25 of Our Favorite Feel-Good Skin Care Tips of All Time

The key to not looking tired? It’s…not being tired! Easier said than done, we know. Do whatever you can to get in seven to eight hours a night and your skin—including those pesky undereye bags!—will look noticeably better. Trust us: Sleep offers the kind of results that no face cream can mimic.

Need a little detox? Lemons support your liver and kidneys, and there’s a clear connection between healthy organs and healthy skin. Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges may help prevent wrinkles, too.

When we say massage, we mean massage. Rather than dabbing on your face cream, use gentle pressure, massaging it into your skin in a circular motion. Do the same when you wash your face. This simple trick will kick your circulation into high gear. Plus, it feels so good.

Protecting yourself from sun damage will make you feel better now (how much fun could a sunburn really be?) and later on. Wear at least SPF 15 every day (higher if you’re spending time in strong sun) to help prevent skin cancer, wrinkles and sunburn. Oh, and don’t even think about going to the tanning bed.

Talk about feeling good: Having sex releases endorphins that give you that special glow nothing else seems to replicate (although Nars blush in Orgasm, $28, comes pretty close, as the name would suggest).

Shhhh…you didn’t here it from us, but popping a pimple can actually be OK sometimes, if you do it the right (not-scar-inducing) way! Zits always seem to show up when you’re already stressed, so don’t take out your existing troubles on your poor, helpless face. Only give the spot a squeeze if it’s white on top. Using two cotton swabs, gently press on both sides of the little sucker until it pops. Once you’ve cleaned off the gunk, dab a salicylic acid treatment on top.

In the same way popping a zit has that instant gratification, peeling off a pore strip provides a similar release. Try perennial favorite Bioré Pore Strips, $9, to get the gunk out once a week and watch your pores clear right before your eyes.

We know, we know—everyone always says chocolate causes acne. But there’s no scientific proof on that front, so as far as we’re concerned, eat up! Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants that help protect your skin, and eating a small piece will send all sorts of satisfied, happy feelings to your brain.

Another reason to take that extra Spin class: A good workout doesn’t just burn calories, it also helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin. Hate going to the gym? Start a dance party—even if you’re the only one busting a move! Turn up the Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, get your blood flowing and have a blast doing it. Your skin will thank you!

Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day is beyond important for your skin—hydration starts from the inside out. Hate plain water? Take a cue from Emma Watson and chug coconut water, which is naturally sweet and chock-full o’ nutrients.