Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty

Doesn’t everyone want a nice rosy glow?  Well, how about going for a run or doing a few push-ups before going out instead?  That’ll do the trick every time.  Do you want bright glowing eyes?  Get some sleep.  Red lips?  Give them a little nibble and you’ll be just fine.  Want to radiate from the inside out? Smile!                                        –“Eliminating Lady Temptations”

Maybe it’s just because I never really got the hang of the whole make-up thing, but I’m a huge believer that less is more when it comes to being beautiful.  I am, however, still a woman and I often devote more time than I should working on and lamenting over my physical appearance. Here are some of the things I do to  still feel beautiful, but keep my beautification routine a little more natural.

beauty-treatment-girl

  • Use make-up sparingly. I typically wear make-up just on Sunday and every once in awhile on special occasions. I’ve gotten so used to not wearing make-up that sometimes I think I look scary when I do wear it.
  • Exercise – I could go on and on about the benefits of exercise, but I’ll keep it short. When you exercise you look and feel better. It’s also free to cheap and good for you.
  • Wash Hair Less – I only wash my hair about once a week. This saves both water and my time.  When my hair starts to look a little greasy, I’ve found that a little bit of cocoa powder makes for a great dry shampoo. I haven’t been able to break out of the shampoo habit, but since it takes me a really long time to go through an entire bottle of shampoo and conditioner I have a bit more to spend on eco-friendly choices. (BTW, most are still cheaper than salon brands.)
  • Use Hair Tools Sparingly– I typically wash my hair at night and then wrap it up in an old t-shirt to dry over night. (I’ve read that the t-shirt produces less frizz than a traditional towel.) This spares my hair from a lot of blow dryer damage. It’s also a really great method for curly hair and I’m often pleased with how good my hair looks when I wake up the next morning. I do use a flat-iron to fix things here and there, but try to avoid using it heavily every day by getting creative with different kinds of braids and up-dos. (Check out my friend Robyn’s blog for some cute and easy styling ideas.) I always get way more compliments for the creative hairstyles and the funny thing is they often take me less time. (Keep in mind, I’ve been braiding my own hair since third grade so I have a lot of practice.)
  • Make your own products. I’ve started making this DIY exfoliater that has revolutionized my world. No exaggeration. I have really dry, sensitive skin and while using good soap has helped, this recipe for “soft, silky legs in a bottle” has eliminated practically all of my remaining itchiness and razor burn. (It hasn’t been very effective on stress itching, darn it.)
  • Be Confident. Nothing can beat confidence and if you do it right it can be contagious.

I also really like Seventh Generation’s 10 Tips for a More Naturally Beautiful You. What do you do to be more naturally beautiful?

PS Don’t forget to hop over and comment on Monday’s post if you’re interested in winning a set of reusable bowl covers.

7 thoughts on “Natural Beauty

  1. I have never been into make-up myself either and wear so little that like, you when I put more on I really don’t like the way I look.

  2. I make my own deodorant out of equal parts coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch. I also add a few drops of lemon essential oil. Not sure if it makes me more beautiful, but it sure takes care of the stench!

  3. BTW, that’s a great tip about cocoa powder! I had no idea.

    Also forgot to say that I use olive oil on a cotton ball to get my eye makeup off. It works really well.

  4. I love the tips! And thanks for linking up to my blog. That was sweet of you! Maybe I will actually post something today 😉

    The quote made me think of my favorite Audrey Hepburn quote:

    “For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

    For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

    For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

    For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.

    For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.”

  5. The best way to see yourself more beautiful is not to have your glasses on at the time. Don’t worry about the others, what do they know.

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