For male-to-female transsexuals, estrogen can deliver soft skin however that does not replace well maintained skin. Regardless of your financial situation, a daily skin regiment is necessary to keep a youthful image. Choose a program that is best suited for you. If you are having problems deciding what to use perhaps pick up Paula Begoun's book "Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me" or better yet speak to a local aesthetician.

Ironically you do not age as fast in the beard area where you maybe shaving because you are constantly exfoliating dead skin cells every time you shave. I believe that the Gods must be crazy for tormenting us more than we already are.

Cleansing: I use a mild cleanser to cleanse my face in the morning. A mild cleanser, detergent free and PH balanced will not strip the acid mantle. The acid mantle provides your skin with a natural moisture. I find that detergents and soap bars strip that natural moisture from my skin. It is best not to strip your skin in the morning because you are removing what mother nature has given you. I do not use soap bars ever, I find it to be the worst thing for my skin. When I used to use them in early 90's they stripped my skin and left my skin itchy, dry and flaky. I would then have to use a very heavy moisturizer to attempt to remedy the problem.

Toner: Using an alcohol free toner will remove any residue of the cleanser and makeup that was left behind. Alcohol strips the acid mantle and makes your oil glands have to work overtime. It could lead to clogged pores that then lead to blackheads.

Serum: I use a concentrated serum that is formulated for the purpose of fighting off free-radicals and anti-aging.

Moisturizers: I use a moisturizer that contains Titanium Dioxide, it's a natural SPF. It also protects my skin all day long. SPF's should be used all year round. My moisturizer also changes with the seasons, during the warm & sunny months I use a lighter weight moisturizer and during the colder months I use a heavier cream due to the harshness of winter. I am careful to use an eye cream light in weight (oil free) because the skin around the eye area is much thinner than the rest of your face. A heavy eye cream on your eye lid will make the skin sag.

Water: There are key functions of the skin that deal with your intake of water; hydration, absorption, regulation, excretion and respiration.

• Hydration: The skin contains water to keep itself soft and supple. It secretes perspiration and an oily, sebaceous fluid that helps to maintain the skin's moisture balance otherwise known as the acid mantle.
• Absorption: The skin permits certain substances like water and oxygen to pass through its tissues.
• Regulation: The skin helps maintain the body's temperature. Have you noticed when you are hot you sweat? This is your body's attempt to cool you down.
• Excretion: The skin eliminates sweat, salt and wastes from the body, it helps to remove toxins from the internal systems.

To keep your skin in optimum condition, you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Without water your body can not pump moisture to your skin. Fluids that contain caffeine (coffee & some Sodas) are not considered water.

Cleanse: I use an eye make-up remover to remove my eye make-up. I find the best is made by Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover. I also use a cleansing cream to remove my make-up with a warm clean moist face cloth. I then apply my regular cleanser and leave it on for about a minute or two. This allows it to dissolve all pollutants from the air plus the make-up removers and rinse it off. Once again not detergent based. Please note a face cloth should only be used once and then put into the laundry.

Toner: Using a alcohol free toner to remove any residue that has been left behind.

Serum: I use a high potency serum in the evening that works in conjunction with my moisturizer. It helps to repair any damage from pollutants in the air while I rest.

Moisturize: At night I like to use a heavier cream usually with ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. It helps to repair my skin from everyday pollutants while I rest. Same goes for the eye area with much less AHA's.

Pillows: could be thrown away at least three times a year. The pillow should also have a cover that requires a clean one on a weekly basis. On top of that your pillow case should be changed every couple of days.

Facial Treatments with a qualified esthetician has many benefits for your skin. Those who have facials on a regular basis see improvements in their skin tone, texture and appearance. Facials fall into two categories preservative and corrective. Preservative is maintaining the health of the facial skin by using correct cleansing methods, increasing circulation, relaxing the nerves, and activating the skin glands and metabolism through massage. Corrective is correcting some facial skin conditions, such as dryness, oiliness, blackheads, aging lines, and minor conditions of acne. The benefits are as the following:

• Cleansing the skin
• Increasing circulation
• Activating glandular activity
• Maintaining muscle tone
• Strengthening weak muscle tone
• Correcting certain skin disorders
• Helping to prevent the formation of wrinkles and aging lines
• Softening and improving skin texture and complexion

I would recommend a facial every 6-8 weeks. If you have a problem with acne on your back ask your esthetician for back facial to help clean up your back.

I do not use Soap bars what so ever. Regardless, who makes it. Soap bars sit in a puddle of bacteria and it also strips the body from it’s natural lipids. I only use body washes for my showers and bathes. Loofas and those little plastic shower gloves are great but they do require washing, if not it is just another bacteria pool. To also disinfect loofas put in the in the microwave on high for five to ten seconds. When picking a body cream choose one with little to no scent because the more the perfumes the more the alcohol.

Chemical Skin Peel is a liquid system of medically approved ingredients used for removal of dead skin cell layers and promotion of healthy cell growth. Skin conditions such as acne, pimples, razor bumps, blackheads or whiteheads, blotchy, dry or sun damaged skin, age lines, scarring, and large pores can be improved by using Chemical Skin Peeling.

Herbal Deep Peel is a skin regeneration method which has been developed by dermatologists. It has been tried and proven as the simultaneously highly safe and dramatically successful method of non-surgically induced skin regeneration.

Glycolic Acid Peel is a high strength glycolic acid peel without the irritation - stinging, burning and itching- that improves skin color, tone and texture, reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion is the most innovative and non-innovative procedure for skin resurfacing. This safe and reliable treatment is ideal for damaged skin,fine lines, enlarged pores, acne scars, hyper-pigmentation and stretch marks.

Collagen Treatment is for instant action to hydrate the skin and smooth out wrinkles. Pure natural collagen fibers are drenched in soluble collagen and freeze-dried to form velvet-like tissues that are similar to the skins own collagen fibers. The treatment hydrates the skin so quickly that the lines and wrinkles are temporarily lessened in minutes and eye puffiness and discoloration are greatly diminished.