How to Keep Your Skin Vibrant

Exfoliating your skin removes the dead surface skin cells, making your skin more vibrant.

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Having vibrant, youthful-looking skin makes all the difference in how other people perceive you. The better your skin looks, the younger you may appear to be. Dull, flat-looking skin or skin heavily coated in makeup can add several years to your appearance. There are a number of steps you can take to make your skin look more youthful and radiant. Keeping your skin vibrant starts from the inside by maintaining a proper diet.

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Add foods and liquids to your diet that can help repair the damage that time and the elements have done to your skin. Include cartenoid-rich foods, such as tomatoes and carrots, to give your skin a natural glow. Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants, which can aid in your skin's natural ability to repair itself, such as spinach, nuts, apples and blueberries.

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Drink fruit smoothies as a healthy source for obtaining skin-saving nutrients. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water, at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day.

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Remove dead surface skin cells through exfoliation. Use a finely ground facial scrub, such as one with pumice or ground apricots, or a chemical exfoliant (featuring glycolic acid, lactic acid or alpha hydroxy) up to three times per week on your face and neck. Choose body polishes, such as sugar- or salt-based scrubbing creams, for the other parts of your skin.

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Avoid the sun and high wind as much as possible, both of which can dramatically dry and age your skin. Select a sunscreen that blocks both the UVA (deep penetrating) and UVB (burning) rays of the sun, which destroy the skin's natural vitamin A. Choose a sunscreen that not only protects but moisturizes as well.

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Use moisturizing creams that contain humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which draw water from the air to your skin, as well as emollients such as mineral oil, which help your skin retain moisture better. Use body hydrating lotions such as jojoba oil and shea butter. They should be applied while the skin is still damp after a bath or shower to coat the skin and seal in moisture.

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Maintain good sleep habits. Get a full night's rest (at least seven hours per night; more, if needed) to give your skin time to heal and rejuvenate itself overnight.

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Avoid excessive use of cosmetics. Limit the amount of makeup that you apply to your skin to limit your exposure to chemicals. Makeup also causes the pores to close, making them unable to hydrate your skin. Remove makeup completely when you can.

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Develop an exercise routine that allows you to work up a good sweat; this will naturally hydrate your skin. Do simple exercises such as walking, running, bicycling and swimming to help keep your skin vibrant.

Tips & Warnings

Limit or eliminate the use of cigarettes and alcohol, which both have detrimental effects on your skin. Both can dehydrate your skin, and heavy cigarette use can lead to an increase of acne and wrinkles on your skin due to contact with smoke.

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ReferencesSelf: The Skin CommandmentsElle; The 10 Commandments for Youthful Looking Skin; March 26, 2010MayoClinic.com; What Are the Best Foods for Healthy Skin?; Lawrence E. Gibson; June 2010Glamour; Healthy Beauty: Forget the Sun, This Can Give You a Gorgeous Glow!; 2011ResourcesSelfGrowth.com; Top Eight Tips to Get a Radiant Skin!; Felicia AdamsPhoto Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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