12 Clean Beauty Tips For the Win!

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As a beauty professional for many years along with a wellness enthusiast I have definitely tried an abundance of strategies regarding what delivers great beauty results.
Besides just good genetics, healthy and radiant skin & hair don’t happen (& hold up over time) by accident.
Below are 12 of my favorite clean tips for beautiful skin & hair…
(Click "Read More" Below to Continue)...

1) Lemon Water

Break your fast (break-fast) after waking in the morning with lemon water !
Lemon water is detoxifying & cell regenerating !
Lemon contains powerful phytonutrients/polyphenols (antioxidants such as quercetin, apegenin, luteolin & hesperetin) that battle & scavenge damaging free radical buildup & oxidative stress. This equates to less potential DNA damage & inflammation in the body and therefore anti-aging at the cellular level, and very beneficial overall to hair & skin (regarding sun/UV damage, wrinkles/elasticity/dryness/ age spots/ etc)  (Take a Look Here), (Here), (Here), (Here), (Here), (Here ) & (Here) !

Lemons also contain d-limonene, an incredible compound (called a terpene/monoterpene) from the essential oil in citrus that is abundant in the peel of lemon. D-limonene is known to be therapeutic regarding skin & scalp health as it has been found to be highly anti-inflammatory & healing at the cellular level, as well as possibly even effective regarding skin cancer (Take a Look Here) !

As a citrus fruit, lemon also contains high amounts of antioxidant vitamin C that is protective to the skin from the effects of  UV (sun) damage as well as aging, and helps stimulate collagen synthesis & production. Collagen is like the glue that holds bodily tissue together & is also the main protein in skin & hair (Take a Look Here)…So this matters a lot !!!​

Juice from lemon is also highly alkalizing to the body once consumed. There are many potential benefits to alkaline foods & balancing the ph of your body including bone, muscle & kidney health as well as their anti-inflammatory & anti-aging effects. This would include inflammatory issues of the skin & scalp.

To make lemon water, you can either just squeeze lemon in your water, or you can juice the lemon with the peel on and then add water to it (this is far more powerful). The peel adds a whole additional level of nutrients .
So basically, f you have a juicer and an organic lemon you can juice the lemon with the peel on. If you do this, start very small... I started with just an eighth slice of a lemon and worked up to an entire lemon over time & the results are glowy !!!
If you don’t have a juicer (or an organic lemon), you can just squeeze some lemon into your water. 
It’s best to wait at least a half hour to eat any solid food after consuming your lemon water.
If you're anything like me, you will not hate what you look like after doing this for a bit !
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2) Eat Plants

Your hair & skin are nourished from the inside of your body out. Plant-based foods especially veggies & fruit are loaded with nutrients (especially phytonutrients) and are detoxifying & cell regenerating. Due to their anti-oxidizing (helpful regarding DNA damage due to oxidative stress) action, they possess highly anti-aging & anti-inflammatory effects that equate to radiant beauty (Take a Look Here), (Here), (Here) & (Here) !

In addition to their abundant nutrient content, many plant-based foods also contain silica (silicon dioxide). Silica is an important compound (mineral) that powerfully supports connective tissue in the body including muscles, tendons, ligaments, teeth, cartilage & bone. Silica also stimulates collagen synthesis hence being known for its beautifying powers of improving the health, strength & growth of skin, hair & nails (Take a Look Here) ! A few plant-based foods high in silica include leafy greens (especially dark & including spinach), cucumber, celery, beet, carrot, green beans, asparagus, tomato, artichoke, apple, strawberry & raspberry. Whole grains including brown rice, oats & whole wheat (buy organic if possible) are also good sources of silica as are nuts & lentils. Some people also choose to supplement with a silica supplement product. 

Biotin (vitamin B7 ) is another vital nutrient regarding healthy skin & hair. There are many good plant-based sources of biotin including nuts (such as peanut, hazelnut. almond, walnut & pecan), seeds (sunflower being the highest),  avocado, sweet potato, mushroom, broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens, strawberries & raspberries as well as lentils, soybeans & whole grains such as oats & brown rice. In addition to obtaining biotin from their diet, some people also choose to supplement with a biotin supplement.

Again, lots of plant-based foods also contain incredible collagen building, UV protective & oxidative stress fighting antioxidant Vitamin C !  That means it’s a super powerful beauty ally (Take a Look Here) !  Again, citrus fruits are especially potent sources of vitamin C. Some people also choose to supplement with vitamin C. I personally love organic whole food  versions of C supplements such as camu & acerola cherry. 

