Standing tall, feeling confident, believing in yourself – these are all important ways to feel your best. But as any woman who’s ever stood in front of a mirror can tell you, beauty secrets count too!
While the way we look may be only one part of who we are, it is still a part of us. And feeling that you look your best can be a real confidence booster.
Looking your best doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, either. Experts say most of us really only need to pay attention to a few basic beauty secrets – essentials that can help you look and feel great without spending a lot of time or money.
To help you find the beauty tips that really work, WebMD talked to top skin care and beauty experts, who parted with their personal tips for looking great:
Beauty Tip 1: Never Underestimate the Power of Moisturizer
Whether your skin is dry, normal, or even oily, if you can only afford one skin care product, experts say, your dollars will be well spent on a good moisturizer.
“Sometimes, all you really need is a good moisturizer and a mild cleanser, and you can take years off your face,” says New York University professor Rhoda Narins, MD, president of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. When skin is dry, says Narins, every wrinkle is accentuated, making you look older.
If you’re in your 20s or 30s, doctors say, moisturizers will give you some of the protection you need to keep skin from prematurely aging.
“In your 20s and early 30s, a good moisturizer can take the place of a lot of products,” says Park Avenue plastic surgeon Darrick Antell, MD.
So what exactly is a “good” moisturizer? Dermatologist Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, describes it this way: “It’s a product that will do anything from gently adding moisture, to sealing in the moisture you’ve achieved, to helping your skin produce more moisture – and which
type you choose should be based on your skin’s individual needs.”
If skin is normal to dry, look for moisturizers containing alpha hydroxy acids. They can help skin produce more moisture on its own, says Crutchfield, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
If skin is very dry, he also suggests products using a technology called vesicular emulsion.
“This technology uses microscopic spheres that are alternating layers of moisture and water that slowly release throughout the day, so you get continual moisturization,” says Crutchfield.
If skin is oily, look for a light, gentle moisturizer – but don’t skip this step, cautions Crutchfield.
“Oil is not moisture, and even if you have excess oil you still need moisture,” he says.
Beauty Tip 2: Sunscreen Is Your Best Antiaging Product.
Before you see the plastic surgeon, before you plunk down half a paycheck on that pricey anti-aging cream, in fact, before you do anything, put on sunscreen.
While most of us know it reduces the risk of skin cancer, did you also know it’s an amazing beauty secret that can help keep skin looking young?
The reason, say experts, is that when sunscreen blocks out the sun’s damaging rays, it also blocks their aging effects.
“The sun impacts collagen production in the skin, and without collagen, skin won’t naturally maintain that plump, moist, youthful, wrinkle-free look,” says Antell. Get enough sun exposure, he says, and skin will wrinkle long before its time.
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