So, if you want in on some serious skin care secrets, read on.

5 Lifestyle Hacks for Optimal Skin Care

#1 Give Your Diet a Refresh by Eating These Skin-Boosting Foods

As we mentioned, diet plays a huge role when it comes to skin care & health, and the good news is that you are in charge of what you feed your body. As the saying goes, you are what you eat, and what you eat is indeed going to show up on your skin.

Here are three skin-boosting foods to add to your diet ASAP!

Green Veggies

We all know just how important veggies are to an overall healthy body, but they can also be especially helpful for skin health. Dark leafy greens are rich in antioxidants and alkalinizing properties to keep your skin looking radiant all year long. Add a handful of greens to your favorite smoothie, and enjoy a side salad with arugula and kale with dinner or lunch as often as possible. Want to supercharge your skin-boosting salad? Sprinkle on some hemp seeds and drizzle on the extra virgin olive oil.

Hydrating Foods

Hydrating foods like cucumber, cantaloupe, and watermelon can all help hydrate our skin and prevent dryness. Try enjoying some sliced cucumber with hummus, and some fresh cut fruit with a handful of nuts or seeds.

Healthy Fats

Don’t be afraid to add fat to your diet! Fats play an essential role in overall health, and the skin relies on healthy fats for that youthful looking glow for a couple of reasons. For one, omega-3 fatty acids found in things like wild-caught salmon, chia, and flaxseeds have been thought to help support skin health and improve the appearance of skin. Healthy fats can also be super helpful if you feel like your skin gets super dry in the winter months. Try adding things like wild-caught fatty fish, avocados, coconut oil, chia, flax, and hemp seeds to your diet.

So, drop everything you’re doing and run to your kitchen, or the closest Whole Foods, and stock up on these skin-boosting foods. Not only will your skin health benefit, but your overall health will as well.

#2 Get Your Beauty Sleep

Getting enough sleep can improve the appearance of general skin care, by reducing those dark circles under the eyes we have all had at one point or another. For some of us, it almost seems like we’ve been walking around with these bags for as long as we can remember. However, you would be surprised at what a solid night sleep and a healthy diet can do to improve those dark circles in a short period of time.

#3 Be Picky When it Comes to Your Skin Care Products

Not all skincare products are the same, and some can be downright irritating and damaging to our skin. If you had to choose something to be picky about, what you put on your skin is something to think twice about.

An excellent resource for checking out the safety of your skincare products is EWG.org, so go and check out the safety of the products you generally use. Here are some of the common things you will want to avoid when it comes to skincare products.

• Parabens
• SLS
• Aluminum
• Lead (yikes!)
• Triclosan
• Formaldehyde (yuck!)
• Fragrance

Be extremely picky, and do your research. If you think you have found a product that works for you and your skin type, check it out on EWG before you buy it.  

#4 Boost Gut Health

What in the world does gut health have to do with the appearance of our skin? The short answer is that gut health is literally connected to every other aspect of our health, including the health and look of our skin. In fact, those who suffer from eczema commonly flare-up when they consume something they are sensitive to. The bacteria in the gut may also play a role here as any imbalance in gut bacteria can throw your whole body out of whack.

So, to help support gut health, try eliminating sugar, processed and artificial foods, artificial coloring and flavoring, and other inflammatory foods you may react to such as gluten and dairy.

Instead, fuel your body with tons of gut-boosting foods such as:

• Bone broth
• Sauerkraut
• Kombucha
• Full-fat unsweetened coconut milk yogurt

#5 Combat Stress

Stress is a silent killer and can make us look and feel tired and worn out. It can also cause premature aging (we’re looking at you wrinkles and fine lines) and can lead to total body inflammation. To help reduce stress, try practicing some form of stress reduction each day. This can be in the form of a daily walk, a 20-minute FitOn workout, or a 10-minute meditation to wind down your day. Don’t let stress age you! Take stress head-on, and implement the steps needed to get your stress levels in check.

The Key Takeaway Points for Glowing Skin

If you’re ready to get glowing and youthful looking skin at any age, take health into your own hands by incorporating skin-boosting anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, supporting gut health, and reducing stress. And, while you’re at it, get into bed earlier, and make self-care a priority. The better you take care of you, the better your skin will look and feel, and guess what? The appearance of your skin is a reflection of what’s going on internally, so by taking the steps to support gut health, you are also supporting total wellness, so keep at it. The reward of glowing and radiant skin is well worth it.

The post Put These Lifestyle Hacks on Repeat for Optimal Skin Care appeared first on FitOn - #1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts.

Girl, we hear the frustration-so, if you’re the type of gal who seems to suffer from dry skin no matter what time of year it is, it’s time to take exfoliating seriously, and we’re going to tell you why.

Read on to learn how to exfoliate, and more importantly, how to exfoliate for smooth skin.

Why Bother Exfoliating?

First things first, and that’s to talk about why we should even bother exfoliating in the first place. It’s basically a secret weapon again getting rid of dry, rough, and flaky patches of the skin (yay!) This is exactly what you want when your skin still seems dry after the colder months, it may just need a little exfoliating boost to brush away those dry patches. By getting rid of those dry skin cells that tend to just sit at the top of your skin, you can let your new skin cells shine through.

The result? Smoother and more radiant looking skin (win!)

Another big benefit-you can actually make your skin care products work better. Huh? How the heck does this work? Think about the last time you used tanning lotion-was it a total disaster that lead to orange streaks on your legs and feet? Well, if you didn’t exfoliate beforehand, that could be why. Exfoliating can help make applying that much-needed initial tanning lotion application after a long sunless winter look just a little more natural.

Exfoliating before applying your moisturizer can also be beneficial as you are getting rid of the built-up dry skin debris and making room for the moisturizer to really get into the healthy skin cells and go to work.

So, basically, the bottom line here is that if you aren’t exfoliating, you should be. It may be exactly what your skin needs for that radiant and smooth-looking glow.

How to Exfoliate for Smooth Skin

Ok, so we know that exfoliating can help boost the appearance of our skin, and may even make our skincare products work better, but how do you exfoliate?

Here’s a quick guide on how to get started.

How to Exfoliate Your Body

To exfoliate your body, you will need a loofah, an exfoliating washcloth or mit, or a bath sponge. When you are in the shower, use your loofah, or whatever you are exfoliating with, and massage it in a circular motion over your skin with a natural exfoliating wash (read below for our top picks.) Rinse and moisturize when you get out of the shower for perfectly smooth skin!

How to Exfoliate Your Face

To exfoliate your face, start with a clean face and then using your facial scrub (see our fav options below,) rub it into your skin using a circular motion. Rinse and then pat dry with a soft towel. Moisturize with your fav facial moisturizer for radiant and smooth skin.

Ditch the Store-bought Products

In addition to a loofah, or bath sponge, you will also need some sort of product to help exfoliate your skin. You can either purchase a natural exfoliating wash or scrub, or you can make your own with just a handful of ingredients. Making your own means you avoid any unnecessary exposure to chemicals and harsh fragrance.

Here’s our favorite way to whip up a batch of exfoliating scrub.

DIY Exfoliating Scrub

What You Need

• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp. raw sugar
• 2 drops of pure-grade lavender essential oil (Young Living or DoTERRA are great picks)

How to Make

Add your ingredients to a glass jar and mix well.

Store in the fridge to prevent the coconut oil from melting.

Natural Store-Bought Exfoliating Scrubs

It really can’t get much easier to make your own exfoliating scrub (it also smells amazing) but, if you are into the idea of buying one from the store, here are our top store-bought natural options.

• Beauty By Earth Facial Scrub
• Everyone 2:1 Exfoliator & Mask
• Lush Scrub, Scrub, Scrub

The Bottom Line

If you suffer from dry, rough, or flaky skin that no matter how much you moisturize still seems to give you issues even during the warmer months, it’s time to add exfoliating to the mix. By smoothing away rough and dry skin cells, you will be amazed at how much healthier and smooth your skin looks.  So, go out and get yourself a loofah, and whip up a batch of some homemade scrub. We promise you’ll thank us later when your legs look amazingly radiant in that bikini or beach dress this summer.

The post Giada Resized JPG 2 appeared first on FitOn - #1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts.

So, you may be wondering how exactly this works. If you aren’t drinking the tea, how are you getting it into your beauty routine?

We are spilling all green tea goodness with you and breaking down how it may be your new secret weapon when it comes to boosting your beauty routine.

Green Tea Beauty Benefits

Green tea is pretty much the bomb when it comes to helping support skin health. It’s basically like food for our skin, and here’s why.

• Rich in Anti-inflammatory Properties: The powerful anti-inflammatory properties in green tea makes it great for reducing swelling, redness, and irritated skin.

• Helps Reduce Puffy Dark Bags Under the Eyes: You know those dark circles we literally ALL have? Well, as it turns out, the caffeine in green tea may help shrink the blood vessels around the eyes. This can help reduce those puffy dark circles. So, sleep-deprived moms can say goodbye to those dark circles that tend to come along with motherhood!

