HOW TO GET RID OF DRY AND CRACKED HEELS

Dry, cracked feet are never sexy. While this tends to be a summer hazard, it can happen all year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step process I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time.

You can skip parts of this process if you choose. If you continue to wear the foot mask every night for a week, your problems should be solved.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

7 ADULT ACNE FACTS AND HOW TO TREAT IT

If you noticed the acne you had when you were 15 has returned in your 30s, rest assured, you're in good company. One in five women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. Here are a few facts about adult acne and how to rid your skin of it:

Fact #1: Acne usually begins with blackheads

Blackheads are not dirt, they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. These can break and cause scars.

So how to banish blackheads? Gently, according to San Francisco dermatologist Seth Matarasso in InStyle Magazine. People tend to scrub too hard, which causes inflammation, he says. Instead of a grainy scrub, Matarasso suggests trying an exfoliant with alpha-hydroxy acids. A good one is Lancome Pure Focus Deep Pore Refining Scrub. You can also use a salicylic acid cleanser like Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk. These chemical products clean out pores better than scrubs. For a great quick fix, Biore Pore Perfect Strips will get rid of your blackheads.

WHAT TYPE OF SKIN DO YOU HAVE?

There are five basic skin care types: Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, medication and even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces.

Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty the New Basics," details the five different skin types. Here's how to tell what skin type you have.

Berg suggests you take the "skin test." Wash your face, pat it dry, then take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. About 70 percent of women have combination skin.

HOW TO DO THE BASIC AT-HOME FACIAL

There’s nothing better than getting a professional facial, but they can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin.

And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites and oatmeal, but you will save money if you do your own mask. I list a bunch of organic, natural Homemade Face Mask Recipes for every skin type. But if you don't want to whip up your own, you can buy a great mask at health food stores or even your local drugstore.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 25-30 minutes

Here's How:

4 BASIC SKIN CARE NEEDS

"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. What do you want? An adorable pancreas?" -- Jean Kerr, American author and playwright

There's tried-and-true ways to properly care for your skin, from the right way to cleanse your face, to the best moisturizers and sunscreens.

Before we start with the proper daily 4-step skincare routine, you'll need to know your skin type. How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen

Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it.

You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty," a French cosmetics executive once told her, "Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down." We agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.