In addition to regularly exfoliating your face to fend off dry skin (super important during winter months), don't forget to scrub your lips. Chapped lips are one of the first signs of a much larger-scale dehydration. Exfoliate with a sugar scrub like The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ, $24; wipe the scrub with a washcloth, then moisturize lips with a rich balm or eye cream.
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Carry a mist.
Dehydrated skin not only looks dull but also has trouble sweating out toxins and exaggerates fine lines until they look like deep wrinkles. Keep a portable mister like Vichy Thermal Spa Water, $5 on hand to rehydrate dry skin, refresh foundation or cool down hot, sweaty skin.
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Get or give yourself regular facials.
They may not fit your budget, but regular facials or weekly light treatments can do wonders for your skin. For an affordable alternative, consider scheduling mini-facials on your lunchbreak or do a mini facial at home (complete with exfoliation, mask and moisturizer) -- no time for that? Then carry facials-to-go like MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, $75 with you for a quick, 10-minute treatment.
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Carry an extra pair of shoes.
You may often have found yourself agonizing in what appeared to be comfortable shoes at the store. Just walking through the city regularly in the same pair of shoes can put friction on the same parts of your feet, causing them to ache and blister. A simple change of shoes can redistribute pressure on your feet and get you through the rest of your day. (Tip: To combat blisters, keep shoes dry and cover skin with bandage, tape, petroleum jelly or even lip balm for quick relief at the first sign of redness.)
Bright lights, big city ... big zit? Several studies, including one published in the "Journal of Investigative Dermatology" and another in the "International Journal of Cosmetic Science," have long suggested that smog could be stressing out -- even damaging -- human skin cells, depleting them of valuable substances like Vitamin E. So what's a city girl to do? Adopt these 10 lifestyle habits and send those pesky skin irritants packing.