Better Skincare

Find My Advice In Woman’s Day Magazine This Month

2011-10-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

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What’s the Best Over-The-Counter Wrinkle Cream?

2011-10-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

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A Dog Lovers Story

2011-10-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Jazz on chemo, age 3

Yesterday morning I was reading a story in the New York Times Well Blog about one man’s journey with the cancer treatment of his beloved dog. Boy it brought back a flood of memories for me.

Anyone who knows me knows what a dog lover I am. I bring my dog to work, and just about everywhere else that I go. I decided to briefly share my similar story in a comment on the NY Times Blog and while writing it my eyes started to tear up. My dogs sure move me and I thought I’d share some of my story here with you, my blog friends. It’s also a great chance for me to show you some pictures of my beloved pets too.

The New York Times article is titled Chemotherapy For Dogs. My comment on the post :

Oh this brings back memories of my first beloved great dane. He developed a ‘large cell’ tumor at the age of 2 years. It developed 8 weeks after a routine vaccine, at the vaccine site. He had always had some immune issues, suffering from chronic rashes – probably from the genetic fragility you allude to due to breeding. I loved this dog and we did chemo. Well, the side effects included the usual intestinal misadventure and with a large dog that means a big mess. It’s also hard to get a large ill dog into and out of the car. We did it for months until he was in obvious pain, his quality of life gone and I know in nature he would have given up. It still brings tears to my eyes just to write this.

My first dane, Jazz was a blue dane. I raised him from a puppy. He was beautiful, intelligent and all about me; I was his person, no doubt about it. His cancer happened young and took him quickly. We put up a valiant and painful fight.

Do You Need Sunscreen in Winter, Or In The Morning and After 4pm?

2011-10-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

You know that you should protect your skin from the summer sun, but what about the rest of the year?

And what about the morning and late afternoon, do you know if that sun will cause wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer?

You’ve noticed that the sun feels weaker in the non-summer months and in the morning and afternoon, can it still damage your skin if you don’t sun protect?

I see a lot of patients in my dermatology practice with tanned and wrinkled skin who tell me that because they walk or swim in the morning or during the non-summer months that they don’t need sunscreen or sun protective clothing. They think that because the sun feels weaker they’re safe. Yes, the sunburn ray called UVB is less intense then, but the sun still damages your skin and the tan and wrinkles are the evidence.

The reason the sun is harmful is that UVA rays are out in full intensity; they’re out all day, all year, and at the same intensity as mid-day in the summer! This means that from sunup to sundown, January or July you’re getting the same hit of UVA. Plus, UVA penetrates your skin more deeply than UVB causing significant and irreversible damage to the deeper parts, and this causes wrinkles. As if that’s not enough, your sunscreen SPF value tells you nothing about how well your product blocks UVA. In fact many products don’t do a good job blocking the UVA rays, which is one of the big criticisms of sunscreens.

I’m writing this post in September and I hope that it will help you plan great sun protection for your skin as we move into fall and winter. Don’t slack off on your sun protection just because the sunburn ray is less intense and the sun feels less damaging. You need to take UVA seriously, which means you need really good protection from UVA.

UVA is bad news! It penetrates skin more deeply than the sunburn ray UVB and the havoc it wreaks on your skin is caused by free radicals. These free radicals cause a damage that leads to skin thinning (atrophy), which is what causes most of the wrinkles and skin fragility that we erroneously associate with aging (extrinsic aging of the skin as opposed in intrinsic aging). Thin, fragile skin tears and bruises easily as you get older and we can’t reverse it. UVA is also linked to the development of skin cancers, including melanoma. To reiterate, UVA damage is not reversible which means prevention is really important.

What’s my advice for the best year round UVA sun protection for your skin?

