Forget general resolutions about being a better person and losing weight. Stop focusing on the parts of yourself that you are unsatisfied with and start celebrating the person you are. Resolve to embrace the real you–the natural you. this is BANGSTYLE’s guide to going all natural and feeling good about who you are.
This year, give up spending money on diet supplements and makeup. Stop taking trips to the tanning salon and wasting time reading beauty magazines that write about getting thin while making you feel bad about your body. It is easy to cast away societal pressures and start building self-esteem. Here are 5 steps to finding a beautiful, natural, and happy you in 2012:
1. Wear SPF, even in the winter
According the the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually. We all worship the sun, but it emits harmful UV rays 365 days a year. Snow reflects 80% of the suns rays, so the threat of sun damage can actually increase in the winter. Pledge to wear SPF everyday. not only will you protect your skin from damage, you will save your skin from the dry winter air. Wearing lotion everyday will undoubtedly improve your skin and slow down the look of aging. Try Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 from Sephora ($20) for anti-aging and skin protection all-in-one.
2. Wear less makeup
Makeup is an every day labor for many women, but it shouldn’t be. instead of embracing your natural beauty, you are hiding behind layers of caked-out makeup a la Kim Kardashian. this expensive habit is not only damaging your skin, it is also damaging your self-esteem. Society throws a million different products at you–insisting you need to look different to be beautiful. start weening off of your makeup addiction in 2012. Slowly you will begin to like the way you naturally look. Your beautiful natural glow will reappear within days!
3. Change to organic or natural products
The switch to organic is not only more ethical, it is better for your health. Think about it, each time you put on makeup, you’re rubbing unnatural chemicals into your sensitive skin. Investing in all natural and organic products will help you feel and look effortlessly beautiful. Origins is a great company that makes organic and natural makeup. Their top-rated products and competitive pricing will have you glowing without spending a ton of money. they boast earth and animal friendly processes, so you don’t have to worry about packaging pollution or animal testing. The best-selling A Perfect World lotion ($27) is made with white tea and will help combat flaky winter skin.
4. Exercise every day
It is hard to convince yourself to get active during the winter months, but exercising every day is the best way to start the new year off right. I’m not saying to go to the gym and do tons of cardio 7 days a week, but little things like stretching for 20 minutes every morning will improve your day. Join websites like LivingSocial and Groupon to get deals on yoga and fitness classes near you. Having a regimented schedule will get you off of the couch and have you loving your natural figure.
5. Stop dyeing your hair
Before I went abroad to London two years ago, I decided to get my hair dyed back to its natural brown color. I had been bleaching it for years and would constantly complain about how it would never grow as long as I wanted or about the amount of split ends I had. When I first dyed it back, I was horrified. but after a few weeks and a ton of compliments, I found my natural color suited me better than heavy bleach. My hair also felt healthier! I didn’t have to worry about roots growing in or spend hundreds of dollars getting it dyed each year. If you are gray or can’t stand your hair color, get it professionally dyed. Never use a kit from the convenience store–you will ruin your hair forever! Try going natural in 2012 and you may be surprised by how much you love it!
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