3 Surprising Beauty Tips from the Experts

From glossy hair to radiant skin, wellness isn’t just about the latest serum or supplement. Beauty insiders are zooming out and focusing on what’s happening in your environment, your lifestyle and home to see what could be helping – or hurting – your routine. Here’s what they’re saying.

1. Your Skin Reflects Your Lifestyle

Skincare isn’t just about what you put on your skin — it’s also about how you live. The Mayo Clinic’s guide to healthy skin suggests that “nutrients and a healthy lifestyle might help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems.”

Skincare is deeply influenced by lifestyle choices, with factors like diet, hydration, stress and sleep playing pivotal roles in your skin’s wellness. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins provides essential nutrients and antioxidants that combat oxidative stress, a contributor to skin aging. Conversely, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates may accelerate skin aging processes or contribute to acne. Adequate hydration with quality water is also crucial as drinking sufficient water helps maintain skin elasticity and keep breakouts or irritations at bay.

Chronic stress can negatively impact your skin, potentially triggering conditions like acne or eczema. The Mayo Clinic recommends stress-reducing practices such as regular exercise, meditation, deep breathing and engaging in enjoyable activities to help maintain skin integrity. Quality sleep is vital for skin rejuvenation; during sleep, the body undergoes repair processes that restore your skin. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep per night to support these regenerative functions .

2. Better Hair Begins with Better Water

Culligan partner Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist (a specialist in scalp and hair health) known as The Scalp Therapist. One lesson she always looks to share is that haircare goes beyond your shampoo and conditioner. On the podcast Skin Anarchy, Hill breaks down how your water may be sabotaging the effectiveness of your hair products. 

Hill explains how hard water, or water that has excessive calcium and magnesium, can create a residue that builds up on your hair and scalp. This blocks your products from reaching your hair and scalp, causing them to be less effective and resulting in duller, drier hair. “Hard water has the ability to create buildup on the hair shaft, dulling your natural shine and affecting your scalp health,” Hill says. “If you’re investing in expensive hair care products but using hard water at home, you’re sabotaging your results.”

An easy way to fix these issues at every tap in your home is to install a water softener, which removes these excess minerals that can be harsh on hair and skin. Hill says that after installing a softener, “You’re going to see an immediate difference in the way your shampoo lathers. You are going to feel an immediate difference on your overall skin and body.” 

3. Retinol: The Dermatologist-Approved Gold Standard for Scalp and Skin

While products are not the only factor that contribute to the look and feel of your hair and skin, they can certainly make a difference. However, not all products are created equal. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is widely recognized in dermatology for its proven contribution to a well-maintained skin barrier. Extensive clinical studies have demonstrated that retinol stimulates collagen production, accelerates skin cell turnover, and improves skin texture and tone. This contributes to the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, leading to a more youthful and radiant complexion. 

Increasingly, this potent ingredient is finding a place in hair care — not for the hair shaft itself, but for the scalp, where revitalized hair begins. When applied topically in properly formulated products, retinol can help exfoliate the scalp, unclog follicles and support a balanced skin environment, which may in turn encourage accelerated hair growth and reduce scalp conditions like dandruff or buildup-related irritation.

Because retinol is a strong active ingredient, it should be used cautiously in hair products — ideally in low concentrations and introduced gradually. Overuse can cause dryness or irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin. It’s also important to pair retinol use with moisturizers and sun protection for the scalp, as it can increase sun sensitivity.

Incorporating retinol into your skincare and hair care routines can be a transformative step toward achieving desired results. As with any active ingredient, it’s advisable to consult with a dermatologist to determine the appropriate formulation and concentration for your skin type.

How Should I Upgrade My Routine?

The future of beauty is increasingly holistic, with experts urging us to look beyond the surface and reconsider how we treat our bodies, how we’re caring for our environment and even the quality of our water. Whether it’s upgrading your shower with softened water to unlock the full potential of your hair products, aligning your daily habits to support glowing skin or incorporating powerhouse ingredients with intention, the message is clear: beauty is not about chasing trends — it’s about creating conditions where your body, skin and hair can thrive.