“I've seen firsthand how clean living—what you eat, how you care for your skin and how you nurture your mindset—can transform the way you look and feel,” says Colleen Hammann. “That’s when I started sharing my journey and tips on Instagram at @ColleenHammann, focusing on eating for beauty and making wellness accessible to everyone.”
The former collegiate soccer player turned Fortune 500 executive turned wellness expert’s path has been driven by a commitment to personal growth and transformation. After making a bold career pivot at age 25, she dove into the beauty industry, where she's spent nearly two decades working with pioneering brands and developing expertise in clean beauty and wellness.
The turning point in Hammann's wellness journey came after the birth of her first child when unprecedented fatigue led her to question conventional wisdom about health. This challenge inspired her to pursue certification as an integrative health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, deepening her understanding of holistic wellness.
Influenced by her grandmother's wisdom—"Always look your best because if you don't look your best, you can't be your best"—Hammann developed a comprehensive approach bridging the gap between internal health and external beauty. Today, she combines her backgrounds in athletics, beauty and wellness to help others create lives full of vitality and confidence, emphasizing progress over perfection and the power of small, intentional changes for lasting impact.
She sits down with KYIR to talk about her wellness journey, tips for better living and even shares a few recipes to help you kick off a new year with a clean start..
Tell us about your journey into wellness.
As a lifelong athlete, I thought I understood healthy living. But after having my first child, my energy levels plummeted, and I found myself dependent on coffee. This struggle led me to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I gained deeper insights into what my body truly needed. With almost 20 years in the beauty industry, I've seen firsthand how clean living transforms both appearance and wellbeing. Now I help others create lives full of vitality and confidence.
What does clean living mean to you?
It's about creating harmony between what we put in our bodies and our environment. I focus on whole, unprocessed foods, clean beauty products and balanced lifestyle choices. For me, it starts with prioritizing whole, unprocessed foods that are free of unnecessary additives, cooking meals with love for family and using beauty products that are as safe as they are effective. It also means looking beyond just what we consume. Clean living is about balance, whether that’s spending time outdoors, incorporating movement into my day, or simply carving out moments of stillness to reset. It's not about perfection but progress—making choices that leave us feeling energized and vibrant.
When did you turn to the clean lifestyle or is it something you've done for as long as you can remember?
Clean living has been an evolution for me. As a lifelong athlete, I always tried to prioritize health: staying active and eating what I thought was “healthy” at the time. But when I entered the beauty industry at 25, I worked with conventional beauty brands that weren’t focused on clean formulations. It wasn’t until I worked at Darphin that I began to understand how much ingredients matter, not just for our skin, but for our overall well-being. Later, my time at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition completely opened my eyes to clean living in a broader sense. I learned how to read food labels, understand ingredients and make more intentional choices about what I put on and into my body. This shift also inspired a professional pivot. I wanted to align my work with my values and focus on supporting clean, conscious brands. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to help some of the most innovative and well-known clean beauty brands thrive in retail. Seeing these brands make a meaningful impact on the industry has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Clean living has been a progression of learning and intentional choices, becoming the foundation of how I live, work, and show up each day with purpose.
How do you approach clean beauty?
I prioritize products with simple, recognizable ingredients, avoiding harmful chemicals like parabens and synthetic fragrances. I look for certifications like USDA Organic and EWG Verified, and I value brands with strong sustainability practices and purpose-driven missions.
What is a go-to clean beauty product you love?
After having a baby and breastfeeding, I experienced significant hair loss. It was such a tough moment, and I felt so upset watching my hair thin. That’s when I discovered KYIR’s Fuller Active Serum, and it was truly a game-changer. It brought volume and growth back to my hair, restoring not just my hair but also my confidence. It’s now a permanent staple in my routine. Of course, I have a few other go-to clean products I swear by. RMS Beauty’s ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer is the perfect hydrating primer without the tacky feel. Their mascara with the tri-lock system ensures smudge-free wear, and the ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush gives my cheeks the prettiest dewy glow. For skincare, Ogee’s Exfoliating Cleanser and Jojoba Glow Face Oil are amazing for smooth, radiant skin. Indie Lee’s CoQ10 Toner feels so refreshing, and Solara Suncare’s Fortune Teller Micro Tint is my everyday sunscreen with a beautiful blurring effect.
What's your top suggestion for those starting a clean lifestyle?
Start small and focus on adding good things rather than eliminating. Add nourishing snacks like apple with almond butter, choose seasonal produce and prioritize the Dirty Dozen when buying organic. For beauty products, start by replacing your most-used items with clean alternatives. Remember, it's about progress, not perfection.
What's something everyone should consume daily?
Start with lemon water for hydration and digestion, add LMNT electrolytes throughout the day, include a handful of antioxidant-rich berries and consider matcha or green tea for focused energy. These simple additions can transform how you feel.
What are some foods you can swap out that will feed your cravings but offer health benefits?
Feeding your cravings while supporting your health—and beauty—can feel so satisfying when you focus on nutrient-dense swaps. The best part? Once you start adding in whole foods that are rich in nutrients, your body becomes more balanced, and over time, those processed cravings fade away. A couple of my favorite sweet and savory swaps that align perfectly with an “eating for beauty” mindset are:
For the Sweet Tooth:
Chocolate Fix: Instead of milk chocolate, I reach for dark chocolate (75% cacao or higher) or Fine & Raw chocolate. Both are rich in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals and reduce inflammation—key for glowing skin. Plus, dark chocolate contains magnesium, which helps with stress and better sleep (and we all know beauty sleep is real).
Sweet & Creamy Alternative: I love making chia pudding with unsweetened almond milk, chia seeds and a drizzle of raw honey or maple syrup. Topping it with fresh berries adds a boost of vitamin C to support collagen production, and the omega-3s in chia seeds keep skin hydrated and plump.
For the Savory Lover:
Crunchy Swap: I grab Siete Grain-Free Chips or Simple Mills Rosemary and Sea Salt Crackers. These options are free of seed oils, which can be inflammatory, and they’re made with clean, nutrient-rich ingredients that still satisfy the crunch factor.
Pizza Upgrade: On pizza night, we use sourdough pizza dough from our local farm and top it with organic marinara, fresh veggies and either goat cheese or nutritional yeast. Sourdough is easier to digest and great for gut health (a big player in radiant skin), and the fresh toppings pack in antioxidants and hydration.
The beauty of these swaps is that they don’t just satisfy cravings—they nourish your body and your skin. Once you start making these choices and adding in more whole foods, you’ll notice how much better you feel and look. Clean eating doesn’t mean giving anything up—it’s about upgrading the things you already love. ,
What is your goal in helping others?
My mission is simple: to inspire others to make small, thoughtful changes that have a lasting impact, so they can feel like the best version of themselves—inside and out.
Can you share a few recipes with us to get started on our wellness journey?
Wellness Mocktail:
- 2 Tablespoons Kosterina's Crushed Strawberry Vinegar
- Mountain Spring Sparkling Water
- Garnish with a fresh strawberry slice or mint sprig.
It’s light, refreshing, functional and perfect to enjoy before a meal. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps slow down blood sugar spikes by improving insulin sensitivity, supporting steady energy levels. Plus, the strawberries provide antioxidants, promoting gut health and reducing inflammation.
Clean Tacos:
- Siete Almond Flour Tortillas
- Preferred taco filling
- Greek yogurt (as a healthy topping alternative)
You can check out these recipes and more on my website www.colleenhammann.com for easy, guilt-free inspiration.