Whole plant-based foods also improve the human gut microbiome which has been found to strongly affect skin & the aging of it (Take a Look Here) as well as skin health, inflammation & even diseases of the skin (Take a Look Here). The skin & scalp additionally have their own microbiomes which would most likely benefit by consuming anti-inflammatory whole plant-based foods.

Plant-based foods (especially fruits & veggies) are also typically highly hydrating adding to their astounding nutrient dense beautifying properties.
Hydration matters immensely being that the body, skin & hair are made up of a whole lot of water !

​So overall, including as many many whole-food plant-based (organic if possible) ingredients into your day as possible may be a good way to go to obtain glowing beauty !
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3) Start Juicing

If there was just one single thing I could suggest regarding glowing beauty it would be juicing. 
​When I personally started on a juicing program a while back I could not believe the change in how my skin looked. It was almost as if after a short while I acquired an entirely new smooth glowy sheet of it ! It also seemed to melt fat right off my body…

Juicing organic produce is detoxifying, alkalizing & cell regenerating gold. Similar to the above mentioned plant-based foods but in more concentrated & absorbable doses. Juices extracted in a juicer are loaded with anti-inflammatory & reparative nutrients (especially if you drink them right after they're made). The enzymes, vitamins & phytonutrients in fruits & veggies are highly anti-oxidizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging & cell & skin regenerating.

Because of its liquid form, juice and its incredible nutrients are easily metabolized & absorbed. It is life force & beauty in a glass !

Speaking of phytonutrients in your plant-based juicing ingredients, the anti-oxidant polyphenols (phytonutrients ) contained in these foods have been found to be potentially helpful against the aging of skin as well as hair and it’s follicles (Take a Look Here). This is at least partially due to their capabilities in countering oxidative stress (cellular/DNA damage) (Take a Look Here) .
For a whole bunch more info on Juicing...Take a Look Here !

4) Use Gentle Cleansers & Shampoos

Using gentle cleansers & shampoos go a long way in maintaining integrity of skin & hair while at the same time avoiding dullness, dryness, brittle hair & damage. Harsher cleansing agents can strip & slough off the outer protective layers of your skin & hair shaft. This can even lead to removing so much off of your outermost layer of skin (acid mantle) or hair shaft (cuticle) it can lead to detrimental issues. It can also disrupt the delicate balance of your  skin & scalp microbiome which is vital for healthy skin as well as  hair & hair growth.  Additionally, cleaner (less toxic) ingredients in your hair and skincare products can go a super long way in being gentler & far more nourishing to skin & hair and rendering them healthy & radiant !
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5) Don't Over Cleanse

For similar reasons of using gentle cleansing agents, the constant assault of washing with soaps & detergents in cleansers & shampoos can be abrasive as well as cause dryness and damage to scalp, hair & skin.
​Over cleansing can also unbalance the delicate microbiome of your skin or scalp which can lead to issues. Although it is a good idea to exfoliate or detox dead cells from your skin & or scalp occasionally (this has even been found to promote hair growth,), it is not necessary to scrub constantly. As conditioned to doing  it as we usually are, you may want to try &  break the habit & suds up less often !
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6) Use Cooler Water

Hot water is also harsh on both skin & hair.  Similarly to harsher products & over washing, hot water can strip off too much outer layer of your hair as well as skin and cause dryness & damage. Cooler water is far gentler & leaves the cuticle of the hair flatter which can make hair smoother & shinier. The skin is also affected by hot water as it removes hydration from the skin and in turn leaving it potentially dry as well as irritated (& even open to issues). This does not equate to glowing beauty, so try and dial back on the hot water and use cooler water instead whenever possible!
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7) Exfoliate

 Even though you’re aiming to wash your hair & even skin a bit less, occasionally using a gentle facial mask or a scalp detox (about once a week) is a good way to slough off any leftover debris &/or dead cells and help purify your skin or scalp. Scalp conditions including inflammation & microbiome imbalances can lead to issues regarding hair  health, loss & thinning (Take a Look Here). Regarding your hair, gentle detoxifying /exfoliating can help nurture your scalp along with its delicate microbiome and induce healthy hair growth and avoid inflammation/scalp (& thinning hair) issues, and regarding your skin it can help pull impurities out of your skin to reduce the chance for irritation, inflammation & even certain skin conditions !
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8) Manage Stress

Especially when it comes to chronic stress, its important to find was to manage it. This would be regarding not only health & wellness purposes but also regarding beauty ! 
Chronic stress  can result in highly detrimental effects regarding  your hair & skin ! 
On the hair front this includes issues such as dull, dry, damaged as well as thinning hair. The biological process of which has been at this point identified  (Take a Look Here) & (Here).
In the area of skin, the enormous connection between stress & conditions of the skin including inflammation (that leads to many conditions) & aging are quite well known and this delicate link is being further understood every day …(Take a Look Here) & (Here).

