This 7-Day Green Beauty Challenge Will Make Your Skin Glow

As multitasking power women, we're lucky if we get to finish our daily to-do list and still squeeze in time for a quick nighttime charcoal mask. That's the lifestyle author Sophie Uliano had in mind when she published her latest book, Gorgeous for Good: A Simple 30-Day Program for Lasting Beauty. Sophie is a certified holistic nutritionist, and her latest writing focuses on how being more green conscious (both in terms of your grooming routine and eating plan) can make you look and feel even more beautiful.

I read the addictive book, and it really made me look twice at product labels and think before I shove a toxic, sugary cookie into my mouth. The pages are packed with easy-to-understand explanations (re: what is the difference between GMO and organic?), life hacks, and tons of DIYs. And these are tips that could work for everyone — whether you live in a cosmopolitan city or a woodsy suburb. Perhaps this is because Sophie considers herself to be a flexitarian — which she explains as having "a foot in both the 'enhancement' camp" and another in "the Nature intended [one]."

Since it can be difficult to totally redo your entire beauty routine at once, Sophie created this exclusive seven-day go-green beauty task list for POPSUGAR readers. This is the perfect time to make little changes you can keep going into the Summer, and before you know it, you may just want to delve deeper into the eco world.

So, are you up for the challenge? Keep reading!

Day 1: Hydrate From Within
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Day 1: Hydrate From Within

The daily toxins you ingest dehydrate you, which can create dull skin and dark circles under your eyes. Want an easy way to brighten your glow? Divide your body weight in half, and that's how many ounces of filtered water you should drink.

If you are a coffee drinker, stick to one cup in the morning. And switch to either green or hibiscus tea for the rest of the day — both contain a high amount of antioxidants. Plus, hibiscus tea has been proven to lower blood pressure.

Your challenge: Drink half your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily.

Day 2: Exfoliate Your Face
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Day 2: Exfoliate Your Face

Exfoliation is your best friend! Use a cleanser with natural ingredients (glycolic or lactic acid), or DIY the scrub recipe below. It is gentle enough to use daily when you shower to wash away dead skin and promote cell turnover.

DIY scrub recipe: Mix 1 tablespoon instant oatmeal, 1 teaspoon cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon powdered milk in a small plastic jar. Add 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers or 5 drops lavender essential oil. Mix well. When you are ready to use, place a teaspoon in your hand, add a little water, mix into a paste, and massage in circular motions over your face, neck, and chest. Rinse with warm water.

Your challenge: Exfoliate your face, neck, and chest every morning in the shower.

Day 3: Try a Face Peel
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Day 3: Try a Face Peel

A mask is the quickest way to refine the quality of your skin. But skip the harsh chemical peel chock-full of synthetic chemicals and use a natural glycolic ingredient like papaya for a deep cleanse. Try this easy recipe you can make at home and save a few bucks along the way.

DIY fruit peel recipe: Juice half a fresh pineapple and one papaya. Pour the juice into an ice cube tray, and freeze until it's solid. When ready to use, pop a cube and rub it over your face, neck, and chest. Leave the liquid there for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water. Do this twice a week, especially for sun-damaged skin.

Your challenge: Do at least one glycolic peel this week.

Day 4: Get Your Vitamin C
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Day 4: Get Your Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the few antiaging ingredients that have been scientifically proven to minimize sun damage, fade brown spots, build collagen, and protect your skin. If you aren't using it, you need to. Look for a serum that comes in a dark, opaque bottle to protect contents from light, and check that the form of vitamin C is stable. Or you can make your own!

DIY vitamin C serum: The best form to use is L'ascorbic acid, which usually comes as a white powder. You can easily make you own vitamin C serum by adding 1/4 teaspoon L'ascorbic acid powder to a few drops of either water or aloe vera juice.

Mix it in the palm of your hand, and rub your hands together until you feel the crystals dissolve. Then, apply it all over your face, neck, and chest. For best results, use it as you've cleansed your face, before you moisturize.

Your challenge: Use a vitamin C serum a few days this week.

Day 5: Fight Inflammation With Turmeric
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Day 5: Fight Inflammation With Turmeric

Stock up on turmeric — a bright yellow spice, known for its amazing antiaging and antipimple benefits. You can either consume it — try adding 1 teaspoon turmeric into a glass of hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a pinch of cayenne. If you can't bear the taste, buy capsules, which can be found at your local health food store.

Or you can use it topically to fight inflammation. Whip up this DIY to treat breakouts or just calm down your skin.

DIY turmeric mask: Mix 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon rice flour, and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar into a paste. Either dab it on a pimple or smooth over face as a mask. Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse off.

Your challenge: Incorporate turmeric into your daily beauty routine.

Day 6: Utilize Coconut Milk and Oil
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Day 6: Utilize Coconut Milk and Oil

Every gorgeous girl needs coconuts as part of her beauty regime. Here's how to make the most of this superfood this week:

  1. Once a week, massage 1 teaspoon coconut oil with 2 drops lavender oil into your scalp. Leave for 20 minutes, and then shampoo with a sulphate-free shampoo.
  2. Once a week, massage coconut oil into your heels, put on a pair of cotton socks, and let it do its magic overnight.
  3. Consider switching milk and yogurt to an unsweetened coconut milk or yogurt. Eliminating dairy will help with puffiness and dark circles.

Your challenge: Include coconut products in your beauty routine three times this week.

Day 7: Revive Your Senses With Essential Oils
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Day 7: Revive Your Senses With Essential Oils

Essential oils impact our inner and outer beauty. When we are stressed, our cortisol levels increase, which reduces the ability of our skin to regenerate.

Use your favorite stress-reducing scent, such as rose (deep emotional calming), sandalwood (to balance and center), neroli (antidepressant), and frankincense (inner peace), and follow these simple rules to release your beauty bliss.

Create your own essential oil DIY by combining five drops each of the above oils in half an ounce of jojoba or sweet almond oil. If that sounds a bit messy, just pick up a bottle of the newly launched Gorgeous For Good Wellness Oil, a beautiful blend that contains all of the recommended oils mentioned.

To use it: Place a few drops in the palm of your hand, and rub your palms together to distribute the oils. Gently pat the oil behind your ears and on your temples. Cup your hands over your nose and mouth, and take a few relaxing breaths.

Your challenge: Begin and end your day by breathing in some soothing essential oils.