Younger looking skin is hard to achieve. At least that’s what most would have you believe. Turns out, all you need is some helpful, healthy tricks up your sleeve.

#1 You Are What You Eat

Believe it or not, your parents were doing you a favor when they told you to eat your vegetables. The healthier you eat, the better off your whole body is, including your skin. Think whole grains, vegetables, lean meats, fish, nuts, and other whole foods.

Go easy on things like processed cheese, jarred pasta sauce (which are loaded with sugar), soda, and junk food. Of course, a little here and there won’t harm you any, but stick to a pretty wholesome diet at least 90% of the time.

#2 Fountain of Youth

Breaking news: the fountain of youth has been found, and it’s in your home. It’s water, plain and simple. No magical properties of any kind.

What?!

Yes, water helps your skin spring back with youthfulness. It moisturizes your body from the inside out. It also keeps you feeling full, so you stop reaching for bad, unhealthy snacks, which defeat the purpose of striving for youthful skin.

#3 Get Plenty of Sleep

Yes, again, whenever your parents would scold you for staying up late, they had a point. Getting a full night’s sleep helps you recharge, and gives your mind the time to do what it has to, like removing toxins. Think of it like housekeeping.

And more than that, sleep helps your body maintain your skin. It reduces damage, and repairs areas. It even releases Melatonin, which is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from free radicals.

#4 Stick to Organic

If you can, stick to organic beauty care products. Otherwise, read labels and really learn what those ingredients mean. You’d be surprised how many beauty products have harmful chemicals that dull your skin, or cause breakouts.

In other words, see past the packaging and front facing information. Dig deeper if you want the truth!

#5 Check Your Makeup Ingredients

In the same vein as beauty products, like lotions, creams, scrubs, and toners, you really don’t want to settle on just any makeup. And believe it or not, brand and price tag aren’t determining factors.

For instance, $50 foundation may seem higher quality than a simple $5 option, sure, but what if they’re both made with harmful ingredients? You’d be better off with the organic version that doesn’t have any complex-named chemicals in it. And you may be surprised when you see that it’s only $6.

#6 Don’t Get Cakey With It

And since we’re talking about makeup, what’s the absolute worst thing you could ever do to your face? Wearing tons of makeup. It doesn’t matter how healthy or organic it is, at the end of the day it’s still something extra that you slather on your face and clog pores with.

There’s a reason we’re told to take it off before bed!

If you have to wear makeup (you don’t), use as little as you can. If you have a blemish, but the rest of your skin is clear, use a tiny bit of concealer just on that area. Or if you have discoloration, use the tiniest bit of foundation and setting powder, but resist the urge to layer it on thick. Your skin will thank you.

#7 Sunscreen, Your Best Friend

Even in winter, even on cloudy days, the rays of the sun find a way to shine down. And that’s all in good fun,... until you see spots on your face that weren’t there before!

In fact, there’s invisible sun damage on everyone’s face. Minimize that and the wrinkles by just mixing a little sunscreen into your foundation. Or better still, using sunscreen, and the tiniest bit of concealer. Some makeup even has SPF protection.