18 Skin Commandments...

Skin...the largest Organ in our body... and the one we women constantly obsess over.

We buy fancy product, have expensive treatments put ourselves in little dark rooms all in the hope to fight "the wrinkle".

I often speak to women that believe that "brand" and "price" will somehow ward off wrinkles, is Coco Chanel really so much better for you than CG? Maybe...maybe not. It depends on your skin, the quality of it, the texture and of course genetics.

So here are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with skin...My new 18 Commandments! There are probably more but so far these are the ones I believe are worth following.

1. Sunscreen

This is the best way to keep your skin from getting wrinkled, saggy, and speckled is sunscreen, I believe in using a minimum of SPF 30 for everyday, higher for a day outdoors.

Sunscreen should be Broad-spectrum formulas (meaning they shield against both UVA and UVB rays) with Mexoryl or Helioplex offer the longest-lasting protection.

This is for all skin types and colors...we all get sunburned!

Apply 30 min before leaving the house, and reapply if you stay out for longer than 4 hours.

2. Water!

Drinking plenty of water is key to keeping your body and your skin hydrated. Water in it's pure unsweetened form is the best thing for your skin. Soda, coffee, teas and even juices are not considered really water...make it a point to have a nice glass of water in the morning with your breakfast (room temperature water is best), and avoid drinking water 1 hrs before going to bed. We want to be hydrated not bloated! Check out the 10 rules of Waking up like a Star!

3. NO Smoking
OK think about this...if it makes your lungs black ...what does it do to your skin?

Smoking helps develop more deep wrinkles and blotchier skin tone. Gives you an ashy look, no youth shine here, and to complicate things, research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, has stated that every decade of smoking results in a perceived extra 2.5 years of age.

4. Little Alcohol

Moderation is key, if you drink more than one cocktail a day, and your skin suffers. Alcohol increases the level inflammatory agents in the bloodstream, what does it mean?? that in the long run it hasten skin sagging, this comes from Dr.Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in New York City and Coral Gables, Florida.

5. Clean Makeup Brushes

You will ask why? I use them, they are mine, I do not share! That sounds good to me but...
Well how about, muddied colors, clogged pores, and bacterial infections? These are just a few thing that can happen by using dirty makeup brushes. Makeup Brushes (for personal use) should be cleaned at least every 3 weeks, there are plenty of product out there to do just that, or simply use a gentle shampoo and make sure you rinse them well. Alcohol will dry them up so if you really want to disinfect them, purchase a product or go online, there are tutorials on how to make your own brush cleaner.

6. Taking care of more than your face.
Skin care doesn't stop at your jawline! Neck, chest, hands are almost always exposed, and yet they rarely receive same level of hydration and sun protection as our faces. Bad part of this is that the skin there is more delicate and just as vulnerable to aging as our faces. What to do: The next time you apply serum, face cream, or sunscreen or give yourself an exfoliating treatment, extend everything down to your décolletage. You really do not want to have a wrinkly chest at 35!

7. Moles! Not the ones underground...the ones on your body!

Know where they are even the less obvious ones such as your on scalp, the soles of your feet, and under your nails. Have them checked by a Dermatologist once a year (especially as we get older and wiser). Check your moles every month and if anything changes...one grows hair or pops up overnight or something...call your Dr and get it checked.

8. Sleep More

This is not insomnia, I am talking about staying up late for no good reason and doing it often.

Lack of sleep cause stress, which can aggravate all skin conditions, including acne, eczema, etc.

Sleep is also helps your body repairs the damage from the day, by not sleeping enough (7 to 8hrs) the cell turn over process starts to slow down resulting in older more worned out and sallow skin.

9. No Sleeping with Makeup

OK the Hollywood stars do it in movies...they go to bed looking fabulous and wake up looking fantastic. But we do not do that...we wake up looking more like a high breed between a raccoon a blow fish and a frog! So think of this...letting skin marinate in makeup overnight and not to mention a day's worth of oil buildup, can lead to clogged pores and zits. To make things better your body temperature increases slightly when you sleep, that means that it enhances the absorption of whatever is on the surface of your skin. I think I would rather have night cream absorbed in my sleep than makeup.

