– Tips for achieving and maintaining a natural ‘fete-ready’ glow

By Clinton Duncan

“TO a true artist, only that face is beautiful which, quite apart from its exterior, shines with the truth within the soul” – Mahatma Gandhi

With only a few weeks away from Mashramani, and some limited months away from the inaugural “Guyana Carnival” I get many requests from clients asking “How can I achieve a flawless makeup look for the road march?” and my answer is always this, “Flawless makeup begins with flawless skin” … so this week I’m going to share some of my go-to tips to achieve envious skin and protect yourself from the harsh sun on “fete day”.

1. THE GOLDEN RULE – Do: Make sure you always (and we mean always) remove your makeup before hitting the sheets. The skin needs to breathe overnight. And makeup prevents that, as leaving it on overnight clogs the pores which may cause blemishes and/or blackheads. Don’t possess a makeup remover? Just put some olive oil on a cotton pad and gently massage the oil onto your face to get rid of the makeup and dirt.
Don’t: Forget that exfoliation is indispensable. At least once or twice a week, exfoliate your skin to remove the layers of dead skin, sure to leave you with a healthier glow and brighter skin. And for protip, one teaspoon of aloe vera mixed with one teaspoon of Guyana famous brown sugar works magic to exfoliate!

2. SUN AND SKIN – Do: Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 (at least) that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Since a lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems, you have to protect your skin from the sun. Make sure the label reads ‘noncomedogenic’ or ‘no acnegenic’ so that the product does not tend to block pores and DON’T skip the sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy (no excuses).

3. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT – Keep a note of what you put on your plate. Eat fresh fruits, greens, sufficient protein and vitamins. A diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and sugar promotes radiant skin. Consider a low-sugar diet, which can keep insulin levels down, allowing cells to maintain a healthy balance.

4. SWEAT IT OUT! – Do: Exercise regularly. Running, jogging and yoga will give your body the necessary blood circulation, and also accelerate the cleansing process of your entire body. You will notice a glow on your face after working out. Racing against time? Just take a brisk walk around the block.

Don’t: Skip skincare before and after a workout. Apply a toner to help minimise oil production before heading out. Exfoliate after, and then apply shea butter or olive oil to moisturise the skin.

5. BEAUTY SLEEP – Do: Try to sleep at least eight hours every night. If you don’t get enough shut-eye, your skin gets tired just like you – it sags and you get bags. So don’t risk it. You can also apply honey on your face twice or thrice a week to naturally soothe and heal your skin.

6. H2O TO THE RESCUE – Do: Hydrate yourself. Drink lots of water daily, at least eight glasses if not more. Also, eats fruits and vegetables that have a high water content such as watermelon, cucumber, orange, strawberry, grapefruit and cantaloupe. Ayurvedic physician, Vasant Lad recommends to “drink water from a blue coloured bottle”, since it has a cooling effect.

7. GOODBYE ACNE – Don’t: Pop pimples because it can lead to more swelling, redness, and even scarring. Feel a pimple is on its way? Just clean the area with rose water, and place a chilled green tea bag for 10 minutes. Also, if you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.

Now you’re almost ready, you’re dressed to perfection, yet you need something to complete the look. Your smile! While we spend so much time and energy on honing our bodies and looks, we forget to express our inner joy and happiness.

“Keeping a smile on your face will help maintain the tone of your facial muscles and skin. People may say you look 10 years younger than you are!”, adds the Ayurvedic physician, Vasant Lad.