It's safe to say, we've all found comfort in the cliché, “it's not what's on the outside, it's what's on the inside that matters most." Perhaps this phrase acted as a coping mechanism for self reassurance or a mood justification when confidence lacked, but the profound underlying meaning has become ubiquitous. Eventually, you manifest that looks are trivial and uncover the real beauty of a person is their innermost soul, proving the said cliché true. Beyond this basic teaching, the phrase also reveals the direct correlation between what is seen on the outside and what is actually happening on the inside. Case in point: When a blemish appears overnight, it's likely due to high levels of stress or when undereye bags and dark circles develop, it's likely that something is keeping you up at night—and the list goes on.
Beauty is achieving an equilibrium both inside and out; it is the reflection of a deeply nurtured inside, physically and emotionally. We consulted some of our go-to wellness experts on best practices when it comes to creating a balance from within and while the methods vary, the importance of starting from within remains a constant. At the core of these experts' practices is education and overall awareness of the mind-body connection, and once that is understood, supplementing your inner health is at your fingertips. Overwhelmed as to where to begin? Have no fear—these wellness gurus not only reveal their personal journeys and beliefs on fostering beauty from within, but also provide a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the benefits of certain supplements, herbs, and powders and how to determine if they are for you.
Now, more than ever, we are looking inward, reflecting, and adopting new self-care practices. While indulging in a calming face mask or vowing not to use heat styling products on your hair delivers satisfying outward results, the below wellness experts pose the challenge to look inward, as well. And when you do, you will find that beauty does indeed come from within.
Beauty is achieving an equilibrium both inside and out; it is the reflection of a deeply nurtured inside, physically and emotionally. We consulted some of our go-to wellness experts on best practices when it comes to creating a balance from within and while the methods vary, the importance of starting from within remains a constant. At the core of these experts' practices is education and overall awareness of the mind-body connection, and once that is understood, supplementing your inner health is at your fingertips. Overwhelmed as to where to begin? Have no fear—these wellness gurus not only reveal their personal journeys and beliefs on fostering beauty from within, but also provide a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the benefits of certain supplements, herbs, and powders and how to determine if they are for you.
Now, more than ever, we are looking inward, reflecting, and adopting new self-care practices. While indulging in a calming face mask or vowing not to use heat styling products on your hair delivers satisfying outward results, the below wellness experts pose the challenge to look inward, as well. And when you do, you will find that beauty does indeed come from within.
DeJanae Evins
Self-Care Advocate, Cannabis Educator, Urban Cultivator, and Founder of Green Goddess Glow, an educational platform sparking culture-shifting conversations around cannabis and self-care as well as a community grow initiative.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@greengoddessglow“Beauty is mostly about perspective. And your inner perspective is usually what speaks before you do. I often say ‘as within, so without.’ I find that it’s easier to appreciate all of the beauty around us and out there in the world when it’s cultivated from within. ‘What’s the importance of that?’ you might ask. The answer is simple: it’s deep nurturing, it’s profound understanding, it’s beauty that needs no enhancements. There are the obvious physical and mental benefits like healthy skin, a more balanced mood, overall sense of well-being. But there’s also this beautiful unfolding that comes from being an alignment. Other seemingly beautiful things begin to happen. And the overall benefit is an improved quality of life that has nothing to do with your looks or anything that can be bought but more so the space you allow for the beautiful things, experience, people to be attracted to you.
“In terms of supplements I’m taking right now, Aster Farms sun-grown flower is getting me through. I also enjoy Barbari Shop’s smokable blends. I start my day with Ashwagandha from Nappily Naturals and Moon Juice’s Mucuna. I also take Moon Juice Probiotics. Sometimes I’ll cook with my Lion’s Mane by Sun Potion. And in the evening, I’m taking Pure Calm Hemp CBD supplements for sleep.
“Overall, education is so important! We live in a time where we’re much more aware of how connected we are, especially in light of this public health crisis. And one of the magical things about inner beauty is how contagious it can be. It’s with gratitude that I can be a resource to my community as I continue on my own journey. The more light we can shine on educating one another, sharing our different approaches to achieving our own inner glow, the more we’ll find beauty in collectively healing.”
