When thinking of a New Year’s Resolution one item on top of the list is better skin care.  After all, who doesn’t want to look younger?  Like many have discovered over time, New Year’s Resolutions may be easier said than done.

But if better skin care is the goal, then here is an easy-to-follow recipe to make it become a reality.

By the way, Skin Care Heaven in Carlsbad is great place to visit on the web because they offer all the products one needs to reveal more gorgeous skin.

Below are five great steps to achieve this resolution in the New Year.

Step 1: Sunscreen

Literally, sunscreen is one of the most important things to wear when outdoors. And yes, this even includes overcast days because ultra violet rays can still be harmful.

The number one reason for premature aging is the sun. Ultra violet rays is the culprit for fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, large pores, uneven skin tone, and zaps away youthful beauty.  Sunscreen will slow down this aging process.

Sunscreen comes in array of choices for different skin types including those with acne prone skin. These days, sunscreen can be oil-free, silky and featherweight.

Tinted moisturizers, such as Revision, are fantastic because it provides wonderful hydration, offers a hint of color, and shields against harmful rays. It also fights signs of aging with its peptides which shrink pores.

Purchasing a broad spectrum sunscreen is always a wise skin care choice.

Step 2:  Implement A Skin Care Regimen

Having a skin care routine in place is the key to beautiful skin.  This regimen is done both morning and night.  Above all, always remember to remove makeup at night before going to bed.

A good skin care regimen may include:

• Soap-free facial cleanser
• Toner
• Moisturizer
• Special topical treatments such as anti-aging or anti-acne applications
• Exfoliator (done about twice a week)

Implementing a sonic skin cleansing system is also a wonderful idea since it renews skin and gets it prepared for better product penetration.

Once a skin care routine is in place it becomes like second nature.

Step 3: Moisturize The Whole Body

Beautiful skin means head to toe luminosity.  Especially in the summer and winter months, don’t forget to apply body lotion or body butter after bathing.  Rub it on when skin is slightly damp for more hydration benefits.

An exfoliator, such as a sugar scrub, is a great addition to slough off dry skin.  Doing this a couple times a week will keep skin soft, supple, and smooth.

Step 4: TLC For The Skin

Here are some other quick tips for the TLC skin care list:

• Avoid hot baths and showers since this will dehydrate skin.
• Never tug or pull on skin when cleansing or removing makeup.
• Pat skin dry and leave some moisture behind for a rehydration boost.

Step 5: Eating Healthy

More than likely eating healthier is on the New Year’s Resolution list, too.  A balanced and nutritious diet won’t only help shed off unwanted pounds but it will do wonders for the skin.  The recommended dietary amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and water will leave skin more luminous.

Happy New Year!

Summers seem to fly by but what lingers are those new summer freckles you’ve collected while basking in the sun. Yes, sun exposure caused those little dots around your nose and cheeks that you probably want to see go away.

These freckles may be peppered around your face or formed in clusters. And if you are the bearer of fair skin you probably have more than someone with a darker tone.

Also known as sun spots, freckles are the direct result of skin damage. If you sported sleeveless tops and shorts over the warm months, more than likely, you’ll see blemishes on your shoulders and legs. And if you look close enough, brown little marks could be visible on the topside of your hands, too.
A good first step is to schedule a visit with a skin care professional. Many might recommend a glycolic peel for deep exfoliation. You’ll notice an improvement in your skin tone and texture after a session.

Another sought after treatment is a chemical peel. But before you schedule this appointment please make sure it’s done at a doctor’s office or medical spa. It’ll give you peace of mind knowing that your technician has the experience and talent it takes to work there.
One more treatment worth considering is purchasing a series of four to six microdermabrasions. It will take a series to see the freckles fade. And compared to a powerful peel, a microdermabrasion has no down time.

When it comes to a topical, the best product out there that skin care professionals have turned to for years for their clients has been hydroquinone. It can be purchased over the counter, but as you might guess, it’s the prescription strength that does wonders. Hydroquinone improves skin texture and tone at the cellular level.

In the Obagi line, the Obagi Nu-Derm Clear 3 system has 4 percent hydroquinone. That is an impressive amount that can really do the trick.
Retinol is another powerful ingredient used to treat freckles and age spots. Another favorite product with a retinol compound also by Dr. Obagi is his ZO Skin Health Ossential Radical Night Repair Plus Anti-Aging Formula. This ZO skin care system offers a potent 1 percent retinol coupled with vitamin C and peptides.
What causes freckles is melanin production and these products help suppress it. Users of hydroquinone and retinol see a marked improvement in about 8 to 12 weeks. In fact, the results can be incredible.

Another topical to make freckles disappear is tretinoin. Yes, this cream helps with acne, too.

Some skin care professionals may also suggest combining both tretinoin and hydroquinone for those after summer freckles.

Having a skin care professional on board is always a great idea especially if using hydroquinone. It’s a powerful product and they need to be sure it doesn’t cause too much irritation to your skin.

There are some people out there that can’t tolerate hydroquinone because of sensitive skin issues. There’s great news, though. There are a couple “top shelf” products on the market which work well to get rid of freckles.

The first one is Vivite Vibrance Therapy. This one restores your skin with a blend of antioxidants like fennel seeds, grapes, green tea, licorice root extract, and mulbery fruit also to diminish freckles.

Vivite users comment on younger looking skin. The product gives the skin a healthy dose of hydration which also lessens fine lines and wrinkles.
RevaleSkin Illuminesse Brightening Complex is another hydroquinone-free product to fight back those freckles.

RevaleSkin’s advanced technology is based on their coffeeberry extract formula. This unique extract is plant-based and successfully minimizes freckles and age spots. Skin care professionals are now calling coffeeberry extract the “powerhouse” antioxidant. So, it may be worth it to do some research because it appears to be doing a multitude of things to keep skin looking beautiful.

It’s important to note that if you discontinue your treatments, your freckles will come back. Remember, that these topical systems suppress freckles. So you really need to stay proactive through the whole process.

Now that you’re armed with information to tackle those freckles always remember to wear sunscreen any time of the year when you’re outdoors. Sunscreen will stop new freckles from popping up.