1. Keep the sun off your skin with sun protective clothing and a full brim hat

Try to cover as much of your skin as possible and when it’s not really hot outside this is easy to do. Remember, when you depend on sunscreen alone you need a ‘thick and sticky coat’ every 2 hours, and that’s hard to keep up with. Plus, a sunscreen’s protection isn’t perfect and neither is your application of it. My preference is that you wear sun protective clothing for the best sun protection. Ideally you want to wear clothes that protects your full arms and chest too. These are areas where people get a lot of unfortunate skin thinning from sun damage because they wear short sleeved v-neck shirts. During hot weather or outdoor athletic activities wear functional garments like swim shirts and tights, ventilated sun protective shirts etc. Don’t skimp on yourself, create a wardrobe that really protects your skin. My favorite resources include:

Clothing:

Coolibar for the high tech, high performance fabric and innovative designs that fit a broad range of activities.

Sun Guard laundry treatment that let’s you turn your tee shirts and other light weight fabric clothes into sun protective garments. I use Sun Guard when I want sun protection from an outfit that has a unique styling but that I know isn’t good enough to protect my skin. I sell Sun Guard because I love it so much.

Click here to buy Sun Guard.

To see me wearing a Sun Guard treated shirt in unbearably hot weather click here.

To see me making a sun protective garment on vacation using Sun Guard (yes I’m just a little nutty) click here.

Hats:

Be sure to wear a full brim hat year round. For more info on hats see my post on The Perfect Sun Hats.

To buy great sun hats from my web store click here.

Other great resources include

Coolibar’s Hats

ETSIS Hats, which have built-in, chic side panels to protect the sides of your face!

2. Wear broad spectrum sunscreen everyday on all the skin that’s left uncovered

This includes your face, neck, ears and the back of your hands. Make sure your sunscreen product blocks UVA well. In my opinion, this means using a product with 5% or more micronized zinc oxide. Sunscreen formulation is still tricky though which is why I stick with a small group of products that I’ve seen work over and over for my patients and my family. Sunscreen product failure is all too common with other sunscreens, you need a product that you can trust especially with UVA because the UV ray doesn’t cause a quick sunburn and it may take weeks to figure out that your product is letting UVA through. I also don’t recommend that you rely on a facial moisturizer for UVA protection because most don’t do a good job at that. Remember the SPF tells you only about UVB protection, not about UVA protection. Be deliberate about your daily application of sunscreen, use only a broad spectrum product so that you have the UVA protection you need to keep your skin healthy and strong.

To see the sunscreens that I trust click here

3. Add high concentration antioxidant skin care products to your facial skin care routine and apply them everyday

Scientific studies have shown that applying highly concentrated antioxidants to your skin really does reduce UV damage. The best are the green tea polyphenols, vitamin C and E. There is no regulation on these products though meaning any skin cream or serum can make grand claims about containing antioxidants yet include only a minute

I’ll be unplugged for a few days…..

2011-10-16T01:45:00.000-07:00

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Obagi Skin Care Products

2011-10-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

One of the fastest ways to brighten your complexion is with Obagi Nu Derm skin care products.

In my Sonoma County Dermatology office I’ve created a unique treatment program to help you get the best Obagi Nu Derm results with very little if any of the peeling and skin sensitivity that often scares people away from this powerful, yet highly effective skin care treatment.

People from Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Marin, Mendocino and Lake Counties all turn-to my aestheticians for consultation and skin care services to help them achieve the great results that are possible with Obagi Nu Derm.

Our unique home treatment regimen and supportive facials keep your skin happy while your age spots fade and your wrinkles soften; your skin texture becomes dewy and luminous and the glow is striking!

Obagi Nu Derm is the perfect after summer skin tune up. I have a ritual of using my Obagi Nu Derm products for 2 to 3 months every fall. I love just waiting for my husband to say

Dermatologist’s Treatment Method for Obagi Nu Derm Products

2011-10-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

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What Causes Itchy Arms?

2011-10-15T01:45:00.000-07:00

Medical science is getting closer to understanding one of the most common causes of chronically itchy arms called brachioradial pruritus.

This means we’re also getting closer to helping people who suffer from this extremely frustrating condition!

