Kelli Palmyra is a licensed esthetician and skincare expert based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. More importantly, she also gave birth to Bryce, so we like to think she is pretty special. She reminds Bryce often how she remembers when he was small enough to hold in her arms, how she never knew how fast in time the wings would come and that he would fly off into this world, into the sun, and into his dreams. She taught him simple truths about what the wild life's all about, and that no matter how loud and crazy and broken the world is he - we all - can let joy live loud in our hearts.

by Kelli Palmyra

Beauty is something that shines from the core of a person. A radiant appearance reflects life, energy, and well-being. A holistic approach to a regular skincare routine will benefit your entire body and yield results that can be seen through your skin.

Whether you are starting fresh or a pioneer in skincare, you can benefit from the many exciting modern advancements and technologies being studied to promote a healthy appearance. Options are endless when searching for ways to maintain the health and youthfulness of your skin. You are rewarded from your investments, especially when you invest in your body. In all things there is a balance, and with a little perseverance and dedication you can begin a skincare regime that lets your true beauty glow.

Beginning with the basics, good skin starts with good nutrition. One of the best things you can do to boost your immune system and prevent rapid aging is eliminate added sugars from your diet. Aside from naturally occurring sugars found in fresh fruits, vegetables, and wholefoods, sugar breaks down collagen and causes inflammation throughout the body. You cannot slow the aging process significantly when consuming things that are unhealthy and fight against you. A diet full of healthy foods will benefit your appearance and boost the benefit obtained from your skincare products.

Physical activity increases circulation and helps the body release toxins. Increased blood flow helps skin cells regenerate and supplies oxygen and nourishment for cell repair. Recent studies indicate that exercise reverses even some aspects of skin aging.

Hydration also plays a key role in anti-aging and general health. A good starting goal for daily fluid intake is to divide your body weight in half and convert that number to ounces. Pure water is best, but must be accompanied with reasonable amounts of electrolytes. If there is a deficit of essential minerals (including sodium, potassium, and magnesium), too much water can actually flush any remaining electrolytes and cause dehydration. Unsweetened coconut water is a great source of hydration, along with beverages that are naturally low in fat and sugar (such as almond milk). You can make your own electrolyte beverage using sea salts, 100% fruit juice, honey and similar ingredients. I've included my favorite hydrating beverage recipe below. I always keep a batch in the fridge to enjoy throughout the day along with water intake. Some of the wrinkles we see on our skin will disappear when we meet and maintain our daily hydration needs.

After you have nourished what's on the inside, you can better focus on the outside. Everyone has very specific needs for their individual genetic makeup. My skin is very dry with combination patches, and is currently dealing with a dermatitis that has been relentless. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find what best suits your needs. The market is flooded with products and promises that sometimes fail to achieve their claims. Learning about product ingredients will help you navigate through the decisions on what will best meet your individual needs.

I am excited to share some of the information I have acquired with others who are interested in ways to improve their appearance.

Set achievable goals for the new year, and you will see the results. Your most beautiful year could be just around the corner. Prioritize taking care of yourself - the benefit will last a lifetime.


Homemade Citrus Electrolyte Drink

4 cups raw coconut water or pure filtered water
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp. raw honey
1/4 tsp. sea salt (Himalayan is preferred, as it has 84 trace minerals!)
1 tsp. calcium magnesium powder

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and whisk to dissolve all ingredients.

Store in refrigerator for up to five days.


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