Many beauty care manufacturers fill the market with must-have beauty products, processes and regimens, all touted as necessary for natural, beautiful skin and hair. The most beautiful skin and hair, however, typically receive the least amount of product and treatment, report doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.
Step 1
Wash your skin and hair with lukewarm water. Hot water strips skin and hair of natural oils that keep it smooth and silky. Let hair air-dry whenever possible to avoid the harsh heat from blow dryers and curling irons.
Step 2
Treat your hair and skin like fine, expensive silk and lace. Move fingers gently when applying creams and cosmetics. Keep your hands away from your skin and hair and use only gentle cleansers.
Step 3
Exfoliate your skin with an enzyme mask or scrub once a week to remove dead skin cells. Women over 50 especially should exfoliate, as the dead skin cells tend to remain in place longer than when you were younger and skin turnover was more regular.
Step 4
Use sunless tanning products to get a sun-kissed glow without exposing your skin to harmful ultraviolet rays. Shave your legs and exfoliate your skin before using a self-tanning product or getting a sunless tanning spray at a salon for a more even, longer-lasting glow.
Step 5
Lose acne scars, fine wrinkles and other skin imperfections with microdermabrasion. Dermatologist Dr. Cheryl Ackerman reports that following the chemical and laser-free procedure, skin is radiant and smooth. Patients require no downtime for the procedure, which typically is performed in a dermatologist's office.
Step 6
Keep skin and hair hydrated by drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day and liberally applying moisturizers, lotions and conditioners to skin and hair, report doctors at the Office on Women's Health in the Health and Human Services Department.
Tips and Warnings
- Load your diet with food and drinks high in antioxidants, which hunt and destroy free radicals that get into the system through food and environmental pollution. Products high in antioxidants include green tea and fresh fruits and vegetables that contain beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamins C and E. Examine your skin and hair closely on a monthly basis to check for changes or other signs that you may have a medical condition that needs treatment. For example, a changing mole can signify the beginning of melanoma (skin cancer), or thinning hair can be a sign of thyroid disease or diabetes.
- Sun tanning pills are dangerous and can cause liver damage and form damaging crystals in the eyes that can impair vision, report Mayo Clinic doctors.
Things You'll Need
- Enzyme scrub
- Gentle cleansers
- Sunless tanning
- Microdermabrasion
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