The first sunscreen mistake is not wearing any. By now, we all know spending too much time in the suncan increase risk for both skin cancer (the most common of all cancers) and premature skin aging. On top of that, a new Australian study out this week found daily sunscreen use could slow skin aging.

But even those of us with the best intentions can make mistakes when it comes to sunscreen -- mistakes that can be costly for our skin. So now that summer is almost upon us, we asked David J. Leffell, M.D., professor of dermatology and surgery at the Yale School of Medicine, and Lisa Garner, a dermatologist in practice in Garland, Texas, to sort through eight of the most common mistakes.

First, a caveat: SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, applies only to the sunburn-causing UVB rays, meaning you'll need to look for the words "broad spectrum" somewhere on the bottle to address the skin-damaging UVA rays. For more on how to choose the right sunscreen for you, click here.

You've been using the same bottle for the past three summers.

When it comes to sunscreen, expiration dates really do matter. The active ingredients in sunscreen can deterioriate over time, Garner says, which means the protection won't be as effective. What's more, an open bottle is more likely to become contaminated with germs over time, as the preservatives meant to prevent that can also lose their efficacy. You might want to read the suggested storage conditions on the label, too -- stuffing your bottle in a glove compartment or a beach-bag in the trunk might be convenient, but exposure to hot temperatures can hamper effectiveness, Leffell says.

You count on the SPF in your makeup to do the trick.

A two-in-one foundation/sunscreen certainly seems handy, but that doesn't mean it works. Part of the problem is quantity: a dab of foundation isn't the same as the amount of sunscreen you'd slather on your face. "I don't think that most women wear heavy enough makeup to get an adequate SPF from their makeup," Garner tells HuffPost. Makeup also wears off during the day ("I can't even tell I put any on this morning now that it's the end of the day," she says), and chances are you aren't religiously re-applying the way you should with sunscreen.

"It's a good belt and suspenders approach but I would not rely on sunscreen in a product that was intended for another purpose," Leffell says. In other words, if your foundation promises some added protection, great. But you still need to apply the real deal under your makeup every day.

The good news? If you're bent on a two-in-one product, moisturizer with SPF does do the trick.

You only use a dab.

When it comes to sunscreen, less is not more. But in the real world many of us don't use enough, which means the white stuff can't live up to its full protective potential. The classic rule of thumb is to slather on about a shot glass full of sunscreen to cover the whole body. The problem with that advice, though, is that a 110-pound woman is going to have less surface area than, say, a 250-pound man, Leffell explains. "I avoid giving specific amounts," he says. "Use enough to evenly cover the skin and massage it in, and be systematic about it."

When in doubt, slather more on: Both experts agree there's no such thing as too much. "It's always more than you think you should put on," Garner says. (She also recommends the "teaspoon rule" to figure out how much to apply on exposed skin when you're clothed -- for more on that click here.)

You put your sunscreen on at the beginning of the day -- and forget about it after that.

"If you're in the sun, your sunscreen is good for a max of two hours, and depending on the sunscreen it might not even last that long," Garner says. The skin literally "uses up" the active ingredient in the lotion over time, meaning it can't do any more. Sweating and swimming causes the sunscreen to wear off even faster, so consider reapplying every hour in those conditions. And be sure to let the reapplied sunscreen soak into the skin for a few minutes before diving back into the water, otherwise it'll wash right off.

You count on waterproof sunscreen when you're swimming.

Turns out, there isn't such a thing as "waterproof" sunscreen. In fact, a relativelyrecent iteration of FDA rules no longer even allows the word to be used on sunscreen bottles (along with "sweat-proof" or "sunblock"). Instead, based on testing, they can claim to be "water resistant" for either 40 or 80 minutes. After that? Reapply, reapply, reapply. "I can't tell you how many patients come in and say, 'But I put my sunscreen on,'" Garner says. "[But] did you put it back on?"

You only apply sunscreen on sunny days.

