Beautiful, healthy skin is an absolute necessity, so I was pleased to find that the August issue of Elle (featuring cover girl Mariah Carey) has a handy little pull-out guide to skin care, titled "Your Everything Guide to Skin." The booklet offers a wealth of information, spanning the entire skin-friendly alphabet from Antioxidants to Zinc. Here are a few tips that I found particularly illuminating:

"An age-old cellulite buster, a dry, natural-bristle body brush raises blood flow to the epidermis, revs up lymphatic drainage, and exfoliates dead cells." One to try: The Body Benefits Natural Bristle Bath Brush.

"Grapes are the main source of the antiaging powerhouse resveratrol. When taken internally, this ingredient triggers health effects similar to a low-calorie diet and is believed to help prevent diseases including cancer and diabetes, as well as ward off weight gain and increase endurance. Found within the skin of the fruit, resveratrol offers several complexion benefits when applied topically - amped-up collagen production, protection from UV damage, and defense against loss of elasticity."

"…ice - or a chilled cloth or a straight-from-the-fridge mask - is…the best way to calm overstressed skin (and depuff undereye bags). Cool compresses constrict capillaries, forcing blood, redness, and inflammation away from the skin’s surface."

"Makeup artists know how to wake up lackluster skin in minutes without a drop of foundation. Apply a moisturizing mask (or just a rich cream) with a gentle, three-minute facial massage. The process relaxes muscles, accelerates microcirculation, and plumps lines to create a smoother surface and a temporary - but convincing - glow." One to try: L’Occitane’s Ultra Moisturizing Mask.

What are your favorite skin tips and tricks?