10. Stop Zits Popping

It's as tempting a bobble rap for some of us. We see it we go for it. Simple but very very bad!
Why? Because popping, as tempting as it is, causes the bacteria to go deeper into the pores, causing inflammation, infection, and scarring. It's like giving zits a second life!

Going out there are getting the harshest chemicals in the bathroom won't help, either, treating any breakout with too much benzoyl peroxide damages the skin around the spot and can cause more irritation.

11. Eating Junk Food

You are what you eat!
Cut the junk fast food, grease stuff, and you can see an improvement in skin condition and acne in about six weeks. Hungry? have a snack like peanut butter, nuts, and avocado, fruits of any kind, taking in healthy fats provide nutrients for the hair, skin, nails, and basic metabolism.

12. Neglecting Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes thinner than practically anywhere else on the body, it's also the victim of a lot and lots of abuse.

Here is how:

1. Stop Rubbing!! Every time you rub your eyes, you risk breaking delicate blood vessels, this leads to darkening, dulling, and thickening of the surrounding skin.

2. Protect! Make sure you always apply an anti-aging eye cream. Chose on with retinol in it, if retinol is too strong, consider peptides, and or zinc, this increase elastin production, which can reduce crepiness! Beauty is the eye of the beholder...or just the eyes!

13. Be Wise with Products...or choosing theright ones.

There are plenty of books/tutorials/free web info on skin types, but somehow the shiny bottle and fancy packaging still takes precedence on wheter or not the products is good for your skin type. Learn your skin type you will be much happier choosing product that will work for you.

14. Cell phones

OK this sounds weird, but lets look at it for a moment...
Talking on the phone means resting your chin or cheek against it (cell or old-school), and that can lead to breakouts, whether or not the phone is clean and bacteria-free. Friction, occlusion, and heat, generated by the phone plastered to your ear can make you breakout. What to do? Talk less or get a headset...this will also save you money!

15. Over exfoliating
OK so we read/hear/see how supposedly exfoliating is good for you...well it is in moderation. Squeaky-clean pores may initially feel good, and the whole "baby's butt" thing is quite alluring, harsh cleansing or too much exfoliating can actually exacerbate oil production and worsen breakouts by spreading bacteria! If you "have to" exfoliate a gentle alternative would be to use a glycolic peel, three times a week.

16. Couch Potato

Exercise along with lifting your mood, increases blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow will cause a healthy-looking flush. This happens almost instantly! And it improves over time, it has been shown to decrease tension and stress, which can result in better looking skin.

17. No Tanning

So we all saw Baywatch or at least heard of it...beautiful tanned women running around in perfect bodies with a red bikini...or whatever.

How do we mortals achieve that look...well Brozer, Self-tanner, pro-airbrush tan are all your friends. The real baking in the sun is not good for you, your mama told you, your Dr. told you, and now I am telling you. Get out of the sun lady!

What is a tan? To protect itself from continued exposure to the sun, skin thickens and produces melanin, the pigment that darkens cells. Pigment change from UVA or UVB light can cause premature aging and increase the likelihood of skin cancer! Tanning beds are even worse than laying in the sun, since they emit concentrated UVA light, which penetrates deeper than the combination of UVA and UVB rays found in sunlight!

So the moral of the story? Use Sun block and Avoid Tanning beds!

18. Products Overload

Skin care routine should be 3 steps...maybe 4. After that is toooo much!

Do not add products because you think are good or because you want to cut down time and deal with 2 or 3 skin problems at a time! Adding things without checking to see whether they're duplicating ingredients or if they are compatible will cause you more bad than good. Not all products are compatible and sometimes, active ingredients cancel one another out, or they double up and cause irritation or skin damage. Give your skin a chance, use mild product in the recommended amount, establish a simple skin care routine and if it sounds to go...chances are it is fake! My routine...cleans, tone and moisturize, at night I add eye cream. All the rest is optional!

Nibbles,