Mar 17, 05 | 2:30 pm

Glowing Skin

High-cost prescription medications or obsessive skin care routines is not the only answer to great-looking skin. Modifying your daily routine a just a teeny bit and upholding disciplined cleansing habits can help to add flawless skin to the list of your best qualities.

Eat Smart
By avoiding foods that often make your face breakout, your skin will be less oily and more resistant to blemishes. Some problem foods that may cause pimples or breakouts include chocolate and other candy, French fries, fast food, pizza and soft drinks. That’s right—this is not just an old wives tale; greasy food equals greasy pores! To get your skin in better shape, you may not have to give up all of your guilty pleasures, but rather, eat those things in moderation. Have greasier foods as a special treat or on rare occasion when eating a healthy, balanced meal is out of the question. And when you eat greasy food or lots of chocolate, try to have just as much healthy food, or drink extra water to help even it all out. We found "How Much Does Your Soul Weigh" by McCubbrey, Dorie, M.S.Ed., Ph.D. at a great price at Alibris.com.

Stay hydrated and get in some exercise
Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water per day coupled with some regular exercise, like walking, running, bicycling, engaging in sports, should have a great impact on your complexion. Increased blood flow due to aerobic exercise will positively impact one’s complexion with a glowing look to replace dull skin. Not only will exercise and drinking water help skin tone and texture, but it will also make you feel more energized and great about yourself. By keeping your body in shape, you will feel less stressed and more capable of achieving tasks. We are not saying you have to go out and run for three hours. Go out and take a brisk 20-minute walk, or even doing your day to day chores around the house will suffice. To easily track your activity, use a podometer or similar device. We found this Champion Talking Pedomenter at champion.com.

Monitor sun exposure
By using a moderate strength sunscreen, you will be protecting your skin from sun damage, skin cancer, aging and premature wrinkles. Too much sun can blister one’s lips, leaving them red, sore and charred. Sunburned skin will eventually peel most times, leaving skin areas blotchy and sensitive. The best approach to preventing sunburn and other sun-caused skin problems is to monitor how much time one spends in the sun and to avoid sun exposure by using sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater. We like this Ceramide Time Complex Moisture Cream by Elizabeth Arden:


Practice a regular cleansing routine
Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize…this daily routine should carry you on your way toward healthier skin. Select a gentle skin cleansing solution that works for your specific type of skin (i.e. dry, oily, normal). Using your selected product, cleanse face in a circular motion and rinse with lukewarm water, as hot water depletes your skin’s moisture. Follow the cleansing stage with an exfoliant. A granular product is often especially effective in smoothing rough areas and releasing dead skin cells, allowing the face to be better moisturized. After the exfoliation process concludes, use a toner or an astringent to tighten skin and remove any makeup or cleanser residue. Clease, exfolite, tone and moisturize with skyn ICELAND's 5 Day Detox Kit found at b~glowing.

A nice weekly alternative to an astringent would be doing a facial masque at least once a week. This works extra hard on those clogged pores while leaving your skin firm and soft. We like this Cellex-C Advanced-C Skin Toning Mask available at dermadoctor.com:

Finally, pat skin dry with a soft towel but do not dry up all the water. Apply a moisturizer (with or without sunscreen) to help protect skin from dryness. Those who have oily skin do not have to moisturize as often as those who have dry, normal or combination skin. If you have combination skin, only moisturize in the areas that really need it.

Stick to it for a week or so, and see what happens. Let us know how it all works out!

Some other skin care and beauty links you you might like:

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