Top Ten Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips (for Adults)

(Adapted from Chicago Health & Beauty Magazine and The Perricone Prescription)

1. Know your skin type. Is your skin dry, oily, or a combination? This is important because not every skin care product suits everyone.
   
   
2. Cleanse your face two times daily. Both morning and night time washing with lukewarm water (too hot or too cold will damage delicate skin over time) removes pore-clogging dirt and other harsh elements. For gentle facial washes, check with your dermatologist or skin care specialist.
   
   
3. Never use soap on your face. Soap should only be used below the face.
   
   
4. Be gentle to your skin. Exfoliation and scrubbing are great, but not too harsh and not too often. Also, don’t overdo chemically laden skincare products. The best rule of thumb is “less is more”.
   
   
5. Keep your skin moist. Dry skin will peel and break. Moisturizers are best applied when skin is damp.
   
   
6. Drink a lot of filtered water. This will keep your skin moist and hydrated while removing harmful toxins.
   
   
7. Use both sun and sunscreen. Fifteen minutes of quality sun exposure (not between the hours of 10:00AM to 2:00PM) without a sunscreen will allow you to absorb Vitamin D. Otherwise, use a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 20 to protect yourself from harmful UV light. Tip: Many moisturizers have a sunscreen already built into them.
   
   
8. Get a good night’s sleep. Not only will eight hours of restful sleep rejuvenate you physically, mentally, and emotionally, but will also produce brighter eyes with less wrinkles.
   
   
9. Beat stress. Whether through exercise, meditation, or a soothing Epsom Salt bath, consider stress relief an important part of your overall health regimen.
   
   
10. Take your antioxidant supplements daily. Health professionals can usually pinpoint problems by looking at your skin because what you put into your body will be reflected on the outside. The best antioxidants for a healthy, glowing skin are:
    
    Vitamin A from Fish Oil (2000-4000 i.u.) and Beta Carotene, a non-toxic Vitamin A precursor (5,000-15,000 i.u.);
    
    Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (500-1000 mg.);
    
    Vitamin D (800-1200 i.u.), especially from Cod Liver Oil or D3 sources;
    
    Vitamin E (200-800 i.u.);
    
    Fish Oil (1 gram daily-600 mg. EPA, 400 mg. DHA) that is high quality and free of contaminants; and CoQ10, optional (50-200 mg. in the morning) is also an energizer for people on statin drugs.;