There are things you can do to make your skin more beautiful and there are also things you must avoid.

When it comes to your skin, there are things you can do on a regular basis that will give it a healthy glow.

The quest for “perfect skin” begins with establishing a routine that’s healthy for you and your skin. The fact is that many people don’t build a routine and only once in awhile use things like moisturizers for their skin. The key to success, however, is establishing a daily routine that becomes habit. Habits are usually formed after three weeks of consistent behavior. So plan your routine and start today on the road to more healthy and perfect skin.

SEE ALSO: Daily Regime for Healthy Skin

Here are five things you should do and five things you shouldn’t do when it comes to giving your skin a more perfect look.

Five things to do to help give you perfect skin:

1) Do exercise
People who are physically fit look good and feel good. Exercise brings more oxygen and nutrients to the skin so that it is firmer and better nourished. It is also thought that exercise slows down aging. A regular exercise program will help to lengthen your life, improve your appearance, build your self-confidence and reshape your figure. Exercise also benefits the skin by helping to maintain a clear circulation, calming the nerves and promoting a deeper, more revitalizing sleep. So move more, be younger, and look better!

2) Do use products
You should cleanse your face every day using three different products. Cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Use products only for your skin type (for example: Oily, dry, etc.). Some Korea skin experts (where it seems everyone has perfect skin) stress the importance of making sure your skin is well hydrated.

3) Do drink water
Water is essential for the hydration of the skin to keep it moist, soft, supple and clear. Loss of moisture from the skin is one of the main causes of wrinkles. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.  Replace any soda you drink with water. It won’t taste as good, but it will help you look incredible in the long run. By replacing bad habits (soda, coffee) with good habits (water), your skin will reward you.

4) Do get plenty of sleep
Most people don’t get enough rest or sleep and are often tired. This leads to bad habits like increased caffeine intake. The average amount of sleep you need is eight hours a night. Yet many people only get five to six hours of sleep a night. Not getting enough rest or sleep will begin to show on your skin as you age.  Not only does lack of sleep make your eyes puffy but will make your skin look dry and dull. To create an optimum sleep environment, do not have your cell phone in your bedroom and make sure there is no light. Both are major sleep interrupters.

5) Do eat properly
It is very important that you maintain a proper diet. You should eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day to keep your vitamin levels up. Take a multivitamin if you don’t think you are getting enough. Try to avoid fatty foods as they cause spots and will make your skin greasy.

And here are five things not to do when aiming for perfect skin:

1) Don’t smoke
Cigarette smoking robs the skin of its vitality and potential for being smooth and attractive. Smoking also restricts blood flow and toxin to and from the skin. People who smoke have a depleted, pallid complexion and skin that wrinkles prematurely. That’s because cigarettes have more than 4,000 chemicals, poisons, and toxins. It damages you on the inside and the outside.

2) Don’t drink too much alcohol
Alcohol can dehydrate the skin and impede circulation, thus robbing the skin of precious moisture and depletes the body of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy complexion. One of the most important parts of healthy skin is hydration. Alcohol has the opposite effect.

3) Don’t stress out
Not only is stress bad for you physically, as well as mentally, but it is also bad for your skin. Your face can break out with spots, inflammation and make it sensitive and dull looking. So try to relax more. How about a SPA day?

4) Don’t cook yourself in UV rays
Avoid rays when they are strongest always use a high factor sunscreen (SP15 or higher). Don’t over do sunbeds. Sunbeds also damage your skin and can cause dryness as well as skin cancer. The safest way to get a suntan is to fake it.

5) Don’t use strong soaps
Hard and strong soaps can deplete your skin of important natural oils. For your face, avoid soap altogether and find a more appropriate cleanser.

Sit down and script out a routine then stick to it. Soon it will become habit. Remember, that the quest for perfect skin takes awhile to achieve. Don’t expect results overnight. But expect to glow on the inside when someone tells you, for the first time, how glowing you are on the outside.

(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2005 and updated in 2015)

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