These user-friendly skin tips from Renée Rouleau are sure to help keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

1. Never, ever, use a bar of soap on your face or high-foaming cleansers.

The binders that hold a bar of soap together are in an alkaline base (high pH balance) which will strip all the water and natural oils out of the skin, causing the surface of the skin to dehydrate. Your skin cells need to stay moist in order to be healthy, and without water, acne conditions, sensitive and dry skins will be aggravated and made worse. Even if the soap claims it's moisturizing, it will still strip the skin, no matter what. Remember the rule, more lather, more drying. Less lather, less drying. Try a Renée Rouleau Gel Cleanser.

2. Avoid using toner that contains SD Alcohol 40.

Many people like the "clean" and "tight" feeling associated with using alcohol on the skin, but this ingredient will strip the skin of water, which results in dead cell build up and dull looking skin! Trying to dry up oily skin can backfire as stripped cell buildup traps oil and leads to break outs and more oil production. Toners without alcohol, on the other hand, are very important for removing the drying chlorines and minerals found in tap water. Make sure to use a toner both morning and night after cleansing. Try a Renée Rouleau alcohol-free toner.

And remember the secret: Always leave your toner damp before applying your moisturizer. The cream will help seal the hydrating benefits from the toner deep into the skin. Have less waste by using Renée Rouleau Toning Cloths which absorb far less than traditional cotton balls and pads.

3. Drink 12-14 glasses of water daily.

Hydrating the skin from the inside will help to keep the skin cells moist. If the cells are not hydrated, both internally and externally, the cells will dry up and cause premature aging. Drink that water!

4. Get regular monthly facials.

Think of facials as maintenance for the health of your skin! As the skin ages, circulation and metabolism slow down, resulting in tired and dull looking skin. One of the benefits of a facial is increased circulation and oxygen resulting in healthy, glowing skin! Plus deep pore cleansing facials are a must for clogged pores and break outs.

5. Always choose products recommended for your skin type.

Your friend will tell you about some fabulous product that she loves; you'll read in a magazine about a product that celebrities use, but that doesn't mean it will work for you. The #1 reason why you will not show improved results with your skin care products is that they aren't suited for your skin's needs. Renée Rouleau offers nine unique skin types and a product line of over 63 products, so you're sure to get the best results.

6. Use a glycolic acid product.

Hands down, studies show the effectiveness of exfoliation given by glycolic acid in reducing the appearance of past sun damage, smoothing and softening the skin, and increasing the cell turnover rate. Other exfoliants will try their best, but glycolic is the most effective AHA out on the market. Look for alcohol-free formulas like Renée Rouleau Glycolic Serum.

7. Drink hot lemon water first thing in the morning.

Squeeze fresh lemon into hot water and drink when you wake up. This will help flush out and purify the body internally, reducing toxins, which can cause skin sensitivities. This is great for skins that have a tendency to break out!

8. If you have acne-prone skin, limit the use of products designed for acneic skin.

Sounds weird, right? A skin care line geared towards acne is designed to fight bacteria and dry out breakouts. For someone whose skin is covered in severe acne (like a teenager) this is appropriate. But for most people who get some break out (but not on the majority of their face), acne products can make it worse. These products are extremely drying, and although they will help dry up and heal the individual breakouts, they will over-dry other non-broken out areas resulting in dead skin cell buildup. The cell buildup will then act as a barrier to trap oil under the skin causing more clogged pores and breakouts. So your effort to clear up your skin will actually cause you to break out more! The three most important elements for controlling clogged pores and break outs are: Exfoliation (this will keep off dry skin cells to untrap clogged pores and also help fade those red, post-breakout marks), disinfecting (it is important to eliminate bacteria to help prevent the spread of breakout as well as drying up infection), and hydration (water-based moisture to keep cells healthy to discourage dry skin cell buildup).

9. Don't be fooled by fancy packaging.

Often the main focus of some cosmetic manufacturers is expensive and fancy packaging, to entice the purchaser to buy the product. "If it looks good, then it must be good! Right?" Wrong! When choosing skin care products, the focus should be on quality ingredients on the inside of the bottle, not what it looks like on the outside! Become ingredient savvy, because after all, it's what's inside of the bottle that actually gets applied to the skin!

10. Avoid the following ingredients in skin care products:

• Mineral oil & Petrolatum (pore-clogging, leads to breakouts and closed comedones)
• SD Alcohol 40 (the "bad" alcohol commonly found in toners-extremely drying)
• Isopropyl myristate & Isopropyl Palmitate (can cause blackheads)
• Synthetic dyes (it's not necessary to use in products. Listed as "F D & C #" on the ingredient listing.)
• Sodium or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate in gel cleansers (will dehydrate the skin)
• Synthetic fragrances (the #1 cause of allergic reactions to products. Listed as "Fragrance", "Parfum", or "Perfume" on the ingredient listing.)
• Apricot kernels, or seed/ shell powders (naturally made particles found in facial scrubs can scratch and irritate the skin causing bacteria to spread.)

