Keep Your Skin Looking Young - Habits to Break and to Make

As the proverbial “they” say, good glamour will last you 15 minutes but good skincare will last you 15 years. Aside from good skin care, what really makes a difference in how your skin looks to you and to everyone else?

Sun exposure is a big factor in how your skin looks. Everyone, men and women, should be wearing some kind of sun protection every day. Incidental sun exposure (from the house to the car, car to the office, etc.) does add up over time and it will affect the appearance of your skin. Take a few minutes to put on some sunscreen and look for makeup with SPF protection. The few minutes of effort every day will have a lasting impact!

Smoking is another big factor in how your skin looks. Those lines around the mouth are not very attractive and when your lipstick bleeds up those lines…yikes! Smoking also robs your skin (and your body) of vitamin C. Crows feet will also develop from smoking. “Ma’am, put the cigarette down and step away from the lighter.” It’s a hard habit to break but well worth the trouble.

Alcohol. Ooooh, did she say alcohol? We live in New Orleans, for crying out loud! Yes, it is fun to have a few drinks but if you drink on a regular basis, you should know that alcohol is dehydrating to the skin and to the whole body. Try a glass of water between drinks to help with this issue.

You certainly want to have fun but you want to have fun without paying for it years later. Your face is the only one you’ve got and it isn’t easy to hide. Take care of it now and the pay off in the long run will be priceless.

by: Melissa Mitchel Willis

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