(and How to Instantly Feel More Beautiful)

Take inventory as to how many beauty products you use a single day. Many of us have accumulated a small arsenal of products that promise results for every square inch of our body! We have multiple products we use on our face and others we use for the rest of our body. We acquire specialized eye, hand and foot creams. We collect hair products to cleanse, moisturize, and style. We have daytime and nighttime products. We have products to target “problem areas” and others for enhancements. These products also come with a lot of manufacturing, packaging, and ingredients we often don’t understand. What if there was a simplified and much kinder way to approach our beautifying?

One of the easiest ways to simplify your beauty routine is to reduce the number of products you’re using!

Start by choosing single, natural ingredients that have multiple uses and benefits. 

For example, coconut oil can be used as a facial cleanser, make-up remover, head-to-toe moisturizer, hair mask and pomade, made into toothpaste, and lots more. Lavender essential oil can be used as a spot treatment for many skin ailments and is a helpful nerve tonic in our baths and on our pillows. Baking soda can be used as a shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and as a gentle cleaning product. Apple cider vinegar can be used in a variety of skin care applications including first aid and can also be used as a hair rinse for soft shiny hair. These are just a few examples and there are plenty more. *See my book recommendation below as a resource for creating your own natural beauty recipes.

Natural ingredients are also economical because you often only need a small amount and they have a much longer shelf life than most commercially made products on the market. They also tend to have far less packaging and don’t leave pollutants on our skin and in our water supply.

Nature’s bounty of plants, flowers, and mineral-rich soils offer an abundant apothecary for all our beauty and wellness desires. Natural beauty is something we all have. It’s a radiance that emanates from within when we are at ease with ourselves and in harmony with nature. It resources a beauty from a place much deeper than our physical appearance.

Here are some additional tips to add into your daily beauty routine to instantly feel more Beautiful….

Be Kind

Start with yourself. Soften your gaze when you look at yourself in the mirror. Smile and speak kind words to yourself. Be gentle and offer a compliment as you would to someone that you deeply care about. Accept yourself with loving kindness and embrace being YOU. With some practice, this simple act of kindness invites a healthier relationship with our reflection and allows your inner beauty to radiate. 

Laugh More

Prioritize some fun and engage in feeling playful. Get yourself and others smiling and laughing! Notice how a face instantly transforms when smiling 🙂 🙂 🙂 

Dress to Impress – yourself! 

Get dressed in clothes that elevate your mood. Choose fabrics that feel good on your skin and that allow movement. Choose colors that make you feel happy. Explore what clothes make you feel free and more beautiful.

Go Slow 

At times, allow yourself the space to move slower and more mindfully. Try eating slower, savoring each flavor unfolding. Try walking at a slower pace to take in more of your surroundings and notice more details. The more present we are, the more at ease we feel and this beauty shines through our faces and body language.  

Be in Nature

Clean water, fresh air, and gentle sunshine provide essential nourishments that we need to thrive and look our best. Being in nature, barefoot, gazing up at starlight and moonlight are simple moments we can take to reconnect to where we come from and it just feels good! Bathing yourself in the riches of nature will always offer healthful benefits that will lead to more feelings of wellness and glowing inner beauty. In urban areas, accessing nature can be as simple as going out onto a balcony to see the sky or finding a patch of grass in a park nearby. 

Breathe

Take moments in your day to pause and feel your breath coming into your body giving you life. Acknowledge this now…”I AM ALIVE!” This claiming of life will spark a radiance of true beauty. 

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BEAUTY BOOK RECOMMENDATION

One of my favorite discoveries for a natural beauty resource is a book called Renegade Beauty, by Nadine Artemis. It is a refreshing and insightful approach to beauty and self-care. It is packed full of in-depth research that will educate and inspire you towards naturally glowing skin but also guide you toward a lifestyle that feels deeply in sync with nature. There is a wellspring of beauty secrets and recipes that are simple yet potent. 

I would also highly recommend Nadine’s natural beauty line Living Libations, that sources only organic botanicals and are some of the most luxurious natural products I’ve ever used. LivingLibations.com  (This is not an affiliate, btw. It’s just pure awesomeness that I want to share with everyone 😉 Check out all the other stellar reviews! xo

This feel good soup is bursting with vibrant goodness and packed with minerals.

It can be served warm and is also wonderful served at room temp or slightly chilled. 

NOTE: Feel free to modify this recipe by substituting with any green veggies you have; asparagus, peas, green onions, radish/beet tops, bok choy, parsley. It all works! 

SOUP INGREDIENTS 

2 T of Olive oil or Coconut Oil
1 med sized Yellow Onion, chopped
1 stalk of Celery, chopped
1 cloves of Garlic, chopped
1 T of dried or 2 springs of fresh Oregano, chopped
1 t of dried or 1 spring of fresh Thyme, de-stemmed and chopped
1/2 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
2 C Broccoli, chopped
1 C Green Beans, chopped
1-2 small Zucchinis, chopped
4 C of Greens (choose or mix Kale, Chard, Spinach or Arugula), de-stemmed and chopped
5 C  Vegetable Broth, divided into 1 C and 4 C

FANTASTIC TOPPINGS

Toasted Pumpkins Seeds 
Fresh Cilantro 
Dash of Smoked Paprika
Chopped Avocado
Nutritional Yeast
Braggs
Olive Oil
Salt/Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

serves 4

~ Heat oil in large soup pot on Med heat.

~ Add Onions, cover and slowly cook until translucent, about 15 mins.

~ Chop the rest of your veggies while your onions are cooking. 

~ Add Celery and cook until softened.

~ Add Garlic, Oregano, Thyme and a pinch of Salt/Pepper. Stir and cook for 2 mins.

~ Add Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Zucchini, Green Beans, and 1 C of broth. Cover and cook until slightly soft, about 5 mins.

~ Stir in Greens until wilted.

~ Turn heat up to Med-High and add the remaining 4 C of the Veggie Broth. 

~ Bring to a gentle boil, turn down, cover and simmer until all veggies are soft. 15 mins.

~ Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes then transfer to a blender. Blend on low until desired consistency. Be sure to leave some veggies unblended if you want some texture in your soup.

~ Salt and Pepper to taste.

~ Finish with adding your choice of toppings and serve with fresh bread or crackers.

Do you get dreamy looking at those Pinterest photos of sunlit living rooms filled with a jungle of plants? Me too! Plants are my favorite decor. They add such an elegance of beauty and aliveness and they purify the air to boot. How great is that? More plants, please!

Here are a few resourceful ways that I’ve discovered to easily multiple your plant collection.

1. Most plants you purchase are actually multiple plants in one container. 

When you’re shopping for plants, look for ones that have multiple stems/stalks within one pot. When you get home, you can then carefully separate them at the root ball into two or more plants depending on the desired size. You can transfer each new plant baby into individual pots or plant them together in larger pots with other plants that require similar care.

*I’ve included a picture below of my lovely Caladium. Do you see all those individual stalks? Those are all multiple plants that can be divided into many plants!

Safety tip: Make sure to educate yourself on plants that could be toxic to kids, dogs, cats, and other pets. Caladiums, for example, are toxic to all of the above! A plant identification app can be helpful (but not foolproof).

2. Propagate from plants you already have or find some growing in your neighborhood.

Many plants are incredibly easy to propagate into new plants. You may already have some in your home that you can take cuttings from, put them in water or soil to start new ones.

Here is a link for some easy propagators. https://bit.ly/3AissEj

Meet your nieghbors! I have also scored many plants by keeping an eye out for gardeners and nieghbors that are doing yard work. Sometimes the plants they are discarding can be propagated, especially succulents! Just ask, they are usually more than happy to share.

Also, keep your eye out for plants that are ready to rescue in public fringe areas of your neighborhood. I’ve found ivy, succulents and snake plants that where growing in abandoned zones that I’ve taken small cuttings from. Just be mindful not to take too much or that your not on someone’s private property!

3. Ask your local plant shops or nurseries if they have any un-sellable plants.

Many plants may not look pretty enough to go on the shelves for sale, yet they just need some TLC to thrive. Ask your plant shops if they have any that are destined for the trash. (I’ve found the boutique plant shops are the best to ask for these vs. the big box garden suppliers).

I have a philodendron that is over 12 years old that I rescued from a florist shop dumpster. It had one scrawny leaf when it started and a few years later, it was attempting to take over our kitchen it got so big! If you don’t mind rescue plants looking a little rough in the beginning, with some patience and care, they will flourish for years.