Key Ingredients for Aging Skin:
Hyalauronic acid, Manuka Honey, Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Almond Oil, Apricot Oil, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Green Tea, White Tea, Idebenone, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Grape Seed Extract, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, DMAE, Retinol, Aloe Vera, Borage Seed Oil, Ceramide, Cocoa Butter, Evening Primrose Oil, Glycolic Acid, Jojoba Oil, Lactic Acid, Shea Butter, Pycnogenol Cucumber, Copper Peptide, Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Daily Skin Care Regimen
If you have dry skin, you will need moisturizing products that nourish, so you will want to find protective and restorative products. Achieving a moisture balance with the right pH is key.

Begin with a very mild soap, possibly cream based. Since your skin is acidic, the alkaline in soap can easily disturb the delicate pH balance. Also, make sure that the soap does not contain harsh chemicals which will also remove the acid mantel and cause further dryness. Choose a toner that soothes and nourishes your skin. It should refresh with a hint of moisture—a low or no alcohol formulation is recommended to prevent over drying the skin.

A daily moisturizing routine is essential for dry skin. Begin with a serum to enhance moisture, then apply a day moisturizer. Try to use a day cream with an SPF Your evening ritual can include a serum application and a heavier moisturizer. Eye creams and serums are recommended for the delicate area around the eyes that are subject to fine lines and wrinkles.

Weekly Skin Care Routine
Use an extremely mild exfoliator in order to expose fresh skin and allow products to penetrate deeper. This will maximize the effectiveness of your skin care products. A moisture-enhancing mask that you put on and wipe off will moisturize and plump dry and dehydrated skin.

Product Recommendations:

Key Ingredients for Dry Skin:
Hyalauronic Acid, Glycerin, Lanolin, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Oil (Of Jojoba, Olive, Apricot Seed, Avocado, Grapeseed Borage, Almond, Evening Primrose), Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Honey, Shea Butter, Argan, Baobab, Manuka Honey, Green Tea (Camilla Sinsnsis), Ceramide, Glycolic Acid, Hydrolized Wheat Protein, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Cucumber

Why Moisturize?
Everyone can benefit from using a moisturizer after cleansing. The key is finding the appropriate moisturizer based on your skin type. Moisturizers seal moisture into the skin, so the effect is hydrating while also inhibiting evaporation. Many moisturizers contain active ingredients that deliver vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and skin supporting compounds to provide therapeutic benefits that sooth, protect and ultimately delay the onset of early aging.
Eye creams are optional, but may be desirable for those with dry or aging skin as a welcome addendum to a moisturizer. Some individuals have very delicate eye areas that are more susceptible to wrinkling, dark circles and puffiness. An eye cream can help address these specific concerns with intense moisture and a high concentration of active ingredients.

How to Choose a Moisturizer
The oilier your complexion, the lighter and more liquid your moisturizer should be. Some moisturizers even have oil free ingredients that still serve to moisturize the skin without adding oil. Conversely, dry or aging skin requires a more moisturizing-nourishing preparation. Use a moisturizer labeled with your skin type or specific skin concern. If you live in a particularly harsh climate, consider wearing a more moisturizing face cream during the winter and switch to a lighter formula during warmer months.
Night creams tend to be thicker and more moisturizing than day creams. It is generally recommended to have separate moisturizers simply for the fact that you will want a day cream with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). This will provide you with added protection from sun damage that ultimately leads to premature aging.
Based on the amount of time you spend outside on any particular day, you might want to wear a moisturizer designed for outdoor use with a significantly higher SPF. You must also factor in how easily your skin burns and take precautions to protect your skin with a sufficient SPF. As a general rule, it is recommended that your day moisturizer should have at least 15-20 SPF, and if you spend more time outdoors, consider a moisturizer with 30+ SPF.

How to Use Moisturizer
After you wash your face and apply toner or a serum (optional), scoop out enough moisturizer to comfortably cover your face and neck area. Using your finger tips, rub it in using upward strokes, making sure to moisturize the neck, décolletage and earlobes. In order to prevent streaks, allow your moisturizer to penetrate before applying foundation.

