So, Gracefullilly, what's your secret to naturally glowing skin?
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Our secret is not so much a secret as a discipline.
Yes, it takes discipline to steer clear of white sugar. Steer clear of loads of chocolate (unless it's applied topically as a scrub), steer clear of junk food, drink a litre of water a day, and avoid stress as best you can.
Use a naturally based skincare routine.
Start with a gentle soap. Then a gentle coffee or chocolate scrub. Follow up with a natural moisturiser. One that's packed with glycerine, hyaluronic acid, SPF and vitamins A, C and E.
It takes discipline to relax and ignore the world around you when soooo much is happening. Try to turn inward and think about your breathing. Yes, Graceful Lilly can appreciate it takes willpower to turn off. But only you can do it.
A good way to avoid stress is to imagine you're on your way to the bank to deposit a cheque someone wrote you out for $2 million.
One day your fantasy will become your reality.
Maybe yoga? "Ways to calm stress in 5 minutes or less
1. Acknowledge your stress
Acknowledging your stress can really help lift the weight off your shoulders and could be the first step to asking for help.
Facing stress is an opportunity to reset your mind and take it as a chance to grow. Researchers say the brain is rewiring and trying to learn from the experience so you can handle it differently next time.
So, think about whether the stress is a buildup or related to a more long-term issue. If it’s unrelated to anything, maybe it’s a sign your mind and body need a break.
If it’s tied to a more long-term problem you can’t immediately solve, try another one of the quick relaxer tips below.
2. Chew gum
Chewing is a great form of stress reduction. If you have gum on hand, particularly scented gum, chew it for at least three minutes. One study of 101 adults found that people who chewed gum during work had a lower stress response.
But don’t chew half-heartedly! It may be useful to take out your pent-up energy on the gum. Another study found that vigorous chewing was required in order to achieve stress relief.
3. Drink stress-reducing tea
There are several supplements that can help reduce stress and anxiety, but many of these supplements may take a few weeks or months of intake before they have an effect.
However, the act of stepping away for a few minutes to make tea can be therapeutic. So why not also make a stress-relieving drink? Studies show that 1 gram of apple cider vinegarTrusted Source may take over 95 minutes to work its magic, while matcha may take up to an hour to workTrusted Source.
Although tea takes at least an hour to take effect, just stepping away can signal to your body to relax. Plus, once you get back to your desk, time may fly faster than you know it.
4. Inhale essential oils or invest in a diffuser
Inhaling essential oils may help calm the mindTrusted Source in times of stress, anxiety, and insomnia. This popular technique, also known as aromatherapy, focuses on using scents to holistically balance your physical, emotional, and psychological health.
Popular essential oils for combating stress include:
- lavender
- rose
- vetiver
- bergamot
- Roman chamomile
- frankincense
- sandalwood
- ylang ylang
- orange blossom