The Best Advice On ... Radiating Beauty
1. Love your face the way it is and the way it will age.
And be sure to embrace the qualities that make you unique. If all we do
is focus on our imperfections, we'll never recognize our individual
beauty. (March 2003)
2. Give yourself a beauty treat at least once a week.
Get your nails done, have your hair blown out, buy a new lipstick ...
The point is: You deserve to take care of you, and often it's often the
smallest indulgences that can make a dramatic difference in how you look
and feel. (March 2003)
3. Make caring for your complexion a priority.
It's never too early in life to start pampering your skin; you don't
have to wait for problems (think dry skin, acne and more) to develop.
Cleanse, moisturize and protect yourself from the sun's damaging rays
today. (September 2004)
The Best Advice On ... Keeping A Youthful Glow
4. Wash your face before going to bed
-- no matter how tired you are. Makeup left on overnight can block
pores (triggering breakouts) and give skin a dull cast. (February 1986)
5. Slough off dry, dull skin. One of
the quickest ways to get a radiant complexion is with a gentle
exfoliating scrub, which literally sloughs off dead, dulling cells on
the skin's surface-- and allows newer, healthier and more radiant skin
cells to shine through. (December 2000)
2006 UPDATE Recent
innovations like at-home peels and home microdermabrasion kits are more
effective than ever before, allowing users to get results similar to
those of services offered in a dermatologist's office.
6. Try, really try, to reduce stress in your life.
Studies link it with a weakened immune system, which in turn can
trigger everything from acne flare-ups to eczema. Exercise, a good
night's sleep and a healthy, balanced diet are all things that can help
soften anxiety's impact on the body -- and the skin. (September 2001)
2006 UPDATE Check out 10 Ways to De-stress Anytime, Anywhere, page 104, for real-life ways to beat stress.
7. Put an end to body breakouts.
Clean pimple-prone body skin (back, shoulders, buttocks) at least once a
day with an acne wash or with a wipe/pad that contains breakout-busting
salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide; regular use of either will help
clear skin and prevent new pimples from forming. (March 2004)
8. Know your skin's triggers.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid perfumed, anti-bacterial and
deodorant products, which can easily aggravate it. And look for the
words "for sensitive skin" and "fragrance free" on product labels.
(January 2002)
9. Eat foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
Bright-colored citrus fruits, berries and orange or red vegetables are
packed with antioxidants, which experts say help maintain youthful
skin. Salmon, tuna, walnuts and flaxseeds all offer omega-3 fatty acids,
which help form the skin's lipid layer -- responsible for keeping skin
hydrated and smooth. (November 2002)
2006 UPDATE A healthy
diet overall -- one that offers a range of vitamins, minerals, proteins,
grains and healthy fats -- is more important for your body and skin
than any single ingredient. See Shape.com/eatright for healthy diet
advice.
10. Develop a relationship with a local dermatologist.
You don't need to wait for a skin problem to develop to book an
appointment. Yes, a board-certified dermatologist can help treat
everything from embarrassing blemishes to serious conditions like skin
cancer, but he or she can also advise you about the right products for
your skin and discuss how your skin will age. (August 1992)
2006 UPDATE To find a dermatologist in your area, click on aad.org, the American Academy of Dermatology website.
The Best Advice On ... Applying Makeup The Right Way
11. Lighten up. Avoid heavy foundations and powders, which can settle inside pores and make them seem larger. (March 2000)
2006 UPDATE
New makeup technology -- from tinted moisturizers and pore-minimizing
foundations to radiance-boosting tints and super-natural mineral makeup
-- make getting a healthy, natural glow easier than ever.
12. Wake up your eyes.
A concealer or eye cream with light-reflective pigments (look for
ingredients like "mica" on labels) will brighten eyes instantly.
(February 2003)
13. Become a pro at applying eyeliner.
To make eyes appear larger, use a darker shade near the top lashes and a
lighter shade (in the same color family) on the lower lash line. Don't
line eyes all the way around with the same color. (January 2001)
14. Get kissably soft lips.
Exfoliate lips with a toothbrush every morning, or use a
lip-exfoliating product. An added benefit: Lipstick will go on smoother.
(April 2003) 15. Plump up your pout. Use a
lip pencil that's slightly darker than your lipstick to line just
outside your lips. Next, apply lipstick, then dab a spot of foundation
onto the center of lips. Top off with gloss. (March 2002)
2006 UPDATE
New lipsticks and glosses offer color plus plumping agents like
cinnamon, ginger and cayenne pepper, which work by temporarily boosting
blood flow to the lips, triggering a swelling effect.
The Best Advice On ... Healthy Hair
16. Coloring your hair? Get a trim too.
The tinting process weakens hair and almost always guarantees you'll
end up with split ends when the color is rinsed out. A tiny snip after
chemical processing, and every six to eight weeks after that, will keep
your locks lustrous and healthy. (September 2003)
17. Switch up your shampoo.
Summer's salt water, chlorine, extra sweat and the sun's ultraviolet
(UV)rays can leave hair brittle and weak. Now's the time to change to a
more hydrating shampoo to keep hair shiny and soft. (July 1995)
18. Rinse pool water out asap.
Dousing your head with tap water after swimming will prevent algaecides
in pool water from turning blond hair green; it also rids the hair of
drying chlorine residue. (August 2002)
19. Wake up with silkier strands. Before bed, work a tiny amount of deep conditioner into dry ends of hair. Shampoo out in the morning. (October 1997)
The Best Advice On...Hair Removal
20. Calm tweezer trauma. After plucking, press a cold washcloth to the spot. (December 1989)
21. Shave as a last shower step. This way, hair can soften in the warm water for smoother, nick-free results. (June 1999)
The Best Advice On...Sun Protection
22. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sand and water reflect 60 percent of UV rays, so even under an umbrella, you may be exposed. (July 2001)
23. Mix up your anti-agers.
To better protect skin from the aging effects of the sun, treat it with
a medley of antioxidants -- a polyphenol like green tea, vitamin C
and/or a form of vitamin A (retinol); dermatologists believe they work
better than any one ingredient alone. (May 2006)
24. Protect your eyes from the sun's rays.
The skin around the eyes is thinner and more transparent. Why? The
natural, skin-firming tissue collagen found there breaks down faster
than in other areas of the skin, which is why lines show up here first.
(The sun's UV rays speed the breakdown.) Experts recommend dabbing on an
eye cream with SPF 15 or higher every day. (February 2003)
25. Check (and recheck) your moles.
Research shows that people who take digital photos of their moles (or
have their doctors do it), and use the shots to monitor their skin from
year to year, were better able to detect suspicious changes during
self-exams. Remember: Check yourself monthly from scalp to toes, and
have your dermatologist give you a professional exam yearly. (July 2004)
Our 25 All-Time Best Beauty Tips
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