A beautiful face may be inherited, but enduring beauty depends upon maintaining healthy skin. A radiant face and smooth skin project fitness, without any other beauty treatment necessary. Daily skin care and sun-safe practices can make it happen for you. Lifestyle changes regarding diet and smoking have a positive effect on appearance as well. Picking up these good habits as early in life as possible will let you look your best as you age.
Significance
Skin tissue is ever evolving, with the outer layer (epidermis) in the process of being replaced by new cells all the time. This mechanism slows as we age, and exposure to sun and other environmental factors may hasten the decline of healthy skin. Hands and fingernails may become dry, and facial skin wrinkled, dull or irritated. While periodic beauty treatments can temporarily refresh dry or sagging skin, they don't take the place of regular skin care. Attention to grooming, diet and sun protection have the greatest influence over your skin condition and your appearance.
Features
Cleansing with mild soap is necessary to remove surface debris, but it dries the skin. Moisturizing with cream or lotion reinforces the skin's natural moisture barrier, which maintains body hydration. Cosmetologists at Clinique suggest performing this skin-care ritual twice daily and applying facial sunscreen during the day. You may need to add makeup removal to this schedule at night, and use an exfoliating scrub formulated for your skin type occasionally.
Effects
The American Academy of Dermatology reports that cleansing and moisturizing skin effectively manages some skin conditions and works as a regular beauty treatment for sensitive skin. Cleansing and exfoliating remove dead cells from the epidermis, making skin look fresh and shiny. Moisturizer smooths and softens dry skin. Sun protection guards against premature aging of healthy skin. Makeup remover clears pores so the skin can function normally.
Prevention
Daily sunscreen application is the best way to avoid skin cancer, a very real threat for 1 in 5 Americans, according to the AAD. Use an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen on all exposed skin every day, and reapply if you sweat or rub it off. The fewer UV rays you absorb, the better for your appearance, so dermatologists say stay out of direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or wear protective clothing.
Considerations
You'll need fewer beauty treatments if your skin is properly hydrated and nourished. A good diet supports healthy skin with vitamins A, D, E and other nutrients. Cigarette smoking, on the other hand, takes a toll on the body, contributing to heavily wrinkled, rough, dry skin. Frequent tanning can have similar effects. Doctors recommend eating right, avoiding tanning beds and not smoking for good health and a more pleasing appearance.
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