Ahoy there! The Store-Cupboard Beauty Queen is back with more simple cupboard goodies that can make you feel, look and smell great, disaster fixes and other handy tips. This month, how to get firm skin from the inside out, exfoliate for the beach and chill out if you get caught in the sun. Always of course while smelling delicious.
Lots of people talk about collagen loss these days, about how it affects your skin as part of the aging process. And there are product lines out there with heaps of marine collagen and muds, like La Mer, that cost a bomb but DO the job.
But what can a fashionista with a slightly thinner wallet do to get a good collagen boost? Ladies in Singapore get bio yoghurt with collagen added, and taken regularly, it does give your skin a nice glow. In the USA, you can get (not very tasty) tablets, or try this: add seaweed to your diet (and more than the little bit that is around the outside of your maki roll): hijiki and wakame are my favourites for flavour and texture and are great in salads with julienned carrots. You can buy all kinds of seaweed dry from healthfood stores/groceries and all you have to do is soak it; while you are there, you can pick up some agar agar.
If you are vegetarian you might have heard of agar agar. It’s a flavorless substitute for gelatine that is made from seaweed too. So go for a low cal treat and make your favorite flavor of jellied dessert but instead of gelatine use agar agar strips. Try using rose water and almond milk or sweetened lemon tea as for great flavours and fresh breath. Out of the fridge it’s a great antidote to hot weather too.
Sudden plans for a trip to the beach? Get your skin beach ready. Here’s a quick home-made salt scrub for your rough bits. Mix ½ cup flaked sea salt with ¼ cup avocado, jojoba or almond oil to make a paste like texture. If you have some handy you can also add a teaspoon of sandalwood powder. Before you shower just stand in the tub and rub briskly in a circular motion…it works well on cellulite too if done regularly. I like to add a little bit of peppermint oil for a really cooling feeling and a fragrance to die for.
Now for after sun. You should have lathered yourself with sunscreen and be sporting a gentle glow, but if you overdid the rays, try this quick fix to relieve the burn. Put a cup of oatmeal into a cool bathtub and let it sit for about five minutes, stirring the oats through occasionally. Once the water is a bit milky, get in and soothe your skin. While you’re in there have some of your cold agar agar jello and CHILL!
