Natural beauty isn’t just another way to look good

Back in the day, our beauty routines were all about looking better: A little makeup to cover imperfections, a blow dryer to flatten out frizz and some shade of red or pink polish to make our nails presentable. As someone who spent the early 2000s with a straightening iron plugged in and concealer in my back pocket, I can attest to the fact that the focus of beauty has traditionally been more on the final product than the process itself. Now, though, we’re finally starting to realize just how critical our beauty routines can be to our overall health and wellness. “Today, we use a beauty routine to care for ourselves, to care for our skin and hair and nails and to feel better about ourselves both physically and mentally,” says Pamela Friedman, CEO of CV Skinlabs. “When we deep condition the hair, exfoliate the skin or enjoy a rejuvenating mask, it’s not about vanity—it’s about living a lifestyle that reflects our commitment to wellness overall and our desire to be at our best for as long as we can be.” For me, “beauty” has become more about treating myself to a nightly, natural face mask and a long bath than covering up my zits or worrying about whether or not my nail polish is chipped (because really, who cares?). Here are four ways beauty can be about more than just refreshing your look. It can reset your wellness too.