Oh, to be a model: As if having a beautiful face and a hot body weren’t enough, models get to travel the world, go to glamorous parties, and work in a fast-paced, always-exciting career. On the less-than-fabulous side, though, is the toll that modeling can take on your skin.

“During fashion week, models are under a lot of stress, so their skin tends to be more reactive and look less vibrant than normal,” says New York City-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D., who cares for the complexions of several models at her Upper East Side practice.

So why does their skin always look so perfect when they work the runway? Sure, having the help of a professional makeup artist doesn’t hurt, but models have also picked up a few tricks for treating their skin with some extra TLC during stressful situations. Because you’re no stranger to stress, we wanted to let you in on their skincare secrets. Here are the most common skin pitfalls models face and how to keep them from wreaking havoc on your complexion.

Model Behavior: Pressure to fit into sample-size clothes plus crazy runway schedules may keep many models from eating right and drinking enough water. “Models often experience dehydration due to less nutrient-rich foods in their diet and extra consumption of alcohol,” says Jaliman. Any lack of moisture can quickly show up on your skin, leaving your complexion dull, tight, and flaky.

Skincare Secrets: Obviously, the first step is to up your intake of healthy foods (think fruits, veggies and anything rich in healthy fats like salmon, almonds and avocados) and drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Carrying around a reusable water bottle can help you remember to sip throughout the day. Jaliman also suggests supplying your skin with H2O from the outside by using a light cream that contains moisture-binding hyaluronic acid. Derma e’s Hyaluronic Acid Day Crème ($29.50) is a good choice.

To keep skin glowing, Jaliman makes sure her model patients exfoliate regularly using peel pads with glycolic, salicylic or lactic acids. “This will remove dead skin cell build-up, which can also help reduce breakouts,” says Jaliman, who adds that blemishes are also a common occurrence in women who are dealing with stress. Try Philosophy’s The Microdelivery Peel Mini Peel Pads ($35, beauty.com).

Model Behavior: Late-night parties and early call times can lead to a serious lack of sleep. “Poor sleep usually affects the eyes more than anything else,” according to Jaliman. That’s because too little shut-eye causes your body to become sluggish and retain fluids, leading to dark circles and puffiness. A lackluster complexion can also worry the weary.

Skincare Secrets: To combat eye issues, Jaliman recommends looking for eye creams that contain vitamin K (for dark circles), caffeine (to help with puffiness), or light- reflecting particles to “instantly make tired eyes appear brighter.” You’ll find both vitamin K and light-reflectors in Peter Thomas Roth’s Power K Eye Rescue ($100, Sephora.com).

Oxygen-rich creams can also breath life into tired skin, which is why some models apply an oxygen mask product before heading to bed. Try Ling Skincare’s Instant Oxygen Recovery Mask ($65), which absorbs quickly into skin so it won’t rub off on your pillow.

Model Behavior: Constantly caking on makeup and then quickly removing it a short time later—only to repeat the process at the next show or shoot—can cause irritation and redness. “Skin can become sensitized or dry from the constant application and removal of makeup,” especially when the cleanser you use is too harsh, warns Jaliman.

Skincare Secret: Mild cleansers that contain as few ingredients as possible can help prevent irritation and allergic reactions so look for fragrance-free and natural products. Jaliman is also a fan of the Clarisonic Cleansing Systems, a high-powered yet gentle cleansing brush that uses sonic vibrations to remove dirt and makeup that regular washing may leave behind.

Of course not washing your face at all can be a bigger mistake than cleansing it improperly. No matter how tired they are, models know to remove every trace of makeup at the end of the day. Keep gentle, makeup remover towelettes, which don’t require water to work, on your bedside table and sweep one over skin before you drift off at night. One great option: Biore’s Makeup Removing Towelettes with Green Tea ($7.99, drugstore.com).

Megan O’Neill is Beauty Editor at EndlessBeauty.com

With Fashion Weeks going on this entire month, there's a lot of attention being paid to the size and shape of models, and every day women--too skinny? too big? what's plus-size? But we're not really worried about that at EndlessBeauty.com. We don't care about the shape of your body, we care about the shape your Body Image is in--what you think of your body. Because that's what ultimately makes a woman happy, confident, and comfortable in her own skin.