A new study exploring the cause of brachioradial pruritus was just reported in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The authors used MRI imaging to look at the cervical spine of 41 patients suffering from chronic itching of what was otherwise normal appearing skin on the outer surface of their forearms arms (called brachioradial pruritus). MRI imaging showed a very strong correlation between the itch and nerve compression in the patient’s neck. In fact, the exact site of the itch on the skin correlated precisely with the spinal location in the neck where the nerve resides that supplies that part of the arm skin (we call this a dermatome

Does Suscreen Prevent Skin Cancer?

2011-10-14T17:45:00.001-07:00

Hot off the press!

The answer is….

NOT ENTIRELY,

and the reason applies 365 days a year!

Just reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, UVA1 is more cancer causing than we thought. UVA1 is the hardest part of the sun’s UV rays to block with sunscreen. It’s different from the sunburn ray UVB, and even different from UVA2 (which falls between UVA1 and UVB).

You’ve heard that the sun causes skin cancers. You also occasionally hear that before 10 or after 3pm, and during the non-summer months, the sun is less dangerous. You’ve probably noticed that the sun feels less intense during these times and you might let your guard down. Well, the sunburn ray UVB is softer then, but UVA is out with the same intensity as always. In fact, all day, all year UVA is equally intense; sun-up to sun-down, equatorial location or north pole, summer or winter it doesn’t change.

This new study gives you more reason to want UVA rays off of your skin. The investigators found mutated DNA (thymine dimers) in the deepest parts of the top epidermal layer of the skin after UVA1 exposure. Those mutations are how skin cancers start.

We already knew that UVA exposure causes free radical damage to skin leading to wrinkles, skin thinning, and generally accelerated skin aging. UVA exposure has also been correlated with an increased risk of developing the type of skin cancer called melanoma, but the full story between UVA exposure and skin cancer has had some gaps. This new study is part of filling in those gaps.

What you probably don’t know is that sunscreens aren’t all that great at protecting your skin from this UVA1. It’s why sunscreens are controversial. They keep the UVB off pretty well, slowing your development of a sunburn, which allows you to stay in the sun longer…….getting more UVA1. In the US the only sunscreens that we have which I think block UVA1 well are the micronized zinc oxide sunscreens. Even with the micronized zinc products though there is huge product variability in my experience. That’s why I only recommend Solbar Zinc, Citrix and Glycolix Elite Sunscreens (see below). I’ve watched these protect my patients for years and trust them.

What it means for you?

Your really do need to keep the sun off your skin year round.Sunscreens alone aren’t good enough. When you’re planning to be out in that sun for a long period of time you need clothing, broad brimmed hats and shade for sun protection too.

This new study shows that the DNA damage that we associate with skin cancer formation is evident deep in the skin from UVA exposure too – the sun may not feel very harmful when you’re getting mostly UVA rays, but it is! This is big news and most definitely should dissuade you from letting your guard down just because the sun feels softer during non-peak UVB hours. Remember, UVA comes through clouds and most windows too.

The Bottom Line:

Don’t put your zinc oxide sunscreen away after summer or just because you don’t feel the sun burning your skin. The sun is still causing damage – if wrinkles aren’t enough motivation, how about skin cancer surgery?

Remember to use clothing, full brim hats and shade to keep the UVA off of your skin too.

Don’t be fooled by windows or clouds, UVA gets through these!

I’ve watched UVA damage play out on my patient’s skin for years and I’ve built the right tools to help keep them as safe as possible. Frankly, we all need UVA protection year round and I’ve worked hard to figure out the best tricks:

Dermatologist’s ‘turnkey’ and patient proven sun protection solutions

Click here for my SunSavvy Ultimate Sun Protection Kit

Clear Beautiful Skin

2009-08-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

According to recently published studies our typical Western diet contributes greatly to the incidence and severity of acne. Our western diet is rich in refined carbohydrates and sugars. This can cause our bodies to produce a surge in insulin. It can also cause an excess of hormones which encourage the skin to excrete more oil and subsequent abundant growth of bacteria. Studies have shown that people not fed on a Western diet are virtually acne-free. But when they move to cities and change their diet, they begin to experience acne.

