How to Have a Pretty Face

Co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 Approved

Everyone is born unique and should celebrate the special features that make them who they are on the inside and outside. It is important to learn that everyone is born beautiful and that having a pretty face is not limited to only certain people. Anyone can achieve a glowing, pretty face with care and daily maintenance. By following consistent routines and practicing healthy habits, a pretty face is sure to follow that will boost your confidence and make you feel great.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Skin

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1
Keep your skin clean. When your skin isn't properly washed, it becomes clogged and patchy and develops dark spots. Always remove blackheads, dirt, and oil to maintain clean skin. Your skin is the foundation of a pretty face, so it is important to take great care of it. ^{[1]
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- Use a cream cleanser that suits your skin type and is for daily use. Get in the habit of washing your face every morning and every night.
2
Practice weekly exfoliation treatments for beautiful skin. Exfoliation removes dry, dead skin cells that keep your face looking dull and uneven. Dead skin cells don't reflect light like fresh skin does, leaving you without a healthy shine. Whether you use a scrub cleanser, mask, or washcloth, be sure to consistently exfoliate.
- Be gentle when exfoliating by applying light pressure and using circular motions. Also, always stop when your skin starts to feel uncomfortable.
- It is best to limit exfoliation to once a week, especially if you have sensitive skin.
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3
Use baking soda to exfoliate for extra soft skin. When you mix baking soda with warm water, you will create a great exfoliating treatment that is safe and gentle on your skin. All you do is mix equal parts of baking soda and water and rub it on your face using circular motions. Keep massaging for about one minute and then wash it off with warm water. ^{[2]
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- Finish the process with a great face moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Skin can become dry after you cleanse or exfoliate it, so be sure to replace any moisture lost back into your skin.
There are certain times when it is impossible not to touch your face, but it is important to limit how much contact happens. Every time you put your chin in your palm, pop a pimple or even rub your tired eyes after a long day, you are damaging your skin. Our hands clog our pores with dirt and oil and all of those rubs and tugs create fine lines, wrinkles, and micro tears on our faces.
5
Be consistent with face moisturizer. No matter what your skin type is, you should be using a facial moisturizer to hydrate and nourish your skin. When choosing the best face lotion, find products with all-natural ingredients that are oil-free. This will give your skin the benefits of essential botanicals like aloe vera, but it won't clog your pores. ^{[3]
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- Look for a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid or ceramides. These ingredients are extra hydrating. ^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kaveri Karhade, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 11 January 2021.}
- Use a hydrating lotion within two minutes after getting out of the shower or bath because the skin becomes porous and better absorbs lotion.
- When applying, be gentle and make sure you rub the lotion in completely. Don't forget to use the lotion on your neck too.
- Dry winters, air conditioners, makeup, and wind can all lead to dry skin, so make sure you replenish your face with moisturizer every day.
6
Wear sunscreen every day. If you leave your skin exposed and unprotected for too long, it can cause irreversible damage because of the UV rays that come from the sun. The sun causes wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer that will slowly develop over time. An easy way to wear sunscreen every day is to buy a face lotion that also has sunscreen in it. Look for lightweight lotions that use natural ingredients.
- Lotions that contain sunscreen are easy to wear underneath your regular makeup and will give you the protection you need.
- Use a sunscreen that contains at least SPF 30. ^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kaveri Karhade, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 11 January 2021.}

Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: What Skin Type Do I Have?

Oily, combination, dry, or sensitive—to take the very best care of your face, first you’ve got to know your skin type. Whether it’s acne, flakiness, redness, or oil that’s got you down, we’ll give you all the knowledge you need, and we’ll even recommend our favorite products for your skin type.

1 of 12

Let’s talk about pores. How would you describe yours?

Honestly, they’re super noticeable, large, and all over my face.

They’re noticeable, but only really in my t-zone (AKA, my forehead, nose, & chin).

They’re pretty small. I can hardly see them!

I’m pretty sure my pores are average in size.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Makeup to Enhance Beauty

