Green Beauty Basic's To Live By From Jami, Founder of ECHO
Ever wondered what a green beauty expert's best holistic beauty tips are? Below, Jami, fun loving green beauty expert and owner of Echo Natural Beauty, shares her Holistic Beauty Basics.
I believe beauty is being the best possible version of yourself from the inside out!
I have been an esthetician for over 10 years, the one thing I always ask my clients is, "What are your skin care goals?"
Usually they respond with something along the lines of, "I want to look amazing, feel good, look 10 years younger, be healthy, have less wrinkles, be more hydrated, and feel more relaxed!"
We all want that! One of my favorite parts of my job is sharing my passion for beauty and wellness - and today I'm sharing that on Echo's blog!
Below are my ten basic beauty tips to achieve radiant skin!
1. Lemon water
A glass of warm lemon water is the best way to start the morning. Lemon water flushes toxins from the body, helps hydrate the body and the skin, helps with digestion, and offers plenty of Vitamin C - amazing for the skin!
2. Dry Brushing
Dry brushing before showering is a great quick and easy way to exfoliate away dead skin, increase circulation in the body, and stimulate the lymphatic system.
Below are a couple tools that are great for dry brushing!
3. Drink plenty of water. Aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water. Feel free to add lemon or juice (preferably with no added sugar) to help encourage yourself to drink more water. If you engage in high amounts of physical activity, consider drinking coconut water (nature's version of Gatorade) to replenish electrolytes in the body. Keeping your skin hydrated will keep it looking radiant and healthy.
4. Choose natural skincare products. Below is the One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil, one of my personal favorites!
Always check the labels on your hair care products, skincare products, body wash, and make up. There are tons of products within the beauty market that contain toxic chemicals. Stay away from parabens, artificial colors and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, and propylene glycol (just to name a few). The skin absorbs what we put on it. Many of the toxic chemicals in beauty products can cause rashes, irritation, dry skin, headaches, and can even have negative effects on hormonal function.
5. Exfoliate
I recommend that women exfoliate 2 times a week, men may be able to exfoliate 3 times a week. It is important to use a gentle granular exfoliant - not the usual St. Ives Scrubs. Exfoliants with jojoba beads or oatmeal are some of my favorites - natural exfoliants will slough away dead skin and will also nourish the skin. Your skin will instantly thank you.
Pictured above are two of Echo's best selling exfoliants! The One Love Organics Brand New Day and Arcona's Brightening Gommage.
6. Sleep.
Get your beauty rest! Shoot for 8 hours of sleep a night. We repair and rejuvenate our bodies and minds while we rest.
7. Keep your diet clean.
This is a key component to radiant skin. Eat a diet rich in antioxidant rich fruits and veggies, whole grains, beneficial proteins, and fish (hello Omega 3's!) Limit your sugar intake, alcohol consumption, dairy, white flour, and other processed foods. I have personally led and participated in several cleanses and am always amazed at how much better my skin looks! Plus, my eyes look brighter, I sleep better, and can handle stress easier.
8. Protect yourself from the sun.
There is no such thing as a 'safe tan'. Oregon has the fifth largest rate of melanoma per capita in the nation. The cumulative affects of sun damage to the skin include broken capillaries, hyper pigmentation, wrinkles, and pre-mature aging
Below are two of our favorite sun protection products. The Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Creme protects the skin with zinc oxide and is an ultra nourishing day creme. The Laurel Sun Damage Repair Serum offers sun protection from plants that is equivalent to an SFP of approximately 20.
9. Exercise.
Moving the body gets oxygen flowing and prevents free radical damage. Free radical damage can lead to aging skin and several other health issues. Get moving every day in some way, shape, or form; simply walking is great, as is running, swimming, or biking.
10. Keep your stress level to a minimum!
Meditation is a great way to relieve stress. If you're intimidated by meditation download an app like Headspace or Oprah and Deepak 21-day Meditation Experience. These apps have several guided meditations that can help you practice regularly. Try it for a week and see if you notice a difference in the appearance of your skin.
These 10 tips combined with regular facials (at least 4 times a year as the seasons change) will have you glowing from the inside out.
I always tell my clients, "Self care is a divine responsibility".