Our Tips for Clear, Beautiful Skin:

– Cleanse twice daily.
– Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.
– Eat organic whenever possible.
– Refrain from touching the area.
– Take care to keep hair sprays and gels on your hair but off your face.
– Use a moisturizer if you need one.
– Try an over-the-counter homeopathic remedy.

Beautiful skin is pleasurable to behold. Following these steps you can help create and maintain beautiful skin throughout your life.

Order all of your Skincare products online...Spend $40 and receive free shipping! "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Mineral Makeup

2009-07-13T09:16:00.001-07:00

Mineral makeup is the latest and greatest trend in cosmetics. It is sold in highline department store counters, pushed and promoted on late night infomercials and touted in high fashion magazines.
Despite all of the different brand names and marketing strategies, most mineral makeup has remarkably similar ingredients. The commonly used minerals include micronized titanium dioxide, hydrated silica, iron oxide, silk mica, and micronized zinc oxide.
Micronized titanium dioxide, a common ingredient in sun block products, is particularly suited to protect skin from damaging sunlight. This white mineral's crystalline structure naturally reflects and defuses the sun's harmful rays. Micronized zinc oxide works in combination with the micronized titanium dioxide to reflect the sunlight's dangerous UVA and UVB rays.
People that are subject to allergies or with very sensitive skin will find mineral makeup contains no irritating dyes or perfumes. They do not use talc and other fillers that can be harmful to the skin. The acne-prone will find mineral makeup is organic, hypoallergenic and oil free; it will not clog pores like some conventional cosmetics.
Unlike traditional cosmetics, mineral foundations can provide sheer to full coverage. A light, sheer finish can be accomplished by moving the applicator brush in small circles on the face. Mineral makeup can also provide a more opaque texture if applied in layers with a damp sponge, much like you would apply liquid foundation. Fortunately, the consistency of mineral makeup gives coverage without the thick, unnatural, pore-clogging consequences of traditional liquid foundation.
Although mineral makeup has been a fixture in high-end department stores and specialty cosmetics shops for several years, a handful of more economical options are now available online.

Order all of your Mineral Makeup online...Spend $40 and receive free shipping! "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Tighten Sagging Skin

2009-07-12T14:17:00.001-07:00

The use of a high quality firming cream is a wise move. The problem is selecting a product that is not over priced. There are hundreds of products on the market priced from $20 to $320. It has been our experience that the moderately priced products will perform as well as the products priced for the rich. You can see our recommendation at the end of the article. You get what you pay for is not always the case with cosmetics in today’s economy. But tightening and firming skin must be done with a safe skin care product.

These are 3 things that you must do to have healthy skin and a younger looking appearance. Observe these simple easy to do guides and your skins appearance will benefit greatly.

1. Eat wholesome nutritious food.
2. You must take in plenty of Omega-3 either naturally or thru a supplement.
3. Use a high quality skin firming cream.

Even if you have neglected the proper care of your skin in the past, it is not too late. With proper diet and quality skin products your skin will replenish itself and give you glowing results in no time.
For the best in Firming Cream visit our website. "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Anti-aging Skincare

2009-07-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Aging is a natural process and there is nothing that can be done to stop the process. However, you can still seek to slow the signs of aging and even reverse some of them. Thanks to skincare technologies and specialized formulations, you can actually make your aging skin look younger and more radiant.

In fact, with an efficient anti-aging skincare regimen you can maintain your skin quality without having to shell out huge sums of money on expensive anti-aging products. As we grow old, our skin ages and a simple cleaning-toning-moisturizing routine ceases to be effective. This is the time you need to go a step further and include anti-aging skincare products in your skincare regimen.

Here are some basic steps that comprise an efficient anti-aging skincare regimen.

