I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. What do you want? An adorable pancreas?

~Jean Kerr, American Author and Playwright

Every time I read this quote, I laugh out loud. While I truly feel that it is a person's heart and spirit that make them who they are, we need to protect what keeps it all together...our skin! During the middle of the summer when the sun is blazing, it is very important that we do our best to make a conscience effort to love the skin we're in. Though the elements of taking care of your skin are easy enough to execute, all the benefits can take a bit of explaining, which is why I'll be sharing my thoughts in three parts.

It's only natural to want to enjoy those same rays of sunshine we want to be cautious of. Many people, including myself, thrive when natural light shines upon us. When it is dark and dreary or fluorescent light is blinding me, I feel different--sort of sluggish and sometimes unmotivated. I find immense comfort in being near windows whether I'm at work or home, whether it's winter, spring, summer or fall. There is even a term for experiencing symptoms beyond what I just described, Seasonal Affective Disorder (or Syndrome). If you find yourself relating to them, please assess if your symptoms are mild--that is, they don't interfere with your daily living--or more serious--significantly affecting many aspects of your life. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics offers tools and information on Seasonal Affective Disorder. You can us the Personal Inventory for Depression and SAD (PIDS) questionnaire to help you evaluate and decide if you should consult a clinician. It is not a diagnostic tool, it is a guide.

The sun is our greatest source of energy, yet it is our skin's worse enemy. Since it shines all year round, we need to take care to protect our skin. I'll be discussing ways to care for your skin using products I myself use and love, along with some great do it yourself (DIY) ideas. Though different skin care techniques are best for different skin types, I'll be sharing ideas that are great for all skin types. I'll be focusing on the face, but remember, it's just as important to follow the basic skin care steps on your entire body, especially for those parts that are exposed to the sun on a daily basis.

Open up any fashion magazine (I favor Marie Claire because its stories combine fashion with education on human rights and current events) or watch daytime TV (think As the World Turns or Oprah time slots) and you will be bombarded with advertising for the latest wrinkle fillers, lip plumpers and age rewinders. There are images of women with flawless skin and perfect teeth, yet these ads don’t mention that airbrushing is not part of your purchase. It’s an ideal that isn't ideal at all.

Of course I have tried many of these products in my day because I wanted soft, supple skin. But I realized early on that if I take care of my skin the right way, I will age gracefully without the $200 face lifting cream. So far, so good. It’s quite amazing what moisturizer, sunscreen, a floppy hat and over-sized sunglasses can do for you.

There's a lot to discuss when it comes to skin care, so stay tuned for the next in this three part series, when I'll be discussing a couple of the basic elements of loving the skin you're in.