We try to look beautiful but sometimes end up looking a tad artificial. let's highlight the ideals of natural beauty, enhancing yourself, body, and mind.
Believe that you are beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful - The most efficient way is eating a BALANCED diet and also get plenty of exercises. Start by walking with friends, taking up dancing, or start to jog around the block every day.
Clear up your skin and even the tone. Embrace your face. Learn to accept and love your skin even if it is not clear or even-toned. You can use natural products such as shea butter for more even skin tone, rosemary oil for acne, tea tree oil for inflamed acne, and witch-hazel for a calming effect on redness. Just add a few drops to your nighttime moisturizer. Supplement by adding more veggies and fruit to your diet and getting plenty of vitamins D and C. Remember to exfoliate your skin no more than 3 times a week. Do not over-exfoliate though because it will make your face go flaky and red. Rinse your face in the morning with cool water and use a cleanser that doesn't contain alcohol, and follow with a moisturizing face cream with a sunblock.
{Tips: Don't touch your face too often, avoid resting your face on your hands, and try to always remember to wash your hands before touching your face. Your hands contain natural sebaceous oils which can clog pores, coupled with the bacteria on your hands that you pick up from day to day activities... well therein lies a perfect storm for a nasty breakout}.
Get pretty Healthy Hair. If you want to dye your hair (which always makes your hair stand out and is a great way to change up your look) opt for ammonia-free kits or ask your colorist or stylist at your salon to use ammonia-free or "gentle" concoctions. Ask for a Semi or Demi-permanent dye and always embrace your hair color and texture. No hair type is unattractive. Not only will this mitigate the time you spend with the flatiron or curling iron, but it will also increase the strength of your tresses. If you must use heat-tools use a heat-protective spray before you style or blow-dry to keep your hair shiny and healthy. Wash your hair regularly so it's nice and clean otherwise it will go greasy and it will start to smell.
Tips: When conditioning and shampooing, rinse hair with cool water, not hot or warm. {Rinsing with cool doesn't damage hair as heat does and it also smooths the outside of each hair, making it shine}.
Split ends, dry hair, dandruff, and unclean hair are NEVER attractive. However, don't overdo the shampoo. Shampoo (especially ones with sulfates) can strip the natural oils of your hair. Look for a cleansing shampoo that is sulfate-free and use a dap of it, concentrating at the scalp. Aim to shampoo no more than three times a week, If you have oily hair find dry shampoo to refresh strands between shampoos and extend the life of your blow-dry. Spray at the scalp and let it set.
If you want naturally wavy hair, just wash it and plait, braid, or secure into a loose bun and let it dry overnight. In the morning you should have lovely natural waves without having to use any hair products. If your hair is still damp in the morning, blast with a blow dryer and use a wave enhancing spray to set the curls.
Brush those pearly whites. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, follow with a restorative mouth wash. Floss at night before you go to bed, and chew sugar-free gum after meals to promote saliva flow which ultimately lessens the probability of cavities because it prevents plaque acid. Be sure to see your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleaning. To keep teeth white and strong drink acidic drinks such as coffee and soda through straws to prevent corrosion of the enamel.
Don't make the makeup obvious. Makeup should always enhance you and never mask you. Apply evenly and sparingly: A good moisturizer, brown mascara, nude or pink lipgloss, and a touch of rosy cream blush is all the natural beauty needs. But if you want to play up your look for the evening, a great lined cat-eye in charcoal or bronze looks incredible.
Get some exercise. Be body conscious, but never obsess. You don't need the fancy diet programs advertised on tv nor do you need to belong to those health clubs that are popping up everywhere. Exercise what you enjoy. That's why its called exercise which originally meant "the act of employing or putting into play". So if you like to walk your dog, run, hike, bike, dance, Do what makes you move and what you enjoy. Exercise also makes you feel more confident and happy because it releases hormones called endorphins.
Get enough sleep. Sleep! Sleep! It is wonderful and we don't do it nearly enough. Aim for the bare minimum 6 and a half hours of sleep and shoot for 8/9 hours. Set a regular bedtime such as 9 o'clock and don't eat two, three hours before bed, stay away from caffeine which has a half-life of approximately 4.9 hours. That means that if you drink a cup of coffee, half of the caffeine in that cup of coffee is out of your body in 4.9 hours. If you have a cup of coffee an hour before bed... well you are in for a restless night. If you have a hard time falling asleep, systematic relaxation techniques are wonderful. Start at your feet and tense the muscles in your feet for a count of 5 seconds and relax. Proceed up the body tensing and releasing the leg, buttocks, stomach, arms, hands, neck, and face muscles through counts of 5 seconds. If you have racing thoughts imagine that your thoughts are fish and you are catching them in a slow-moving stream. Acknowledge that they are there and then send them on their way, Relaxing meditation music is very useful too. Finally, melatonin is a natural supplement that aids in relaxation and sleep. This should be reserved for individuals who have a very difficult time with sleep and are considering going on medication. Try melatonin first. It is naturally occurring, and non-habit forming.
