Everyone is looking for the best way to achieve a natural, flawless look, especially with the holidays just around the corner. The number one way is to prep the “pallet.” If you want a smooth makeup application, you have to begin with healthy skin. Healthy skin is a surefire way to have that radiant glow women are trying so hard to achieve. Follow these simple steps and your skin will be in beautiful shape before you know it!

Choose a Gentle Cleanser 

Your cleanser should be strong enough to remove makeup, oils and the debris of the day, but still gentle enough that it doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils.  Your skin should feel clean, but not taut or tight after cleansing.  Twice daily is optimal. But let me stress that washing your face before collapsing into bed is a must.  Your skin needs those 7-8 hours to repair and rejuvenate and it isn’t able to do that if it’s struggling to breathe!  My favorite cleanser is Theraderm Cleansing Wash, it’s a great, gentle foaming cleanser.  My face feels fabulous afterward!

Exfoliate

There are several ways to exfoliate the skin, but this, too, is a delicate process.  I do not recommend gritty, grainy exfoliators for facial skin.  They tend to be too harsh and can actually cause microscopic tears that irritate, cause redness and, in extreme cases…scarring!  Yikes!  Instead of crushed up walnut shells or the like, a wet wash cloth can do the trick!  You can also use an alpha-hydroxy acid to help slough off the dead, dry skin cells.  This step is one of the most important in achieving a flawless look.  Removing those dead cells that “grab” the makeup as you are applying it is imperative!  I use a lactic acid exfoliant twice daily and a natural facial peel once per week to ensure my skin is as smooth as it can possibly be.

Hydration

Hydrating your skin is also very important.  Skin cells have a tendency to flatten out when they become dehydrated.  This causes fine lines and wrinkles to become more prominent.  You can alleviate this problem in two ways: the first is to hydrate from the inside and drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day.  The advantages of drinking water are exponential, but because we are discussing healthy skin, I’ll stop there.  The second is to hydrate from the outside and that means selecting a moisturizer that is right for your skin type.  You should also consider the season and the activities in which you participate when selecting your moisturizer.   In the very humid south, we need a lighter moisturizer in the summer than in the winter, so feel free to change it up!

Antioxidant Load

As much as we need to take antioxidants orally, we need them on the skin surface as well.  They protect against sun damage and help repair damaged collagen.  They smooth the surface… they are amazing!  So load up. Your skin will love you for it!  And uh, I just happen to know of a very good antioxidant serum…..in fact—it’s 20 times more effective than vitamin C and 50 times more effective than vitamin E! If you are serious about your skin, you cannot pass this up.  It heals, repairs and prevents future damage.  What more could you ask for?

Following these simple steps daily will greatly improve the health of your skin and prep your skin for the beautiful, flawless look you have been going for! This takes a little more time, but the results are much better and you will be much happier! Do you have any tips for prepping your skin? I would love to hear them!