The phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is all well and good, however do people really want to look old before their time? Proper skin care can take years off of a person’s appearance. What people don’t realize is that the skin is a living, breathing, part of the body. It can be radiant and smooth with just a few extra steps per day.

First off, remember to properly wash your face. This process involves using a cleanser designed for your skin type, oily or dry. It doesn’t mean the $50 a bottle stuff, something from the local drug store will do. Be sure to use only warm water, as hot or cold may damage the capillaries under the skin causing red streaks on the face.  The next step is moisturizer, whether you have dry skin or oily skin always use a moisturizer. There are different types for different skin tones, so find the one for yours. Pat your face when you dry it. No rubbing as this can damage the skin. Ladies, remember to always use proper makeup remover when necessary.

Overall skin protection starts with sunscreen. Wear a light sunscreen, SPF 15, everyday that you will be outside for any length of time. Even in Winter, sunscreen should be worn. Some dermatologists recommend wearing it for even the brief trip to the office and back home again. They point out that just because the sun isn’t “shining bright above” doesn’t mean that you’re not exposed to Ultraviolet rays that will damage the skin and can lead to Cancer.

Which leads us to the next tip, smoking. Don’t smoke, as this can age your skin 10 times faster than normal as well as bring on wrinkles around the mouth and eyes faster. Smoking decreases the size of the blood vessels which then decreases the vitamins to the parts of the skin. This reduces the elasticity and collagen in the skin. This process is set into motion within the first year of smoking and can be seen within the first 10 years. So the average 30 year old smoker, who started smoking at age 20,  will look more like they are 40 years old.

One, last, simple step to healthy skin is drinking water. The human body is made up largely of water. The skin needs to stay hydrated in order to maintain elasticity and rid itself of toxins that cause blemishes and discoloration. The basic amount of water is 8 (8oz) glasses of water a day. Don’t try to drink it all at once, spread it out over the course of the day. If you are thirsty, that means you are already dehydrated, so start drinking. Try this, over the next week, drink a minimum of 10 (8oz) glasses of water per day and  keep away from caffeinated drinks as much as possible. Watch the transformation in your skin. You may want to take a before and after picture to prove the results of this experiment.

Just a few small steps a day can keep your skin looker younger and healthier. As much as we would like to believe that beauty is more than skin deep, society shows us the advantages of looker younger and have smooth, flawless skin. The ability to have this is in your hands. Just follow these steps and your skin will thank you.