by Kristen Moore

Created on: March 08, 2010

Before you go comparing yourself to those models in magazine advertisements, remember that you are gazing at ladies who have the benefit of airbrushing technology. Unfortunately, most of us do not have access to such lavish resources. Do not fret; there are some ways to brighten up your dull complexion without spending a fortune on super model products.

Exfoliate

Dry, dead skin can dull anyone’s complexion. Dead skin tends to be at its worst during the winter months. To combat dulling dead skin, you should probably invest in a good facial exfoliating product to slough off that top layer. You do not need to spend an unreasonable amount of money on this product. There are adequate facial exfoliating products at the drug store. Just look for an unscented brand to avoid irritation. To use the product, simply massage it over your face directly following cleansing. Avoid getting the product too close to your eyes. To avoid over exfoliating, you might want to use the exfoliating product every other day as opposed to every day. Your result should be a cleaner, brighter complexion, free from a dulling layer of last season’s skin.

Moisturize

Now that your skin feels smooth and radiant, you will want to apply a good, moisturizing crème. Moisturizing your face brightens your complexion by preventing the build-up of more dead skin. Select an unscented moisturizing crème that is gentle enough for everyday use. After cleansing and exfoliating your face, gently apply the moisturizing crème with your ring fingers. Make sure to always use the ring finger because it is the weakest finger and does not tug and pull at the skin the way that others would. Smooth the moisturizer all along your face. If you have oily skin, avoid getting lotion in the T-zone (along the chin, nose and forehead) because this could clog your pores. If you desire a little extra radiance, try a bronzing lotion a few times out of the week to give your face a truly healthy glow.

Care for Yourself from the Inside Out

No matter how well you pamper your face externally; there is no match for caring for your body on the inside. Firstly, make sure that drink plenty of water. Water helps to flush out impurities in your body that could be building up and clogging your pores. Opt for a minimum of eight glasses of water daily or sixty four ounces. Secondly, make sure that you consume a balanced diet on a daily basis. A healthy diet simultaneously makes you look and feel better. Try for five servings of grain daily, three to five servings of fruit or vegetables, and two servings of meat and dairy products. Thirdly, take a good multivitamin to maintain you overall health. It might be hard to meet all nutritional requirements for the day so a good supplement might serve you well.  Even if you are not pregnant, prenatal vitamins are some of the most beneficial multivitamins and are worth a try.   

So you might not ever experience the effects of airbrushing, but hopefully you have achieved something better: a naturally brighter and healthier complexion. With your skin looking so radiant, you might even want to stow away your foundation and concealer and allow the world to view your face all natural.

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