This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I do not get paid or compensated in any way to promote any specific products. Read my full policy here.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Cliché, maybe, but so true. How do you define beauty? Is it glamorous and thin, with thick, luxurious hair? Or is it softer and more natural?
Whatever your look or preference, anybody can look and feel beautiful with the right lifestyle choices and skin care routines. After all, beauty isn’t just skin deep! Below are my top 5 favorite tips for becoming a natural beauty, from the inside, out.
First and Foremost: Hydrate!
Who among us actually drinks enough water? Turns out, that recommended 64 ounces of water is great not only for your health, but also for healthy skin. Hydration increases your skin’s elasticity, and flushes out the toxins in your body, helping to keep your skin clear, soft, and beautiful.
A lot of people don’t drink enough water because it doesn’t really have much flavor, making it, well, kind of blah. Add all-natural and organic lemon, mint, cucumber, or other natural flavors to give your water a refreshing boost.
I like to use an infuser water bottle that lets you add fruit to a special perforated compartment or “rod”, which helps the fruit itself stay separate but lets the flavor through. You can find these online at a reasonable cost. Bonus: Get one with markings on the side to help you keep track of the amount of water you’ve had! If you prefer to drink cold water, you also can find pitcher-sized ones to keep in your fridge.
Food for Naturally Beautiful Skin
Everything you put in your body affects your skin, and therefore, your looks. Antioxidant-rich foods like berries, nuts and seeds, and dark leafy greens will help your skin stay beautiful.
The best foods for healthy, glowing skin include watermelon, sweet potatoes, dark chocolate (in moderation, as some people can be allergic), walnuts, avocados, and tomatoes. Bell peppers and broccoli are also antioxidant-rich. To make it easier to eat your veggies, cut up a bunch each week to toss into salads for your lunch.
Bonus: the beauty of delicious fruit like watermelon, berries, pineapple, and tomatoes (yes, tomatoes are a fruit, look it up!) is that they also contain water, giving you more “bang for the buck.”
DIY Your Beauty Routine
Maybe you have sensitive skin, want to be more environmentally conscious, hate putting chemicals and synthetic stuff on your skin, or just want to save a little money (I’ll take D, all of the above). Whatever your reason, you may want to go with a gentler home-made version of traditional beauty products. I love the feel of an exfoliating treatment, but not the cost.
Pamper yourself with a simple DIY facemask or scrub. This honey recipe is sure to leave your skin soft and beautiful! Honey is like a miracle treatment, good for your health and your skin. (Disclaimer: you should always do a skin test to be sure you aren’t sensitive to any ingredients.)
To make a hydrating, anti-bacterial face mask, combine 1 tablespoon raw honey, 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of oatmeal. Mix it all up into a smooth paste and apply to your face evenly (don’t get it in your eyes!). Relax for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Pat dry and follow up with your favorite moisturizer, and enjoy your fresh, beautiful skin!
If your skin is particularly acne-prone, add half a teaspoon of turmeric. If your skin is very dry, add half a teaspoon of avocado or aloe vera gel to add extra moisture. Half a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice will work as a gentle exfoliator.
What makes these ingredients so special? I was curious about that, too, so I did a little research, and here is what I found:
- Honey: hydrates, fights bacteria, and reduces redness
- Yogurt: lactic acid provides gentle exfoliation
- Oatmeal (Dry/Ground, a.k.a. colloidal): provides gentle exfoliation, absorbs excess oil, and is great for oily or combination skin.
- Oatmeal (Cooked): provides moisture, is soothing, reduces irritation and redness, and works well for dry or sensitive skin.
- Lemon Juice: acts as a gentle exfoliator and brightens skin, but if you have sensitive skin, you might want to avoid it.
- Avocado: provides extra hydration
- Aloe Vera Gel: provides extra hydration
- Turmeric: reduces inflammation and brightens acne-prone skin
Search online for more recipes to try. One of my favorite resources is Earth911, and Honest to Goodness, out of Sydney, Australia, has an online organic grocery store and tons of great free recipes.
Beauty in a Bottle
Not Into DIY? Natural beauty CAN be found in a bottle, to a certain extent. Natural and organic beauty products are becoming more popular all the time, and for several very good reasons. Traditional products frequently contain sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances. Natural and organic products are made with fewer (if any) of these, and typically are made with plant-based, non-toxic ingredients. Here are a few of the benefits:
- Natural ingredients are gentler on your skin, reducing irritation and breakouts.
- Organic ingredients are sustainably-sourced, reducing your impact on the environment.
- Vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils found in many organic products nourish your skin deeply.
- Natural products are also easier on sensitive skin, if you have skin conditions like rosacea and eczema.
Again, always do a skin test with any new product.
Forget complicated skin care routines! All you need is a gentle wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen. (You knew I was going to say that last one, but check my post here for simple DIY recipes!) Some people add in toner and face serum, but I’m lazy and have never really bothered with those. One of my favorite sources for beauty products of all types is PUR Beauty. They’re a little pricy, but always have great sales and deals, especially for text and email subscribers.
Inner Beauty: Lifestyle Tips
Staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise all contribute to staying young and beautiful. We’ve discussed the first two, and I don’t need to tell you to exercise – you hear it from every direction, all day! If you hate even the very word exercise, use the term “body movement.” Moving your body in any way, whether it’s gardening, playing with the kids or pets, walking, yoga, dancing, or doing housework, counts, in my book.
The key is to keep it simple and easy for you to incorporate into your life. I believe that if you are mindful about movement, and you enjoy the activity, it can be beneficial to your mind and body. Read more about mindfulness in my post here.
A happy, smiling person is always more beautiful than a grumpy, unhappy one, so keep a positive attitude and smile often! Reduce your stress levels, don’t pack your schedule too tight with things don’t really matter, and take time for yourself regularly. And don’t forget to make time for fun in your life!
Conclusion
With so many ways to get glowing, beautiful skin, you can’t help but be a natural beauty! Pick a couple of these tips and let me know in the comments what worked for you!
Related reading: 3 DIY Recipes for Natural Sunscreen and Bug Repellant