Developing good health and beauty habits can make everything else in life fall into place. When we’re feeling and looking our best, it tends to spill over into other areas, giving us more confidence and motivation.
The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to be productive and healthy.
Here are some habits worth developing:
Eat a balanced diet. While indulging in a treat here & there is ok and even necessary, you should make sure that the bulk of your core daily meals are healthy. This means real, whole foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and lean meats.
Double daily face wash. We all want glowing skin and often that starts from the inside. So the healthy eating habits will help your skin shine, but there are other things that you need to keep up as well. It’s best to wash your face not just when you wake up, but also right before bed. Get rid of the dirt and sweat and keep your face feeling & looking fresh.
Head to toe skincare. Now that you’ve got the basics out of the way, it’s time to talk about the whole enchilada! While washing your face is great, there is more involved in a successful skincare routine. You should be moisturizing your entire body – from head to toe – daily. Moisturize your face after you wash it, both morning and night. Moisturize your body after your shower. Exfoliating is also an essential part of minimizing pores and keeping up the appearance of beautiful skin. Using a daily toner is a good way to accomplish this. Apply the toner after you wash your face and before you moisturize. A facial scrub is also very helpful, but should be done less frequently as it can be too harsh on your skin if used excessively. Try scrubbing 3 times a week.
Sunscreen. So important! Using a moisturizing that has SPF is a great way to get daily coverage. For sunnier days, applying an extra layer of higher SPF (as moisturizers tend to be on the lower end) is necessary.
Perfect your makeup routine. Even if you’re someone who prefers not to wear makeup, a little bit can go a long way! A tinted lip balm and some mascara can create a subtle enhancement that will make your features shine. No matter what your make up preferences are, experiment with different brands and looks until you find what works best for you. The goal is to feel as comfortable as possible in your own skin and sometimes that includes things like makeup! Natural brands are preferable so that you can keep your skin healthy.
Just make sure you ALWAYS remove your makeup before you go to bed. Keep that skin CLEAN!
Face masks. Applying a face mask several times a month can do wonders for your skin! This is a great substitute for those who can’t afford regular facials.
Stay hydrated! This is incredibly important for your overall health, but it does effect your beauty as well! Dehydration is an enemy of good skin. So aside from the long list of health benefits, drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day will keep your skin looking fantastic as well.
Keep it moving. We all know exercise is important, but not everyone takes it seriously enough. If you want to be at optimal health AND look your best, it’s crucial to get regular exercise and remain active overall. Find a fitness routine that works for you. There are many things you can do to stay in shape that don’t require going to the gym or following an exercise class. Do your research, find your favorite form of exercise and stick to it! Other things you can do to stay active are walking or biking instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and getting up to stretch or move around every hour or so if you’re sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Get plenty of rest. It’s called beauty sleep for a reason! If you’re trying to maintain good skin and want to keep under eye bags and dark circles to a minimum, make sure you’re getting enough sleep! Sleep is also important for basic daily functioning! When you’re sleep deprived, you lose focus and motivation, making it difficult to stay healthy or get anything of substance done.
Unplug. Make sure you spend some time every.single.day. without looking at your phone, tv or other electronics, worrying about work or chores or other obligations, and just RELAX. Give your body and mind time to unwind every night, preferably before bed. This reduces stress and keeps you clear headed. Meditation is a great way to accomplish this, but there are many ways to quiet the mind and relax the body. Find what works for you!
