Last month we shared with you hidden gremlins that harm our skin and we offered tips to combat those toxins. Here are four simple beauty secrets we all can do to help keep our skin beautiful, because all the products and spa treatments in the world won't beat the basics of caring for ourselves.

There’s a reason it’s called beauty sleep.  If you don't get enough sleep, it will show up in your face. Period. Unless, of course, you're going for that scary Halloween look.

Your best bet is to make an effort to get the sleep your body requires. Your body needs time to go into repair mode. Think you have a crazy schedule? Your skin is much busier than you'll ever be. At night, it goes from protection mode to repair mode. In other words, while you're getting some shuteye, your body is hard at work replacing old, damaged cells. Just one all-nighter can result in dark circles and acne. The less you sleep, the more likely you are to experience premature aging.

We all have those nights when we aren't able to get enough sleep, but there are ways to combat the lack of zzzzzs. A quick trick is toner, especially rose water. Dab it around your eyes. It gives you an instant pick-me-up and smells awesome!

If you're having trouble drifting off, try working out or doing yoga. It helps switch off the brain. Take a bath with calming essential oils (chamomile, sandalwood, and ylang ylang) or Epsom salts and sleep on pure cotton sheets rather than synthetic fibers, which trap heat, sweat, and dirt. If you're tired of dealing with puffiness around your eyes, just prop two pillows under your head to keep it elevated. This will help reduce fluid retention around the eyes.

Everyone knows that excessive sun exposure is one of the worst things you can do for your skin, and tanning beds are no better. Neither are chemically saturated self-tanning lotions. Getting 15 minutes of sun a day is optimal, but it won't give you a suntan.

You can get that "look" using turmeric, a dark yellow spice native to India. For centuries Indian women have been using it for a natural glow. Just mix half a teaspoon turmeric with milk to make a paste, apply to your skin, leaving it on for about five minutes, then wash it off. You’ll notice a soft golden glow without the use of chemicals or plastics. This turmeric mask will leave your skin soft and supple, and it has immense healing properties including getting rid of acne and discoloration.

Everyone has some level of stress in their life, some more than others. The more stress in your life, the more likely your body will be attacked by diseases. Equally as bad, stress is reflected on your face the minute you experience it.

When you're chronically stressed, you force your adrenal glands to work overtime and eventually exhaust themselves, inhibiting the immune system and triggering a number of health complications. Fight stress through exercise, but it's best to avoid using the gym. The noise factor is not a recipe for reducing stress.
Consider practicing yoga using simple stretching exercises. Yoga has been around for centuries and far surpasses the manic hustle and bustle of corporate health clubs. By switching to yoga, you're training your mind and body - and not wasting funds on fancy health clubs, which can be a breeding ground for illness.

All beings need oxygen and our skin is no exception. How do we harness it the "right way" to be most effective? Oxygen calms inflammation, treats acne, kills bacteria, drives antioxidants and vitamins into the skin, and makes your skin younger looking by providing oxygen to the skin cells.

An expensive option is an oxygen facial. Cha ching! That will cost you about $500 a treatment. Okay, probably not an option.

Another option is expensive beauty products that "claim" their products contain O2. It's a gas. Do you really think these companies can put oxygen into a cream, keep it there and then have it released at the exact moment it's applied to your face? If you believe that, I've got some swamp property to sell you! Even if it was possible for creams to provide some extra oxygen to the skin, the effects would only last a few seconds or perhaps minutes at best.

Then what's the answer? Air purifiers.

An air purifier can filter the air, creating an optimal clean environment that is rich with pure O2.  Even if your objection wasn't for beauty, the benefits for optimizing the overall body are numerous, so it's best to use one in your room while sleeping.

What other beauty secrets do you use for gorgeous skin?

Thou shalt not go to bed without first removing makeup.  Gals, this is a major no-no. When the accumulation of dirt, oil and makeup is left on your face for more than 24 hours, you’re just begging for acne. Wash with a mild facial cleanser, tone, if desired, and moisturize.

Thou shalt not ever leave the house without applying sunscreen.  Sun is the number one skin-aging culprit. Worse still, harmful UV rays can lead to more serious skin diseases like skin cancer.

Thou shalt never forgo water for soda.  Drink 8 glasses (approximately 2 liters) of water per day to flush out toxins and re-hydrate the skin.

Thou shalt not skip regular beauty sleep.  We can’t always get 8 hours of sleep a night, but 8 hours most nights of the week will allow your body the time it needs to recuperate. You will awake refreshed and glowing.

Thou shalt not allow stress to consume your life.  Sure, we all get stressed out once in a while, but a life wrought with stress is a face wrought with wrinkles.

Thou shalt not sacrifice beautiful skin for junk food.  No doubt junk food is likely responsible for the majority of pimples. So nix the potato chips and French fries for some yogurt, granola and fruit. You don’t have to cut junk food totally out of your life, just enjoy it in moderation.

Thou shalt not pick and pop pimples.  Your dermatologist will agree, popping and picking at pimples only spreads oil and dirt around your face – causing more pimples. It can also result in acne scarring that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Thou shalt not use the same soap on your face that you use to wash your body and hands.  Shower washes, body washes and hand soaps are too harsh for your face and continual use will lead to dry, flaky skin.  Use a mild cleanser, especially made for the face.

Thou shalt not refrain from moisturizing just because you are a male.  That’s right men – listen up! Your skin collects oil and dirt, and it dries out just like the rest of us. So test out your mom’s, wife’s, girlfriend’s or sister’s facial cleanser and moisturizer to see if you like it…we won’t tell.

Thou shalt not use heavy foundations if you’re prone to acne.  Most teenage girls cake on the foundation in the hopes that they’re covering acne and blemishes. When in reality pancake powder and heavy foundations just block pores and create more acne. If you have acne-prone skin, choose a light foundation and wash your applicator sponge or brush after every foundation application.

Got anymore tips you'd like to add?