My lifestyle unfortunately involves lots of things that aren't especially great for my skin - California sunshine, not enough sleep, et cetera - and so what I look for in a skincare routine is something that works both to combat existing signs of aging and to prevent them. What I've been using for the past few weeks:

Like every great pairing - wine and cheese, sun and sand, date nights and heels - these products are phenomenal on their own, but together? Better.

This is my view in the morning, right when I wake up.

It makes getting out of bed a lot easier, I have to say. But I still require a few more things in order to truly jumpstart my day:

1. Coffee (obviously);
2. Carnation Instant Breakfast (don't ask; just try it - it is like the nectar of the gods and I cannot stop drinking it);
3. A quick splash with cold water;
4. A few minutes (or, more realistically, between thirty and forty-five seconds) to myself to spend on my skincare routine. When I was twenty I could just run out wearing the remnants of last night's makeup and look, if not especially elegant, at least semi-human, but now? I need my forty-five seconds to spend on myself, and I need my moisturizer.

In short: attending to the state of my skin is no longer an option; it's an essential part of my morning (and night).

You know what one of the most miserable parts of my day is? Putting sunscreen on my kids. I mean, they HATE it. Like screaming and head-tossing (Goldie) and STAAAAAAAHPs (Indy), and honestly, it makes me wonder what the neighbors are thinking I'm doing to them. But it's also kind of funny, because I totally remember this.Putting on sunscreen is the WORST when you are a kid.And when I was younger my mom did her best, but I was definitely a pain about it, which meant I ended up with sunburns practically every time we went on a vacation. I remember one time, going snorkeling and getting burned along the tiny strip of my forehead right above my mask - which isn't a huge area, but the burn was so bad that I still, to this day, can see the exact area that was damaged. Add that to the general sun exposure over the years, and the reality is that my skin is...maybe not terrible for 34 - I mean, I certainly expect to have a few wrinkles and some sun damage by now - but I can definitely see the effects of environmental damage.

For the longest time, I mostly left anti-aging products out of my daily regimen (and sometimes skipped the face-washing part, too, but we won't discuss that), but not no mo'. Nope; now it's all-damage-control, all-the-time.

What I'm using right now: Elizabeth Arden's PREVAGE Anti-Aging Daily Serum, this treatment fights  environmental assaults and works to correct and reverse the appearance of sun-damaged skin.  Formulated with Idebenone, a powerful antioxidant (it has an Environmental Protection Factor rating of 95/100, which is apparently as good as it gets) this serum is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and uneven skin texture Intended to address major skincare problems, the product releases protective and corrective benefits in the spots where you need it the most.