food

Olympians’ Look-Great Secrets, Continued

July 9, 2012 at 11:58 am
By April Franzino

Our “Play On!” feature in the July/August issue (pg. 44 – 50) is packed with beauty must-haves and tips from Olympians and Olympic hopefuls like Lolo Jones, Kerri Walsh, Natalie Coughlin and Hope Solo. Here’s a bonus selection of tricks these super athletes shared with us:

Sarah Groff, 30, a world-class triathlete, Hanover, New Hampshire

Eat clean. “When I’m eating better—less processed, more whole foods—I break out less,” says Groff. Her good-skin staples include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, a little soy, fish and animal protein.

Lolo Jones, 30, a world champion hurdler, New Orleans, Louisiana

Play up eyes. On race days, Jones skips the pore-clogging face makeup and focuses on her eyes with soft-colored cream shadows. She says Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadows hold up well in heat. “Even after three hours of non-stop sweating, my eyes still look good.”

Natasha Hastings, 26, an Olympic gold medalist and track and field sprinter, Atlanta, Georgia

Be gentle. “Between color and relaxers, my hair is just over-processed,” Hastings says. “My stylist put me on to Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment. I put it on before I shampoo and I’ve seen a drastic change in the health of my hair.”

Shalane Flanagan, 31, an Olympic bronze medalist and 10,000-meter runner, Portland, Oregon

Treat your feet. Flanagan gets a pro pedi before every major race. “I’ve heard from podiatrists that they are really good for runners’ feet and can prevent toenail damage,” she says. Flanagan likes fun, bright polish shades, but is also known to match her polish to her team uniform.

Complexion-Boosting Carrots

July 11, 2011 at 10:57 am
By Fitness Magazine

Carrots aren’t just a tasty snack: They’re also amazing for your skin. Because of their high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A, these orange veggies flush out toxins that are damaging to your complexion, and contain phytochemicals that nourish and hydrate. A recent study from the University of Bristol in England also found that eating golden-pigmented vegetables and fruits like carrots gives your skin a more desirable glow than spending time in the sun. Researchers evaluated the skin color of people in relation to what they eat, and found that those whose diets included more veggies and fruits had a more golden skin color. Those with this golden glow had higher levels of carotenoids, yellow and red antioxidants produced in plants like carrots, in their skin. The researchers then had participants rate the attractiveness of faces enhanced by carotenoids versus sun-tanned faces, and others preferred the glow produced by fruits and veggies to the sun-induced tan. Even more incentive to snack!

—By Kelly Garner, beauty intern

The Recipe for Great Skin

June 29, 2011 at 2:52 pm
By April Franzino

Last week, we had the privilege of enjoying a lunch cooked by Top Chef judge/host and new Eucerin Skin First Council Member Gail Simmons (above). Here, she shares her recipe for the “Skin Savvy Salmon” she made for us, chosen for its complexion-boosting omega fatty acids (take our word for it—it’s delicious!):

Gail Simmons’ Skin Savvy Salmon

1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
4 six-ounce salmon filets, boneless, skin on
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
10-12 turns of freshly ground black pepper
4 cups cooked brown rice
2 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts only
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

_________________________________________

In a small saucepan, add soy sauce, honey, ginger and garlic. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside.

Take a large, oven-proof, non-stick sauté pan and set over high heat (use two pans if needed). Rub the filets all over lightly with vegetable oil. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Once pan is very hot, place the filets skin-side down and press down gently with a spatula so the skin remains flat to the pan. Cook for about six minutes, then liberally glaze the top side of the filets with the soy mixture- you want to have some glaze swirling in the bottom of the pan too, as this will carmelize with the crispy skin. Turn off the heat and flip the salmon so the skin side is now on top. Allow to rest in the pan for three more minutes until cooked through.

Place the salmon filets on top of a cup of brown rice, skin-side up. Drizzle a little more glaze from the pan on the plate. Sprinkle with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with a veggie of your choice, like sauteed spinach or snap peas. Bon appetite!

Find A New Favorite Fragrance

November 24, 2010 at 12:10 pm
By Eleanor Langston

In our November/December issue (on stands now!), I wrote a feature about how your workout of choice can lead you to a perfect-for-you perfume pick. Researchers say that the part of the brain that’s linked to your sense of smell has a direct connection to your personality and exercise preference.

In the issue, we have fragrance finds for active readers who love to hike, run, spin and practice yoga, but we had to drop one exercise category from the layout: dancing. Read on to sniff out a new signature scent for the season!

Your Workout: Dancing
Your Fit Fragrance: Gourmand

If you love ballet, jazz, hip-hop, or even Zumba classes, chances are you enjoy being in tune with your body. And scrumptious food-inspired fragrances take the cake in terms of increasing your self-esteem. “Because they’re often associated with positive, nostalgic feelings, research suggests that these sweet scents can raise your endorphin levels, making you feel better about yourself,” explains Alan Hirsch, M.D., of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Try these yummy, but still subtle, scents:

• Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Heavenly Stardust ($49, Victoria’s Secret stores) has comforting traces of caramel and praline.
• The star note in Pure DKNY ($80, dkny.com) is vanilla, which smells fresh, thanks to hints of creamy sandalwood.
• Mary Kay Thinking of You ($30, marykay.com) sweetens skin with delish dashes of tonka bean, vanilla, and sugar.