• Rich in Antioxidants: One of the most impressive benefits of green tea is its antioxidant content. In particular, the antioxidant EGCG that may help combat early signs of skin aging. It may even provide some protective benefits for the skin (yes, please!)

How to Add Green Tea to Your Beauty Routine

Ok, so we know that green tea is pretty legit when it comes to supporting skin health and boosting our beauty routine. But how do you go about adding it into your daily skincare routine?

In addition to drinking it regularly, here are five other ways to add it to your beauty routine.

#1 Make a face mask: Make a DIY face mask using the contents of a green tea bag and a little bit of honey. Let this sit on your face for about five minutes and then rinse and moisturize with coconut oil.

#2 Reduce Puffy Dark Circles: To help reduce those puffy sleep-deprived eyes, chill two green tea bags in the fridge for about a half hour. Place them on your eyes (while closed!) and sit back and relax while the anti-inflammatory properties go to work!

#3 Make a Pore-cleaning Toner: Make a DIY toner using ¼ cup freshly brewed (and chilled) green tea mixed with ¼ cup filtered water. Apply with a soft cotton round and then rinse.

#4 Make an Exfoliating Rub: Green tea can also be added to a DIY exfoliator made with sugar and coconut oil. It can add some extra anti-inflammatory benefits to help give your skin a nice boost.

#5 Make a Shiny Hair Rinse: It’s not just great for skin health, it can also help promote shiny hair. Try rinsing your hair with freshly brewed and chilled green tea before using your regular shampoo and conditioner.

The Final Word

So, here’s your invitation to pamper yourself. Add some green tea to your beauty routine to instantly turn your daily skin care routine into a spa-like experience. Not only will it help improve your skin health, but it may even help you relax and unwind at the end of a long day.

The post Giada Resized JPG 2 appeared first on FitOn - #1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts.

Plus, there are too many natural remedies available to let eczema hold you back. So, if you are tired of scratching and tired of spending hundreds of dollars on products that promise to help but only disappoint, read on to really learn how to get your eczema under control (naturally.)

The Top 5 Natural Remedies for Eczema

#1 Honey

We love honey around here (raw honey that is.) Not only is it ideal for the immune system on top of all of those amazing vitamins and enzymes it packs in, but we love honey for eczema and overall skin health as well. Honey contains natural and super powerful antimicrobial properties that can help get to the source of your flare-up, which may, in fact, be some sort of skin infection. Or, raw honey can help if your eczema happens to get infected when dealing with a flare-up. You can use honey topically, (manuka honey is especially helpful here) or use a honey-based ointment/cream like the one from the Eczema Honey co.

#2 Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera is becoming super popular as it is finally getting the attention it deserves for all of its awesome health properties. Eczema happens to be one of the things aloe vera gel may be able to help with, similar to how aloe vera gel can help soothe a sunburn. If you are dealing with a flare that just won’t give up and is causing intense burning and itching, then aloe vera gel may be your new BFF. Slab some aloe gel on that irritated skin, and feel the instant relief.  

#3 Coconut Oil

Here’s another superfood we love around here as it holds way too many health benefits to ignore, and it may make a great addition to your skincare routine. Again, coconut oil is another natural antimicrobial to help keep skin infections at bay, something you do have to be mindful of. Coconut oil is also super moisturizing, so it’s a great way to keep that dry and flaky skin smooth. It’s basically a secret weapon for fighting off eczema that all sufferers should consider trying! You can even make a homemade moisturizer with coconut oil and a drop of pure-grade lavender essential oil (DoTERRA or Young Living are great options) for a gentle way to protect your eczema-prone skin.

#4 Colloidal Oatmeal

One of the most commonly used natural remedies, colloidal oatmeal works great for reducing the irritation while also helping to reduce the dry and flaky skin that comes along with eczema. You can buy colloidal oatmeal cream, or make a colloidal oatmeal bath to bring some serious skin-itching relief.

#5 Lavender Essential Oil

You don’t have to give us another excuse to use lavender essential oil regularly, but here’s just one more reason to try it. Lavender essential oil can help promote a sense of calm, and when you think about times where you eczema flares up, chances are, you are super stressed or anxious. By adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to a colloidal oatmeal bath, or to some coconut oil to use over your eczema-prone skin, you may be able to help relax your mind and body enough to stop your eczema from itching so badly, or from flaring up in the first place. It’s all about treating the mind and body, and lavender essential oil may totally be able to help.

The Bottom Line

If you suffer from eczema and have tried just about every cream on the market with little to no luck, it’s time to turn to nature and give one of these natural remedies a try. Honey for eczema flare-ups and colloidal oatmeal to soothe that itch may be exactly what you need to get your symptoms under control. So, give them a try for some serious eczema relief.