“In terms of supplements I’m taking right now, Aster Farms sun-grown flower is getting me through. I also enjoy Barbari Shop’s smokable blends. I start my day with Ashwagandha from Nappily Naturals and Moon Juice’s Mucuna. I also take Moon Juice Probiotics. Sometimes I’ll cook with my Lion’s Mane by Sun Potion. And in the evening, I’m taking Pure Calm Hemp CBD supplements for sleep.
“Overall, education is so important! We live in a time where we’re much more aware of how connected we are, especially in light of this public health crisis. And one of the magical things about inner beauty is how contagious it can be. It’s with gratitude that I can be a resource to my community as I continue on my own journey. The more light we can shine on educating one another, sharing our different approaches to achieving our own inner glow, the more we’ll find beauty in collectively healing.”
Lily Galef
Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Hilma, a new brand upgrading your medicine cabinet with natural remedies, backed by science.
Photo: Bridget Badore“I feel most beautiful when I am physically healthy and happy. I find that my general health and mood is reflected directly on my skin. I mean this literally—I get rosacea, so sometimes if I feel really stressed or embarrassed my entire face turns bright red. To me, practicing beauty from within means maintaining balance and making sure I’m giving my system what it needs. That can be as simple as staying hydrated and getting outside, or taking a few supplements that I know support my health. It is so important because you’re targeting the root cause of an issue rather than finding a short-term band-aid. I feel like it’s a more sustainable long-term approach. I love the ritual of my skincare routine in the morning and at night, but ultimately those products are reactive—they may help ease a breakout or hydrate my skin in the short term, but what I’ve really seen to have long-term positive effects are practicing healthy lifestyle habits that get at the root cause of an issue. For example, I get stress-induced breakouts. My zit sticka definitely helps me out during those moments (and I definitely need them, particularly right now) but what really helps over time is lifestyle. I see stress breakouts as my body’s reminder that I need to slow down. It’s a signal of a larger issue, which brings me back to targeting beauty from within. When I’m finding time for myself, doing yoga, and taking supplements I trust, my skin is much clearer.
“My go-to supplements are an immune support powder for my general health and a collagen powder for my skin. For stress and head tension, I also highly recommend finding a product that includes nervines, which are a class of herb that is clinically proven to balance the nervous system and reduce tension. Hilma Immune Support is my go-to daily supplement for immune health. It is filled with powerful herbs and minerals like vitamin C from a whole food source, the camu camu berry, as well as turmeric, ginger, zinc, echinacea, and ivy leaf extract. I love taking it in the morning in hot water with a bit of honey. I put Bulletproof Collagen Protein in my coffee every morning. Collagen gives your body amino acids, which can help to hydrate your skin, as well as support bone health. Hilma Tension Relief: On long workdays, I get really bad screen-induced head tension, and I always reach for our Hilma Tension Relief in those moments. I love it because it includes skullcap, which is a nervine that helps balance your system, as well as magnesium, which many people (myself included) are deficient in.
“Generally when choosing supplements and looking for the right herbal product, it’s so important to look for a brand that is transparent about its ingredients and production process. Look for brands that explain why each ingredient is in their product, and try to find some research that supports whatever claims are being made. If the brand provides that upfront, that’s an added bonus!”
“My go-to supplements are an immune support powder for my general health and a collagen powder for my skin. For stress and head tension, I also highly recommend finding a product that includes nervines, which are a class of herb that is clinically proven to balance the nervous system and reduce tension. Hilma Immune Support is my go-to daily supplement for immune health. It is filled with powerful herbs and minerals like vitamin C from a whole food source, the camu camu berry, as well as turmeric, ginger, zinc, echinacea, and ivy leaf extract. I love taking it in the morning in hot water with a bit of honey. I put Bulletproof Collagen Protein in my coffee every morning. Collagen gives your body amino acids, which can help to hydrate your skin, as well as support bone health. Hilma Tension Relief: On long workdays, I get really bad screen-induced head tension, and I always reach for our Hilma Tension Relief in those moments. I love it because it includes skullcap, which is a nervine that helps balance your system, as well as magnesium, which many people (myself included) are deficient in.
“Generally when choosing supplements and looking for the right herbal product, it’s so important to look for a brand that is transparent about its ingredients and production process. Look for brands that explain why each ingredient is in their product, and try to find some research that supports whatever claims are being made. If the brand provides that upfront, that’s an added bonus!”
Photo: Courtesy of Robin Berzin“We often commoditize beauty, treating it as something that can be purchased in a jar. As a result, in the U.S. women use an average of 12 beauty products each day—and for better or for worse, each of those products impacts their health. We expose ourselves to more than a hundred industrial chemicals through our daily beauty routine and when we’re not mindful of what we’re putting on our skin, we increase everything from our risk of chronic disease to our fertility. Seeing beauty as something that is cultivated from within has a dual benefit of encouraging both better mental health and physical health. Turning to our self-care routines to get our mind into a healthy place makes us more emotionally resilient, while seeing our diet and lifestyle as part of our beauty routine can help keep our skin clear and younger looking while improving our overall well being. I believe that when we understand the impact of our daily choices we make better choices. This gives us the opportunity to use products, select foods, and choose lifestyle habits that have positive benefits for ourselves and our families. Source: Number of products used and chemical exposure (EWG)
“There are three primary pillars to healthy life that we address when people come to Parsley Health: Nutrition, Prescriptions and Lifestyle. These same three pillars are relevant to cultivating beauty from within. Start with a foundation of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant rich foods, then build with prescriptions for supplements that reduce inflammation and build elasticity while supporting regeneration, then top off with a lifestyle that reinforces a healthy body through sleep meditation and movement. I’d recommend the following supplements for each:
“The first pillar is nutrition and our core nutrition plan is to emphasize anti-inflammatory, nutrient dense, whole foods (fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, well sourced animal/plant protein, GF grains) and avoid foods that are frequently inflammatory: gluten/wheat, dairy, and sugar in the form of sweets, refined carbs (breads, pastas, cookies, crackers) and processed foods. Also, supplement this plan with the Parsley Health Protein Powder as it is both a high quality multi-vitamin to fill any nutritional gaps not being met by the diet and a complete source of vegan protein. This formula contains potent anti-inflammatory ingredients such as curcumin and green tea extract—both of which have been studied to help with depression and cognitive function—along with methylated B-vitamins such as vitamin B12 that play a major role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and mental health.
“The second pillar is prescriptions, which in this case are supplements. We focus on Omega-3 Fatty Acids as they are vital for normal brain function and development. Collagen is literally the ‘glue’ that holds our tissues together. It is a major component of skin and plays a role in improving the elasticity and hydration of skin cells. You can add more collagen to your diet by consuming well-sourced bone broth and other collagen boosting foods such as fish, eggs, beets, kale, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, and sweet potatoes. Alternatively, you can supplement with a high quality collagen protein powder, just make sure you get a grass-fed, pasture-raised version that doesn’t contain chemicals or antibiotics. And finally, magnesium glycinate—I like to call it nature’s Xanax because of its powerful relaxation properties. Magnesium plays a major role in calming the nervous system by mildly lowering blood pressure and quickly relaxing smooth muscle throughout the body. I recommend taking 200-400mg of magnesium glycinate nightly. You can also take it earlier in the day if your anxiety peaks more in the morning.
“Lastly, the third pillar is lifestyle, encompassing stress, sleep and movement. Here I recommend meditation as it improves overall mood and decreases inflammation that harms your health and skin, movement to stimulate the body to produce endorphins, and sleep to clear out toxins overnight that naturally build throughout the day.”
“There are three primary pillars to healthy life that we address when people come to Parsley Health: Nutrition, Prescriptions and Lifestyle. These same three pillars are relevant to cultivating beauty from within. Start with a foundation of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant rich foods, then build with prescriptions for supplements that reduce inflammation and build elasticity while supporting regeneration, then top off with a lifestyle that reinforces a healthy body through sleep meditation and movement. I’d recommend the following supplements for each:
“The first pillar is nutrition and our core nutrition plan is to emphasize anti-inflammatory, nutrient dense, whole foods (fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, well sourced animal/plant protein, GF grains) and avoid foods that are frequently inflammatory: gluten/wheat, dairy, and sugar in the form of sweets, refined carbs (breads, pastas, cookies, crackers) and processed foods. Also, supplement this plan with the Parsley Health Protein Powder as it is both a high quality multi-vitamin to fill any nutritional gaps not being met by the diet and a complete source of vegan protein. This formula contains potent anti-inflammatory ingredients such as curcumin and green tea extract—both of which have been studied to help with depression and cognitive function—along with methylated B-vitamins such as vitamin B12 that play a major role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and mental health.