11. Avoid dairy products if your skin is prone to breakouts.

Many people have heard that greasy foods and chocolate cause breakouts. In our experience, when the breakout is cyst-like in the chin and jaw line area, most often it is related to too much ice cream, yogurt, milk and cheese. Try cutting back and watch your skin clear up!

Why does dairy cause break outs in the chin and jaw line area? In Chinese medicine, breakouts around the chin/jaw line area are representational of reproductive and hormonal systems. Because our dairy cows are given growth hormones, the body may use this area to remove the excess of hormones. Your skin acts as an excretory system for getting rid of foods that do not agree with your body. And there are a greater number of sebaceous glands in the face and since hormones are fat soluble, the body will use these glands as an avenue of excretion for fat-based hormones, which is why breakouts are most commonly found in the face. Try Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment.

12. Wear a sunscreen in your moisturizer daily, 365 days a year, rain or shine.

Studies indicate that 78% of the sun exposure you get in a lifetime is incidental exposure. You may say, "I'm not out at all during the day." Just walking to your car, driving in your car, and sitting in your house next to windows will give you unnecessary sun damage. Windshields do nothing to protect you from UV rays! And we know that sun exposure is the #1 cause of aging!!!! A minimum of SPF#15 should be used every day, winter and summer. Try Renée Rouleau Daily Protection SPF 30.

13. Give yourself a "mini facial" once a week at home.

Take some time to de-stress and condition your skin at the same time! Cleanse skin to remove all traces of makeup, and then exfoliate with a mild facial scrub. Apply a hydrating serum and seal it in with a nourishing facial mask (drier skins should avoid clay masks). Run warm water in the tub, sprinkle in some mineral bath salts, light a candle, play soft music and create your own spa at home! Your skin loves the attention and your mind loves the relaxation.

14. Don't be afraid of products containing oil.

When a consumer picks up a cream and sees an ingredient with the word "oil" in it, if their skin is already prone to oil, they will not use it. We often hear, "I can only use oil-free products." What you first need to understand is that virtually all creams and lotions use a form of oil or emollient to make the product slip across the skin. But not all oils are comedogenic and will be pore-clogging. The one type of oil Renée Rouleau does not recommend the use in skin care formulas is Mineral Oil, as we feel that it clogs the pores and suffocates the skin. The emollients we avoid are Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate and Petrolatum. We find these to be very pore clogging, but because they don't have the word "oil" in their name, the consumer wouldn't know that these were pore-clogging ingredients. The "safe" oils are Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Safflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil and Macadamia Nut Oil.

15. Don't try to scrub away acne.

Wash cloths, buff puffs and aggressive scrubbing tend to aggravate the problem by allowing bacteria deeper into the skin, which will cause further irritation. Many apricot and almond based facial scrubs have sharp edges which can lacerate the skin, causing bacteria to spread. Instead use a gentle scrub with perfectly round grains which roll across the skin. Try Renée Rouleau Micro Crystal Cream.

16. Always wash your skin and moisturize at bedtime.

The latest research indicates that the skin repairs itself most effectively at night, between 10pm and 11pm, indicating the need for night cream application before midnight. For those who are too tired to wash off their makeup at night, try this! Your nighttime routine doesn't have to be done minutes before you hit the bed. Wash your face when you get home from work, or even after dinner. Do it earlier rather than later! So, washing off the day's dirt and grime and nourishing it with good moisture and nutrients will give your skin a chance to renew while you sleep! And remember, quality moisturizers that do not contain clogging ingredients will not suffocate your skin.

17. Take vitamin B-6 for breakouts during your menstrual cycle.

Vitamin B-6 daily one week prior to your cycle will help regulate hormonal imbalances, which can lead to breakout. Calcium-magnesium supplements can also help when taken during this time.

18. When in doubt, do a patch test.

Do you have a difficult time finding products that don't itch and burn? The #1 reason why people are sensitive to products is perfume/fragrance additives. (At Renée Rouleau, we avoid using any of these known sensitizers). To be on the safe side, rub a small amount of product on the side of your neck and wait 24 hours. If redness or irritation occurs, avoid using the product.

19. Avoid panthenol in your hair products.

If you are prone to break outs around your hairline or back, do not use any hair care products containing panthenol. This is great for strengthening hair, but it can cause break outs for some people.

