Americans are known around the globe for having a disposable culture. We buy, and if we don’t like it, we throw it away. Fabulous shoes that kill our feet, a super cute top on sale that fades and pills after one washing. Toss ‘em, donate ‘em and start anew. The problem is we cannot throw away our skin.

In countries like France, girls are taught from a very young age by their mothers the importance of proper skin care and the benefit of regular facials.  They understand that makeup trends come and go, but healthy skin will never be out of style.  How many times have we looked at a photo of a fabulous French woman like Catherine Deneuve and wonder how she can look so amazing?

How many times have you gone to bed without washing your face?  Just a few minutes of properly cleansing and moisturizing your face each evening will take years off your skin.  How about self-medicating your skin woes?  Do you buy dermabrasion products from the drug store, acne treatments from the television, skin lightening products from your local Avon lady to end up with the same or worse skin?  You can be sure that Ms. Deneuve washes her face every night and consults professionals on how to care for her skin.

Before puberty, our faces were washed along with our bodies and we never had a problem with it.  Then oil and acne and rosacea and dry patches began.  We used alcohol-based astringents that were advertised during our favorite sitcom and harsh cleansers that showed fresh-faced beauties using them in the pages of Seventeen.  We weren’t taught that these industrial-strength products were actually exacerbating the problem.  Adulthood came, and soon we were looking for products to stop or reverse aging, recreate the dewy glow of our youth and make our skin be a little less difficult.  We sought help in the aisles of Target and Sephora and at the shiny cosmetic counters of our favorite department store.  Imagine the skin we could have if we only understood it better.

We often feel that we don’t have the money to spend on a facial or the time to visit a dermatologist if we don’t have a specific problem or condition.  The funny thing is we end up spending the same amount or more on products to cover up the issues with our skin.  Get to know and understand your skin and its needs with a medical professional and learn what you can do to repair damage and prevent future issues.  Instead of buying yet another product to transform your face, invest in a facial at a reputable spa or time with a dermatologist you trust.  A certified professional will teach you more about your skin than you have learned in all your years standing in front of the medicine cabinet examining pores and popping blackheads.

Our skin is the one accessory we always wear, and the first accessory that people notice yet we often give it the worst care.   You should be babying your skin far more than your car, your manicure or your home décor.  Styles change, cars break down and manicures always chip, but your skin is with you forever.  The next time you desire a new miracle product, think about your skin history and consider consulting a professional.  In the long run it will be a worthy investment toward the one thing we cannot throw away.

Alison Gary is 30-something who believes style knows no age, dress size or budget. She is the author of http://womanwardrobeneeds.blogspot.com/ and you can see her personal style at
http://whatsmywardrobetoday.blogspot.com.