When it comes to looking good, there's no doubt that celebrities have an advantage. Heaps of time to train, a personal chef and the latest beauty treatments make being gorgeous seem easy for the starlets. However, you don't need a bottomless bank account and 24-devotion to get that radiant glow.
This week, we reveal how eating right and regular exercise really are the name of the game for great skin, killer nails, a mane of glossy hair and sparkling eyes. Plus, we share the beauty secrets of the celebrities.
The ‘mane’ event
Protein is important for strong, healthy hair. Most of us get plenty of the stuff through daily eating, so you probably don’t need to up your intake.
To shine, hair needs oils and fats and, particularly, essential fatty acids (they’re essential because the body can’t make them for itself and so they have to be eaten). Omega-3 fatty acids encourage healthy hair growth and may even prevent hair loss (find them in oily fish, such as salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds). The mineral magnesium is also important for healthy hair (find it in fruits, especially bananas, and in vegetables). The B group vitamins may play a part in helping your hair to retain its natural colour (find it in wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, organ and red meats, oatmeal, egg yolk, soy, mushrooms, bananas and peanuts). And, like all skin, vitamin C helps to keep your scalp healthy (find it in fruits and vegetables).
Celebrity tip: Carmen Electra mashes a ripe avocado and massages it into her hair before relaxing outside in the sunshine for half an hour or so. After rinsing, she says her hair is soft and shiny.
Beating cellulite can be a bumpy ride!
That dreaded 'orange peel' skin that so commonly clings to our bottoms and thighs is caused by fat cells that have become too large for the natural fibre compartments which hold the skin. The compartments bulge because of uneven layers of fat underneath it, which results in the characteristic cellulite look. But, cellulite doesn’t just affect you if you are heavy; it can affect women of all shapes and sizes and this is why some experts suggest that cellulite is influenced by female hormones. To get the streamlined thighs that each of us craves, exercise is key.
For smoother skin from the inside, try to focus on eating good quality proteins, such as beans, whole grains, seeds, walnuts and fish, and lecithin, found in soya and eggs. Plus, boost the fibre in your diet and opt for plenty of fruits and vegies that are rich in vitamin C. It also helps to drink plenty of water.
Celebrity tip: Jessica Simpson’s thighs-to-die-for are down to a combination of good diet and lots of toning exercises especially while she is in training for a part. Jessica is also reported to cut down on sugar and salt, which are thought to trap fluid in cells, perhaps contributing to the dreaded orange-peel effect, and drinks plenty of water.
Another great celeb must-have that helps to ‘even out’ imperfections is a good fake tan. There are lots of products on offer that will suit everyone’s skin colour and wearing the right shade, applied evenly, can help you look sleeker. Oh, and don’t forget to moisturise regularly, too!
Get your skin glowing!
For vibrant, healthy-looking skin from the inside out turn to oily fish, such as salmon, and other omega-3 providers, such as walnuts. Vitamin C and the antioxidants that you’ll find in fruit and vegetables are also essential as they contain vital nutrients that protect the skin from free radical damage, helping it to look its vibrant, healthiest best. Vitamin E (from nuts, seeds, avocadoes and good quality oils) also has moisturising and circulation-boosting effects. Add selenium from a daily Brazil nut or two or some free range turkey and you’ll be going a long way to keeping your skin supple and elastic. Water is, of course, a must to plump out your skin cells and give you a healthy glow.
Celebrity tip: Sharon Stone satisfies her sweet tooth by snacking on prunes, helping to prevent wrinkles at the same time. According to Dr Maoshing Ni, one of Hollywood’s favourite doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine, prunes contain wrinkle-beating vitamin E.
Two more of our favourite Hollywood celebs with skin to die for include Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. Both are reported to tuck into sushi daily – though not together, you understand! Jennifer also loves Mexican food, particularly guacamole, which is made from avocadoes (stuffed full of vitamin E), as well as cleansing garlic and lemon.
Better nails?
Your nails are made from the protein keratin. And if your nails are brittle it could be a sign of iron deficiency – red meats and whole grains are good sources, but do see your doctor if you think you might be low. You can help your body absorb more iron from your foods by eating some vitamin C-rich fresh fruits or vegetables with meals. And, you can keep your nails strong and lubricated with the essential fatty acids from fish and olive oil.
Celebrity tip: It's understood that America's sweetheart Julia Roberts keeps her nails in tip-top condition by soaking them in ultra moisturising olive oil for a few minutes every week; it softens cuticles too and leaves hands ultra soft. Don’t forget, that every time you slap on the sunscreen around your body, rub some into your hands to keep them looking smooth and youthful.
Healthy eyes
Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce and watercress, and eggs are great sources of lutein and xeazanthin, a group of pigments called carotenoids that help keep eyes healthy and bright. Blueberries contain potent antioxidants and are great for your eyesight, too. For puffy eyes, cucumbers are great – don’t eat them, lie down and place two chilled slices over your eyes and have a 10-minute rest. Or, try using two used, squeezed-out and chilled chamomile tea bags – great for calming and rejuvenating tired eyes.
Big on bones
Women are more prone to the bone thinning condition, osteoporosis, but that’s not to say that men are immune. Do look after your bones (and teeth) by choosing plenty of calcium from low-fat dairy and soya products, canned fish with soft bones, seeds, nuts and leafy green vegetables. Getting enough vitamin D (from sunlight and eating eggs and fortified foods such as margarine) will also help to keep bones strong. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, running and weight-training, actively promote strong bones – so get moving!
Pearly whites
We all know the foundations of good teeth lie in calcium and vitamin D – getting enough of both these nutrients is a must. Regular dentist visits, brushing and flossing and perhaps a little cosmetic work at the dentists helps celebs maintain their winning smiles: it's understood that in 2002 Tom Cruise used clear braces to make his near-perfect smile completely perfect and, in 2001, Brad Pitt reportedly had his teeth capped. But in reality, great teeth and a winning smile are all about long-term maintenance – brush, floss and visit the dentist regularly.
Celebrity tip: Catherine Zeta Jones is said to brush her teeth with malic acid-containing mashed strawberries mixed with baking soda – this acts as a mild whitening agent. Be careful not to overdo astringent or acidic applications on your teeth, though, as this could strip the enamel from your teeth causing sensitivity and a whole range of dental problems that result from erosion.
Go along to your dentist for some advice about tooth whitening or ask your pharmacist for your options as far as over-the-counter whitening products are concerned.