10 Ways to Relieve Stress

I haven’t touched too much on stress and anxiety on my blog, but I deal with it every single day. I have spine issues so stress really takes a toll on my body and back. It’s so easy to let stress get the best of me, so as soon as I feel stressed, I take a minute to become self-aware and begin de-stressing. Here are my 10 ways to relieve stress and I hope this helps you too!

  1. Breathe
    • When we get stressed or anxious, listen to your breathing – is it fast and shallow? As soon as you feel tense, try breathing slow and deep. The increased intake of oxygen will help calm your nervous system.
  2. Pamper
    • As a beauty blogger, this is probably my favorite thing to do.  Create a mini spa oasis at home – light some candles and pamper yourself with your favorite mask or give yourself a manicure. You deserve it!
  3. Drink tea
    • I love tea, like really love tea and recently I learned that there’s an art to drinking tea. Instead of just pouring yourself a cup, pay attention to the boiling of the water, the steeping of the tea, and then take a moment to savor each sip. Focusing on the experience can be calming, just make sure to drink decaffeinated tea like this one.
  4. Music
    • You know how you listen to music before heading into the shower? The same thing applies to your night in. Music can be a powerful tool to quickly change your mood and I love using apps like Spotify and Tidal that have ready-made playlists to match your mood.
  5. Journal
    • Sometimes when I have so much on my mind, I write down what I’m feeling and why I’m feeling that way. Once I have everything down on paper, it’s like having a weight lifted off my shoulders and then I can start tackling whatever is stressing me out.
  6. Read
    • If there’s one thing that’ll put me to sleep, it’s reading. Get lost in a story and it’ll take your mind off of your stressful day and chances are, it’ll put you to sleep like me.
  7. Exercise
    • Now I’m not the most active person but walking helps to put my mind at ease. This is something I recently picked up and I’ve been really feeling the endorphins! I love that feeling of knowing that I took time out of my day to get myself healthier.
  8. Meditation
    • I have been able to master this technique, and I know many people who love meditation. In fact, my therapist is a strong believer in meditation and recommends it for everyone, not just for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, stress and etc.    You can use meditation apps or find a guided meditation on YouTube.
  9. Stay offline
    • If work and emails are sources of your stress, turn off your phone and computer to reduce the temptation of checking and responding to emails.  As much as work is important to me,  I try to remember that my health is much more important. Social media can be strainful so try to separate yourself. I know that is hard especially for those who earn money through Instagram like myself but it is not impossible.
  10. Cry/Smile
    • Relieves Stress. A good cry can provide a feeling of relief, even if our circumstances still remain the same. Crying is known to release stress hormones or toxins from the body, and as a result, reduces tension. It provides an emotional release of pent up negative feelings, stresses, and frustrations.
      • When all else fails, smile. Smiling releases a hormone called serotonin (the happy hormone) and can boost your immune system. By having a positive attitude, you’ll have a sunnier outlook on life. Try it!

Don’t get me wrong I love makeup and using makeup to feel good, but working on my inner beauty is a priority for me too! Stress can be detrimental to your overall health, so remember to take at least five minutes out of your day to relax. Happy de-stressing!

HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS?

6 Reasons Why Sparkling Wine Is Healthier Than You Think

We can’t deny it – during the holiday season, we love a festive cocktail, a good glass of wine, or a glass of bubbly.  We are all for making healthier choices, we do believe there is room for a little indulgence even if you live the healthiest lifestyle. It’s all about having that balance and following the rules of moderation!

There are certain alcoholic drinks that are deemed “healthier” than the rest (i.e. the lowest in calories), but we have to admit, we have a soft spot for a glass of sparkling wine. So kick up your feet and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine after work and with friends; it may be surprising to learn that sparkling wine has more health benefits than you think!

Fewer Calories

A glass of sparkling wine can contain as little as 80 calories, while a glass of wine, beer, or hard alcohol can contain over 100!

Here’s a little cheat I learned, mix sparkling wine and sparkling water over ice. With this low-calorie drink, you won’t feel deprived when you’re craving a glass of bubbly!

