While makeup conceals any blemishes or imperfections, there’s nothing like maintaining a good foundation of healthy, radiant skin. While most people try to find beautiful skin at the bottom of the latest beauty serum, your best bet is to cultivate a great routine that includes the following tips that experts swear by.

1. Always Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential. Unless you’re going out at night, always cover your skin with sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. It doesn’t matter if it’s a snowy, dreary day where the sun is nowhere to be found. It still impacts the health of your skin. While the sun contains Vitamin D, it can also burn your skin when you stand in it for too long. If your office has a window, wear and reapply sunscreen throughout the day. Many brands also make sunscreen mists that you can conveniently reapply over your makeup application.

2. Prioritize Exfoliation

Exfoliation is necessary in order to slough off dead skin cells. It’s also helpful in encouraging the production of new skin cells. When you use exfoliating serums that contain fruit enzymes or alpha-hydroxy acids, you’re using a liquid to scrub away the dead skin cells. When you use exfoliating scrubs, be careful to use options that are good for the skin. The size of the granules in an exfoliating scrub can tear the skin if you’re not careful. Visiting a dermatologist or an aesthetician can be helpful if you’re looking to get an exfoliating treatment like dermabrasion done.

3. Use High-Quality Products

While many drugstores and makeup counters have great dupes, do your research before you purchase skincare. Be intentional about reading the ingredient list. Know how your skin interacts with certain chemicals and ingredients. When you can invest in it, try plant-based skincare lines like Laurel Skin Care. You can even take a skincare quiz to find the right products for your skin type. Just by reading the ingredient lists and learning about the processes, plant-based products work efficiently to cleanse, heal and moisturize the skin.

4. Get a Full-Body Skin Exam

When they’re not monitored, cancerous moles can grow completely undetected. Pay attention to all of the moles you can see on your body. Pay attention when they seem to grow in size. It’s also wise to get a full-body skin exam. Visit your dermatologist in order to annually check on your skin.

5. Skincare Starts Within

Your diet truly matters. While many don’t want to fully admit the harmful impact of dairy, plenty of studies directly link dairy consumption to breakouts and other skin ailments. An occasional glass of wine is fine, but try not to consume a lot of alcohol as it tends to age the skin quickly. Keep sugar consumption to a minimum as well.

6. Always Remain Hydrated

Maintain a two-pronged approach to hydration. Start with using hydrating mists, serums and moisturizers from a topical perspective. From an internal perspective, drink lots of water. Water consumption is one of the most underrated tips by many. When your skin gets proper hydration, it reflects in the skin’s radiance. In addition to drinking lots of water, consume lots of water-rich foods such as cucumbers and watermelons.

7. Get Lots of Rest

Rest is essential for your body’s ability to recharge and revive itself. The same sentiment is true for your skin. When you don’t get enough rest, this shows up on your face through undereye bags and dark marks under the eyes. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night.

8. Avoid Hot Water

While hot water feels great when you’re showering on a cold, winter morning, keep in mind that you don’t want to keep that hot water running for long. In fact, it’s best to keep the temperature warm or cool instead. Really hot showers eventually strip the skin of much-needed moisture and protection. Lather up with warm water. Then, as your shower continues, gradually shift the water to colder temperatures before you turn the water off. Though uncomfortable, cold showers are incredibly beneficial for the skin.

As you learned more about the best tips to cultivate, you might discover that you have some poor habits that are leading to unhealthy skin. Don’t try to turn the tide overnight. Instead, make it a gradual process. If you’re not used to drinking enough water, start gradually with an additional cup each week. Keep track of your progress until your process feels like second nature. Before long, you’ll look in the mirror and uncover radiant results.