Ways to manage stress are varied & many. Practices such as meditation, breathing, mindfulness/zen, yoga & tai chi (Take a Look Here). Exercise as well as eating nutrient loaded food (such as fruits & veggies) can be very helpful to some.

9) Hydrate

Hydration is not only essential regarding your health but also your skin & hair ! The human body is very high in water content and it is the primary component of bodily cells & tissues.
Water is vital for many bodily systems & functions as well as the smoothness & brightness of skin & hair.
Actually, one of the first places dehydration will leave its mark will be your skin (Take a Look  Here) as well as hair. It leaves this mark in symptoms of dryness, damage and signs of aging such as wrinkles, brittle hair & even hair loss.
Regarding hair, the hair shaft itself is made up of about a quarter part water. Consuming enough water can benefit areas such as scalp blood flow & circulation  (which helps deliver nutrients to & stimulate hair growth) & can also positively affect the scalp microbiome, which when in healthy balance can lead to strong & healthy hair growth.

Water & hydration also provides an assist in detoxifying the scalp,  helping rid it of dead cells & debris that can lead to healthy hair growth. Drinking water additionally greatly helps to moisturize the hair shaft of each & every hair strand, leaving it luxurious, shiny & strong.
Water is an essential macronutrient. If you are not providing enough of it to your body and it becomes dehydrated, it will fail to provide hydration to your skin & hair as it attempts to provide hydration to protect vital bodily systems & organs first & foremost. Your skin, hair & nails will come closer to last on your bodily list of  vital places to hydrate. The results of this will be visible. So make sure to drink enough water !!!
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10) Sleep

Beauty Sleep” is a term for a reason !
Proper sleep equates to a more beautiful appearance & lesser signs of aging (Take a Look Here) !
When we sleep our body recovers, repairs & replenishes. This includes repair to cells and stimulation of collagen production. So that certainly equates to more radiant skin & hair !
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Proper sleep has been found to have anti-aging and protective effects in areas such as overall inflammation, oxidative stress & DNA damage. Sleep additionally assists in regulating all important hormone balance & metabolism (Take a Look Here). These are all vitally important areas regarding beauty.

There are many ways to assist in obtaining better slumber. 
First off and somewhat surprisingly, Plant based diets have been shown to improve the gut microbiome and there is some evidence that this can impact and assist in better sleep (Take a Look Here) & (Here).

Amongst other ways to manage better sleep would be to unplug & halt the use of all electronic devices at least a half hour before going to bed as well as attempting to go to bed and then arise at the same time every day as to balance your body’s natural rhythms & hormones. 
In whatever ways in which you manage to get some proper sleep, It should assist in more radiant beauty !
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11) Use Quality Products

There are many great hair & skincare products that can be helpful to obtain glowing beauty. From gentle shampoos (as previously mentioned), to scalp detoxes, conditioning masks, thermal protectants, bonding treatments & styling products of all sorts for hair, & cleansers, hydrosols/tonics, serums, masks & moisturizers etc for skin. Along with quality, it is important to choose products with cleaner ingredients when possible to avoid possible harm from potentially dangerous ones.
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12) See a Professional

Seeing an experienced hairdresser for regular hair trims and your other hair services is important in keeping your hair healthy, free from damage and in good overall shape. I’ve seen many a hair disaster in my day from home attempts & experiments and that rarely ever equates to beautiful healthy hair.
Seeing an esthetician for facials is also a wonderful way to detoxify & nourish your skin.
Try to find beauty professionals that are more holistically minded and use cleaner practices as well as hair & skincare products. Try and steer clear of synthetic chemical treatments such as hair straighteners & chemical peels which can be harsh & potentially damaging. This can all go a long way in providing healthy & luxurious beauty !
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That's it for now regarding Clean Beauty Tips ~
Find your Radiant Beauty in doses of Clean !

"Everything we put in and on our bodies should be nutritious and safe"
Horst Rachelbacher

**Before embarking on Any new dietary, wellness or nutritional program, it is advised and important to consult with your qualified and trusted Healthcare Provider to evaluate your particular and personal medical circumstance.

Disclaimer   
This blog, it's content and any linked materials does not provide medical advice and is presented and intended for informational purposes only. It is based on my personal experience and research and is Not a Substitute for Medical Advice or Treatment. Do not Disregard Medical Advice, or delay in Seeking It because of something you have read in this blog, website or in Any linked material. Consult with a Medical Professional if you have a Medical Condition ! ​​​