Best Beauty Secrets for Healthy & Glowing Skin
Growing up in Havana, Cuba in the 90’s, my grandmother and mom always taught me about the importance of using natural products, having a set beauty routine, and placing an emphasis on certain natural and organic products and how they can affect our skin, hair, nails and body overall. Beauty starts from within, and it affects how you treat your skin, my grandma used to say. Fast forward to my 20’s when I started traveling around the world, and I always paid attention to women's beauty routines and the tips they’d share when I asked about their regimes.
There are many great products on the market nowadays and every couple of years we see new skin, make up and beauty trends come up. But I’ve vowed to mainly stick with more natural and simple routines that use fewer harsh and processed ingredients.
The Best Beauty Secrets
Today, I want to share all of the beauty secrets I have learned from my Cuban grandmother and from natives of different countries around the world, like Tanzania, Morocco, Spain … All the tips have one thing in common: they focus mostly on using organic and natural products to obtain and maintain healthy and glowing skin!
You might already know a few of these natural products and even heard about some of these tricks. Some might be part of your everyday life. Others might be new, but you’ll want to incorporate them due to their unexpected benefits. They are all 100% natural and have many aspects that will improve your overall health, skin vitality and body care.
Beeswax, cocoa butter, and salve
We all know how important bees are to the ecosystem and what a key role they have in natural life on Earth. We are constantly using the honey and honeycomb derived products these small creatures naturally produce. Raw organic honey, unprocessed beeswax, and other natural bee products coming directly from beekeepers were always a big part of my health, body, and skin care in Cuba. It's something I have carried throughout my life, and probably one of the seemingly well known beauty “secrets” that people just don’t use to the fullest extent.
Beeswax is a natural humectant and natural exfoliator that will allow your skin to stay healthy and hydrated. Unprocessed beeswax can be used for everything and anything: dry and irritated skin, chapped lips, fungal skin infections… Beeswax also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so you can apply it to help with so many issues. Dabbing the tips of the fingers into some beeswax and lightly applying it throughout the face, lips, neck and hands is something I do often on really cold days, when my skin feels super sensitive and dry. I always make sure to tap under my eyes, as I find it helps reduce puffiness in the area. It’s also great to combat dark circles, and it's an overall excellent anti-aging treatment that adds a beautiful glow!
Bringing some with me to a tropical destination is also always a must to help avoid and alleviate bug bites.
You can also use it to hydrate and soften your hair, especially during the summer. It is commonly used in the Caribbean Islands when braiding or dreadlocking the hair, as a natural way to maintain the shape.
Cocoa butter also has similar benefits to beeswax, so I often use it interchangeably. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants and it's an excellent moisturizer. You can use it on your face, under your eyes, on your lips and body, all throughout! Using cocoa butter under your eyes helps reduce eye bags, inflammation, and dark circles. The butter is also a natural sunscreen and a natural makeup remover. In the Caribbean, it is also commonly used to alleviate skin conditions (rashes, psoriasis, acne) and prevent issues like acne, stretch marks, and other skin blemishes.
Salves are another beauty secret I swear by. Salves are skin saviors that can be used for everything from chapped lips, sunburned skin, eczema, diaper rash, skin irritation, scrapes... It all depends which products they are made of! A great DIY skin salve recipe uses 3 simple ingredients: organic beeswax, organic cocoa butter and coconut oil. Mix these together to get a powerful and all natural salve that will help to heal and prevent many skin issues!
But there are also some great commercial organic products out there to buy, you just have to know what to look for. Some of my favorites include:
Always always wear sunscreen!
We’ve all heard it time and time again: wearing sunscreen is so important to avoid skin damage, skin cancer, premature wrinkles and sun damage. Yet for some reason there are still a few misconceptions about the use of sunscreen. Some of the more common myths include:
-People often think you should only wear sunscreen when it's sunny outside.
-Tanned, olive skin, brown and black people don’t need to wear sunscreen.
-You won’t get sun damage when wearing makeup so you don't need to wear sunscreen if you are wearing foundation, powder etc.
-Once you put on sunscreen in the morning you’ll be good for the rest of the day.
In all honesty I used to believe some of those statements. Even though I always saw my grandmother and mom wearing sunscreen, I thought they needed it and I could skip it. After all, they have always had very fair skin which is very thin and a bit dry. I am brown with thicker oily skin, and I get tanned to a darker shade but not burned.
Well, no matter your skin type or skin color, you can get skin and sun damage from natural UV radiation, sun lamps, or tanning equipment. For those of us who get darker instead of red or burnt, getting darker than your natural shade means that your skin is trying to protect you against the UV radiation. There’s still damage to the skin, your skin is just showing it in a slightly different way and color. It's important to keep in mind that everyone can get skin cancer regardless of the skin color, and we all need to protect our skin. There are many different types of skin cancer, some of which are actually more common in darker skinned people!
