Skin Care tips for Women With Gorgeous Skin
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.)
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.
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.
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 or with a prescription .
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.
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.
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.