Get glowing! Add these habits to your skincare routine

You may use your skin products religiously, but a few simple habits can contribute hugely to healthy, radiant skin.

Ice

Waking up with puffy eyes makes you look tired and bloated. Ice is a well-known home remedy for swelling and pain. To reduce puffiness around the eyes, an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas can do wonders, but wrap it in a towel to avoid skin damage. De-puffing your eyes with an ice pack should become a daily morning habit.

Sun block

Sun block protects against skin cancer, and prevents the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, large pores and pigment spots. You may not notice a difference right away, but you definitely will in five, 10 or 20 years. TarteGuard by Tarte ($32) is a chemical-free SPF that protects skin from the sun’s harsh rays with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, while firming and brightening your complexion with vitamin C.

Makeup removal before bed

The most important thing to do to wake up looking fresh is to wash off your makeup before bed. Use oily makeup removers; they tend to remove waterproof mascara and long-lasting foundation easily, helping you make less of an effort.

Removing makeup ensures that your pores will be clean and your eyes free of leftover product. The best makeup removers on the market are MAC wipes, Neutrogena wipes and Bioderma Sensibio H2o. They will remove makeup and soothe skin without requiring rinsing.

Cream refrigeration

Face creams are more effective when cold, so store them in the fridge. The cold constricts blood vessels, reducing puffiness.

Fruits

Water is necessary to stay hydrated, and when your body is hydrated it shows through your skin. Adding fruit to water can change your complexion in just a few weeks. Infused water is low in calories and has no artificial ingredients. This means you can drink as much of it as you like, and it tastes delicious. Some infused water recipes have metabolism-boosting ingredients that help speed up weight-loss.

My favorite recipe is sliced cucumber, lemon, ginger and mint infused in water. It clears out the skin, is great for the digestive system and makes you thirsty, which helps you to drink more water throughout the day.

Sleep

They do not call it “beauty sleep” for nothing - a good night’s sleep can really effect the way you look. Sleep can reduce dark circles because lack of sleep compromises your body’s circulatory system, and you get stagnant blood in the vessels under the eyes because it has not properly drained.

Lack of sleep also causes skin to look pale and tired because your circulation has been impaired. For those who struggle to fall asleep, drink a cup of chamomile tea 30 minutes before bed.