I learned a lot in esthetics school, working at spas as well as freelancing at MAC Cosmetics but I accredit most of my knowledge of skin care in what I learned working in the beauty care department at a health food store. There I learned our skin and overall health was directly related and affected by what we consumed.
I learned a simple lesson that I hadn’t put much thought into before, our bodies will always work on healing what is most important first. Therefore if you are eating an unhealthy diet and living an unhealthy lifestyle that causes your body to work overtime to keep your heart, liver, kidneys and lungs working properly guess what gets taken care of last? That’s right your hair, skin and nails. So when we are binging on all the things we know we don’t need we are working against our beauty routine, even if we’re using the best most expensive products on the market.
Everything starts from within so when you give your body everything it needs nutritionally, limit your alcohol use, workout out frequently, eat plenty of fruits and plants and drink water your body can work at keeping you beautiful externally, aiding in hair and nail growth and keeping your skin glowing.
I must start by saying I am not a nutritionist but I have noticed how health and daily routines have affected my own as well as hundreds of past clients physical appearance.
Here are 10 beauty tips that work!
1. Fruit for breakfast for glowing skin, sweet smell and slimmer waist
Eating a meal of fruit only for breakfast works as an amazing detoxification. When you eat fruit instead of a heavy meal or meat you allow your body to use fruit fibers to clean out whatever you ate the day before. When your body is stopped up with stool which happens often when consuming the Standard American Diet toxins often get trapped and have no way to release therefore release through your skin causing breakouts. Eating a diet with a ton of fresh fruits also makes you produce a better natural scent both through your sweat and natural vaginal secretions.
2. Plenty of water for dark circles, energy and waste elimination
I love water. I probably drink a gallon a day and when I’m in a situation where I can’t get my hands on water quickly enough I get irritable. Water prevents daytime fatigue and unlike coffee has no negative side effects. So instead of reaching for coffee in the morning water should be the first thing you drink. Water also helps to eliminate waste. The more water you drink the easier it is to pass stool. Another great benefit of water is clearer skin and less noticeable dark circles. Water aids in giving you a more refreshed, polished glowing look so drink up ladies. If you’re someone who finds the taste of water boring add fruit or sliced cucumbers.
3. Exfoliation for glowing clear skin, super soft lips and acne
I remember working at Mac or doing photo shoots and having to pile makeup on top of flaking, dead, dry skin. Often times the clients just put moisturizer on top of their dry skin then makeup not even realizing that the dead skin had to go. Exfoliation is so important to keeping your skin clear. When you have excessive dead skin on your face and put moisturizer on top of that your pores become clogged and all of that excessive oil turns into acne and breakouts. Purchase a facial brush to remove dead skin from your face as you wash. For dry lips mix a tablespoon of brown sugar, a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of honey together then apply to your lips and gently scrub then rinse. This mixture can also be made to exfoliate your body.
4. Plenty of fresh vegetables for clear skin, long hair and strong nails
Vegetables work wonders at keeping your skin looking amazing, hair growing and nails strong. Find some green veggies that you can’t get enough of and eat them as much as possible. Celery and cucumbers are filled with tons of water and have great effects on your skin, naturally lightening dark under eyes and giving you a natural glow. If chowing down on tons of veggies isn’t ideal for you then juice them! Start with either a few celery stalks or a cucumber, add some dark green leafy veggies, add an apple or pear for flavor and finish off with a lemon or lime for an amazing juice that will keep you looking gorgeous.
5.Coconut oil for gorgeous hair skin and teeth
The memes about coconut oil are hilarious but true! Coconut oil is literally a gift from the beauty Gods! You can whiten your teeth and avoid cavities by oil pulling with coconut oil which is basically the process of swirling coconut oil in your mouth for ten minutes or so before spitting out and rinsing your mouth. This process helps whiten teeth as well as does a deep cleanse that your toothpaste simply can not. Coconut oil can also be used as a hot oil treatment for hair, day to day leave in and moisturizer for skin. As one of the few oils that can penetrate beneath the skins surface coconut oil provides plenty of moisture to dry thirsty hair and skin.
6. Avoid Alcohol like the plague for clear moisturized skin
I’m not going to lie, I love a good drank especially on days where I have no responsibilities the next day and can enjoy myself. However I notice when I’m not drinking my skin looks so much more vibrant and youthful so these days I’m reaching for water much more than wine. If you have an event you want to look especially good for avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible the weeks leading up because it literally dries your skin up. If you can’t avoid it, drink plenty of water during and after your drinking and eat as much fresh fruits and veggies following your drinking night.
7. Sweat for clear skin and avoiding cellulite
Of course we all know that exercising frequently can lead to staying in shape but did you know that sweating is actually good for your skin? Sweating is another way to release toxins from your body through your skin. When you don’t get enough exercise those toxin have one less way to release themselves and often come out through your skin in breakouts. By exercising frequently you allow those toxins to naturally release themselves. Many people think cellulite is inevitable but it is absolutely not. Cellulite is a result of eating unhealthy foods and not getting enough exercise. When you sit for long periods of time it is easy for fat pockets/cellulite to form in your legs and butt. By exercising frequently you combat those pockets from forming by staying active.
8. Extract blackheads for clear flawless skin
I didn’t learn about extracting until I went to esthetics school. I had a nose full of blackheads that always seemed to come back after using the drugstore pull off strips. Those strips only extract the surface leaving the actual blackhead intact. To rid yourself of blackheads you need to first carefully steam your face and then either use an extractor or q-tips to push up the black heads on your nose and chin. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself visit a licensed esthetician for a facial.
9. Avocado for anti aging
Working in the body care department for a health food store I had to learn all about carrier and essential oils their benefits and how they affected the body. One of the many things I learned is how great avocado works for anti aging in both consuming and in using the carrier oil. If you haven’t already start incorportating avocados in your diet. You can eat it with toast, alone, as guacamole and put it in your smoothies. Using the carrier oil on your skin as a moisturizer is another great way to benefit from its anti aging properties.
10. Argan, Olive and Almond oil for cleansing skin and makeup removal
Argan, Olive and Almond oils all have anti bacterial properties and are perfect for removing makeup and cleansing skin. You can use a cotton ball or pad to remove any makeup. This method gently removes makeup while cleansing skin without over drying. Once your makeup is removed you can rinse off the oil and continue your normal cleansing process.
There you have it 10 natural ways to keep your skin shining all season!
