How Can I Get Flawless Skin in 3 Days?

A 3-Day Guide To Your Best Skin

Double up on moisture

If your complexion is dull, dry, and/or normally meh, use a hyaluronic acid serum, which acts as a magnet that pulls moisture deep into your skin, followed by a moisturizing cream, for a double dose of moisture morning and night. Try a two-in-one formula like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Intense Skin Revitalizer Serum + Moisturizer for quick application. It’s the simplest and fastest way to offer a lift to the skin, according to L’Oréal Paris scientific skincare expert Dr. Rocio Rivera. In fact, up to “30 percent of fine lines and wrinkles can disappear [or at least look a lot less noticeable] simply by applying a basic formula.” It’s important for those prone to oily skin too, Dr. Rivera says because without it skin goes into “drought mode and starts overproducing oil.”

Eat two servings of omega-3s

Fun fact: No amount of night cream will reverse a bad diet’s skin-damaging effects. It always means that what you eat has a way of showing up on your face. New York nutritionist Brooke Alpert suggests a safe fat approach based on omega-3 fatty acids for the best possible skin, which, she says, “encourages the body to produce anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce skin redness, breakouts, and puffiness.” The usual suspects, salmon, cod, and halibut, are filled with the material, but consider a handful of walnuts or a cup of chia pudding instead if you are not into seafood.

Lay off the dairy

Sucks, we know, but Alpert recommends absolutely removing milk from your diet for a consistently clear complexion. Here’s why: “Hormones like progesterone and insulin found in cow’s milk increase levels of inflammation, which can trigger acne.” Although not everyone’s face blows up from a cheese board, you would be wise to go lactose-free to see how your skin responds if you struggle with breakouts, especially if conventional topical options have not worked. “It’s surprising how many people see an improvement,” she says.

Work up a sweat

The advantages of exercise are well understood: strong heart, more muscle, cute ass. But working out can do incredible things for your skin as well, says Heather Hausenblas, Ph.D., an exercise science professor at the University of Jacksonville. “Exercise flushes out toxins and encourages proper blood circulation, which, in turn, improves skin as it feeds oxygen and nutrients to your cells.” Do something for 60 minutes that gets the heart rate up, like a light jog, yoga session, or spin class. Simply offer priority to wash your face afterward, Hausenblas says, “so gunk doesn’t get sucked back into your pores.”

Load up on fruits and veggies

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: for healthy skin, a healthy diet is important. Cosmetic facial acupuncturist Shellie Goldstein, Manhattan, adds: “Just like you want your serums and creams to be high in good-for-skin vitamins, so should the foods you eat.” In particular, what to target? Next, look for vitamin A, aka the derivative known as retinol, which can be found in carrots, pumpkins, and dark leafy greens, to combat wrinkles. Then add vitamin C to free radical-scavenging, which, explains Alpert, is essential for “producing collagen and helping blemishes heal properly.” They are also excellent sources of blueberries, kiwis, and sweet potatoes. Finally, to avoid inflammation and help the skin maintain moisture, round out your meal with vitamin E-rich foods like spinach and avocado.

Give your eyes a depuffing massage

Even if the rest of your face is in very good condition, chances are that the occasional (or constant) curse of under-eye bags has not escaped you. This is because, says Dr. Rivera, they are part of our genetic heritage, and practically everything-stress, soy sauce, allergies, all-nights-manages bring them into a tizzy. Try a caffeine-spiked eye cream to help reduce swelling and constrict blood vessels if you are prone to waking up a little puffy. (Bonus points if it has a metal cooling tip like L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Eye Treatment.) Double down on DIY acupressure massage for big-time bags. “Working on the pressure points is great for immediate benefits in circulation, decreased puffiness, and draining of excess fluids,” says Goldstein. To do this, put your thumb for 10 seconds between your eyebrows and massage it. Then use your ring fingers, beginning at the inner corners of the eyes, to gently draw a circle across the eyebrows, across the orbital bones, and under the eyes; repeat two or three times.

Keep stress in check

For clear skin, it’s public enemy number one. Your body releases extra adrenaline and cortisol when you’re stressed out, which can cause a whole host of skin problems, such as acne, itching, and hives, says Alpert. Isn’t meditation your thing? Try a relaxing cup of magnesium-rich tea: It will help control the nervous system and calm everything that is tense, including muscles and mind, she says. Look for white tea or rooibos to drink before bed.

Slap on an overnight mask

And while you catch those Z’s, let all the restorative goodness sink in. Look for formulations like L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask with hydrating glycerin and Hyaluronic acid, says Dr. Rivera. The wrinkle-reducing effects of a sleep mask are two-fold: first, at night, cells heal, allowing turbocharged ingredients to penetrate deeper and function more effectively. It also helps to lock in precious moisture, which during the regenerative process tends to escape. For better absorption, try exfoliating first. When you wake up, what are you going to see? A lighter, more dewy, smooth-looking skin.

Drink a ton of H2O

Because it is just as important to hydrate your body on the inside as to moisturize it on the outside. Alpert states that when you’re dehydrated,, “your skin cells shrivel up, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.” Whereas well-hydrated skin looks “dewy, plump, and more youthful.” If that does not excuse enough to start guzzling, here’s another one: drinking enough water often helps avoid cravings for sugar during the day, which typically means less inflammation. But don’t just slam back a gallon and call it a day; every few hours, drink a liter to give your body time to actually absorb it.