with grooming scissors and tweezers. Use a pair of grooming scissors to trim back any eyebrow hairs that are noticeably longer than the rest. Then, use tweezers to pluck out any hairs that are rooted outside the natural contour of your eyebrows.  If your eyebrows are particularly bushy, comb through them before trimming so the hairs are lying properly. Or, wet your fingers a bit and smooth the eyebrows into place. You can keep plucking if you want to further thin out the natural look of your eyebrows, but that’s up to you. Use the grooming scissors that come with a typical grooming kit (along with tweezers, nail clippers, etc.), not the full-size scissors you’d use for a haircut. If you have any stray hairs growing off of the outside of your ear, either pluck them out with tweezers or cut them down as short as you can with grooming scissors. Remove each hair with a firm, quick yank of the tweezers, or pull each hair taut with the tweezers, then hold the scissors parallel to the flesh of your ear and cut the hair off at the base.  Use tweezers to yank out any visible hairs growing from inside your ear canal. This will hurt a bit, but you can reduce the pain by gripping the hair shaft firmly with your tweezers and pulling quickly and firmly. Never stick grooming scissors or any other sharp object into your ears. Only pluck hairs from the inside of your ear if they’re visible outside your ear. Pull any protruding nose hairs in each nostril taut with your tweezers, then hold the scissors parallel to your nostril opening and cut each hair off as short as you can. Do not stick the scissors up into your nose to trim the hairs. Also, don’t pluck hairs from out of your nose—any minor bleeding may lead to an infection.  Alternatively, you can purchase an electric nose hair trimmer. Models vary, but generally you'll just turn it on and stick the rounded trimmer into each nostril. Don't stick it farther up your nose than directed. Pluck or trim any rogue hairs growing on the top or side of your nose. If you’re going for a clean-shaven look, use a manual razor. Soften your skin and open your pores by showering or washing your face, then massage in a healthy coating of shaving cream. Shave in the direction of hair growth and rinse the blade often with clean water. Finish by rinsing your face with cool water, patting it dry, and applying an aftershave lotion or balm.  Use a clean, sharp razor every time you shave. If the blade is getting dull or full of gunk, replace it. If you want to keep a tidy beard, use a grooming trimmer instead. Adjust the blade setting to your desired length setting and glide the trimmer over your facial hair in even, smooth strokes. If you have sensitive skin on your face that gets easily irritated by shaving, keep in mind that the same will likely happen if you shave other areas of your body. In this case, you may want to trim your body hair instead of shaving it. If you're shaving your face, just include the front of your neck in the process. Shaving the back of your neck can be a bit trickier. Either use a handheld mirror in one hand and the razor in the other, or find someone who's willing to give you a quick neck shave. If you plan to shave your back (which is also much easier with a partner), you can include the back of your neck in that process.

Summary: Tidy up your eyebrows Pluck or cut any rogue ear hairs. Trim long nose hairs instead of plucking them. Shave or trim your facial hair to suit your style. Shave the front and back of your neck as well, if needed.


Your body needs time to store the water, and trying to chug a water bottle right before you leave is ineffective and uncomfortable. Aim to drink one glass of water every hour up until you set out on your run.  You need to drink water to stay hydrated and energized. Aim for 8-16oz of water 1-2 hours before running. You don't need to eat a lot unless you plan on running more than 12-13 miles. A bagel with honey or jam, a granola bar and fruit, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will provide fuel that your body can digest quickly. Avoid slow to digest foods like thick pasta sauces, fried foods, or cheeses. Aim for a simple combination of carbohydrates (bagel, toast, granola, oatmeal), natural sugar (jelly, banana, apple, honey), and protein (peanut butter, yogurt, grilled chicken). This is especially important if you are just beginning to run regularly. Use a map or a running specific app, like MapMyRun, to plan out a route that works for you. A good start for your first few weeks is 20-30 minutes, running 2-3 miles at a time. As you progress, listen to your body -- if your muscles and joints are hurting after every run, slow down and do less mileage until you are better prepared. You should wear light, breathable clothing that doesn't trap sweat. If you are going for a short run, then a cotton shirt will be fine, but you should use synthetic athletic wear for longer runs. Your body will raise it's temperature by 10-15 degrees, so dress as if the weather is 10-15 degrees warmer. Make sure your sneakers fit by trying them out on short runs. If you get any blisters or feel numbness in your toes, you need better fitting shoes.  Your heel should stay snugly in the shoe. You should have room to wiggle your toes. The balls and arches of your feet should be comfortable but not tight.  There is a growing movement to run barefoot for it's supposed health benefits, but only try it if you are sure you will not step on anything dangerous.

Summary: Hydrate throughout the day. Eat a simple meal 2-3 hours before you plan on running. Set a reasonable goal. Dress to exercise. Buy running shoes.


Depending on how your skin is feeling, you may prefer either a manual or chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. A manual exfoliant is a physical scrub.  This can a warm washcloth, baking soda, or any of various products specifically designed for the purpose of exfoliation, like facial brushes. Anything that can manually scrub your skin.  While manual exfoliation is more natural, be careful about further irritating the skin, as it can be abrasive. Chemical exfoliants come in several forms. Two common and effective ones are BHAs and Retinoids.  A BHA exfoliant uses Beta Hydroxy Acid, which contains salicylic acid, to get deep inside your pores, dissolve dirt, and exfoliate the skin. Acne marks will fade faster and you should get fewer breakouts.   Retinoid creams can be used to speed up the skin's natural process of cell division, which pushes out the discolored skill cells. This treatment will increase sensitivity to sunlight, so be sure to apply the cream at night. Making sure to choose a gentle exfoliant (so as not to further irritate the skin), scrub with either a manual or chemical exfoliant every morning and apply a retinoid cream every night.
Summary: Try manual exfoliation first. Try chemical exfoliants if manual ones don't work. Use exfoliants every morning and evening.