A cloudy day is not a sunscreen hall pass. Just because you can't see (or feel the heat from) the sun doesn't mean it's not doing damage. "UV penetrates through haze and fog and you can easily get a sunburn," Leffell says. "UV radiation is invisible: you can't smell it, taste it, hear it, see it." And that means it doesn't necessarily need to be warm or sunny to cause some real damage, whether or not you see it.

"People only think they need to put sunscreen on when it's hot," Garner says. "It never fails that here in Texas I see several sunburns in March."

UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply and are a culprit in skin aging, in particular, can reach the skin even through thick clouds (and glass, for that matter).

You shell out the big bucks for the highest SPF possible.

Many skin experts recommend using a sunscreen that carries an SPF of at least 30. So does that mean SPF 60 is twice as protective, or lasts twice as long? Nope, according to the experts. An SPF of 30, when applied in the appropriate amount, will block out about 96 percent of the sunburn-causing UVB rays from the sun, Garner says. As you go up from there, you only see a very small difference (about 98 percent with SPF 50 and still under 99 percent with SPF 75) -- there's no way to block out 100 percent of the sun's rays with sunscreen.

If you feel more comfortable with those extra couple of percentage points, go for it. But it doesn't change how often you'll need to reapply or how long you can be in the sun.

You count on sunscreen for total sun protection.

Your sunscreen can't block out 100 percent of the sun's UVB rays, and it shouldn't be your only defense against sun damage. "Sunscreen does not protect you completely from the sun," Garner says. The rest of the work -- wearing a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing and avoiding the sun during the most intense hours -- is up to you.

Remember, too, that sunscreen isn't a free pass to spend the day baking in the sun. "Sunscreen should be used to protect you when you have to be in the sun during the intense part of the day," she says. "It should not be used to allow you to be in the sun longer just because you want to." And avoiding a burn doesn't mean you've properly protected your skin, she adds: "Once you've tanned, you've damaged skin."

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:  Taken from HuffPost. 

Toner,Often met with a Shrug,Is having its moment.

Your skin, is an organ.

Constantly renewed, the skin is much more than just an envelope. It is the heaviest living organ to  and the most extensive in the human body.

1 - PROTECTION

It protects the body from mechanical, physical, chemical or microbial attack from the outside environment, among othersmontage_roles_peau_protecti_01.gif through immunological and cell mechanisms and its impermeability, strength and flexibility.

2 - TRANSMISSION

It is used to transmit information between the body and the outside world through its many nerve endings which receive tactile, thermal and pain stimuli.

3 - ECHANGES

It is the site of multiple exchanges between the body and the outside environment. It is involved in complex mechanisms such as body temperature regulation (by eliminating heat and evaporating the sweat secreted by sweat glands as well as eliminating harmful substances) and synthesis of vitamin D which is essential to bone growth.

The epidermis, upper stratum of the skin, is a tissue essentially composed of keratinocytes, cells which, as they age, become charged with a strong, impermeable substance: keratin (which explains the role of skin protection). The epidermis also contains melanocytes (cells which provide natural protection against the sun's rays and are responsible for the skin's pigmentation) and Langerhans cells which are part of the immune system.
The epidermis is organized in four layers of cells: the basal layer (the deepest), the mucosal layer, the granular layer and the horny layer (the top layer).

>> The epidermis

The dermis, is a connective tissue of variable thickness which contains blood vessels, many immune cells, sweat glands, pilo-sebaceous follicles, sensory receptors which react to pressure or temperature, and pain-sensitive nerve endings. The main constituents of the dermis are collagen and elastin fibres, ensuring that the skin remains strong, providing support, flexibility and elasticity.

The hypodermis, located under the dermis, is a fatty tissue, more or less abundant according to individuals and parts of the body. It forms an important energy store for the body.

I took this info from Bioderma's blog. 

Today the New York times published the article about the new rules for sunscreens. Its all about to change, so PLEASE take a minute to read and get brought up on the NEW RULES.

