How Clear, Smooth Skin Can Affect Your Daily Mood & Health

Ensure the products you’re using to wash your face morning and night are suitable for your skin type, whether it’s dry, oily or a combination of the two. If you’re prone to acne, consider using a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to help clear pores and reduce bacteria.

After cleansing, rinse with warm water and gently blot dry with a soft towel. To improve the condition of your skin, also determine how often to do face masks to help remove excess oil, hydrate your skin, plump fine lines and generate a more even skin tone, for example.

Improve the look of your skin by changing your diet for the better. Steer clear of fried, processed items and foods that can aggravate acne-prone skin.

Instead, opt for healthier alternatives such as spinach and other dark green vegetables, whole grains such as quinoa, lean meats such as turkey and fish and orange and yellow vegetables like sweet potatoes, bell peppers and carrots.

Items filled with healthy fats such as avocados, salmons and nuts can also improve the hydration and flexibility of your skin, as well as helping to make it less inflamed and less sensitive to UV rays.

If you’re in the outdoors a lot, be diligent about wearing sunscreen to help protect your face. When choosing a type of sunscreen, ensure it protects from UVA and UVB rays that will not only reduce sunburn and help prevent skin cancer, but also stave off the effects of sun damage such as wrinkles, dark spots and an overall leathery look.

In addition to basic lotions, you can also find moisturizers, makeup foundations, lip balms and pressed or loose powders that feature a good Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to help keep your skin safe.

Although it may not seem like it would make a difference, even a lack of sleep can affect the condition of your skin, particularly if your face is often inflamed because of acne. For example, not getting enough restorative rest each night can lead to the reduction in hyaluronic acid which helps your skin retain moisture and look glowing and supple.

Fewer hours asleep also reduces your skin’s ability to recover vital moisture which may lead to dark circles and bags under your eyes as well as deeper wrinkles.

In addition to a multitude of other health benefits such as regulating body temperature, keeping blood pressure at a healthy level and improving the function of your joints and muscles, drinking enough water daily can also improve the appearance of your skin.

Although the exact amount varies depending on your height and weight, most experts agree that drinking at least eight, 8-ounce glasses each day is a good amount to shoot for. Dehydration may lead to a loss of skin elasticity and make your skin appear dry and flaky.

Conversely, getting enough healthy beverages can help the condition of your skin by giving it a glow and plumpness that can reduce the look of fine lines.

If you’ve been using products for acne-prone skin or are still unhappy with the look of your skin despite changing your cleansing, eating or other lifestyle habits, consult your physician or a dermatologist.

Not only can a professional help you solve concerns about your pimples or complexion by prescribing helpful medication, topical lotions and treatments, but can also uncover the cause and solution for problems that are affecting your appearance such as discoloration, scarring, irritation and rashes.

Don’t put up with problem skin. With a little preventive maintenance and good habits, you’ll not only have healthier skin, but also the glowing, youthful radiance that goes with it.