6 Things Women With Gorgeous Skin Do Every Day
Women with
smooth, radiant skin aren't just lucky. They tend to have six daily habits in
common.
1. They cleanse gently, once a day.
Unless
you have oily skin, you only need to wash your face in the evening, with a
creamy cleanser and lukewarm water. Give the cleanser time to work.
"Instead of scrubbing your face, let the cleanser sit on your skin for
several seconds and break down the makeup, dirt, and oil," says Boston
dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD. In the morning, simply splash your face with
lukewarm water. (If you're oily, use a gentle foaming cleanser morning and
evening.)
2. They reapply sunscreen.
You
know that the number one way to prevent skin aging is to apply sunscreen, so of
course you already use a morning moisturizer with an SPF of (at least) 30. What
women with gorgeous skin also do: Reapply sunscreen every few hours.
Sun-shielding ingredients are only effective for about two hours—long enough to
protect your skin on a morning walk or commute but not throughout the
afternoon. New York City dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD, keeps Colorescience
Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Brush SPF 30 ($50, Colorescience.com)
in her bag because it's easy to brush on over makeup (and on the back of her
hands or décolletage) throughout the day.
3. They use a retinoid cream every night.
"The
first time I meet someone, I immediately know if she's using a retinoid because
her skin is glowy and smooth," says Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann,
MD. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that have been proven to boost
collagen, which reduces fine lines, and to speed cell turnover, which evens out
discoloration. Retinoids are available over-the-counter (as retinol) or with a
prescription (as tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene). Because retinoids can
cause some irritation at first, Hirsch recommends applying a gentle
moisturizer, letting it soak in for at least 30 minutes, then applying your
retinoid cream.
4. They eat salmon, and consume lots of
antioxidants.
Salmon's
high omega-3 content helps hydrate skin from the inside out and reduce the
inflammation that can cause skin redness, says Baumann. And antioxidant-rich
foods and drinks—blueberries, dark greens, green tea and coffee—help fight free
radicals that can damage the cellular structures of the skin, accelerating skin
aging.
5. They break a sweat.
Raising
your heart rate once a day makes your skin glow. Because exercise improves your
circulation and oxygen capacity, it improves your complexion. "And we know
that the skin has endorphin receptors, which may also explain why it is
positively impacted by aerobic exercise," says Baumann.
6. They sleep at least 7 hours a night.
Cortisol,
the stress hormone, ages the skin and can cause acne. Sleep reduces the
cortisol level in your body. So it's a simple equation: Sleep = younger,
clearer skin.
