Simple skincare regimen

Natasha Singer of the Times did a terrific article "Fountain of Youth?" And the tag line says, "Go Wash Your Face." Yes, she was serious.

So what is her advice to be young forever without spending incredible amounts of money on cosmetic surgery or personal care products. Here is a summary of her recommendations:

1. Throw away old personal care products
Unless the package tells you an expiration date, simply throw away after one year especially if you touch the product by hand.

2. Do not smoke
If you do, even rarely, please try to quit. Apart from what it does to your lungs, smoking is hard on the skin too.

3. Leave the pimples alone
The more you touch them the worse they become.

4. Sleep more
There is no better time for the skin to repair itself than when you are sleeping. 6 to 8 hours of good sleep is awesome.

5. Reduce stress
There are many other benefits of living stress free but you will notice an immediate change in your skin when your stress levels are low.

6. Always wear sunscreen
The rule of thumb is that during the time there is sun, you should wear sunscreen. No exceptions.

7. Simplify your skincare regimen
Use no more than four products (a mild cleanser; a sunscreen or moisturizer containing sunscreen; a product that contains antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, pomegranate, soy and green tea; and an antiwrinkle product containing ingredients like retinoids, a form of vitamin A, or protein fragments called peptides) daily.

8. Wash your face before going to bed
Believe it or not but there is dust all around you, even inside an airconditioned building. So wash off that dirt each night.

9. Buy good quality products but do not spend more than $30 on each item
If something costs more than that you are paying not for ingredients but for advertising, marketing, and the big bucks paid to a Hollywood star to endorse that product.

Do over the counter beauty products work?

Aging is a terrifying emotion. Wrinkles, fine lines, flaccid skin, gray hair, whatever sign of aging we see, panic sets in. That weakness has, naturally, been exploited by marketers for centuries. That is why almost every single project on the market tries to make a connection that it will help us look and feel younger.

While plastic surgery can reverse some of the signs of aging, nothing can stop aging. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, inner peace, and a good sense of style can definitely slow down aging and make us look and feel younger, but that cream/lotion/spray/pill that somebody is hawking on television or a magazine is not going to work.

Do over-the-counter beauty products work?

A new study by Timothy A. Miller, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery at University of California and Los Angeles says that there is no data that proves that these products actually work in the amount that they are sold. "Although there are a number of beneficial OTC remedies in existence, for many patients, prescription-strength or surgical procedures may be necessary to achieve desired results," according to him.

The study consisted of a review of existing research on ingredients commonly found in OTC anti-aging creams. Key compounds under review included vitamins, antioxidants, alpha-hydroxyl acids, moisturizers, pentapeptides and botanicals. Of these, Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxyl acids and pentapeptides were shown to be the most extensively researched with proven anti-aging benefits.

Vitamin A, or retinols have shown great promise, however their effects have only been proven in prescription-strength formulations; OTC benefits have not been determined. Minimal studies have been performed on Vitamin B, though what evidence does exist is promising. Moisturizers have not been extensively researched, but have been shown to improve the hydration and appearance of skin.

Botanicals such as grape seed extract, soy compounds, green tea and Gingko biloba are relatively new in the market and have gained great popularity in recent years, but their healing qualities have yet to be proven through randomized, placebo-controlled human trials.

So should you give up using over the counter beauty products?

It is important to take care of your skin and using high quality products is important, but just don't believe in the misleading messages on the label. These products will definitely not turn back time, but as I said above, if they are part of a overall healthy lifestyle, you can stay young and beautiful for a long time.