• Protect Against the Sun

• Cleanse your Face Efficiently

• Use a Toner After Cleansing

• Moisturize Intensively

• Exfoliate Regularly

For the best in Anti-Aging Skincare visit our website. "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Preventing Acne

2009-06-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

We all want a smooth, clear complexion. But when pimples start to appear on our skin, the desire to pick at them is understandable. But this may cause short and long-term problems, such as persistent redness and scarring. Scars can be seen as indentations or pock marks in the skin. It has only recently been recognized that scars can develop from small as well as large pimples. Picking at clogged pores can also result in scarring. The best treatment for acne scarring is not picking or popping the pimples in the first place. That is, preventing the acne or at least treating it early and avoiding picking or squeezing pimples.
To treat acne and prevent new scars from forming, you should:
• Clean your face at least two times daily, in the morning when you get up and in the evening before bed. Use high quality skin care products.
• The new products available on the market today are very effective. Choose an acne treatment and use it according to instructions.
• We recommend the following product Healthy Pores to assist you in your fight against acne.

To see more high quality skin care and acne fighting products visit our site. "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

What is Acne and can it be prevented?

2009-06-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

All of us at one time or another male or female have experienced a bout of acne. Acne is often characterized by inflammation of the skin erupting in small to large lesions. These lesions are normally call zits or pimples. Acne is very common condition, particularly during puberty and adolescence. There are many myths about what causes and cures acne, and a very profitable industry has been built around products intended to help with the prevention and treatment of acne, especially in teenagers.

Acne is basically just an infected hair follicle. The follicle is buried in the skin, and a hair grows out of it, breaking the skin surface. Attached to the follicle are sebaceous glands, which produce oil, called sebum that helps in keeping the skin healthy. Acne occurs when for whatever reasons that hair follicle gets blocked and the sebum builds up under the skin. In that rich environment, bacteria start to grow, eventually causing skin lesions know as acne.

Some simple tips to assist in the prevention of Acne:

• Drink the recommended 8 glasses of water daily. This will assist your body in purifying your skin helping it to flush the infection from your skin.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables which are high in vitamins.
• Wash your face twice daily with a cleansing formula specially formulated for oily or blemish prone skin. Make sure that the cleanser is non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive skin.
• Before turning in for the night be sure to remove your makeup.

There are several very good products on the market that can be used to virtually eliminate acne in either a teenager or an adult. Take a look at some of these great products. "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Understanding Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

2009-06-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sunscreens are something that we all take for granted. Usually during the summer months we all slather it on at the beach. Some will grab a bottle of SPF 4; some will go for a little more protection maybe a SPF 15 or a SFP 30. But do we know what we are really doing? What does the number mean? I was recently asked just that question by my wife during a recent shopping trip.

So here is some of what I found out.

First a little about just how sunscreens work. There are two types of damaging rays emitted by our Sun. They are ultraviolet rays that can not be seen by the human eye. Sunscreens work by blocking the UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays. Sunscreens do this in 3 different ways. They either physically or chemically absorb, scatter or reflect these rays.

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a sunscreen does not increase proportionally with the designated SPF number.

• A SPF4 will block 75% of the sun’s damaging rays, however might not provide enough protection..
• A SPF 15 will screen out 93% and is considered to be the minimum to insure complete protection.
• SPF 70+ sunscreens that are now starting to come on the market will block 98.6% of the sun burning rays. These are good for people with sensitive skin.

We recommend that you use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 for daily use, especially on the face to help prevent early aging and skin cancer. Scientific studies have determined that daily use of sunscreens and sun block can reduce your chances of developing skin cancer.

Most importantly the best sunscreen you can use is the one that you will actually put on. You should always limit sun exposure when ever possible.

Need the best in daily age fighting moisturizer SPF 15 protection or a SPF 30 Sunscreen for the beach? Order Online and Receive FREE SHIPPING! "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Microdermabrasion

2009-06-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

Microdermabrasion has taken skincare professionals in the United States by storm over the last few years, and was used several years prior to that in Europe. The method is to remove several top layers of skin using sterile aluminum oxide crystals delivered under pressure and vacuumed through a hand piece, much like a miniature sand blasting. The conditions currently being treated with this procedure include clogged pores, fine wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and splotchy pigmentation. All this while

The in office treatments combine light chemical peels, using either glycolic or salicylic acid. This method seems to improve the results achieved. A series of treatments is necessary in order to achieve full benefits; each treatment takes about 45 minutes to one hour, and makeup can be applied immediately following the procedure.

