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Youthful Skin Forever

By Elizabeth Parker

Cleopatra, aka "Queen of the Nile," was known for regularly soaking her skin in a rose petal and milk bath to keep it soft. The ancient Greeks used honey and the Romans olive oil as natural skin moisturizers. Over the centuries, many skin care regimens have developed and adapted and come and gone -- all in the name of healthy, youthful-looking skin.

But between countless old wives' tales and shelves chocked with "the best" products available, how do you know the real deal when it comes to skin care? Here, Live Right Live Well offers eight skin care essentials from the experts to increase your chances of having great-looking derm:

* Protect your skin from the sun Whether you are young or old, light-skinned or dark, "the absolute most important thing you can do is protect your skin from the sun," says Jennifer Reichel, M.D., of the Pacific Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Seattle. Repeated exposure to the sun -- at any time of year, not just summer -- can cause wrinkles and age spots and give skin a leathery look. Fortunately, "most skin care products have an SPF in them," says Dr. Reichel. "Use ones that have an SPF of 15 or higher." She also recommends applying sunscreen to your chest and neck since "these areas can get wrinkles, too!" And if you really crave the sun-kissed look of a tan, skip the sun and tanning booths and use a "sunless tanner" instead. These creams, gels, lotions and sprays safely darken skin without exposure to solar rays.
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