Free Radical Protection
Free radicals are associated with slow cell turnover, which causes the appearance of aging. They are unstable molecules that have an uneven amount of electrons in their outer ring, so they look for an electron elsewhere in order to stabilize. When the electrons pick up atoms indiscriminately, they become secondary free radicals, setting up a chain reaction which causes damage on a cellular level. While it's a normal process in everyone's body, free radicals speed up the appearance of aging.

Environmental pollutants and sun exposure cause additional free radical damage to skin cells. The best line of defense is to eat a healthy diet abundant with fruits and vegetables, limit your exposure to tobacco and sun, and moderate your alcohol intake.

Antioxidants inhibit the activity of free radicals and therefore slow the aging process. Extracted from roots, stems, leaves, fruits and vegetables, antioxidants can be taken internally or applied externally via cosmetic and skin care products. The most common antioxidant compounds are polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols, pycnogenols and carotenoids.

Sun Protection
SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor. The Sun Protection Factor in products can range from 2-60, referring to its level of ability to block the sun's rays. Many variables should be considered when determining the level that is right for you. They include duration of exposure, time of day, season, activities you're doing, geographic location/altitude, prescription drugs that could leave you more susceptible to exposure, and your own skin's predisposition.

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are both considered to be physical sunscreens or sunblocks, as they protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. UVA and UVB represent different waves on the electromagnetic spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) light. While UVB can cause sunburn and damage to the eyes, UVA can cause long term damage to the skin.

Look for products that offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are especially intense during the summer and UVA rays are present year round. Exposure to UV rays can also increase your risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

There are two basic types of sunscreens/sunblocks. Depending on their ingredients, they work to either reflect or absorb the sun's rays. Inorganic particles like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide create a physical barrier to block out the rays, whereas organic particles absorb UV rays and release the energy as heat.

Both sunblock and sunscreen are similar in use, but are slightly different in their protective abilities. Sunblock is more opaque and therefore protects more from UVA/UVB and radiation. Sunscreen tends to be more transparent and therefore needs to be reapplied more often. For this reason, it is recommended to choose a higher SPF since its ingredients break down more rapidly than sunblock.

It's important to protect your face from the sun's harmful rays on a daily basis. Sun exposure is reflected and intensified by the pavement, snow, water and sand. Higher SPF is recommended for higher elevations and locations closer to the equator. It is also recommended to wear an SPF of 15 or higher regardless of your activity or weather condition.

Increase the SPF when your sun exposure peaks, such as in the summer or during vacations. Apply sunscreen/sunblock according to its directions. Most directions indicate applying approximately one ounce of sunscreen at least 15-30 minutes before sun exposure. Make sure to reapply at least every two hours throughout your exposure, especially after perspiring, toweling or swimming.

Be particularly cautious between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Limit your exposure outside, wear sunscreen, and spend time indoors or in the shade under an umbrella/structure.

Even if you're not spending significant time outside, it's important to wear products with SPF to protect your skin. Choose a day moisturizer with an SPF in order to keep your skin moisturized while providing sun protection. This will help protect you from sun damage that ultimately leads to premature aging. As a general rule, it is recommended that your day moisturizer have at least 15-20 SPF. If you spend more time outdoors, consider a moisturizer with 30+ SPF.

Why Restore?
Refresh your skin with a hydrating serum or moisturizing spray. Both serums and sprays will support your moisturizer, adding a boost to quench your skin's thirst. With its high water content, sprays can be used to set makeup and add moisture to the top layers of skin when you need it. They're great for airplane flights, when living in dry conditions, or for midday refreshers.

What is a Serum?
Deciding to use a serum can depend on various factors including skin type, age or degree of damage. They are able to effectively penetrate the layers of skin, delivering active ingredients for maximum benefit. Depending on ingredients, serums contain anti-aging properties that serve to firm, tighten, provide anti-oxidant protection, re-texturize, or slow the signs of aging. If you decide to use a serum with your moisturizer, select one with the ingredients or benefits associated with the concerns you wish to address.

