Many women bought into the myth that after the age of 16, they should no longer have acne, but with this new surge of acne-related products that appeal to a variety of women, we now know that acne can affect women at any age. With fluctuating hormones each month, many women are familiar with their period being accompanied with a pimple or two. Hormones are responsible for the little blackheads, as well as the very tender swollen cystic bumps that can show up on your chin, nose and forehead. The good news is that you do not have to deal with this every month.

The solution? There is a whole new generation of birth control pills that have been proven to prevent acne. The most well known is Ortho Tri-Cyclen which was the first birth control pill to be tested and promoted for preventing acne. Yaz is another birth control pill that is now considered an anti-acne medication. Both of these pills are anti-androgenic which means that they keep pre-period breakouts from occurring so harshly because androgen male hormones are responsible for these hormonal breakouts. These birth control pills are beneficial because they put a cap on a woman is androgen levels.

Some women, however, prefer not to be on an oral contraceptive, but are more inclined to use a high-grade topical. The most popular alternative to birth control pills is the prescription retinoid such as Retin-A or Tazoracóboth topicals used on the face. These prescription-based medications help to increase the rate of how fast oneís skin cells shed. This sloughing off of the skin helps to keep pores clean, free and unclogged. Another great benefit is that most women see a reduction in their fine lines and wrinkles. Retin-A and Tazorac are both effective at keeping breakouts at bay, but they do increase a woman is sensitivity to the sun, so when using these products, a good sunscreen is crucial.

When accessing your skin, it is best to keep track of all of the things you are currently using and those things you have used in the past. Keep a list of antibiotics and topical medications so you can discuss this with your dermatologist. The role of your dermatologist is to tell you if the medication was too strong, too mild or if it was used incorrectly. It is important that the dermatologist know as much of your skin history as possible so she can determine what route to take next for your skin. When using a new treatment for acne, it is best to allow six to eight weeks for the treatment to begin working. Sometimes, a woman is acne may flare up worse before her skin begins to improve.

A few more things that should be considered: if your acne keeps occurring in the same place, it might be easy for you to figure out what is aggravating the area. Maybe it is your hair, pillow, wash cloth, telephone, or perhaps a daily product. You might want to make sure you change your wash cloth daily, change your pillowcase every other day, or put a new towel on it each night, wipe down your telephone with alcohol, and make sure your hair is off of your face. If you think a particular product is causing your breakout, then discontinue its use immediately. Some people are blessed with clear skin and for others it is a matter of trial and error, but however you achieve it, clear skin is a woman is right.

Studies have shown that a small percentage, around 11% of the nearly 11,000 ingredients the FDA has discovered and found to be in body products, have been actually researched for safety standards by the cosmetics industry. So this is why you need to be very careful about what you put on your body because most of these ingredients – natural or otherwise – are being absorbed. Who wants to have mineral oil soaking into their skin?

When you choose natural skincare products, you are feeding your skin the best nutrients it needs to function adequately and are reducing the risk of exposing it to harmful substances. Being good to your skin and feeding it natural ingredients is being good to your whole entire body. One important note: don’t believe everything you read, especially on product labels. A number of skincare products claim to be “all natural,” but in reality, there is not one regulated standard or definition to what is truly natural in regards to body, or skin products. In many of the commercial products that are advertised as “natural,” you will find only small amounts of plant-based ingredients and sometimes these “small amounts” are only mere traces of anything considered remotely “natural.” Also products that tout the terms “hypoallergenic” or “fragrance-free” do not actually mean that they are free of some ingredients that could be potentially harmful.

Each time you cleanse, moisturize and put on beautifying cosmetics, you want to make sure you’re feeding your skin the best products available. The next time that you are at a drugstore, check out some of the ingredients listed on your favorite personal care products. You notice that the product labels read mineral oils, harmful preservatives and artificial colors. Now, do you really think your skin is getting clean and moisturized with ingredients like these? It is best for you to choose those products that are composed of real ingredients, whole ingredients, natural ingredients that cleanse, moisturize and renew your skin.

You also want to opt for products that have fresh, natural smelling scents composed of pure essential oils. So, when looking for skin cleansers, soaps, and shower gels, go for those that have a high concentration of plant-based ingredients. Generally, products such as these not only cleanse the skin, but provide nourishment without being over drying or irritating.

