Update: How could I write a post like this and not mention the importance of drinking water!! Not only for the youthfulness of your skin – keeping it plump and hydrated, but also for the health of your internal organs!! Flushing your body with half your body weight in ounces each day is mandatory for healthy living, inside and out! (If you weigh 140 pounds you would drink 70 ounces of water a day, minimum.)

I’m no expert here, however, I always have people thinking I’m at least 10 years younger than I am! I’m in the Army Reserves and I joined later in life than most, so I’m around a lot of younger people in that environment all the time. I’m also old school, so I don’t share my age with anyone unless it’s required on paper. So, people are always guessing…wrong!! Oh, did I mention my husband is ten years younger than me and no one knows any better? What I’m going to share with y’all is what I do and what has worked for me. I look back at my younger years and even I think I look better now than I did back then, although I have gone through my share of “phases”!!! (We all know we’re hardest on ourselves about our looks and body image!)

I’m going to *hope* that everyone uses sunscreen on their face already, so I don’t need to include that in the list? I use a BB cream with SPF in it. I read that an SPF of 30 is all you really need. It blocks 97 percent of UVB rays. Sunblocks that advertise a higher SPF don’t offer much more protection than a 30 does.

Some of these are simple and you might roll your eyes that it’s on my list, but in the long run, it matters.

Here we go!!

1. Pat Dry. When you get out of the bath, shower, pool, etc. pat your skin dry with the towel rather than rubbing/wiping the water off. It’s much gentler on your skin. Especially when you wash your face. If you use a washcloth, pat dry.
2. Wash your face at night and just rinse with water in the morning. I can’t say this is what will work for all skin types, but it’s worth a try even for problem skin – whatever the problem may be. The “science” behind it? Wash the day off your face, dirt, sweat, makeup at night. Your skin works all night to balance the PH (more on products to assist later), why wash that away in the morning? Rinse in the shower or in the sink and begin your daily routine from there. (I read that this is what Salma Hayek does and look at her!)

Here’s what I use:

3. Nighttime Skincare. To go along with the above tip of washing your face at night, I wash my face with Arbonne’s Dissolve the Day facial cleaning cloths because it’s so quick and easy…and thorough. Then I spray with toner, use a serum with either vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or retinol, and finish with Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced Lifting & Contouring gel. Let me tell you…THIS. STUFF. WORKS. I use the RE9 Advanced Lifting & Contouring cream with SPF 15 as part of my morning skincare routine.

4. Use a tool to boost your skincare products effectiveness. I use an Arbonne tool, of course, but it’s since been discontinued. Even before I had the Genius Ultra, I used a few different tools that boost collagen production and/or product performance through ultrasound or red/blue LED.
5. Do unto your hands as you do unto your face. What I’m saying is whatever skincare regimen you do on your face, also make sure to use the same routine on your hands. It may seem silly now, but when we get older our hands show our age even if our faces have been made to hide age in one way or another.
6. Moisturize your entire body every day. Whether you are a night or morning bather, use lotion or oil on your entire body daily. Multiple times if you have the time or if your skin/climate is especially dry. I live in Colorado where it is extremely dry. I have always used lotion on my body and consequently I often get comments on how soft my skin is.
7. Drink your collagen. I know this is a hot topic. Some say it does nothing to help and some say it does. I think you can find the answer you want on the internet no matter what the truth may be. I think it certainly doesn’t hurt to drink it and a lot of highly regarded skincare companies are doing it so why not. This is what I use:

8. Don’t wash your hair every day. In the beginning it may be hard, but your hair will adjust. If you have oily hair maybe you can only go every other day without washing, but any break your hair can get helps. I only wash my hair once a week. You may be thinking “eww”, but my hair is not gross and doesn’t smell weird or anything. Ask my husband! I do condition every day, but only from the base of my scalp to the ends of my hair. I wash once a week and on that same day I use a hair mask for extra conditioning. I also use a leave in conditioner – on the ends, and a hair serum. I love this one below!!

9. Adjust your eye makeup. I used to use eyeliner every day. It was one of those things I couldn’t walk out of the house without wearing. I might occasionally put a little on the outer corners of my eyes, but otherwise I skip it. Also, using light or white colors at the inner corners of your eyes makes you appear more youthful.
10. Detox at least quarterly. I think this is important just for general health. Get rid of all the toxins in your body, whether it’s processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, or common allergens, get it out of there!! I have done the Lifetime Fitness and the Arbonne 30-Day. Both are similar with only a few differences in non-negotiables. The main difference is the duration and the inclusion of exercise. Lifetime is 14 days and Arbonne is 30 days. Along with these detox programs, I use the sauna very regularly to rid my largest organ, my skin, of toxins. I also drink Arbonne’s detox tea during the day, and no, it doesn’t make you poo.

15. Workout at LEAST three days per week. I try to do at least five days. Since I’m home preschooling my littlest boys, going to the Kids Club at the gym offers them some social interaction and playtime with other kids of all ages, too, so that’s an added benefit. I can eat right and take care of myself with nutrition all day, but if I’m not working out, I don’t feel confident and in my own crazy head I swear I can see the difference in my body immediately. Working out is good for your body and your mental health. We all know it creates endorphins which promote a positive mood. It might be something you (or I) dread daily or on occasion, but in the end I find I feel worse when I don’t go. Including yoga and/or some kind of meditation in your life is recommended, as well. We all need calm in our heads.

I always think it’s so crazy when people/women say they don’t need or use skincare for aging because, I guess, they think they’re “too young”. Well, guess what…if you don’t take care of it now while it’s young and beautiful…it will get old and age-y. It is NEVER too soon to take care of your skin, hair, and body, inside and out!! If absolutely nothing else, use sunscreen on your face and hands. When we were in Laguna Beach two weeks ago, my husband and the front desk girl had a conversation about not using sunscreen and how it’s for old people. *eye roll* If not for anti-aging, maybe for protection from skin cancers? Take it all for what you will, but this is what I do, and it is working for me! Happy youthfulness to all!!

Love,

BrightPinkBoss aka Karen D.