How to Restore with a Spray or Serum
Apply to a freshly cleansed face after your toner and/or exfoliator. Once your application of serum has been absorbed (approximately five minutes), simply apply an ample layer of moisturizer. You can also use a refreshing spray during the day, between moisturizer applications.

Daily Skin Care Regimen
The key to maintaining normal skin is to adhere to a regular beauty regimen. Use a cleanser both day and night for normal skin types. A mild toner is recommended to remove remaining traces of soap and dirt. Use a lightweight lotion or cream with an SPF after you wash.

Depending on your age, environment or skin needs, try a serum as a base for your moisturizer. If you live in a cold or particularly arid environment, a serum may be just the right addition to your regimen. Choose a lighter lotion or heavier cream based on your skin's response to each. If your skin feels too greasy after a cream, try a lotion. Conversely, if your skin feels tight or lacks moisture, try a heavier lotion or cream.

Weekly Skin Care Routine:
A mild exfoliator will help remove the top skin cells and allow your face to glow with fresh skin. You can offset any occasional or seasonal oiliness or dryness with a clay or moisturizing mask.

Product Recommendations:

Key Ingredients for Normal Skin:
Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Jojoba Oil, Lavender, Chamomile, Aloe Vera

When skin ages, its collagen and elastin are produced more slowly. This causes gradual changes like hyperpigmentation, discoloration, dryness, sagging, wrinkles, crepe-like folds, loss of muscle tone, textural unevenness and loss of elasticity.

The topical application of key skin firming ingredients works synergistically to protect and strengthen the skin. Skin care products should have a combination of naturally occurring active ingredients. They will contain compounds to protect which will likely be in the form of extracts containing antioxidants. Another set of ingredients will firm the skin by penetrating through its seven layers to support the collagen process at a cellular level.

Skin firming creams are usually formulated as night creams. They tend to be richer, thicker and more emollient and should be able to stay on long enough to absorb for maximum benefits. In general, face creams are designed to minimize lines/wrinkles, improve skin density, firm, plump and decrease puffiness (especially in the eye area).

Many manufacturers describe their product as a "cocktail" of ingredients that work together to decrease the effects of aging. Skin firming and anti-aging ingredients often include antioxidants, minerals, seaweed, herb extracts and different kinds of oils like Vitamins A and E. Other ingredients attributed to having a firming effect on the skin include green tea, aloe vera, beech bud extract, alpha lipoic acids, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and the very exotic sounding emu oil. Some firming and anti-aging products also contain light reflecting pigments, such as mica, to enhance the glow and make the skin look radiant.

You can choose the right skin firming creams according to your skin type (oily, combination or dry) and the anti-aging action associated with them.

Why Tone?
Also known as tonic, lotion or astringent, the use of toner is quite possibly the most controversial step of the cleansing regimen. Beauty experts are conflicted in the use of toner and its effects on the skin.
On one hand, toner is designed to remove traces of oil, makeup and dirt from the face after cleaning. It can also freshen the skin, speed cell turnover, and temporarily tighten the look of pores.
One caveat about toners is that excessively harsh ones can over strip the face's mantle and disturb the delicate pH balance. Other experts counter that toners close the pores and might possibly obstruct the benefits of serums and moisturizers. The bottom line is, if you like the feeling of using a toner and feel that it benefits you, choose one wisely that is gentle and won't disturb the balance of your facial skin.
Keep in mind that some oil on the skin is desirable. It protects the skin from dirt and bacteria, as well as helps prevent moisture loss. After using a toner, the skin will always rebalance itself as the mantle regenerates itself.

How to Choose a Toner
Seek out a toner that is labeled as gentle and alcohol free. Astringent types of toners almost always contain alcohol, which is too harsh even for oily or acne prone skin types. Many types contain aloe vera, witch hazel, tea tree oil, glycerin, rose water, chamomile, salicylic or lactic acid.

How to Use a Toner
Toner can be used in one very quick and easy step. Simply saturate a cotton ball or pad and gently wipe the face, concentrating on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin).