“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart” – Kahill Gibran

We often think of beauty as purely a physical phenomenon; however, it is our mental and spiritual beauty that truly defines who we are. The desire to live a beautiful and healthy life is not only natural, it is a good and noble pursuit.  Inner beauty and that inner glow is our birthright, which we all have access to.  But, how do we gain access, what are the keys to unlocking that inner ageless potential?  Here are my top five beauty factors that will lead you to a state of “beyond beautiful”, to a state of superior health and vitality from the inside out.

1. Eat for Beauty

Beauty truly is an inside job.  Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘You are what you eat’ or ‘garbage in, garbage out’?   These are very true statements.  One of the most important things you can do to enhance your beauty routine, is to evaluate your diet.  Eating a plethora of processed, chemical laden foods, that include things such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, MSG, artificial flavors, and artificial colors can wreak havoc on your body.  These ingredients cause inflammation and acidity in the body, which in turn can create an environment primed for beauty disruptors, such as dark circles, skin rashes, and bloating.  My recommendation is to incorporate a rainbow of raw fruits and vegetables that provide enzymes and vital nutrition to the body, which enhance the immune system and provide hydration.  Additionally, adding superfoods and super herbs will allow you to take that inner glow to the next level.  Some of my favorites are: Burdock Root, Aloe Vera, Dulse, Maca, Horsetail and Nettle (see local purchasing options below).  

2. Remove Toxins

I have a theory that we should never put anything on our skin that we cannot eat.  This is because our skin absorbs at minimum 60% of what we put on it within 26 seconds.  We cover our bodies with products labeled “natural” that actually contain many dangerous ingredients.  Of the 82,000 chemicals used in beauty and cosmetic products, most of these include carcinogens, reproductive toxins, hormone disruptors, and pesticides.  On average, women in the United States use 12 personal care or cosmetic products a day, which can contain 168 different chemicals.  Add this to the toxins in our the food we eat, in the air we breathe, and the water we drink; and we’ve got a toxic cesspool that is aging us more rapidly than we realize, and robbing us of our inner glow.

3. Get Moving

We all know that exercise is beneficial to the body and helps to keep us fit and agile as we age.  Research has shown that two forms of exercise are the most important to focus on: aerobic exercise, or cardio, which gets your heart pumping and sweat flowing, and strength training, which helps keep aging muscles from dwindling over time.  Additionally, yoga is tremendous in its ability to keep muscles limber and strong, and it is one of the best exercises you can do for breathwork.  Carving out time each day for these activities and creating a ritual will keep you fit and glowing as time progresses.

4. Cultivate Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships make us happy, and when we are happy, we are in our most beautiful state.  When we feel loved and connected, we feel whole.  So, how do we cultivate these relationships?  Here are a few of my tips: 

• Communication.  This is crucial.  Learning how to express your feelings and in turn, be an active listener can be one of the most important life skills you gain.
• Trust.  In relationships, trust may be the most important factor.  If you are in a partnership that lacks trust, you will never be able to truly feel whole with that person.
• Thoughtfulness and Generosity.  What I mean here is emotional generosity.  This can be just checking in on someone on a regular basis to show you care.  It can also be in the form of gift giving, verbal appreciation, or a thoughtful gesture.  
• Compromise and Fairness.  All relationships should have some feeling of reciprocity.  People who consistently take from others and expect people to give without lifting a finger are people who don’t have many friends or any relationships of real substance.  So, check your relationships and be sure that you are giving and taking equally.

5. Reduce Stress

It is well documented that chronic stress, which most of us suffer from to a degree, causes rapid aging, makes us gain weight, undermines our immune system, shortens our life span, and can even damage our brain.  From a beauty perspective, it wreaks havoc on our appearance, showing signs such as premature gray hair, puffy eyes, fine lines, and rashes or hives.  Additionally, stress causes things such as hormone imbalances, compromised immune systems, sleeplessness, and aches and pains.  None of these things sound very beautiful to me, so it is imperative to incorporate some stress-busting solutions into your life!!  Here are a few of my recommendations: spend time in nature, walk barefoot on the earth (10 minutes minimum per day), practice yoga & meditation, get a massage, and work to find a community of loved ones that make you feel supported.

The desire to cultivate and appreciate beauty greatly enhances one’s propensity to heal, to love, and enjoy life’s experiences.  Above are some of the tools we need to cultivate this beauty on all levels, so I hope you enjoyed reading and will consider implementing some of these practices into your life.  Cheers!!

By Amber Sherman

Calendula and Rose Infusion:

1 cup calendula flowers

1 cup rose petals and buds

9 ounces grapeseed oil (great for your skin too)

16 ounce mason jar

1 small cut square of cheese cloth

Directions:

Place flowers in wide mouth mason jar, slowly pour grapeseed oil over flowers covering them with close to an inch over the flowers. Date 4-6 weeks for infusion. Wait patiently until that date. Strain flowers, place in another jar for easy use. Store in dark space while infusing and for application.

This infusion is chalk full of Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which stimulate collagen production and deeply moisturize the skin.  Rose has been used for years for its incredible skin benefits, including: hydration, antioxidants, redness remover, and wrinkle combating abilities.  Calendula petals help skin look smooth, radiant and dewy-fresh. 

Recipe from Next to Nature Blog https://www.nexttonaturehealth.com

Check out Next to Nature at 4242 Gordan Drive, where you can purchase all of these lovely ingredients!