3. Eat well (balance and variety).
It doesn't mean you have to go all-out on organic produce. From time to time, I have chocolate, ice cream, potato chips, and takeaways. But I also cook almost every meal from scratch with fresh meat and vegetables. Like what my mother says, we can eat almost everything as long as we don't eat too much of it. It is all about moderation.

4. Exercise (intensity and regularity).
Try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. I know someone that often takes a taxi to work even though it is only a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute bike ride (and she complains that she has no time to exercise). Are you like that sometimes?



5. Don't smoke.
Not only is it unhealthy, it also ages your skin. There is just no good in smoking.

6. Moisturize.
A moisturizer with sunscreen for daytime and another one for nighttime are all you need. (Also, go for an effective but mild cleanser. In my personal experience, a harsh cleanser can seriously undermine the effect of any good moisturizer.)

7. Take off your makeup as soon as you don't need it on.
You know what I am about to say...don't go to bed with your makeup.

8. Learn to read the ingredient lists of skincare products.
As people are getting savvy about food-labeling, I think it is time to pay more attention to what goes on the face. Don't be manipulated by cosmetics sales assistants. Do your own research and make informed decisions. (A good place to start is Paula Begoun's ingredient dictionary.)

9. Stay hydrated.
You shouldn't wait until you're thirsty to drink water. When you feel thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. Also, don't overdo alcohol, coffee, or tea, which can dehydrate you.

10. Control the stress. (Don't let it control you.)
In ancient oriental terms, it is said that worries can turn one's hair grey overnight. In modern terms, we say that excessive stress accelerates the aging process. No one is totally stress-free. But there is a big difference between people who can manage stress and those who cannot.

These all come from my own experiences. As you can see, there is nothing new here. No miracle product. No secret remedy. I always believe we don't need to spend a lot of money to have great skin.

Also, you have probably noticed that many of them are not directly related to skincare. I think we all need to be constantly reminded that our lifestyle can affect our appearance as much as what we put on our skin.

Go through the list. What have you been doing already? What needs to be improved?

Sometimes we get so obsessed with what to buy at drugstores that we forget that skincare is not just the matter of choosing the right cleanser or exfoliator......

Every little thing you do to improve your overall lifestyle, it will improve your wellbeing and you'll look better!

Johnathan Searle
http://www.atouchofblusher.blogspot.com/