You are never too young or too old to start taking care of your skin. In fact, skin care and protection should be an essential part of your health and fitness program. However, with all of the lotions and potions out there, it can be difficult to know which product will work for you. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the basic skin care product market:

Cleansers: Cleansers help remove the dirt, debris, pollutants and perspiration that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. They may come in liquid, foam, or bar form. Avoid bar soaps, especially for use on the face.

Exfoliants: Exfoliants help improve the appearance of skin by sloughing off dead cells on the skin's surface. They may also help smooth out the skin's appearance and even out discoloration from overexposure to the sun. Exfoliants may also improve skin with acne, as long as current treatments do not include the use of topical and/or oral retinoids.

Toners: Toners work to remove any last traces of cleanser, and often contain ingredients that soothe and calm the skin, and restore its pH balance. Avoid toners that contain alcohol, as they are too drying for all skin types.

Moisturizers: Moisturizers soothe both facial and body skin, and provide a barrier between your skin and environmental pollutants. They come in cream, lotion, and oil forms. Oil-based moisturizers are good for severely dry skin on the body but an emollient cream or lipid-based lotion is the right choice for your face.

Sunscreen: Excessive sun exposure causes changes in skin cells, leading to damage. Applying a liberal amount of a natural sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 will help prevent sun damage and lower your risk of developing skin cancer. Many good moisturizers come with sunscreen already included.

Eye Creams: An eye cream can help improve the condition of the fragile skin around the eyes. It also helps hydrate and protect the area and some types may even help minimize dark circles or temporarily tighten fine lines.

Herbals: Green tea and other herbal antioxidants can be applied topically or taken orally to fight free radical damage to the skin and approve its overall appearance.

Supplements: Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring cellular antioxidant that has shown potential in the prevention and treatment of several diseases, such as heart disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It is also utilized in many moisturizing products for its wrinkle reducing properties.

Jackielyn Turner is the owner of Beautiful Expression Skincare Studio in Downtown Melbourne. For information and appointments call 321-728-3223.