Considering the number one cause of premature aging (wrinkles, lines and sun-induced brown spots) is UV exposure from daylight and sunlight, protecting your skin every single day with sunscreen is the very best way to slow down the effects of skin aging. But is applying a moisturizer with sunscreen daily (under your makeup) going to give you all-day protection? I think not.

The problem: Many sunscreen formulas degrade with exposure to UV light. The daily sebum (oil) produced on the skin can cause sunscreen to breakdown, and you very well may not have even applied it generously enough in the first place to get the full protection. These all confirm that your sunscreen just may not be protecting your skin all day like you want it to, and think it is. And this presents a huge problem that should concern you if you want to prevent skin aging…

The solution: Reapply your sunscreen every few hours. This is certainly the best solution, but it is often not convenient to do so. Are you supposed to wash your face, reapply sunscreen, reapply makeup and repeat this every two hours during the day? This certainly is not practical.

The fastest, easiest, and most effective way to ensure that your skin is protected all day is to dust the skin every few hours with a good mineral powder formulated with sunscreen. They are considered “dry” sunscreens and make reapplying very simple.

My personal favorite (and the one I use faithfully) is ColoreScience, because it’s endorsed by The Skin Cancer Foundation and contains SPF 50. I don’t use it as my makeup, even though it has a light tint, but rather as a light powder over my regular makeup to give a good physical block of protection to my skin. (I use Daily Protection SPF 30 as my moisturizer.)

I always keep a ColoreScience SPF 50 mineral powder in my handbag to touch up my skin throughout the day, as well as dust on my hands and neck and any other exposed areas.

Do your skin a favor and invest in a good SPF-containing mineral powder. You do have a say in the matter when it comes to how your skin will age and applying this extra sun protection throughout the day can make all the difference in the world for years to come.

Read: Five Essentials to Stay Tan-Free at the Beach

Read: Six Skin Habits You Should Unlearn

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Powder foundation:

Who it’s best for: Normal, oily, combination, sensitive and acne prone skin, and those who don’t like to feel anything heavy on their skin. (Like skin types #1, #2, #3, and #4.)

Which skin type are you? See our nine skin types here.

Benefit to the skin: Powder foundations generally shouldn’t have a pore clogging effect since they aren’t occlusive on the skin, and since powders have oil-absorbing properties, they can lessen shine during the day…

What to look for: I suggest mineral-based powders since they give a smoother, luminous look to the skin and usually have SPF-protecting properties. They also don’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles as much as talc-based powders.

What to avoid: Talc-based powders, as these may accentuate lines and wrinkles and give a chalky, dull look to the skin.

Tip: Be sure to wash your powder brushes regularly. Once a week is ideal. Read: How to Wash Your Makeup Brushes

Read: Don’t Let Your Skin Marinate in Makeup

Liquid Foundation:

Who’s it’s best for: Normal and dry skins, and those who like a dewy look to the skin. (Like skin types #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9.)

Which skin type are you? See our nine skin types here.

Benefit to the skin: Liquid foundations can fill in lines, wrinkles and pores, making them less noticeable so the skin appears smoother and they do also provide excellent coverage. They also help to create a layer of protection to help retain moisture in the skin, especially in drying environments like the winter months and airplanes.

What to look for: There have been amazing advancements in liquid foundations, so there are many good ones available. Look for one that is lightweight and contains the ingredients dimethicone or silicone, as they do an excellent job in making the skin look exceptionally smooth. A liquid makeup should also contain sunscreen to give added anti-aging protection. (However, makeup with sunscreen should NEVER take the place of a sunscreen moisturizer like Daily Protection SPF 30.)

What to avoid: Ingredients such as mineral oil, petrolatum and isopropyl palmitate may cause clogged pores in the skin due to size of the molecular structure and the heavy, oily texture they can give – especially when used in large quantities and listed as the first few ingredients of the formula.

Tip: More so than powders, liquids must be an exact color match to avoid an obvious color difference with a demarcation line on the jaw.

Read: How to Determine Your True Skin Type

What does Renée Rouleau use for makeup on her own skin?

