I think we have all had moments when we wished we could have flawless and smooth skins like the main characters in TV-series or the models in beauty advertisements. Forget it. You will never get that, and I will explain you why. However, there are a few rules that can help you get your skin naturally smooth and healthy. They will be given after the reasons why our skins just cannot look like those on TV and fashion/beauty adverts.
Firstly, the people on TV and fashion/beauty ads have likely had a facial before the cameras were turned on. They have also been in the make-up seats for at least 60 minutes and the average college student does not have so much time when lectures start at 9.00 AM. On top of that, this make-up and the hairdos have been done by professionals and, while I believe some college students can do amazing things with make-up or hair, we are no professional make-up artists or hairdressers. And this is only the beginning.
There is something else that makes the skins of celebrities stand out from ours: perfect lighting and angles. If a top model has a few pimples on the right half of her face while the left half looks fine, the camera will not zoom in on this right half or the light technician will make the light fall on the model's face so that the pimples are hardly visible. However, we cannot always control how others see us and we cannot always control the lighting in the lecture rooms. If this nice guy or girl decides to sit beside us on the side which has the most pimples, we can hardly tell him/her to take a seat on the other side of us, especially if that seat is already taken. So, face it: we will not always be seen in the best possible lighting and from the best possible angles.
Last, but not least (and I am convinced we all know it although we hope it is not true): airbrush and Photoshop. These technologies can remove pimples, freckles, unwanted fat, and anything that is not desired on a certain photo or in a certain scene. They may also add a close to unnatural shimmer to the model's/actor's face and hair. I personally could not believe that modern technologies were used for such purposes until I saw this. These photos showed me how modern technologies are used in order to make people look better on pictures. Check the 'before'-shots and you will find out that your skin might not be so bad after all.
So, now you know why you will never reach the perfection created during photo sessions and film recordings, it is time to find out what you can do to keep your skin in a healthy condition. The guidelines are simple, in my opinion, and they do not demand the use of make-up at all, although they may require some discipline.
Rule number 1 is that you should wash your face twice a day. This is more than just splashing some water in your face when you wake up; you better get a face cleanser that actually kills bacteria, too. Especially if you like to wear make-up, water alone is not likely to wash away everything you put on your face. The leftovers of make-up may clog your pores and so cause pimples (this also goes for other types of 'dirt', but make-up is a good pore-clogger, too). In addition, I like to scrub my face once or twice in a week. A scrub peeling cleans your skin a bit more thoroughly and gives a fresh gloss as it removes many dead skin cells.
Rule number 2 is easy, as well. Now you have washed your face with more than just a splash of water or you have just come out of the shower and the skin on your face may feel a bit strained. Time to bring out a nice cream or oil! It will depend on your skin type which cream or oil works best for you. Those with a more sensitive skin might benefit from buying organic and natural skin care products, but it really depends on what ingredient your skin is most sensitive to. A good cream or oil hydrates or nourishes your skin so that you don't get lines in your face from dehydration, nor do they cause a pimple outburst from being too fat for your skin. Some brands have creams that go for both day and night; others have separate creams for day and night. As soon as you notice lines under your eyes, a cream for your eyes might be needed. When you are in your twenties, the lines you may spot in your face are not wrinkles, but lines caused by your skin not being nourished/hydrated enough. They do, however, give you an idea of where to expect wrinkles by the time you are old enough to have and how they look on you. If you are unsure about your skin type, do not hesitate to ask the lady at the shop where you like to buy your skin care products.
Rule number 3 is another easy one. It is probably a predictable and lame one, as well, but I want to mention it anyway, since skin care does not only rely on what you do on the outside: live healthy! I define living healthy as getting enough sleep; eating many fruits and vegetables and leave the meat alone every now and then; drinking water and maybe fruit juices; going out in the fresh air for at least 30 minutes on a daily base, and work out. This work out is not necessarily a boot camp or fitness session at the gym; it may also involve hiking in the forests nearby your town or going out for shopping. Living healthy also includes catching sunlight with moderation. Too little sunshine will keep your face pale and pimples will never disappear (trust me: they hate sunlight like vampires!); too much sunshine will make you look like sunbathing is your #1 occupation, it speeds up the ageing-process, and it increases your chances to get skin cancer.
So, these are the basics of skin care for students. I follow all of these myself and since I know how much Photoshop and airbrush can do - even to a skin - I am actually much more content with the state of my skin.
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