Protect yourself from the sun

The best way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Ultraviolet rays damages your skin, causing deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, liver spots, and more serious disorders, such as benign and malignant skin tumors.

Avoid the sun's rays which are most damaging from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce the time spending outdoors during these hours. Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

Moisturize regularly

Moisturizers help to maintain skin's natural moisture levels. They work by providing a seal over the skin, keep water from escaping or by slowly releasing water into your skin.

• The moisturizer that's best for you and the frequency with which you need to moisturize depends on many factors, including skin type, age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne. A good way to test if you need a moisturizer is to wait 20 minutes after bathing. If your skin feels tight, you should apply a moisturizer.
• Select a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. If you spend between one to two hours continuously, then a moisturizer with SPF 30 is what you need. If your outdoor activity exceeds two hours a day, go for a moisturizer with SPF 50 or more.
• If you have sensitive skin, look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturizers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin.
• Skip moisturizer if your skin is oily.