How to Get Glowing Skin: 5 Unconventional Ways
Glowing skin: You want it. I want it. Everybody wants it! There’s something about being healthy, happy and, rested that makes you look amazing (especially compared to the rest of the sleep-deprived, malnourished, grouchy-from-constipation masses.) This is the kind of glow that no toxic face peels or fancy pants gold-laced creams can buy you. The kind of glow we’re all chasing is the kind that comes from way deep on down and radiates not just from our skin, eyes, and hair but from our being. You know what I’m saying?
But how do we get this elusive glow going, aside from resting more and stressing less? Easy peasy, my friends. Easy peasy indeed. To get that kinda glow, yes we need water, greens, and sunshine – but we also need to give these things a try.
Ready to get glowing? Let’s do this.
how to get glowing skin
1. Eliminate effectively.
Doesn’t “effective elimination” sound fancy? What I’m really talking about — pooping regularly — isn’t particularly glamourous, but it is oh-so-important. Besides the fact that it’s essential for your health, it’s impossible to glow from the inside out when you’re full of sh*t. When you’re constipated, your body tries to remove those toxins through other organ systems (since your colon is out of commission). Before you know it, your skin starts looking like crap.
Unfortunately, our cultural habits are not conducive to good poops — in fact, 63 million Americans are currently constipated. Not only are very few of us eating enough fibre and drinking enough water, but we’re also not adopting the best — ahem — position for effective elimination. In the natural pooping position (squatting), the colon is relaxed and primed to do what it does best. When we’re sitting up straight on the toilet? Not so much.
In case you’re not in the mood to trade your modern plumbing for an all-natural hole-in-the-ground approach, I highly recommend the Squatty Potty. It’s a stool that helps you squat over the bowl, relaxing and supporting your colon. The result is that you have less straining, less constipation, and more complete elimination. Plus… who doesn’t love saying “Squatty Potty?” It’s hilarious!
More constipation tips + resources:
- Laxatives for Children: Are They Safe?
- Is Metamucil Safe? The Truth Behind This ‘Doctor Recommended’ Product
- Healthify Your Passover and Skip the Constipation
- Squatty Potty – USA
- Squatty Potty – Canada
2. Cut the caffeine.
Caffeine may make you feel (temporarily) energized, but trust me — it’s not helping your skin. Caffeine affects a whole host of hormones in our bodies like adrenaline, cortisol, adenosine, and dopamine, leading to adrenal imbalances, jitteriness, and low energy. One of the telltale signs of adrenal fatigue is pale, sagging skin and loss of colour in the lips, and relying on coffee is the quickest road to adrenal fatigue town. That’s a place nobody wants to visit, folks.
Luckily, ditching the morning java is a lot easier when you’re swapping in a new delicious treat. Instead of swinging by the coffee shop on the way to the office, try whipping up one of these delicious bevvies instead:
3. Eat more (good) fat.
First off, can we have a little moment of gratitude and maybe even a round of applause for the fact that low-fat diets are no longer in style? I don’t know about you, but I am thrilled to pieces that the days of rice cakes and non-stick pans are over and done with. And you know what? If your skin could talk, it’d be cheering, too.
Here’s the thing about fat (the beneficial kinds, like coconut oil, ghee and olive oil — we’re not talking Crisco here): It keeps your skin happy, healthy and moisturized, whether you’re slathering on some coconut oil and lavender essential oil after a bath or chowing down on some awesome omega-3s. The quickest way to flakey, dry skin is to deprive your body of the fat it needs.
Learn more about fat:
- Best Fat-Fuelled Breakfasts
- How to Choose Healthy Cooking Oils
- 9 Awesome Uses for Coconut Oil and Recipes
- If Vegetables Don’t Make Oil, What’s Crisco?
4. Ditch the skin care products.
“But Meghan,” I hear you asking, “How will using fewer beauty care products make me more beautiful?” I don’t know if you’ve checked out the ingredients lists on your favourite night cream, day cream, eye cream, foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeliner, mascara, or lipstick lately (just to name a few), but I am willing to bet they’re either A) unknown (because many companies won’t reveal their ingredients lists) or B) full of a bunch of toxic, chemical nonsense. And toxic chemical nonsense does not lead to beautiful skin, no matter what the commercials say.
Here’s the thing: Our skin is not an impenetrable fortress. It absorbs what we slather on it — just think for a minute about those “fast-absorbing” moisturizing lotions and you’ll know what I mean. When we put toxic gunk onto our skin, our bodies absorb it. Even if that brightening cream makes your skin look temporarily brighter, it’s doing nothing for your glow.
So what do you do instead? Check out these resources:
- EWG’s Cosmetics Database (great for researching cosmetic ingredients)
- 13 Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Care Products
- Is Arbonne as Pure and Safe as They Claim?
- Beauty Counter Review (Not an Affiliate or Consultant)
- Inside My Makeup Bag: Detoxing Beauty Care
5. Jump for Joy
Having glowing, beautiful skin isn’t all about nutrition, digestion and skincare — it’s also about joy. When we feel happy and vibrant on the inside, it shines through, no matter what may be happening on the surface. So spend less time putting on makeup and more time living life with the ones you love! Happiness, the kind that comes from deep on down is the most powerful glow-making beauty nutrient of all.
What are your best tips for glowing skin?
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Exercise!! Weight lifting and moderate cardio really helps keep hormones functioning correctly. And helps circulate blood flow and rid skin of impurities through sweat. So hot the gym or exercise/play sports outside on a weekly basis.
YES! The Squatty Potty! I love it :). You also want to cut the sugar out and add in those wonder dark leafy greens.
I agree with Aidan
Exercise also help to get glowing skin
Regular elimination is so important. When I was growing up, my mom had a small stool in the bathroom for just this purpose. When I visited India a few years ago, I stayed with friends and interestingly, some of their regular toilets are actually angled so your seated position naturally lifts the knees and leans the body to the back. Very clever. I have since bought my own squatty potty, but here in Holland I call it my “stool stoel” (stoel is the Dutch word for ‘chair’!)