The post Giada Resized JPG 2 appeared first on FitOn - #1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts.

Whether you’re totally new to essential oils or can’t go a day without them, we’re breaking down all you need to know. Even if you’re a self-proclaimed essential oils expert, we’re willing to bet there’s a thing or two you can learn! From the latest research on their therapeutic benefits to how to seamlessly weave them into your day-to-day life, get ready to learn the essential oils 101. 

What Exactly Are Essential Oils?

These small but mighty oils are potent compounds that have been extracted from specific plants for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. These oils, obtained through distillation or cold-pressing, contain the plant’s incredible scent and properties. You might also know this as a plant or flower’s ‘essence.’ But not all essential oils are alike! Each unique, essential oil contains various health and wellness benefits based on its plant source. For example, the essential oil of lavender contains calming, stress-reducing properties, while the essential oil of orange contains invigorating and energizing properties.

Once the active compounds from the plants have been extracted, they’re oftentimes mixed with a ‘carrier’ oil and sold to us as ready-to-use essential oil blends. You’ll likely see these in the form of roll-on oils, sprays, and drops. But essential oils are sold in their purest form, too (i.e., without a carrier oil). Be aware — these pure oils need to be diluted in order to be used topically. Without a carrier oil, they are too strong for direct skin contact and often lead to skin irritation, among other side effects. Pure essential oils are best used for aromatherapy!

And going back to quality — if you ever see essential oils that have been obtained through a chemical process — put your money away, they’re not real. You’re missing out on all the powerful medicinal and therapeutic properties!

Each essential oil provides amazing benefits to our mental, physical, and emotional health. They can also be mixed with one another to provide combined benefits! Thanks to their diverse and powerful properties, you’ll see them marketed for all sorts of benefits — find them in natural beauty and skincare, non-toxic household cleaning products, sleep and stress support products… The possibilities are endless.

How Do You Use Them?

We’re going to talk about two of the most common ways to use essential oils. Topically as well as through aromatherapy. 

Aromatherapy

The easiest and one of the most common ways to use essential oils! Many people love to use oil diffusers to disperse the scent of essential oil in the home. 

Topical Use

Most commonly, essential oils are used topically for skin care, beauty, and acupressure. Be careful though — as we previously mentioned, you never want to apply undiluted oils onto your skin. You always want to dilute them either with a carrier oil or base, such as coconut oil or lotion.

Now That You Know The Basics Here’s Where to Start

With so many options for essential oil types, how do you know which ones to use? We’ve done a bit of research for you and found 12 oils that would be perfect for your ‘starter kit.’ You’ll use them all the time. 

12 Essential Oils For All Your Health and Wellness Needs

#1 Tea Tree Essential Oil

With strong antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, Tea Tree is incredible when it comes to cleansing and disinfecting! Thanks to its active ingredients, including terpene hydrocarbons,  monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, it’s one of the most potent antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal essential oils. From all-purpose kitchen cleaners to acne-fighting face cleansers, there’s no impurity too strong for Tea Tree to handle!  

Here’s how to incorporate it:

• Use it as an astringent or a cleaner if you’re prone to breakouts or clogged pores
•  Add it to body washes to reduce inflammation and support even skin tone 
• Mix it into DIY non-toxic cleaning sprays as a natural disinfectant 
• Diffuse it for a crisp, clearing, and spicy aroma 

#2 Lavender Essential Oil

A known stress-buster, Lavender essential oil is a must-have aromatherapy oil. Aside from its calming, slightly floral, therapeutic scent, there are so many reasons to love the aroma of this gorgeous flower. According to research, it can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, improve mood, soothe inflammation, and even support sleep. I mean, really, what can’t it do!?  

• Add a few drops to your bath to promote a sense of calm
• Drop it into your diffuser when you’re feeling stressed or anxious 
• Rub it on your temples or third eye with some gentle acupressure to ease feelings of stress 
• Spray it on your pillow to help promote a deep, restorative sleep
• Add a few drops to your lotion to soothe redness 

#3 Peppermint Essential Oil

Extracted from the leaves of the cooling peppermint plant, this crisp, invigorating herbal oil is known and loved by many! From supporting digestion and inflammation to alleviating nausea and headaches, there are many reasons to reach for peppermint! With strong antimicrobial, antiviral, antispasmodic, and antioxidant properties, it can support your health in various ways:

• Rub it into your temples to ease headaches
• Massage it on sore muscles to reduce pain and tightness
• Apply it to your temples or sinuses to reduce inflammation and congestion for allergies or colds
• Rub it on your abdomen to reduce GI upset or belly bloat
• Add it to your conditioner for a cleansing and calming scalp rub

#4 Lemon Essential Oil

If you’re feeling down, leave it to lemon essential oil to put you in a better mood! This uplifting oil has been shown to boost mood. Not only does the smell perk you up, but lemon essential oil also provides benefits to your hair and skin! It contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that may help soothe inflammation, fight infections, and reduce the risk of breakouts. Plus, thanks to its powerful antioxidants, it can even and brighten skin tone! Mix with water and add to your nightly face-cleansing routine or add some to your conditioner. 

