The following Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson,

and is narrated by Tina Lehman.

A primal look at skincare.

By next year, Americans are expected to spend nearly $11 billion on skin care annually.

By some estimates, anyway, the biggest share of this market goes to anti-aging products.

Anti-aging. As I noted in an off-handed way a few years back, I take a certain pride in my appearance,

and there's nothing wrong with that. Looking good is largely a reflection of optimum inner health.

Nothing unprimal about that. Great health is what we're all here for. The extra rewards that come

with it aren't anything to shake a stick at or be sheepish about,

but the health ambition isn't really what's behind the statistics above.

At their best, anti-aging products boost the body's natural processes, or at least don't

undermine them with toxins.

At their worst, these products promise a way to cheat effort as well as time. While taking

care of your skin as part of basic hygiene, too often the claims have more in common with a hat

trick than genuine wellness. But which is which? Let's discuss. As our largest organ and one which

is constantly on display to the outside world, our skin

is critical to this healthy outward appearance.

Conventional wisdom dictates that as we age, our skin declines, and to a certain degree

it's true.

Where we intended to be immortal beings, the primal strive towards nutritional and lifestyle perfection

might be sufficient to maintain your skin's vibrant status. But reality is different. The basic

primal prescription will take your skin's health far beyond any cream will. And for today's purposes,

...