True Essentials: Health Before Beauty

I wrote my latest book, "Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro", to share what I’ve learned in 25-plus years of makeup artistry. As you would expect, the manual covers every step to creating the look you want.

Some people might be surprised that I talk about nutrition before sharing makeup tips. Beauty starts with smooth, healthy, glowing skin. Knowing how your skin works and how to properly care for it is the key to a truly healthy beauty.

Great skin begins with good nutrition. The new cells, which continually replace the old cells on the skin’s surface, depend on vitamins, minerals, and hydration. What you eat matters; everyone needs at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.

Your diet directly impacts not only your health well-being, but your looks. You need several nutrients to maintain healthy skin, as well as hair and nails. The next time you’re in the grocery store, view your purchases as tools in your beauty regimen.

While we think of exercise as essential for our bodies, it is equally vital to healthy, glowing skin. Fitness is a huge skincare essential – just 20 to 30 minutes a day is enough to make a huge difference. The better you feel, the better you look, and that’s before you put a bit of makeup on your face!

Adequate sleep is another true essential for health and beauty. Every cell in your body is regenerated while you sleep. Getting enough rest is also good for your overall outlook, which has a profound effect on your appearance.

We all have to watch out for lifestyle threats to great skin. Excess sun exposure is your skin’s number-one enemy, causing premature aging and hyperpigmentation and, unfortunately, deadly forms of skin cancer. Sunscreen is another true essential.

Your habits matter. Smoking causes severe skin and lung damage, makes you smell and steals the color from your skin and lips. It leads to premature aging, sagging, wrinkling and dullness.

You’ve also got to watch out for excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption. I recommend drinking a glass of water every time you drink a beverage that contains alcohol or caffeine. And stress often shows up on the skin, so it’s extremely essential to find healthy coping mechanisms.

Beauty is more than skin deep. It is cell deep, and the more time you put into creating a healthy foundation, the better your makeup will work to highlight and enhance a naturally beautiful you!