Beauty: Ditch makeup and look pretty...naturally

We all envy the girl who can pull off the bare-faced look; that natural beauty who steps out of the door with shiny, bright eyes and long, glossy locks. But you are that girl - you are that natural beauty who can turn a fresh face to the world. Check out these tips to find out how you can go without a scrap of makeup and still look absolutely gorgeous

SMILE LIKE A SUPERSTAR

Other than the odd pap shot, superstars smile - a lot. Why? It turns out smiling makes you more beautiful. Research has found that being able to genuinely smile could be better than splurging thousands on the best makeup on the market. In studies, scientists found that those people who smiled more were considered more attractive.

"People who smile are often friendlier, have a better sense of humour and are more socially engaging," says psychology adviser Art Markman, PhD.

SHAPE THE EYEBROWS

All the queens of natural beauty know eyebrows make a huge different to your face - if you get the right brows you can instantly look prettier. If you have a long face and would like to make it look shorter, choose a flat brow shape. If you have a round face, choose a brow shape with a high arch and if you have a heart shaped face, choose brows that balance your face by creating a soft curved arch.

YOGA

Limber up and slide into your sun salutation because yoga makes us all look like goddesses. There are loads of benefits to yoga that are well documented, but one of the less publicised perks to doing the downwards dog is that yoga stimulates blood flow and promotes fresh looking skin. It also helps you build a strong core, which in turn will stop you from using your hands to prop up your head when you sit down. This is great because leaning on your hands is bad for your skin and can age you.

NEVER COMMIT THE CARDINAL SIN

The ultimate rule for those bound by the laws of natural beauty is that you must always cleanse and tone with good quality products. Even if a pack of lions has escaped from the zoo and is making its way down your street, you must cleanse and tone before making a hasty exit out of the bathroom window. Trust us, performing this simple routine twice a day will help you have the confidence to head out bare-faced. Choose a cream cleanser if you have dry skin, a lotion for normal skin and a gel for oily skin. Rosewater also acts as a great natural toner.

WEAR RED

A study by Rochester psychologists has revealed something girls have suspected for a while - guys can be primitive beings. If you want to ditch your makeup and still make men's heads turn as you walk down the street, you should spruce up your wardrobe with a few red items. In the study, men found women who wore red more attractive and wanted to treat them to more expensive dates.

BLOCK OUT THE SUN

Sometimes there can be nothing better than stretching out in the sun, soaking up some warm rays and getting a good dose of vitamin D. But beware - the sun has ulterior motives. The UVA and UVB rays can harm your skin, ageing you and damaging your pretty face. So, to combat these harmful rays use a natural or organic sunblock. If you are prone to breakouts, use a sunblock that is oil-free and non-comedogenic. You should also wear sunglasses that protect your eyes, too.

GET GREAT POSTURE

Bad posture means bad news for your look. If you slouch, slump and hunch - stop. Not only does it make you look less attractive, it causes all sorts of problems for your spine, knees, shoulders and hips.

To get better posture, stretch out your chest muscles and strengthen your back muscles. Try out the reverse fly and the dumbbell row. When you are out and about you should also pull your shoulders back and adopt the looking over the wall stance - keeping your head up as if you're looking over a wall.

GET THE MINDSET

If you want to ditch your makeup and still look stunning, you have to get the right mindset. Focus on being happy, fulfilled and confident. If you manage to achieve these qualities, your beauty will shine through and you will instantly look younger and prettier without any makeup, surgery or other nastiness. Beauty should also never be a priority. It is a part of life, but it should not be allowed to dominate over more important aspects. Enjoy yourself and you'll soon feel like a million dollars.

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