Adapted from a column in Allure Magazine. It was some time ago & I didn’t get the author’s name.
5 Best Skin Tips You’ve Never Heard
1. LOW-TECH LOTIONS WORK, BUT NOT LONG-TERM; REALLY – LOTIONS WITH THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS ARE BETTER
Even the creams you get in a tiny tube of hotel face cream will temporarily plump up fine lines and also help prevent skin aging. That’s b/c moisturizing in any form is crucial. It also increases its stretch-ability, making repetitive smiles and squints less punishing to the face. But let’s face it – too many mass-market products are not what you want on your skin regularly.
A daily all-natural lotion or cream containing glycerin, Shea butter, or another natural hydrator (not Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, etc!) allows your skin to repair itself much more effectively. For daily use, apply moisturizers spiked with natural ingredients designed to boost cell turnover, stimulate collagen growth, and banish DNA-damaging free radicals. Be careful though – lots of great ingredients mixed into a base cream full of junk defeats the purpose.
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2. USE SUNSCREEN – PERIOD
It seems it isn’t just UVB rays causing skin damage, but also UVA, which is more likely to affect you when you aren’t necessarily even noticing it (through house & car windows, for instance). Again, pay attention to what else is in the product with the SPF ingredient; if the lotion or oil base is junk, then the ingredients you need can’t be absorbed properly. For more info on the purest, safest sunscreens, updated often, visit www.ewg.org
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3. STAY AT LEAST 10 FEET AWAY FROM THAT FIRE OR SPACE-HEATER
Close, direct exposure can cause a breakdown of collagen.
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4. PLASTIC BOTTLES DAMAGE MORE THAN THE PLANET
Your skin thanks you for drinking enough water, but constantly pursing your lips around the mouth of a typical water bottle, and straws, contributes to the lines around your mouth. Try carrying a reusable bottle with a spout so you can essentially squirt the water into your mouth. It may be a slight learning curve, but it’s worth it.
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5. SLEEP ON YOUR BACK
Or, if that just doesn’t work for you, use a satiny smooth pillowcase – avoiding the wrinkles in the fabric that press against your skin. High-thread-count fabrics work, too.