Embrace Natural Beauty: My Top Tips

Makeup free, #wokeuplikethis selfies have been going viral for awhile now. In fact, Kesha was all over the news this week for her recent freckle-filled Instagram post. As Goop guru Gwyneth Paltrow declared to Vogue magazine, “I believe in freckles.” (And so do I!) So, with those ladies as my inspiration, here are my tips to embrace natural beauty.

Alicia Keys hasn’t worn makeup in public since 2016, and (pardon the pun) that commitment just rocks! She wrote in Lenny Letter at the time, “…I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”

If that’s not inspiration to give it a try, I dunno what is!

Even with all the powerful, strong, sexy women around the globe embracing their natural beauty, it can still feel a little scary to walk outside with a “naked” face, especially if you’re used to wearing makeup every day.  

That’s why I’ve put together a little guide of benefits + exercises to help you stop concealing your visage and confidently embrace this self-love movement. You are gorgeous, girl, and all those parts of your face that you may feel self conscious about – freckles, rosy cheeks, moles, eye shape, nose, whatever – make your face your own.

Get ready to get naked & gorgeous – lipstick and bronzer not required.

Maybe She’s Born With It

Believe it or not, wearing makeup may actually be damaging your confidence. A 2008 study found “a positive correlation between frequent use of cosmetics and anxiety, self-consciousness, and conformity.” And just like certain chemicals in processed foods can alter your brain so you can’t tell you’re hungry, makeup can have an adverse affect on what we consider beautiful, causing us to judge our natural faces as less attractive when we do view them. So going #makeupfree can be a powerful reset to that destructive conditioning.

Now I also agree that makeup can be a form of self expression, so if you love to get glam, that’s awesome as long as you are doing it because it makes you happy.

“Happiness is the best makeup; a smile is better than any lipstick you’ll put on.”

Drew Barrymore

And don’t forget, a bare face can be a bold statement as well. Just sayin’… 🙂

Green with Goodness

What goes into our bodies must come out, and if you’re consuming a lot of sugar, grease and chemical-laden processed foods, those extra toxins are going to start to show through your skin. It is our largest organ, after all.

So a great place to start boosting your bare-faced confidence is by supercharging your dinner plate. Focus on filling up with organic, whole foods, plenty of greens and, as always, lots of water. There are a few types of food to avoid, but the big ones are dairy and sugar. These sweet and creamy delights are also the main dietary culprits of skin sabotage.

If you have a hard time getting in enough vegetables daily, snack on some with a side of hummus. Chickpeas, which are a low-glycemic food, have proven to be an effective dietary substitute for those processed dips “since they’re rich in protein and fiber, two nutrients that slow down digestion and lower the blood sugar response.”

And sip on a cup of green tea while you’re enjoying your other greens. Green tea (and its highly concentrated sister Matcha) contain catechins that “boost blood flow and oxygen to the skin, which delivers key nutrients to keep your complexion healthy”.

When you treat your body right, it has a ripple effect to not just your appearance, but your whole mental attitude toward yourself as well.

Sum Of All Your Parts

Last week, I offered you some techniques to accept your body, and your face is part of your body. 😉 So those exercises are still applicable. In fact, women in a study who looked at their faces in the mirror without makeup for two weeks reported greater comfort with their appearance. Click here for a refresher and get that warm washcloth ready to massage your face and thank your nose for letting to stop and smell all those roses.

Crystal Complexion

Jade rollers have been a staple of Chinese skincare for centuries. Jade is known for its healing and protective properties and the roller, when applied to the face in certain movements, reduces puffiness and inflammation. Similar to dry brushing, this relaxing facial massage stimulates and drains the lymphatic system, helping your skin’s tone and elasticity.

The cute tool is pretty Instagram worthy, truth be told, but the biggest benefit of adopting a practice like this is the ability to self-heal your body. Sure, you can pay a pretty penny for a professional facialist, but when you can also take care of your body physically that connection feeds your mind and soul too.

Here’s a tutorial on a Gua Sha Facial for Lymph Drainage, which is a technique that uses the roller to scrape against the skin, and a gentler massage version here.

Your face is usually the first things people see when they meet you, so it’s totally normal to want to look your best and make a good first impression. There’s just nothing better than a person who is comfortable in their own skin.

So my Challenge for you this week is to go makeup free (gym time doesn’t count though). Even if it’s just around your house and not in public, let your skin breathe and take a few moments to stand before the mirror and just appreciate the gorgeous face the Universe gave you.

LOVE + lots of freckles!