Look on the bright side: shake off the winter doldrums! You can bloom right along with the spring flowers with these simple brightening strategies

Natural Health, March, 2005 by Jenna McCarthy

WE MAY all start life with a natural glow, but long-term luminosity is a genetic gift enjoyed by a lucky few. "Some women have a soft, supple complexion at age 50 even though they've been exposed to all kinds of environmental damage," says Beverly Hills-based dermatologist Vicki Rapaport, M.D., medical director of Kalologie spa in Los Angeles. The rest of us have to do a little work to get our glow going, especially when winter's harsh weather has left us looking lackluster. Here are our best ideas to help you revive your complexion (and wardrobe) so your inner radiance can shine through.

Scrub.

When we're young, dead skin cells naturally slough off and are replaced by fresh ones every 28 days. Unfortunately, that renewal process slows down when we age, as layers of dead cells accumulate and skin starts to look rough and ragged. Exfoliation is the first step in removing such dulling outer layers. Buff the skin manually with a grainy scrub or textured washcloth to reveal a smoother surface. We like (1) Boscia Smoothing Facial Polish ($20; boscia.net). The all-natural, preservative-free formula--it even comes with a freshness date--gently removes dull, dead skin to reveal a radiant complexion. For an at-home alternative to microdermabrasion (the in-office procedure that blasts aluminum-oxide particles at the skin to remove dead skin cells), try (2) Good Skin Microcrystal Skin Refinisher ($25; kohls.com), with soothing aloe, green tea, and vitamin E.

Slough.

If scrubbing's not your thing, try lotions or creams that contain complexion-renewing ingredients. Hydroxy acids (of the alpha, beta, and poly varieties) may sound like stuff whipped up in a lab, but they're actually called from natural sources like sugar, fruit, and milk. Them acids polish skin by gently removing the outermost layers and moisturizing the new skin below. "More is better with hydroxys," says Rapaport. "Using them more often has a cumulative effect." To wake up with a glow, apply (3) Sothys Noctuelle With Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Vitamin C Night Cream ($52; sothys-usa.com) to your face before bed each night; the combination cocktail smoothes and brightens. For the neck and decolletage, (4) Dr. Brandt V-Zone Neck Cream ($60; sephora.com) heals damaged skin with a powerful combination of vitamin C and glycolic acid (a sugar cane derivative).

Moisturize.

A rich moisturizer can plump up the skin, creating a more even surface. Why is this important? Light bounces off a flat surface more uniformly than one that's rough, resulting in a more reflective finish. Try (5) Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Facial Cream ($18.95; avalonorganics.com), made with activated vitamin C and Ester-C for a more supple, radiant complexion. For glow-to-go, New York CRy-based makeup artist Ida Komis totes complexion mist to spray on throughout the day. "It hydrates and gives you a nice, dewy finish all day long," she says. One we love: (6) Burt's Bees Carrot Seed Oil Complexion Mist ($9.50; burtsbees.com), containing essential oils of carrot seed and rose to tone and balance.

Brighten.

Once your skin's been primed and plumped, brightening ingredients can get to work. Fortunately, you don't need to bathe skin in harsh, irritating l chemicals to reveal its healthier, more luminous side--vitamins and plant extracts do the job just as well. Vitamin C, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration by strengthening collagen and elastin in the skin's deepest layers, is still one of the most popular and effective over-the counter radiance boosters around. Clarins Bright Plus Total Brightening Serum ($55; gloss.com) and (2) Aveda Brightening Essence ($45; aveda.com) both use vitamin C to create a more uniform complexion that looks brighter.

Lighten

If age spots are darkening your days, try a botanical-based alternative to hydroquinone (a potentially carcinogenic topical medicine). (3) Nature's Gate Organics Advanced Skin Care Line Light Switch Brightening Lotion ($29.95; whole foods.com) blends lemon, Japanese mandarin, and licorice, all of which reduce dark spots. (4) DHC Alpha-Arbutin White Lotion (545; dhccare.com) contains root extracts of mulberry bark, peony, and isoflavone-rich kudzu, which boost cell turnover and fight free radicals to promote a healthier complexion. (5) Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel ($61; jurlique.com), an all-botanical infusion, uses licorice (a gentle brightener), green tea, and vitamin C to reveal glowing skin.

Enhance

Skip the heavy matte foundation and go as sheer as you dare. "Skin has to be dewy to be radiant," says Komis. For a natural finish, try (6) Dr. Hauschka Toned Day Cream ($32.50; drhauschka.com). For more glow, (7) Origins Halo Effect Instant Illuminator for Face ($16; origins.com) contains glistening mica and an essential-oil blend of citrus to impart an iridescent shimmer that reflects light and virtually erases imperfections. (8) Biotherm Light! Foundation ($23; biotherm-usa.com) offers slightly more coverage and is made with thermal spring water to keep skin dewy and fresh looking.