Stay Younger at any age

Growing old gracefully isn’t a lost art — it’s just a forgotten one. For all those women who think the scalpel or the syringe is the only way to stay “young,” here’s a news flash: “About 80 percent of aging is caused by environmental factors, things you have control over,” says Leslie Baumann, a dermatologist and the director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center, in Florida. Real Simple went to eight female dermatologists to find out their own at-home anti-aging routines. They all offer a sensible approach: Protect your skin, use the right skin-care ingredients, and get on with your life.

Twelve Ways to Delay Aging

Wear sunscreen every day. You’ve heard it before: Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging. Ultraviolet light from the sun — or a tanning bed — breaks down collagen and elastin, the substances that keep skin smooth and firm. To help minimize damage and wrinkles, stay out of the sun and follow these tips.


Apply sunscreen liberally. A too-thin layer of SPF (sun protection factor) 15 is equal to only about SPF 7. Use a shot glass–size amount to cover your body and a teaspoon to cover your face.


Don’t forget your legs. “We find more cases of malignant melanomas on women’s legs than on their faces,” says Heidi Waldorf, director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New York City.


Don’t rely on SPF-enhanced makeup. Chances are you don’t wear enough of it to defend your skin.


Choose sunglasses with UV protection. Good sunglasses help prevent cataracts, and they also keep you from squinting, which can, over time, break down the collagen around your eyes and cause crow’s-feet.


Avoid smoky situations. If you smoke, quit. And nonsmokers should be aware that chronic exposure to secondhand smoke can damage skin. According to Karyn Grossman, a Santa Monica–based dermatologist, smoke, like the sun, bombards you with free radicals that make skin sallow, break down its collagen, and slow its ability to heal. To fend off damage, Grossman suggests products containing antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. Her favorite antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea. “The studies back up their efficacy the most,” she says.
Be conscious of repetitive movements. Between smiling, frowning, and talking, your face makes thousands of movements a day. Over time, these repetitive motions lead to deeper lines. It would be unrealistic (not to mention Stepford-like) to stop showing your emotions, but some habits can be curbed. “We’re not saying, ‘Don’t live; don’t move,’” says Debra Jaliman, a New York City dermatologist. “But if you’re constantly drinking through a straw, chewing gum, or smoking, you’re breaking down the collagen around your mouth. And the wrinkles will come earlier.”


Stop picking! It’s hard to resist the urge to do a little at-home surgery on a pimple, but the mark it might leave is the most persuasive reason not to. “As you age, acne scars often end up looking more like wrinkles,” says Grossman. “If you have a pimple on your cheek near where a wrinkle forms, it will make the wrinkle deeper.”


Cleanse with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). They help remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal a fresh layer underneath. “Alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid) unclog pores and help your skin look smoother,” says Alyson C. Penstein, a dermatologist in New York City. Note: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try a cleanser with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).


Use an anti-aging cream at night. New anti-aging creams arrive on cosmetics counters all the time — with bigger claims and heftier price tags. But good old retinoids, which contain a vitamin A derivative, are still the gold standard. “Many studies support retinoids, and they have withstood the test of time,” says Marianne O’Donoghue, an associate professor of dermatology at the Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago. Retinoids encourage the skin to renew itself, smoothing fine lines and helping to repair sun damage. They are found in prescription creams, such as Renova and Retin-A, and in lower concentrations in over-the-counter retinol creams. Note: Retinoids can be irritating at first, so apply sparingly. They also leave skin vulnerable to sunburn. If your skin is extra-sensitive, try a milder cream containing kinetin, an ingredient found in plants that has been shown to smooth lines.


Try a weekly exfoliation treatment. Most professional anti-aging treatments — including chemical peels and microdermabrasion — shed skin to clear up uneven pigmentation and encourage collagen growth. Now there are effective treatments that are gentle enough to use at home. Robin Ashinoff, director of cosmetic dermatology at the Hackensack University Medical Center, in New Jersey, suggests using a chemical exfoliator. There are also polishing creams that aim to achieve results similar to those of professional microdermabrasion, which manually sloughs off skin with superfine particles. Over time, your skin should respond by thickening slightly. “Thickening is good,” explains Mary Ellen Brademas, a New York City dermatologist. “Thicker skin shows fewer wrinkles.”


Remember the rest of your body. “Everything you do for your face, you should also do for your neck, chest, and hands,” says Baumann. “Those are the primary spots that show aging.” At the very least, moisturize: Hydrated skin looks plumper and smoother.

