Take care of your skin now and you'll reap the rewards later. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman have flawless skin. Legendary beauty, Sophia Loren gives meaning to the phrase "aging with grace”.

Of course these beauties have an advantage that most Americans do not have - large amounts of money. Many of us cannot afford to spend large amounts of money for beauty products. Some celebrities are known to spend up to $500 on small jars of "fountain of youth” type elixirs.

So what can the average American do in their quest for healthy looking skin? Stick to two basic practices:

Pick the Best Skin Care Products For You

The biggest factor in achieving healthy skin is to utilize products that your skin loves. In order to do this, you need to understand your skin type. Do you have dry skin and therefore need dry skin care products or do you have oily skin?

Knowing your skin type will narrow you playing field. There are many, many products on the shelves at your local drug store or in your higher-end department stores. You've probably heard terms such as Alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta-hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid), Retinol, etc. Cosmetic manufacturers use these propaganda-like words to sell their products. Do these terms really mean anything? How do they help your skin?

The simply fact is that you don't need to be a scientist to find the best products. Let common sense be your guide. Do you know someone, wh

o has used the products before? Did they find it helpful? These are questions that you should ask when selecting products.

After suffering from acne and oily skin as a teenager and now dry skin - I have tried every acne skin care product, oily skin care product and dry skin care product on the shelf. I have also tried several natural/organic skin care products. Some work and some don't.

Over the years, I have developed my list of the best of the best skin care products including acne skin care products, dry/oily skin care products, natural skin care products and anti-aging skin care products.

Make Your Beautification Ritual, Routine

Once you find the best skin care products, develop a skin care treatment/beautification routine. If your routine is in the morning or evening, then give yourself about 15 to 30 minutes to engage yourself without interruption.

Take pictures of your starting point so that you can track your progress each week.

Consult with your local day spa esthetician for more skin care ideas.

Beauty is only skin deep but a beautiful heart and mind, deserve beautiful skin.

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