep cell production at its maximum.  Don't forget your body as well! I really like ZIRH Clean Face Wash with alpha hydroxy acid, which gently exfoliates daily without over drying. (Yes, ZIRH is for men, but trust me ladies, it will work for you!)  Just as a word of advice: Get the wash in the smaller size as the large aluminum container makes it hard to get out.

$20 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

8. START AN ANTI-AGING REGIMINE! It's never too early to begin using creams and lotions.  Luckily, FEMMESCIENCE has developed a system specifically designed for women in their 30s! This age control lotion contains CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Green Tea, and Vitamins A, C, and E to keep your skin at its best during these years! FemmeScience also has many other great products designed to prevent signs of aging before they start!

$28-$54 FemmeScience www.femmescience.com

7. COLOR WISELY! Cover up those emerging grays with a temporary, non-ammonia color to keep hair soft and manageable.  If hair is less than 50% gray, you don't need harsh peroxide dyes.

8. OK, WEAR SOME MAKEUP.
Start with a lightweight concealer only under the eyes, or where you have a blemish.  I like LANCOME Effacernes Under Eye Concealer.  Tap lightly under the eye area and onto blemishes, blending in with the skin.

$28.50 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

Next, Use a SHEER COVERAGE foundation such as DIORSkin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup.  Apply a VERY thin layer over skin and blend down the neck for a more even skin tone, and nobody will know you are wearing it.  If you must use a powder, keep it as light as possible, tapping off the brush before applying on face.  Excessive powder can make you look older.

$46 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

Keep Lips and Eyes Light and Bright! You are still young, and don't you forget it. 
This great palette from LORAC is great for day to night glamour and won't leave you looking overly made up.

$35 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

We all get self conscious about our complexion. Maybe we had bad skin as a teenager, maybe you are one of 25% of adults suffering with acne...or maybe you just want to clear up the occasional blemish. Whether you suffer from mild to severa acne, the best solution is to use one of the following treatment options. Whatever you do, DO NOT pick at acne, which can result in more iritation or even permanent scarring!

FIRST,
Avoid acne triggers such as stress, excessive persperation, and certain foods.

SECOND,
Use only cosmetics that are oil free, mineral, and organic. Some good brands include Bare Escentuals and Philosophy.

THIRD,
Use the following acne treatment remedy:

A) Use a gentle face wash to clear surface oils.
B) Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Treatment. It oxygnates skin with a mild drying and exfoliating effect. Skin bacteria can't survive in oxygen, and this treatment has proven effective for most people.
C) Moisturize. Since the benzoyl peroxide is drying, you can restore balance with a light moisturizer. I like to use one with at least SPF 15 to counteract damage to the skin by the sun. Additionally, acne conrol products make the skin more sensitive to sun exposure.

I have read many reviews, and based on research, The Acne Solutions line from CLINIQUE seems to be one of the most effective treatment programs on the market. I recently had the pleasure of testing these products with brilliant results. Clinique recommends using this regimine twice a day, but I found using a gentle cleanser in the morning with a SPF moisturizer, and the Clinique Acne Solutions program before bed worked extremely well without drying out my sensitive skin excessively. The foaming cleanser left my face feeling clean but not overdried, and the clearing moisturizer and mask were very effective in reducing my moderate acne!


$32.50 for starter kit - Major Department Stores Nationwide

ADDITIONAL TREATMENT

SCRUB - 1-2 times per week. I loved the BIORE Pore Unclogging Scrub, which really helps clear out blackheads.


$6 - Drugstores Nationwide

MASK - 1-2 times per week. A clay mask like this one from ZIRH is great for balancing the skins pH, which regulates oil production.


$20 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

TONER - The debate is up in the air on toner, but I like to use a toner every other day to help remove excess oil, makeup, cleanser, and moisturizer residue. Try to avoid one which has a first ingredient of alcohol, which actually can increase oil production in the skin. BURT'S BEES Garden Tomato Toner is a great all natural toner that doesn't cause excessive drying!


$12 - Drugstores Nationwide

EGG WHITE MASK - Many people find this VERY effective at reducing redness and removing blackheads. Lightly beat 1-2 egg whites in a bowl. Paint onto face wth a brush. Apply pieces of 2-ply toilet paper over the egg white (like paper maiche). Brush another layer of egg white over the paper. Allow to dry thoroughly (It will be very stiff). Peel off face in an upward motion. Rinse face with cool water.

If this regimine still leaves you feeling down about your skin, definitely see a dermatologist, who can offer several antibiotic and retinoid perscriptions to clear up severe acne. A word of warning: Perscription acne medication often has SEVERE side effects, so only use this as an absolutely last resort.
Good Luck!

In honor of Father's Day, this coming weekend, all week I will be featuring tips, tricks, and products especially for men! Whether you ladies are looking for special gifts, or men want to try something new, these are the things you need to know. Men's skin ages just the same as women's do, and smoking, drinking, sun, and stress affect it in much the same way. However, many men look at skincare as an aferthought, which is a huge mistake. The following is a basic skincare regimine that will work for most men:

1. Use a good-quality cleanser. Apply to a moist face and work in an circular motion, and rinse with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel. I like the JACK BLACK Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser, which contains antioxidants to decrease free radicals, and sage extract which works as an antibiotic on the skin.

$18-$32 Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

2. Apply a moisturizer with at least SPF 15. Only a small amount is needed each morning after washing and will protect the skin against the suns harmful rays. My favorite is ZIRH Defend Lotion. It works well with all skin types (even dry and sensitive) and contains avocado oil and vitamin a along with the SPF 15 protection, leaving skin soft, but not greasy.

$32.50 Major Department Stores Nationwide.

3. Shaving: Cream or Gel / Electric or Classic depends on your personal preference, but there are a few things you need to know about shaving properly. First, using a scrub twice a week will remove dead skin cells and make your shave smoother and more comfortable. There are MANY many scrubs out there, but for this specific segment, I am going out on a limb and reccommending a women's skincare product. KATE SOMERVILLE'S Exfolikate is the best scrub on the market today (for men or women!). It contains a laundry list of ingredients to enhance the skin, clear blackheads, and leave the skin bright and clear!

$175 Luxury Stores Nationwide and www.sephora.com

Next, when applying your cream or gel, make sure it is applied over a face that has been wet with warm water. Allow the cream to soften the hairs for a minute before beginning to shave. Take your time, and remember that shaving with the grain is FAR LESS irritating than shaving against the grain. The brand and style of cream or gel, and no one is better or worse than the other really. I have even gone so far to use conditioner for the hair. Save some money here and use a drugstore product like Gillete or Edge.

4. Last, use an aftershave lotion to sooth the skin. Look for one with aloe vera to sooth razor burn and irritation. I like CLINIQUE Post-Shave Healer, with high aloe content.

$17 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com