Healthy Living

Friday, July 3, 2009

That glow: Celebrities with the healthiest, most gorgeous skin

    • Leighton Meester
    • Halle Berry
    • Nicole Kidman
    • Kate Hudson
    • Queen Latifah
    • Eva Mendes
    • Sandra Oh
photo 1 of 8

Leighton Meester

Getty Images
Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester, Halle Berry, Sandra Oh -- who doesn't want to smile up at a camera with their amazing, glowy skin? While I ponder the fantasy of having the caramel loveliness of Eva Mendes one day and the scrubby-clean fair skin of Reese Witherspoon the next, perhaps it's time to get working on making my own face a little more camera-ready.

We've all read the tips for making our skin look great a thousand times. And we've all had countless conversations with our girlfriends, mothers, the make-up counter clerk, the nice lady at Starbucks about how to finally get our faces in beautiful shape. What could we possible learn by hearing it all again?

Maybe nothing. But maybe this will be the one time we take some steps to make our skin feel healthier and look phenomenal. With that hope and with some inspirational photos of the women in Hollywood with the most gorgeous skin, here are some no-duh tips that we've never quite gotten around to implementing but still, just make good sense:

1. Sleep on it. You know how your face feels sucked dry after one of those too fun, late-late nights? Or how ragged you felt the first year after you were up every hour with your new baby? You're not just feeling the effects of a lack of sleep, they are also showing up on your skin. There's really no other way around making this kind of investment in your skin's health other than setting a bedtime and sticking to it. You might not see the results in the morning, but wait until that 20th high school reunion, friend. It will all be revealed then.

2. Hydrate it. Yeah yeah yeah, there's always going to be some debate about how much water you should be drinking. No matter where you side on the four glasses vs. eight glasses debate, just drink up! You will feel more alert, which means you will look more alert. Don't be afraid to serve up your skin a nice cocktail of moisturizer, too. If you're really feeling radical (or parched, either way), take a day off of make-up altogether and go on a little water-drinking, moisturizer bender. Think how perked up and pretty your skin will look after all that self-care.

3. Feed it. If you're going to eat for energy, longevity and to keep up with your busy days, why not also eat for fabulous skin? Making small adjustments -- like adding a cup of green tea to your nightly ritual or using sunflower oil in your stirfry-- might do as much or more for your skin's glow as all the products on your bathroom counter.

4. Protect it. I admit that as the seasons change, I have a bad and unconscious habit of stowing the sunscreen away as soon as I pack up my sandals. The reality is that we can still get loads of exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays when it is cloudy and we do need the protection of sunscreen all year round. The two seconds it takes to slather on a bit of block means you will be guarding your skin from sunburns today and from cancer, wrinkles and sunspots in the years to come. And hello! Have you seen Nicole Kidman's porcelain skin? It's gorgeous, even under that giant hat and what has to be a pint of sunscreen.

5. Gently address the sins of your skin past. Acne scars, sun damage and other skin ickiness is a reality for most of our faces. Sure, I'd love to have the baby-soft, wrinkle-free skin of my 20s, but no product, nap or gallon of water is going to make that happen magically. Rather than worry too much about the little flaws (the worrying, by the way, causes me to make one of those scrunched up faces that cannot exactly be erasing the little lines, can it?), be kind to the body you have now. See a dermatologist (who doesn't yell -- sometimes a trick to find), try some gentle products that will fade scars, clear up dark circles and banish the blemishes making an appearance now. Healing will happen and in the meantime, use a bit of concealer until it's all sorted out.
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 46
  • hopigurl86's Avatar
    Posted by hopigurl86 Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:45am PDT

    Her name is actually Leighton Meester.

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  • 80'sgirl's Avatar
    Posted by 80'sgirl Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:47pm PDT

    a dermatologist once told me avoid the sun at all cost.

    you might think that tan looks good on your face, but your adding years to your skin, use a self tanner.

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  • J.Kay Dawes's Avatar
    Posted by J.Kay Dawes Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:00pm PDT

    Purchase an aloe vera plant and once a week dont wear make up/wash your face clean the apply and just wear the aloe vera on your skin for the day or even wash your face and do it nightly it all depends on the individual but it is a vitamin for your face!

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  • Joy's Avatar
    Posted by Joy Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:49pm PDT

    What do all think about using natural products containing Tea Tree oil? I believe Sanctum has some great products too

    Report Abuse
  • Gabriel B's Avatar
    Posted by Gabriel B Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:09am PDT

    Hi. my name is gabriel becerril.

    36 years old. every day I tell people my age. they never believe me.

    They tell me that I look 18 to 21 years old. I get I.D. for movies still.

    The trick is not creams. just thoughts. People are not ready for this yet.

    this is done through the spirit. I sleep 4 to 6 hour a day and eat what ever I want.

    I love to go to work. what ever that is.I love working with people. helping them brake away from this

    insane world that we live in. and so them the truth. love and knowledge. is how you go through life.

    we are not free as a race. stop eating junk food. just fruit, veggies and meat every now and then.

    this is just some of my teachings. the time is coming where you will see more of me.

    LIGHT OF THE HUMAN SOUL. The meaning of life.

    From: Gabriel.

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  • Well...'s Avatar
    Posted by Well... Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:58am PDT

    Yeah sugar babies/daddies are a satanic idea. "Be sweet to your wife, she'll give some sugar maybe even call you daddy." I use proactiv for acne, black opal fade gel on any spot, water, spring mix, and fruit in the diet, and exercise for circulation. It takes some TLC=time though. I believe in eliminating vice and maintaining peace for a real glow though.

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  • jduran8's Avatar
    Posted by jduran8 Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:24pm PDT

    the perfect thing for your skin when its dry because of the winter is St. Ives Apricot Scrub, use it once a week. make sure to scrub well, and you will feel the difference in your skin right away!...=)

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  • vchggs's Avatar
    Posted by vchggs Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:10am PDT

    My skin normally looks better when I don't wear make-up. Even when I wash my face at night, foundation tends to dry my skin - maybe I'm wearing the wrong products.

    http://buzz.prevention.com/community/vapahi/soothe-dry-skin-with-baby-oil

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  • Beenthere's Avatar
    Posted by Beenthere Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:03pm PDT

    Aging skin is a right of passage. Be proud of your age and content with yourself and the real you will shine through!

    Report Abuse
  • FlirtiCutie39's Avatar
    Posted by FlirtiCutie39 Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:01pm PDT

    After using so many expensive products i have found the perfect solution to my face problem less than $10 its called skin success works perfectly, try it you just might llike it.

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Comments 1-10 of 46

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