Just because your best friend, mom or hundreds of reviewers on a website say a product is good doesn't mean it will work for you. I test a lot of products for my job and it doesn't matter how much I want to like something -- if it doesn't work for me, I stop using it. That means I either toss it or give it to a friend to keep myself from reusing it in three months, when the memory of my skin's bad reaction has dimmed.

This is why speaking to a beauty advisor before purchasing helps; they can help you identify whether it's right for your skin type. If you're an online shopper, many websites offer live chats where you can talk to an expert while you shop. And if you're product-obsessed, plan to do a purge at the start of every season. You'll cut down on clutter, simplify your routine and make space for a whole new batch of beauty buys.

If you don't exfoliate regularly, your skin care products can't penetrate your skin and do their best work.

In recent years, scrubs have felt too harsh on my skin. Now, I use a gentle cleansing brush or washcloth to gently exfoliate while I cleanse. Since you're washing your face, anyway, exfoliating isn't really an extra step, it's just something you need to remember to do regularly.

If you don't have the time to go to an actual spa, set aside 30 minutes to do a treatment at home. Apply a face mask to give your skin extra moisture or brightness. It's as much about the emotional experience as the skin-care benefits, since relaxation is a powerful anti-ager.

I spend so many hours thinking about this wrinkle or that spot on my face that I forget about my skin from the neck down. I'm determined to pay more attention to the rest of my skin -- especially my neck, chest, backs of hands and forearms, lower legs and feet. After all, it doesn't matter how young my face looks in 30 years, if I neglect these areas, they give away my age.

A simple routine -- body wash, scrub, moisturizer and sunscreen -- is all you really need. And these products are so much fun to use.

When I'm planning a trip, I think about the beauty advice I've heard from women who travel constantly for their jobs. Model Liu Wen advocates moisturizing mid-flight and wearing sunscreen. "Since you are flying at high altitudes, you might actually be more affected by ultraviolet rays," she says. (For more of Liu Wen's travel beauty tips, check out her interview at Estée Edit.)

I always pack face wipes and moisturizer in my carry-on. And instead of packing skin care before every trip, I have a mini-bag ready to go at all times. It contains some of my go-to products (sunscreen and an antioxidant serum, obviously) as well as lots of product samples of things I want to try. There's no better place to test new products than a great hotel bathroom.