The skin is the largest organ of the body; it offers protection from the elements and helps maintain a healthy body.

Because it has such an important job, Sabrina Tarditi said it is important to take care of your skin. As the owner of Calming Waters Skin Care at 17090 Avondale Way in Redmond (inside Jones Family Chiropractic), the Kirkland resident works as an esthetician and makes a living showing others how to do the same.

“Skin care has come a long way and is much more advanced,” she said, referring to when she first began her career more than 20 years ago. “There’s just so much more you can do. Skin care is just so advanced and it’s so complex.”

Everyone’s skin is different and Tarditi, whose business opened in December, said nowadays there are many options available for all skin types. Her services, range from facials to waxing and Tarditi customizes the treatments to cater to her clients’ skin needs. She uses the Túel skin care line, which offers products for all skin types.

Tarditi also takes continuing-education courses on a regular basis to learn more about advanced skin care and better serve clients with particularly acne-prone skin or other conditions such as rosacea. Next month, she will also be certified to offer microdermabrasion and chemical peels services.

For an at-home skin care regimen, Tarditi said there are a few basic things specific to each skin type that will help you put your best face forward.

She said it’s important for all skin types to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated, but particularly important for those with dry skin because if the body isn’t getting enough hydration, it will get it where it can, for example from the skin. Tarditi added that people with dry skin should also use a good quality moisturizer with sunscreen during the day and a nourishing cream at night to condition the skin.

People with oily or acne-prone skin also need to moisturize. Tarditi said many people assume they don’t need to, but it’s the opposite: dehydrated skin will produce more oil to make up for the lack of moisture it is receiving. Oily skin types should use a moisturizer that is oil free.

Combination skin types should use gentle products that won’t over hydrate the oily parts of their face or undernourish the dry spots. Tarditi said people with combination skin that is more oily than dry should use a gel cleanser, while people with the opposite combination skin type should lean toward a cleansing milk.

Dry and sensitive skin types should look for products that will calm and soothe their skin. Tarditi said chamomile helps with this and that there are product lines specifically for dry and sensitive skin.

For mature skin, she said exfoliating is very important and when moisturizing, look for products with extra vitamins and other components that will slow down the aging process. Tarditi added that vitamin C in particular is important — both applied topically and internally from food and supplements.

Tarditi said everyone, regardless of skin type should use sunscreen.

“Sun causes wrinkles, freckles, age spots, rough, dry skin and more serious problems such as skin cancer,” she said. “We need sunscreen all year round to protect our skin from the elements as well as the harmful rays of some indoor lights.”

Other lifestyle aids such as not smoking, managing stress levels, eating right and getting a good night’s sleep are also important to maintaining healthy skin, she added.

Tarditi’s services are available by appointment only. For more information, call (425) 736-3245.