How To Make My Skin Look Better

24 Natural Ways To Maintain Youthful, Glowing Skin

Terminal updated on August 23, 2021

When information technology comes to skin care goals, the word "glowing" seems to universally rank top of mind. So in the pursuit of a healthy, radiant complexion, we scoured the research, tapped experts, and looked to time-tested rituals to detect the best-of-the-best communication: This list only includes things that work with a Upper-case letter-W.

Here, 24 proven—and natural—ways to maintain glowing skin:

1. Use a rubber, mineral-based sunscreen daily.

A make clean, mineral-based SPF should be applied daily, all year round. "Ultraviolet radiation is unequivocally carcinogenic," explains board-certified dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, 1000.D. "If you lot don't care about that, think vanity—UV rays are the primary crusade of the texture and color changes of peel aging." To protect your peel, Waldorf recommends using a mineral-based sunscreen (look for active ingredients similar zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that is SPF thirty or higher and applying it as the terminal step in your peel intendance routine every forenoon. Because mineral sunscreen is a physical barrier, information technology should be applied every bit the terminal footstep earlier makeup: Whatever skin care actives yous effort to utilize after won't penetrate.

Additionally—smart sun care goes well beyond SPF. Always be mindful of how much fourth dimension you spend in the lord's day (read: don't sunbathe for sport) every bit well every bit wear hats and other protective clothing.

2. Endeavor supplementing collagen.*

The well-nigh abundant protein in your body—and your skin—is collagen. And, unfortunately, our natural reserves of this essential poly peptide deplete every bit we age. Collagen supplements contain amino acids, which has been shown to promote our hair, skin, and blast health.* By ingesting the hydrolyzed collagen peptides, the supplement is absorbed past the trunk and and then tin can support natural collagen levels past stimulating our cell'southward fibroblasts (or what makes collagen and elastin in the offset place), thereby promoting a healthy, glowing, business firm complexion.* This is backed by common cold hard information too: The research shows that these collagen peptides are able to support skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density.* If you want our favorite recommendations, bank check out our list for the best collagen supplements.

3. Exfoliate.

"I am not recommending a harsh scrub or material," explains board-certified dermatologist Nancy Samolitis, Thou.D., who lists exfoliation every bit one of her superlative tips for glowing pare. "Light exfoliation, with either a nonirritating acrid cleanser or toner that dissolves dead skin cells on the surface, [volition] lead to glowing skin." How so? Removing the outer layer of backlog expressionless skin cells will help shine skin texture, increase the absorption rate of your skin intendance products, and burnish up your complexion.

4. Take care of your gut.

Research shows that underlying gut health bug can manifest on the skin in many ways, from blemishes to flushing. The connexion even has a proper name: the gut-skin axis. Overall gut health is nuanced and complex, and it's important (for and then, so many reasons) for everyone to take the time to larn how to intendance for and nourish your own unique gut flora. Still, for the purpose of this commodity, here'south a general guideline: Anything that'southward non healthy for your gut (i.e.: sugar, candy food) tin lead to gut microbial imbalance and trigger oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, not just in the gut, merely throughout the body. Over time, left unchecked, these imbalances tin can also manifest as skin issues. Also, see: Here's why you should heal your gut if yous want clear skin.

v. Incorporate salubrious fats into your nutrition.

"Healthy fats similar those found in nuts, flaxseed, and avocados can help to replenish your torso's ability to make good for you and strong jail cell membranes, [which] can protect confronting environmental damage by restoring the skin barrier," Samolitis explains. Waldorf agrees, explaining that "not eating adequate healthy fats can cause the peel and hair to be dry, and increasing these fats in the diet may help in sure peel conditions characterized past excessive dryness." Other healthy-fat foods to know for glowing peel include salmon, chia seeds, olive oil, and whole eggs.

half-dozen. Keep your skin microbiome balanced.

Just similar the gut, a healthy, balanced skin microbiome is essential to maintaining good for you, balanced skin. These microscopic bacteria keep skin hydrated and supple, fight off complimentary radicals, stave off outside offenders, and even protect against harmful UV rays. Proceed yours in check by avoiding harsh soaps and scrubs, which tin can strip away the essential oils and bacteria that make up the skin microbiome. On the flip side, use peel intendance products that are formulated specifically to boost the skin microbiome, such as those that incorporate pre-, pro- and postbiotics (here's our list of the best products to support a healthy skin microbiome).

seven. Apply pare care products right after bathing.

Peradventure one of the most essential components of healthy skin is moisture. In addition to a quality skin care routine, the timing in which y'all apply your products can touch on moisture retention. Waldorf's peak tip: Take to your skin care routine immediately subsequently hopping out of the shower. "Applying a moisturizer daily on face and body later washing replenishes and seals in moisture," she says. "Information technology is much better to maintain good peel than to effort to take hold of up after peel is dry out, inflamed, and uncomfortable."

eight. Exercise a facial massage routine.

Not only does information technology feel enjoyable, but facial massage can lessen tension and increase circulation, thereby helping to continue skin cells salubrious and aiding in lymphatic drainage. Commit to a daily facial gua sha routine or utilize a jade roller. It just takes a few minutes a day, and the post-facial massage glow (courtesy of same increased circulation) will be so worth it.

nine. Eat antioxidant-rich foods.

