Natural Beauty Tips for Women 6

If you didn't know better, you might think the secret to looking your best was buried deep within a package of expensive products. It's not.

The little things you do every day can go a long way, sometimes more, to "give your skin all the fuel it needs" to recharge, repair, and combat the stresses of daily life, says Doris Day, M.D., assistant professor of clinical dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center.

Start today with these six healthy habits that will have you looking your best.

1. Sleep on it.

All you have to do is check the mirror after a night of tossing and turning to understand how much your skin needs an eye.

Research supports this. A 2013 study published in the journal Sleep found that sleep-deprived people had puffy, bloodshot eyes, dark circles under their eyes, more wrinkles, and droopy eyelids than more rested people.

"It's at its lowest during sleep, so if you're not getting enough sleep, your cortisol levels rise, leading to collagen loss," says dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD, author of The Mind-Beauty Connection. "You can see this even after just one sleepless night." Aim for 7.5 to 8 hours of shut-eye each night.

2. Break a sweat.

Talk about motivation to move more: People over 40 who exercise regularly have the skin of people half their age, according to a 2014 study at McMaster University in Ontario.

Even better, you don't have to run a marathon or spend your life in yoga classes to reap the rewards. People in the study who exercised at a moderate pace—jogging or running for half an hour twice a week—also saw benefits.

The key? Stick to it. Choose an activity you like (walking the dog, biking with your kids), then mark it on your calendar.

3. Stick to the dark side of the street.

Sunscreen you wear every day helps, but don't rely on it alone. For one thing, it wears off over the day.

To ensure you're fully protected from the sun's UV rays, wear sunglasses, cover up, and seek shade when outdoors, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. This is when the sun's burning, cancer-causing UVB rays are at their most intense. We're talking year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces like snow and ice, where you can double your UV dose.

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"There's nothing more aging than UV rays," says Wechsler. "Over time, they break down collagen, thin the skin, and create sunspots and extra blood vessels."

4. Stay hydrated.

Check the ingredients in your favorite moisturizer, and you'll likely see something called "hyaluronic acid." Naturally found in your skin, it's a moisture magnet, holding onto the water you get from food and drinks, leaving your skin feeling firmer and fuller.

But “if you're dehydrated, the water goes to your [other] organs instead,” says Day.

A quick trick to tell if your skin is thirsty: Pinch the back of your hand or lower arm. If your skin doesn't settle quickly, you're suffering from low H2O levels.

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Not a fan of plain water? Fruits and vegetables that are naturally full of water—like cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, grapefruit, and celery—are just as effective.

5. Less worry, more happiness.

When you're stressed, cortisol—that familiar enemy—rises, disrupting collagen and causing dry skin and wrinkles, says Wechsler. It's no wonder that men in a 2013 study published in Biology Letters found women with high levels of stress hormones less attractive.

Meditation is a stress reliever, but it's not the only one. Treat yourself to a massage or a foot soak. Working out also reduces stress. And you'll handle it better if you're in a good mood. Win, win!

6. Exfoliate regularly.

Skin cells are constantly turning over, but as you age, and depending on the environment, they sometimes need a little help to shed completely. Give your skin a helping hand and exfoliate once or twice a week.

Try Day's all-natural recipe: Combine salt, sugar, and enough honey and coconut oil to form a paste. Make it thicker and rougher if you have oily skin, she says.