Underneath the glitz, glam, and makeup, good skin is the foundation of real beauty. Take care of it now and it will pay off in the future!

It’s my job to research and dig deeper to find out what really works when it comes to keeping a youthful appearance. So when Olay wanted to know what exactly my routine was to stay “Forever Young”, an impending birthday was the perfect soundboard to talk skin care.

It’s the birthday that puts you in a whole new age bracket. At the big 3-5, no longer will you be checking off the 28-34 box on surveys. No, you have new number friends like 36 and 37, with 40 only living a few doors down. And you’re really in for a rude awakening if you decide to have a baby at 35. You’re considered Advanced Maternal Age. The medical community must have not gotten the memo that 35 is the new 25.

While I’m convinced that J.Lo’s secret to never aging is the teardrops of magical purple unicorns that us mere mortals will never have access to, I’m determined to look like the best 35 year old me possible. Luckily, when 29 year old Renee was approaching another crushing monumental birthday,30, she had the good sense to start incorporating lifestyle changes that have paid off today.

These tips are tried and true and what I incorporate every day.

• Drink water. A lot of water. I drink over ½ gallon a day. Yes, I have to pee several times a day, but my skin breaks out less and appears more supple and vibrant.
• Wear sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. If I could tattoo one beauty tip on women (and men), that’s what it would be. Prolonged sun exposure to your skin causes wrinkles, sunspots, hyperpigmentation, and let’s not forget the #1 reason to wear sunscreen – skin cancer. Even I, as a woman of color, wear a Broadband SPF of at least 35 every day.
• Remove your makeup every night. Not only do dermatologists recommend this but I’ve seen the results of this in real life. My *cough * older sister is a stickler for always washing her face at night and looks a decade younger. It’s from either that or she’s been sipping on J.Lo’s unicorn juice.
• Start a skincare routine and stick with it. Yes, my night routine is an extra 10 minutes, but it’s worth it. I cleanse my face every night with a gentle cleanser, then apply an anti-aging serum…usually a retinol product, followed by a great moisturizer. Great skincare doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Olay’s Regenerist line is a steal for the low price. The Micro-Sculpting Cream has been giving me the softest skin and minimizing those fine lines.

Above all the superficial tips, the best thing to remember is that age really is just a number and to not live by previous rules or preconceived notions on how one should act at a certain age. Living life to its fullest surrounded by positivity is the best anti-aging tip!

Message from sponsor: Olay is a worldwide leader in skin care and has been trusted by women for over 60 years, maintaining its founding philosophy: to maintain a deep understanding of women’s changing needs and to combine products that fit their needs with the latest advances in skin care technology. Regenerist was created along those lines to address women’s anti-aging needs, and millions of women have tried it and loved it, making Regenerist the #1 anti-aging moisturizer.*

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by P&G via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of P&G.