Life Style

But there are some standard practices that really do help to give you a healthy complexion.

Here are my favorite ten to remember, cherish, and use!

1 - Vitamins are vital!  Fish Oil has been proven to help in the maintenance of healthy skin and hair.  I love the Pharmax Fish Oil with Essential Oil of Orange - it's a liquid but it doesn't leave any fishy after taste. It works to give you a glowing complexion from the inside, out.  

2 - Don't overwash... and don't overdry!  Too much washing or drying out of the face only leads to your oil glands actually producing more oil to compensate.  Wash twice a day, at the most! And make sure to use a gentle, non-irritating cleanser that is anti-bacterial - to eradicate bacterias that fill your pores.  Cetaphil's antibacterial gentle cleansing bar is a great choice (and an inexpensive one!)

3 - Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock!!! Even if you love a nice tan, you MUST use sunblock EVERY DAY!!! The number one cause of wrinkles is sun exposure!!!  And your sunblock should fight against UVA and UVB rays (click HERE for some great sunblock options!)

4 - Change your pillowcases every third night!  It seems arduous but the truth is, dirt, bacteria and oils from your hair seep into the pillowcases thus seeping into your skin while you sleep. It's vital to allow your face a clean, fresh fabric from which to relax and unwind.

5 - Wash your hands before going to bed!  Again, clean hands help to keep unwanted dirt and bacterias AWAY from your face.  You should really wash your hands consistently throughout the day but also before bed time.  You know how they say germs are transferred from your hands to your mouth... thus, spreading virus' and infection?  Well, the same is true with hands to face... spreading dirt and bacteria!

6 - Eye cream must be made a part of your daily regime!  Even if you have oily skin, it's imperative that you hydrate your eyes.  The skin around your eyes is a lot more tender and delicate, thus it needs special care.  Eye cream should be dabbed - not rubbed - from the outer corner, inwards... twice a day! Click HERE for some fantastic eye cream choices!

7 - Don't pick!!! This is the hardest rule for me to follow, so I'm gonna add an addendum -  If you must pick (like when that white head has taken over your entire chin...), steam your face first.  And please, I beg you, wrap your fingers in toilet paper so that you don't transfer the dirt and bacteria from your fingers to your face/ pimple.  Also, make sure to only press lightly... when you try and force the puss out, you're actually spreading it around and infecting it!

8 - Drink as much water as you can possibly handle!!! This seems like common knowledge, but the truth is, we don't drink as much water as we should.  Water flushes out all the yuckiness inside of our bodies and it promotes health, bottom line!  If you find that you're not a water-lover, try adding a flavor to your water.  I suggest Crystal Light on the go packs... they come in 10 flavors, they're low in calories and they can be added to ANY size water bottle as easily as ripping the packet open and pouring it into the bottle!

9 - Even if you're oily, you MUST moisturize!  A common misperception is that oily skin doesn't need extra hydration.... NOT TRUE!  All skin needs hydration because hydrating your skin actually balances out the oiliness.  Obviously, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should choose an oil-free, fragrance-free moisturizer.  Something that is light and non greasy.  There are thousands of moisturizers on the market... try them ALL until you find the one that suits your specific skin.  But don't skip this step!!!

10 - NEVER rub, ALWAYS pat!  This is true when applying creams and medicines, and when drying your face after washing.  Rubbing your skin stretches it, causing lines and wrinkles.  It also "rubs" the bacterias everywhere, infecting not only the problem areas, but the entire face. However, patting your skin - be it with a moisturizer or a wash cloth - is gentle and non abrasive to your face.  It also allows the face to truly soak up the moisturizer, medicine, and/or face wash so that you experience the full effects of said products!  When you rub, you rub off a majority of the benefits of these products as well!!!