THE BOHO BRIDE: PART I

“Bohemianism; unconventional, musical, artistic, literary… those who are wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds”

THE BOHO BRIDE: PART I

– SKIN –

For the free-spirited bride-to-be, a bohemian themed wedding is the perfect way to celebrate the union between her and her soulmate.

Today’s modern bohemian embraces all things that are culturally rich with expression, that give an air of otherworldly knowledge, and that provide a balance between oneself and the world. The bohemian lifestyle encompasses travel, culture, sprituality and a sense of connection to mother nature, so keeping these themes in mind Couturing brings you a three part guide to beauty for the bohemian bride-to-be.

PREPARING FOR THE BIG DAY:

EAT WELL

Aim for fair trade, organic, free range food. Organic foods are free from the pesticides, fertilisers and other chemicals that we ingest when we eat non-organic foods. Try it for a weekend and you wont just taste the difference, your body will feel the difference. If organic is too pricey, make sure you wash all fresh fruit and veg thoroughly.

YES

● Water, and lots of it

● Get enough sleep – it releases beauty hormones, like collagen and keratin, to help keep skin and lips looking plump and youthful

● Whole grains. White bread, pasta and rice are full of refined stodge and yeast, which can cause tummy problems and thrush. Whole grains however, are still in their husk and are rich in filling fibre.

● Increase your intake of the following:

• Green vegetables
• Green tea
• Avocado
• Almonds – high fibre, vitamin E, magnesium, riboflavin, low GI
• Beans
• Pomegranate
• Raw dark chocolate – antioxidants and lower in fat than milk chocolate
• Swap sugar for organic Coconut Palm Sugar
• Swap butter for Cacao Butter

NO

• Refined sugars, lollies, soft drink, pastries, and cookies
• Dairy – dairy food is a great source of calcium and vitamin D, but it can also clog up your  digestive system with mucus. Give it a break from time to time; try calcium-enriched almond milk instead
• Fry ups – Frying and roasting smother food in fat, which boosts the number of cell-damaging, skin-ageing free radicals in your body. Try stir-frying, grilling and steaming instead
• Corn, sunflower, safflower, and sesame oils – these all have far more  omega-6 fatty acids than anti-inflammatory omega-3s. This imbalance promotes  inflammation, which causes skin cells to clump together and jam pores.

EXERCISE

Ditch the gym and go back to mother nature. Exercising outdoors with the added fresh air and sun (good vitamin D) will add zing to your regime. Mix it up with running, hiking, or tai chi: all forms of physical activity release natural endorphins and gives your skin a healthy glow.

During the winter months however, outdoor exercise is not the easiest of tasks. To beat the winter blues you can try yoga, zumba, or pilates. Ashtanga and Bikram yoga in particular can give you a sense of well-being, balance of the mind, and fitness of the body in one go.

•  ASHTANGA OR POWER YOGA: This type of yoga is fast and athletic; you jump between postures rather than easing into them. You’ll end up fairly hot and sweaty, and achieve quite the workout.
•  BIKRAM YOGA: Bikram yoga started in Hollywood and involves a sequence of 26 postures. Bikram is done in a room set at about 40 degrees celsius, the idea being that extreme sweating is a detoxifying process. Take plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

BEAUTY TREATMENTS

Channel your inner flower child and create your own products and treatments. You will be helping to save natural resources, be confident that no animals have been harmed in the process, and of course save some extra cash too! All-natural ingredients also come with the added benefits of nourishing the skin with the purest of enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

GENTLE CHAMOMILE CLEANSING LOTION
● Fresh or dried chamomile flowers
● Milk
Place the flowers and milk in a pan and warm gently over a low heat for 15 minutes. Leave for an hour, then strain through a sieve. Store in the fridge for up to a week

HERBAL STEAM
Herbal steams are a simple and fragrant way to deeply cleanse the skin. They open pores to remove impurities and boost circulation, leaving your complexion glowing. In a bowl, cover fresh or dried herbs with boiling water. Lean over the bowl for 10 minutes, and cover your head and the bowl with a towel. Pat your face dry and dab on a freshening toner to close the pores. Practice once a week for oily skin, less often for dry skin. Avoid this process if you have thread veins.

NOURISHING SAGE FACE MASK
● A few chopped sage leaves
● 1 chopped apple
● 30ml honey
Mix all the ingredients to a paste in a blender. Apply to the skin and leave for 15 minutes, then wash off with water

ROSE, CHAMOMILE & JASMINE HAIR MASK
Add a few drops of rose, chamomile and jasmine essential oils to apricot kernal oil. Shower and wash your hair. Apply the hair mask, then wrap your hair in clingfilm and a towel. Relax for 20 minutes before washing hair.

OATMEAL & HONEY FOOT MASK
● Bowl of hot water
● Epsom salts
● Green tea
● Cup of oatmeal
● Honey
● Olive oil
● Few drops of essential oil
Sit your feet in a bowl filled with hot water, a bag of green tea and some Epsom salts. Relax for 10 minutes then dry them. Cover them in a foot mask consisting of a cup of oatmeal with honey, olive oil and a few drops of essential oil all mixed together. Then clingfilm and pop some warm socks on. Relax for 10 minutes before washing.

LUXURY SEA SALT SCRUB
● Sea salt crystals
● olive oil
● a few drops of  rose or sandalwood essential oil
Mix the ingredients together and work it in all over the body, starting with your feet, and working towards the heart. Next exfoliate your face gently with a cleanser and a muslin cloth. Shower it all away, pat yourself dry, then moisturize well.

MINT, CHAMOMILE & GINGER TEA SOAK
● bag of mint tea
● bag of chamomile tea
● bag of ginger tea
Make a big pot with all three teas. Pour a cup, then run a warm bath, adding the rest of the tea and the teabags. Then relax as you breathe in the healing herbal steam and sip the tea. When you get out, pat yourself dry and moisturize.

SEAWEED BODY MASK
Warning: do not use seaweed masks if you have a thyroid condition
● Nori (seaweed) sheets; available from supermarkets
● Warm water
Cut the nori into strips. Soften the strips in warm water. Cover your body with the seaweed, then with a thin material such as muslin. Wrap yourself in towels, keep warm and drink some water. After 20 minutes, shower, pat yourself dry and moisturize