In my own personal experience my skin used to show the trauma of the summer during the winter, when the tan I had gained during the warmer months faded away and I was left with slightly darker spots on my forehead and bridge of the nose. That’s how I learned to never ever skip the sunscreen!
Check out some of my favorites:
Wash your Face with Ice-Cold Water
Another of the beauty secrets I have been following for as long as I can remember is to wash my face with ice-cold water. Back in Cuba, many people use this method to help deal with the very hot temperatures that we have year-round. Fast forward to today, and it’s something my mom swears by to help reduce swelling in her eyes and face and to fully wake up and get energized for the day!
It has been proven by research that when we expose our skin to cold water, we’ll get more blood pumping and flowing to the area. This will help take away any signs of tiredness and rejuvenate the skin. You’ll end up with the perfect morning glow!
Always Air-Dry
I grew up seeing my grandma and my mom always air drying their faces. So of course, I had to follow suit! Rubbing most fabrics, especially traditional towels, onto the skin of your face can cause redness, irritations, itchiness, breakouts, and dryness. If you have sensitive, dry, or really thin skin, it's definitely advisable to air dry your face! By not exposing your face to the friction of rough materials, you’ll avoid damaging it, creasing it, and creating fine lines. All of this can be very influential in avoiding wrinkles and maintaining a great level of moisture.
If air drying is not completely for you, we recommend patting your face dry with your clean hands instead of the towel, as the towel is more prone to accumulate bacteria while sitting in the rack. Skin care products are more effective and penetrate better when your skin is damp!
Regardless of whether you use your hands to pat or you just air dry, always try to avoid rubbing your face.
And if you want to have really soft skin throughout, air dry your whole body before applying a lotion, moisturizer, or a natural oil.
Drink a liter of water first thing in the morning
Starting the day by drinking water with a few drops of lemon or lime juice is among the oldest beauty secrets, used all over the world since ancient days! Many people recommend drinking at least 2 glasses of either warm or cold water. I swear by drinking 4 glasses (approximately a liter) of cold water during the summer and 4 glasses of warmer water during the winter.
Cold water is extremely beneficial for you, especially during the hot summer months! It’ll boost your metabolism, help you burn more calories, and will refresh and cool down your body, reducing risk of heat stroke. On the other hand, drinking warmer water in the winter will help to increase your body temperature, which will help detoxify your body while also improving your digestion and increasing the absorption of nutrients and blood flow.
DIY Scrubs and Face Masks
I have learned that DIYing your own beauty products as much as possible is key, especially if it's something we can easily do at home. Making your own scrubs, face masks, and natural moisturizers will help you to have complete control over what you put in your body. This way you can avoid any super processed or foreign ingredients that you might not be aware of. Moreover, you’ll be able to personalize your recipes depending on your skin needs and type!
A few years ago while visiting Morocco, I learned the importance of using natural ingredients when one of the locals warned me about how different skin and hair types can react to unprocessed organic Argan oil vs the processed ones.
Something you also need to keep in mind when using honey for face masks, scrubs, beauty treatments etc: Be really careful about using commercial honey for your beauty treatments, as it can frequently contain added sugars and high fructose corn syrup, which are not so great for the skin and the hair.
When using honey as part of DIY beauty routines, it's recommended you always stick to raw honey instead!
A few other natural products I have been incorporating in my beauty regime for years are:
Avocado: An avocado mask helps give you smoother hair and skin. It adds healthy fats that your body, hair, and skin need!
A hair mask I grew up using to soften and shine my hair is prepared as follows: Using a blender, mix avocado with some raw egg yolks and coconut oil. Apply this mix to your hair evenly and let it sit (the longer the better) before massaging your hair with your head down for better, faster results. Use a shower cap so you can do other things while waiting, until you’re ready to rinse. This mask promotes hair growth and health while combating dryness. It will leave your hair feeling soft and silky!
For a face mark: Mix smashed avocado, honey, and cocoa butter together. It helps moisturize and maintain the elasticity of the skin.
Garlic: Strengthens nails, avoiding breakage and stimulating growth. Smash some garlic and add the minced pieces into your bottle of top coat or clear nail polish. The natural antibiotic properties will help encourage growth of healthy, strong nails!
Chewing plain raw garlic in the mornings can also help improve your health overall. Garlic is a natural antibiotic that promotes bone health, reduces blood pressure, and helps to detox your body.
Coconuts: Coconut oil moisturizes lips and hair, adds glow to the skin, and adds healthy fats to your diet. Drinking coconut water during or after physical activity will help speed recovery due to its high potassium levels. We used to drink a lot of it in Cuba, especially during long days at the beach. It’s the perfect natural electrolyte drink!
Aloe Vera: Good soothing mix for skin & hair, and a healthy addition to your diet! A proven successful hair & face mask uses egg whites, aloe vera, and cocoa butter. Put this mask all over, both hair and skin. I find that it firms, moisturizes, and gives an overall boost of extra shine. One of my favorites when I need a pick-me-up!
Find some of my favorite DIY beauty recipes below:
For the commercial versions, we are linking some of our favorite products below!
