1. stimulate the circulation.

2. speed-up the sloughing-off process of the dead cells.

Both of these will assist in keeping the skin fresh and young-looking.

In addition to taking care of your skin:

* Fresh air and exercise also stimulated the circulation.

* Good diet provides the vitamins and minerals that the body and skin need.

* Adequate sleep (You know instinctively what is right for you) rests and regenerates.

And, as most now know, research has shown that both alcohol and cigarette smoking are aging. (You only have to look at yourself in the mirror the `morning after` a heavy night out to take this point)

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. What you put on it can have a profound impact on your overall health over the long term. Unfortunately, most skincare products available on today's market contain ingredients which actually work against the health of our skin or are actually harmful to your health:

1) Mineral oil: Once applied, prevents the skin from "breathing." Because of this, it clogs pores, interferes with your skin's natural ability to eliminate toxins, and can lead to acne flare ups. Mineral oil may also go by the names liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, and petrolatum on the product label.

2) Dioxane: (a synthetic derivative of coconut). This substance is widely used in skincare products. It often contains high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, which is readily absorbed through the skin. I know this sounds crazy, but 1,4-dioxane is considered a chemical "known to the State of California to cause cancer".

3) Fragrances: Fragrances: Your skin care products should not contain fragrances. Many fragrances are produced from ingredients which are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

4) Parabens: methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben. Many skin care products (and moisturizing products) will use parabens as a preservative to increase the shelf life of the formula. However, studies suggest these preservatives may cause cancer and interfere with the body's endocrine system, as well as causing allergic reactions and skin rashes.

5) Alcohols: ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol. Not all alcohols have the same properties, but these, which are commonly found in skin care products, are very drying and irritating for the skin.

Our Western Culture has been slowly training itself to read food labels, and now it's time for us to learn to read the labels on any product we apply to our skin or hair. One of the reasons Aromatherapy is effective as a therapeutic modality, or that a nicotine patch can curb cigarette craving, is due to the fact that substances can be absorbed through the skin. It only follows that if something therapeutic can affect our health via absorption, harmful ingredients can also pass through that protective barrier.

We tend to look to our skin for our outward identity - our 'beauty' - which is fine. At least, it's fine up to the point when we forget that our skin is the first line of defense our body has against illness and aging. When we forget this, we not only forfeit that ever-elusive 'fountain of youth' - but also risk our very well-being.