We’ve spent quite a few recent years on a rollercoaster of different beauty trends, all with different focuses but the same goal: enhance yourself artificially to achieve an idealistic standard. From the celebrities in the media to the lady next door, everyone’s been getting surgeries, fillers and lifts to become the images on magazine covers. However, we’ve woken up and it’s time we put all of that fakeness behind us. Now in: natural beauty. But we haven’t been in touch with our natural selves in a while, so we might need a bit of a memory jog to get back into the right mood.

A healthy base

Bringing out your natural beauty means less covering up and more glowing from within. But to do that feeling confident and comfortable, you have to make sure your skin is well taken care of and healthy. Start by going through all of your products – both makeup and skincare – and throw away anything that is past its expiration date or that just looks or smells off. It will allow you to have a clearer view of what you’re working with and will make sure you’re not putting anything harmful on your skin.

Next, you want to give your skin a jump-start by scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist. A medical professional will address any issues on your skin, give you a few treatments to liven up your skin and recommend a skincare plan going forward. Make sure you talk to them about your skincare routine up to now and work to find the best solution. It’s important to remember that natural beauty results don’t come fast, but they last, so stick with it and don’t look for harmful quick-fixes.

A beautiful smile

When you look at anyone without makeup, not dressed up, hair messy, but they still look beautiful – they’re probably smiling. A smile is a powerful accessory and you want to make sure that it’s on point, not just because it’s a beautiful addition, but because an unhealthy smile can ruin even the most beautiful face. Keep up with trends and technology, because things that might not have been possible a few years ago are now standard procedures.

For example, if you weren’t a good candidate for dentures and you’ve been walking around without teeth or with painful teeth because you didn’t want to be completely without them, there are now all on 4 dental implants which give you a full set of beautiful teeth that attach to just four teeth. But looking good isn’t enough – a healthy breath is even more important, so make sure your dental hygiene is perfect and that you’re visiting your dentist regularly to catch any problems before they get too bad.

Minimal makeup

Natural makeup is all about enhancing what’s already there. You don’t have to pretend that you’re not wearing any makeup or hide it, but don’t put on so much that it draws the focus away from your actual face. The first step is ensuring your skin is sufficiently hydrated. So before you put on a light moisturiser or makeup make sure you use hyaluronic acid serum which is absorbed quickly and provides your skin with essential nourishment.

Next, try soft contours, light lip colors, mascara and light eye shadow, as well as cream blush for a more natural look. You can still keep it natural if you choose to put on a bolder lip color, but doing glam eyes or extreme contour will definitely lose the “natural” element. If you want to look put together but still remain natural, do an updo with your hair, put on nail polish, a slightly stronger lip color and fill in your eyebrows sharply. This will give you a polished look while still letting your natural self shine.

Healthy inside-out

You can never look naturally healthy if you’re not taking care of your body from the inside. A bad diet, lack of exercise and dehydration will all show on the surface. Lack of proper nutrition will leave you depleted of vitamins needed for shiny hair and strong nails, while dehydration and processed foods will make your skin dry or overly-oily.

Not to mention what sugar and fizzy drinks will do to your teeth and smile. Stick to a well-balanced diet, drink lots of liquids and if you notice you’re lacking some nutrients, talk to your nutritionist about taking supplements to boost your body. Regular exercise will not only boost your metabolism, but sweating will cleanse your pores from the inside.

 

So ditch the syringes and the filters, it’s time to celebrate our natural beauty, smile wide and accept ourselves as we come. Make sure you’re uplifting other women who are doing the same and spread the good word that natural is better than photoshopped.