- Drink Your Way To Glow
The skin is the largest organ in the body, yet so many of us do not drink enough water. Dehydration leads to
headaches, lethargy and a poor lymphatic system. Though many suggest drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day, this
is not sufficient. Grow Your glow by drinking a third of your weight in water. Weight is used to calculate how much
water you should be drinking, because a woman weighing 50 kgs, will require less water in litres, compared to a
woman weighing 80 kgs. Take your weight in kg, and multiply that by 67%, for example, if you weigh 70 kgs, and
multiplthat by 0,67, the result is 46,9. This is the amount you should multiply by your weight, 70(kg) x 46,9 = 3, 2.
This means that if you weigh 70 kgs, you should be drinking 3,2 litres of water per day.
Tip: Pour some loving energy into your new water drinking habit, get a beautiful water jug, and make the contents
pretty, by adding fresh lemon slices, or cherries, or strawberries into your water.
Rose petal extract added to your water, tastes great, gives glowy skin and reduces wrinkles.
Tip: For even better glowing results, take a turmeric shot, in the morning everyday on an empty stomach. Its anti-oxidant properties seals in that positive, natural glow. Ensure to add black pepper into your morning turmeric shot. This is because turmeric is not easily absorbed into the body, so it relies on the bioactive compound, piperine, found in black pepper, which assists with the absorption of turmeric, especially the active ingredient curcumin that gives you the anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial goodness. They don’t call turmeric “The Golden Spice” for nothing.
2. Get C.A.K.E.D. For Glow
My favourite mnemonic for remembering the vitamins I need for a gorgeous glowing skin is C.A.K.E.D: So how can
we get caked…?
VITAMIN C – enhances the production of collagen in your skin, keeping your skin firm and giving it strength. Topical
creams containing Vitamin C reduce the appearance of fine lines, radiance and even minimises the appearance of
dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation.
Foods high in Vitamin C: Broccoli, Cauliflower and capsicum, strawberries, oranges and lemons.
VITAMIN A – is an essential nutrient known for its antioxidant characteristics and anti-ageing properties and it also
treats acne, it is no wonder then, that it is found in many moisturisers and serums.
It assists in immune function, healthy vision, and function of organs.
Foods containing Vitamin A: sweet red peppers, spinach, carrots, sweet potato, mango and cod liver oil.
VITAMIN K – This wonder Vitamin restores a beautiful complexion, by treating a number of skin conditions such as
dark circles under the eyes, spider veins, eczema and psoriasis. It promotes vascular health and is said to therefore
be a wonder treatment for rosacea, as well as for treating and healing wounds and bruises.
Foods rich in Vitamin K – Cauliflower, kale, chicken, prunes, kiwi, green peas, soft cheese, and parsley.
VITAMIN E – Reduce sun damage by topically applying Vitamin E. It keeps the skin conditioned and moisturised and
calms an irritated skin.
Foods recommended for intake of Vitamin E include green vegetables, vegetable oils, as well as nuts and seeds.
VITAMIN D – Maintaining healthy levels of Vitamin D prevents ageing of the skin, protects your skin, improves a dull
complexion, assists in cellular repair, skin cell growth and metabolism and improves the appearance of dark circles
under the eyes.
Foods containing Vitamin D: fatty fish, eggs and certain dairy products.
3. Get A Glowing Skincare Routine
Cleansing:
In the morning: Use a foam cleanser with licorice or vitamin c extract, the vitamin C is a great glow booster, as it
plumps the skin, brightening the complexion and by reducing the appearance of uneven dark spots. Always follow
with a toning lotion, as it restores balance to the pH level of your skin after rinsing with water. This preps your skin
for your serum, and a vitamin C moisturiser.
In the evening: I know you´re tired, but it is so important to remove make-up at night, wash your face and hydrate
before getting into bed. A cleansing milk to remove make-up and pollution particles off your skin, followed by your
favourite cleanser. Pay attention to the serum and night cream that you use, because night time is the time that the
skin repairs damage done during the day, fight free radicals and regenerates, so your main skin concern, such as
anti-ageing should be treated at night.
Try a home cleansing steam: Bring the spa experience into your home and enjoy a facial steam, It is soothing for
your skin, improves blood flow, promotes collagen and elastin production, is hydrating, and your products used
thereafter are absorbed so much better.
Exfoliate:
The drier your skin, the more times a week you should exfoliate, and if your skin is oily, once a week is sufficient,
because you do not want to over stimulate your sebaceous glands. Use a scrub with soft exfoliating beads, so as
not to irritate your skin. If you are considering getting a chemical peel, do so in winter, when you have minimal
exposure to the sun, or you risk an uneven complexion or pigmentation on that gorgeous face of yours. The benefits
of exfoliation are less visible pores, an even texture, and your serums and moisturisers are better received, making
them more efficient.
