Five Beauty Cleanses

“You are what you eat” actually applies to beauty, too. Despite previously dismissing the claims that food affects your beauty and skin, many health experts are now coming to the consensus that what you put in your body comes through on the outside. The food you consume does affect how you look, including your skin, your hair and your nails. Here are five beauty cleanses and diets that can lead to a better glow:

1.      Dry brushing: This non-dietary cleanse is purely a cleansing of your skin. It’s easy to do and requires no change to your diet – perfect for the lazy ladies out there who want immediate results without sacrificing dessert. Dry brushing is just as it sounds: You brush your skin dry, without any water, lotion, or oil. Just get a body brush – like a long-handled brush you would use to lather up in the shower – and use it to massage your bare skin. Scrubbing without any liquid may feel uncomfortable or rough at first, but it’s the best way to slough off lots of dead skin and improve circulation to your skin. Improved circulation equals glowing skin. Immediately following your dry brushing, your skin will feel smoother, but the results are even better if you stick with it. Make dry brushing part of your regular beauty routine, and you’ll notice that your skin glows in a way it didn’t before. Be sure to moisturize after you brush!

2.      Banishing Dairy: Many nutrition experts believe that dairy is to blame for common skin dilemmas, particularly acne. The primary complaint about dairy is that the hormones found in cow’s milk, in addition to chemicals in processed cheese, are to blame for breakouts and blemishes. It’s recommended that those suffering from bad breakouts give up dairy. If you can’t banish your morning cereal or coffee creamer, try alternatives such as almond milk, rice milk, or soy milk. Even switching to organic milk is beneficial.

3.      Goodbye Sugar: Another common food ingredient that pollutes your skin? Sugar. Some health experts truly believe that sugar is the devil and at the root of America’s health woes – including bad skin. One issue is that sugar is hidden in nearly everything, so over the course of the day, our sugar intake really adds up. Try going cold turkey on sugar and see how your skin and body improves.

4.      Going Gluten-free: Just ask Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian, or Elisabeth Hasselbeck: G-free is the way to be! Many celebrities are hopping on the gluten-free bandwagon. Though some nutritionists say eating gluten-free does little good if you don’t have a gluten allergy or Celiac’s Disease, others recommend limiting gluten intake to improve your skin and lose weight.

5.      The Beauty Detox: If you want to know more about how you can change your diet and lifestyle to improve your skin and enhance your natural beauty, read Kimberly Snyder’s book, The Beauty Detox: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You’ve Always Wanted. Kimberly is a clinical nutritionist and founder of holistic health company KS 1Life. Her guide to eating well for beauty is beloved by celebs, including Hilary Duff.