It's obvious when a woman feels good about herself: She shows it. She carries herself with more confidence. She smiles. She is open to the world around her. She exudes warmth and friendliness. All simply because she's happy about her appearance.
Attractive, confident people are more successful in life than others—a truth that has echoed through the centuries and continues to this day. As a cosmetic surgeon, I witness the effects of this phenomenon daily. And with this truth in mind, it's vitally important to fall in love with yourself.
They say looks don't matter—it's what's on the inside that counts—which is true in many aspects of life. As a society, it doesn't change the fact that we do care about our appearances, and strive to project our best selves.
A woman who feels beautiful will show it in all aspects of life, from how she speaks to what she wears and everything in between. A woman who acts confident will radiate beauty.
It doesn't matter what anyone but you think about your appearance. If you love how you look you'll be confident, regardless of what others think. Height, weight, skin tone, blemishes—they don't matter when you love yourself.
I want to help you fall in love with you—and open the door to this confidence you should feel.
Don't worry: You don't have to spend a lot of money, you don't have to change a lot of things about yourself, and you don't need to wait for the results to take place. Let me reveal how you could instantly fall in love with your face—and how to maintain your best self. All it takes is a few minutes in your day and a bit of effort.
Get adequate sleep.
Sleep plays a critical part in how your skin looks and feels. When you aren't sleeping enough, you develop dark circles or bags beneath your eyes. Your face may look puffy or swollen; you just look ... well ... tired.
As you sleep, your body works to revitalize and re-moisturize your skin, erasing wrinkles and blemishes and giving you a healthy glow. If you aren't sleeping adequately, your body doesn't have enough time to properly repair itself, which leads to you not looking your best.
For most adults, seven to nine hours is the ideal proper sleep range. While most people set their alarms for the morning, few adults have a set bedtime. Manage your schedule to find what works best for you—and get to bed on time!
Be careful catching those rays.
Though many women crave that sexy tan, the sun does far more harm than good to your skin.
The sun alters your skin's DNA, which could quickly make damage severe and permanent. Too much—or unprotected—sun exposure leads to lines and wrinkles, discoloration, and possibly even cancer.
Limit your sun exposure, especially during the heat of the afternoon. Always wear protective sunscreen, even in the winter months. Many foundation powders and liquid creams have sunscreen built in. Use these instead of your old foundation, to protect your skin while you look great.
Eat clean.
Alcohol, sugar, and sodium are a few culprits against young, clear skin. It's incredible how much of an impact the foods you eat have on your face and skin. By just changing your diet, you could shave years off your appearance.
Eat clean foods—those that aren't highly processed and aren't high in salt or sugar. Avoid alcohol while sticking to simple, whole foods, and save your face from acne, wrinkles and aging.
Stop smoking.
While we're talking about things you're putting in your body, it's an excellent time to address smoking. Smoking damages your skin in many ways and could cause as many problems as the sun.
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, and nicotine reduces blood flow—a deadly combination for anyone who wants clear, beautiful skin. Carbon monoxide discolors your skin, and nicotine will leave it dry. To make matters worse, cigarettes deplete many vitamins you have in your body, meaning your body doesn't have what it needs to repair itself.
Have you ever wondered why people who smoke look so much older than they are?
That's why.
Exercise regularly.
We all know exercise is one of the greatest things you can do for your body, but few people realize exercising also helps their face.
For starters, losing weight—even a few pounds—will change the shape of your face, defining your facial structure's best features. Exercise also increases blood flow, which nourishes your skin cells.
When the skin on your face is nourished, you won't get those bags under your eyes or discoloration, and your skin will feel smooth and radiant.
Wash your face daily.
All skin has several layers. While the outer layers are always dying, being shed and replaced by the layers beneath, the skin on your face is being replaced much faster than elsewhere on your body.
It's incredibly important for you to wash your face daily, especially if you wear makeup. Few things will age your skin as quickly as going to bed with makeup on, so even if you only have a few minutes at the end of your day, take a warm washcloth and wipe it over your skin.
Exfoliate once week or two, depending on how dry your skin is, and remember to use makeup remover to erase those stubborn smudges that refuse to move. Use the right face wash for your skin type, and make it a part of your routine.
Moisturize.
Depending on your age, you may have more dry skin than you used to. There are several factors that will dry out your skin, yet dry skin on your face is not only annoying, it's also damaging.
Pick up a bottle of face lotion—or a moisturizing face wash—and work using it into your routine. Your eyes are the first to show signs of aging, so invest in an eye cream even if you're still in your 20s.
When it comes to your skincare routine, prevention is by far the best method.
Fall in love with yourself.
Your opinion of your skin is all that matters. If you are in love with how you look, it will show in all aspects of your life. The more confident you feel, the better you'll carry yourself and present yourself to society, and the more attractive you'll be to others. People will be drawn to you like a magnet.
Remember: You are beautiful. Smiling and loving yourself are the best things you could do for your face. If you believe you are beautiful, so will everyone else.
Written by Francine Vagotis, MD, one of the top players in the Grand Rapids plastic surgery arena. Dr. Vagotis is a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon and one of the most highly sought facelift experts in Western Michigan—having trained under renowned "facelift miracle worker" Dr. Bruce Connell. Together with her professional staff, Vagotis performs a multitude of modern cosmetic procedures at her state-of-the-art facility serving the West Michigan region.
