Here are some tried and true tips (that I use myself and with patients) for keeping a dewy soft complexion and avoiding surgery or chemical injections (number 1 is very important, so the best is for last):

2. Hydration – sometimes drinking water isn’t enough. Do you know what your electrolyte balance is like? Electrolytes help with water absorption, among other important vitalizing functions. The most sophisticated electrolyte mix that I offer in my clinic is sea plasma, which comes in sterile vials, and is foundational to cellular life.
3. Cleanse – Shea butter soap for cleansing is about all you need. Keeping your skin clean is foundational to a healthy appearance. Again, be careful of the chemicals in skincare products. Up to 70% of what you put on your skin gets into your bloodstream.
4. Moisturize – take a look at the label on your moisturizer and make sure you know what every ingredient is. Some of your may say, that’s simple! It’s coconut oil, which is an excellent choice, but if you would like to maximize your benefits trying Skin Blessing serum maybe for you. It is a blend of organic oils that is available at my clinic. I have been using it for 15 years. It is formulated for sensitive skin.
5. Exfoliation – is your best weapon for dealing with the signs of aging. My personal favorite is the Clear+Brilliant laser treatment. It is a natural treatment, since the tool is light itself. Clear+Brilliant is a non-oblative fractional laser which means that the treatment penetrates to only the surface layers of the skin stimulating the even sloughing of the dead surface layer of skin that sinks into wrinkles while promoting collagen production, muscle release and blood flow to the surface.
6. Heal and protect – anti-oxidant mixes that are best for your unique skin presentation are a great way to protect your skin from the inside. Your sunscreen should have natural ingredients, like Stream2Sea, that will protect your skin and the reefs.
7. Plumping – not all injections are created equal. Would you like the natural fullness and youth of your skin back? Saline, peptide, and nutrient injections can help stimulate better muscle and skin tone without chemicals for a natural look and no impediment to your beautiful expressive face.
8. Stimulate collagen production – the best is the Clear+Brilliant laser treatment since it evenly stimulates collagen production across the entire treated surface while the laser naturally tightens skin and reduces pore size.
9. Tone facial and neck muscles – a simple massage routine for your skin and jaw exercises help tone, release, and relax facial muscles. I will be posting a series techniques on my blog in the coming weeks. Tight muscles and habitual muscle movements are the underlying source of fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Acupuncture can help plump out deeper wrinkles. Fine lines are smoothed away with Clear+Brilliant laser treatments.
10. Healing acne – many times acne is a sign of an internal imbalance in your gut, but there is the fact of the bacteria present below the surface of your skin. There is a holistic way to treat acne with herbal medicine. Each case is unique so it is best to get an assessment with a qualified clinical herbalist for a tailored treatment.

The number one beauty tip is simple and easy, smile. It sounds a little corny, but in sincere practice, it yields authentic rewards. Find gratitude in your heart, feel it as a living sensation of a smile in your chest and let that energy flow up to your face. Smile for the life that you have and find joy in the simple things. For instance, if you have too many chores to do at home instead of letting it drag you down, tell yourself “I’m so fortunate to have the clothes, clean water, and machines to wash my clothes” or if your task is to make dinner “I’m blessed with so many fresh food choices, let me see how I can make meals that reflect the best.” These little morsels of gratitude will contribute to your well-being and stress reduction in ways you would not believe until you try it. It’s a little bit of magic.

Tracy L. Hackett, AP DAOM, is an acupuncture physician and doctor of acupuncture and eastern medicine in Washington DC and Jupiter, Florida. She provides all of the treatments mentioned in the above article.