• Add it to your favorite moisturizer for an added skin glow
• Mix it into a DIY house cleaner to fight bacteria 
• Diffuse it when you’re in need of a little uplifting  

#5 Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense has a wonderful earthy scent that has been utilized therapeutically and medicinally for centuries. It’s often used in meditation practices because of its ‘grounding’ effects. 

Topically, it’s been known to help smooth wrinkles (thanks to its rich antioxidant properties) when added to night cream. In fact, with antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties, it’s a skin superstar. It can cleanse the skin and prevent breakouts, even skin tone and reduce the appearance of scars, and even moisturize the skin. 

• With powerful anti-inflammatory properties, use it topically to reduce muscle soreness
• Add it to your beauty routine for its anti-aging properties

#6 Orange Essential Oil

Similar to lemon, this uplifting citrus oil just sparks happiness when you smell it. It’s sweet, bright, and a perfect essential oil to inhale at the beginning of your day. It’s also wonderful if combined with grapefruit or cinnamon oils. It’s often used to boost mood and reduce stress, purify the air and clear toxins, and remove any and all impurities (from your skin, counters, or home!) According to research, it could even support your immune system. One of orange essential oil’s active ingredients, limonene, has been shown to defend against oxidative stress and enhance immune function. 

Diffuse it in your room for a mood and immunity boost or use it as a natural cleaner or perfume! 

#7 Cinnamon Essential Oil

Warm, spicy, and oh-so-comforting. Cinnamon oil is such a lovely treat — it smells like a dream! Diffuse this oil for a calming effect (while still maintaining alertness). Diffusing cinnamon essential oil in place of using synthetic candles is also great during the fall and holiday seasons! 

#8 Rosemary Essential Oil

Perk up your mental state and improve your concentration with the gorgeous scent of rosemary oil. According to research, rosemary may benefit memory and mood! If you’re a student… this could be your secret weapon to success! 

It’s also been shown to ease feelings of stress and anxiety, alleviate constipation and bloating support respiratory health and pain, and even stimulate hair growth! 

Uplift and energize a dull space by diffusing this oil in the room. And if you’re in school, keep a bottle near at all times!

#9 Eucalyptus Essential Oil

With a slight medicinal smell mixed with the calming scent of the forest, eucalyptus helps clear nasal passages, open the chest, and soothe pesky coughs. Clear your stuffy nose by breathing in hot steam. Just add one drop to a large bowl of steaming water and enjoy the scent. 

#10 Thieves Essential Oil

Thieves is actually a combination of oils that create one magnificent and powerful oil. It pairs clove, cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon oils which are perfect for making a room smell warm and inviting. With so many powerful oils, it’s full of antimicrobial and analgesic properties. Plus, it’s also a popular oil for boosting the immune system and mood! Add it to your diffuser or enjoy it topically as a roll-on or spray.

#11 Sandalwood Essential Oil

This relaxing and calming scent can promote a sense of peace and tranquility while also providing a grounding effect. Known to boost the mood, it’s commonly used in meditative and mindfulness practices. 

This soothing oil can also offer physical benefits by supporting skin health! Because it’s rich in antioxidants, sandalwood helps prevent free radical damage and has been shown to benefit skin issues such as acne. Whether you use it for mind or beauty benefits, you’ll want to keep this therapeutic oil on hand! 

#12 Rose Essential Oil

Another known skin-supporting oil is rose. This gentle, calming oil is especially beneficial when it comes to supporting the skin’s natural healing process! It may help fade scars and stretch marks, reduces irritation and acne, and purifies the skin. Aside from its physical benefits, rose may also help ease feelings of stress. Add a few drops to your diffuser or skincare products — either way, you can’t go wrong!    

Essential Oils 101

Essential oils can make a wonderful addition to your current wellness regimen. Just remember to do your research and steer clear of synthetic products. Look for high-quality, pure essential oils, dilute them appropriately and enjoy the beautiful scent and benefits these essential oils have to offer! 

The post Giada Resized JPG 2 appeared first on FitOn - #1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts.