Anyone can have glowing skin. But does anyone have glowing skin? Not so much. And if you’re reading this, then chances are that you spent the last hour staring at your face in the mirror, wondering why on earth it doesn’t look like those pictures of celebrities with their airbrushed skin, poreless complexions, and insanely perfect backs (they Photoshopped that pic a bit, didn’t they?)

The thing is, most of us aren’t models or celebs and actually have to live with it every day — which means we have to make do with what we were given (i.e., our fugly complexions). The good news is that you don’t need to be born with great skin to end up with it. You just need a good plan like opt for natural eye make-up and a willingness to put in some effort.

1. Stay Hydrated:

Drinking lots of water helps keep your skin looking plump and youthful. It also makes it easier for your body to flush out toxins, which means less pore blockage, breakouts, and redness. The experts recommend drinking about eight glasses of water per day, but if that feels like too much or too little for you, adjust accordingly!

2Use SPF:

Sunscreen isn’t only important in sunny locales like the beach or southern California — it’s also essential during the winter months since damaging rays can still reach your face through clouds and snowfall. Make sure you’re using an SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis; if you’ve got sensitive skin, try mineral-based sunscreens instead of chemical ones (they tend to irritate less).

3. Eat well:

Your diet has a major impact on the health of your skin. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables gives your body the nutrients it needs for healthy skin cells. Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, flaxseed oil, and chia seeds, also helps maintain healthy cell membranes, which protect against environmental factors.

4. Incorporate a Vitamin C Serum:

Vitamin C has a variety of benefits for your skin, but in terms of improving its appearance, it’s one of the best things you can add to your skincare routine. It helps brighten dull skin tone, improves the moisture content, and fights free radical damage, which can cause fine lines and wrinkles over time. We recommend using it daily as part of your morning skincare routine or before you go out at night so that your skin is protected from UV rays throughout the day.

5. Exfoliate Your Face Regularly:

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of your face, revealing newer, healthier cells underneath — which makes your complexion look brighter and more even-toned. The best part is that exfoliating doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, either! Simply wash your face with an exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week, then follow up with an anti-aging moisturizer.

6. Moisturize:

Moisturizing is one of the most important things you can do for your skin — especially if you have oily or combination skin. When you moisturize, you’re locking in moisture from other products and preventing dehydration that leads to flaky patches and breakouts.

Some people think moisturizers only need to be used during the winter months, but this isn’t true at all! Even if it’s hot outside, there are still things like air conditioning that dry out your skin, so it’s always important to keep it hydrated!

7. Use Natural Makeup:

Your skin is your largest organ and takes up a lot of space on your face — but you don’t see it when you look in the mirror! That’s because it’s covered in makeup that makes it appear flawless. But what happens when you take off that foundation? All those imperfections come out to play!

Although there are plenty of products out there that claim to be “natural” or “organic,” many contain harmful chemicals like parabens and sulfates, which can irritate sensitive skin types (like mine). Plus, most drugstore brands aren’t vegan-friendly, so no matter how much we want to look like our favorite celebs, we’re stuck with boring old mineral makeups that don’t work as well as they should — or worse, break us out completely!