I was pondering this whilst taking a shower the other day...what makes me feel most beautiful? What are my top beauty tips that I use regularly to make me feel my best? And here's what I came up with.
1. Exercise
Yeah, this is going to sound like a bit of a cliché but beauty really does come from the inside out. When I'm consistently working out I feel healthier, stronger, fitter and more beautiful. I've never been that into exercise but recently I've been on a bit of a fitness kick. And I can honestly say that there are far more benefits to it than I realised! Exercise improves your mood, circulation and health so it's really just an added bonus that your clothes fit better & you lose a few lbs!
2. Healthy Eating
This is a huge part of how to feel more beautiful...the foods you eat really do play a part in how you look & feel. When I eat better I notice my skin is clearer & brighter and I have more energy during the day! Certain fruits & veggies are full to the brim with antioxidants, vitamins & minerals which make your skin glow...I'm no nutritionist but it's not rocket science which foods you should & shouldn't be eating. I have the worst sweet tooth though, so I also think balance is really key! Drinking enough water is something I think goes hand in hand with good nutrition - I aim for 2 litres a day and again, the benefits of this are huge! Your skin will thank you, you will feel less tired and it also helps keep you regular ;)
3. Fake Tan
I live in England where unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of sun but I always feel my best when my skin has a bit of colour! I do tan easily in the summer anyway but to keep my skin topped up year long, I use Dove Summer Body which is a gradual self-tanner. I use it twice a week and apply it all over my body after my shower & before bed. That way the next morning I wake up with a bit of a glow. I know it sounds silly but having a tan makes me feel slimmer, more toned & beautiful!
4. Sparkly Smile
Having a whiter smile definitely adds to feeling more beautiful! Since having my teeth professionally whitened before my wedding in 2011, I have tried to keep it up by using whitening toothpastes that actually work (Oral B 3D White and Colgate White Max White are the ones that I'd recommend). A great tip I learned from YouTube is not to rinse your mouth with water after brushing - so just spit out the remaining toothpaste after you're finished and don't swish water in your mouth, that way it whitens more effectively! I don't know why but this really does work and having a sparkly smile makes me feel more confident :)
5. Mani/Pedi
There's nothing like a good old mani/pedi to keep me feeling pampered and pretty, so why not do what makes you feel good? I've recently started getting gel nails and cannot recommend them enough - especially if you're a mum! The colour lasts about 2 weeks on your hands and 6-8 for your toes which means no chipping, no waiting anxiously for your nails to dry. And the result is beautifully polished hands & feet you can be proud of. I look forward to picking my new nail colour every two weeks and love how long it lasts. It's also helped my nails grow considerably longer & stronger (though good nutrition will help with this too ;)
And that's it! Those are my top 5 tips on how to feel your most beautiful, inside & out!