Inner Beauty Essentials

Emma is back today with another great post. You can read her previous Beauty Essentials posts here.

Hello beauty lovers. Following my recent Fall Beauty Essentials and Body Beauty Essentials I am now sharing my Inner Beauty Essentials. If you are familiar with my approach to beauty you will know I firmly believe that it starts on the inside.

I will begin by saying that I am a vegan.This was the most empowering choice I ever made for my health and therefore my skin; our largest organ. It was a gradual process, starting at age 14 when I decided to cut out red meat. This journey evolved as I educated myself on how the body works. I found that eliminating dairy in particular had a profound effect on the quality of my skin. For example, milk is for calves not humans. It’s that simple. My body feels cleaner, leaner and my skin glows. I am not suggesting you go out and become a vegan today, although it would be a fantastic choice, I am suggesting you take a long look at what you eat. Take responsibility for what you put in your body. Incorporate more organic, non GMO veggies and fruits. It is the first step to gorgeous skin. November is World Vegan Month so it’s a great opportunity to discover more about this lifestyle.

I have to mention H2O. Drinking filtered water is the easiest way to support your skin. I aim for 2 liters daily. If you are not drinking enough water, make a conscious effort to drink more and just notice the difference in your skin. It is our internal moisturizer.

Get moving! I have exercised all my life. It is my way of staying balanced and also keeps my body in shape for my work as a model and actress. Any form of exercise helps to remove toxins from the body, as it increases oxygen to the cells and stimulates better circulation. I am a lover of yoga. For me it has helped my breathing, keeps me grounded, keeps me leaner and flexible. It allows me to really check in with myself and see where my body/mind is at. Deep breathing increases your immunity and helps remove toxins from your body by stimulating your lymphatic system. Look around, when you are more relaxed it shows in your face. Tension is no good for the skin. Another approach I am trying to make a habit myself, is dry skin brushing. Dry skin brushing was traditionally used to increase lymphatic circulation, dispelling toxins through the skin. This is again a very easy habit to incorporate into our everyday life. This brings me onto one of my all time favorite treatments; massage. I am a huge fan of deep tissue massage. It pumps oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation. It helps my skin tone so much and is a compliment to everything else.

I am a firm believer in food based supplements to support the skin. Sea buckthorn is the best source of Omega-7 and the richest plant source in the world for the rare EFA. It rejuvenates the skin. It is a powerful source of nourishment for the skin’s collagen, strengthening existing skin and repairing injuries. I’ve mentioned Sibu Beauty before and I will mention them again. Check out Sibubeauty.com to learn more.

Vitamin A, C and E are crucial for the skin. I take spirullina supplements. It has a high content of vitamin A, B-12, vitamin E, calcium, iron and phosphorus, all of which are vital for skin’s health. Free radicals make your skin look tired, limp and dull. This natural algae (Cyanobacteria) is incredibly high in protein and nutrients. This superfood works wonders for your skin. I could write an entire blog on spirullina as the benefits for the body are endless. Wholefoods have a wide range of powder and supplement forms of spirullina.

I consistently take Zinc. Not only is it superb for the immune system but also our skin. It supports healthy skin and healing. I am currently taking raw zinc by Vitamin Code, it also contains vitamin C and live probiotics and enzymes. I’ve previously used zinc by New Chapter. Talking of probiotics a side benefit of these good bacteria is clearer skin. I recommend Proviotic, a vegan probiotic by my favorite juice bar; Juice Press in NYC. Learn more at www.proviotic.com

You may have heard of CoQ10 in certain skin care products. I take this enzyme internally. It is produced naturally by the human body, found in every cell and tissue. I highly recommend Garden of Life Raw CoQ10 with raw chia seed oil (omega 3-6-9). CoQ10 levels start to decrease in your 20s. The lack of CoQ10 results in an impeded ability to produce collagen and elastin. Collagen is important because it makes your skin firm, while elastin gives your skin flexibility. The loss of collagen and elastin causes your skin to wrinkle and sag. I am a firm believer in prevention and starting early to maintain the condition of your skin. I must add that CoQ10 helps the skin by acting as a strong antioxidant. It helps to neutralize the harmful free radicals that are one of the major causes of aging. The benefits of this enzyme are endless. It helps with energy also, great for us city girls.

Vitamin D is vital, especially during the winter months. I just brought Garden of Life, Kind Organics Vegan D3 spray. It is 2oz and therefore plane friendly. Love that! Oily fish is the most common dietary source of Vitamin D so it is especially important for vegans to take this supplement.

It’s all about priorities, what is important to you? My health is my greatest investment. Without it I am no good to myself or anyone else in my life. Your skin is simply a reflection of what is happening on the inside.

All products, unless otherwise mentioned, are available at your local wholefoods.

Emma is represented by The Mary Anne Claro Talent Agency in NY and World Models in Miami.
Management: MMG model, talent & celebrity management in NY.

Photo credit: Lenka Drastakova