Ice in the Morning

You may have seen in my Friday Favorites post that I use these Tovolo ice cube trays religiously. I mix a little bit of water with some witch hazel (a natural alcohol-free toner) and freeze overnight. In the morning, I pull them out of the freezer and use on my face. This helps to get rid of any unwanted puffiness while toning and prepping my skin for the day.

Eat a superfood-packed breakfast

Every morning I make myself a probiotic, superfood and protein packed breakfast. Usually in shake-form, I mix my plant-based protein powder with ice, a scoop of almond or peanut butter, goji berries, chia seeds, raw cacao powder, and a cup of unsweetened almond milk.

Use a tinted moisturizer rather than foundation

I prefer to go with a more natural look, so when I go in to work or get ready for a night out, I use a tinted moisturizer or CC cream with SPF rather than foundation. I really feel like foundation dries out my skin and clogs my pores so I tend to stay away when I can. I also go makeup-free on the weekends or whenever I can which helps my skin reset and refresh itself.

Always wear your sunglasses

My dad has always told me to wear my sunglasses anytime I’m outside during the day whether it’s sunny or overcast. I can hear him now saying “You only have two eyes and it is so important to protect them.” Also, since you won’t be squinting as much, you won’t be as susceptible to premature aging or wrinkles around your eyes. Always make sure that when you’re buying sunglasses that they’re polarized to give your eyes that extra protection.

Drink a protein shake after you work out

Gavin taught me this and always says to drink my protein shake within 30 minutes of working out to help build my muscles. I also feel like it helps me to not be so sore the next day which is always a plus (especially after leg day!). I usually drink the same one that I have for breakfast and again if I work out a second time that day.

Remove your makeup every night and moisturize 

If you read my post about washing your face, you’ll know how important it is to me. I make sure to wash my face every night no matter what. I like to keep my beauty routine simple and use coconut oil or Bioderma Micellar Water to remove my makeup. I feel like a lot of other makeup removers are so harsh on your skin and can be really damaging so I stick to the two of these. If I’m traveling, I bring along my favorite Bioderma wipes. After my face is clean, I moisturize with Embryolisse Rich Moisturizing Cream.

Fill your lunch and dinner with protein

Usually for lunch I have a kale salad with avocado, bell pepper, sunflower seeds or almonds and a little lemon juice. For dinner, my favorite lately has been grilled salmon and asparagus. You can find out more about my daily meal plan here.

Never skip cardio

Cardio is honestly my least favorite part of working out, but it is so important to stick to it and always change it up. Some of my favorite cardio exercises are the rowing machine, the stair master, and jump roping. I try to do at least 20-30 minutes of cardio before completing the rest of my workout. Jump ropes are also great because you can bring them with you when traveling!

Drink a lot of water

If you’ve been reading my blog for quite some time now, you’ve heard me say a million times that I drink about a gallon of water a day. Sometimes it can be difficult when I’m busy but I always make sure to make it a priority, even if that means setting a reminder on my phone (just ask Siri!) or bringing a water bottle to-go – my favorite is this S’well one. I also drink a cup of hot water with lemon every morning before starting my day. Not only does it give me a little energy boost, but it balances my PH and flushes my body of any toxins.

Have your afternoon green tea

If you’re feeling that 2pm drowsiness, grab a cup of hot green tea with lemon. One I’ve been drinking lately is this Lipton Green Tea + Matcha and I really feel like it gives me an energy boost (plus its under $3!). I like to drink this after lunch when I’m feeling like it’s time for a nap. Not only will the green tea + lemon combo wake you up, but it’ll help your body digest and process the food you just ate at lunch.

I hope you loved these beauty tips and secrets of mine that I swear by, and please feel free to leave any of yours in the comments below!