)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Sometimes I get so caught up in the allure of the colors and textures and the “oohs” and “ahhs” of beauty products that I forget the most elementary beauty basics of all– a decent night’s sleep, drinking enough water, and the effort to make healthier food choices. While I wish my mind were perfectly Zen, it’s not. I live in LA– the epicenter of hurry up and wait, and these are stressful times for all of us. We’re trying to cram family time, our skills to pay the bills (sometimes even second jobs), commutes, basic household chores, time with our friends, our obsessive needs to blog, tweet, update our Facebook status, return everyone’s emails all along the way, and anything else we can possibly manage to fit in. Did we take a time-out anywhere during that time to eat something even remotely healthier than just the fries we inhaled during our supposed-lunch break because we were actually working through it as usual? Did you consume any beverage other than coffee or Diet Coke? What time did we get to bed last night after our much needed “Girl’s Night Out”? Hmm…
Let’s take a look at the most basic beauty needs we have that not even a brand new Chanel lipstick can fix:
• Solid, restful sleep – This is one I know about, all too well. My upstairs neighbor is commonly referred to as “Sir Stomp-a-Lot”. Not only does he have lead feet, he’s nocturnal. He has this need to re-arrange his furniture (or whatever he’s dragging) after midnight, open and close his very rickety windows that seriously need an entire can of WD-40 sprayed on their tracks, and also test out the performance of his home theatre’s sound system. I’m trying to get at least 7 hours, 8 if I’m lucky like it’s recommended– and he is up and setting the world on fire at 2am. I don’t know how I lived before ear plugs– they are just about the only thing that has stopped me from going completely insane in the past week because the lack of sleep was beginning to take it’s toll on me both physically and mentally, plus it wasn’t making me look too hot either. I was looking very haggard, I couldn’t focus during the day long enough to accomplish the day’s tasks, and almost felt drunk with exhaustion. After some investigating, I decided to pick up some Hearos Sleep Pretty in Pink women’s ear plugs. There are also regular Hearos ear plugs that aren’t quite so girlie, but I figured I’d add a little beauty to my beauty sleep. I love these beyond reason and credit them with preventing me from knocking on my neighbor’s door and showing him my own set of vampire fangs! My pal Valerie over at Hair On The Brain recommends Mack’s Silcone Ear Plugs from her own personal experience.
• Effort to eat healthier – I’m trying to be a realistic as possible with this one. Even though over the past few months I’ve made serious changes to my eating habits and have lost weight as a result, I also feel better. But sometimes I can’t fight the urge to pick up something quick & dirty just because it’s so easy! Convenience foods aren’t usually the best choices in the world and I crave them more often than I should. If you have better choices ready-to-go at home, you’re less likely to cave in to those temptations. Ready-to-eat items like Clean Cravings Just Crust Minis are not just helpful for making better food decisions, but they’re delicious too! They look like mini pizza crusts, and can be topped with just about anything. Try them with cheese, dips, hummus, and anything else you can think of to top them with. Suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions– Clean Cravings Just Crust Minis are gluten-free, have no saturated or trans fats, and are free of anything artificial! Check out Clean Cravings and also receive 20% off your order with promo code: BEAUTY until 9/6/09. I love these so much because they satisfy my cravings for bad carbs like bread, and I can enjoy them without the guilt or bloat after!
• Drinking enough water – Guilty as charged! I love water, don’t get me wrong! But lately I’ve slacked off in the water department because it’s lost it’s appeal to me. With all of the water boosters out there now and on-the-go drink mixes, I guess I don’t really have an excuse! These Crystal Light On The Go drink stick packs come in several flavors. My personal favorite is the Skin Essentials in Pomegranate Lemonade. When I use these drink mixes in my water– I’m drinking more water because the appeal is there, I’m tasting something that’s not so bland, and I’m giving my skin a little love from the inside out. So that’s a win-win situation all the way around!
So those are a few things I’m guilty of overlooking sometimes, what about you? Did any of these beauty basics reach out and grab you?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the Crystal Light Immunity in Pomegranate Cherry! MM MM good. Last year I was constantly sick and missed lots of school, so its nice to have a wee little boost! Lately I’ve actually been able to handle the blandness of water, but it still takes me a while to finish a full bottle!
Also, I recommend giving pita bread a try. Its so versatile! You could make mini pizzas, sandwiches, breakfast treats (peanut butter, bananas, and granola! mm), and God knows what else. And when I’m in a hurry and need something to keep my energy up, I grab a Honey Oat granola bar (I love SoyJoy, too!).
Heya Sarah,
Excellent! I’m so glad to hear you like them too
I haven’t tried Immunity, but I have a feeling I should since during the Fall and Winter months I seem to keep a cold. Good tip with the pita bread too, they are yummy and super helpful to have around! Lately I’ve also been buying the pre-sliced and washed bags of apples and find I reach for them much more often since they’re so convenient. I find they help too!
xo
Amber