Wear A Mask:
The kind that will leave your skin feeling and looking glossy. I love to use a mask directly after exfoliating twice a
week. Start off with a clay based cleansing mask, to detox and purify, and a moisturising mask later on in the week. Enjoy a face mask sheet that is loaded with vitamins or smooth a moisture mask on your face and gently press it into your skin till it goes clear and sleep with it on to wake up with baby soft, plump skin.
4. Get a Tan
10 minutes of sun exposure improv es your dose of vitamin D, but take care to avoid over-exposure during peak
hours between 11am to 3pm. We all love that golden glow after a weekend at the beach or poolside, or holiday in
Greece, but sun exposure, especially in summer can lead to damage. Take care of your skin with a good tanning
regime. Wear loads of sunscreen with a high factor. An SPF 50 is recommend, and this does not mean that you will
not tan, but the higher the factor of sunscreen, the less frequently you will have to re-apply and the more you are
protecting yourself against UVA (ageing) and UVB (burn) rays. After sun care such as aloe vera, yogurt or
moisturising milks replenish the moisture your skin has lost while you were out in the sun, and a good pampering
with coconut oil is something your skin will be thankful for, as it prolongs your youthful glow and nourishes the skin.
I also love to load up on aloe vera water during the tanning season.
5. Here We Glow Again
For those self-care Saturdays or Sundays without make-up, try a tinted moisturiser or a BB Cream. I like to apply
mine with a Jade roller, it does wonders for brightening the complexion, and stimulating lymph drainage, so even if
you are lounging around at home, you´ve always got that glow on the go.
For every other day, use radiance boosting, light reflecting make-up, starting with a primer that illuminates the skin.
Use a foundation that is not cakey or does not clog pores, and use an application technique that you enjoy. My
personal favourite is stippling with a sponge and I find that it stimulates blood flow to the skin with dabbing instead
of smearing motions. Apply shimmers and highlighters to areas of your face that attract the light for a glowing look
especially in summer, so strobing is the way to go for enhanced glow whether you are going for a dewy sun kissed
natural day time look or a va va voom glow glam night time look.
6. Get Glowing Hair
Happy healthy, glowing, glossy hair rounds off your glowing appearance. Heat styling, colour treatments and
exposure to the elements leaves our hair looking lifeless, dull, dry and damaged and in need of some good TLC.
Start with the scalp. The scalp is skin too, so start by treating your scalp with an oil treatment before washing. Heat a mixture of coconut, olive and jasmine oil to a comfortable temperature so as not to burn yourself, and massage it into your scalp for ten minutes, from your forehead, all the way down to your neck, flip your hair over, with your head faced down and continue massaging. This stimulates blood flow to the scalp and treats the root of your hair follicles for better growth.
Tip: Don’t have any oils? Try using whip cream, the fats in whipped cream will also do the trick.
Shampoo: Use a good clarifying shampoo to remove build-up of hair products in between washes. Rinse well and
pat the hair dry before applying a moisture mask. The less water in your hair, the better your mask will work.
Masks: Any masks with avocado, honey, olive oil, egg, cinnamon, virgin coconut oil, banana or papaya extracts,
leave your hair shiny and silky smooth.
Remember to style your hair with medium to cool heat to preserve your youthful shiny mane.
7. Glowing Mindset
This is an inside job, but oh so important for an overall and lasting glow in any given situation and regardless of the
circumstance. You are made to shine, physically and mentally. When we are not in a great mind space, it shows in
our overall radiance, and radiance is key to building confidence and stepping into your power, which is already
yours, already inside of you.
Know that you are not alone, even if it may feel that way sometimes. When that feeling does come up for you, turn
to a higher power and ask for obstacles to be removed. Deep breathing as you do this oxygenates your brain and
your skin for a radiance boost. Rely on your intuition, it is always with you and always guiding you. With this trio on
your side, you know that you are never truly alone, you have you, and you always will.
Start by writing down 3 things that you love about yourself. This practice on a daily basis will amp up your inner
glow, as you acknowledge all of the wonderful sides of you that make you wonderful. You acknowledge parts of
yourself that you may have forgotten, or needed reminding of.
Put on Your Rose Coloured Glasses. Look for the positive in every situation, even when it appears that there may not
be, when you look for it, you will find it.
Practice gratitude. It is as simple as saying thank you for another day of life, as soon as you wake up. Try placing a
sticky note on your water jug that says “Grateful For Clean Drinking Water”. You cannot help but ooze radiance and
glow when you know to be grateful for the little things and for the big ones, and you open space for even more good
and glow to come your way.
Hand out happiness awards. When you radiate happiness, others cannot help but recognise your glow, and they will
want to know how you do it. Hand out that radiance to someone else, by letting them know that you are happy to
have them in your life and why. Spreading the radiance, making someone smile, giving a heartfelt compliment
makes you glow.
