Beauty Detective Qx_Slim At Home 27/03/2015 17:00 Page 2
BEAUTY inflammation.” Other foods include cocoa and green and black tea, which are rich in anti-ageing polyphenols; tomatoes, papaya and watermelon, which are packed full of a red carotenoid called lycopene that protects skin against sunburn and skin cancer; and finally pomegranate, which strengthens the skin’s upper layers.
THE
BEAUTY detective
Get prepped for glowing summer skin with advice from our beauty editor at large Emma Van Hinsbergh
TREAT YOUR BODY Of course, to keep your natural SPF in full combat mode you’d have to eat an awful lot of the stuff, so I usually supplement with something like Colladeen Visage (naturesbest.co.uk) or Imedeen Tan Optimizer (imedeen.co.uk) – both of which contain high levels of plant nutrients to keep your skin in tip-top condition. I also drink gallons of water to boost skin’s natural moisture factor which protects against environmental damage and increase my intake of omega 3 fatty acids found in foods such as sardines, mackerel, flax and chia seeds (or supplement with Seven Seas Perfect 7, seven-seas.com) to protect against sunburn and melanoma. Topically, I use a decent body scrub such as Ole Henriksen’s Rub n’ Buff Salt Scrub (johnlewis.com) or G Baldwin’s Citrus Bath Salts (baldwins.co.uk) two or three times a week followed by lashings of a decent moisturiser such as Murad’s brilliant new Body Firming Cream (murad.co.uk). Start this regime now and you’ll be boasting a perfectly healthy tan this summer!
In Cornwall, where I grew up, we view pale skin with vague suspicion. A milky white complexion might be de rigeur in certain circles but down in the West Country, it’s all kinds of wrong. I mean, can you imagine Ross Poldark without that tan? He just wouldn’t cut the mustard. Not surprisingly, this tanning fascism presents something of a conundrum in my professional life, where every dermatologist I meet drums home the drastic ageing effects of the sun. How on earth can I be a dedicated beach bum when I know I’ll end up looking like an old prune? Thankfully, there are ways to tan well and safely. Experts all agree that soaking up a few rays is crucial for good health, as it provides essential vitamin D. What’s more, you can strengthen your skin against UV damage with a bit of dedicated presummer prepping...
SECRET WEAPONS
GET FRUITY Every spring, I start wolfing down antioxidant-rich foods that contain a natural SPF factor. These include deep purple berries such as blackcurrants, blueberries and blackberries, fruits such as black grapes and figs, and orange and dark green vegetables such as peppers, squash, kale and spinach. “The plant pigments in these foods gravitate to the skin,” explains nutritionist Dr Sam Christie from Nature’s Best (naturesbest.co.uk). “They help the skin cope with UV light by suppressing the damaging effects of sunlight, neutralising free radicals and reducing
…tanning essentials
STRENGTHEN HAIR
NOURISH DRY SKIN
AVOID DAMAGE
Daniel Galvin Junior’s Argan Oil Detox Hair Masque, £5.99, combats environmental damage (danielgalvinjunior.com)
Pommade Divine, £19.80, is enriched with herbs and spices to nourish dry or inflamed skin (lovelula.com)
S5 Illuminating Serum, £44, is packed full of plant cosmeceuticals to protect against the sun (lovelula.com)
NATURAL HEALTH 79