20. Everyone needs a moisturizer, even oily skins.

Moisturizers are crucial to keeping the skin youthful and healthy. They work to keep water and necessary moisture in the skin that without it, would dry up and evaporate. But oily skins don't think they need moisturizer since they already have the oil. They just don't need heavy and greasy oil-based moisturizers! Water-based moisturizers are necessary to keep the skin cells healthy and to discourage dead skin cell buildup. Try Renée Rouleau Sheer Moisture.

21. Use a topical vitamin C product daily.

In addition to using a moisturizer containing antioxidants, topical applications of high amounts of Vitamin C have been shown to prevent premature skin aging by fighting free radicals, lighten skin discoloration and actually increase the sun protection in a sunscreen! However, most Vitamin C products out on the market use the acid forms of the Vitamin (like Ascorbic Acid or Alpha Lipoic Acid). These are in fact, acids, which is why you can feel a stinging sensation on the skin. The new research on skin aging indicates that daily use of skin irritating acids actually encourage free radical formation, which counteracts the reason why you're using Vitamin C in the first place! Plus, the problem with these acid types of Vitamin C is that they are highly unstable and break down every time you open the bottle and oxygen gets to the product. If your Vitamin C starts to turn brown half way through the bottle, that's a sign that it is oxidizing and is losing its effectiveness. (Think of an apple that turns brown 20 minutes after taking a bite.) At Renée Rouleau, we use Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, which is believed to be one of the most beneficial types of Vitamin C because it doesn't cause skin irritation and won't lose its ability to fight free radicals. Renée Rouleau Vitamin C & E Complex contains three types of Vitamin C and E, a must for anti-aging!

22. Don't count solely on your sunscreen.

Sunscreens wear off, sweat off and wash off, so reapply every hour if you are out in the sun. Also, wear a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing to guard your skin against sun damage. If you want to look young, avoid the sun. No amount of sun exposure is damage-free. A little sun means a little damage, and a lot of sun means a lot of damage. And suntan beds are the worst!

23. Avoid using skin care products containing fragrances.

Perfumes are the #1 ingredient that cause allergic reactions, yet they are found in a lot of skin care products out on the market. A reaction can result in redness, rash, itchiness and stinging. Check the ingredient label for the word "fragrance" or smell the product!

24. Clean your cosmetics brushes once a week.

Bacteria and oil can buildup on your cosmetic brushes, which can lead to clogged pores and break outs. Using a mild liquid dish soap and cold water, carefully wash out your brushes and rinse thoroughly. Comb the bristles to prevent tangling. Stand brushes upright in a glass to let dry. Cosmetic sponges should be washed with mild soap and rinsed thoroughly after each use.

25. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.

Sleep is not only important to keep dark circles at bay, but it is also the time when your body is most metabolically active, ridding itself of toxins which would otherwise wreak havoc with your skin. Sleep also reduces stress, the #1 aggravator of acne!

26. Change pillowcases nightly.

For problem skins, bacteria and oil can buildup on your pillowcase and be reintroduced to your skin the following night. Invest in a nice stack of pillowcases and make sure you wash them with a dye and fragrance-free laundry soap.

27. Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated.

Keeping your head elevated helps to reduce fluid retention, which can lead to puffiness, and avoiding sleeping on your side will help prevent unnecessary wrinkles.

28. A little product DOES NOT go a long way, especially when it comes to sunscreen.

People now understand that daily use of sunscreen is important in the fight against skin aging, but since a lot of the formulas out on the market are greasy, they use it very sparingly. But, in order for a sunscreen to truly filter out the damaging UVA/UVB, it must be applied generously! For the face and neck, it is suggested to use at least four pea sizes. Look for formulas that are lightweight to begin with. Try Renée Rouleau Daily Protection SPF 30.

29. Learn the different types of break outs, and treat them accordingly.

For those who struggle with blemishes, you know how difficult it is to treat them. And even once the blemish is healed, you know that you'll still have that red or dark, post-breakout mark that will linger for months as a reminder of that large blemish you once had. So follow this advice to ensure a speedy recovery!

When a blemish first starts to form, ask yourself, what kind of blemish is it?
A cyst?
These are those hard, sore, underground lumps under the skin (most often occurring in the chin and jaw line area) that linger for weeks.

What NOT to do: Don't pick!! They hurt. And you know that something is under there and if you pick at it long enough, you'll get that infection out, right? Wrong! What you need to understand is that true cystic blemishes will never come up to the surface. They develop deep in the dermis layer of the skin, and they heal in the dermis layer. If left alone, the infection is not meant to come out of the skin. So if you pick at it, and pick at it, yes, you might eventually get a little something out, but by that time, you have torn up the skin so severely that you're guaranteed to have a discolored mark for months. And let's face it, what's worse? Covering up a sore bump with makeup, or covering up a scabby scar for months? Your best bet is to leave it alone. Since the infection is not on the surface, traditional spot treatment drying lotions will not do anything other than to just dry out the skin, and leave you peeling.