7 easy ways to save energy this summer

If your idea of conserving energy during the summer months is lying very, very still on a hammock for long periods of time, I hear you. But as the prices of pretty much everything in our lives keep going up (and our salaries don't), it pays to think about conserving energy in the home, too. Here are 7 easy ways to use, and thus pay for, less energy, courtesy of Brian Keane, President of Smartpower.org, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the use of clean energy.


1. Air-dry beach towels. Using a towel for 2 minutes to pat swimming pool water off your 8-year-old's body does not necessarily make it dirty. Think about whether a beach towel needs to be washed before you automatically dump it in the laundry, and if you do wash it, air dry the towel whenever possible. Beach towels are much thicker than regular towels and require a lot more energy to dry. Why not toss them over the porch railing to air out in the sun instead?

2. Take shorter showers. Studies show that the average teenager spends a whopping 45 minutes in the shower. 45 minutes! Encourage your kids to cut down on their American Idol practice time, and remind your husband that men who shave in the shower are wasting water, too, to the tune of several gallons. Bottom line: If you're not actively sudsing or rinsing, turn the water off.

3. Unplug your TV. It's probably not news to any of you at this point that all plugged-in electronics constantly suck energy even when they're "turned off," but recently, the triple threat of flat screen TVs, cable boxes, and DVR devices have officially overtaken refrigerators as the biggest energy drain in American homes. And while the fridge at least has an excuse for being plugged in all the time, the TV really does not. Plug all those devices into a power strip and turn the whole thing off when you're not watching. If you can't commit to a regular unplugging regimen, at the very least make sure the set is unplugged when you go on vacation for a week. (While you're at it, unplug computer printers, coffee makers and extra phone chargers when you're going to be gone for a few days. Don't forget to do the same at the office—just because you're not paying the bill doesn't mean you should waste the power.)

4. Remember what I said about the refrigerator and the energy suck? The good news is, every year refrigerators are getting more energy efficient, and it's almost hard NOT to buy one with an Energy Star rating these days. The downside is that many people, upon upgrading to a better refrigerator, just move the old one to the garage and keep using it. But consider this: "There's a reason you replaced the old one—it was too small, it didn't work well, it was inefficient—so why would you keep it around?" Keane says. Think long and hard about what exactly you so desperately need to keep in deep-freeze storage. Extra ice for parties? Buy an ice chest. That 40 pounds of moose meat you ordered online from your meat-of-the-month club? I have no advice for you, other than reevaluate what's in your main freezer and check out Energy Star's Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign web site for information on responsible old-fridge disposal.

5. Really turn off your home computer. 75% of the energy used by home computers is used when the owner thinks the computer is turned off. "Sleep" does not equal off: Learn it, love it, live it.

6. Weather-strip your doors. "It's just as important in the summer as in the winter," Keane says. If you want to keep your air conditioning inside the house, make sure that your home's doors have the proper seals. (Bonus: weather stripping is incredibly cheap—we're talking $1.50 a roll—and as easy to apply as a piece of tape.) And of course, make sure all your windows are closed when the air conditioner's running. What are you trying to do, cool the whole neighborhood?

7. Get your water heater checked. Schedule an appointment with your plumber (or ask him to stick around the next time he comes to fix something else) and have him check the settings on your water heater. Although many water heaters are set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, most homes only need 120 degrees for appliances to function properly. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that lowering your water temperature by ten degrees will save you 3 to 5% in energy costs (not to mention lower your risk of scalding).

How to Beat the Heat

When scorching summer days arrive, it seems like you'll never be cool again. However, there are mays ways to beat the heat. You might even find yourself having some fun as you stay cool.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Drink liquids before you get thirsty. Thirst is a sign that you are already at least slightly dehydrated. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrate your body. Drink sports drinks if you feel depleted. They will help re-hydrate and replenish your system.

Limit physical activity, especially outdoors. Participating in strenuous activities can deplete your body of resources.

Stay in air conditioning. Visit a library or mall. Movie theaters usually are frosty on summer days. Visit one of these places to ensure that you stay entertained as well as cool.

Load up on sunscreen, grab your towel and head to a pool. Even though you're out in the sun, submerging yourself in a pool to cool off. Get out of the pool periodically to sit in the shade.

Set up a sprinkler, play with squirt guns or purchase a sprinkler at and set it up in the yard. Take a cool bath. Add some peppermint oil to the water to further cool you.

Enjoy a frosty beverage. Slushies, shakes, smoothies and iced blended coffee drinks that decrease internal body temperature. Just watch out for brain freeze.
Take a hot shower. That's right, hot. You'll find that when you step out from under the water, the air feels cooler.

Stick your head in the freezer. It's not an energy efficient option for beating the heat, but a few seconds with your head in the icebox feels great and refreshes at the same time.