Getting Perfect Skin

For the longest time, I agonized over my skin. It was far from perfect, but I couldn't even lock its imperfections into one particular category. My forehead and cheeks would break out, but the sides of my nose would be so dry they would almost be peeling. I had a combination of very oily and very dry skin. It seemed that no particular product on the market worked perfectly to help my skin problems. But after a process of investigation, I discovered how a few lifestyle switches--as well as the use of quality skin care products--could help drastically improve my complexion.

The Water Factor - I had learned about the importance of water since my elementary school health classes. Yes, everybody has heard that water makes up about 70% of our body mass. But have we really processed the implications of that? If we are not taking in a lot of fresh, clean water everyday, our bodies are starving for water! On the other hand, if we have enough water, our cells (and thus our organs and systems) are able to function much more efficiently and effectively.

One of the best decisions I made for my skin was to start drinking plenty of water every day. As soon as I got out of bed, I would down a couple glasses of water. It was a very refreshing way to start the day! Then, I purchased a Nalgene bottle and started carrying it with me everywhere. It's amazing how much easier it is to stay hydrated when you make water more accessible. So, if you want to work towards great, clear skin, start drinking more. From morning to night, drink water whenever you have a chance.

The Nutrition Factor - Nothing wreaks havoc on the skin more than greasy, unhealthy food. In fact, the food you eat has a huge effect on your skin, all your body systems, and even your moods and attitudes. If you eat a lot of greasy food (like I did before), your skin is going to reflect that. Blotchy color, uneven texture, acne--these can all be attributed in part to the nutrition you aren't getting and the extra fat and preservatives and chemicals that you are ingesting.

If you want to see a major improvement in your skin's texture and your complexion, start adding super healthy foods to your diet. Trust me, great nutrition can be really tasty as well! Grilled salmon and other fish are a great source of protein. Olive oil is a wonderful healthy fat. And vegetables such as avocado, tomato, broccoli, and all other deep green and orange/yellow vegetables provide excellent vitamins that will improve your skin and general health. Adding healthy foods and minimizing my greasy food intake was probably the biggest change I made in improving my skin's condition.

The Cleansing Factor - Don't underestimate the importance of cleanliness. You should wash your face with a good cleanser at least twice a day - morning and evening. The evening cleansing, especially if you wear makeup, should be the more thorough of the two. In my experience, Clinique's three-step system is a good cleansing system. When I used all three steps twice daily, as they suggest, I found the results to be a little too harsh on my skin. But their soap (the first of the three steps in the system) was great! Each morning and evening I would carefully wash my face with the soap, and it always felt soft, smooth and clean afterward.

As you wash your face, be careful not to scrub deeply as this can damage your skin. Instead, first wet your face, then get some soap or cleanser on a soft cotton cloth and gently wash your face in upward motions to defy the force of gravity on your skin. Be especially gentle with the sensitive skin tissues around your eyes.

One more step that sometimes helps revitalizing the skin is the occasional "mask." You can buy Biore or other face masks at your local Walmart or Target. There are different varieties, but usually they follow the same routine. You spread some on your face, and let it sit for a few minutes so it can "do its magic," drawing the oil, dirt and impurities out of the pores on your face. Then you either peel or rinse off the mask to reveal fresher, cleaner skin!

The Moisturizing Factor - One final step in getting a great complexion is good moisturizing. Usually, you should do this once or twice a day. After you have drunk your morning glasses of water and cleansed your skin, apply a good moisturizer, especially to areas that tend to dry out most quickly. If you will be in the sun, be sure you apply a moisturizer that has a good SPF factor (15 or higher). Although good water intake and good nutrition will help your face not get overly dry or oily, a good moisturizer is a helpful additive, too.

My personal favorite moisturizers are products from Ahava, an Israel-based company that makes its products with minerals from the Dead Sea (a location well known for its luxury spas). If you , like most people, don't have the opportunity to purchase Ahava products directly at the source, they can be a little expensive. However, it is worth looking on ebay and Amazon for occasional sales that pop up. Also, there are other cheaper and more readily available moisturizers that also work well. I recommend Burt's Bees' products for their natural ingredients and superior results. These can usually be purchased at your local drug store or even grocery store.