Rosa M Beauty Life Style: Quit those bad habits!

You know who you are, the one out there making excuses about why you aren't taking the best care of your skin NOW! Well knock it off, I'm here as your beauty guru to remind you about your bad habits, and that you need to break them TODAY and be on your way to healthier and younger looking skin!

After all, what's the fun of trying all my great makeup looks if your skin is just so-so?!

Habits to break NOW

1. You aren't wearing sunscreen. First of all, why the heck not?! Second, its like smoking cigarettes, there is literally nobody left on Earth that doesn't know how bad it is for you - and if you've been awake at all the past decade you know that sunscreen is essential EVERY DAY!
Avoid melanoma

AND avoid aged skin!

The best way to keep your skin (not just your face) from getting wrinkled, saggy, and speckled is sunscreen, SPF 30 at the minimum. Use broad-spectrum formulas (these shield against both UVA and UVB rays) with Mexoryl or Helioplex offer the longest-lasting protection. If it doesn't say "broad spectrum" then its NOT. One I like right now is Neutrogena's Ulta Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 45.

Apply a whole tablespoon to your face, and the equivalent of a shot glass on your body. If that seams like it might be a bit more effort than you want to remember, use a combined SPF/body lotion when you get out of the shower. You will still tan- I swear. But give your skin a chance to heal and prevent aging, rather then zapping it with sun damage every day! My favorite SPF body lotion is Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion with SPF (15 or 30) because it unscented, so it doesn't distract from my perfume.

When I go out for lunch and I know I am going to walk around, or the sun is very strong (remember-you get almost as much UV rays when its cloudy) I keep this AMAZING portable SPF product that fights shine too! Its Peter Thomas Roth's Instant Mineral SPF Powder (in 15, 30 and 45)

Right now Sephora has a sample size of the SPF 30 for $12! (in the sample section by the register and online). This mineral powder dusts on effortlessly and provides sun protection while zapping shine! What it does best, is protect your hair line! its a sensitive spot for sun damage and burns, but this powder will eliminate the annoyance of greasy or oily lotions! Genius!

If you need further proof that sun smart care is essential, take a look at these two famous women who have sworn for decades that the only essential beauty item in their life is sunscreen, and they are over 40!

Claudia Schiffer (2011)

Elle Macpherson (2011)

2. You are using the wrong skincare. Our skin care needs change over time and throughout the year (when the seasons change) so if you've been using the same skin care products for a few years/months - then you are most likely using the wrong items!

If you skin is oily and prone to breakouts then you need to be using cleansers and skincare with salicylic acid, and an oil-free mattyfying lotion with SPF for day. Try Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser and Murad's Oil Control Mattifier Lotion with SPF 15 (its the best oil control moisturizer out there!)

Then, make sure you use a silicone based primer under your makeup (or alone) which will create a barrier so your oily skin doesn't breakdown your makeup and clog pores. I like Victorias Secret VS PRO Face primer with SPF 15.

Oily skin also loves to get a thorough cleaning with a glycol peel once per week. Try Philosphy's Microdelivery Peel pads (can use in conjunction with their cleanser)

If your skin is sensitive or irritated (very common in the dead of winter) use a milky and moisturizing cleanser, such as Ole Henrickson's Apricot Cleansing Lotion (you can find it at Sephora for $22, its amazing and my fav cleanser for non-summer months!) Combine it with a soothing and moisturizing product. In the hot months, try Olay Complete All Day Moisture with SPF 15 for Sensitive Skin and for a cream, try Estee Lauder's Time Zone (available in day or night formulas) Line and Wrinkle Reducing SPF 15

for combination skin (very frustrating) use a cleanser that foams up that is strong enough to remove dirt and oil from skin, use a very lightweight and oil free moisturizer, then only use a cream moisturizer on dry spots (cheeks, temples, etc) I like Clinique's Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser, followed by Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel Cream and then add Ole Henricksen's Nurture Me Cream (smells positively amazing)

3. You neglect your neck and chest. Think of how much sun damage the thin skin on your neck and chest get in a single year! Not only that, but are you even moisturizing that area?! Taking care of that skin today could mean a major difference at 45:

Not only should you be applying (oil free and lightweight) broad spectrum sunscreen, but you should also be moisturizing and applying anti-aging products there as well! At the very least you should take your appropriate skin care products (above) and extend the application down the neck and chest daily!

4. You don't clean your makeup brushes. I'll give you a free pass for forgetting now and then, but your skin won't - because the dead skin, oil, dirt, grime, air-exposed makeup particles and broken bristles will just LOVE to clog your pores. In fact, I suggested to someone once with continuous breakouts that they start cleaning their brushes once a week with an anti-bacterial foaming hand soap and they had significantly less breakouts that following month. I clean my brushes every Sunday night, that includes eye makeup brushes as well. You can just use a foaming hand soap like I mentioned above (lotion or creamy soaps don't work) and use with warm water - or you can splurge on a brush cleaner. I also like Japonesque Professional Brush Cleaner, $10 at Ulta stores. You can also make quick work of it with Japonesque's Parian Spirit Brush Cleaning Wipes $24.