Two major factors that come into play when caring for your skin — your lifestyle and your skin care routine. (Yes, there is such a thing as a skin care routine.)
In order to get a great complexion, you might need to make a few adjustments in the sleeping and eating departments and may have to adjust the products you use on your skin. (Again. Yes, you’re supposed to be using products.)
Here, we share the seven steps New York City dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross says you should take in order to improve your skin. To see results in about a month, stick with this plan. “Like exercise, taking care of your skin requires consistency,” says Gross.
Step 1: Eat Well
Eating well is “one of the easiest, least expensive and guaranteed ways to achieve and maintain great skin,” says Gross. There are a few key vitamins and nutrients skin needs to look fantastic. They are:
Essential fatty acids — the body doesn’t naturally produce these, so eat things like avocado, cheese and other dairy products to load up on them. Lucky for you, these things are delicious.
Vitamins C, E, lycopene — not only do these benefit your skin, but they also have heart-healthy and even cancer-fighting benefits, says Gross. Get them by eating colorful vegetables. “The more colors you eat, the better,” he says.
Step 2: Minimize Stress
Easier said than done, but there are a few ways you can help minimize the effect stress is having on your body, and a bottle of Jack is not one of them.
“I recommend vitamin B, which helps calm the nervous system,” says Gross. In addition, he suggests taking an omega fatty acid supplement like fish oil, and exercising regularly.
Together these will help prevent breakouts and keep your skin cells functioning the way they need to in order to keep your skin looking young.
Next: Get More Sleep
