Look 5 Years Younger In Just 5 Minutes A Day

Our skin's primary purpose is to protect us. When we don't take care of our skin, it can't do its job properly - and it looks faded and dull. To look years younger, you must take care of your skin each and every day. However, this does not mean spending hours each morning in front of the mirror, or purchasing a closet full of expensive gadgets and products all promising to make you look 18 again.

With just 5 simple things done each day, your skin will start to look more radiant and, yes, even a bit younger. Let's take a look.

1. Cleanse properly.

Cleanse your face every morning and evening with a cleanser that is specially designed for your skin type. Choose a ph-balanced cleanser for your skin type; creamy for drier skin and gels for oily skin. Remember that cleanser does not need to create suds to be effective, but if you prefer a more sudsy cleanser, then by all means use one. When cleansing your face, use a light touch, but wash for at least 30 seconds before rinsing. In the evening double cleanse; first to remove makeup and residue and the second time to actually cleanse the skin.

1. You need a good toner.

Your toner should have ingredients that help build your skin's protective barrier. This barrier creates an antioxidant shield between your skin and those nasty free radicals. Choose a toner with vitamin C and white tea to both calm your skin and give it a youthful lift. For extra hydration, choose a toner with hyaluronic acid. This little wonder holds 1,000 times its weight in water. Your toner should also be ph-balanced. If your cleanser is not ph-balanced, this will help you return your skin to its healthy best after cleansing.

1. Exfoliate routinely.

Dead skin cells are a fact of life on your face. You need to remove them routinely by a gentle exfoliation. This process will rejuvenate your skin, leaving it fresh, bright, and smooth. Your moisturizer will work the way it was meant to work, soaking in deep and making your skin look radiant. Be sure not to get too eager with your exfoliating. Gentle is the key here. If you scrub your skin too hard with an exfoliator, you risk an increase in oil production which an already oily skin doesn't need. In dry skin, you risk redness and soreness which also is not why we exfoliate. The idea is to exfoliate regularly, but gently.

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Hydrate and feed your skin with a good moisturizer. Choose a quality moisturizer that offers protection from the elements for your skin , plus offers your skin a good dose of nutrition along with moisture. Look for vitamins A, C, and E, yeast, and other ingredients that would "feed" your face just like you feed your body. Even if your skin is oily, you still need a good moisturizer to give your face a healthy dose of nutrition.

1. Use sunscreen every day.

The daily use of a good sunscreen is your number one defense against aging skin. About 99% of all the signs of aging can be directly linked to sun damage. With a little bit of prevention, you skin can look younger longer. Even simple day-to-day living exposes you face to the sun, even walking to your car and, yes, driving in your car. The windshield is not a sunblock! Check your morning moisturizer to be sure it contains a sunscreen of 15 SPF. If it does not, be sure to add a good sunscreen on top of your moisturizer before you leave the house. If your plans have you outside for a longer time than normal, be sure to apply one of the FDA-approved sunscreens. Look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on the label.

Is there anything else I need to do to look and feel younger?

There's just a few more things you should be doing to look and feel better. Combine the daily skincare regimen listed in this article with healthy eating habits, plenty of water and exercise, and you'll have a great start. Add monthly professional treatments with a Skin Care Specialist to ensure a ravishing, youthful complexion.