These in office treatments are very successful but also VERY EXPENSIVE! Now these same results are being seen in products available for home use. Most women utilizing at home Microdermabrasion products for just one week saw an improvement in skin texture, a marked reduction in the appearance of their fine lines, and pores looked noticeably smaller all for just the fraction of the price of a visit to the dermatologist.

Things to look for in a Microdermabrasion product:
• Clinically tested to insure it will not irritate the skin
• Fragrance Free
• Oil free
• Non-comedogenic (will not block pores)

Need the best in at home Microdermabrasion? "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey

Basic Skin Care Knowledge

2009-06-12T03:18:00.000-07:00

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. We tend to interact with it several times a day, yet most of us do not really understand about maintaining a proper skin care regimen. Here are some important facts. There are two main layers to the skin. The layer on top is called the epidermis. This layer is very thin (only about one millimeter) but performs several essential functions. The epidermis forms a strong barrier and helps protect our bodies from our living environment. The pigment cells in the epidermis help protect us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. The immune system is also included as part of the epidermis. When we get a scrape or a cut, harmful bacteria are kept in check which reduces our chances of getting an infection. The second or lower portion of the skin is called the dermis. This portion is very thick in some areas of the body, such as on the back, but can also be quite thin in other locations such as the eyelids. The dermis is comprised of a resilient tissue called collagen. This provides the elastic tissue that provides our bodies flexibility. Pinch your skin; notice how it snaps back to its normal shape. The dermis also contains nerves, blood vessels and glands.

When we are children our skin is smooth and firm, primarily because the skin does a good job of trapping moisture in the form of water. Over time, the skin starts to thin and dry out as we age. The facial muscles responsible for smiling, frowning and squinting eventually cause creases to appear between the eyebrows and around the eyes and mouth. Fat tissues under the skin can also thin and can cause creases near the nose and chin.
Most people do not understand the devastating effects of too much sun exposure on the skin. The light from out Sun contains different types of ultraviolet light that over time cause potentially significant damage to both layers of our skin. The real problem is the effects of sun exposure don't become apparent for many years. There will be over one million new cases of skin cancer this year and most cases are directly related to sun exposure. Those fine wrinkles, broken blood vessels and brown patches are direct results of frequent sun exposure. Damage to the elastic skin tissue’s make the skin have a slightly pebbly appearance. These unsightly lesions are not part of the normal aging process!!

What can you do right now? First, look at yourself in the mirror. Do you have any growths that scab or bleed, if you do make an appointment to see your dermatologist. Do you have any freckling, brown patches, red lines or more than just a few wrinkles, then you likely have sun damage. What can you do to prevent future damage? You must start to apply sunscreens as part of your daily skincare routine. I recommend a sunscreen with a SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Some makeup products and moisturizers on the market today will have added sunscreen. You can find out how the SPF of a product by carefully read the label. Remember to cover all sun exposed areas including you face, hands, ears, neck, arms and chest. Most sunscreens should be reapplied every 60 to 90 minutes if you are swimming or if you are physically active. The sun is most intense between the hours of 10 and 3. There are some people that claim they do not need sunscreen because they are only out for 10 to 15 minutes a day. It is important to remember that sun exposure is cumulative. This means that 10 minutes of sun a day equals more than an hour of sun a week.

If your skin feels dry, it means that your skin is lacking water. If you wash your hands frequently you will strip the skin of essential oils. Washing with harsh soaps can also cause dryness and irritation to the skin. You should treat your dry skin with moisturizers. The proper time to apply them is immediately after you get out of the shower or bath. Bathing will cause the top layer of your skin to swell up with water. Applying a moisturizer within minutes of bathing will assist the skin in trapping the water. If a lotion does not do the job, try a thicker cream or ointment based moisturizer.

Need more information about repair and treatment of lines, wrinkles, brown spots and other signs of sun exposure and aging? Check back soon that will be the subject of an upcoming blog post. For now, remember to include sunscreens and moisturizers as part of your daily routine.

Need the best in skin care products? "Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/jstarkey