"Healthy skin begins the moment you start to take care of yourself." —Anonymous

Healthy, natural, as well as radiant skin is something we can include as one of the most statement-making accessories in our exterior presentation. The questions begin though when we don't know what is worth investing in and how much is too much and just unnecessary.

Alongside the food we eat, the exercise we regularly partake in and the healthy management of stress in our lives, how we care for our skin regarding the products we use and the practices we take regarding protection and hydration can have a powerful effect on our visage that we present to the world each and everyday for the rest of our lives. And thus how we feel when we go about her daily routine.

Over the past few years I have been focused on two goals when it comes to my own skincare regime: ensuring I am investing and purchasing products that deliver on their promises, and only using the products I need for the results I want. In other words a simple approach, but no simpler, and a dependable results so I know my money is being well spent on this regular and on-going personal expenditure.

Exploring products either to save money or improve the results, I have stepped away from items I once used to see if it would be worth doing so. In some instances, as I will share, I have found new products I love, but I have also confirmed the first product was worth using and paying for as the results stood out from their competitors even if I had to pay a bit more.

Below I am sharing what I have promised I would share, my detailed skincare routine that after much experimenting as well as conferencing with experts in the skincare profession. Be sure to tune in to the audio edition as along with sharing the products (as listed below), I also share why I use them and where to find them for the most savings.

Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast390 

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #137

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio

A work of art gazed upon and appreciated by millions, created by the hands of a talented often ahead-of-their-time individual dedicated hours, perhaps months to their creation. A full and luscious garden, cultivated over years of planning, tending and careful editing and replenishing. A relationship built on admiration, truth and kindness, strengthening with time, patience and careful attention. The foundation for living simply luxuriously begins with the concept of a life of quality over quantity in all arenas of our lives. It is an understanding that to build our lives on superficial expectations that appease the outside world whether for appearances or applause is to leave us living in a shell which provides a lack of intimate comfort and joy. And so, as I have been observing ever more reassuringly and mentioned in the last episode of 2016, it is a conscious decision to live a life of quality that will in time, gradually, deepen the life you have the opportunity to experience. Whether it's choosing to live in a town or community that may be more expensive and therefore take more time to save up to live in, as well as forcing you to downsize, but ultimately brings you more peace of mind, an ease to be yourself and those you love to blossom, or choosing to enjoy food that your body needs and rise to the abilities it is capable of rather than reach for what is expedient and temporarily satiating, a life of quality is enriching. But as you may have noticed in both of these examples, it takes a conscious awareness of what you need and why you're doing what you're doing. Clarity, focus and preparation are key, but these investments pay off. How do we then, as we step into 2017, welcome in more quality reduce the quantity that tempers what is possible? As I mentioned here, it requires of each of us to take a simple, but significant approach, to not take on too much at once, but rather one item at a time. So why not take it month by month? Inspired by a few of my resolutions for the year, I contemplated how I could be most successful, and this is what I've come up with. Each month one idea, task or concept will be the focus and I will check in regularly to share how I am doing, and you too can share your journey. The first month of January, since so many of our resolutions tend to reflect on how well or poorly we ate during the holiday season and we want to feel better, not merely look better, we'll be tasked with the following:

~Reduce or eliminate entirely one food or food type that does not serve you well

• UPDATE: Click here to see how the month progressed at the mid-way point

I've chosen to leave this month quite broad because we all have our triggers. We all know what is helping and what is hurting, what is a weakness and what is easy to walk away from. I have chosen sugar. For one month I am going to eat in such a way that eliminates refined sugars (not natural sugars such as fruit). Recognizing that not all situations that involve food will be under my control (dining at others' homes, work events, etc.), the goal is to eliminate, but there may be lapses. However, I want to observe how I feel as I refrain from eating refined sugars. After reading about a recently released book, The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes, my challenge was solidified. For one month, let's see what happens. Having done this in the past, but not as publicly, I remember the experience being very positive in a variety of ways (better mood, a fierce ability to discern sugar in unexpected items - ketchup, cheap chocolate, etc.), and I look forward to seeing if I can observe the same and perhaps more observations that cultivate more quality regarding my health and overall everyday routine. Over the holiday I gradually began the reduction, as if to wean myself off of the refined carbohydrates, and in just one week, I felt better in my body. So we'll see how it goes. I will check in on Wednesday January 18th to share my progress, successes and oopses. I look forward to hearing what you have chosen to reduce or eliminate as well and learning how the journey is going on the 18th. Each month we'll tackle one item to reduce or eliminate in our lives, as a way to reduce the quantity and enhance the quality. Below is a look at year.

February:

~Letting go of a social media app that isn't serving you as you strive to build relationships

March

~Letting go of busy mentality

April

~Reducing mindless eating

May

~Mastering the use of credit June ~Understanding and reducing self-doubt

July

~Curtailing the negative commentary (internal and external)

August

~How to approach staying informed but not overwhelmed by the news of the world

September

~Designated no work zones

October

~Smart shopping for clothing

November

~Recognizing, understanding and eradicating self-imposed limitations

December

~13 Life Truths to Remember About Making Progress   With so much that is worth attaining and welcoming into our lives, time and attention is needed to be successful. Patience is required. And while sometimes we just want to pounce, so long as we are assured that the path we are on is the right one, we can allow events, our health, our relationships to progress at their natural pace. After all, we first need to know what we want to plant in our garden, then we must plant it followed by much patience, but confidence knowing that we have invested wisely, and in its own time, it will bloom and then we will be able to savor all the goodness. I look forward to stepping into this journey and sharing my experience with you and hearing about yours. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful week. ~The Simply Luxurious Life Mission Statement

Petit Plaisir

~Claridge & King Boyfriend Shirt

~Images: (1) Portland's Japanese Garden (2) my mother's garden full of dahlias (3) Norman & Oscar along the Oregon coast during a special trip this past fall 2017. 

  Download the Episode

How we treat and care for our skin is just as vitally important as what we eat and how we live. Amazingly positive results can reveal themselves naturally if only we are disciplined and have the knowledge to know how to properly take care of our skin. In today's podcast discover eight ways to properly care from your skin and discover why investing today will pay off dividends tomorrow.