"The more colorful, the amend," Samolitis says. "My favorites are dark, leafy greens and berries." Indeed, fruits and vegetables are considered the best sources of antioxidants. Some antioxidant-packed foods to incorporate into your diet include blueberries, kale, spinach, and—bonus—dark chocolate.

10. Stay active.

Practise increases blood menstruation throughout the body, thereby bringing vital oxygen, nutrients, and minerals to the skin. Bottom line: Working out leads to brighter, ameliorate-looking pare.

11. Utilise vitamin C.

One of the best topical ingredients for glowing skin, plain and simple, is vitamin C—which works on all skin types to even out and brighten tone. The research to back up these claims is audio and vast: Vitamin C tin can promote counterbalanced pigmentation, protect against environmental aggressors, burnish pare tone, and promote collagen and elastin product.* Bottom line: It's cardinal for glowing skin.*

12. Don't pick your peel.

As a full general rule of thumb, once your products are practical, proceed your (most likely dirty) easily off of your face. "Picking at the skin—pimples, infections, or just itchy areas—causes worsening of the problem and ultimately can [lead to] infection and scars," Waldorf says.

13. Stay hydrated.

It's non a myth: Drinking enough water is essential for overall skin health. Staying adequately hydrated keeps your skin moisturized, salubrious, and, you guessed it, glowing. That's not to mention all of the other endless benefits of drinking enough H20. While viii (viii-ounce) glasses per mean solar day is the general guideline, water intake isn't one-size-fits-all, so listen to what your body needs.

fourteen. Apply a retinoid or retinol alternative.

"Whether your peel does meliorate with over-the-counter retinols or prescription-strength retinoids, this ingredient is top of my listing to promote healthy, glowing skin," Samolitis says. "First, information technology actually repairs Dna impairment from the sun and environment and can fifty-fifty be protective against precancerous pare lesions. Second, it keeps the top layer of skin from building upwardly and looking dull by promoting accelerated skin cell turnover."

If y'all determine retinols are non for you—for whatever reason—consider bakuchoil, a natural topical alternative that yields the same results.

15. Get regular facials.

We know, we know—this is not always feasible. But if it's in your upkeep, getting regular facials is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy, glowing visage, Samolitis says. Ideally, aim for one facial per calendar month, which falls in time with your skin cells' natural renewal bike.

16. Avert potentially irritating foods.

You already know what they are: foods that are packaged, candy, and high in sugar, also as dairy. "Excess sugar, dairy, and processed foods can cause inflammatory processes in the peel, leading to breakouts," Samolitis explains. If you tin can only commit to eliminating one of these no-no foods, arrive processed sugar, as recent research has confirmed the link betwixt high-sugar foods and acne, too equally general head-to-toe inflammatory issues.

17. Don't fume.

Obvious but, for so many reasons, worth restating: Smoking has detrimental effects on your body from head to toe—skin included. Whereas glow is concerned, "smoking restricts the oxygen supply to the pare, increases the buildup of dissentious costless radicals and increases the hazard of some skin cancers," Waldorf explains.

xviii. Indulge in a face mask.

In our opinion, face up masks shouldn't even exist considered an indulgence—y'all should apply these regularly. To maximize glow, opt for hydrating face mask ingredients like hyaluronic acrid, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamin E.

19. Strengthen your pare barrier.

Itchy, flaky, dry skin? Your peel bulwark is likely compromised. Strengthen it by using moisturizers and cleansers that are formulated with ceramides, an essential component of the skin barrier (that tin can be stripped away past things like overcleansing).

xx. Become your beauty sleep.

Yet another important reason to prioritize slumber: Inadequate or disturbed sleep can wreak havoc on your skin. Enquiry has shown that poor sleep quality can contribute to increased signs of skin aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and compromised skin barrier function. As with water, eight hours is the standard rule of pollex for sleep, merely e'er listen to your body.

21. Go on your makeup—and makeup tools—clean.

Makeup brushes, bags, and sponges are basically breeding grounds for the proliferation of leaner, expressionless skin cells, oil, and grime—all of which tin seriously hinder your quest for glowing skin. And then, keep things sanitary! Clean your makeup tools regularly, ideally every other calendar week.

22. Continue things lukewarm.

1 of the well-nigh common confront-washing mistakes: using the wrong water temperature. Rinsing your complexion (and pilus) with water that'south also hot can strip your peel bulwark of its natural oils, which tin dry out the skin and lead to a compromised barrier. Too-cold water won't get the job done and might exit clay and makeup on your skin. So when it comes to cleansing, stick to h2o temperatures that are lukewarm.

23. Minimize stress.

Easier said than done, we know, but feelings of chronic stress can seriously damage your pare—and fifty-fifty trigger a host of bug, including autoimmune pathways. All the more reason to commit to a proper cocky-care routine, whatever that may await like for yous (although may we suggest a few aforementioned tips such as making time for face masks, facials, exercise, and dazzler sleep).

24. Moisturize.

Need we say more? Keeping skin moisturized is 1 of the quickest tickets to a glowing complexion. Don't skimp on daily moisturizer, even if you have naturally oily pare, and invest in ingredients that are proven to hydrate (like peptides, electrolytes, and ceramides).

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a wellness care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.