Did you know that June is the first-ever National Acne Awareness Month?  In a recent study, more than half of teens (59%) said that they would be willing to stay off Facebook for a year if they could get rid of their acne forever! What’s more – 13% would actually pick one of their parents as a prom date to be zit-free for the rest of their lives!

I was lucky as a teenager, as I didn’t suffer from acne.  However, I had a few zits, and I remember scrubbing my face every chance I got to get rid of them, but it just made it worse.  Unbeknownst to me, that was the problem – I was upsetting my skin by my constant washing, and my skin was trying to save itself by producing more oils, and then I’d wash it all off and we’d start the vicious circle yet again.

Finally, a friend of mine who worked at a big-name makeup counter told me what I was doing wrong.  She gave me some samples and lo and behold!  It did take a few weeks but finally I saw the difference.

Then, after a few months, I started breaking out again.  What the heck?!?  I went back to her and we deduced that I was still using products for oily skin, when in fact my skin was more on the combination side.   So, once we switched to those products, my skin cleared up again.

As you age, your skin will evolve, and as it does, so should your skin care routine.  What worked for you in your 20s may not be what you need in your 30s, and so on, as you get older.  Most skin care lines cover all ages and skin types, so if you’re loyal to a certain brand but it’s just not doing the job anymore, don’t despair, just re-evaluate your skin’s condition and adjust accordingly.

One thing that should be a constant in your skincare, no matter what your age, is sunscreen.  You may argue, “but I’m working inside, I’m not at the pool, do I really need it ?”  Ask yourself – “did I go outside today?”  Then, yes, you need sunscreen.  Driving your car, walking to your office, sitting outside for lunch – these all add up to more exposure than you think.

Of course, if you are at the pool, the beach, the lake, or outside for an extended period of time, you’re going to need a higher SPF than what’s in your makeup.

However, for daily protection, most moisturizers and foundations contain sunscreen already, so half the work is done for you.  Just don’t think that a 15 SPF moisturizer and a 15 SPF foundation add up to 30 SPF.

Also remember that the SPF in a liquid or cream foundation won’t last longer than a couple of hours, as these types tend to slide around on your face, or just plain wear off.

So how do you protect yourself?  The best bet is to layer your protection.  After you cleanse your face, use a moisturizer with a 15 SPF.  Then choose a foundation with at least a 15 SPF as well.  Finish with a powder.  Although most powders don’t contain sunscreen, they do contain zinc oxide.  Zinc isn’t absorbed by the skin; rather, it sits on the surface and reflects away the sun’s rays.

Mineral foundations such as Bare Essentials and Arbonne usually have the best SPF protection, due to the mineral content which gives you a physical barrier against sun damage.  Also, mineral foundations tend to stay put and not settle into fine lines and wrinkles.  Bonus!  If you don’t wear foundation, try a tinted moisturizer with SPF.

Above all, remember that this is the only face you will get, so treat it well and keep it protected.