Do you want healthy, beautiful skin that glows? Then follow these 5 steps to keep your skin in the best shape possible:

1. Protect your skin from ultra violet (UV) light.

A little bit of sunlight is good for your overall health, but too much exposure to UV rays can quickly cause significant damage to your skin. Overexposure to sunlight actually makes your skin age faster, leading to wrinkles, spots, and even cancer. Be sure to apply a good sunscreen whenever you know you're going to be outdoors for longer than 10 minutes.

2. Stay hydrated with green tea.

You probably already know that drinking lots of water is important for overall beauty and health. But you may not know that drinking unsweetened green tea is much better than water alone. Green tea not only tastes better than plain water (making it easier to drink throughout the day) but it's also loaded with polyphenols. These powerful antioxidants fight free-radical damage throughout the body and help keep your skin, the body's largest organ, young and beautiful.

3. Eat a very "clean" diet.

A clean diet is one based around raw vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. For protein stick with soy/tofu, eggs and small amounts of fish and lean poultry. Always choose organic and/or grass-fed meat when possible. Also, you may want to increase your intake of high-sulfur foods (e.g., garlic, onions, asparagus, and eggs) as sulfur has been shown to help keep the skin smooth and youthful. Obviously, all sugar, flour, and fried foods should be avoided.

4. Eat plenty of healthy fat.

Unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil, extra-virgin olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil, cold water fish oils, and avocado all contain super-healthy fats that support optimum skin health. These powerful fats should make up about 20-30% of your daily calorie intake.

5. Moisturize often.

People who moisturize their skin on a daily basis usually have the best looking skin. Fortunately there are many ways to moisturize. Just find a few you like and always choose natural options when possible. A great way to moisturize and nourish dry skin is to mash up an avocado, mix in a few drops of freshly-squeezed lemon juice, and spread over freshly-cleaned skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes then rinse off, splashing the skin alternately with cold and warm water.

Jamie Clark is a writer for BeautyWatching.com. For interesting news and useful information about beauty and skin care, visit: http://www.beautywatching.com