How to Become Naturally Pretty

Wash your face twice a day.

This keeps skin healthy and helps prevent clogged pores and acne. For a naturally glowing complexion, it’s important to remove dirt, sweat, and dead skin from your skin’s surface every day. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser formulated for your skin type in the morning and evening. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat your face dry with a soft towel. Wash your face as soon as possible after exercising or getting sweaty. Avoid harsh cleansers with alcohol in them. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, stick with fragrance-free and non-comedogenic products.

Exfoliate your face once a week.

Exfoliating removes dead skin so your face looks fresh and bright. The easiest way to exfoliate is with a face scrub! Wet your face, apply the scrub, and use your fingers to massage your skin in small, circular motions. After 30 seconds, rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a towel. Never exfoliate your skin if you have open cuts or a sunburn. Exfoliating too often or too vigorously can irritate your skin, so be careful. Depending on your skin type, you may be able to work up to exfoliating 2-3 times a week.

Apply moisturizer after washing and exfoliating.

Moisturizing your skin keeps it supple, youthful, and soft. The best time to apply moisturizer is right after washing your face while the skin is still damp. Massage the moisturizer into your skin with your fingertips. Be sure to choose moisturizers that are oil-free and non-comedogenic so you won’t clog your pores. Give the moisturizer a few minutes to soak in before applying makeup or other skincare products. If you have acne-prone skin, you might be tempted to skip moisturizer. Dry skin can make acne worse, though! As long as you're using an oil-free and non-comedogenic moisturizer, you’ll be fine.

Brush your teeth with a whitening toothpaste.

Brightening your smile is an easy way to enhance your natural beauty. There are lots of teeth-whitening products out there, so start with a whitening toothpaste and see how that works for you. If you want to whiten your teeth several shades, you can buy at-home bleaching kits at drugstores, or you can see your dentist for an in-office whitening procedure. Look for whitening products that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance (the seal will be on the packaging). These are certified to be safe and effective.

Smile and maintain good posture.

You will you look and feel more confident! Smiling helps you look friendly and approachable to others. Plus, studies show that it can be a major mood booster for you. Proper posture—keeping your spine straight, chin lifted, and shoulders back— makes you feel more confident and tends to make others perceive you as more confident, as well.

Keep brow grooming to a minimum.

Thicker brows look more natural and youthful. Use small brow scissors to snip away any unruly or long brow hairs if you need to. Then, use brow gel to help you shape them and keep them in check. Avoid waxing completely and if you absolutely must tweeze, just pull out a few stray hairs to improve the overall shape of your brows and leave it at that.

Drink plenty of water every day.

Staying hydrated keeps your skin and hair looking great. Water is the best option because it’s free of calories and sugar, so try to make that your main beverage. Drinking other liquids, like juice and tea, and eating foods like fresh veggies and soups, can help with hydration, as well. In general, men should aim to drink 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily. Women should aim for 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluid daily. Teens should get between 7-14 cups (1.7-3.3 liters) of fluid daily.

Exercise regularly to stay fit and strong.

Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and boosts confidence. Even moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like biking and jogging, can help you stay fit and feel more attractive. Exercise also improves mood, so you’ll feel better about yourself, too! Plus, increasing your bone and muscle strength now will help to prevent injuries later in life. If you’re not used to exercising, start slowly and build from there. For example, try brisk walking a few times a week and slowly increase the intensity. In general, aim to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, or 75 minutes of intense exercise a week.

Sleep 7-9 hours every night.

Getting enough rest affects natural beauty in so many ways. When you're well-rested, your skin will look better, your eyes brighter and less puffy, and you'll feel more alert and energetic. With all of those benefits, it's no wonder they call it “beauty sleep.” If you’re a teenager, aim for 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Limit caffeine consumption in the evening so you can fall asleep easily. Try keeping your bedroom cooler to improve your sleep quality.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase.

The smooth material is gentle on your skin and hair. If you want to get a jump on natural-looking beauty each morning, sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase at night! Cotton pillowcases create friction against your skin which can cause irritation, dryness, and premature wrinkling. Sleeping on a silky smooth surface also helps prevent friction that leads to frizzy hair, breakage, and tangles.

Eat a balanced diet of healthy foods to slow aging.

Nutrient-dense food helps you look healthy and youthful. Fish, vegetables, fruit, white meat, and nuts are great for your health. Additionally, cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli have anti-inflammatory properties, may prevent cancer, and are rich in vitamins. Try to base most of your diet around fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. A healthy diet improves the health of your hair and nails, too!

