How many times have you heard "love the skin you're in"? Proper skin care means very little to you when you are growing up. I remember it took me years to even think about my skin. After all, my first wrinkles showed up around my eyes in my late thirties. Who had time to think about what it meant? Unlike most people, I grew up with an allergic reaction to sunburn, so I kept myself out of the sun out of necessity. That kept the wrinkles off for years without me event trying. But now, I recognize the importance of healthy skin and I wish I had taken heed to my mother's wisdom of caring about my skin.

I started this site because I had dark circles under my eyes and I could not find the right product to make them disappear. I researched solutions to my problem, I tried countless products, I Googled site after site. And, in doing so, I learned a lot about skin that I never even dreamed could be written about skin. Some of it is inherent, some of it is common sense, MOST of it is good sound advice from experts around the world. The five most frequent suggestions are found below:

1. There is no one magical solution or lotion that can turn back time. The important thing to remember is to care for your skin everyday. You are never too young or too old to use a sun protectant, to cleanse your skin gently, and to apply moisturizer every day.
2. Protect your skin from the sun. UV rays are invisible, but damaging to sensitive skin cells. They cause deep wrinkles that aren't so invisible. They cause dry skin, rough patches, liver spots, and sometimes serious skin issues. Avoid the sun when it is most damaging (10a to 4p). If you have to be outside, make sure your makeup has a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) formula, wear a hat, park in the shade, run your errands outside of those peak hours. What a great excuse to make sure you are inside at lunchtime, enjoying your favorite meal with a friend at your favorite restaurant. It's the least you can do for your skin.
3. Don't smoke, quit smoking, or at least make an effort to avoid second hand smoke. As if you needed any other reason to stop smoking. Not only will it kill you, make your breath stink, annoy others, but it also destroys your body's natural ability to care for its skin. To put it simply, it ages you prematurely. Robbing your skin or much needed oxygen and nutrients such as Vitamin A, smoking damages the elasticity (elastin) and strength (collagen) of your skin. It's easy for a nonsmoker to tell a smoker to quit. But, the truth is, there are many solutions you can try. See your doctor to find the best one to suit you and take steps to better skin health today. You will be amazed at how much better you feel, literally.
4. Treat all of your skin gently. Not just your face. Cleansing is an important ingredient in proper skin care. But long hot showers or baths can actually remove the natural oils from your skin and dehydrate your skin. Limit the time to 15 minutes and try warm water, not hot. No matter how cold it is outside. Avoid strong soaps with perfumes and fragrance. Substitute a fragrant candle outside the bathtub instead to sooth your nerves. Use a gentle eye makeup remover. And always, use a moisturizer afterwards with an SPF of 15 or higher. Most importantly, pat yourself dry and change your towel regularly.
5. Drink more water. If you think you drink enough water now, drink more. It has a natural healing power in so many ways. First it cleanses your body of toxins. Secondly, it keeps you hydrated. And, more importantly, it helps keep your skin supple and healthy. Water is not the magical cure for everything, but it can help increase the health of your skin. Try substituting one of your morning cups of coffee with a glass of water. Drink water in between your cocktails at a party. Take water with you when you run errands. When you get thirsty, think water before a soda.

This site is designed to give you helpful tips and insights on proper skincare, useful products for eyes, hair, hands, and feet. It is meant solely to educate, entertain, and point you in the right direction as you make your own choices for a more youthful look. It reaches out to all ages, both genders, and all walks of life. The hope is to help you create a more healthy beauty regime. Eating right, drinking more water, exercising regularly. These are all things you know you need to do. But if this site can provide an informational resource to you to get you on track to taking better care of yourself, then we have accomplished our objective. If at any time you have questions, want to share an idea, want to argue a point, want to suggest a product, please feel free to do so. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , we welcome the feedback. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy pampering yourself back to the youthful look you so deserve!

With youthful appreciation,

Ann
Ann Rimkus
Arbonne Consultant

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All You Need to Begin a Healthy Skincare Regime (PDF)