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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UPR chapter.

Skin is the largest organ in the body and like other organs, it should be taken care of… right? Nevertheless, for many girls, skin care might not be their biggest priority.  After all, our youth pretty much saves us from looking like a TOTAL drag. Still though, haven’t you seen those beautiful celebrity women with their perfect skin? (Yes, not all of them use Photoshop!) How about those women whose faces don’t seem to match the amount of time they’ve been on this planet? These ladies keep a balance in their lives (and skin!) following a rigorous diet, exercise and skin care regime.  Don’t have time for that? Pamper yourself with the basics. Here is a list on all the tips you can follow to have the flawless celebrity skin.  

  1. Start from within: balanced diet

Bet you saw this coming.  In our fast paced lives, it’s hard to make sure our body gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs to work correctly and usually, it takes a toll on us.  Notice your facial skin looks dull, pale and tired? Yep, your body is probably in need of a pick-me-up.  Eating the correct amount of fruits, veggies, carbs and protein should solve this problem.  Don’t know the amount of food you should consume a day?  Head on over to www.livestrong.com, a great website where you can find more information on how to prepare a balanced diet, plus nutritional info on every product made for human consumption.  Remember that when your body gets all the nutrients it needs it will work hard to rejuvenate and replenish every organ in your body, including your skin, making it look more young and beautiful.

  1. Sweat it off!

An exercise routine will always be crucial to health.  The best workouts for skin are the ones that get you sweating fast: like walking, running, biking, swimming and any other cardio exercises.  Sweat helps you get rid of all the toxins harmful for your body and makes your skin purge the dirt it has within, making way for a smooth looking face.  Can’t stick to your routine?  Here’s a tip:  You know how we all decide to meditate about our problems before we go to sleep?  Forget that.  While running your laps or performing your push-ups, think of all those worries you have in your mind and let all that frustration and anger be the fuel to your workout.  Plus, with all the extra thinking time, you’ll be able to come up with solutions.  At the end of the day, you will have all the energy to attack and resolve those problems.

  1. Sleep…

Think about it.  What is sleep for?  It is for relaxing and resting our tired minds and bodies.  Believe it or not, daily life can be pretty hectic and we’re all survivors in this world, that’s for sure.  Which is why sleep is so important: sleeping allows the body to regenerate itself for the next tough day it will have to confront.  No diet or exercise will save your skin and overall health if you don’t sleep enough and while doctors recommend at least 8 hours of sleep, a lot of people find that they don’t need that much to function well. (Especially us, college students who’ve gotten used to sleeping 4 – 5 hours a day)  Just make sure that you rest enough to be able to function completely each day and have a good appearance as well.   If you look in the mirror and your skin doesn’t look so good or it looks stretched out and tired, you probably aren’t getting enough rest.  Need help tracking your sleep? Download an app called “Smart Alarm” from the Apple App Store. This app helps you track your sleep by recording your sleep cycles, body movements and any other sounds made throughout the night.  Plus, it includes relaxing music with a timer to help you fall asleep faster.

  1. Water

Up to 60% of our human body is made up entirely of water, making it one of our biggest needs.  Water is vital for your body to transport nutrients, remove toxins and keep the its skin hydrated. When skin is dehydrated, it will feel tight, rough and you may have a painful burning sensation to go along with it. So go ahead and drink your way to glowing skin!

  1. Cleansing

That dirt accumulated throughout the day doesn’t disappear by itself.  Buy a nice, moisturizing body wash with a pair of scrubbing gloves to gently scrub away all the dirt and dead skin cells from your body.  It will make your skin smoother and softer and you’ll never be able to stop touching it!   When it comes to basic facial skin care: you should at least own a facial cleanser and a moisturizer for daily use.  Gently (always gently!) wash your face twice a day, once at morning when you wake up and once at night before you go to sleep.  Never forget to moisturize after you wash your face, a moisturized face is key to pretty skin.

  1. SMILE

Even if you follow all these tips, your skin will only look good if you feel good and that includes emotionally too. If you have too much stress and worries, you won’t feel well enough to take care of yourself and you won’t look good or even care to try to look good.  Remember to always take a break from things to unwind, even if you have too much work, it will not do you well to push beyond your limits.  If you’re going through a difficult time in your life, let’s say a breakup or a death in the family. Remember that you can count on your friends and other family members to support you.  Never stop taking care of yourself even when you’re at your lowest point, it will only get worse if you let yourself go.

 

*Photo Courtesy:

www.tumblr.com

as-young-as-you-feel.blogspot.com

Marcela Alvarez Alvarez is a 21-year-old psychology student at Albizu University located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. She's the former Campus Correspondent and the founder of Her Campus Albizu. When she graduates, she plans to earn her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Neuropsychology.  Marcela enjoys reading, listening to k-pop (korean pop music) and watching beauty videos on YouTube. One of her many goals is to start a lifestyle magazine focusing on beauty, fashion, and how it influences mental health.  
Suzzette Martinez Malavet is a senior at the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras studying Information and Journalism. She loves photography, shoes, fashion, social media, traveling and exercising outdoors. She has interned at the Capitol of Puerto Rico, Diálogo Digital, Wapa TV, Telemundo Network, U.S. Census Bureau's Center for New Media and Promotions and the Corporate Communication/Sales & Marketing Department of the U.S. Mint in DC, but her proudest accomplishment was in Spring 2013 when she founded the very first HC Chapter in Puerto Rico, Her Campus UPR. Suzzette is currently the Chapter Advisor of Her Campus American University, Marymount, William & Mary, and GW. She is also a returning intern this semester at the U.S. Census Bureau's Center for New Media and Promotions. This 22-year-old woman is the most career-driven individual you will ever meet. If you want to know a little more about her...if you want to know what makes her tick and what inspires her the most...Unlock the mystery by reading some of her awesome articles!