by Mary Claire Kendall

Created on: March 01, 2009   Last Updated: September 30, 2011

Stress is often the number one culprit in hastening the aging process.  Thus, if you want to retain beautiful skin, it's very important to know how to manage day-to-day stress.  Know what you can control, and manage that – and that alone.  For the rest, as the expression goes, “Let God, let go." 

With reduced stress, you will be able to sleep better and longer.  Seven hours is the minimum required; otherwise that tired, worn-out look will start to take hold.   

Exercise is important, too.  “Strive for the equivalent of 30 to 60 minutes of brisk walking a day,” writes Michael Castleman. “The type of exercise doesn’t matter. Do anything you enjoy. Just do it regularly.”  Besides its other benefits, exercise will also improve the sleep you get.

With both the requisite sleep and exercise, life’s burdens will lose their edge and not only will you feel better, improving your outlook, which minimizes stress; your body will be more capable of repairing itself. 

Nutritious foods, particularly those rich in antioxidant vitamin C, are, of course, essential as well.

Peaches, pears and plums are especially helpful in neutralizing free radicals that cause oxidative damage to skin. You might also consider occasionally replacing, or complementing, that morning or afternoon cup of coffee with anti-oxidant rich green tea. 

And, don't forget essential fatty acids found in fish – and cod liver oil, mint-flavored helping it go down, which play a critical role in promoting healthy skin. Fish oil contains Omega 3 essential fatty acid EPA, which helps prevent wrinkles and can delay the aging process. 

And, if you consume alcohol, find just the right balance – rejecting health-jeopardizing excess, while recognizing, in moderation, as Louis Pasteur said, "wine rejuvenates."   

Last but not least, for skin care, think cleanliness.  In a billion dollar plus industry, that’s the number one message you should take away.

A good choice for cleansing your face is dermatologist-recommended Cetaphil – it doesn't strip the skin of vital oils or clog pores.  For a toner you might consider alcohol-free Neutrogena, which, besides maintaining clean skin, also retains the pH balance. 

Next, it's important to exfoliate 2-3 times per week at night, lest dead skin build up causing a dull-looking complexion to become dull-looking.   Aveda liquid botanical kinetics exfoliator is a good choice, applying it at proper intervals (every 2-3 days) to prevent excess drying. 

 After exfoliating, moisturize with a dermatologist-tested product, such as Eucerin, Aveeno, or Aveda.  Also, during the day, consider using an SPF formula moisturizer since sun damage is, of course, another major obstacle to retaining one's youthful beauty. 

Skin hydration is also critically important – which means drinking sufficient water throughout the day, perhaps lacing it with lemon juice to make it more palatable.

Also, consider using Mineral-rich Dead Sea Products made in Israel. For instance, the mud mask helps restore 26 of the essential minerals, depleted daily, that skin requires for natural hydration.

All these good practices might seem a long list, impossible to implement; but, actually, they're relatively simple to incorporate into your routine. And, once you do, all things being equal, you'll surely have beautiful skin that will make the effort well worth it.  

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