Back to Basics for Her sisterhood

It’s hard to resist the lure of another lipstick shade, the eyeliner promising to ‘double eyelashes’ or the age defying ‘miracle’ cream. The astounding number of unnecessary and half-used beauty products in our beauty cupboard is a reflection of the many times we felt that more stuff equates to more beauty.

With so many products offering instant beauty fixes, we often over look the basics. The basics are in fact both simple and effective.

Skin basics #1 – Eat right. No amount of make up will cover up under-nourished skin. Healthy skin starts with a good diet. Feed your skin from the inside out with a wide variety of nutritious, unprocessed foods. Your skin’s health will mirror your gut health.

Skin basics #2 – Beauty Sleep. This free commodity is critical to skin health. It’s the most economical and natural method to regenerate and repair cells.

Skin basics #3 – Exercise. Another freebie. Exercise improves your blood circulation, delivering essential nutrients to your skin. Exercise also causes sweat that is a great mechanism for pushing out toxins from deep within the layers of the skin.

Skin basics #4 – Hydrate. Skin is made up of cells. Water is vital for cellular health. When we drink, water is delivered to most other vital organs before it’s delivered to the skin. Drink plenty of water to ensure that the skin receives its share.

We can also deliver hydration to the skin from the outside in. Using a good quality moisturizer formulated with botanical oils will not only deliver a boost of moisture directly to the outer layer of your skin but also nourish and protect it.

Skin basics #5 – nourish your skin from the outside in. Our skin ‘eats’ by absorbing certain substances that it comes into contact with.

The skin will benefit from a natural serum and moisturizer, rich in minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants from botanical sources. We are natural beings and our cells thrive on natural nutrition, not synthetic chemicals.

Skin basics #6 – Keep it clean. Cleanse your skin morning, night and after a workout. It will help prevent sebum build up and pH imbalances that can lead to acne. Use a natural cleanser that removes impurities without eroding your precious skin barrier.

Skin basics #7 – Protect. Nurture your skin and protect it from harsh elements. The sun plays a major role in causing premature skin ageing. Don’t compromise on sunscreen. Use a natural zinc based sunscreen that blocks the UV rays as opposed to chemical sunscreens that work by absorbing the rays.

Skin basics #8 – Inner glow. Your outer beauty mirrors your energy and vitality. Intelligence, kindness and inner beauty will always transcend outer beauty.

The secret to beautiful skin comes from a long-term commitment to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Our skin doesn’t need 50 products. It only needs 5 – a good quality natural cleanser, moisturizer, toner, serum and sunscreen. Top quality doesn’t have to equate to top dollar. There are plenty of amazing brands with super natural ingredients that don’t cost the earth.

Beauty should not be defined by perfect unblemished, unlined skin. Lasting and captivating beauty comes from radiating beautiful values and energy. They are the real influencers of timeless and ageless beauty.