3 Things hindering your glow

Jul 19, 2011 2:40 PM by Jessica Padykula

Posted in Beauty & Style / Makeup & Skin Care / Skincare

Wake Up
Your Face

Is your skin looking a little lackluster lately? Sure, makeup can help you get your glow back to a certain extent, but you should also take a look at what could be causing your less-than-stellar appearance. Here are a few reasons your natural glow is non-existent lately -- and what you can do about it.

Not enough sleep

Being tired can wreak havoc on your complexion making skin look dry, pale and lifeless -- and can also cause puffy eyes and dark circles. The remedy: six to eight hours of sleep a night. You'll have more energy, and your skin will look bright and clear with minimal makeup.

Tired face fix:

Use a de-puffing gel on eyes to tone down the no-sleep look. Try Sephora Instant Depuffing Roll-On Gel ($15) to instantly refresh the eye area and wake up tired skin.
Dab brightening concealer on under eye circles. We're partial to Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener ($38), a quick and easy way to disguise an all-nighter.
Dust skin with a highlighting powder to give the illusion of a full night's rest. Oh, and try to get more sleep tomorrow!

Too much stress

Whether due to long days at work, family problems, guy issues or simply an overloaded schedule, stress can leave skin looking washed out and ashy. Minimize stress through yoga, meditation or exercise (even a 10-minute walk can help) and give yourself a cutoff time for technology. This means turning off your phone, not opening your laptop and not doing work once you're home for the day.

We also suggest investing in a good luminizing or energizing mask that will help minimize the effects of stress on your complexion. It's hard to go wrong with Bliss triple oxygen instant energizing mask ($52), an effective fix for dull, sallow skin. Apply the mask and sit back and relax while the skin saving formula works its magic. You can also use bronzer to add some glow to your pale complexion.

Poor diet

When dieticians and nutritionists say you are what you eat, they're not lying: Your diet has a profound effect on your appearance. Not eating enough fruits and vegetables (and eating too much sugar and hydrogenated fat) can produce a less-than-ideal complexion with redness, flakes or breakouts (or all three).

What to do instead:

Increase the number of colorful fruits and vegetables you eat in a day. Think leafy greens, sweet potatoes, red and yellow peppers and berries.
Limit sugar, sodium and bad fats.
Cut back on coffee and cocktails.
Shift to whole grains and good fats (avocado, olive oil).
Ditch diet soda in favor of water. Trust us: You'll notice a difference.