A new year means a new you. So much opportunity for change and self improvement. A clean slate. Whether you believe in resolutions or not, I am taking a good long look at my skin care regime and paring it down to get the most bang for my buck. Simplicity in one area in your life allows focus to be placed where it's needed - like losing those same 20 pounds or remembering to floss everyday.So the bare bones anti-aging regime is retinol at night to improve tone and firmness and lessen the look of wrinkles and an antioxidant in the morning like Vitamin C, Vitamin E or green tea. Antioxidants help to repair the damage of age and sun.
I like Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisture Night, $22 at drugstores. This cream hydrates, works on age spots and wrinkles, and gets really great reviews across the board. Put this cream on after cleansing at night.
In the morning, apply AvalonOrganics Vitamin C Renewal facial cream, $21 from www.avalonorganics.com, also available at Whole Foods and Wegmans. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant good for your body and skin. It helps fight the effects of free radicals. Free radicals cause age spots, loss of tone and firmness and yes, wrinkles.Don't forget to cleanse skin well and it's important to wear sun protection - especially whilst using a retinoid product as skin can be more susceptible to sun damage.
My new skin care regime incorporates two of my new years' resolutions - frugality and self-care. Whatever your wish for 2012, better skin is easily obtainable with a quick trip to the drugstore.
