Up Close and Personal with Miss India UK 2009 – Poonam Mehmi

Question: As a model, ‘How do you maintain your figure’, ‘How do you keep your skin so clear and radiant’, ‘How do you keep your hair so healthy’, and ‘How do you maintain yourself?’ Answer: Here are my secrets…an exclusive guide dedicated to sharing some of my beauty secrets and tips I have picked up during my career. Models struggle just as much as anyone else with their weight and skin, but their jobs require them to become very skilled at things like make-up and general body maintenance; it just requires following a few simple rules and basic tips! It is good to share some of the many tips and advice I have acquired over the years from top make-up artist in the industry and my own personal experiences, so here are my top 10 beauty tips:

Tip 1: Do not skip breakfast: I never skip breakfast; you always hear it is the most important meal of the day because it jumpstarts your metabolism and helps to prevent binging later in the day which in turn helps maintain a good figure.

Tip 2: Exercise on a regular basis: I exercise twice a week which helps me to maintain a good figure; going to the gym is not always the answer. Just doing basic stretches and basic exercise maintains your body well.

Tip 3: Yoga: I do yoga thrice a week which helps me calm down because stress always affects beauty. This is why my skin is in good condition and is not spotty. Why leave it for foundation to sort it out when you can just have a clear complexion to start with? The most effective yoga for stress is kundalini yoga, which keeps your mind clear and positive.

Tip 4: Cleanse and moisturise every single day: It may seem like a chore, but the reward is great. Cleansing your skin and moisturising it has really good effects and keeps your skin looking fresh and radiant. My best tip would be to do this every night before you go to sleep; your skin heals at night when you are asleep so cleansing it and applying a good night cream makes all the difference. I use Olay Double Action Night Cream; it keeps my skin looking good.

Tip 5: Drink hot water: Many models will simply say drink 8 glasses of water a day… yeah, this is good but if you really want healthy and flawless skin, drink a cup of hot water first thing in the morning and last thing at night as this has two great affects. Firstly it keeps your complexion clear and secondly its works as a good detox for your system.

Tip 6: Eat fruits: It is amazing what fruit can do for your skin. People often tell you just to eat fruit but eating the right fruits that give your skin a boost is even better: Apples are a great conditioner and toner for your skin. They have amazing skin-healing powers and have been used as a beauty aid for centuries. Pineapples are great skin softeners, which cleanses and rejuvenates dull and dry skin. Papaya is rich in papain enzyme and Vitamin A, so it is the best treatment for exfoliating your skin. Banana is a great emollient for your skin and hair.

Tip 7: Give your hair a break: Your hair can look thick and healthy if you do not straighten it or blow dry it for a week; as a model, my hair goes through a lot, especially after fashion shows where make-up artists apply a lot of back-combing. The best way to fix your hair is to leave it totally natural for a week or so and not straighten it or blow-dry it; let it dry natural, you will be amazed at the difference a week can make.

Tip 8: Sleep 8 hours a day: Our skin heals when we are asleep so having the maximum rest and not having late nights can make a big difference to your skin and overall health.

Tip 9: Exfoliate: exfoliating your skin regularly helps cleanse your skin of all the dirt, pollution and other chemicals it is exposed to everyday.

Tip 10: Moisturise your body! The key to having a healthy body glow all over is to always, without fail, moisturise your body after every shower; it keeps your skin looking bright, flawless and gives it a glowing tone!

Source: Vogue India