How to Make Your Skin Smoother & Radiant

Eat foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, for more radiant skin.

Keeping the skin on your face, neck, chest and hands looking smooth and radiant can make you look younger, while showing dry, dull skin can have the opposite effect. According to a recent study by the University of Gottingen in Gottingen, Germany, the age swing on a woman could be as much as 10 years in either direction, based on the condition of her skin. Taking certain precautions and using a number of products -- both natural and chemical -- can help make your skin smoother and radiant.

Things You'll Need

• Sunscreen
• Zinc oxide or titanium oxide (optional)
• Scrubbing sponge or loofah
• Exfoliating cleanser
• Body polish or scrub
• Skin moisturizing lotion
• Facial cream
• Body cream

Instructions

1. Eat a healthy diet of skin-rejuvenating foods. Add blueberries and spinach to your diet that are rich in antioxidants, which makes skin cells stronger inside and out. Also eat foods such as salmon and walnuts with omega-3 fatty acids that will aid the skin's ability to repair damaged cells.

2. Use sunscreen even when not going to the beach or park. An afternoon lunch on the patio in the blazing sun can do just as much damage to the skin as one at the pool, since ultraviolet rays cause 90 percent of wrinkles, age spots and other damage to skin.

   Look for sunscreens that offer protection against both UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburns) and UVA rays, which can penetrate the skin and age it prematurely. Use zinc oxide or titanium oxide to protect your skin if you're sensitive to chemicals in commercial sunscreen products.

   Apply sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin, especially the face, neck and hands. Stay in the shade as much as possible when not using sunscreen.

3. Exfoliate your dead skin cells to make your skin glow. Buff away the surface layer of your facial skin with a scrubbing tool, such as a scrubbing sponge or loofah, or use an exfoliating cleanser (such as one with volcanic particles, alpha hydroxy or glycolic acid) at least twice a week and more often, if necessary.

   Try a salt- or sugar-based body polish or scrub for the rest of your body, using a loofah or exfoliating gloves. Start at the tops of your feet while in the shower and work your way up to your neck, focusing on areas that feel the driest.

4. Moisturize to keep your skin smooth and supple. Use a combination lotion that exfoliates such as one containing lactic acid, and moisturizes at the same time. Apply moisturizer to damp skin and allow it to be absorbed. Follow up with a second layer of lotion. Look for lotions designed to hydrate the skin, such as ones with jojoba oil or shea butter.

5. Use facial and body creams that rejuvenate your skin as you sleep. Look for creams that contain retinoids and beta hydroxy acid, which help boost the body's natural skin-renewal process.

6. Exercise regularly and keep yourself hydrated. Exercises such as running and bicycling are not only good for your body, but for your skin as well, by keep your pores open and your skin moist. Drinking eight glasses of water per day keeps all of your cells hydrated, including your skin cells.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid windy weather, since high wind can dry out and damage your skin.

References

• MayoClinic.com; What Are the Best Foods for Healthy Skin?; Lawrence E. Gibson; June 2010
• "Self": The Skin Commandments
• "Elle"; The 10 Commandments for Youthful Looking Skin; March 2010
• SelfGrowth.com: Top Eight Tips to Get a Radiant Skin!; Felicia Adams
• Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna; Women’s Skin Tone Influences Perception of Beauty, Health, Age, Scientists Find; October 2006