What WILL help: The moment you get this type of blemish, don't pick at it and apply a small amount of Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment. This incredible best-selling product doesn't dry out the surface of the skin but rather penetrates deep down into the dermis layer of the skin where the cyst is, and works to dissolve and disperse the infection to make it go away fast! It is the only product out on the market to effectively treat cystic acne, and it really works! Plus, you can dab a small amount in areas you're prone to getting them, to prevent future ones. Another option is getting a cortisone injection from the dermatologist, but who wants to deal with that? If they are primarily on the chin and jaw line area, you might be getting too much dairy in your diet. Try cutting out dairy and see if that makes a difference.

A surface, infected blemish?

These are traditional-type blemishes or "zits". They are red and a little sore, larger in size and form a yellowish, whitehead after a day or two.

What NOT to do: These ones you don't want to pick the minute you feel it coming up but rather, wait until they are ready. Why? Because if you "attack" it right away when the infection isn't ready to come out yet, you start injuring the skin which will result in a scar. Then what you might do is to immediately start putting topical spot drying treatments on it. Then what happens is that it's drying out the skin, not drying out the infection, because the infection hasn't reached the surface of the skin yet. Then after a day or two when the infection DOES come up to the surface, you get to squeeze it and although you can get the infection out, but the dry skin is also peeling off as well. The result? A post-breakout red mark/scar that will now linger for months. And that's worse than the blemish itself!

What WILL help: The key here is to leave it alone and don't touch the skin until the infection has reached the surface, which is usually 1-2 days after the blemish first appears. Then you can carefully wrap your fingers and gently try to squeeze out the infection. Remember the rule: three strikes and you're out! If it doesn't come out after three tries, leave it alone and try again the next day. Once you do get the infection out, THEN apply a spot drying treatment because now it can really get into the skin and heal up any remaining infection. The goal of any blemish is preventing a red mark that lingers for months. Try Renée Rouleau Daytime Blemish Gel and Night Time Spot Lotion.

Little clogged bumps under the skin that aren't very red and sore?

These are little clusters of bumps (very often occurring on the forehead, but certainly can be on cheeks and chin, as well) that don't come and go. They can show up and last for months, and all the acne drying products won't make them go away. In the world of skin care, they are known as closed comedones, which is basically clogged oil that is trapped under the skin.

What NOT to do: Don't over dry the skin. Because there is no infection (no redness, sore pus-like blemishes) using drying acne products won't help a bit.

What WILL help: Keep off dead, dry skin cell buildup by focusing on exfoliation. The more that you remove the surface dry cells, the less the oil will stay trapped and clogged under the skin, making those clogged bumps start to disappear. Try Renée Rouleau Glycolic Serum.

30. Wear sunscreen in your hand cream.

Did you know that the majority of sun damage caused on the hands is from driving in the car with your hands on the steering wheel? Front windshields do little to filter out UVA/UVB rays, so when you're driving in the car, your hands are getting a lot of sun damage! It is advised to use a hand cream with a minimum SPF rating of 15 every day, and especially in the car.

31. Avoid drinking out of straws.

We know that the reason for lines and wrinkles is from sun damage, but it's also caused from facial expressions. (Think smiling as the cause of crow's feet around the eyes.) So when drinking out of a straw, you have to purse your lips which causes unnecessary wrinkles and lines around the mouth. If you're concerned about lines and wrinkles, then drinking directly from the glass is a much better option. Save that expression for kissing!

32. Avoid sleeping on your side.

Did you know that sleeping is the second cause of wrinkles? One surprising cause of premature wrinkling on the face and décolleté (chest) is sleep, or more precisely, the position of the body during sleep. To prevent the crepes between the breasts, marionette lines around the mouth and wrinkles around the eyes, try to get in the habit of sleeping on your back. After the sun, sleeping on the side is like ironing wrinkles into the skin. This means that on average, you're spending more than 2,500 hours per year potentially reversing the positive effects of your skin care treatments.

33. Pay attention to your ears.

This area can show a lot of aging, but is so often neglected. Use a mild exfoliating scrub like Renée Rouleau Micro Crystal Cream, concentrating on the outer edge of the ears and the lobes. Make sure your daily use of sunscreen includes an application to the ears.

34. Only trust your skin in the hands of Renée Rouleau Skin Care.

At Renée Rouleau, our focus is on getting results! With our unique skin classification of nine skin types, you're sure to get the perfect fit for your skins unique needs.

Which products are right for your skin? Check out our nine skin types.

For daily skin care tips, read our Beautiful Skin Blog, follow Renée on Twitter and join our Facebook page.

Contents copyright 2010, Renée Rouleau, Inc. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in whole or part without permission.