Skin Care

8 Habits of Women With Perfect Skin

You don't need excellent genes to have great skin. We asked women ages 24 to 83 to share their perfect-skin secrets -- here's what they said

by Anna Jimenez, Allie Flinn

6 of 9

The Habit: They Don't Drink Diet Coke The women we interviewed definitely weren't guzzling soft drinks or ordering take-out every night. While they admitted to the occasional indulgence (chocolate and wine were common), for the most part these women noshed on whole foods like fish, veggies, fruits and nuts.

New York-based makeup artist Joey noticed a serious turnaround in her skin after she did a major diet overhaul, and has a smoothie every morning consisting of several leafy greens, flax oil, chia seeds, lemon, blueberries and, occasionally, protein powder. They also skip processed foods, and limit added sugar. A common thread among the women was that they nourished their body with healthy lifestyle choices, which allows them to have low-maintenance skin care routines that complement their lifestyles.

Why you should try it: Turns out, you really are what you eat (We know -- shocking, right?). Fruits and veggies are essential to glowy skin because they are high in radiance-boosting antioxidants called carotenoids. "It has been show that [antioxidants] increase the glow to the skin and improves the color of the skin," says Jaliman -- making you look healthier and younger. She recommends pairing green and orange produce with plenty of healthy fats, like avocado (of which several of our responders eat at least once a day), which increases your body's absorption of carotenoids.

Image via Bentley Artist

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Habit: They Know the Right Way to Exfoliate Their Skin

EDITORS' BEST OF