** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

It’s a quest that I think everyone is always on: achieving glowing skin. I mean, who wants lifeless skin that makes you look like you’re an undead in need of some blood? No offense to all the True Blood/Twilight/Vampire Diaries/Count von Count lovers out there.

I’ve put together a list of tips for soft & healthy skin that I use in my daily skincare routine. I am by no means a beautician, but these tricks have worked for me… I thought I should share! If you have any tips of your own, please do tell. Let’s help keep everyone’s skin looking GORGEOUS, my darlings!

Easy Tips for Healthy Skin

I’m sure some of these tips are oldies to your ears, but hopefully they are still goodies.

1. Drink Water – Duh, you say? I know! Drinking water won’t literally hydrate your skin from the inside out. I don’t think it works that way, but it can help flush out the toxins which have an impact on your skin. Just don’t overdo it, either, because drinking too much water is also bad.

2. Avoid Smoking – No, I’m not your mom! But smoking tends to dry out the skin and make it look super dull.

3. Remove Makeup Before Bed – This lets your skin breathe during the vital night-time recovery stage. (It’ll also keep your pillowcases cleaner.)

I use Neutrogena Eye Make-up Remover Lotion.

4. Wash Yo Face – Not with just water, but go for a cleanser that enriches your skin with vitamins and

moisturizers.  The key here is to choose a wash that is formulated specifically for your skin so you don’t irritate it.

I use Vichy Purete Thermale Foaming Cream Cleanser.

5. Exfoliate – This process sloughs away dead skin cells that make you look dull and tired. It’s best to do it on dry skin first. But if the scrub you’re using is too dry, try adding a bit of lotion to make it smoother. Don’t over-exfoliate, as you could be removing your skin’s protective natural barrier and increasing its vulnerability. Try once or twice a week.

6. Moisturize! – For your hands, make sure to put on moisturizer right after you wash them. For your body, it’s best to apply body lotion as you get out of the shower (when your skin is slightly damp) to lock in

the moisture. Also, apply a layer right before you bed to take advantage of when your skin enters its natural recovery stage. Do the same for your face, but with a facial cream.

I use Bath & Body Works Rainkissed Leaves Body Lotion or The Body Shop Mango Body Butter for my body and hands.

7. Avoid Body Lotions on Face – Body lotions are usually formulated with ingredients that may be too harsh for the delicate skin on your face. Also, some ingredients (such as cocoa butter or shea butter) used in body creams can clog pores. Definitely not what you want!

I use Marcelle Essentials Night Cream in the P.M.

8. Masks – No, not the werewolf one you wore on Halloween. Sometimes our skin needs an extra kick

in the butt. There are many masks out there to unclog, hydrate or brighten your skin. I’d do this only once or twice a week to avoid irritating the skin though.

9. Protect with SPF – You knew this one was coming, right? Harmful UV rays can cause premature aging in your skin. So make sure to always wear sunscreen on your body, and for the face, I prefer a moisturizer with SPF.

I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock for my body. 


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock

10. Avoid Astringents – I’ve never been a believer of astringents, but I have dry skin and I’m not sure if this really works for oily skin. Since astringents are alcohol-based, I just think this is too harsh for the delicate skin on your face. It could upset the pH balance, causing break-outs or redness.

11. Mineral Makeup – I find mineral cosmetics are less likely to clog pores because they don’t contain as many artificial ingredients and chemicals. If not mineral makeup specifically, read the makeup labels and go for ingredient lists that are shorter.

12. Use Body Washes – Soaps are drying. I like using moisturizing body washes instead – they leave me feeling clean, add a pretty scent to my skin, and moisturize at the same time.

13. Avoid Picking Your Skin – We all do it. Admit it! C’mon! OK, I’ll go first. Sometimes I get dry, scaly spots on my face, and as much as I try not to, I tend to pick at them. This irritates my skin and sometimes it causes even bigger, drier, scalier spots. Gross!

14. Make It Lukewarm – Avoid using hot water to wash your hands or shower as it can strip your skin of its natural moisture.

15. Sleep – Yes, beauty sleep. It’s not a myth. It works! Sleep gives the organs in your body time to recover.

Speaking of which, it’s 6 A.M.! (I don’t follow the last rule very well.) I need to get to bed. 😛

Please let me know if you have additional tips for getting beautiful skin.