1. Know thy skin
    To determine skin’s personality, try this simple test: Wash your face, skip the moisturizer, wait an hour and then take four pieces of transparent tape and place each one in a different area of the thee: chin, forehead, cheeks and across the nose. Gently pull off the tape and observe the sticky side. If it holds flakes of skin, you have dry skin in that area. If it has a greasy print, you have oily skin. Then take a closer look at your face. Do you see a few pimples? You may have minor acne. Do you frequently have a redness or irritation? Your skin is probably sensitive.
  2. Cleanse frequently and faithfully
    Always use a cleanser suited to your skin type. If yours is oily or acne-prone, come clean with a liquid, gel formulation. Try Deep Purifying Cleanser or Dermaloge Cleansing Liquid. Dry skin calls for a creamy cleanser that won’t strip the skin. Recommended ones to try are: Orange Blossom Cleansing Milk or Azulene Cleansing Lotion. Combination skin has its own set of concerns: It’s usually oily in the T-zone and the cheeks are dry. What to do? Use Fresh Facial Bath or Facial Cleansing Gelee. If your skin is sensitive, go for tried-and-true cleansers that contain no alcohol and don’t over lather, like Vita- Pure Cleansing Milk or Arnica Facial Wash.
  3. Moisturize religously
    Skin of any type needs a barrier between it and the environment; the elements can damage it and age us before our time. What to look for in a moisturizer? Dry skin requires ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA and glycerin, commonly known as humectants, to draw moisture from the air to the skin. Ones to try: Herbal Nova Crème or Face Nourisher. Combination skin takes an oil-free moisturizer like Calendula Crème or Citrus Day Skin Care. For those with oily and/or acne-prone skin, a light, oil-free, noncomedogenic hydrating gel will suffice. Try Hydra Gel or Overnight Oxy-Complex. Sensitive skin is extremely fragile.Go for simple formulations in moisturizers such as Daily O2 Optimizing Crème or Skin Recovery Crème.
  4. Exfoliate to rejuvenate
    Use exfoliation products to reveal soft, smooth and glowing skin. Exfoliants come in three forms: gentle scrubs that remove surface dead skin, proteolytic enzymes and chemical preparations like alpha-hydroxy acids. AHA’s, such as glycolic or lactic, provide a deeper exfoliation, but caution: AHA use thins the top layer of skin and making it more vulnerable to burning, daily use of sun-protection with an SPF of 15 or higher is a must! Exfoliating products to try: MicroMineral Resurfacing System, Fine Polish Facial Beads, Fruit Enzyme Peel, Glycolic Serum or New Skin Retexturing Gel.
  5. Don’t worship the sun
    As the years go by, (and the ozone layer is depleted) doctors are seeing more and more cases of melanoma. It’s always good idea to protect skin from sun damage year round. Use moisturizers with an SPF of 15 during the day like Daily Moisture Crème SPF 15 or Face Protection SPF 15 (especially if you’re using a product with AHA’s).For extended outdoor activity (outdoor sports or a day at the beach) and sun exposure, Use a full-fledged sunscreen that contains protection against both UVA and UVB radiation, with an SPF 30 like Advanced Protection SPF 30. Or stay out of the sun altogether and just use Sunless Tan.
  6. Honor your eyes
    Skin around the eyes is prone to fine lines, dark circles or puffiness. In some cases, circles are due to heredity or they’re an indication of illness or lack of sleep. In addition to getting more rest, you can use certain products. Puffiness can be reduced with products containing certain peptides that act as a decongestant around the eye area. Remember to apply eye creams on the bone around the eye, not directly under it, to keep the cream from getting into the eye. Recommended eye products to try: EyeBright Anti-Puffiness Gelee or EyeBright Intensive Eye Crème. You may also want to try our Eye Zone Rejuvenation procedure to achieve the best possible results.
  7. Keep an even tone
    Hyperpigmentation can be caused by everything from acne and hormonal changes to burns and sun damage. To even out skin discolorations, look to the ingredient hydroquinone, which acts by breaking up melanin formation. Over-the-counter drug preparations, generally comes in concentrations of 2%. Try Lightening Perfection Crème with Hydroquinone. When teamed with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids (glycolic or salicyclic acids), hydroquinone can deeply penetrate the skin. Try adding Glycolic Serum. NOTE: skin lightening creams should ONLY be applied directly to the areas of discoloration.
  8. Visit a skin care professional
    Facials can stimulate blood circulation and the flow of oxygen to purge skin of toxins imbedded in pores. For the best results, get monthly facial treatments, including deep-cleansing, in which pores are unclogged through exfoliation, steaming, extractions, massage and a mask or glycolic acid, a strong exfoliating peel and hydrating facial to smooth and brighten skin tone.
  9. Let a skin care professional shepherd the way
    If you have severely sensitive skin or acne, or special concerns like flesh moles, eczema or extremely large pores, consult a medical professional.
  10. Be committed to thyself
    Beautiful skin requires consistent effort and love. It’s all about drinking at least eight glasses of water a day to cleanse your system and making sure your diet includes lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber to keep your body hydrated and rid of toxins. Supplement your diet with vitamins, especially A, C, E and B complex. Do not skimp on sleep.

Be sure to read our list of Top 10 Skin Care Sins too.