Get some beauty sleep
When you hit the sack at night, your skin goes into repair mode.
But you could reap the benefits only if you’re sleeping enough (about eight hours).
Fortunately, it’s simple to fit in more and higher-quality shut-eye.
First, avoid that gory Stephen King novel and the nightly news right before you go to sleep.
And skip your late-night glass of vino.
Stash the laptop and laundry out of sight.
(Stair climbing, the elliptical trainer, cycling or doing squats and lunges are all good picks.)
Getting physical also improves fluid drainage in your face.
New topicals claim to help break the sugar-collagen bond.
Shield your skin
We know you’re sun-smart, but we’ll say it again (and again!
): You have to wear a sufficient amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen.
There’s plenty of proof as to why.
Grab a moisturizer that offers instant benefits and prevents future damage.
To look more luminous, remove dead skin cells yourself.
Your best bet is to use an exfoliator that tricks your complexion into renewing itself more rapidly.
You’ll find this powerhouse ingredient in prescription-strength Retin-A and Renova.
“Don’t overdo it on these.
To gauge if you’re using the right amount, “place a tissue against your face.
If it falls off, you haven’t overapplied.”
Applying a face cream daily helps prevent and soothe irritation as well as replenish skin’s natural moisture.
And don’t skip moisturizer in summer.
Although higher humidity can keep skin feeling dewy, intense heat and sunlight are drying.
We like Dior Hydra Life Skin Energizer Pro-Youth Serum, $73.
Why isn’t mere sunscreen enough?
“But sometimes, even if you lock up, robbers can still find a way inside.
SPF is not foolproofsome UV light will slip through and cause dark spots, lines and crepeyness.”
Think of antioxidants as a burglar alarm of sorts, your skin’s second-tier defense system against environmental damage.
Apply them before you put on moisturizer and sunscreen.
Take a multipronged approach instead.
“Drink green tea and eat fruit and vegetables every day,” she says.
Camouflage shadows and lines with an illuminating concealer, says Pati Dubroff, a makeup artist in Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Arthur Belebeau
