By Serena Makofsky
Your skin is your largest organ, covering about 20 square feet. Maintaining its health should be a priority, not just for aesthetic reasons but also for your longevity. Caring for your skin early on in life reaps later rewards. There are a few basic things people with all skin types can do to institute the best skin care for themselves.
Diet
The healthy diet that sustains the body best--fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat, low sugar--is the same diet that sustains your skin. In addition, foods such as flax seeds, extra virgin olive oil, raw organic nuts and oily fish from cold ocean water have been deemed beneficial for the skin. The enemies of healthy skin are processed foods, soda, fried food and high sodium meats. Finally, everyone should drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day.
Habits
Sunscreen an important factor in skin health. Get in the habit of applying it regularly so that your skin is not caught unprotected during incidental sun exposure. Oil of Olay, Neutrogena and other manufacturers now create foundations and moisturizers that integrate sunscreen, so you can do your skin multiple favors simultaneously. Habits to avoid include smoking and excess consumption of alcohol.
Products
Everyone swears by their product lines for the best skin care. However, product performance varies by skin type. In general, look for products without added chemicals, fragrances or colors. Find a gentle cleanser (such as the cream-based ones made by Aveeno and Dove) and use it to cleanse the skin once a day. Many people then exfoliate the skin to remove more deeply embedded impurities. Moisturizing and adding sunscreen is the final step.
Best Skin Care by cosmetics-galaxy.com