PLease read this article: THE NEW RULES FOR SUNSCREEN by Roni Caryn Rabin.

The New Rules for Sunscreen - NYTimes.com

WHY DO WE NEED TO EXFOLIATE?     Because every 28 days our skin cells die, and then they migrate from the inside to the outside (the surface of our skin, face and body). This means that they will accumulate month after month if we do not remove them. This will lead to break outs for those who are prone, and this will make the skin look dull. Your skin needs to breath to be healthy, so please get into the healthy habit of exfoliating.

What can one expect from exfoliating their skin on a regular basis?  A healthier and more youthful appearance.

There is more than one way to exfoliate.

1- Manually

2-Creams or masks with enzymes to help dissolve the dead skin cells.

3- Microdermabrasion

Exfoliation can help older skin to grow new cells.

TOOLS TO USE:

re.FIND French Organic Complexion Polish

An inexpensive way is to use a cloth, not just any cloth, one that is ultrafine (i.e. microfiber) so it can be used on your skin. These cloths are made to re-use, but should be disposed of after 50 or so washes.

Microdermabrasion Face Cloth  I wish this was called Exfoliating face cloth, because microdermabrasion is not done with a cloth, anyway, and it gets the job done inexpensively compared to microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion  The most expensive of all the treatments. I personally have had microdermabrasion treatments, you usually buy a 6 treatment package and you get the best results doing one treatment a month.

It is a quick and painless treatment and results can include improvement in your appearance. Removal of fine scars and wrinkles, milia and enlarged pores appear smaller. Sun damaged skin or uneven skin tones can also improve with microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasions Benefits and Results

Source The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have a medical condition, please confer with your physician. PLEASE.

Make Sure the Winter Winds Don’t Sap Your Skin Moisture! - exploreB2B

What it is: Abnormal blood flow to the vessels in the face makes the skin red, bumpy and swollen. The cause is unknown, though stress can cause outbreaks. 

Symptoms: You blush easily or develop ruddiness that comes and goes on your cheeks and nose. Or you might develop a red spot or bumpy patch on your face and swelling along the folds between your mouth and nose. The appearance of blood vessels may increase as they dilate or break. In the most severe cases, excess tissue grows on the nose. 

How to treat it: Avoid known triggers: spicy foods, hot beverages, caffeine, alcohol and heat (sweating can also activate rosacea, so try to stay cool). Because sunlight worsens the condition, wear a full-spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection. Wind is another exacerbating factor. Doctors generally prescribe the antibiotics metronidazole (topical) or tetracycline (oral), both of which decrease inflammation. A light alpha-hydroxy peel can help. In very visible cases, laser surgery or electrosurgery can be used to cauterize dilated blood vessels.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Cold-Weather-Skin-Conditions/4#ixzz2J6RNVAu5

Not all rosacea patients are not equal. Some have mild cases and some have more severe.  I know for a fcat that our Tragic Magic Rescue Cream has helped some.  Our NEW  re:FIND scrub is gentle enough for those with reactive and sensitive skin.

Votre Vu TRAGIC MAGIC Rescue Crème

Votre Vu re.FIND French Organic Complexion Polish

When the weather turns cold and your skin becomes dry and irritated, do you write it off as one of the chilling facts of winter? Take note: What you see in the mirror might be a treatable skin condition. "Winter wind and low humidity can exacerbate many skin problems," says Robert B. Polisky, M.D., a dermatologist in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. "You may not be aware of them in the warmer months because milder weather keeps them in check."

The Rules for Saving Winter Skin

• Cleanse with a light touch; scrubbing can cause further irritation.
• Keep shower and tub time short; soaking robs skin of moisture.
• Wear no less than SPF 15 every day.
• Forego products with fragrance and/or alcohol; look for those with "hypoallergenic" on the label.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Cold-Weather-Skin-Conditions_1#ixzz2J6PYXkBj