Proper care is necessary to keeping your skin healthy, soft, smooth and fresh-looking. Just a little knowledge can make a big improvement. Whether you want to take ten years off your looks or heal an annoying rash, here are some tips to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

To prevent breakouts of acne, try using facial care products that come in a spray-on applicator. This will keep you from transferring bacteria, oils and potentially irritating substances from your hands to your face while applying things like sunscreen or moisturizer. Having a more bacteria-free face can in turn reduce your chances of developing pimples.

For great skin, take the time to breathe more deeply. All the cells in your body need oxygen to function properly and that includes your skin cells. Breathing more deeply, allows more oxygen to enter your blood stream, where it can be re-routed for use in healing, renewing and cleansing skin cells. Staying calm and un-stressed, also allows your body to take in more oxygen and to use it more effectively.

Add flaxseed to your diet in order to prevent flaky, dry patches of skin. Flaxseed oil is wonderful because it hydrates your skin and is easy to add to your diet. You can use flax oil on salads or while baking, mix ground flaxseed tastelessly into your oatmeal or yogurt, or eat the seeds whole for a unique snack.

Don’t make your skin care purchase decisions based on status. The beauty industry goes out of its way to confer status on expensive creams, lotions, and the like. But you need to find products that work for YOUR skin and don’t break the bank. If that .00 bar of soap works as well for you as your .50 bar of soap, and no one knows what’s in your bathroom vanity at home, why spend the money?

You should use a make up remover to remove make up, instead of using your cleanser for the job. Some cleansers are gentle enough, but most end up irritating the area around your eyes. Before applying anything, make sure that it is suitable for your skin type and it is oil- free.

Drink fewer alcoholic beverages. To keep your skin clear, try not to drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Anything more than a single drink of alcohol can increase oil production in your skin. This can enlarge pores and may, ultimately, lead to a breakout.

It may be beneficial to remove makeup in a two step process. Use a cleanser that is gentle but specifically made for removing makeup first. Then use a moisturizing cleanser that also soothes. This one-two punch allows for the complete removal of makeup, which can create break outs if left on too long.

Quality sleep, while a great benefit to your mind and body produces an excess amount of oil on the skin so use an overnight lotion to wake up with a more balanced complexion. Hormones actually surge during sleep and can saturate skin with so much shine it’s overwhelming and will definitely exaggerate acne and oily skin conditions. Use a product specifically formulated for sleeping to combat this problem.

As with many other health-related pursuits, water is one of the best ways to improve your complexion and skin health. By drinking enough water every day, you ensure that your skin receives the moisture and nourishment it requires. This can make the skin more resistant to damage and more resilient; it also camouflages breakouts and contributes to overall skin health.

When moisturizing your body, don’t forget your neck and chest. These areas tend to age earlier than other parts of the body, as they have fewer oil glands. Use a moisturizer that contains ingredients such as retinols, copper, kinetin and Vitamin C. Moisturize every morning and night using circular, upward motions.

For men who are prone to skin irritation, razor bumps, or ingrown hairs, the easiest solution may be to simply grow a beard. Continually shaving over irritated skin will result in premature aging of that area. If you are extremely prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, you might even notice scarring over time with constant shaving. Keeping a well-trimmed beard can look just as neat without the stress on your skin.

Don’t pick at cold sores! This will delay healing and could introduce bacteria, leading to an infection. If you cause it to be too irritated, you might end up with a scar.

You may be able to avoid using make-up altogether if you simply take good care of your skin. Never go to sleep wearing make-up. Keep your skin clean, using soap and water or a good natural cleanser. Use natural facial masks at least once a week for both the direct value to your skin and the indirect value provided by the pampering and relaxation.

These tips should help you take care of your skin to stay younger looking longer. With a little time and effort, you can see improvements in a short while. Skin care doesn’t need to be a mystery, just give these tips a chance to reveal a healthy and younger-looking you!

Tips On How To Achieve Radiant Skin was originally published on Spring