Most of us have experienced them, but only a few talks about them. Can we really control pre-menstrual breakouts? How do you know if yours is just a runoff-the-mill breakout or one that’s reated to your cycle? Questions like these are very common, and for any lady who wants to keep her skin as clear and beautiful as possible, it helps to know the answer for all these questions. Here’s to help you get to know your skin cycle so you can keep your skin flawless during that time of the month.

A Week Before Your Period

Your skin is in full PMS mode, thanks to your hyper levels of progesterone (the hormone that amps up the skin’s oil production).

How to deal with it: De-grease your face and de-gunk pores using a facial wash and toner with salicylic acid in them. If you feel a pimple is about to emerge, slather the area with clay mask—it sucks out oil and grime from beneath the skin, therefore preventing the breakout.

The Week of Your Period

Zits developing on your face? They are because of last week’s progesterone surge and pore-clogging.

How to deal with it: Be more attentive with your skin’s cleansing needs. Remove make-up with make-up remover wipes and then wash your face with a benzoyl peroxide facial wash. Afterwards, slather some oil-free moisturizer to prevent the skin from over-drying.

The Week After the Period

After two weeks of bumpy ride, your progesterone levels have normalized—and so will your skin. However, some zits can be stubborn and may last for a few more days—they still need more of your attention.

How to deal with it: For stubborn zits, spot treat it with cortisone cream. Dab on the spot only once or twice total—too much can dry out the area and cause the skin to flake. And PS, this isn’t the time for you to slack. Sticking to a skin care regimen, even when acne-free, will prevent future breakouts.

Taking care of your skin will not only ensure clear skin, but will also change your life—it will lead to a better mood, better confidence, and less discomfort.

When you were still in your teenage years, it’s easy to wolf down fast food, candy bars, pizza, and bagels without thinking twice—because you know it won’t impact your weight. Now, even if you’re a hardcore vegan, you still struggle to lose those extra pounds. Why? It’s likely because your metabolism takes a dive over the years and ultimately affects your waistline. Now that we know what happens inside the body, here’s how your calorie-burning mechanism transforms over the years and what you can do to keep it working at its best.

In Your 20s…

Your Metabolism Peaks

Most of people benefit from their highest basal metabolic rate in their late teens to early twenties. Some hit it earlier, others later, which has a lot to do with genes, though activity level also plays a major role. After all, playing on intramurals, hoofing around campus, and doing gym classes burn more calories than sitting in an office.

But It Won’t Last Long

By late twenties, many have noticed that it seems impossible to eat the same things they used to without gaining weight and that weight loss is no longer as easy as it once was. Since this drop in the metabolic rate starts right about the time people settle into the (largely sedentary) workforce , your office job can be one of the things to blame.

In Your 30s…

Pregnancy Can Be Both Good and Bad for the Weight

If you decided to have a baby, pregnancy can give your metabolism a boost, but not enough to allow you to double your normal diet. While you need to eat for yourself and for your baby, remember that the baby is only a coule of millimetres in size, so you don’t need that much extra calories.

Breastfeeding Can Help

A huge calorie-burning power in your 30s comes from breastfeeding. The average woman who’s nursing her infant can expect to burn an extra 500 to 1,000 calories each day.

In Your 40s…

Your Hormones Significantly Decreases

During this age, your body prepares for menopausal stage, and your levels of progesterone, estrogen, and human growth hormones decrease; unfortunately, your metabolism also follows. That means you will need to focus on reducing your calorie intake to maintain a healthy weight.

Building Muscles Is a Necessity

Although this should be necessary at any age, at the age of 40 and up, your body’s natural decline in muscle mass sets in. To fight muscle loss and keep your metabolism at its peak, you really have to focus on strength training. While any exercise will burn calories, strength training provides the biggest boost in your metabolism after a workout session.

Taking care of your body and health should be practiced at any age. However, knowing exactly what your body needs according to your age allows you to reap the best benefits you can actually get from being mentally and physically fit.