Avoid sugar, processed fats, and packaged food.

Foods high in sugar and saturated fat can make your skin look dull. Studies show that sugar, fried foods, saturated fats, simple carbs, and packaged foods damage your skin, cause inflammation, and can induce early-onset wrinkles. Replacing those types of foods with items that are rich in vitamins and minerals can help you maintain a healthy, youthful glow. If you're having a hard time eating healthy, try replacing one meal a week with a healthier option. For instance, instead of making morning toast with white bread made with enriched flour, choose a whole wheat option instead.

Wash your hair every 2-3 days.

Washing too often strips hair of moisture, leaving it dry and brittle. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't wash your hair every day! For most people, aim to wash your hair every 2-3 days to keep it in tip-top shape. Gently massage a quarter-sized dollop of shampoo into your hair, focusing mainly on your scalp and roots. Then, rinse it out thoroughly with warm water. If you have oily hair and/or you exercise a lot, you may need to wash your hair every day or use a dry shampoo on off-days to soak up excess oil and dirt. Make sure you use the right shampoo for your hair type. For example, if you have oily hair, use shampoo formulated for oily or normal hair.

Condition your hair after washing it.

Conditioner keeps your hair hydrated, shiny, and healthy. Massage conditioner into your hair from the midshaft to the ends, taking care to avoid the roots. If you have very fine hair, apply conditioner to the ends only so you don’t weigh your hair down too much. Wait 2-3 minutes and rinse your hair out with lukewarm water. Choose the best conditioner for your hair type. For example, if you have color-treated hair, use a conditioner formulated for that. Apply a hair mask once a week to hydrate and strengthen your hair.

Limit your use of heat styling tools.

When you do use them, lower the heat and use a heat protectant spray. Heat-styling tools like blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can cause damage, split ends, and dullness. Try to let your hair air-dry as often as you can. If you have to blow dry it, use the lowest heat setting and fit your dryer with a diffuser so the heat gets evenly distributed. Spray on a heat protectant before straightening or curling your hair and use the lowest heat setting you can.

Dry brush your body a few times a week.

Dry brushing exfoliates your skin and increases blood circulation. It also stimulates your nervous system and feels invigorating! Use a natural stiff-bristled bath/shower brush with a long handle. Start brushing at your ankles and work your way up with long, fluid strokes. You only need to go over the same area 1-2 times; overdoing it can irritate your skin. Use gentle, circular motions on your torso and back. Then, hop in the shower to rinse away the dead skin cells and apply moisturizer. Dry brush once a week to start and gradually increase to a few times weekly as your skin gets used to it. Use light pressure around sensitive areas like your breasts and neck. Avoid dry brushing your face, which is little too sensitive for stiff bristles. Never dry brush broken, burned, sensitive, or infected skin.

Apply SPF 30 before going outside.

Sun exposure causes dryness, premature aging, and freckles. Anytime you go outside, even if it's cloudy, you're exposing your skin to the damaging UV rays. You can prevent damage by applying sunscreen every day before heading outside. Dermatologists recommend SPF 30 which blocks 97% of the sun’s rays. If you're swimming or sweating outdoors, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. To protect your lips, use a balm with SPF 30 before going outside.

Use tinted moisturizer and cream blush.

If you love makeup, you don’t have to give it up! It’s all about choosing the right products and applying them with a light touch. Instead of using a full-coverage foundation, try a tinted moisturizer instead. Use a tiny bit of concealer to hide any blemishes or dark spots. Then, swipe a rose-colored cream blush over the apples of your cheeks for a natural, healthy glow.

Curl your lashes and swipe on lip balm.

Curling your lashes makes them look longer and opens up your eyes. For a super subtle eye look, curl your lashes and skip the mascara completely. If you want to enhance your lashes more, apply a light coat of brown mascara to the top lashes only. Finish your look with a swipe of tinted lip balm in a natural rosy color.

Remove your makeup before bed.

Sleeping in makeup causes breakouts, dullness, and premature aging. Even if you’re super tired and ready to go to bed, don’t skip this! First, soak a cotton pad with an oil-free makeup remover and swipe the pad all over your face to remove your makeup. Then, follow up with your usual cleanser to get every last bit of makeup off your face. Your skin will thank you for it! If you have sensitive skin, micellar water is another option that dermatologists recommend. Use it on a cotton pad just like a regular makeup remover. If you’re wearing heavy/waterproof makeup and your skin isn’t acne-prone, use an oil-based makeup remover instead.