Cleanse first. Always. Apply skin-care products after you get out of a warm shower or bath; your skin is clean, but it is also moist and will better absorb what you apply to it. However, do not wash your skin with hot water because that is one of the principal factors in the aging of skin. Make sure the water is warm but not hot. If the products you are applying are comedogenic, rinse your face in cool water to close the pores before you apply it. Avoid too much exposure to chlorine in the water by getting in and out of your bath quickly.

The ingredients you are applying will penetrate better if the skin is moist; active ingredients work better when they are dissolved. By the time it has dried, penetration decreases considerably. What this says is apply the lotion, etc., before your dry yourself. If the skin is too wet, and the lotion slides off, just pat it dry with a towel, but don't rub!

Absorption is greater when the skin is warm. By all means, don't try to apply it to cold skin. If necessary, warm a towel and hold it on your skin for a while before you apply the skin product.

Use a moisturizing soap or shampoo to cleanse your skin. Otherwise, just use warm water.

The outer layer of the skin is composed mostly of dead cells. If that layer becomes too thick, as it tends to do with aging or poorly maintained skin, the products have trouble penetrating. You can use exfoliating products, but you need to be very careful about overdoing it because you will very likely do more harm than good. A gentle scrub is usually sufficient and is a safe and sensible approach. A facial scrub using table sugar is mild, safe, effective, and refreshing. It will enhance the absorption of the skin-care products you are applying and won't damage the skin. Even so, facial scrubs should not be done more than four times a week.

Use your middle finger and apply the product in short, firm strokes. Don't stretch the skin and don't rub. Then gently tap the area with your fingers for half a minute.

It's still difficult to know whether the product has penetrated the skin enough to make a difference. However, perhaps you can test it. Your target for such things as lotion is the dermis, the layer under the surface. Some substances cause a tingling sensation when they reach the dermis, so you can test whether you are reaching the dermis by applying one of those tingling-generating substances to a small area so you can know whether your skin is receptive enough to absorb the ingredients you are applying.

How do you know if your skin is extra-sensitive? Ask yourself these questions:

• Does it get very dry after you wash it with soap?
• Does it get extra oily and break out after you use a moisturizer?
• Does it itch or get red when perfumes touch it?
• Does it get red and itch when you have been in the sun, wind, heat, or cold for a while?
• Do you have acne or psoriasis?

If you answer “yes” to at least three of these, test the products you want to use on the skin on your underarm, which is soft and sensitive. You may need to try several products before you find one that doesn't irritate. Ask your supplier if samples are available.

Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to skin. Keep your system and your skin in good shape by eating a well-rounded raw-foods diet. Applying lotions to healthy skin is much less complicated than if your skin is not being properly nourished by your diet. Include plenty of raw whole grains and lots of vitamin C. Look at the article on aging for raw foods that are good antioxidants–absolutely vital in your quest to keep your skin healthy. Also, consider adding broccoli sprouts. They are a powerhouse of nutrients that will help keep your skin at its best. Also, make certain that any product you use on your skin is natural and organic.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari