A weird thing started happening when I reached my 30’s: Instead of layering on the anti-aging products and slathering on more makeup to simulate my teenage skin, I found myself opting for a much more natural makeup look and and a more simplified beauty routine. Gone are my black rimmed eyes and foundations. No more do I turn to multi-step systems with harsh cleansers, gels and creams. And guess what? Not only does my skin look way better than it did when I was 20, but I also feel way more confident that the products I do use are going to actually improve the health and quality of my skin, in addition to its appearance.
One of my icons in this transition has been Gwyneth Paltrow, who has long been the face of fresh-skinned, glowing, natural beauty. You’ll seldom see her walking the red carpet with a heavy, done-up look. She’ll typically focus on one area of her face to emphasize for a more dramatic look (bold lips, with muted eyes; or smoky eyes with a nude lips), but more often than not, she’s seen about town with gorgeous, natural-looking eyes, a peachy blush, and some lip gloss. The epitome of natural gorgeousness.
I’ve taken a few pages from GP’s book in creating my daily skin care regimen. Check out my 6 daily steps to getting that natural, gorgeous glow:
1: Just like GP, I find that exercise is the best way to get naturally glowing, gorgeous skin. I start my mornings with pilates or yoga which gives me a healthy flush and gets my blood moving. GP loves Tracy Anderson, whose Mat Workout is amazing.
2: GP is a big fan of simplicity with face washing, and I am too. I always wash my face with a hot washcloth at night. It’s an amazing exfoliator and opens up pores. I use jojoba or coconut oil to remove makeup before steaming and exfoliating with a hot, organic cotton cloth. Works like a charm! [Check out more on my oil face wash method here.]
3: I always moisturize with oil. Sometimes just coconut oil, other times an oil blend like Intelligent Nutrients Organic Anti-Aging Serum. or nyakio Hydrating Face Oil.
4: For daytime, I keep makeup simple. I curl my lashes to give eyes that extra pop and follow with a paraben-free mascara. I love Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Mascara.
5: I add a little glow with RMS Beauty Living Luminizer on my brow bone and cheek bones, and then finish with RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in a rosy or peachy hue. It’s the perfect natural color for lips and cheeks, and keeps everything natural and gorgeous.
Want to find the best products for your skin type? Check out HSN’s Fix for Every Face!
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