Skin Care Tip: Frequent skin treatment

I have found the most noticeable improvements happen with my skin when I use frequent and varied treatments. Obviously, it's a bad idea to use excessive treatments to the point of extreme irritation, but I find that my skin looks its best when everything stings a little. I suspect that this is because I have exfoliated well and active ingredients are working their magic. I find it easiest to keep my skin looking its best in the winter when I can take a bath every day and read and soak while treatments work.

Here's an example of my evening routines. (If my skin shows irritation I back off. If it does not I continue until minor irritation is evident.)

Day 1: Evening-Use exfoliating scrub then deep cleansing mask in the tub. Apply glycolic acid peel solution. Leave on for as long as possible without excessive irritation (I can tolerate overnight).

Day 2: Morning - Apply glycolic acid moisturising cream and sunscreen. Evening - Wash face thoroughly and use firming mask. Follow with good antiaging night cream or glycolic moisturiser depending on irritation.

Day 3: Morning - Depending on irritation, either gentle or harsher cream and sunscreen.

Evening - Same thing; if skin is feeling fine, acid and exfoliating, if it feels a little irritated, something gentle.

Continue each day to use exfoliants, acids and firming products. Continue until signs of irritation begin to show then back off to gentler products, resuming the regimen when irritation settles. My skin looks fabulous when I keep it just shy of being irritated. It's a lot of work, but is easy to do when I relax in the tub nightly instead of a morning shower.

I use acids, exfoliating scrubs, skin lighteners, firming masks and antiaging creams. I am 44 years old and look MUCH younger.

As a result, I look 10-15 years younger, at least. I have actually been 'carded' a few times in the last couple of years and I'm 44! Sometimes I overdo it a bit and may have a red patch, but unless I keep my skin right at the verge of irritation, the results just aren't evident.