I'm no doctor, but maybe I can help.

It's amazing to me how many people confuse my job title, esthetician, with one of an anesthesiologist.  Right away, I am typically asked how long it took me to get my degree.  You should see the look on their faces when I tell them I finished up in about 6 months.  I let them worry for a split second, then explain that I'm an esthetician, which is a skin care specialist, and not a physician.

I have learned a great deal about the skin care industry. I've worked for many years in the spa atmosphere, and now most recently I've moved to the medical side of esthetics, working for a dermatologist.  I have been getting several requests to post good, age defying skin care tips in my blog, so here is some of my best advice. The most important thing I have learned is that your skin care regimen does not have to be complicated, or contain 16 different steps. You will get much better results by being very consistent with a simple, basic regimen like the one I've posted below.

1. Wash your face every night, no exceptions. Use a gentle cleanser, and luke warm water.  Dirt, bacteria, and makeup left on overnight can irritate skin, clog pores, and trigger breakouts. If you are in your 30s or younger, wash your face in the morning as well.  Once in your 40s, oil production dips with hormonal changes, so it may dry out your skin to wash both morning and night.

Avene extremely gentle cleanser for intolerant skin.  Excellent for all skin types.

2. Use a moisturizer with SPF (that block both UVA and UVB rays) every morning, and a good hydrating cream at night. Even 10 minutes of daily exposure to UVA "aging" rays can cause changes that lead to wrinkles and sunspots in as few as 12 weeks.

Perfect for daily moisture and SPF protection.

Pevonia Marine Collagen Cream makes an excellent night cream.

3. Exfoliate twice weekly. There are 2 different kinds to choose from.  You can use a manual exfoliant (like a cleanser with gentle exfoliating beads) or you could choose a chemical exfoliant (like an enzyme that is applied like a mask, and left on for about 10 minutes).

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant. Affordable and hydrating.

You don't have to buy the most expensive products, or go under the knife of a plastic surgeon to improve the look and health of your skin.  If you do opt for plastic surgery, please be sure that there is an anesthesiologist, and not an esthetician, on hand to put you under.