When Alicia Keys recently revealed her no-makeup selfie, I couldn't have been the only who stared in awe at how beautiful her skin was. Yeah, she's a celebrity (and she may just have great genetics), but honestly, having great skin doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. Try incorporating these habits into your routine for 30 days and see what a difference it can make with your skin.
1. Drink More Water
Right, so you've heard this one before. But that's because it's a fact that proper hydration makes all our systems work properly — that includes the skin. When you're dehydrated, your skin can look more wrinkled. Isn't that a great reason to sip up? Keep in mind that water intake can vary per person and you should drink more when exercising or in the sun.
2. Stay Out of the Sun
I know what you're thinking - stay out of the sun during prime swimming season? But fact is, the sun's ultraviolet rays are aging your skin. Commit to doing more than simply wearing sunscreen on your face every day. For younger-looking skin, you need to wear SPF 30 on your face; wear large sunglasses when outside to prevent squinting and further wrinkles from forming; and also wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face even further.
3. Break Bad Habits
This may seem obvious, but habits such as staying up late, drinking heavily, smoking and being stressed are just a small number of things that contribute to making our skin look older than it is. Start breaking these bad habits (slowly) and watch your skin change right before your eyes.
4. Use Efficacious Products
You may already have your skin-care regimen down pat, but adding a serum into your routine can make a noticeable difference. For fast results, I like No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum. This powerful serum is the U.K.'s best-selling anti-aging serum, and it is now available in the U.S.
Made with No7’s renowned anti-aging peptide MATRIXYL 3000 Plus™ that works to help repair damaged skin and restore key proteins that often break down as we age and is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles in just four weeks! I noticed that my skin started to look younger two weeks after I started using it. No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is available for under $30 at Target.
5. Get More Sleep
There is such a thing as beauty sleep. Getting into a regular sleeping pattern with consistent 7–8 hours of sleep each night will help you so much more than you think. The body repairs and recovers itself while you sleep — that includes your skin. Apply No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum under moisturizer twice a day, once in the AM and once in the PM, to deliver even better anti-aging benefits. If you have trouble falling asleep, invest in a silky sleep mask, turn off the TV and be sure to stay off the computer and mobile devices for at least 30 minutes before retiring for the night.
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between No7 and SheKnows