Finding an effective moisturizer is easier than you thought. Plant oils are an excellent ingredient that nourishes and moisturizes the body. Using lotions or facial moisturizers that are made with plant oils will help you to get silky smooth skin the natural way! Plant-based oils can easily penetrate the skin and are usually scented with natural and pure essential oils; and as an added bonus, they have mineral, nutrients and antioxidants that help to beautify and improve the quality of your skin with consistent use.

When cleansing your face, choose cleansers that are specifically made for your face. Soap and water should be avoided since it can strip skin of its protective oils and natural moisture balance because skin has more of an acidic base while soap is more alkaline. Using soap can disrupt skin’s protective covering which is acidic. While you may be surprised to discover this, oil-based cleansers can work for all skin types because they are nourishing and can facilitate to remove makeup quick and effectively. For a more suited match, oily skin as well as combination skin should opt for water soluble and oil-based cleansers. Dry skin should use cream cleansers and if you have sensitive skin, look for light oil cleansers. Sensitive skin can easily react to cleansers with fragrances, colors and chemicals.

If you have decided that oil-based or cream cleansers are best for your skin, first you should apply the cream lightly and then smooth on more once you have covered the entire face. Let it sit on your face for a few seconds, as this helps to dissolve any surface dirt or impurities. Once you have left it on for a few seconds, take a warm and wet tissue and gently wipe off the cleanser. And, we have all heard about the importance of exfoliating our skin, so why not cleanse and exfoliate at the same time? Exfoliating your skin every two to three days helps to produce a fresh, bright complexion that is smooth and radiant. To get the benefits of cleansing and exfoliating at the same time, remove your cleanser with a sponge made for the face or use a gentle cleansing brush ; these will help to remove impurities while also exfoliating your skin.

Words can’t communicate how significant it is to be careful when washing the eye area. The skin around our eyes is the most delicate area of our face. Especially when removing eye makeup, use oil-free eye make up removers instead of relying on your normal cleanser. After you have finished cleansing your face, lightly splash your face with cold water. Your face will definitely thank you for this, as it will feel refreshed because cold water helps to close your pores. This cold water splash is also great for helping you to wake up in the mornings and to get your skin’s circulation moving.

When it comes to moisturizing, your skin actually has its own natural moisturizer known as NMF which stands for natural moisturizing factor. The NMF helps to control the flow of water from your skin’s deepest layers to the surface of your skin. Your skin’s natural hydrator, sebum, is also essential when it comes to preventing moisture loss. Sebum creates a protective barrier on the surface of your skin so that there is a delay in how much water evaporates. As we age, however, NMF and sebum both begin to decrease which then brings on the need for us to begin using moisturizers with water-regulating properties. Regardless of your skin type, even if it is oily, needs to be moisturized twice per day.

There are two different types of moisturizers : humectants and occlusives. Humectants are used to draw moisture from the bottom layers of the dermis to the surface of the skin. Occlusives create an oily layer on the surface of the skin which helps to seal in water and prevent it from evaporating.

Your skin should look and feel moisturized, especially if you spritz it with water first, for at least twelve hours.

Below are some ideas to make your routine easier and your look completely summer-fied.

Switch to a sheer foundation, a tinted moisturizer or a mineral makeup. This’ll let your pretty, natural skin show through while still giving you a bit of coverage, and it’ll feel soooo much better when the heat is on. Just make sure you wear an SPF of 15 or higher every single day, and reapply after prolonged exposure, ahem, sweating or swimming.

Ditch your straightening iron and get in touch with your natural hair texture. If it’s straight, reinvent yourself as a 60’s icon. If it’s curly, go wild. Just use a dab of a moisture-rich styling cream or serum, scrunch, shake and go.

Summer is the time to try new looks, since you’ll be outside more often and loosened up, so slick on a hot pink gloss, or try one of the new, green-gold liners in a creamy formula. Just keep the rest of your face sheer and neutral, and you’ll look like a star.

Be strict about frequent manis and pedis. People are gonna see your hands…and your feet…and whatever they look like. You don’t want to be mistaken for a hobbit.

Be yourself. Remember when we were young, and summer felt like a time to re-invent ourselves? Well, it still is, Darling. So get out there and shake it like 8th grade is three months away!