With these tricks, you’ll be crushing both your fitness and hair goals. 

Here’s How to Work Out Without Ruining Your Hair 

One thing to know about taking care of your hair while working out is that there are some steps you can take even before your workout begins. Here are the tips, plus the steps you can take after your workout ends that will leave your hair looking refreshed without actually having to wash it. 

Be Mindful of How Tight You Tie Up Your Hair 

The tighter you keep your hair, the more likely you are to damage the strands, so be mindful of how tight your hair tie is, and opt for a scrunchie when possible.  

Use Dry Shampoo 

If dry shampoo has been a staple part of your beauty routine and your go-to for sprucing up for those work-from-home Zoom meetings (yup, we’re guilty too), then grab it and use it before your workouts too. This will help absorb more of the sweat, which can be a good thing for your post-workout appearance.

Add Volume Post-Workout

Hair looking a little lackluster after your workout? Simply rub your scalp with your fingers to reinvigorate the volume. Yup, it’s that easy. There’s nothing magical about it other than the fact that rubbing your scalp increases blood flow to your hair follicles, which essentially helps them “wake up,” and voila, you have a much more volumized look post-sweat. 

Determine Your Post-Workout Hair Treatment Based on How Much You Sweat 

Don’t have time to wash your hair after your workout? Turns out you don’t necessarily have to. There are some ways to help take care of your hair after your workout that doesn’t necessarily involve shampoo and conditioner. Plus, washing your hair too much isn’t great for your hair either.  Every time your hair gets wet, it will stretch and then contract (partly why hair can end up looking frizzy or damaged!) This is when hair becomes more susceptible to breakage, so you need additional ways to maintain the health of your stands. 

To determine what post-workout hair treatment is best for you, it comes down to how much you sweat during your workout. 

If you’re not super sweaty, a dry texture spray, such as a dry shampoo, can help soak up oil while boosting volume — it’s a two for one. 

If you are super sweaty after your workout, a wet texture spray or oil can help add grip and life to your strands, which will then help revive your sweaty hair and add more body. 

Gabrielle Union’s Hair Care Tips For Your Sweaty Workout Days 

Want celebrity insight on how to work out without ruining your hair? Gabrielle Union shared some of her tops tips for us. 

Wear Your Hair Braided 

Wearing your hair braided is a great way to get your workouts in without worrying about sweating out your hairstyle. Braids give you the freedom to commit to a regular workout regime, which will give you a healthy body, hair, and skin.

Refresh Your Hair Without Shampooing 

Working out can leave your hair feeling sticky and weighed down. Instead of shampooing your braids, apply Flawless Soothing Scalp Tonic directly to your scalp in between your braid parting and rub in with your fingertips. The minty coolness will leave your scalp feeling refreshed and hydrated without the hassle of having to shampoo.   

Rehydrate 

Sweat can dry on your scalp and potentially clog your hair follicles. After your workout, you will need to rehydrate both your body and your hair.  Apply Flawless Restoring Exotic Oil Drops directly to your scalp between your braid partings for weightless, luxurious moisture. 

Defrizz 

Your hairline is usually the first thing that goes frizzy while working out. Apply a small amount of Flawless Repairing Edge Control to your hairline, and smooth with an edge brush to refresh and lock in a Flawless Finish. The Biotin in the product strengthens your hairline, which is an extra benefit post-workout. 

Refresh Your Hair Post Workout With These Simple Tips 

Washing your hair after a workout can be a pain, and we don’t always have time for it. Plus, we know that too much hair washing isn’t good. Instead of having to wash your hair and completely restyle after every workout, use these pre and post-workout hair care tips. Not only will these tips help keep your hairstyle looking fresh, but they will also help protect your strands and keep your hair looking luscious and healthy! 

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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.

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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.

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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! 

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