You’ll shop ‘til you drop to find just the right skirt, to go with the bag, that complements the shoes, to underscore the jacket that pulls the whole outfit together. You’ll wait an extra weekend to get that appointment with the right stylist for the perfect haircut, along with the ideal scalp and follicle treatment. But how about your skin? If the bottom line centerpiece of your whole look isn’t up to snuff; you might as well have skipped the whole thing and planted petunias instead.
Good skin care begins with a commitment to first protecting, then stimulating and, finally, maintaining the glow with which nature awarded your body at birth. It sounds like a considerable chore, but after you become accustomed to putting care for your skin, first and foremost, it will grow to be second nature; as easy as tying your shoes.
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TO BEGIN WITH – QUIT SMOKING
Smoking is horrible for your skin. It constricts surface blood vessels and, thus, deprives your outer skin layer of oxygen and other nutrients essential to skin health. Nicotine also harms the collagen fibers, which give your skin strength, and the elastin that increases suppleness. It also yellows your teeth; and your breath? Forget about it.
So if you don’t smoke; don’t start. And if you do? Quit immediately. You’ll be shocked at how soon you’ll see improvement in your skin’s texture and flexibility once you stop. And although you may think that your teeth are stained beyond repair, there’s ongoing research in re-whitening techniques. One expert in that field, Dr. Javod K. Gol of PrecisionDentistryMD.com advises his patients: “People are naturally attracted to someone with a great smile … If you are interested in teeth whitening, we now offer both in-office whitening and take-home whitening kits. Another great breakthrough is tooth-colored fillings.” So it’s never too late to change the consequences of smoking.
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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN
You may think you look just smashing with that deep suntan, but the sun that’s darkening your skin is also smashing the molecules that bind it together, causing wrinkles, age spots and you can throw skin cancer, too, for good measure. So spend the extra dollars on a hi-end sunscreen, like Clinique’s Pep-Start Daily UV Protector, rather than just some drugstore brand.
Try to stay in the shade as much as you possibly can, especially during the middle of summer when the sun is high in the sky and at its most intense potency. Also cover up with clothing and wide brimmed hats as much as possible, particularly during the Summer months.
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WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Your skin, like the rest of your body, is affected by the kinds of foods you intake. It is believed that fish oil supplements promote healthy skin, and that unhealthy fats and refined carbohydrates do not. Research is not definitive but it wouldn’t hurt you to cut down on those things anyway, and there just might be an added benefit of more youthful looking skin. Also, like with the rest of your body, fruit, whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins can help you look and feel your best.
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CHILL OUT AND RELAX
There is a great deal of research that points toward the effect of stress on skin texture and the probability that anxiety is linked to initiating acne breakouts, Rosacea and other skin disquiet. We all go through stress from time to time, but the main thing is to develop self-help procedures to deal with it, rather than turning immediately to pharmaceuticals for relief. Taking a little 5-minute break from a difficult work task, or getting some exercise, or even meditating and yoga can relieve stress without pills. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and try to avoid people who raise your stress level – even if it takes a restraining order to do so.
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TREAT YOUR SKIN WITH CARE
We all love, sometimes even crave, that hot potent shower. But intense, daily washing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. Try to shorten long hot showers or baths, which remove oils and keep the water a little cooler. Strong soaps can also strip the skin of vital, natural oils. Pay a little extra for the moisturizing beauty soaps. If you’re a painter, and have to remove paint from your hands with turpentine or harsh thinner solvents, make sure you wash those chemicals off with soap and water as soon as possible and then moisturize your skin right afterwards. And try to get in the habit of patting, rather than rubbing your skin dry after bathing. Remember, once your skin starts to decline from neglect; it might be too late to do anything meaningful about it?