More Filling

Like other effervescent drinks, when you drink sparkling wine, you’ll be able to feel fuller quickly without having the temptation to indulge. I am especially a fan of Prosecco, like Riondo Prosecco, since it’s super affordable and light-bodied with notes of apple and pear. For an antioxidant kick, mix in some fresh pressed juice. Find more Riondo Prosecco Cocktails here.

High in Antioxidants

Just like red and white wine, sparkling wine is loaded with antioxidants that can help fight free radicals, improve heart health (more on that below), protect nerve cells from damage, and reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidants can also help prevent you from getting sick as well!

Detoxifies and Evens Out Skin

If you have any leftover sparkling wine, you can incorporate it into your beauty routine.

For those who have oily skin, soak a cotton pad with sparkling wine and use as a toner all over your face. The antioxidants will detoxify your skin while the tartaric acid will even out any discolorations on your skin.

Heart Healthy

Thanks to the antioxidants in sparkling wine (i.e., polyphenols), you’ll reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and heart attacks.

Improves Memory

After a night of heavy drinking, we usually blame alcohol for memory loss, but research shows that drinking one or two glasses of sparkling wine a week can help with memory loss, even dementia.

What Is Your Favorite Sparkling Wine🍷 ?

3 Reasons Why Green Tea Is SUPER Beautifying!

Hello Beauties, I’ve mentioned different types of tea in the past but I thought I would give more details about Green Tea. The importance and the effects of drinking Green Tea are so profound, that I wanted to share it as one! Hopefully you will all include a cup or two of green tea into your meals this weekend and enjoy the health and beauty benefits that can literally transform your skin over time!

Ever think sipping on something could actually make you more gorgeous inside out? I think we’ve all heard that green tea is a better alternative to coffee, but do we really know why? I actually stopped drinking green tea, but I for a while I was stuck on it and I noticed my skin felt sooooo much better while I was drinking it! Well, here are 3 reasons why we should all be drinking green tea! I know I will be drinking this again!

  • Green tea is Awesome for Weight Loss! For years models drank green tea making it trendy to drink, but they may actually be on to something! So many models claimed that drinking green tea actually made them slimmer! The facts are in–it has been scientifically proven that drinking green tea, increases our metabolism and helps us shed fat! Yup, making us slim up faster and much easier!
  • Green Tea is AMAZING for Skin! We all know antioxidants are great for skin and green tea is full of them, but what exactly are they for? Wellll, as we age, our skin cells begin to oxidize, which means they shrivel up, wrinkle and scar more easily—NOT FUN! Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that not only help prevent all of this from happening but actually help reverse skin damage! This will keep you young and fresh!
  • Green Tea is full of Vitamins! Of course, I am a firm believer of taking your vitamins, but there are days that I definitely skip! Drinking green tea is great not only for a ‘pick me up’, but also getting a good dose of vitamins! Green tea is packed full of vitamins A, C & E, which are ingredients that are necessary for gorgeousness inside out!

Vitamin 101 | Even Skin Toner (Takes 10.5 Seconds to Make)

I try a TON of makeup and skincare products–needless to say, my skin takes a beating for it! Of course, knowing what to use on my skin really helps! Without some simple techniques, my skin starts to look dull and completely uneven! Not to mention I break out, veeeery easily!! One of the best things to do when I have no time but need some freshening up is to actually use cucumber juice and rub it on my face with a cotton pad! Of course making fresh cucumber juice can be time-consuming, so sometimes (like today) I just rub cucumber slices on my face for the same effect!

12 benefits of cucumber juice

Why this is awesome: Cucumbers are AMAZING at tightening our pores and help freshen up your skin immediately! They are also great for evening skin tone and keeping skin balanced, which means fewer breakouts!! Plus, they have vitamins A & C, plus great amounts of potassium, silica, and chlorophyll, which means it not only feels great but is so healthy for your skin!

Have You Tried This? Comment how you use cucumbers!