Every day I use Renée Rouleau SPF 20 Mineral Powder (sold exclusively in Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spas, not available on our website) and then I dust the surface every few hours throughout the day with ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder to ensure proper sun protection.

When I’m on TV or being photographed, I use an oil-free liquid foundation from MAC, as it provides more coverage and makes my skin appear smoother. I don’t wear it every day because although it’s oil-free, some of the ingredients in the formula can still feel heavy on my skin and may contribute to my clogged pores or breakouts. So far, it never has, but I don’t wear it enough to find out.

Read: How to Have Great-Looking Skin for High Definition TV and Videos

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Today, I’m featuring skin type #9.

Do you have?

-Skin that feels tight and dry year round

-Skin that needs hydration and nourishment

-Enlarged pores mostly in t-zone (optional)

-Hyperpigmentation/discoloration and brown spots (optional)…

-Skin that becomes red easily and gets irritated by harsh products

-Consistent redness or have been diagnosed with rosacea

-Concerns of skin aging

-Skin that needs smoothing

If you are someone who wants to calm redness and keep the skin hydrated with a focus on anti-aging and have ALL of these symptoms, then you are a skin type #9. If you have only some of these, but not all then you may be another skin type. Look at our nine skin types to find the perfect match for you.

The routine:

Extensive research brings you results-oriented anti-aging formulas for soothing red, dry and sensitive skin. A unique blend of soothing antioxidants, moisture-repairing lipids and gentle exfoliating acids all work to smooth the surface of the skin, fight daily skin aging and bring comforting nourishment to the skin. Your skin will be healthy, smoother and more youthful-looking. *With any new skin care routine, it is advised to introduce one new product a day.

See all the skin care products suggested for skin type #9.

Read: How Do I Get Rid of Broken Capillaries?

Read: Using New Products and Have Sensitive Skin? Take it One Day at a Time

Read: My Cure for Red, Sensitive, Extremely Dry, Flaky Skin

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

But regardless of how you cared for your skin in your younger years, at some point, aging will settle in and seeing lines and wrinkles form is usually a motivator to get serious about caring for your skin.

But what age should you really start to focus on caring for your skin, both at home with good quality, high-performance skin care products formulated for your skin type, as well as getting professional treatments by a skin care professional?

Age 35. Collagen production starts to slow down and the quality of collagen is not as good as in your younger years. Which is why lines and wrinkles around the eyes will appear during this time – if not before.

So what should you do?…

Simply put, it’s time to make caring for your skin a priority. A basic skin care routine of a cleanser and moisturizer just aren’t enough anymore – especially if your goal is to achieve healthy, youthful-looking skin. Focus on increasing collagen by regenerating the skin with at-home skin peels like Triple Berry Smoothing Peel and professional chemical peels.

Read: Considering Having a Chemical Peel? Important Information You Need to Know

Read: How to Care for Your Skin After a Chemical Peel

Read: Chemical Peels are Best Performed from November to May

You also want to load your skin up topically with collagen-protecting antioxidants (like Vitamin C&E Complex) and eating foods high in vitamins A, C and E. And of course, your anti-aging efforts will be maximized by wearing a sunscreen moisturizer faithfully and SPF mineral powder dusted on the skin every few hours to ensure protection from damaging UV rays from daylight and the sun. (My favorites are Daily Protection SPF 30 and ColoreScience mineral powder.)

Read: Skin Care Tips for Those in Their 20′s, 30′s, 40′s, 50′s and 60′s.

For more expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Which products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

Read: Get Glowing Skin for Your Holiday Party

Read: I Fell Asleep with My Makeup on and Now My Skin is a Mess. Help!

Read: Five Reasons to Wash Your Face Before Bedtime

Read: Short on Sleep? Tips for Under Eye Puffiness and Dark Circles

Read: Hangover Relief for Your Skin…

Which products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

If a product…

stings and burns…it’s not a fit for your skin and can make you think your skin is a sensitive skin type when maybe the product is an irritating one. The exception is using an acid serum where it specifically indicates that a stinging sensation is to be expected. SD Alcohol 40 (commonly used in toners and astringents) and synthetic fragrance added to skin care products are common causes of skin sensitivity. The Renée Rouleau products do not use these ingredients.

Read: When is it Okay for My Skin Care Products to Tingle?

leaves a greasy residue…it’s not a fit for your skin and now you might think you’re an oily skin type when a moisturizer is actually too rich and greasy for you. Your skin can only absorb so much and the rest sits on top leading to suffocated, clogged skin…

Read: Moisturizer Do’s and Don’ts

leaves your skin feeling tight and dry…it’s not a fit for your skin and can make you think you are dry or dehydrated when the problem is the product. Sulfate-based foaming cleansers and alcohol-based toners can severely strip the skin of needed moisture, but many people associate a tight feeling with their skin being clean. False. Choose sulfate-free cleansers and alcohol-free toners.

Read: Gel, Lotion or Cream: Which Cleanser is Best for Your Skin?

is exfoliating your skin but you’re still left dry and flaky…your skin care routine isn’t working and you might be over-exfoliating which may lead you to think you have dry skin. If you exfoliate TOO MUCH, can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, resulting in invisible cracks in the skin that allow moisture to escape, making skin drier and flakier. People then exfoliate more to get rid of the dryness, only to find that it makes it worse.

Read: Are You Ruining Your Skin with Exfoliating Products?

makes you excessively oily…something is drying your skin out. If you think you have oily skin, harsh products formulated for oily skin can dehydrate the skin causing your skin to produce more oil in an effort to balance itself. Skin hydration is truly the key to producing less oil, despite what you may think.

Read: Five Ways to Reduce Oil Production in Skin

gets easily irritated…something isn’t working. If a product irritates your skin, it’s clearly not a good fit. Inflammation is the underlying cause of aging, so inducing topical skin irritation unintentionally is a no-no.

Read: Does Your Skin Get Irritated Easily? It Might Be Your Products

Once you are using products that feel good on your skin, then you can truly determine your skin’s true characteristics. Until you find the right combination of products, it will always be a challenge to truly understand your skin type.

Oily skin - If you have large pores all over your face and your skin gets shiny throughout the day and visible oil appears, then you have oil within your skin, and therefore can be considered an oily skin type.

Combination skin – If your pores are larger primarily in the T-zone (across forehead, nose and chin) and visible oil appears in those areas throughout the day, but the skin produces only a little oil in other areas, then you can be considered a combination skin type.

Normal skin – If your skin produces just a little T-zone oil (mostly in the summer) but the skin doesn’t usually get flaky, though it my feel tight, then you can be considered a normal skin type.

Dry skin – Skin always feels tight, looks rough, has small, with possible barely visible pores and is tight and flaky, especially during the winter.

Other characteristics to consider…

Sensitive skin – Skin that gets red and flushed easily from products, being touched, hot showers, alcohol and spicy foods. This skin type will benefit from gentle ingredients such as white tea, the most potent antioxidant of all teas. Renée Rouleau White Tea Soothing Complex calms red, sensitive skin using a potent blend of anti-inflammatory antioxidants. If you have sensitive skin, avoid products with fragrances. It is the number one cause of allergic reactions to products.

Read: Tips to Keep Skin Calm

Under-circulated skin – This is a skin type that barely turns pink at all, from activities like getting a facial, using a facial scrub or taking a hot shower. This skin type will benefit from using ingredients like peppermint, ginseng extract and rosemary, which dilate the blood vessels, allowing the skin to accommodate more nutrient-rich blood resulting in bright, glowing skin. Renée Rouleau Mint Buffing Beads gives an instant glow to the skin!

Read: How is Your Skin’s Circulation? Take the Pinch Test!

Acne-prone skin – This type of skin is the most challenging of all when trying to determine your skin type because not all acne is equal, and it can occur at any age. Also, it can be very severe to just occasionally, but most anyone with any acne at all will always categorize themselves as acne-prone.

Read: 11 Causes of Acne and Blemishes

My advice? Do check out my nine skin types to get more information on the type of skin you may have. If you’re still confused with determining your skin type, be sure to consult a trusted skin care professional who can offer expert advice.

