How to Become a Natural Beauty

We try to look beautiful, but sometimes end up looking a tad artificial. This article not only highlights the ideals of a natural beauty but also reflects on enhancing yourself, body, and mind.

Steps

1. 
   Believe that you are beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful than that. The most efficient way is by eating a balanced diet and also getting plenty of exercise. Start by walking with friends, taking up dancing, or start to jog around the block every day.
2. 
   Clear up your skin. 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 affect 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. Don't over exfoliate 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. Place the cleanser in a small spray bottle for a light misting that you can use throughout the day and follow with a moisturizing face cream with a sunblock.
3. 
   Have 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 colour and texture. No hair type is unattractive. Avoid curling/flat irons.
4. 
   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 a cleaning. To keep teeth white, drink strong acidic drinks (such as coffee and soda) through straws to prevent corrosion of the enamel.
5. 
   Go makeup free. Lots of makeup is tested on animals and is bad for your skin in the long term.
6. 
   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. Just do you. Exercise what you enjoy. That's why it's 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, or even watch Richard Simmons. Do what makes you move and what you enjoy. Exercise also makes you feel more confident and happy because it releases hormones called endorphins.
7. 
   Get enough sleep. 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 9-10 hours. Set a regular bedtime such as 21:00 and don't eat two hours before bed, stay away from caffeine. If you have a cup of coffee an hour before bed... you're 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 on YouTube is very useful to. 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.
8. 
   Finished.
   

   Tips

   • When conditioning and shampooing, rinse hair with cool water, not hot or warm.
   • Try to take time out of your job; stress is not good for your skin.
   • Do 10 minutes of Pilates or yoga every morning before other work. Pilates and yoga work the body and stimulate blood flow ultimately promoting health and vitality. All you need is a mat or soft carpeting.
   • Get your physical done! This checks your complete physical health and is always a good idea to have done annually. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of any condition in your family so they better know what to look for.
   • Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of protein, whole grain, and vegetables. Additionally, fruit can be highly beneficial to the skin and is packed with vitamins. Aim for dark fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
   • Remember—it's called natural beauty. Let nature do the work. You don't have to shave or wear makeup if you don't want to.
   • Have a nice attitude. If people like your attitude, it will make you even prettier. You want to be pretty inside and out.
   • Remember to smile!
   • Be positive and try to live each day to the fullest. Love yourself and be confident!
   • Exercise and eat good fruits because beauty comes from the inner skin. Plus stay away from TOO much sugar, it can make you break out.
   • Eat healthy and have a good beauty routine.

   • Warnings

   • Finally, be happy! Depression affects more than 21 million Americans annually and is the leading cause of disability for individuals ages 15-44. If you feel like you may be struggling with depression seek help, either in the form of counseling, medication, meditation or self help literature. The resources are out there.
   • Wear sunglasses! Just as you protect your skin, it is important to protect your windows to the world. Look for shades that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
   • Temper the drinking! You may like to have cocktails with friends and attend parties, but binge drinking can wreak havoc on the skin and organs. Try to have less than a drink a day and never have so much that you don't remember events from the night before, vomit or pass out. Being a natural beauty means being in control and aware of your body and mind.
   • Don't smoke. The effects are absolutely horrendous. But for the smokers that want to become natural beauties, there are nearly thousands of treatment options out there to help you kick the habit. Start with consulting your primary care physician and she/he can point you in the direction right for you.
   • Be body conscious, not body obsessed. Just as being overweight can have adverse health affects, dieting fads, and over concern for body image can be just as damaging to your mental and physical well being. Begin by being 'conscious' of your caloric intake, aim for about 2,000 a day but don't fret if you go over once or twice a week. Being a natural beauty means understanding that nobody is perfect!
   • Wear sunblock everyday! Even in the winter, sun rays penetrate clouds and can cause damage. It is important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays and for goodness sake, turn the tanning bed off.
   • If you need to lose a few pounds, understand the energy balance principle. To lose weight you must burn more calories than you take in. Know that in 1lb of fat there are approximately 3500 calories. To lose two pounds a week, you need to cut out 500 calories a day. The easiest way to do that is to stop drinking so much soda! 1 8-oz can of cola has about 105 calories and one fast food "medium" size cola has 250. Being the smart natural beauty that you are... you do the math.
   • If you need to lose more than 20lbs, it is best to talk to a primary care physician, life coach, exercise physiologist, or dietitian. They can look at the whole beautiful picture of you and prescribe the best and safest method of weight loss for you.