Perpetual Youth Day or the late Dick Clark's birthday --

Small changes in the way you live will improve your looks. Being beautiful isn't all about makeup, hair dye, and the right clothes. It's also about good health. The healthier you are, the better you will look. Change your lifestyle and you'll be prettier. Here are some tried and true tips for looking your best:

Smoking ruins your skin and hair
The primary reason to not smoke -- or stop if you do -- is to prevent potentially fatal diseases, including cancer and stroke. But did you know smoking damages the microcirculation to the skin and hair, reports the BBC News Online. When this happens, both are dull, gray, and lifeless. Smoking also leads to early wrinkles, especially around the mouth.

Booze packs on the pounds
What you drink and how much you drink affect the size of your waistline. The type of alcohol that's consumed seems to contribute differently to the accumulation of abdominal fat, HealthCentral says wine drinkers have the least abdominal fat, while liquor drinkers have the highest.

Vitamins make your skin glow
if you want a complexion that glows, take your vitamins. Sometimes that means popping a vitamin pill and other times it means eating the right food. A healthy diet can be a fountain of youth for thr skin. Eat well and your skin will be moist, clear, and glowing. Eat poorly and it will be dry, pale, scaly, or oily.

Work up a sweat
Exercising regularly will not only keep you in shape, but also give you poise and make your skin glow. If you walk briskly for 30 minutes a day, you may never gain another pound, according to researchers from Duke University.

Be sun smart
Cover up with clothing or sun screen. The sun's ultraviolet rays break down the skin's collagen, which makes the skin thinner and allows wrinkles to form.

Get more shuteye
Sleep is not a luxury. It's necessary for body repairs. So make sure you get enough, which is at least seven to eight hours a night. If you don't get enough shut-eye, you could also have problems with memory and concentration, according to researchers at Stanford University.

Get over it
Stress can show on your face and in your posture. Learn how to deal with the big and little stresses you face in your life. But do know this: You are not alone. Stress is the most common health problem reported by women.

Smile and say cheese
Take care of your teeth. Brush, floss, and see the dentist every six months for a check-up. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry offers this advice to keep your teeth white: Avoid drinking too much coffee or red wine and use toothpaste that has hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.

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