MAINTAIN BEAUTIFUL SKIN

It's not enough to get a facial to keep your skin clear and beautiful. You need to have a great home skin-care routine.

Here's are the everyday habits you need to keep your skin beautiful:

* Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and leafy green. Good nutrition is the basic building block of healthy skin.

* Drink plenty of water every day. (I fill a carafe to remind myself.)

* Get a professional facial to deep cleanse your skin at least four times a year, as the seasons change. Every four to six weeks is ideal.

* Throw away the soap and use quality products that are right for your skin type. Discuss your home skin-care routine with your esthetician.

* If you can't afford all the skin-care products right away, ask the esthetician which are most important to start, and which can be substituted with less expensive alternatives. Invest in additional products as you can.

* WEAR SUNSCREEN, even on cloudy days and in winter. Use a good-quality, high-SPF sunscreen. Sun damage is the single most important cause of premature aging. On my face, decolette and the back of my hands I use Ti-Silc Sheer SPF 45 Sunblock (compare prices). It's reasonably priced ($20-$24 for four ounces) and doesn't sting sensitive skin.

* Remember to put sunscreen on exposed areas like the back of your hands, neck and chest. They're often the first place to show your age.

* Cut out skin-damaging habits like smoking, excessive drinking and tanning booths.

BEAUTIFUL HANDS

A Quick Hand Treatment

Hands are the most visible parts of you, but they also take a lot of abuse. You use them in everyday activity, and yet, they are the ultimate accessory. You must give them the same attention you give your face.

* Soften your hands even while you do the dishes. Add a little almond oil (about a teaspoon) to dishwater. The water will soften rought skin while the oil seals the moisture.

* Slough off dead skin cells with a solution made of sea salt lemon. Brush it into hands with an old toothbrush. Do this twice a week to soften hands and remove discoloration.

* Wash hands thoroughly with warm water, then, using a coarse washcloth, rub briskly. While skin is slightly damp, apply a mixture of one teaspoon honey and one teaspoon olive oil. Place hands in small plastic bags, then in a pair of cotton gloves for thirty minutes. The heat helps the treatment penetrate.

* Warm a cup of milk in the microwave for thirty seconds (or until warm, but comfortable to the touch). Soak your hands for five minutes to strengthen nails and hydrate skin. Not only is milk loaded with lactic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates dead skin, but its high calcium content will strengthen fragile nails.