7 Best Ways to Keep Your Skin Looking Healthy

When you think of holistic health, do you imagine modern-day hippies waving scented candles and rearranging their furniture to fix their love life? We do, too. And while we're not signing up for feng shui classes anytime soon, there is some truth to holistically approaching your skin care.

If you're religiously slathering on expensive creams and lotions, but pounding a Big Mac and large fries at 3 a.m., your skin will suffer. We often forget that our skin is the largest organ in our body, and thus, is affected by our diet, stress levels, and even our exercise routines.

So, to make sure you're doing everything you can to keep your skin looking healthy and supple, check out these holistic skin care tips. No scented candles required.

Be sun smart

With skin cancer comprising nearly half of all cancer cases in the US, our sun-worshipping days are long gone. Now that doesn't mean we expect you to stay indoors forever or dress like a beekeeper during summer. Rather, make sure your sunscreen has broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, and reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours. Also, no sunscreen can truly be "waterproof," so always reapply after a dip in the pool.

It's also important to stay in the shade during the hours the sun is most intense, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are also clothing options that offer UV protection. But even if you don't go that route, the Skin Cancer Foundation says a tightly woven hat and shirt will help protect you -- and that the brighter or darker the fabric color is, the more UV rays are absorbed by the clothes (and not your skin).

Stay moisturized

While nobody likes dry patches, dry skin can actually cause more severe skin concerns, like wrinkles. That's right, dry skin tends to be thinner than oily skin because it has less sebum glands, which plump skin up. Thin skin is then more susceptible to folding, which leads to premature fine lines and wrinkles, says dermatologist Jessica Wu, MD, author of "Feed Your Face." So make sure you keep your skin hydrated by moisturizing right after you shower, when your skin is still damp. That way, your lotion can lock in the moisture.

Exfoliate

If you think exfoliating is an unnecessary step made up by skin care manufacturers, think again. Dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD, says exfoliating is key to having supple, smooth skin by preventing dirt and oil from clogging up your pores. "Whether you choose a mechanical exfoliation with a rotating brush or a chemical exfoliation with an alpha-hydroxy wash, removing dead cells from the surface of your skin will help keep your skin glowing,"

Go to a professional

Jennifer Aniston attributes her flawlessly youthful skin to her monthly $450 Red Carpet Facial at the Tracie Martyn Spa. Don't have the cash? Neither do we. But that doesn't mean there aren't more affordable spa treatments that you should opt for.

Olga Lorecin-Northup of Kinara Spa in West Hollywood, Calif. says quality skin care treatments "just can't be done at home because of the unattainable ingredients, equipment, and knowledge needed to give the skin what it truly needs." What's more, going to a well-trained skin therapist will help you "see a visible difference and will maintain your skin more effectively than just using products at-home," says Annet King, Director of Training and Development for The International Dermal Institute.

So what professionals should be in your "skin care posse"? Definitely a dermatologist, both to help with any skin issues and to check for skin cancer. When you can, you should also try to see a massage therapist (lymphatic massage can help skin's appearance as well), or get body treatments, like scrubs. Another option is to visit a sauna on a regular basis, to sweat out the toxins in your body, which also affect your skin.

Hit the gym for younger-looking skin

Exercising more for fewer wrinkles? We know, it sounds like a wacky gym advertisement but working out to better your skin is actually true.

Kimberly Fowler, author of "The No Om Zone," says stretches that require your head to go below your waist will cause your "blood to rush toward your head," which improves circulation. With improved circulation comes "greater delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin," says dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD. Healthy skin cells will help boost collagen production, which will in turn keep your face looking plumper and less wrinkled.

Regular exercise also "stimulates lymphatic drainage, which rids the body of waste products," says Graf. Getting rid of waste keeps skin all over your body clear and glowing. You also breathe more when exercising, which helps blood flow more rapidly through your body.

Get a glow

OK, so we know that baking in the sun is a one-way express train to Cancerville, but that doesn't mean we have to be pale and pasty. Let's face it: Most of us look better with a tan. The solution: Self-tanners. With the improvement of self-tanner formulas, getting a realistic faux-glow is super easy -- especially when following tips from Natalie Cupid, head technician at Sundara Airbrush Tanning in New York City.

Step 1: Exfoliate to remove your top layer of dead skin cells.
Step 2: Shave or wax the areas that you want to apply your self-tanner, so that you can have a smooth application.
Step 3: Skip moisturizer on the day you plan to apply self-tanner, as it can act as barrier between the tanning ingredients and your skin.
Step 4: For the most natural-looking tan, choose a product that's only one or two shades darker than your natural skin hue. Step 5: Carefully apply your tanner, using less products on drier areas of skin like knees and elbows. Thoroughly wash your hands when you're done to avoid bronzed palms.

Repair your skin from the inside out

It's important to supplement your skin care regimen with a healthy diet. Why? "While topical creams can show some improvements in skin quality, the majority of ingredients just remain on the skin's surface," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, creator of the F-Factor Diet. "A well-balanced diet can ensure that nutrients are absorbed into the skin," she says.

It's also important that you get nutrients the natural way from foods instead of from pills. Lisa Drayer, MA, RD, author of "The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious," explains, "Not only is turning to food a tastier option, but supplements don't contain all the vitamins and nutrients present in natural foods. Nor have they been shown to have the same disease-fighting benefits." A good rule of thumb is to have half of your plate be comprised of fruits and vegetables. And make sure you're hitting up these antioxidant-packed foods:

Vitamin C: Found in 100 percent orange juice, red and green peppers, broccoli. These foods have more than 100 mg of vitamin C per typical serving.

Vitamin E: Found in nuts, spinach, cooking oils such as vegetable and sunflower.

Beta Carotene: Found in pumpkin, carrots, kale, sweet potato, collard greens.

Selenium: Found in nuts, mushrooms, and fish, like tuna and halibut.

Zinc: Found in lean meat, beans, nuts, low fat dairy.