Drink plenty of water (48 ounces minimum) – A pretty flower begins to droop, sag, and wither if it goes for an extended period without water. The texture diminishes and the color fades. You, my dear, are just like a flower and you must replenish your body with water so you can rejuvenate your skin. Although water is in soft drinks and fruit flavored drinks, so is sugar and plenty of it. Just in case you have not noticed, acne and sugar are very good friends. If you take in excessive amounts of sugar, it will not be long before it builds up in your skin and on your face as a plump, tender, heavyweight pimple! Drinking plain ole water is necessary to avoid such stressful skin distractions.

Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep- Your body cannot renew itself unless you rest and give it time to accomplish this important task. When you rest, your body redirects the energy it provides for you to complete your daily activities to nourish your hair, and your major organs, which by the way, includes your skin. Seven to eight hours of sleep should be sufficient for your skin to look fresh and revitalized.

Wash your face before bed - During the day, you expose your skin to wind, dirt, the sun, (which causes you to perspire) and pollutants. Washing your face prior to bed removes the dirt, salty perspiration, and harsh particles that may still be on your skin and quite possibly clogging your pores. Talk with your parents about doing some research for suitable facial cleansers and moisturizers. Body soap and lotion may be too harsh for your face and can actually do more harm than good.

Protect your skin - The sun’s ultraviolet rays speed up the aging process for your skin. Sun block decreases the intensity and damage that one experiences without protection from the sun. More and more people are experiencing the effects of the sun’s deadly rays with diseases such as various types of skin cancer. Again, tap into your parental resources and ask them to purchase SPF (sun protection factor) lotion for your skin, especially if you spend an extended amount of time in the sun.

Refrain from excessive use of make-up and quick fix products- The truth of the matter is if your skin (young or old) is not healthy, make-up will leave you looking un-easy on the eyes and that is putting it nicely. As you get older, it is normal to experiment with make-up with guidance from your mother or any other trusted guardian. Do some research and please make sure your skin is healthy before you begin applying various types of products. Once you begin to wear make-up, it is imperative that you properly remove it prior to going to sleep so your