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1
Don’t pack on too much makeup. Certain foundations and bronzers can be very thick, causing dry skin and clogged pores. These products can also use unnatural ingredients that tamper with the skin's natural chemical balances, causing uneven complexions.
- The best method to create an even skin tone with makeup is by using a lightweight tinted moisturizer. It will give you the natural-looking coverage you crave and also hydrate your skin.
- Remember to always wash your face at night and remove all traces of makeup to keep skin clean and clear.
2
Add a healthy glow to your cheeks with blush. Finding the right color blush for your skin type can be very flattering. It adds a healthy flush to your skin and helps the apples of your cheeks stand out. Take a big round brush and dip it into your favorite blush color. Use circular motions to apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks.
- Find the apples of your cheeks by smiling in the mirror and applying the blush to the roundest part of your cheeks. Only add enough to give you a healthy glow.
- If you have cool-toned skin, try using a pink or cranberry-colored blush. For warm-toned skin, peach and red-colored blushes will look best on you.
3
Cover your dark circles with an under-eye concealer. The skin underneath your eyes is very thin and sensitive, and this often leads to dark circles that can make you look tired. To help them blend in with your regular skin tone, lightly apply an under-eye concealer to disguise discoloration. These concealers contain green undertones that help cancel out the purple hues underneath your eyes. ^{[6]
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- Rub your finger in the eye concealer and dab it under your eyes. Always start from the outside corner of your eye and work your way in to prevent wrinkles.
- Never rub the skin under your eye when applying. This will also lead to wrinkles and broken capillaries, which can cause even darker circles.
4
Experiment with face contouring. You can play up or play down certain features on your face with a brush, brown bronzer, and a makeup highlighter. Contouring can help your cheekbones stand out, redefine your jawline, or even make your nose look smaller. Contouring can be tricky at first, so to help you along, try watching a makeup tutorial to get you started. ^{[7]
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- Makeup highlighters are used to bring attention to features that you want people to focus on such as your cheekbones or jawline.
- Bronzers help to shape under your cheekbones to slim down a face.
  - Begin with a brush that has lightly been brushed into the bronzer. Dust off the extra bronzer and start by applying the brush at your temples and working your way down to your cheekbones using circular motions.
  - Keep going until you reach the middle of your jawline and then stop. This is an easy step to give you beautiful cheeks.
5
Wear mascara to open up your eyes. Black mascara is flattering on everyone and is easy to apply. It pumps up thin lashes and helps lengthen short ones. For a softer look, you can try using a brown mascara.
- After you apply mascara, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler that will open your eyes up even more.
- Don't apply more than one coat of mascara because it will begin to clump up and make you look unkempt. Keep it simple with one coat and wash the mascara off every night.
6
Try shaping your eyebrows into a flattering arch. Well-groomed eyebrows will enhance your natural cheek and eye curvature, which brings out beauty and femininity. Head to a salon so that a professional can wax your eyebrows to give you the best shape for your face.
- You don't want to pluck your eyebrows too thin or too short. Keep the natural lines of your eyebrows to help create a definition in your face.
- If you need to add to your eyebrows, purchase an eyebrow pencil that will fill in or darken areas on your brow to give a fuller look.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Starting from Within

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1
Get plenty of sleep. Your overall health needs to get at least eight to nine hours of sleep every night. A lack of adequate sleep will translate through your face with dull skin and dark circles under your eyes. Also, once you miss a night of sleep, you cannot make it up later by oversleeping because the damage is already done. To keep your skin looking fresh and bright, create a regular bedtime schedule.
- Plan your sleep schedule accordingly so you can fit in the recommended amount of sleep every night.
2
Eat the proper foods your skin needs to thrive. By following the FDA-regulated food pyramid, you are setting yourself up for a healthy inside as well as a healthy, glowing outside. What you decide to put into your body reflects on the outside through your skin and face. Our skin gets its nourishment from the vitamins and minerals in the foods we eat so be sure to eat fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, which are especially essential to our skin because it is what our skin is made up of.
- Proper nutrition will help your skin steer clear of acne and pimples, whereas too much sugar can cause your skin to break out.
3
Drink a lot of water. Water helps cure many problems associated with skin. It clears breakouts, creates more vibrant skin, softens and hydrates skin, and helps even out skin tone. The minimum amount of water recommended per day is eight glasses, but if you can, drink even more. This is a vital step towards having a pretty face. ^{[8]
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- Always carry water by your side throughout the day. This will encourage you to drink more water.
- Water helps the skin become supple and promotes healthy cell rejuvenation.
4
Reflect beauty from within with a smile. A smile is one of the best ways to achieve a pretty face. The first thing people see is your face and the first thing they notice is your expression. Let everyone see your inner beauty by wearing a smile on your face as much as possible and laughing often.
- When you greet someone or are having a conversation, flash them a smile to show them you are confident and happy.
- Happiness radiates, and often a person's personality will come through as physical attractiveness to others.

Have a Transformational Glow Up with this Expert Series

Are you ready for the biggest glow up of your life? It's time to care of yourself, build your confidence, and become the best version of yourself that you can be! Read these expert articles to supercharge your glow up.

1

Have a Glow Up

2

Make Yourself More Attractive

3

Get Glowing Skin in Just One Week

4

Do a Full Body Makeover

5

Look Naturally Beautiful

6

Be Confident in Your Looks

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the best type of sunscreen to use?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more is recommended for daily use, especially if you are outdoors frequently. Sunscreens can be chemical or physical—both are beneficial in terms of skin cancer prevention.

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How can I lose weight?

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Stay active by doing plenty of cardio exercise, such as jogging, walking, swimming, or running. Be sure to eat a healthy diet and to drink plenty of water.

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How can I start improving my face if I never cared about it before?

Community Answer

Start by washing your face every day with cleanser, then gradually start wearing makeup if it makes you feel prettier. You can start by wearing mascara and blush, then move up to more complicated things like foundation and eyeliner.

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Stand up straight to look confident.

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Use beauty products that are as natural as possible.

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Eat wholesome foods and take a daily vitamin. You are what you eat.

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Toner
Moisturizer
Exfoliant

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How to Have a Pretty Face

Steps

Taking Care of Your Skin

wikiHow Quiz: What Skin Type Do I Have?

Let’s talk about pores. How would you describe yours?

Using Makeup to Enhance Beauty

Starting from Within

Have a Transformational Glow Up with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Things You'll Need

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