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Ugly Truths, Simple Solutions

Beauty comes at a high cost. Unbeknownst to many, clothing and makeup industries have an ugly side, often putting the well being of the customers, workers, and environment as secondary to the bottom line. That’s why this month we’re breaking down some of the ways to become more healthy and beautiful from the inside out.

The first step to glowing skin isn’t applying extra products or buying expensive toners; it simply begins with a healthy diet.

Start Skin Care at the Source

Often when we encounter a stint of bad acne, we reach for extra foundation rather than addressing the root of the problem. The first step to glowing skin isn’t applying extra products or buying expensive toners; it simply begins with a healthy diet. In her book, Eat Pretty, Jolene Hart gives simple tips and recipes for how to eat your way to a clear complexion. Here are some ways to get started:

Up your blueberry intake – Antioxidants promote collagen, a protein found throughout your body in your skin and hair. By stocking up on bright fruits and vegetables, you can reduce skin damage and wrinkles.

Stop the soda and the sweets – As much as you can, lower your unnatural sugar intake. These foods cause breakouts and/or dryness in your skin.

Kick it with vitamin K – Foods like asparagus, basil, beets, broccoli, cucumber, and kale all help strengthen your blood vessels to prevent dark circles.

Avocados: the new anti-aging cream – Your skin thrives when you eat vitamin E. Almonds, olives, papayas, avocados, peaches, sunflower seeds, and tomatoes are just a handful of options that can help moisturize your skin and prevent the effects of aging.

Keep the coffee to a minimum – Coffee increases cortisol (the stress hormone), which is known to contribute to acne, belly fat, and wrinkles, so don’t rely on too many cups a day.

Clothe Yourself, Care for Others

As fashion has become less concerned with quality and more concerned with quantity, clothes are being made faster than ever. This pace requires increasing amounts of harmful pesticides to be used on cotton crops; these pesticides have been known to cause cancers, mental illnesses, and physical deformities. In addition, lower prices result in lower compensation for textile workers. While people used to have a wardrobe of a few quality items to mix-and-match, we now tend to buy lots more clothes that last less time, resulting in more waste. In the face of a lot of negative, purchasing from brands like Everlane, Reformation, and Miayet can work to turn the tide. These sustainable brands are transparent about their supply chain, pay workers a fair wage, and create clothes that will last you much longer than the trendy t-shirts at Forever 21 or H&M.

Darling Magazine shares stories and tips for women of all ages, ethnicities, and body types. Pick up a copy to read about how to dress well, embrace natural beauty, and pursue your passions.

Read Up On Real Women

Women’s lifestyle publications often focus on the external, but publications like Darling are working to change the tide. The magazine has banned retouching, stating that women are “not only good enough, but exceptional” just as they are, in need of no alteration. Rather than presenting a limited image, they share stories and tips for women of all ages, ethnicities, and body types. Pick up a copy to read about how to dress well, embrace natural beauty, and pursue your passions.

Choose Premium Products

It is incredibly important to protect your skin this summer, but switching out your sunscreen brand could protect the environment too. When sunscreen washes off your body in the ocean, it can cause coral to bleach (grow harmful algae) and die. Though coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of our oceans, they house more than 25% of the world’s marine species. By switching out a drugstore brand for a natural alternative, you could save some sea life.

Nail polish can be nasty too. Scientists are concerned that triphenyl phosphate, a common ingredient in nail polish, negatively affects hormones and reproductive processes. Brands like Honeybee Gardens and Benecos provide more natural alternatives.

If you are looking for natural makeup products, look no further than Glossier. In addition to avoiding harsh chemicals, the company works to encourage women to feel beautiful makeup or no makeup.

Quick fixes aren’t always the best fixes. Research the companies you purchase from. What do they offer you? Lasting solutions or more problems? This summer, don’t just look your best, but feel your best inside and out.