For more of my expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–my A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for my skin tip e-newsletter, follow me on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Question #1: What percentage more of sun protection does an SPF #30 give compared to an SPF #15?

2% (1 point)
10% (2 points)
50% (3 points)
100% – twice the protection (4 points)

Question #2:To provide maximum skin hydration, after washing your face, when should you apply an alcohol-free toner or moisturizer?

Within 1 minute (1 point)
Within 2 minute (2 points)
Within 5 minutes (3 points)
Within 10 minutes (4 points)…

Question #3: Which finger is the gentlest and therefore best for applying eye cream?

Ring finger (1 point)
Middle finger (2 points)
Pinky finger (3 points)
Forefinger (4 points)

Question #4: True or False: I do not need to wear sunscreen if I’m NOT going to be outside.

True (4 points)
False (1 point)

Question #5: True or False: Drinking water is the most efficient way to hydrate the skin.

True (4 points)
False (1 point)

If you scored 5-9 points, you are very well-informed about caring for your skin. You must be reading my Skin Source  page and my skin care blog regularly. Keep up the good work!

If you scored 10-15 points, you have a lot of knowledge about your skin. Keep reading my blog on a regular basis and learn even more about how you can care for your skin.

If you scored 16-20 points, you have plenty to learn about skin care, but there is no better time to start than NOW! Make sure you’re signed up for our email newsletters by signing up here and remember to keep up with my blog as well as Skin Source, which has a wealth of my information. Don’t worry, it’s not too late for you to get informed and make your skin happy, healthy skin!

Answers: 1 (2%), 2 (1 min), 3 (ring), 4 (false), 5 (false)

You can find all the correct answers by reading these blog posts.

Read: Does and SPF 30 Protect Your Skin Twice as Much as SPF 15?

Read: Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin. What’s the Difference?

Read: Which Finger is Best for Applying Eye Cream?

Read: Do I Need to Wear Sunscreen if I’m Not Going to be Outside?

Read: Does Drinking Water Help Your Skin?

If possible, prior to kissing, put a good, rich moisturizer on the face to provide a protective barrier to lessen skin irritation. However, putting on moisturizer prior to kissing is not always practical, so the best thing is to focus on calming the skin after the fact. Post-kisses, use a moisturizer that’s not only deeply moisturizing, but one that contains lipid-rich oils, which can help repair the moisture barrier of the skin like Renée Rouleau Phytolipid Comfort Cream…

When a man’s facial stubble brushes up against a woman’s skin, it is actually a form of exfoliation, albeit an irritating form, but the stubble can actually poke little holes in the skin, creating cracks in the skin’s moisture barrier. This allows moisture to escape, and irritants to get in more easily. Look for a moisturizer that contains lipid-rich oils such as Ceramides and Jojoba Oil, as these can aid in skin repair. Phytolipid Comfort Cream both repairs the protective barrier, as well as provides calming anti-inflammatory relief for red, irritated, and sensitive skin. Be sure to use a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser to wash your skin like Purifying Face Wash, because when the skin is already irritated, using a harsh, detergent-based cleanser will only exacerbate the irritation. If you prefer a cleansing lotion, use Calming Chamomile Cleanser is really soothing. Washing with something gentle is key.

Kisses are a fun part of life, so care for your skin in the right way, and you won’t ever have to worry about missing out!

Read: Expert Tips for Sensitive Skin

Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types.

Have a skin concern? Check out Skin Source—the A-Z guide on everything from acne, exfoliation and large pores to brown spots, sun protection and so much more!

Sign up here to receive our monthly skin tip e-newsletter delivered directly into your email box!

So here are my six favorite French beauty tips.

French Beauty Tip #1: Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Whenever I’m in France, I’m always struck by the fact that I see so few people (both teens and adults alike) with acne. I have to believe this is due to the lower stress and less junk food lifestyle they live, as compared to Americans. My French nephew visited us over Halloween, and while he thoroughly enjoyed this American tradition, his parents were very strict in not letting him indulge in all the Halloween candy, whereas American parents may have been more lenient. The French love eating, and put a focus on preparing rich, delicious foods, but they eat smaller portions and don’t overindulge, which is why you’ll see less problems with obesity over there. I do believe that to a certain extent you are what you eat, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can make you look and feel your best.

