#Holiday #Prep Tip #5- Be Radiant

Radiant skin reflects holiday joy. Just because the days are shorter, doesn't mean proper skin care should be abandoned. I've learned that to maintain healthy skin, special care needs to be taken every day.

On a recent flight to Denver, I struck up a conversation with the girl sitting next to me. Come to find out, Jane was a Resident Medical Student with the University of California-Davis dermatology department. She was on her way to New York to interview for a dermatology fellowship. We had an interesting conversation on what it's like becoming a doctor in the era of Obamacare (she said if she knew back when she started on her medical profession path what healthcare would look like when she finished, she probably wouldn't have pursued her medical degree), college costs incurred for being a med student (let's just say she will paying off loans for a very long time), and why proper skin care is important.

Right off the bat, I wanted to know her professional dermatologist opinion of what are the most important tips for optimal skin care health, especially as I age. She gave me four helpful tips:

1) Use Zinc Oxide According to Jane, this is the most important thing I can do to help my skin. My reaction: "Really?" You see, I am a California girl and when I think of zinc oxide, I think of that heavy white cream that lifeguards and other like minded people who were always in the sun, slathered on their noses. I am supposed to wear that gunk every day? Yuck. No way.
Jane clarified that the kind of zinc oxide she is referring to has drastically changed from my beach days of heavy white lotion. Today's zinc oxide has been micronized and goes on transparent. Jane said if you are going to go the the trouble of wearing sun screen every day, make sure it contains zinc oxide as it provides the best protection and has the broadest spectrum. 2) Prevent Wrinkles I'm starting to get more and more wrinkles, especially on my neck and around my eyes. Jane said fighting wrinkles means getting aggressive in treatment and that can be costly. Botox is one of those solutions and Jane said if you decide to go that route, don't trust just anybody. Realistically, the best way to avoid/control wrinkles is to use sunscreen. And incorporate sun protection. That means, wear hats, and keep covered up. 3) Apply Retin-A Retin-A, Retinoid, or Alpha Hydroxy when used over a long period of time, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a youthful, dewey glow. Apply before bed regularly and over time, you will notice a difference in your skin. Be careful not to overuse as it will dry out your skin and irritate it. 4) Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize The older you get, the drier your skin becomes. You want to use a moisturizer daily all over your body. But don't use the same product on your face as you would use on the rest of your body. The reason? Because the skin on your face is thin and doesn't require the thicker lotion that the rest of your body needs.
I asked Jane what products she would recommend. She said that since she has gone in to dermatology, "it has totally changed how I treat my face." She stopped going to department stores to buy her products. "That is such a waste. You can get good or better and economical products from a drugstore." Jane recommends products that are hypoallergenic and fragrance free. Her favorite drugstore pick? CeraVe. There is a daytime lotion with sunscreen and a "very moisturizing" night cream. Other drugstore favorites? Eucerin, Aveeno, and Cetaphil.
Jane did mention that the ultimate skin care moisturizer is Skinceuticals. While it is pretty pricey, Jane says it is worth the splurge. You can buy it on-line to save on the cost. I found a site that carries these products and if you purchase it here, I will receive affiliate compensation:

Skin Cancer I couldn't get off the plane without asking Jane about skin cancer. She said that are two reasons why you need to protect your skin from the sun: 1) to stay looking younger, and 2) avoid skin cancer. She mentioned that the fairer the skin, the more prone to skin cancer and aging. Using sunscreen with zinc oxide daily is a great deterrent.
She also mentioned that anyone who spends time in a car, thinking that their windows are protecting them from the sun's UV rays, should watch this video that appeared on HLN with Dr. Drew telling the story of a truck driver whose profession depends on driving, and how he experienced a photo-aging phenomenon on different sides of his face. You will think differently about tinted car windows after you watch this:
I was appreciative to Jane for sharing this great information. Particularly since I took such rotten care of my skin the first 50 years of my life. While I can't reverse that damage, I can make a difference for the next 50 years by putting in to place the tips Jane shared. Then, I will be radiant all year long!!!.
Which tip did you find most useful?