Hello again C.O.R.E readers! In this contribution, I’d like to discuss a few aspects of beauty that are often overlooked: Good hygiene, getting plenty of rest, cutting down on stress, and (of course) exercise!

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! -Hygiene plays a CRUCIAL role in achieving and/or maintain beautiful skin and hair. Good hygiene consists of doing things like washing your hands before touching your face, making sure that you remove your makeup before bed, and not going too long between wash days for your hair! (Too long being more than 2 weeks!)

CATCH THOSE Z’s -Most of us fail to realize the importance of a good night’s rest. Beauty sleep DOES exist, and 8 hours a night is the recommended amount! If you’re experiencing bags or puffiness under your eyes, or even lacking your youthful “glow,” a lack of sleep could definitely be the culprit!

R-E-L-A-X– Balancing school, work, fun, and relationships can be stressful to say the least. While a certain level of stress is unavoidable, it is important that we’re careful not to overdo it. Make time to relax and unwind. Pamper yourself with a bubble bath; lay back and dive into a good book or magazine; try whipping up your favorite meal or dessert! Spend at least 15-20 minutes a day doing whatever it is that is relaxing to YOU*

WORK IT OUT! -Nowadays, exercise doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hit the gym. Dancing around your room to your favorite song, walking the dog, and taking the stairs ALL qualify as “physical activities” …make sure that you’re getting at least 30 minutes of activity a day!

When it comes to the lifestyle-beauty link, time management is a major factor. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but you’d be surprised to see how easy (and enjoyable) it can be once you get into your own routine! 🙂

-Ashleigh Thornton

Hello C.O.R.E readers!

My name is Ashleigh Thornton, and I am so excited to be contributing to such a positive and empowering magazine! Just to give you a bit of background information on myself, my name is Ashleigh Thornton… I’m 21-years-old… I’m a full-time college student… and I am also the Owner and Creator of NoireNaturals™! NoireNaturals™ is an all-natural line of hair products that I developed after “going natural,” so it will probably come as no surprise to see that health and beauty will be two major topics for the NoireNotes 😉

For my first contribution, I wanted to tackle an issue that many of us tend to overlook, and that is the fact that beauty is an “inside job.” When people ask me what it takes to have beautiful skin, hair, and nails, they are often shocked to hear that product changes aren’t the only things I recommend—I also suggest making changes in eating habits! Using top-of-the-line cosmetics can become very expensive, and chances are you will still not achieve the desired results! Drinking plenty of water and eating vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables are a major part of maintaining happier/healthier hair, skin, and nails; check out my own personal list of beauty boosters!

BEVERAGES

-Green tea

-Water

MEATS

-Salmon

FRUITS

-Granny Smith apples

-Pineapples

-Strawberries

VEGGIES

-Carrots

-Broccoli with cheese

-Baby corn

BREADS

-Whole grain EVERYTHING!

SNACKS

-Salt-less almonds

-Yogurt

Many of these items have an “organic” or “all-natural” option, so go for it when you can! And don’t forget to keep your daily food groups in mind when preparing meals: 2-3 servings of dairy, 2-3 servings of meats, 3-5 servings of veggies, 2-4 servings of fruit, and 6-11 servings of breads. Hopefully this information has been helpful to you ladies; please feel free to comment and let me know what beauty topics you would like to discuss next!

Peace and Blessings,

A ♥