03 Sep 8 simple secrets for great skin

Secret #1: Do what your mom always told you to do. “Sun protection is essential for nice skin. If you smoke, quit. Eat blueberries and other fruits with rich color, which are full of antioxidants. Deep red, yellow and green vegetables are also good. Despite the warnings about mercury and other contaminants, I think fish, with its oils, is very healthy. Stay hydrated. Don’t overdo alcohol and caffeine. And, yes, get enough sleep. Most of us do not.”

Secret #2: Don’t have model envy: A slim bod doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cellulite-free. “Cellulite is caused when little bits of fatty tissue push through the fibrous connective-tissue lattice that is part of the normal structure of our [skin],” says Dr. Gordon. “The fatty tissue itself is soft, and the fibrous connective tissue is tough. So you can think of it as the soft fat popping through the open spaces between the strands of fibrous tissue. No matter the body shape, even little bits of fat can push their way through.” Long story short: Fatty tissue—aka cellulite—can show up on all shapes and sizes, even Gisele-like frames.

Secret #3: Skip the salsa and chips; avoiding salty foods and other water-retention traps can help decrease the appearance of cellulite. “If you retain fluids, you may feel your cellulite is worse than if you don’t,” says Dr. Gordon. “The more fat there is and the boggier that soft fat is, the more likely it is to push through the connective tissue”—and show up as cellulite. Let’s hear it for low-sodium soy sauce!

Secret #4: Seek out a sweet exfoliator. “Harsh exfoliators may chafe the skin,” says Gordon. “I like a sugar scrub because it dissolves as you use it. For this reason, it’s hard to over-exfoliate with a well-made sugar scrub.” Check out the new soft, body-friendly line of St. Ives Moisturizing In-Shower Exfoliating Body Polishes.

Secret #5: Give your body H20 from head to toe. When you’re in the bath or shower, make good use of your awesome new exfoliator or body polish. After toweling off, apply a rich moisturizer while the skin is still damp.

Secret #6: Keep in mind that fancy-schmancy moisturizers may not be more effective. “These days a lot of high-tech engineering goes into the development of moisturizers. While moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter are good to look for, it’s not easy to identify the good—or bad—moisturizers by looking at ingredients alone,” advises Gordon, who recommends looking for a name you trust and price point you will feel comfortable using every day. “Ultimately, it is the daily use of a moisturizer that makes it effective,” she says.

Secret #7: Look for ingredients found in your favorite liquids. Green tea, which contains restorative antioxidants, can be found in many helpful skin-smoothing products, as can caffeine. “It’s just conjecture on my part,” says Dr. Gordon, “but it may be that caffeine constricts the tiny vessels in the skin and the slight local ‘dehydration’ that results prevents the fat from poking through.”

Secret #8: Slap on the SPF, even on non-beach days. “A lot of people don’t think they are getting sun unless they are lying on the beach,” says Dr. Gordon. “Many people look at me funny when I tell them that your skin doesn’t care if you get sun lying down or walking around.”