Last month, I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to the More Reinvention Convention, a huge gathering of women (and a few men, too). Among the fabulously interesting speakers (that included Christiane Amanpour and Anna Quindlen) was board certified world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman. Dr. Jaliman has a private practice in Manhattan and was one of the first physicians to use Botox in her practice. Her areas of interest include abnormal moles, acne management, and anti-aging treatments. You might have seen her offer her expertise on one of the many TV shows like 20/20, BBC News, CBS News, CNN, Dateline, Primetime and more.

A quick word about our skin: with age come lots of changes in our skin. Think about it: sun, harsh weather, bad habits; they all take their toll. Personal habits like smoking cause excessive wrinkles. Heredity has a hand in how your skin will weather time. Fatty tissue between your skin and muscle becomes less supportive. Simple daily facial movements and the position and movement of your head while you sleep make lines appear over and over - and soon enough they’ll etch themselves into eternity.

One of the fun things I did that day was to attend a seminar on beauty (I feel there’s always something new to be learned, after all) that included what at first seemed like a very easy quiz that Dr. Jaliman created for the readers of MORE. After I got so many of the quiz answers wrong, I was convinced I was right – there IS a lot to be learned! Take a stab at it and see how you do…and check at the bottom of this post for the answers (no peeking!)  

1. LOSS OF FIRMNESS

   Which of these ingredients stimulates the production of collagen?
   A.  Resveratrol
   B.  Green tea
   C. Peptides
   D. Hyaluronic acid

2. DRYNESS

   If you have very dry skin, which of these ingredients should you look for?
   A. Salicylic acid
   B. Hyaluronic acid
   C. Azelaic acid
   D. Benzoic acid

3. FINE LINES/WRINKLES

   True or False?
   You can use your normal face cream around your eyes instead of an eye cream specific formula.

4. SUN DAMAGE

   Which one skin care ingredient has been shown in repeated studies to help even our skin tone?
   A. Niacin
   B. Tartaric Acid
   C. Urea
   D. Cyclomethicone

5. 5 ROUGH TEXTURE

   Which of these helps your skin feel smoother?
   A. Microdermabrasion
   B. Jojoba Beads
   C. Glycolic Acid
   D. All of the above

6. RED, SENSITIVE SKIN

   Which of the following can help protect and help improve inflamed skin?
   A. Zinc Oxide
   B. Chamomile Tea Bags
   C. Lavender
   D. Vitamin E

Answers:

1. C - Peptides stimulate the production of collagen.

2. B - Hyaluronic acid combats dryness.

3. False - The cream should be tested for use around the eyes. Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on your body and may absorb too much of a regular cream product.

4. A - The American Academy of Dermatology cites vitamins B-3 (niacin) as well as B-5 (pantothenic acid) as popular additions to skin products, mostly because they help hold moisture in. 

5. D – All of the above help skin feel smoother.

6. A – Zinc Oxide can protect and improve inflamed skin.

So, how’d you do? Ready to take on the beauty world? If not … don’t despair. We have more answers! 

More of our helpful tips: 

• Nourish your skin by drinking plenty of water every day.
• Good ways to keep your skin healthy include avoiding stress, sun exposure and cigarette smoking.
• If you want firmer, smoother and younger looking skin, exercise at least 20 minutes everyday. Exercise brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
• Baby wipes are an excellent form of makeup removers as well as hand and face refreshers.
• To reduce eye swelling, use a metal spoon. Hold it under cold running water for a couple minutes, and then gently press it onto the skin around your eye.
• Laser therapy can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
• Keep your skin healthy by getting plenty of sleep, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and drinking eight glasses of water each day. 
• Apply your skin moisturizer after a bath or shower to lock the moisture into your skin. 
• Use a combination of Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda in your bath to help pull out the toxins from your skin. 
•  Read 9 Tips for Winter Skincare
• Read Anti-Aging Tune-Ups

Sheryl Kraft is Health & Wellness Editor at EndlessBeauty.com