Flawless Skin

You are what you eat

What you eat shows through your skin; perfect complexion comes from the inside. To get beautiful skin, make sure your diet includes:

- Antioxidants: fruit and vegetables, especially red and orange ones. Above all, eat plenty of carrots. They are rich in beta-carotene, which gives your complexion an apricot glow.

- Vitamin A, or retinol. Contained in carrots, cheese, eggs and oily fish.

- Vitamin C: the anti ageing vitamin. Gives you a glowing complexion. And that is not all: it also boosts production of collagen fibres, thus firming up your skin.

- Green tea. As well as its decongestive properties, it encourages the elimination of toxins that dull the complexion. One of its components even protects the skin from ultra-violet rays.

- Olive oil. To fight against dry, crocodile skin, there is nothing better than linoleic acid, which prevents water from evaporating from skin cells. 

Your beauty regime is essential too

All of the following are crucial steps to achieving healthy, flawless skin.

- Protection against external aggressions, particularly pollution. Apply a day cream every morning. It hydrates the face and slows down dehydration, helping you to get beautiful skin. Choose one with sun protection and vitamins, to reinforce your skin's defences.

- An eye contour product. Some unblock the pores and reduce bags for younger looking eyes and reduce lines and wrinkles.

- Cleansing. One of our most important skin care tips. Morning and night, remove your make up to get rid of the polluting particles and makeup residue that suffocate your skin. Your skin will straight away be able to breathe more easily.

- Night-time nutrition. It is during the night that the skin rebuilds itself and regenerates. To do this, it needs vitamins, fatty acids and hydrating substances from a night cream applied just before bed.

- Finally, an essential yet often-forgotten beauty must: hydration from the inside to smooth out and plump up the skin. Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, fresh fruit juices and smoothies that are rich in vitamins.

It's not just lotions and potions that give us great skin. Food also plays a part when it comes to keeping our even-toned, well-moisturised glow. So dig your shopping list and add these beauty-boosting items for flawless skin!

# Apricots: All orange fruits are good for skin. They're packed with pro-vitamin A and beta-carotene, both of which boost tan-producing melanin.

# Berries: Blueberries, bilberries, blackberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, strawberries and raspberries are an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants combat oxidative stress and free radicals responsible for premature skin ageing. Meaning berries slow down the skin ageing clock to leave us with youthful looks for longer!

# Bananas:  Bananas naturally hydrate our skin, thanks to their vitamin A content. They restore lost moisture, banish dull complexions and repair dry, damaged skin. Bananas also contain nutritional compounds that slow down the appearance of wrinkles.

# Cherries: These sweet berries have anti-ageing properties that regenerate and soothe skin. Cherries are bursting with vitamin C, which helps deal with sun-related damage.

# Cucumber: Perfect for dry, dehydrated skin, cucumbers are 95% water - the highest water content of all vegetables.

# Kiwis: Kiwis break all records when it come to vitamin C! Known to support collagen levels, vitamin C keeps our skin firm and wrinkle-free (well almost!).

# Melons: Melons' refreshing goodness means they're as great on a plate as they are on our face. They soften, nourish and soothe dry skin. For a simple sunburn remedy, just place some melon slices on the affected area.

# Peppers: Whether raw, grilled, baked or in your spag bol, red, green and yellow peppers contain high levels of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, K, alongside hyaluronic acid. Bursting with antioxidants, they help skin to protect itself from free radicals and, therefore, signs of ageing.

# Grapes: Grapes contain vitamins, fruit acids and antioxidants. They're astringent and re-mineralising. They tone up and brighten all skin types, particularly mature skin. Draining and detoxifying, they purify our bodies and get rid of toxins.

# Tomatoes: Tomatoes clean us from both inside and out. Their lycopene content purifies, disinfects and brightens skin. It's also an effective blackhead-zapper. Be warned, however, that tomatoes are acidic, so not best suited to sensitive skin. Finally, tomatoes' antioxidants protect skin from the harmful effects of UV rays and free radicals.

Ever heard of layering? Devotees of the Japanese beauty regime say it's the secret to a glowing complexion, so let's take a closer look at the latest skincare craze.

What is layering?
If you're a fan of 'slow cosmetics', then layering is for you. The idea comes from Asia and involves using a series of skin treatments on a daily basis. In contrast to BB creams, which are an all-in-one option, layering takes beauty regimes back to basics. The goal is to hydrate skin to the max: different products are layered on to gently cleanse and deeply moisturise. There are six steps to this ritual, so slow down and take your time.

The six-step routine
- Step 1: Removing make-up with oil. Oil gently dislodges impurities and make-up, including waterproof mascara, and does it more effectively than any other make-up remover. Plus, it doesn't make your skin greasy.

- Step 2: Facial cleansing. A gentle soap will rid your skin of pollution, microparticles, dust and tobacco, as well as removing the facial oil.

- Step 3: Purifying the skin. Apply a toner or floral water to purify and brighten your face.

- Step 4: Hydrating. Serum has a higher concentration of active ingredients than moisturiser and is great for deep hydration. Choose one that suits your skin type and needs, such as lifting, anti-ageing, smoothing or anti-fatigue.

- Step 5: Treating your eye contour. Use a gel or cream to moisturise the eye area, erase signs of fatigue and fight premature ageing. Don't overload this delicate skin by using a product that's too rich.

- Step 6: Moisturising. Your skin needs protection from external factors like UV rays, pollution, stress and tobacco. Use a moisturiser that meets your needs, such as anti-wrinkle, anti-ageing, anti-fatigue, mattifying or SPF.

Is layering for you?
Layering has a devoted following. Fans say it's ideal for treating problem skins that are oily or dry, but it also works a treat on normal skin. Plus, it's a great way to pamper yourself and unwind. The downside is that it does take time, so it's not ideal if you're in a rush. Some also question if it's OK to use so many different products, but there's only a risk if they're incompatible with each other.

Article supplied & written by Marie Claire, part of Hearst Communications, Inc.