Rule 1 ~ Don’t touch your face! Your hands touch so many surfaces they are a magnet for dirt and germs. Rub your eyes, stroke your chin, cup your cheek, and you`ve transferred everything on your hands to your face. You also cause your skin to produce more oil when you constantly touch it. And you’ll need more touch-ups throughout the day and layers of makeup are bad news for clogged pores.

Rule 2 ~ Stop with one glass of wine or one alcoholic drink. Overdoing alcohol enlarges the blood vessels near the surface of your facial skin.

Rule 3 ~ Periodically dab on loose powder to blot excess oil. Don`t use pressed powder, which actually contains oil as an ingredient.

Rule 4 ~ Use a single family of skincare products. If you buy and use lots of different skin-care products, there`s a good chance some contain the same ingredients, thus making them redundant, says Cara DeCenso, a Manhattan aesthetician. And some brands just aren`t very compatible with others, though you`d have no way of knowing that until you already paid for and opened them. You`ll get much better results if you use products that are designed and formulated to work together.

Rule 4 ~ Switch moisturizers every time the seasons change. Your skin needs more moisture in the winter than in the summer. So the same day you bring those sweaters down from the attic for the winter, buy a heavier moisturizer. When you trade in sweaters for shorts, switch to a lighter one.

Rule 5 ~ Here`s one for men: Recognize that skin-preserving products like cleansers and moisturizers aren`t just for women. Men need skin care just as much as their wives and sisters. To prevent wrinkles and skin cancer, use a moisturizer containing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 daily. Also use a gentle exfoliant weekly and a nighttime moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxy acids to encourage skin regeneration.

Rule 6 ~ Avoid these three skin destroyers: Sun, Smoking and Tanning Salons. All three will age your skin prematurely. For even more protection, apply a cream containing vitamin C to your face over your sunblock. The cream helps prevent facial skin damage, dehydration, and wrinkles. Also try creams containing vitamin E or beta carotene.

Lifestyle decisions that we make every day can have a lasting (and very visible) effect on our appearance for years to come. Most of us don’t realize that the aging process of our skin is something we can help control – without surgery and without injections. Even with those options, there are factors that contribute to skin aging that, if left unchecked, can undo a lot of good things that you are already doing.

We call them the 7 Deadly Sins of Skincare.

Sin 1: Sun  

Nothing ages your skin as quickly as unprotected sun exposure. Not only can exposure to the sun’s rays increase your chances of developing skin cancer, but it also mottles your skin and gives it a leathery appearance – and, all jackets aside, leather doesn’t exactly scream “youth.” Avoid unprotected sun exposure and always carry sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB with an SPF rating of 15 or higher.

Sin 2: Smoke  

If you smoke or spend significant amounts of time with people who do, your face is paying for it. Studies have shown that exposure to tobacco smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness – not to mention discoloration and those smoker’s lines around the lips. In fact, researchers believe the cigarette smoke is as damaging to the skin as UV, as it depletes your skin of vitamin C, one of the key ingredients to keeping your skin firm and pliable.

Sin 3: No Exercise

This one makes a couple of lists overall – but lack of exercise is not only unhealthy for the rest of your body, it can show up on your face. That energy that comes from an exercise regimen is apparent on your face – the dark circles fade and you smile more – honest!

Sin 4: Cold

Cold temperatures and icy wind can strip your skin of moisture. And we all know that not only is dry skin uncomfortable, bit it also brings every line and crease into stark relief. If you’re going skiing or even walking around downtown in chilly temps, be sure to have a good moisturizer on hand – and on your face.

Sin 5: Cocktails

It’s true; alcohol use contributes to aging your skin. Oh the horror! When you drink, the alcohol causes small blood vessels in your skin to dilate. This increases the flow of blood near the surface of your skin and gives you that flushed appearance. But over time, those blood vessels can become permanently damaged, leaving you with a roadmap of broken blood vessels. Obviously a few drinks won’t harm you, but if you’re partying like Paris every night, it might just catch up with you.

Sin 6: Stress

If your mother ever told you to stop making an expression because your face might stay that way – well, she was right. Stress and worry can cause you to frown and over time, the muscles in your face will conform to that movement. Unfortunately, sucking in your cheeks does not produce similar results. Do what it takes to reduce your stress – work out, take a yoga class or read a good book. But whatever you do, don’t frown.

Sin 7: Sleep (The Lack Thereof)

If you’re not getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night, you’re not getting enough. Without adequate sleep, your body does not have the time or the ability to recuperate and regenerate. And that shows up in a lot of ways – most noticeably in those dark circles. Sleeping also gives your skin the time it needs to repair itself from the rigors of the day. They call it your “beauty sleep” for a reason. In fact, getting a full night’s sleep might just be the best improvement you can make.