Skin care is vital to aging gracefully. We are all born with moist, soft, smooth, wrinkle-free skin. Unfortunately, time and exposure to the elements makes skin tough and dry. As we age, our skin sags and wrinkles develop. While there is no way to stop time, by practicing beneficial skin care, we can slow down the visible signs of aging skin.

The first step in practicing good skin care is understanding the makeup and processes of the skin. Consisting of three layers, skin is made up of subcutaneous tissue, the dermis, and the epidermis.

Subcutaneous Tissue - The inner layer of skin consists of subcutaneous tissue containing fat cells that are responsible for insulating the body. With age, the subcutaneous layer shrinks, contributing to sagging skin and wrinkles.

The Dermis - The middle layer of the skin is called the dermis and it contains connective tissues.

The Epidermis - The outer layer of skin, the epidermis protects the inner and middle skin from contaminants in the environment. Skin cells that travel from the inner layer of the epidermis to the skin's surface flake off after reaching the surface. The epidermis gets thinner as people age, producing less collagen and losing elasticity, which leads to sagging and wrinkles. The sweat glands decrease in the epidermis with age, causing dry skin. Over exposure to UVA and UVB sunlight rays can further thin the epidermis layer of the skin, contributing to an accelerated breakdown of the middle dermis layer.

The first step to beneficial skin care is cleansing the skin to remove dirt, excessive oils, and dead skin cells. In addition to cleaning the skin, cleansing works to help prevent pimples and acne. Over cleansing can make skin dry by removing too much of the essential natural oils that naturally moisturize skin. Moisturizers help combat dry skin from over cleansing and environmental factors by restoring moisture to the skin.

Successful skin care requires a constant effort. A twice-daily routine of cleansing and moisturizing is most effective. By avoiding over exposure to the sun, a person can prevent damage to the skin by the sun's rays. Applying a sunscreen when needed will help limit damage due to sun exposure. A nutritious diet, full of fruits and vegetables containing nutrients and antioxidants, will help skin stay young looking. Water is a vital part of good skin care as water hydrates the skin, cleans pores, and keeps the skin moist.

The best cleansers and moisturizers for a successful skin care routine include products containing natural, organic ingredients. Recipes for natural skin care cleansers and moisturizers make it easy to find the perfect product. Skin care recipes allow a person to mix up their own products right in their own kitchen. This ensures a person can tweak a recipe until they have achieved the recipe best for their own skin type. By mixing up the most beneficial natural cleansers and moisturizers, a person can ensure the daily build-up of dirt, oil, and dead cells are washed away and replaced with soothing moisture.