beauty addict

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The latest trends, techniques, and insider secrets—revealed.

Mother Knows Best
Wash your face. Drink your milk. Take your vitamins. Years later, we’ve learned that Mom was right all along.
By Kathleen O’Leary

When you were growing up, your mother’s advice went in one ear and out the other. But somewhere between your senior prom and your first real job, her suggestions turned out to be some of the best around—when it not only came to grades, friends, and boys but also to beauty. Who knew? She always said you’d thank her later, so in honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve compiled the top ten beauty tips from Mom to you. As the experts attest, her advice works wonders for everything from getting gorgeous, healthy hair to warding off skin damage. On May 14, we suggest sending her the following list, as proof she was right all those years.

Wash your face…and stop touching it.
Cleansing is a crucial step in any skin-care regimen, which means washing your face every day, regardless of skin type. Although toners feel fabulous—who doesn’t love instant tingly gratification?—cleansers are still the front-runner for removing buildup and bacteria, which can lead to acne. Along the same lines, don’t even think about picking at your face; interfering with blemishes only makes them worse. Another mother- and expert-approved skin-care mantra: Don’t touch your face with your hands (and yes, this includes resting your chin on your hand) because the dirt you pick up during the day can transfer from your hands to your face. As president and founder of 5th Avenue Bath Co., and the mother of two young boys, Erika Lomonico advises washing your hands several times a day, and thoroughly, which also helps to ward off colds and flus.

Drink your milk.
It’s no secret that calcium-rich beverages, such as milk, promote strong bones, nails, and teeth. More recently, researchers have learned that milk also plays a role in preventing obesity, says Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Medical Center. “Kids have been replacing milk with sugary, high-calorie, non-nutritive beverages,” which has contributed to the “skyrocketing rates of obesity in children and adolescents,” she says. And it’s not only the trend toward unhealthy substitution that plays a role; calcium also helps regulate a key enzyme responsible for storing and preventing the breakdown of fat. According to Heller, nonfat milk is the best way to go. Lactose intolerant? Try lowfat Lactaid or calcium- and vitamin D–fortified soy milk.

Take your vitamins.
Vitamins are essential for good health, and certain ones can boost your prettiness quotient too. Vitamin A encourages healthy skin and teeth, and vitamin E is a complexion essential, along with vitamin C, which “affects the production of collagen,” Heller says. In a perfect world, we’d get all of our necessary vitamins from our food, but Heller says that taking a multivitamin is a good backup plan. She also advocates the consumption of minerals such as zinc, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which “keep us healthy inside and out.” And you can also reap the benefits of nutrients topically. According to Lomonico, whose company uses all-natural, organic ingredients, one lesser-known beauty ingredient that’s chock full of vitamins and minerals is goat’s milk. “It’s high in protein, triglycerides, and vitamins A, B6, B12, and E, making it a great natural moisturizer that hydrates and nourishes the skin.”

Get a good night’s sleep.
Skimping on sleep leaves you feeling sluggish and won’t make you feel particularly beautiful, either. Getting a full seven to eight hours allows your body to heal and renegenerate, and when you don’t get them, the effects are visible in your skin, your nails, and even your hair. It should be noted that recent studies have challenged the link between sleep and physical appearance (particularly as it relates to dark undereye circles), but even in those studies, subjects believed that they looked more haggard after being awake for days on end. If it’s difficult to find time for beauty sleep, you need to reprioritize. If you can’t wind down at night, take a look at your lifestyle: Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol consumption can all lead to insomnia, along with late-night eating, lack of exercise, as well as sounds, light, and extreme temperatures.

Stop eating junk food.
Along with sugary beverages, avoid foods that offer little or no nutritional value. When we replace healthy meals with junk food, “our bodies don’t get the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals we need for good health,” says Heller. And in addition to impacting our immune system, body weight, and mood, it can affect our hair, nails, and complexion. The golden rule? Watch what you eat, and you’ll look and feel more beautiful.

Don’t smoke.
In addition to countless medical problems, cigarette smoking leads to premature skin aging, yellow teeth, and less-than-lovely breath. It’s never too late to quit, however, and the sooner you kick the habit, the more you can reverse the damage. Nicotine-replacement products, such as patches, gums, and nasal sprays, can all be helpful, along with behavior-modification techniques. Some former smokers believe the best way to quit is by progressively weaning yourself off nicotine, while others advocate the cold-turkey method. Either way, it can be helpful to sweeten the deal with a series of rewards—an approach that’s perfectly suited to beauty (a facial, laser teeth whitening, or a trip to the spa can all be powerful motivators). And just think, with all the money you’ll be saving, you’ll be able to buy a slew of new goodies for your makeup bag.

Wear sunscreen.
With multiple studies in recent years confirming the grave risks associated with UV exposure, you can never play it too safe. The sun is a major source of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and can leave skin with a wrinkled, leathery appearance. To protect yourself, use a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen year-round, and remember to reapply it repeatedly throughout the day. Keep in mind that sun safety doesn’t mean you have to go around looking like Casper. Self-tanners and bronzers can give even the palest skin a seemingly sun-kissed glow without the risks.

Get a haircut.
When you were young, you probably thought Mom was conspiring against you with this advice (who wasn’t traumatized at some point by a bowl cut or a trim that spiraled out of control?). Still, there’s no denying that regular trims will keep your hair looking healthy by eliminating split ends, which can fray and continue up the hair shaft if you don’t address them. Beyond that, hairstyles that are too long aren’t face-flattering, so see your stylist on a regular basis to keep it looking fresh. Even a few strategically placed layers can give your entire image a lift.

Drink plenty of fluids.
Hydration is vital to your health and your looks—and “we’re not talking soda, beer, or tequila,” Heller jokes. “When you’re not properly hydrated, it shows.” To stay radiant and healthy, she recommends making water a big part of your daily routine. It has been noted, however, that the link between water consumption and complexion isn’t as clear-cut as many people seem to think. (The moisture level of our outermost skin layer is not, in fact, affected by water consumption or other internal factors.) But still, drinking the suggested eight glasses a day will keep your body functioning properly, which can only make you feel and look better. So keep a glass on your bedside table, carry bottles with you, and spend plenty of time at the watercooler at work. And feel free to add some fruit slices, if you’re more apt to drink flavored fluids.

Real beauty comes from within.
According to Heller, this kernel of Mom wisdom should be taken quite literally: “Beauty comes from within and what we put in our bodies.” If you’re not eating well and exercising regularly, you won’t feel well, and it will start to show in your appearance, she says. “It is the only body you have,” Lomonico adds, “and you should treat it like a temple.” But we all know that Mom (she’s so clever) also had another, more implicit lesson in mind.

Photo credit: Graca Victoria

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