Skin Care Questions

Spring is here - we're starting to sleep with our windows open again, and leave them open during the day, too, so we can enjoy the breezes.

When we get back from Austria in a week, I'll probably take the down comforters off all the beds, and turn the mattresses.

Thinking about these little routines also got me thinking about the routines we have for ourselves and our bodies.

I have a different skincare routine for spring than I do for winter. For example, I'll switch daytime moisturizers now, and use one that has sunscreen protection in it.

And I've noticed that I've got little red bumps on my face again - acne for adults? sigh.

Here's what a wrinkle report says: What causes wrinkles, anyhow? Chronological age isn't as big a deal as lifestyle: Sun exposure ages you a lot faster than mere birthdays. Skin's cell-renewal process slows with age, as does collagen production, leading to blotchiness and sagging.

So your daily skincare regimen becomes even more important. You need to pay attention to four basic things: cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing, and sun protection. None of these steps will change your appearance dramatically. But if you don't do them, the years will pile on a lot faster.

Okay, so I guess it's time to get serious about skin care! It's not that I really mind the wrinkles so much - after all, they are the proof that I've lived my life and are like a badge from the experiences I've gone through. But at the same time, I don't want to look like a char-pei puppy, either.