What’s your morning beauty routine for self-love? For me, I personally love getting up early every day, when it’s still dark. It makes me feel like I’m ahead of everyone else and I’m never rushed. It’s my sacred time to journal, read, and reflect gratitude. This fills my cup so I am able to go out into the world and feel I have something to pour out.
One thing I know for sure: If you wake up aggravated and in a bad mood, you’ll probably look and feel that way all day long. And a stressed-out face is not an attractive face. So, it’s time to wake up before the rest of the world! Starting today, commit to including these new habits in your morning beauty routine, and you’ll look and feel better as a result.
1. The Most Important Meal of the Day
First up: breakfast. Put down those sugary cereals, maple syrup-drenched pancakes and chocolate covered donuts immediately. Our bodies need to be properly fueled to get our day started on the right foot, and protein is the number one fuel that we need. A breakfast that’s high in protein helps us to feel fuller throughout the morning. This is important because it keeps us from snacking on the wrong foods during the morning hours, and it keeps us from over-indulging at lunchtime. In other words, it keeps blood sugars intact.
Think eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese with fruit, or if you’re like me, I enjoy a Herbalife Formula 1 Healthy Meal shake – banana caramel is my favorite. I’m not a breakfast person, but I know I can get all my protein, healthy carbs, and essential vitamins in a creamy meal replacement smoothie. And the best part is I can bring my shake with me as I’m running out the door in the morning.
2. Wake Up with a Cup of Tea
Before I used Herbalife Nutrition, I was a morning coffee lover. But because of the calories added with creamer and artificial sweetener, it did not serve me. Green tea is the answer! Not only will it help wake you up, but its antioxidants help combat damage from free radicals. Remember, free radicals are a key culprit when it comes to aging, and antioxidants can contribute to healthy aging. Ask me for a sample of herbal concentrate tea (lemon, raspberry, peach, cinnamon or Chai-served hot or cold with zero sugar and only 5 calories).
3. Speaking of Antioxidants
What we put on our bodies is equally important to what we put in them. So, apply antioxidant-rich skin care products regularly. Also, vitamins C and E help to fend off free radical damage. Free radicals are found everywhere: in the pollution we’re exposed to every day and in many of the foods we consume. Even our bodies create free radicals. Applying antioxidant-rich skin care products every morning is a must. Think cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizer. Sunscreen is also mandatory before leaving the house every morning, no matter what the weather. Herbalife Nutrition offers an incredible and affordable skin nutrition line. Check it out HerbaLifeSkin.com.
4. H2O is the Way to Go
You know about the importance of water and keeping the body hydrated, but did you know that drinking water in the morning is super important? For every hour that you’re capitalizing on your beauty sleep, it’s an hour that your body is not getting any water. When you wake up, your body needs to hydrate. When you’re dehydrated, you simply don’t feel your best. You can get headaches, feel sluggish and, well, look dehydrated on the outside – meaning pronounced fine lines and wrinkles. So, make it a morning habit to drink a tall glass of water after you wake up. This will help to hydrate your body and kick-start your metabolism to get your day started on the right foot.
5. Exercise in the AM for a Restful PM
If you can commit to getting in a little morning exercise, you’ll reap the benefits at bedtime. Set aside some time for a brisk morning walk, a swim before work, or even a few laps around your neighborhood on your bicycle. Exercising in the morning can help you get a better night’s sleep. And remember, it’s called beauty sleep for a reason.
There’s nothing like that post-workout glow to give you a more youthful, radiant appearance to start off your day. So, make it a practice not to hit the snooze button. Put your alarm clock across the room so you have to get out of bed to shut it off. Sounds like torture, doesn’t it? But once you come to appreciate the benefit, you’ll be glad you did.
Start every day off by following these morning beauty habits and you’ll start to love mornings and yourself. Taking care of your body and your skin is important. Remember, the healthiest body and the healthiest skin, are always the most beautiful. For more information, visit www.LuanneBarnas.com.
