When it comes to leaders in health and wellness, the Mayo Clinic headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota is second to none.  With a recent article, the skincare experts  – and why shouldn’t they be, they’re in some pretty harsh MN weather – in the Mayo camp are advocating what they call ‘proactive skin care’, in taking preventative measures to keep your skin from looking aged or tired in the first place.  Here’s a summary of their top 5 list:

1. Protect yourself from the sun | This one is first because it’s hands-down themost important factor in skin health.  The sun is the main culprit for causing a host of skin problems, from the cosmetic – like deep wrinkles, dry, rouch skin, and liver spots – to the more serious disorders such as both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) skin tumors.  Recommended | Avoid sun during high-intensity hours (10am-4pm); Wear protective clothing (bonus points for new clothing with SPF blockers); Use sunscreen (broad spectrum, and applied liberally).

2. Don’t smoke | Among the other health reasons that the doctors at Mayo would cite, it is first-class bad-news to be a regular smoker.  Smoking accelerates aging of the skin, and increases number and depth of wrinkles.  It causes narrowing of the microscopic blood vessels in the skin’s surface, which decreases blood flow.  In turn, the skin is deprived the oxygen and nutrients essential to skin health.  Recommended | Kick the habit – in the name of health AND beauty.

3. Wash your skin gently | While it’s tempting to scrub too hard or wash every time a drop of sweat forms on the forehead, too rough of treatment and too-harsh ingredients can hurt the skin instead of help it.  Recommended| Use warm water, limit bath time (both remove natural oils from your skin); Avoid strong soaps (they can be stripping – leaving the skin dry); Avoid irritating additives (perfumes and dyes? no thanks); Remove eye make-up carefully (use a soft sponge or cotton ball, and oil-based products for water-proof make-up); Pat dry (blot gently instead of rubbing again).

4. Moisturize regularly | The right moisturizer aids in maintaining the skin’s natural moisture levels – and enclose the skin to keep water from escaping, and slowly release water into the skin.  Recommended | Choose a moisturizer that’s right for you (skin type, age, the climate – all play factors); Ensure the moisturizer has sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).

5. Shave carefully | Shaving is the most common way to rid unwanted hair, but it can cause skin irritations – especially for those with thin, dry, or sensitive skin.  Follow the tips, but if irritation occasionally happens, apply alcohol-free lotion.  Recommended | Hold a warm cloth to the skin prior to shaving to soften hair (or shave after a warm bath or shower); Don’t shave dry skin (use a lubricant like shaving cream); Use a clean, sharp razor (and don’t use the closest setting on an electric razor); Shave in the direction of growth (not against the hair); Rinse afterward (with warm water).

The above skincare rituals are great habits to get into for a lifetime of good skin health; in addition, natural, healthy, effective skincare lines can supplement this great routine.  For example, RSF’s Caviar Daily Cream is the perfect fit for overly-sun exposed skin (when you don’t re-apply that one last time), or when harsh environmental conditions dry the skin – either outside weather, or artificial air conditioning can be the culprit.  The perfect combination of care and precisely potent products can spell radiance for even the most damaged skin.