SMOOTH AND GLOSSY SKIN

Dear Jellybean,

How do celebrities get their skin to look so smooth and glossy? Is it all airbrushed, or can you purchase a certain kind of lotion to do the job?
-Hannah

Dear Hannah,

Yes. They're all airbrushed. Which is not to say that you can't use makeup to give your skin a glowy, smooth look. But don't expect to look like your fave celebrity cover girl, because achieving that look in real life, without makeup artists, airbrushing, and Photoshop effects, is just about impossible.

Normal girls can get nice-looking skin too though, by following the skin-care musts that are listed below. Do these every day, and you'll get skin that glows from the inside.

If you're looking for makeup to fake a great glow, I recommend Lancome Photogenic Skin Illuminating Makeup with SPF 15 - not only does it deliver a great glow to every skin type, it also has sun protection built right in. Swipe a luminizing cream (such as Benefit High Beam, a fabulous product) over the tops of cheekbones, on browbones, and in the bow of the upper lip, and you're good to glow!

Skin Care "Do's" For Everyday Great Skin:

Wash your face before bed.
Getting the daily grime (not to mention that morning's makeup) off your skin before you hit the sack at night is super-important. Wash with a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type (dry, sensitive, acne-prone, etc). Use a cleansing facial wipe if you don't have the energy to scrub at the sink, just get your face clean.

Wear sunscreen every day, year-round.
The sun's UV rays suck the moisture out of your skin, robbing it of natural glow (and eventually creating nasty wrinkles). So use a daily moisturizer that has an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen built-in. The sun can do damage even when you can't see it (like on cloudy or wintry days), so make sunscreen part of your every-day routine.

Be nice to your face.
That means no picking, poking or squeezing blemishes. Torturing your breakouts just forces bacteria deeper into the skin, leading to scarring and more pimples.

Don't over-cleanse your skin.
Twice a day max, please. And don't be fooled into thinking skin has to feel tight to be clean. Tight is actually dry, and when skin gets dried out, it can get confused and pump out too much oil, leading to breakouts.

Change pillowcases often.
As you sleep, bacteria and oil collect on your pillowcase, where they lurk, waiting to creep onto your skin the following night. So wash your pillowcases often, and you'll avoid a lot of breakouts and bad skin.

Get your beauty rest!
Eight hours should do the trick. Sleep not only keeps under-eye circles away but, at night, your body actively rids itself of toxins that might otherwise cause dull or blemished skin.

Don't smoke.
Smoking saps skin of moisture and vitality, leaving behind a dull, pasty face. Avoiding smoke (including second-hand smoke) can do a lot to restore a girl's natural glow.

Don't avoid fat.
A healthy diet is important, and fried and fast foods aren't good for your face or your waistline. But not all fats are created equal! Some fats are really important for your health and your skin, such as the natural fats found in nuts and peanut butter, olive oil, fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and avacadoes. Eat more of those foods, and you will probably see a visible change in the glowiness of your skin.

Exercise regularly.
Exercising your body also helps keep your skin healthy. When you exercise, oxygen-rich blood circulates all through your body, bringing a great, healthy glow to your facial skin. Work out regularly, and you'll start seeing that glow on a more regular basis.