Hi Facebook Friends,

Those of you who know me well know that skin care is my passion. I've worked on the medical side of skin care for several years and am soon to receive my esthetician's license. Since leaving the clinic to go back to school many of you have called or emailed asking my advise on your skin care needs and it makes me feel so good to know that you trust me with your most important asset, your SKIN. I have hated being away and because I have missed talking with you all so much, I've decided to start a skin care blog in order to stay connected. Please be kind, as this is my very first attempt at "blogging" and do not pretend to be a writer. It is my hope that this little blog will help to keep me connected to those I've helped in the past as well as get me connected to those I haven't.

We all want to know the best way to protect and care for our complexions and you can do it by following the advice I will be posting weekly. I will be looking forward to your questions and feedback.

Since this is my first try, we will start with the basics. Taking care of your skin daily requires three simple steps. Washing your face in the morning and evening with a mild cleanser will eliminate dirt and oils that clog your pores. There is no need for harsh scrubs or astringents, sometimes they just irritate the sensitive skin around your nose and mouth. It’s better to use gentle circular motions with your fingertips as you clean your face. The next step is to use a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher to protect your face from sun damage. It’s never too late or too early to prevent wrinkles and age spots with careful applications of sunscreen.

Most skin care specialists will recommend an anti-aging cream or lotion as part of your evening beauty routine. Depending on your age and your own skin’s sensitivity, certain key ingredients can be useful in a night cream. If your skin is oily or prone to break outs you might want to consider a cream with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. For older skin and wrinkle prone skin, hyaluronic acid is a fast acting anti-aging chemical found in many lotions. Other ingredients to look for include anti-oxidents such as Vitamin C, also known as Ascorbic acid, and Retinoic acid a.k.a. tretinoin (sold as Retin A, Renova and other brands). These ingredients will diminish the appearance of wrinkles and if used regularly can protect your skin from free radical damage. However, be aware that Retinoic acid (Retin-A) and Retinol are related but NOT the same. Because retinol has not been converted in to an active metabolite, acid, it actually oxidizes when placed on the skin rendering it ineffective. As a result, significantly less people respond to retinol creams than to retinoic acid (tretinoin, Retin A. There are some who do see some "results", but the degree of response tends to be less.

Everyone agrees that beauty comes from within. That’s why a healthy diet is so important. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables means your body will have the right balance of nutrients to create glowing skin. Vitamin A & C, beta carotene, and fiber are just some of nature’s ingredients for perfect skin. Eating refined and fatty foods will not only pack on the pounds, but will slow your metabolism and prevent your skin from looking its best. Drinking plenty of water each day will also help your body to naturally eliminate toxins and waste instead of letting them pool in your pores.

Remember to discuss side effects with your doctor whenever you are given medications because some drugs will effect your complexion, especially birth control pills and hormone replacements.

Taking care of your face is an incredibly important part of putting your best self forward so don’t neglect these simple daily steps!

If you have enjoyed this blog, please share it with your friends and I will be back next week with something new to share with you.

Sharon Gray

The Skin Girl