Water: Mind you, this isn't groundbreaking beauty information, but it is pretty crucial nonetheless. Drinking half of your body weight in ounces daily is what you should strive for. As for it's effects? For me personally, it keeps my dark circles at bay and creates a more firm, vibrant complexion overall.
A simple trick...purchase a water bottle with the ounces labeled, that way you can keep track and maintain your daily consumption goal.
Fill in Your Eyebrows: In the years i've worked as a makeup artist, I cannot stress just how important a great eyebrow shape truly is. It can take years off and transform the face instantly. If you're unsure on achieving the best brow shape for you, or are uneasy about filling them in, grab Anastasia of Beverly Hills brow stencils. They're a wonderful guide and make the process very easy.
Reduce Inflammation: Dr. Perricone, one of my all-time favorite skincare guru's believes there is a direct connection with inflammation in the body and the aging process. After years of research he states, "Scientists have established that anything that causes a rise in our blood sugar results in inflammation on a cellular level, and I believe that inflammation is at the basis of virtually every disease process such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and wrinkled skin. In addition, when our blood sugar goes up rapidly and continually, the sugar can actually attach to the collagen in our skin, making it stiff and inflexible. There is a scientific term for that: glycation. When your collagen is cross-linked by sugar, you end up with stiff and sagging skin. I believe that 50% of aging of the skin is the result of this glycation reaction."
The way to combat this is simple, start by taking a look at your diet and include as many anti-inflammatory foods into it as possible (Dr. Perricone has a wonderful diet plan if you'd like to look into that). That includes clean, non-processed foods, fruits and vegetables, and of course plenty of healthy fats. I'll elaborate more on this topic another time, as i've been focusing on eating an anti-inflammatory diet for about 6 months now and have seen drastic results!
Avoid Soap: Seriously. One of the largest irritants in skincare today is soap in our facial cleansers. At first glance, the soap may be erasing a day's worth of dirt, debris and makeup — but in reality, it's stripping the skin of essential oils needed to properly lubricate your skin. This can leave our complexion looking dull with a lack of vibrancy. Get your glow back and opt for soap-free products that will nourish the skin, not deprive it. Philosophy's Purity, Caudalie Cleansing Water and Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser are some of my favorites.
Lay Off the Heavy Makeup: The "less is more" mentality couldn't be more accurate when it comes to makeup and aging. Now mind you, there's nothing wrong with a little glam here and there, but it amazes me to see just how aged many women look by wearing too much. Foundation (especially powder), metallic shadows and darker lip colors are the main culprits. My advice? Focus on skincare and keep it as light as you can through the day. Opt for tinted moisturizers, concealers, tinted lip balms, and a bit of bronzer or blush to give some life to your look without overdoing it.