We asked the experts—dermatologists, aestheticians, beauty experts, and even a supermodel—for their best-kept secrets to flawless skin. While they may be a longer-term commitment, these simple lifestyle tweaks are guaranteed to reap significant results. Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, recommends accelerating in the shower, too. “Long showers strip your natural oils. That’s why some people have a chronic itchy spot on their back.” RELATED: Are You Moisturizing All Wrong? Don’t Make These 8 Common Mistakes RELATED: The Best Serums to Solve Every Skin Problem RELATED: Ask a Beauty Editor: Can You Recommend an Affordable Anti-Aging Routine? RELATED: 10 Beauty Rollers That Actually Do Something for Your Face Finally, and you’ve heard it before: Most experts interviewed said that drinking water is a must. Josie Maran, a model and the founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, tricks herself into guzzling more with a bit of flavor doctoring. “I make fruit-, vegetable-, and herb- infused waters,” she says. “My favorite is spiking water with chopped strawberries and basil.” And what to avoid? Dairy. Scientists don’t understand exactly why milk products can lead to acne, but some surmise that the natural hormones present in dairy may be to blame, says Leslie Baumann, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami Beach, Fla, who notes that even organic milk can cause breakouts. Cottage cheese, instant breakfast drinks, and sherbet are also linked to acne. While cutting back on dairy won’t solve a pimple problem single-handedly, it may make a difference for those who suffer severe breakouts, say experts. (If you go this route, be sure you’re getting enough calcium from other food sources, such as leafy greens, or consider taking a supplement.) RELATED: These Are the 5 Best Acne Treatments, According to Thousands of Reviews Baxter has devised an exfoliating plan for her rosacea-prone skin: “I cleanse every night with the gentle Foreo Luna cleansing brush ($129; foreo.com), and every two days I use Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65; sephora.com), which does not irritate.” Supermodel Christie Brinkley has been exfoliating for more than 40 years. “There weren’t face scrubs when I was a teenager, so I used a foot scrub on all of my skin starting at 19,” says Brinkley. She has long since switched to a gentler scrub made for the face, and she believes this is the secret to getting circulation going and diminishing puffiness in the morning. Sloughing below the neck is also key, says Palm Beach, Florida–based aesthetician Tammy Fender, who dry-brushes before she showers. “Consider it a preventive approach,” adds Berson. “You can use your cleanser to avoid dryness, eczema, and psoriasis, rather than just treating these issues when they flare up.” That said, applying a moisturizer after you cleanse is still smart. And if you’re using an acne medication, wait 10 minutes after you wash to minimize irritation. RELATED: What Is Micellar Water, and Should I Be Using It? And the opposite is also true. “Under-eye puffiness can be caused by a spike in cortisol levels,” says Dr. Bowe. “Beauty sleep is no joke—you truly need seven to eight hours. When you don’t get enough sleep, your cortisol levels increase, and when that happens, that boosts the rate of collagen breakdown, causing under-eye bags to appear.” FYI: “Yawning and squinting can break down collagen and elastin around the eyes, too,” says Dr. Bowe.
