In search of beauty that's natural and vibrant? We've got ways to look your best at any age without going under the knife. You can radiate vitality in bright, smooth skin; the following slides will show you how.

"Gentle" is the operative word here. Intense scrubbing and harsh chemicals can strip natural oils, resulting in prematurely aged skin. Choose a moisturizing creamy cleanser (never soap -- it's too drying even for oily skin) followed by a warm water rinse, which opens pores and increases blood flow. Pat your skin until damp, not fully dry.

This is a great way to loosen muscles scrunched into habitual expressions. "This brings blood to the surface, clears out puffiness, and reduces fatigue in the skin," says Chris Haas, owner of Ra Organic Spa in Burbank, California. Don't have time for an appointment? At home, all you need is a customized facial serum.

Try It Yourself: Use a base of evening primrose and avocado oils with rose geranium, lavender, and German chamomile essential oils for dry skin, or apricot kernel oil with juniper, lemon, and rosemary oils for oily skin. Starting at the chin, move your hands in small circles and continue to the cheeks, around the eyes, and to the forehead. By doing this, you're stimulating circulation and bringing more nutrients to the skin. Follow with a warm compress to increase the absorption of the serum.

They may seem like unusual beauty picks, but goat's milk and ghee are skin-friendly and extremely emollient. Goat's milk has more calcium, vitamins, and triglycerides (fats) than cow's milk, and its short-strand protein structure means it's particularly suited to skin absorption. The milk's lactic acid makes it a spa favorite for buttery-soft skin.

Ghee, or clarified butter, is an Ayurvedic staple used to moisturize and purify the body. It's also a great digestive and detox aid because it stimulates the liver to secrete bile. Try ingesting a quarter teaspoon of ghee in the morning and night (this is not recommended for overweight people or those who have weak digestion).

Packaging aside, there seems to be hardly any difference between moisturizing creams labeled for day and those made for nighttime use. Their textures often look the same; they might even feel similar on your skin. So why use a special p.m. potion? The answer lies below the surface. While you sleep, skin gets a break from outside stressors such as sun, pollution, and cosmetics and has a chance to repair itself.

How They Work: At night, your body works to build collagen and elastic tissues, which help skin stay plump and supple. Night creams tend to supply more vital nutrients and active ingredients than daytime hydrators, helping to support the healing process. The antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E (and extracts of plants that contain them) are especially beneficial because they not only foster the recovery of damaged cells but also combat future damage by neutralizing wrinkle-causing free radicals. Chamomile and calendula help calm inflammation, while aloe, olive oil, and jojoba oil prevent excess moisture loss.

Check Ingredients: Even if a night cream contains many of these key ingredients, its efficacy will ultimately depend on its formulation. Concentration is very important; a product with just a drop of vitamin C won't cut it. To gain some insight, check out the list of ingredients. If it's dominated by simple moisturizers (like water, oil, aloe, and glycerin), and active ingredients don't appear until the bottom of the list, the product isn't likely to offer many benefits beyond those of a basic hydrating lotion.

Come Clean: Start with a clear canvas so that the ingredients can penetrate effectively. Gentle, nightly exfoliation helps remove dead cells and stimulate cell regeneration. Removing dead cells encourages healthy new ones to develop.