How to improve your complexion: 13 ways that work

It's actually simple. It is enough to understand what exactly is meant by the phrase "beautiful complexion" - and the ways to bring the skin closer to the ideal will become obvious.

Here are the key parameters that determine the beauty of the skin:

• Smoothness - no pimples, peeling, creases, deep pores.
• Smooth uniform color - without age spots and redness.
• Moderately thin - for a healthy, pale pink complexion.
• Moderately dense - so that the blood vessels do not shine through and there is no network of wrinkles.

Lifehacker has compiled 13 simple recommendations to help you improve your complexion.

1. Drink plenty of fluids

This is the first and key point. The skin is 64%The Role Water Plays in Skin Health of water. Therefore, the amount of moisture in the body has a direct effect on the state of the epidermis.

To improve the condition of the skin, it is enough daily drink recommendedDietary Reference Intakes: Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate physiologists the amount of fluid:

• approximately 3.7 liters for men;
• about 2.7 liters for women.

This volume can be taken from drinks (water, fruit drinks, tea, coffee, juices), and from soups or even solid foods - juicy fruits and vegetables.

2. Use a moisturizer

Such cosmetics help to retain moisture directly in the upper layers of the skin and prevent it from dehydration.

3. Prefer green tea over black

Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties and soothesGreen tea in dermatology - myths and facts skin - reduces the amount of irritation, thereby evening out its color. Bonus: This drink contains antioxidants that slow down aging and wrinkle formation.

Drink cold11 Steps to better skin tea. Hot drinks can cause skin redness.

Andrea Cambio, dermatologist

For the effects of green tea to fully manifest, you should consume at least a couple of cups a day.

4. Skip the cakes

And other fast carbohydrates. The sugar they contain changesDiet and Dermatology the structure of collagen - the main frame element of the skin. Because of this, the epidermis ages faster, sags, loses its smoothness, and becomes porous.

Give up from sweets for at least a few days - and the complexion will become noticeably better.

5. Monitor your milk intake

This is especially important if you have acne. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found a clear linkHigh school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne: The more milk the teenage girls drank, the more often they developed acne problems. Experts believe the same addiction holds true for adult women.

Curiously, skim milk spoils the skin more than whole milk.

6. Break the habit of touching your face with your hands

Bacteria that accidentally end up on your fingers sometimes happily settle on your skin. As a result, irritation and inflammation appear, with which you can forget about a healthy complexion.

7. Wash your face

In the morning and in the evening - a must10 SKIN CARE SECRETS FOR HEALTHIER ‑ LOOKING SKIN. Firstly, water treatments tone up the skin. Secondly, it flushes off impurities that can clog pores and cause irritation and acne.

By the way, pay attention to the means with which you wash. If after a hygienic procedure your skin seems tight and dry, most likely this cosmetics is not suitable for you.

If you can't find a cleanser for yourself, consult a dermatologist. There are many types of skin (oily, dry, normal, combination, sensitive), and finding suitable cosmetics without the help of a specialist is really problematic.

8. Be sure to use sunscreen

Ultraviolet light is one of the main reasons why unaesthetic pigmentation forms on the skin. stains. To maintain an even complexion, you must use sunscreen. Moreover, it should be applied even indoors, before going out into the sun: such funds begin to work only 15–20 minutes after application.

Additionally, using sunscreen slows down skin aging and helps prevent cancer. For your face, choose a product with a protection factor of 30 or more.

9. Sleep at least 7-8 hours

Sleep is the time during which the skin recoversDoes poor sleep quality affect skin aging?: improves protective properties and actively fights aging. If you don't get enough sleep, then you expose your face to the blow (literally).

Normal duration sleep for an adult - 7-8 hours. Try not to shorten this period.

10. Replace your regular pillowcase with a silk one

Silk pillowcases have a smooth, slippery surface. Thanks toIt's Time to Add Silk or Copper Pillowcases to Your Sleep Routine the skin rubs against the pillow less during sleep. The result is fewer creases, new lines and irritations.

In addition, silk, unlike cotton, almost does not absorb sebum and does not become a breeding ground for bacteria. This moment is especially important for people who cannot get rid of acne in any way.

11. Monitor air quality and humidity

Cigarette smoke, all kinds of volatile chemical compounds, reduced humidityjust dusty air around is a sure way to worsenEffects of air pollution on the skin: A review condition of the skin, make it dry and irritated.

Therefore, if you spend more or less a long time in the room, regularly ventilate it, use a hood, and monitor the humidity.

12. Learn to manage stress

Stress damages the entire body, including the skin. This harm can be clearly tracked. So, in the classic studyThe response of skin disease to stress: changes in the severity of acne vulgaris as affected by examination stress, conducted with the participation of students at Stanford University, scientists found: during the exams at students who were more nervous than others, acne and rashes appeared much more than their calm comrades.

Stress is10 SKIN CARE SECRETS FOR HEALTHIER ‑ LOOKING SKIN triggers skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema). It also aggravates existing skin problems, impairing its appearance.

In general, try to be less nervous. Or at least learn to lower the level stressfor a healthier face.

13. Take a look at the medicine cabinet

Medicines that you take as directed by your doctor or as part of self-medication can have a significant effect on your skin. For example, certain birth control pills, tetracycline antibiotics, retinoids, and chemotherapy drugs sometimes cause age spots. And diuretics and antihistamines, antidepressants - dry skin, which is accompanied by peeling and redness.

If you are taking any drug, be sure to look in the instructions, in the column about side effects. It is possible that problems with complexion are caused by this particular drug. Consult your doctor: he may suggest reducing the dosage or switching to another, more gentle drug.