Healthy ageing

Beach Beauty: Naturally younger-looking you!

Make sure you look a million dollars this summer with Natural Health’s expert advice and top pampering beach treats…

Make sure you look a million dollars this summer with Natural Health’s expert advice and top pampering beach treats…
Stay grounded

Apart from being a great natural pedicure, walking in the sand also helps you to feel ‘connected’ with nature. Movement therapists often recommend that patients go barefoot, as they recognise that a sense of connection with the surface beneath our feet helps us feel more in touch with our situation, more grounded, and can be eassuring. It’s also a bit like having a foot massage and it stretches and exercises parts of your feet which are often constrained and cramped by shoes.

Eat right

Certain foods can help to protect your skin from sun damage by scavenging free radicals caused by oxidation from UV rays. Try eating fruit and veg packed with carotenoids and flavonoids. As a rule, the darker the fruit, the higher the antioxidant content so opt for blueberries, strawberries, carrots and tomatoes to help to prepare your skin for the sun and build up its own protection mechanism. As an extra boost, try Imedeen Tan Optimiser with palm fruit and tomato extracts.

Walk tall

“Slouching is extremely unattractive – it makes you look shorter, fatter, round-shouldered and even makes your breasts look droopy,” warns Pilates expert Lynne Robinson, co-author of Pilates Plus Diet (Pan, £10.99). “By constantly reminding the body of how it should be standing, sitting or lying, and by moving correctly, you can bring it into better alignment – essential not only to restore muscle balance but to look good on the beach as well.”

And breathe

Seaside air has a hugely positive effect on your body as it is packed full of negative ions. These charged particles are released into the air in the sea spray and when we breathe them into our lungs they can help our bodies by accelerating the delivery of oxygen to our cells.

Scrub up

“The most important part of summer is to keep your tan and skin looking healthy,” according to Deborah Mitchell, creator of organic range Heaven. “In order to do this, try gentle exfoliation as it works to detox the body whilst keeping it hydrated. You can do this by using the sand and the sea whilst you’re away. As well as exfoliating the skin, sand actually keeps it hydrated as it puts moisture back into the skin – although the salt can make skin appear dry.”

Take the plunge

A dip in the ocean is the perfect health boost. “Swimming gives us such a feeling of wellbeing because we can experience ‘the lightness of being’ in the element of water,” says hydrotherapist Ana van Zelderen. “As our body weight is carried, our joints are unburdened so we can experience more freedom of movement, which contributes to our enjoyment. We can mobilise our joints and strengthen our muscles as we swim, which is really effective exercise.” What’s more, the sea contains healing minerals such as magnesium, potassium and sulphur and these minerals penetrate our bodies in homeopathic quantities. This mineral absorption through the skin improves our wellbeing and health.

Skin SOS

If the weather is playing havoc with your complexion, try one of these face fixers

1. Philosophy Hope Springs Eternal Deep Sea Hydrating Mist, £16 This revitalising spritz boosts the skin’s moisture level so use for an instant cool down.

2. The Skin Care Co. Prickly Heat Spray, £6.95. Combat unsightly heat rash with this cooling spray.

3. The Body Shop Aloe Cooling Body Gel, £8.50. With the calming properties of aloe, this gel is great for soothing inflamed skin.

4. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster, £27.80. For improved elasticity and added moisture, this oil will give your skin an instant lift.

5. Amala Purify Purifying Mattifier, £42. Keep oily skin under control and help cleanse pores with this mattifier.

6. Skin Shop Liquorice Balm, £10.99. To combat dry, cracked lips this balm contains liquorice extract which moisturises and protects.

Hair help

Protect your locks on the beach with some of these fabulous products

1. AVEDA Sun Care Hair Masque, £13.35. This is after sun for your hair and only takes a few minutes to give you back your shine.

2. Mark Hill Holiday Hair Stay Straight Polish, £3.42. Great for de-frizzing hair. This is an ultra-light polish that’s small enough to pop in your beach bag.

3. Tigi Totally Beaching Styling Mist, £8.99. Simply spray and scrunch for a surfer chick do.

4. Frederic Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Detox Shampoo, £19. Infused with marine botanicals and a UV shield, this helps protect your hair from sun damage.

5. A’kin Vitamin Masque, £7.49. Leave this mask on overnight for an intensive condition and to restore any lost moisture.

6. Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo, £7.99. If your hair has taken a bit of a battering in the summer sun, give it some extra care with this organic shampoo.

Treat your tresses

Sexy, sun-kissed locks always look fabulous but don’t forget to protect them from UV damage, advises Tara Kidd, senior colourist at Daniel Galvin Junior (danielgalvinjnr.co.uk). “The sun breaks down the protein structure of your hair, reducing elasticity and making it more prone to breakage,” says Tara. “Your hair is like your skin so use a UV hair masque to protect it in the sun.” She also recommends leaving an intensive organic conditioning treatment in your hair before you go out in the sun. “The heat will lock in the essential vitamins and amino acids to leave your hair soft and shiny.”

Work it

“Try running or walking in the sea with the water at midthigh level to help stimulate circulation while simultaneously breathing deeply to improve oxygen intake,” says Susan Harmsworth of ESPA. “This is excellent resistance work that is brilliant for cellulite and water retention and muchnicer than going to the gym.”