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Diet and nutrition, as well as lifestyle and aging, influence the beauty of our skin. We have asked Dr. Linda Miles L. Ac., D.O.M., Vice President of derma e^® Natural Bodycare, how to help our skin stay healthy looking and beautiful day after day.

What can we do to slow down the clock naturally and stay looking young? 

I firmly believe that our skin is the outward expression of our inner health. We cannot have vibrant, healthy, youthful skin without a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body. To help nourish the body and the skin, I recommend eating a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, taking an antioxidant-rich supplement, drinking approximately 8 glasses of water a day, exercising, getting a good night’s sleep and minimizing your stress.

For a healthy body and beautiful skin, it is also important that you are aware of the levels of toxins you are exposed to on a daily basis. Consuming sugar in food and beverages, over exposure to sun, second-hand smoke, and even stress can produce a toxic load on your body. When these toxins are produced or absorbed by the body, free radicals try to compensate. Free radicals are highly reactive atoms that damage cells in the body and contribute to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, loss of skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and the decline in overall skin health.

The good news is antioxidants help the body protect itself from the danger of free radical attack. Antioxidants are specific vitamins, minerals, or nutrients that inactivate free radicals before they can damage cells.  Applying them topically through serums or moisturizers is the fastest and most effective way to counteract skin’s age damage caused by free radicals.  

What is the best daily skin care routine to prevent the aging process?

In the morning and evening, cleanse, tone and moisturize.  Formulas rich in powerful antioxidants optimize the health of the skin and guard against environmental stress, diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, soothe inflammation, even skin tone and improve texture and elasticity.  Using a good exfoliant once or twice a week will also help remove dull, tired, aging cells, increase circulation and allows the skin to breathe easier revealing fresh, radiant and younger-looking skin. 

How should we pick our own anti-aging products?

Pick anti-aging skincare products based on scientifically proven effective ingredients that will meet your specific skincare concerns. For example, products that contain powerful antioxidants Astaxanthin and Pycnogenol^® will help diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles ,and skin irregularities.  Products that contain DMAE will help visibly firm, tighten and tone skin.  For deep lines and wrinkles, choose products that contain powerful and effective peptides such as Matrxyl^™ 3000 and Argireline^® to help relax facial muscles and support collagen and elastin health.  If dry, dehydrated, aging skin is your primary concern, choose formulas that utilize Hyaluronic Acid.  Also referred to as nature’s moisture magnet, Hyaluronic Acid delivers maximum moisture while visibly reducing the signs of aging.     

How can we boost our skin’s natural ability to repair itself?

Our skin’s natural ability to repair itself occurs when we supply it with the right type of nutrients through living a healthy lifestyle and applying skincare products rich in antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals.    

Is it safe to use Microdermabrasion and acid products when spring and summer are around the corner?  

No matter what time of year, we should always be protecting our skin with nourishing, rich moisturizers packed with antioxidants.  However, because we tend to spend more time outdoors in spring and summer, be sure to take the necessary steps to stay protected. If you are planning on spending a long time in the sun, wear a hat, drink plenty of fluids, and apply an antioxidant-rich moisturizer. Sun damage today can cause next year’s wrinkles, so protect your skin every day to prevent wrinkles and stay looking younger.

If you were to choose only two products, one for the day one for the night which ones would they be?

The product I would recommend for daytime use is our new Evenly Radiant^™ Day Crème SPF 15.  This is a great product for those who are 35+ that start seeing more noticeable changes in their skin such as age and sun damage, discoloration, and fine lines and wrinkles.  This formula contains an Intensive Skin Brightening Complex with Madonna Lily and other skin-brightening botanicals to lighten and prevent discoloration.  Additionally, antioxidants such as Green Tea and Vitamin C help fight and reduce the visible signs of aging.  This daytime moisturizer has a nice, light citrus scent and wears well under makeup.         

My favorite product, the one I truly feel is the best formula we have developed is the Age-Defying Night Crème.  This crème contains Astaxanthin and Pycnogenol^®, the very best, strongest antioxidants for topical use.  It will help those who want to fight the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, and my daughters and their friends even tell me they have had great experiences with it balancing skin oils helping to promote a clearer complexion.  It also contains my favorite lavender pure essential oil that gives this product its wonderful scent.