There are specific steps we can take to slow the aging process and increase vitality as we age, yet the truth is that time does the same thing to everyone: it ages the skin. Certainly there are factors that can hasten this process: overexposure to sunlight, smoking and absence of a proper skin care regimen are some of them. The mature skin personality has thinner epithelial layer, predominantly lacks moisture and shows facials lines, wrinkles as well as sun damage.

Do any of the following traits apply to your skin?
• Skin shows wrinkles, dark spots or discoloration
• Epidermis feels thinner and drier
• Skin produces little oil
• Tone of skin not as firm
• Broken capillaries especially on nose and cheeks

Skincare Regimen:
Cleansing: use a rich sulfate-free cream cleanser once a day with hydrating plant extracts such as German chamomile, nettle or sea algae. Try Chamomile Cleansing Cream

Exfoliation: exfoliate your skin several times a week using either an enzyme peel with ingredients such as black cherry, pomegranate and red wine or, a sugarcane derived glycolic acid to slough off dead skin cells and retexturize fine lines and wrinkles. Try Environmental Defense Mask or Skin Renewal Gel 10%

Toning: Mist the skin throughout the day with homeopathic floral waters. Try Rose or Orange Blossom Hydrolat

Face Oil or Moisturizer: Use heavier weight face oil with a base of rich vegetal oils such as Rose Hip or Evening Primrose fortified with a high percentage of essential fatty acids to support collagen synthesis. Supplement face oil with anti-inflammatory and skin regenerating essential oils such as everlasting, lavender or geranium . Try Geranium Regenerating Serum

Use a rich moisturizer containing skin hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, oat beta glucan and sea algae extract as well as antioxidants such as black currant extract, green tea extract or Vitamins A, C and E. Try Crème Cassis Bio-Replenishment Cream

Treatment: Diminish the appearance of sun damage and pallid skin by using a licorice extract to brighten dull skin. Try Botanical Skin Brightener

Skin Fitness:
Diet is key for mature skin: include as many anti-oxidant foods in your diet as possible and load up on colorful fruits and vegetables fortified with beta-carotenes. Also, focus on foods rich in omega-fatty acids such as soy, salmon and other oily fish as well as canola and flaxseed oils. The spice turmeric has been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits is also a good anti-oxidant if you enjoy spicy foods.

Herbal Remedies:
Add skin healing herbs such as Burdock Root, Red Clover Blossom and Dandelion Root to juice or tea. Try Clarifying Skin Tonic
For daily maintenance, take an energizing herb such as Ginseng to help strengthen the body and to support over taxed adrenal glands. Try Ginseng Vitality Tonic
Drink a energizing tea rich with anti-oxidant polyphenols to reduce free radical damage. Try Renew Tea

Skinceuticals:
Take a multi-vitamin daily. Try Naturopathica Multi-Vitamin Preventative

Take 500 mg of Borage Seed or Evening Primrose Oil, rich in Gamma Linoleic Acid, to help counteract oxidative stress to the skin.

Beauty & Balance:
In order to look young you need to feel young so surround yourself with people who support a positive outlook. Lauren Hutton looks young because she is adventurous and her zest for life makes her look beautiful. Find new ways to stimulate your mind and support your creative energies by engaging in traveling, reading or going back to school. Experiment and try a new activity.

Older skin needs constant nourishment: always carry a hydrolat and a sample size cream to recharge the skin throughout the day. Try Daily Maintenance Starter Kit

Buy a humidifier for your bedroom to let your skin recharge with eight hours of sufficient moisture every night. Be sure to clean the filter regularly and add a calming essential oil to the water to help you relax.

Face oils penetrate the skin deeper than most creams and for older skin is a must. Give yourself a facial massage with a serum fortified with essential fatty acids to plump up your skin. Try Geranium Regenerating Serum

Skincare Expresss
Mix two drops of a face oil or serum with your moisturizer for an extra boost to feed your skin.
Put a thin layer of a hydrating mask on your face and leave on overnight. Rinse off with tepid water in the morning to give your skin a moisture surge. Try Calming Seaweed Mask
Maintain a regular schedule of holistic deep cleansing and hydrating facial once a month to give your skin the extra care it needs.