Inside-out beauty

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 1998 by Kat James

Shiny hair. Radiant skin. Soft lips. Sparkling eyes. Beauty is the outer reflection of a healthy body. Because traditional makeovers generally don't go beyond a fresh haircut and a few new makeup tips, we devised the Vegetarian Times makeover--one that works from the inside out and incorporates whole foods and supplements as well as natural body care products. We tapped New York-based holistic beauty expert Kat James to direct our project, and three women with very different health and beauty goals, including our own associate editor, Andrea Mather, eagerly signed on to participate. After extensive consultations, Kat tailored individual programs for the women. Six weeks later, they headed for The Alternative Salon in Chappaqua, N.Y., for some final touches. Here are the results.

The Challenge

NATURALLY RADIANT SKIN. Despite using creams prescribed by her dermatologist, Andrea's skin lacked luster and was prone to breakouts. To improve her skin tone, she needed to round out her vegetarian diet with some supplements and mix sonic aerobic exercise into her weekly yoga routine.

The Program

Diet: Maintain balanced plant-based diet. Drink at least eight glasses a day of filtered water. Eliminate alcohol.

Supplements: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an anti-inflammatory; evening primrose oil, an anti-inflammatory and hormone regulator; garlic, a natural antibiotic; chromium picolinate, an infection fighter; flaxseed oil, which contains essential fatty acids needed for skin cell repair; probiotics with fructooligosaccharides for digestion-related acne problems. (Dosages determined by label instructions.)

Exercise: Three 45-minute sessions a week of aerobic activity in addition to weekly yoga classes to help reduce stress and add a healthy glow to her cheeks.

Skin Care: Switch to all-natural cleansing products and moisturize regularly.

radiance

Facial Routine

* Wash with Aubrey Organics Green Tea Facial Cleanser twice a day.

* Moisturize during the day with Jason Natural Cosmetics Perfect Solutions Ester-C Daily Age Defense Moisture Lotion. At night, alternate between Aqualine Original and Zia Ultimate "C" Serum and Ultimate Moisture.

* Treat breakouts with Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Blemish Touch Stick.

The Experience

Initially, taking all of those supplements seemed daunting and frankly, unnatural. However, I was committed to giving it a go for my goal--a radiant complexion. While I didn't exercise as much as Kat suggested, I did attend a dance class that made me sweat--and laugh. And I became addicted to moisturizing, which I had previously avoided because I thought it would cause even more blemishes. Surprisingly, moisturizing helped make my skin supple and clear. I really knew the message had sunk in when I found myself applying moisturizer twice on a coast-to-coast flight. Occasionally, I gagged trying to get the supplements down, but in the end, I got what I wanted. My skin does glow, and I get loads of compliments.

renewal

The Challenge

LIGHTEN DARK HAIR WITHOUT AGGRAVATING A DRY SCALP. Carmen focused her energy on her job, kids and home and usually shortchanged her personal needs. Updating her look with a new color and haircut: jump-started her commitment to take better care of herself. She needed to augment her already well-balanced diet with supplements, drink more water to thoroughly hydrate her skin and use natural hair-care products specifically, designed to alleviate her scalp condition.

The Program

Diet Stick to her well-balanced diet. Swap coffee for at least eight glasses of filtered water a day.

Supplements: Vitamin C, an antioxidant and collagen builder; methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an anti-inflammatory; and evening primrose oil, an anti-inflammatory. (Dosages determined by label instructions.)

Hair Products: White Camellia and Jasmine Conditioning Shampoo and Mandarin Magic Ginkgo and Ginseng Hair Moisturizing Jelly, all from Aubrey Organics.

Hair Care

* Herbaceuticals Rose Petal Lightener gave Carmen golden honey highlights.

* Naturcolor Woodruff Blonde softened her original black color and blended the highlights.

* A medium shag haircut brought out Carmen's natural curls,

The Experience

After the third day, I was actually looking forward to my water. And taking the supplements quickly became second nature. Both changes have made a big difference--my scalp no longer burns in the shower. My hair and skin are healthier too.

As far as my new hair color and cut, it sounds corny, but it opened up a whole new world for me. I feel renewed (and have even been told I look 15 years younger). Much more than my hair got lighter!

vitality

The Challenge

GREATER ENERGY. Lisa battled constant fatigue. Her schedule left little time for regular exercise, and she fueled her activities with fast food, sugar and caffeine. To boost her vitality, she needed to integrate whole foods into her diet, take key supplements and start a regular exercise program.

The Experience

I got an energy boost right away from the diet, supplements and walking routine, which kept me motivated and committed. The one day I did blow it off, I got an immediate reminder of how tired I used to feel and went back on track the next day. Before I made these changes, I needed a pick-me-up like coffee and a croissant an hour or two after eating a meal. Now I have fewer dips in energy, and when I do need something, I reach for soy milk and an oat/flax bagel. After I come home from work, I find I can easily spend another three hours in my recording studio.