5 Science-Backed Beauty Tips That Will Revolutionize Your Routine

When it comes to achieving and maintaining beautiful skin, every woman has a different routine. Whether it's an anti-wrinkle secret passed down from a grandmother or a subtle makeup trick that covers up puffy under eyes, we all have tricks that we'll swear by for life.

And as much as we love these tried-and-true, slightly folklore-y regimens, we'd be doing ourselves (and our faces) a disservice if we chose to neglect the other end of the spectrum — the world of science-backed beauty.

After all, the most effective routines are rooted in moderation, and that often means a healthy balance of family secrets, DIY potions, and research-driven facts.

That's why we teamed up with WelleCo, purveyors of plant-based elixirs that are backed by science and driven by nature, to bring you five beauty tips straight from the laboratory, so you can have all the tools you need to give your beauty routine the upgrade that it needs.

1. Say No To Sun

This might seem like an obvious tip, but it's one that bears repeating. In the sea of anti-aging products and secrets that are out there, one thing is continually recommended by experts: Wear sunscreen every day.

The U.S. National Library Of Medicine explains how the sun affects skin: "Within the skin's epidermal [outer] layer are cells that contain the pigment melanin. Melanin protects skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can burn the skin, and over time, could reduce its elasticity and cause a person to age prematurely."

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sticking to shady spots, covering up with clothing, and slathering on broad-spectrum, water-resistant, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day are your best bets for keeping your skin healthy and gorgeous.

2. Pick Your Potions Wisely

There's no shortage of lotions, oils, and moisturizers that promise a one-stop shop to perfect skin. And while there's nothing more fun than treating yourself to a skin care spree, many over-the-counter solutions haven't been scientifically proven to combat aging skin and wrinkles in a meaningful way.

There is promise in retinoids, however: The National Center for Biotechnology Information touts the effectiveness of retinoids over everything, citing that these ingredients are "the most promising agents that are available for the treatment of aging."

3. Learn The Basics Of Perfume

We don't know about you, but the final step in our beauty routine is always spritzing on a little fragrance. So why do some perfumes seem to last a lifetime, while others dissipate way sooner than we'd like?

The answer lies in — you guessed it! — science.

It all comes down to the name of the product, which reflects the scents' concentration levels. Terms like parfum (15-30 percent aromatic compounds), eau de parfum (8-15 percent), eau de toilette (4-8 percent), and eau de cologne (2-5 percent) denote how potent the product will be, and therefore, how long it will last.

So next time you're looking for a scent that lasts all day, analyze the name and the scent before you buy.

4. Put Good In & Get Good Out

So much of your beauty routine is focused on what you're putting on your body, but what about the things that you put into it? Although there are many factors that go into keeping your skin looking and feeling great, nutrition can form a healthy foundation for maintaining your best skin ever.

A great way to round out your diet is with WelleCo's elixirs, which are specially formulated by nutritional experts. It's a super-convenient way to add 45 premium plant-based nutrients into your routine.

5. Read Your Ingredients

Think that what you put on your face stays on your face? Think again. A joint study by University of California, Berkeley and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas tested the extent to which chemicals in makeup products were actually transferred into the body.

They found that when participants avoided products with chemicals like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and oxybenzone (all of which are commonly found in makeup and hair care) for the extent of a three-day trial, levels of chemicals in the body dropped significantly.

So think twice (and read the ingredients list) before you slather anything on your skin, and you'll be doing your part to help keep the chemicals in your system to a minimum.

This post is sponsored by WelleCo.