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Breaking bad skin habits

2:38 PM, Mar 7, 2012   |    comments
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She says chewing gum is probably the worst habit of all.

"Over time your jaw muscles build up, they get bulky and that contributes to a jowly look. Not only can that but over time, chewing gum also contribute to wrinkles above your upper lip," she said. "Instead pop a mint. If you can't stand the thought of giving up your gum, at least only chew half the stick and chew it for a few minutes."

Drink plenty of water, but ditch the straw.

"Every time you suck from a straw, just like when you are sucking from a cigarette, you pucker, and when your lip muscles pucker, it contracts and squeezes the skin. Over time that squeezing and creasing leads to wrinkles. Find a water bottle that had a wider spout so that you don't have to pucker as much. Of course the best is to drink from a cup or a glass."

She says when you go to sleep, lay off your face and sleep on your back.

"If you sleep on your face and you smoosh your face for seven, eight, nine hours a night, it's creating a crease in the skin. Well, if it is hard for you to train yourself not to sleep on your face, well then at least look for a soft satin or silk pillowcase. Because these soft materials help to reduce friction between your skin and the pillows so there's less creasing," Wu said.

Make sure you launder those linens at least once a week.

"Your pillow case can collect not only dirt, but oils, sweats, saliva, bacteria that transfers from your face to your pillow case at night and that's a lot of bacteria that can build up and get back on your skin," she said.

Make sure you cleanse your face before bedtime.

"Makeup can feed the bacteria on your skin and create not just acne and clogged pores but you can even get an overgrowth of parasites. If you just can't get around to pulling your hair back and using cleanser and water, at least use a pre-moistened facial wipe to get off the day's oil, dirt and makeup before you fall into bed," Wu Said.

Don't forget the old saying, "You are what you eat."

Wu says eating a healthy diet has the biggest impact on the condition of your complexion.

(Copyright © 2012 NBC Universal, All Rights Reserved)