Many of us are now desperately trying to live up to our New Year’s resolutions – I hope you haven’t given up already - and looking and feeling younger, more fit, and more beautiful is often near the top of our list. Some of us may be looking at botox or other similar skin care treatments to help us achieve our goals. However, these treatments can be dangerous and they don’t always get the results you expect. In fact, you might be better off with a good natural skin care treatment such as a shielding lotion – along with a few changes in diet and lifestyle.

How will a shielding lotion help? Many skin problems actually start with dry skin. Harsh and irritating chemicals in our cosmetics and other skin care products, in our household cleaning products and even in the air, strip the skin’s natural protective layer causing it to dry out and form tiny, sometimes invisible, cracks. Those cracks then allow further moisture loss, and make the skin even more susceptible to the chemicals that caused the initial dry skin problem.

Once the skin is dry, just about anything can happen: You can develop blemishes, eczema, and fine lines or wrinkles. Your skin can also lose its body and elasticity and you can start looking older than your time. To make matters worse, the skin care products we use often contain chemicals that exacerbate the condition.

A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that locks in moisture and keeps out chemicals – thereby preventing the dry skin that leads to other problems.

In addition to using a shielding lotion, making a few changes in diet and lifestyle will go a long way. Eating fresh food, not packaged or canned, and a balanced diet is a good start. Organic foods are best as they don’t contain chemicals: When the body becomes oversaturated with chemicals the natural elimination process fails and the body starts trying to get rid of the chemicals through the skin. This in itself can cause dry skin, and other skin problems.

Exercise will also do wonders: The increased circulation enables nutrients to reach every cell in the body, and helps eliminate the toxins that might otherwise be eliminated through the skin. You might also try a good, natural detox program – a few days of flushing out the system will also help get rid of excess toxins. A good detox is always helpful for skin care, and for general health.

If you’re trying to look and feel younger, try the natural route first. Injections of botox and other substances can cause redness, swelling, itching and other, more serious, reactions. And they may only last a few weeks. A change in diet, an exercise program and a good shielding lotion might be all the skin care treatment you need – you’ll look, feel better, and be healthier. Isn’t that more what you had in mind?