Have you ever wondered what COLLAGEN is and why there is so much talk about it in skincare? 

Well, without getting too technical, collagen is a protein which is formed by amino acids.  As I have mentioned before, more collagen is what we ALL want as we age.  Collagen provides the support for the skin and keeps the wrinkles away and keeps the skin firm! 

We had plenty of collagen when we were young, but as we get older, collagen formation definitely slows down.  And, when collagen slows down, wrinkles occur, skin sagginess happens and our skin tone loses its brightness! 

That’s where the importance of PEPTIDES comes in!  Peptides are pre-cursers to the proteins of collagen and play an important part in the foundation of collagen formation. 

There are many types of peptides, but two that I really love for my skin are called Matrixyl 3000 (which is actually two peptides called palmitoyl tetrapeptide and palmitoyl oligopeptide) and Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide).  A wonderful serum that I use has BOTH of these peptides and Vitamin C (which is an excellent antioxident for the skin).  It is made by Asterwood Naturals. 

Matrixyl 3000 is known to help the skin form new collagen by tricking the skin into thinking that there is a breakdown of collagen, which in turn creates new collagen synthesis. 

Argireline is sometimes referred to as "nature’s botox".  It works by relaxing facial muscles, which in turn relaxes the skin and wrinkles. 

I LOVE this serum, and I use it morning and night.  A really effective trick I found is to MIX the peptide serum in my hand with a few drops of the EMU oil (See Tip # 18).  Since the Emu Oil acts as a trans-dermal carrier, it helps to take the peptide serum down to the dermal layer where collagen is formed.  This mixture makes it SUPER effective in fighting wrinkles and firming the skin!

Ladies (and Men, of course)! Are you tired of beauty products and treatments that promise results and leave you disappointed? Or how about those expensive spa treatments that may help temporarily, but cost a fortune?

Well, today I'm sharing one of my FAVORITE anti-aging home devices that is absolutely fabulous and it works!! It's​ called Red Light Therapy, and I use it nearly everyday for about 15 minutes per day.

Red Light Therapy was discovered by NASA Astronauts many years ago to help them grow plants in space. They also found that it helped them with pain relief and to heal injuries while in space.

Today, many dermatology offices and spas use red light to help their acne patients or patients looking for wrinkle reduction. In fact, my son's dermatologist did a few treatments on him for his teenage acne a few years ago. The problem with the professional treatments are the cost and time commitment of going to their offices frequently.

Well, now you don't have to look further than your own "At Home" Red Light device!

Red light therapy does SO many things! It penetrates down to the dermis to stimulate collagen, which in turn reduces wrinkles and firms the skin. The healing lights reduce redness and blemishes. Continued use is cumulative and refines skin tone issues. It even helps with soft tissue injuries. I am currently using it on my shoulder for a ligament injury.

Red Light Therapy is THAT amazing!!!

Some last tips about its use are as follows:

1. Use on a clean face and neck so that the lights can penetrate thoroughly.

2. Wear small goggles or keep eyes closed during treatment.

3. Let red light rest lightly on your skin or as close as possible for best results. Any slight pink/reddish skin after the treatment will go away quickly. This is only due to the enhanced circulation.

4. Use an effective serum immediately afterwards since the red light will help the serum penetrate even further into the dermis. These are the two I use.....

5. Try to use at least 5 days per week for ten minutes on each area until results are achieved. Then, 2-3 times per week to keep wrinkles away!

6. Lie down and relax and meditate or listen to some nice music while doing the treatment and ENJOY!

My sister and I have been using our at home unit for over a year and have seen a great improvement in our skin! My hubby even uses it! He says the treatment is extremely relaxing, too :)

TIP #20: My New Favorite Little Animal

Have you ever wondered what many beautiful Korean and Asian women do to have such beautiful skin?  Well, one of our little garden friends is to thank for one of their beauty tricks!  The Snail is my new best friend and might just be yours too!  The beauty part is actually the Snail Mucin/Extract (known as Snail Filtrate).  The Snail Filtrate is purified and packed with beauty nutrients, such as Hyaluronic Acid and Peptides.  The Snail extract can really help with collagen formation to reduce wrinkles and firm the skin!  I found a wonderful product while I was vacationing in Florida, and it has really helped with my fine lines from the Florida sun.  I just LOVE it!!!  

The product that I use is called Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.  I use this Facial Serum morning and night under my sunscreen during the day or my emu oil at night.  The best part is that the ingredients are mostly organic and safe to use!

The snails are so popular in Asian countries that women even go to Snail Spas where live snails crawl on their faces!  I think I will just stick with my serum, thank you :)

Tip #6. One Of My Favorite Anti-Oxidants

One of my favorite antioxidants is called Astaxanthin. It provides superior skin anti-aging benefits, along with skin protection from the sun. After taking the supplement for awhile, it provides me with a natural looking tan from within. It helps keep the skin smooth, supple and wrinkle-free. My sister even noticed those benefits when she started taking it.

Astaxanthin comes from micro algae, and it is the substance that gives salmon and shrimp the pink/coral color.

It's antioxidant capability is over 500 times more potent than Vitamin E and over 6000 times more potent than Vitamin C. As you know, antioxidants are the fighters of free radical damage in the body that can cause cancer and other diseases. It also works by reducing inflammation in the body, which also fights disease.

I usually take one 10mg daily of the Nutrition Champion Astaxanthin brand that can be found at this link.