Why aren't you moisturizing?

Moisturizing is one of the most important parts of skincare, yet, not many people do it. We're not just talking about face lotion here. We're talking about getting the proper water intake, a good day cream with SPF, serums, eye creams and GOOD night cream. Have you ever seen a more mature lady who looks positively radiant at her age? You are probably wondering what on earth is she doing right? Maybe it's what she did that was right.

It has been said that women start to worry about aging lines on their face by the time they reach 28. How old? TWENTY-EIGHT! This number seems quite young to be worrying about looking older, but most women do!

The truth is, we need to be correctly moisturizing long before this age. We should be teaching proper skin care to our daughters and granddaughters right now! The more we know, the more we share! We can stop pre-mature aging years earlier and look radiant at any age if we do these simple steps NOW:

1. Hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE! This is a process that starts from the inside out. You MUST consume the proper amount of water each day to get that skin that you've always longed for. It has been said that the average adult needs eight-8 ounce glasses of water each day= 64 ounces. The easiest way to ensure this is to just get a Nalgene bottle and fill it up twice. That's it! Of course if you are exercising, you should probably drink another one to replace the water lost.
2. Properly cleanse the face each day. Many people either A, skip this step, or B, cleanse too often with too harsh of chemicals. Find a good cleanser that is right for your skin. If you have dry skin, get something thick and creamy. Sensitive skin, opt for a "gentle" cleanser such as Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser. Oily skin? Try something that has oil control in it. The best products that I have tried are in the Neutrogena line-they pretty much contain the same ingredients as the highly expensive spa brands, or, the L'oreal Skin Genesis line-recommended by my esthetician. And if you are acne prone, get something that is made for that. The excessive amount of bacteria built up can be broken down with regular cleansing and moisturizing twice daily. If you are not acne prone, cleansing once a day should suffice.
3. Moisturize during the day and night. Find a product that you like and stick with it. During the day, use a good moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. SPF 30 is ideal. This protects your skin from sun damage-one of the biggest reasons skin ages prematurely and a huge factor in skin cancer. It also helps create a barrier from harsh free radicals and bacteria that are in the air. And of course, it is going to moisturize that face! As for moisturizing at night, pick something in the same line as your moisturizer and cleanser, if possible. Opt for a thick, moisturizing night cream. You will notice the word "NIGHT" specifically stated. Put this on after you cleanse. Note: you should always cleanse at night. You will wash away all of the dirt and chemicals that your face has collected throughout the day. Then you are going to replace them with a hydrating night cream. This cream will set in and rejuvenate the face while you sleep, because most of the skin's renewal and healing processes take place while you sleep.
4. Lastly, don't forget to add in your favorite eye cream! Find something for the day that has an SPF. Apply it gently, as to not tug on the the very delicate eye and under eye area. Also find an eye cream for night. This doesn't have to say the words "NIGHT" on the package, but it should be something that will hydrate that area while you sleep.

As for serums: these are optional. However, they do restore a lot of vitamins and nutrients to your skin that are missing. You should apply these at night after you cleanse and before your night cream. If you would like, take a multi-vitamin. It should help do the trick also!

For healthy and radiant skin now and into older age, get on a regimented skin care routine. Do it religiously and get the right products. Remember your skin is delicate and it is going to be there forever! So take care of it as soon as possible. Drink the water and MOISTURIZE! If we all take care of our beautifully delicate skin at the earliest age possible, we will be those beautiful and radiant ladies that we admire so well!

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

-Jody Ellen