“The second pillar is prescriptions, which in this case are supplements. We focus on Omega-3 Fatty Acids as they are vital for normal brain function and development. Collagen is literally the ‘glue’ that holds our tissues together. It is a major component of skin and plays a role in improving the elasticity and hydration of skin cells. You can add more collagen to your diet by consuming well-sourced bone broth and other collagen boosting foods such as fish, eggs, beets, kale, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, and sweet potatoes. Alternatively, you can supplement with a high quality collagen protein powder, just make sure you get a grass-fed, pasture-raised version that doesn’t contain chemicals or antibiotics. And finally, magnesium glycinate—I like to call it nature’s Xanax because of its powerful relaxation properties. Magnesium plays a major role in calming the nervous system by mildly lowering blood pressure and quickly relaxing smooth muscle throughout the body. I recommend taking 200-400mg of magnesium glycinate nightly. You can also take it earlier in the day if your anxiety peaks more in the morning.
“Lastly, the third pillar is lifestyle, encompassing stress, sleep and movement. Here I recommend meditation as it improves overall mood and decreases inflammation that harms your health and skin, movement to stimulate the body to produce endorphins, and sleep to clear out toxins overnight that naturally build throughout the day.”
Photo: Ana Kras“Ongoing vibrancy and vitality come from within so caring for ourselves from the inside out is key. I believe external matches internal! Establishing an awareness and reverence for our insides can help alleviate an obsessive or critical attitude towards our external body. For example, I used to focus on my cellulite, but now I'm obsessed with the health of my colon as its functions are to promote internal flow, release debris, and naturally detox the body. It's liberating and more productive. It's so important to balance a focus on the external body and appearance with a curiosity, trust and respect for internal function. I believe supplements will enhance a healthy lifestyle, not create one. The foundation of internal health/beauty truly comes seven-to-nine hours of nightly sleep, hydration, stress management, regular exercise, social connection and a diet that prioritizes unprocessed, single ingredient, natural foods. With that in mind, my favorite supplements are MaryRuth Organics.
- “Liquid Morning Multivitamin: one stop shop for foundational daily support."
- “Liquid Nighttime Multimineral: My all time favorite! Helps with sleep and poop."
- “Liquid probiotic: super versatile."
- “I also love her sprays—D3 and B12."
Juhi Singh, MA, LAc
Oriental Medicine Specialist, Acupuncturist and CEO and Founder of The Juhi-Ash Center
Photo: Courtesy of The Juhi-Ash Center“For me, building beauty from the outside creates a shell. A fleeting illusion of vibrant health. Building beauty from the inside creates a strong core from which beauty genuinely shines. Beauty is the reflection of one’s inner balance of mind, body, and soul. Your immune system is your greatest asset for sustained beauty and longevity. Together, nourishing the body properly, quieting the mind through meditation, and soothing the soul with gratitude create the palette for well-being. The base from which an undeniably attractive energy and confidence radiates. It’s the blush of balance. That’s a glow you can’t find in your makeup case. A healthy glow relies on a healthy immune system. Tired is not a good look on anyone. Certainly the purity of the supplements you take is essential. Pure Essentials is aptly named, and the supplements I most recommend to my patients. Pure Essentials supplements are nutraceuticals, medical-grade vitamins that are not heat fused, are without fillers and non GMO. They have 96 percent bioavailability versus 6 percent in your average shelf brands. I highly recommend their Immunity Pack. It is a customized selection of some of the most potent protective products available containing Buffered C, Quercetin Plus, Ultra Vitamin D3, Ultra Zinc and OregoMax.
“A few more suggestions to boost your immune system:
“The vast array of Ayurvedic herbs and spices are all nourishing health and beauty boosters, but turmeric reigns. Internally reducing inflammation it has the same power externally to improve skin tone minus the chemical additives. Simply mix a teaspoon each of turmeric and sandalwood powder with a few drops of rose water for a rosy cheek face mask. But always remember, external beauty may fade over time but internal beauty endures.”
“A few more suggestions to boost your immune system:
“The vast array of Ayurvedic herbs and spices are all nourishing health and beauty boosters, but turmeric reigns. Internally reducing inflammation it has the same power externally to improve skin tone minus the chemical additives. Simply mix a teaspoon each of turmeric and sandalwood powder with a few drops of rose water for a rosy cheek face mask. But always remember, external beauty may fade over time but internal beauty endures.”
[Editor’s Note: As ever, we are not doctors or medical know-it-alls. And everybody is different, so make sure to check with a doctor before trying anything new.]
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