Don’t forget the neck, chest, and hands!
When talking about beauty and skin, we immediately focus all attention on the face and tend to forget about other very important areas: the neck, the chest, and the hands. A similar beauty routine to the one we use for our faces is also needed for those areas.
Not only do we recommend cleansing and exfoliating these areas, but also moisturizing and applying sunscreen. It's super important not to miss applying sunscreen and moisturizer on the neck, chest and especially the hands, which surprisingly can get really dry, sunburnt, and irritated.
This is especially true if you have fairer and thinner skin. People always tend to forget about the hands, even celebrities. You can tell how different their facial skin and their hand skin looks with a simple google search. And it's all because we don't tend to put an emphasis on the care of those areas of the body. So next time you are doing your skincare routine, don't forget to go below the jawline and finish up with the hands!
Some area specific products we love are:
Skincare = Bodycare
When it comes to skincare, people immediately think about which products or treatments they can apply to improve their skin health. I think the use of these products and treatments is very important, but I believe a holistic approach to the skin is key. There’s not one thing that can change or fix your skin overnight, but a mix of a good diet, exercise, skin products, and a balanced life will help you shine from inside out. Have you ever heard that when we are happy, other people can tell? Well, when we take care of ourselves and our bodies as a whole, our skin can definitely tell and you’ll glow!
A few things I do to help my mind, body, and skin be at their healthiest include:
Working out regularly, de-stressing, saying words of affirmation, drinking herbal teas, taking long baths or showers, and trying to sleep at least 7 hours each day.
I consider teas & tisanes, herbal tea baths, and saying words of affirmation to be some of my “I can’t-live without them” beauty secrets.
Herbal teas are great for your gut health, and of course your overall body and skin health! If you are feeling stressed or anxious, your skin will feel it too. Many of us will get rashes or bumps as a consequence of excess anxiety. So always make sure to start and finish your day with a drink that will add some antistress, antioxidants, and healthy ingredients to your body.
Moringa leaves: these incredible leaves are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. The leaves contain as much as 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, and as much as 15 times more potassium than a banana. Amazing!
Anise: This awesome ingredient is key to improving women’s health. The oils can help alleviate acne and heal damaged skin. Star Anise Tea: Get a pot of water and add a few star anise. Heat this for around 10 minutes. You can add mint or oregano leaves as well. Finish by adding some honey for a sweeter taste. It will help alleviate menstrual cramps, bloating, gas, indigestion and constipation. It also promotes skin health, and (as a bonus) in Cuba they say no mosquitoes will bite you after drinking it!
Chamomile: Improves hair and skin health, and is a natural sleep aid if you have difficulty falling asleep. Chamomile Tea: Opt for the loose leaves rather than tea bags. They are usually fresher, and the flavor and beneficial properties are stronger. I also like to add mint leaves and honey to this mix, which I make before bed as a way to relax. This tisane will help to calm your mind and body, and also alleviate menstrual pains. It also reduces inflammation. Try it!
Relaxing herbal baths help soothe our minds, bodies, and skin. Soaking in an herbal bath helps you relax, refresh, recharge, detox, and de-stress after a long day. Moreover, it helps alleviate skin trauma like sunburn or irritation, and it can help with other things like eczema, wounds, pains and psoriasis depending on the ingredients you use.
A great herbal baths we love is:
Chamomile & Milk Bath: Mix some milk powder with chamomile leaves and use 2 or 3 big spoons in your bath. It soothes your skin and helps you to relax. You can also use regular milk: just pour some in the water and add the dried chamomile. This kind of bath is perfect for the summer after a long day at the beach, and it's one of my favorites on this list of beauty secrets for glowing skin.
Other INTERESTING READINGS ABOUT herbal teas recipes always useful to incorporate are:
Rain Water
Another of my grandma's tips was using rainwater for every beauty treatment, everything from washing your face to your body and hair. Rainwater has a pH of 5.6 and it is known for its benefits, which help to promote healthy hair and glowing skin. It helps to preserve moisture balance and natural elasticity of hair and skin as well. Something to keep in mind, though, is that with the environmental degradation some places and regions are experiencing, it’s possible to get what’s known as acid rain. This has a much more acidic nature due to impurities, and you don’t want to use this. So do your research on the area you live in before dipping your feet in the rainwater!
And that’s it! These are my go-to beauty secrets for healthy and glowing skin! I hope you find them as beneficial as I do, and that they help you glow from inside out!
If you enjoyed this article, why not pin it so you have it saved for later
If you know about other amazing beauty tips, make sure to share them with us in the comment section below! We especially love DIY beauty recipes.
Besitos,
Laura
Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves. All opinions are our own. This post may contain some affiliate links and if you choose to purchase some services or products using these links, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We participate in the Amazon LLC Associates Program. Thank you for being part of our community and prance around the world with us!
MORE ABOUT DIY BEAUTY SECRETS:
One of the best DIY Lip Scrub Recipes that gently exfoliates and smooths your lips is this Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe!