The Root of all beauty

Life is a full time job, isn’t it?

 

We’re all time-starved, chasing endless to-do lists and sacrificing ourselves just to keep things running smoothly in our homes, at our jobs and in our relationships.

 

If you’re like me, from a very young age, it was ingrained in us that in order to get results, we need to be tough on ourselves – Work hard. Play hard. Basically, do everything hard. But going hard doesn’t always give us the results we’re looking for.

 

I used to apply this approach to all areas of my life, and that included my beauty regime. I used harsh cleansers, toners and moisturizers as ammo in an outright battle with my skin and the army of acne that inhabited it.  It took valuable time, energy and money and the results (if there were any) were only temporary.

 

The Root of all beauty | Inspire MeWhat I didn’t yet realize is that sometimes EASY DOES IT.

 

Slowing down and putting more time and care into things can make the results so much sweeter. That goes for our beauty too. All the quick fixes and miracle creams in the world cannot take the place of a loving self-care regime that balances your mind, your body and your spirit.  Before we see the results we want on the outside, we first have to take care of ourselves on the inside. Our bodies and our skin need (and deserve) care above everything else.

 

When I began to understand and really appreciate this, I became obsessed with re-learning how to take care of my skin. It required taking care of myself, day-to-day, inside and out.

 

I made self-care a daily practice and revealed my most natural and radiant beauty in the process.

 

Self-care, holistic beauty, natural beauty… are one in the same. It’s daily practices towards finding and achieving your authentic beauty and vibrant health. It’s about learning what your body needs, and then making a series of choices to meet them.

 

So, you’re probably wondering what the plan is? How do you establish your own daily self-care practice, and how will it help you ignite your natural glow?

 

Each of our practices will be as unique as we are. I call my practice The Kunye Way, and I want to share it with you as a guide to establishing your own practice. The origin of the name isn’t that important (I’ll tell you that story in a future post) so much as the practice is.

 

When I designed my practice, it was important to me that the actions and steps were functional, flexible and sustainable. Nothing I do is revolutionary, but my approach is what makes practicing everyday so easy. It really has become my way of living.

 

I have broken it down into 5 holistic areas of focus that tackle the inner and outer body – how to care, connect, nourish and heal it – to achieve beautifully glowing skin and a beautiful life to go with it.

 

There is a principal in holistic health called Hering’s law that says we heal from the inside out and from top to bottom: which is why The Kunye Way takes care of the skin from the inside out, where all healing begins and ends.

 

Healing our bodies is essential in getting the glowing complexion we all want. More importantly, it’s where health, self-love, energy and happiness are created. If you ask me, looking good isn’t nearly as awesome as feeling good.

 

I’ll share the first step in The Kunye Way with you below, along with three examples of how I apply it in my daily practice. I would love it if you would give it a try for the next 30 days. There is no better place to start than step one so I’ll share the other 4 steps in my next few posts here on PowHERhouse.

 

The Root of all beauty | Inspire MeStep 1 – Feed your beautiful cells.

 

These days, there is a ton of pressure put on us when it comes to our food. Should we be vegan or vegetarian? Do we eat gluten or avoid it? What about the paleo diet? How do I spot a GMO, and is anything safe?! But at the end of the day, these are all just labels with one common goal in mind.

 

Eat real food.

 

Our culture aligns food with entertainment, but in reality, eating is the primary way for us to feed each and every cell of our body. When we eat for nourishment, we support our bodies ability to function the way it’s supposed to. Skin ailments like acne, rosacea, dry skin and sensitivities can all be linked back to imbalances in the body that are greatly influenced/caused by the food we eat. (remember what I mentioned about Hering’s law in the intro?).

 

I won’t get too technical here, but maintaining a healthy body and a healthy complexion is all about balance. The balance of oil and water in our skin, and the balance of alkalinity and acidity in our bodies. The foods we eat can either make our bodies more alkaline – which is what we want. The more alkaline our bodies the better if functions . Or, it can make our bodies more acidic – which is what we don’t want. Acidic environments are perfect conditions for imbalances and diseases to flourish.

 

The Kunye Way of eating follows a clean lifestyle. Eating clean means avoiding  refined sugar, excess alcohol, refined carbohydrates,  refined starches (basically white food in general) and packaged or processed foods.  Instead, filling your plate with colourful fruits and vegetables, eat a combination of healthy fats, lean proteins and ancient grains. You also need to drink lots of water. Eating this way helps your body naturally detoxify and remain closer to an alkaline state. Happy body. Happy skin!

 

Here are my 3 ways I put clean eating into action as part of my daily self-care practice:

 

I shop the perimeter of my grocery store and when it’s the season, I’m a regular at local farmers markets. (Neighbourhood markets are excellent for fresh produce as well.)

  •  Focus on dark leafy greens and vibrant coloured fruits and veggies. You don’t have to eat salad all day everyday (I promise!). Try replacing one of your meals with a smoothie or juice.. You can also roast, stir fry or eat your veggies raw with some hummus or a homemade dip. Which brings me to my next point…

 

I prepare all my meals myself and in advance. Because, the only way to truly know what’s going in your food, is if you cook it yourself. I know, preparing healthy meals every night sounds like an exhausting idea but that’s where my trusted food prep system comes in.

  • What I like to do is wash and chop up all my veggies as soon as I get home from the grocery store. That way they are ready to go whether you need to use them for a recipe or you just need a simple snack. Store them in tupperware or the freezer to use throughout the week.

 

This one is soo important.

  • Cheat. I know, I know, cheating is supposed to be wrong. But, if you’re really craving something go ahead and indulge. Just do it wisely.
  •  Cravings are a signal from our body that we shouldn’t ignore. One of my favorite nutritional gurus says cravings are our bodies communicating a need. We may crave more food because we are lacking in vitamins or minerals.  Inadequate nutrition in general can make us desire non nutritious forms of energy (red bull, rockstar and coffee – I’m looking at you.)
  • On another level, depriving yourself of a treat here and there will make sticking to your game plan more challenging. You won’t enjoy eating clean (or any diet for that matter) if you feel restricted. It’s when our cravings take control that things get out of hand. Sometimes the guilt and stress over indulging, or thoughts of indulging, are worse for us than the treat itself. We put more stress on ourselves and our bodies which ultimately manifests through our skin.
  • I recommend trying to satisfy your craving with something reasonably healthy first. For example, if you’re craving something sweet grab a handful of berries (great skinfood!). If it still persists, go ahead and give in. Just keep it light and get back on track ASAP.

 

I can’t wait to share the rest of my practice with you, and I’m looking forward to hearing about yours. How we practice isn’t as important as why. Self-care is one of the most valuable acts we can do for ourselves. It’s truly a form of self preservation and the most effective natural beauty treatment out there. When we give back to our bodies and keeping them functioning optimally, our bodies reward us by allowing us to look and feel our best.

 

PowHERhouse is here to help you build your powHERful practice.  Happy to help!

 


Melissa Nkomo is our PowHERhouse Holistic Beauty Editor.