Now that you've decided on a face and body wash, learn new ways to use them. Jaliman suggests cleansing daily with an oscillating brush to gently exfoliate your skin. You can either lather your face and then use the brush, or apply the product directly to the brush head. The brush will automatically shut off after two minutes.
You'll also want to exfoliate your body every day. Jaliman recommends using a brush for your body, as well ("be sure to use a different brush head for your body than you do for your face," she says) -- but a pouf or scrub will also get the job done. "When you get out of the shower, towel dry and always use a moisturizer," she says. Applying lotion soon after a shower will lock the hydration into your skin.
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Wednesday: Cool down your shower
When you shower, does your bathroom fill up with steam so thick you can barely find your towel? If your answer is yes, you can bet that the water is too hot. Piping hot water robs the skin of moisture, and can cause uncomfortable dryness, says New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD. She recommends showering with lukewarm water -- you'll get just as clean, and your skin will feel so much better for it.
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Thursday: Tweak your diet
The old adage "you are what you eat" is especially true when it comes to your skin. Bad dietary choices -- too much alcohol or caffeine, not enough vegetables -- are going to show up on your face. If your skin is dry, incorporate more foods that are high in omega fatty acids like nuts and wild salmon. If you're concerned about aging, add more antioxidant-rich foods to your diet. Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann recommends eating raspberries and blueberries and drinking green and white tea, all of which help fight free-radicals.
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Friday: Step up the exfoliating
Even though you're now exfoliating every day, you should choose one day a week to do a deeper exfoliating treatment. Jaliman recommends using either a face scrub or a pad with some sort of acid like glycolic or alpha hydroxy. Not only will exfoliating remove dry, dead skin cells, it will also help your skin absorb anti-aging and moisturizing products better. "On your body, the exfoliating that you do daily with a scrub or loofah in the shower should be sufficient," she says.
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Saturday: Upgrade your sunscreen
You need to wear sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. It doesn't matter if you're going to be riding a bike or sitting in an office, SPF is essential. However, the type of sunscreen you use on the weekends should probably be different than what you wear during the week. "If you're outside doing sports, you'll want to use a water resistant sunscreen," explains Jaliman. She also recommends looking for sunscreens that contain the physical UV-blocking ingredients Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. If you know you're going to be outside, use a higher SPF, and be sure to reapply often.
When it comes to taking care of your skin, there's no one better to consult than a dermatologist. However, only 15 percent of Americans go to one.
So to help out the remaining 85 percent, we asked top derms what skin care changes they wish we'd all make. The catch: The new routine had to be easy enough to put into action in seven days.
�Few people have naturally perfect skin, but no matter what skin you were born with, it can be made to look better -- usually a whole lot better," says New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD. "What everybody should aim for is their own best skin, the kind that gets compliments and has a healthy glow." And Jaliman believes a few small changes can make a big difference.
In order to help you achieve your own "best skin," we've come up with this seven-day recovery plan. Incorporate these tips into your regimen, and by the end of the week you'll be on your way to a prettier complexion.
