Achieving beauty is about enhancing your features, a process that can be done with chemicals and makeup or one that can be done naturally. The natural approach may take a little bit more dedication and maybe more time, but it pays off in spades, in the long term, through healthier skin, more vibrant hair, and through a general aura of well-being. Here are ten tips for achieving natural beauty.
1. Dry Brush Your Skin
Take a bristled brush and stroke your skin gently while both the brush and your skin are dry. Do this a few times per week to remove dead skin cells, improve blood flow, and create a radiant, rosy glow. Your skin will be smoother and softer to the touch if you do this regularly.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a great way to keep blood flowing and to bring color to your skin. It also releases endorphins, lowers glucocorticoid (stress hormone) levels, and promotes healthy body weight. Exercise is the best thing you can do for your body and your mind. Don’t neglect sex either. Not only does sex qualify as exercise, but it releases a host of chemicals that improve mood and enhance appearance that exercise alone doesn’t release. The bottom lines is that exercise is good for your skin, your body, and your mental well-being.
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3. Drink Water
Truth be told, very few people drink the recommended eight glasses of water in a day. More importantly, drinking that much water isn’t actually necessary because we get it from other sources, like food and other beverages. Even accounting for food and beverage intake, the average person is slightly dehydrated. If you drink two cups of water per day, one in the morning and one at night, you will increase blood flow to your skin, which will in turn help to remove waste from your body, leaving you with healthier overall appearance. The increased blood flow will also help hydrate your skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
More: 9 Best Fruits and Vegetables You Can Add to Your Water
4. Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fats are great for the heart, brain, skin, and hair. Eating omega-3 fats has been shown to lower inflammation, which improves acne and reduces the effects of aging. You can find omega-3 fats in fish, nuts, olives, avocados, and coconut oil – to name just a few.
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5. Reduce Sugar
Sugar increases levels of circulating insulin and levels of several other hormones as well. All of these hormones are “pro-inflammatory,” which means they increase free radical damage to the body. Free radical damage increases the effects of aging. You can avoid this problem by reducing your intake of sugar.
More: 7 Crucial Reasons to Give Up Sugar
6. Exfoliate Regularly
Dead skin isn’t just unsightly, it can clog pores, lead to acne, and even increase your risk of bacterial infection. You can counter all of these problems by exfoliating your skin on a daily basis. Remember to apply moisturizer after you exfoliate to ensure that you body doesn’t try to compensate for micro-abrasions by producing more pore-clogging oil.
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7. Filter Your Bath and Shower Water
Chlorine is a skin irritant and it also causes dryness. To reduce chlorine in your water, install a shower filter or whole-house water filter designed to remove chlorine. Not only will your skin look healthier and retain more moisture, it will be less itchy too.
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8. Wear Sunblock
Nothing ages your skin faster than the damaging effects of UV light (except maybe smoking), so protect your skin with a high-quality sunscreen. Avoid titanium oxide and zinc oxide, as these products can clog pores and make skin oily. A poor quality sunblock is better than none at because it will protect your skin from UV light, which has been shown to damage collagen.
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9. Eat Well
A healthy diet can have more impact on your skin than anything you do or don’t put directly onto it. A healthy diet will contain lots of fruits, vegetables, and water. If you eat meat, be sure to choose meats that are high in omega-3 fats and try to avoid red meats. Avoid excessive alcohol, though you don’t have to cut it out entirely as a little bit can be beneficial.
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10. Oil Yourself
The application of oils, like olive oil, can protect your skin and make it more supple. Unfortunately, many people don’t like the feel or the smell of olive oil on their skin. Don’t worry though, the cosmetic manufacturers have you covered. Look for products that contain pure oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, or Shea butter. They all work wonders.
More: 10 Nourishing Oils for Your Skin and Hair
When it comes to achieving natural beauty, don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees. Maintain a healthy diet, exercise, and avoid putting too many unnecessary chemicals onto your skin. Follow those three simple rules and everything else will work itself out. While you’re at it, try to reduce stress in your life and be certain to get adequate rest. Nothing ages a person faster that the combination of lack of sleep and stress. Both increase levels of glucocorticoids, which directly affect skin health and enhance the effects of aging. There is a lot to be said for being happy, which is the first and foremost step to achieving beauty.1