BFR Blog

Today, let’s redefine femininity. Not the kind linked to societal norms, but the kind that makes you feel strong. Femininity is complex and personal, shaped by your beliefs and culture. True beauty and confidence come from embracing your own definition.

Menopause is often seen as the end of femininity, but it's just a new chapter. It brings challenges, yes, but also liberation—freedom from societal expectations. Embrace this phase as a time to focus on self-care and rediscover your beauty on your own terms.

Avoid reactions to makeup with these tips for contact wearers.

Written by Guest Beauty Blogger Julia Salvia, @BeautyByJulia

Here at Beauty For Real we believe your health and fitness are key to having flawless makeup. What you put into your body is even more important than what you put on it. Everyone always asks how to achieve a smooth, flawless makeup application and the secret is simple! Take care of your body! Drink lots of water, eat your fruits and veggies, and at the very least do a little cardio for 30 minutes a few times a week. We asked our fitness-loving beauty blogger Julia Salvia, @BeautyByJulia aka the #GLITTAHQUEEN, to give us some advice on how our health affects our beauty routines. Julia started her beauty YouTube channel about 4 years ago and has grown her makeup community into a tight knit family. What we love most about Julia is her personality; her fun, bubbly attitude shines through in all her videos and you can’t help but feel like one of her close besties while watching. She is on a fitness journey to get healthier and eat cleaner, so who better to give you advice than your fun, internet bestie! Without further ado, we’ll let Julia take it from here….

What type of diet is good for my oily skin?

For good skin all around, whether you have oily, combination, or dry, I love to make sure I’m getting the right nutrients into my body. I drink green tea every morning, make sure I’m eating healthy fats like olive oil, walnuts, and fish but most importantly, I always drink a lot of water.

*The CDC recommends women drink about 73 ounces of water and men drink about 100 ounces of water daily. Water helps to hydrate and plump your skin while also flushing out toxins in the body.

What kind of foods should I be eating if I have dry skin?

I truly don’t believe that there is a difference in what you put into your body depending on your skin type. For both types, you want to drink a lot of water. This keeps skin plump and healthy and is, of course, also great for your body.

*If you are very dry, try eating fruits and veggies with high concentrations of water in them like cucumbers or celery. These will add water to your precious body in addition to the 73/100 ounces you should already be consuming.

How can exercise affect my skin?

Exercise is great for your skin! It increases blood flow and circulation which allows oxygen to move throughout the body not only leaving you healthy on the inside, but keeping skin healthy and vibrant on the outside.

Are there certain types of workouts I could be doing to prevent breakouts?

Whatever works for you! There are so many different ways to work out and break a sweat. Exercise helps to stimulate blood flow which helps move waste and toxins out of the body.

Does sweat cause more breakouts?

Depends. Sweating itself does not cause breakouts, but if you don’t shower right after the gym, sweat can sometimes clog pores causing breakouts or congestion within the skin.

*Exercise can open up the pores allowing oils and toxins to escape the body but if you don’t clean your face afterwards you can end up trapping these toxins and oil in your skin. Skincare is very important for those who sweat, check out Portia's blog on skincare and fitness. 

Additional Tips & Tricks:

Breakouts are mainly caused by your hormones. For me, I never realized why I broke out, but then my dermatologist told me that stress is a key factor and directly affects our hormones. I personally try my best to find ways to relax throughout the day or at the very least once a week- watch a movie, take a bath, read a book, get a massage or pedicure, etc.

Properly cleaning our faces is also an extremely important step in keeping our skin healthy. I have 3 steps to cleaning makeup off of my face:

1. Using an oil-based makeup remover to breakdown the makeup then wiping it off with a makeup wipe.
2. Cleansing my face with any cleanser and exfoliating once a week.
3. This last step is super important because it gets all that leftover makeup and dirt off that you can’t see: using a toner/astringent/witch hazel. This has been around for years and years and is basically a cleansing water. Some are stronger than others; use whichever is best for your skin.

For more on healthy lifestyle eating, check out one of my latest videos. Thank you guys so much for reading...now get out there and get active!

Xoxo,

Julia

Follow Julia on Instagram @BeautyByJulia and use code BEAUTYBYJULIA for 20% Off

Spring Essentials simplified? We’ve got you covered. No matter what adventures you’ve got planned this spring, skin care is essential for those sunny days and hot nights. Pack light with these Beach Babe Face+Body must-haves. Radiant beauty starts with healthy glowing skin and that’s just what you’ll get with these products.

Step 1: Total Revival Body Scrub for smooth and hydrated skin

The first step to gorgeous skin is exfoliation; that’s where our sugar body scrubs comes in. With a coffee extract and raw brown sugar base, this formula gently exfoliates your skin while invigorating your body and senses to take on the day. The real brown sugar crystals and raw organic coffee gently buff away dry skin cells. Citrus oils and moisturizers made from nature’s simplest elements leave the skin invigorated and renewed.

Step 2: Total GLO for illuminated skin

Next, hydrate your skin and add a healthy, natural-looking glow with our body bronzing lotion. As a moisturizing body bronzer, this product gives you that sun-kissed look while enriching your skin with shea and cupuacu butters. Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production. It also protects and nourishes the skin to prevent drying. This helps with skin softening and strengthening and can even reduce wrinkles. The aloe extract acts a soothing agent perfect after a day soaking in the sun. 

Step 3: Blush+GLO for an effortless “no makeup” makeup look

We’ve doubled the dosage of Vitamin E in this product by adding grape seed extract and pomegranate extract. The Vitamin E in our Blush + Glo is a natural moisturizer which has the power to improve skin texture and blemishes while preventing premature signs of aging. These two antioxidants are not only high in Vitamin E, but rich in Vitamin C as well, which means your skin is fortified against aging, oily skin, and acne. These powerful antioxidants are the perfect formula for beautiful, glowing skin.  

Step 4: Lip Revival Sugar Scrub for soft, kissable lips

Get that perfect pout with proper lip care. Getting your tan on often has a harsh effect on your lips. The raw sugar cane in our Lip Revival Scrub exfoliates your lips while orange, vanilla, and cinnamon bark essential oils hydrate and condition for the softest, smoothest, kissable lips. This product will leave your lips hydrated and moisturized like a lip balm.