Read: How Does a Vegan Diet Affect the Skin?

French Beauty Tip #2: Wash your face every night – faithfully…

The French practically invented the facial, so caring for your skin has been part of their culture for a long time, considering there are facial salons on every corner in France. I find that men, women, and teens are very diligent about washing their face every night before they go to bed. This is one skin care step that they won’t skip (this may also be a reason why there isn’t as much acne prevalent in France, because oil on the skin breeds bacteria, and bacteria leads to breakouts).

Read: Five Reasons to Wash Your Skin Before Bedtime

French Beauty Tip #3: Drink alcohol in moderation.

Having wine at most meals is a standard French tradition. A glass of wine is used to enhance a meal and for enjoyment. What I notice is that French people, including young people, don’t overindulge, and don’t drink to excess. Of course, there are always exceptions, but by and large, the young people in France don’t abuse alcohol the way I feel many young Americans are prone to. In the case of red wine, it certainly provides essential antioxidants, which are good for your health, but overindulging leads to dull, tired skin, including capillary damage and a rough texture due to dehydration.

Read: A To Z Guide To Anti-Aging

French Beauty Tip #4: Invest in good quality skin care products.

Without a doubt, the French take their skin seriously, and they don’t skimp on the price tag of a skin care product. That’s not to say that the price of skin care products are exorbitant, but they really focus on quality. There are many French manufacturers that make amazing skin care products, and this is an area French women will invest in.

Read: Are French Women Converting to American Skin Care Products?

French Beauty Tip #5: Be patient with your skin care products.

Americans start a skin care regimen and then quickly change when they don’t get immediate results. Skin care products can take 6-8 weeks for you to truly see results, and the French know this. The French are not into immediate gratification the way Americans are – they are far more patient when giving their products time to work, which I feel is certainly the right way.

Read: How To Avoid a Negative Reaction to Skin Care Products

French Beauty Tip #6: Age gracefully and confidently.

Some say Americans are obsessed with beauty, to the point of taking extreme measures (such as excessive cosmetic procedures) that may or may not make them actually look better. Younger, yes, but better, maybe not. Similarly to how to French women feel about aging, I too believe that it is all about working with what you have, and enhancing, not altering it. Unlike American women, French women will not attempt to give themselves something they don’t already have. For example, they may cover their gray, but most won’t change their hair color to a color they weren’t given. They embrace their femininity, as evidenced by things like they will wear heels and rarely wear sneakers. They have a confident bounce in their step and they feel comfortable in their own skin. A French woman told me once, “Getting cosmetic procedures is a tell-tale sign of insecurity. Accept who you are, and work with what you have.”

Read: Renée Rouleau Shares Her Thoughts on Cosmetic Procedures

Read: Renée Rouleau Attends Paris Beauty Week
Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types.

Have a skin concern? Check out Skin Source—the A-Z guide on everything from acne, exfoliation and large pores to brown spots, sun protection and so much more!

Sign up here to receive our monthly skin tip e-newsletter delivered directly into your email box!

How To Prevent Summer Sun Spots

How to Apply Sunscreen to the Face and Neck

How to Care for Your Troubled Skin

How to Care for Your Acne Scars

How to Make Your Exfoliating Acid Serum Multitask

How Do I Get Rid of Broken Capillaries?

How to Use a Facial Scrub

How to Keep A Cosmetic Procedure a Secret

How to Soothe a Sunburn

How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bite Scars…

How to Wash Your Face

How to Give Your Skin an At-Home Facial

How to Apply Eye Cream the Right Way

How to Care for Your Skin After a Chemical Peel

How to Know if Your Moisturizer is Right for Your Skin

How to Squeeze a Blemish

How to Handle Wedding Skin Emergencies

Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types.

Have a skin concern? Check out Skin Source—the A-Z guide on everything from acne, exfoliation and large pores to brown spots, sun protection and so much more!

Sign up here to receive our monthly skin tip e-newsletter delivered directly into your email box!