There's nothing more impressive than a beautiful and athletically fit woman. Time and again, though, I have seen a number of athletes who are young, but look much older than they are. The harmful effects of the sun and poor choices in cleansers can attribute to pre-mature aging. Athletes need special products to:

• attack dirt and sweat that can clog pores
• ensure healthy hair
• protect the skin from damaging UV rays

You can stay on top of your appearance by knowing what active ingredients to look for and using the right products for your individual needs. My motto: "You can go cheap on a lot of things, but NEVER go cheap on your skin and hair." Feel good about your athletic ability AND your looks.

10 tips to care for your skin

1) Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a great way to exfoliate your skin. The benefits include sloughing off dead skin, improving discoloration, and stimulating new skin cell production. What about the small store bought microdermabrasion machines? You won't get the same results compared to the professional and more powerful machines at a spa.

2) Always moisturize
Even if you have oily skin, your skin needs moisture. Moisture helps keep the skin plump and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. The key is to find a moisturizer for your skin type. Trying to dry out oily skin will only lead to skin irritation and increase oil production.

3) Be gentle
When you cleanse, always use a mild, water-soluble cleanser. If you have acne prone skin you need to be particularly careful not to scrub your face.

4) Use sun block
Depending on where you live, the sun's rays are more `powerful` (i.e. in Colorado). Even if the sky is overcast, you should wear protection from the sun because clouds do not block the damaging UV rays.

5) Use cold water
Heat opens pores, and cold closes pores. When you wash your face use the cool water. This helps minimize the appearance of large pores.

6) Always wash off make-up
Sleeping with make-up on can clog pores and irritate the skin. Make sure you cleanse thoroughly to prevent breakouts.

7) Spoil the eyes and mouth
The skin around the eyes and mouth are the thinnest and first to show signs of aging. Be sure to treat these areas with special care by using anti-aging creams.

8) Know your birth-control pills
Some brands are known to contain ingredients to clear up your skin. Ask your doctor for more information to see if one is right for you.

9) Treat scars quickly
If you get a cut or scrape, always use an anti-bacterial ointment and keep it covered for faster healing and to reduce the appearance of a scar.

10) Lips are skin, too!
Keep your lips plump and beautiful by regularly using chapstick or other lip aid (i.e. Carmex).