A top Australian model for many years, and now a well-respected yoga instructor (you may have seen her face on Qantas’ in-flight exercise programme), Kate Bell is the ultimate natural beauty. Genetics aside, we found out which health and beauty secrets make her so gorgeously glowing …
Yoga Beginnings. “I started iyengar yoga when I was really young - I’m talking as far back as I remember. There used to be a show on television that I’d follow. Soon after, I started doing my own routines. I have no idea where it came from, my family wasn’t into yoga at all. But it was intuitive for me and evolved very naturally. By the time I was modelling, I was doing my practice twice a day, an hour each time. I became really disciplined, mainly out of fear of putting on weight. I can laugh about it now and say it was a vanity thing. But no, it was actually out of sheer terror.” Pictured: Iyengar Yoga for Beginners, by BKS Iyengar ($25.50, from iyogaprops).
Exercise Now. “I’m much easier on myself these days. As I get older, I’m more about being kind to my body and keeping comfortable. I’ll still do some kind of practice every morning, but it might be more meditative. Or else, I’ll go to the pool and do walking and lunging exercises in the kids’ section. The pool is also a great place for breathing retention exercises. I must look insane when I do all of my pool exercises, but I feel fantastic and so relaxed afterwards.”
Top Health Tips. “1 - Drink water all day long. 2 - Have early nights and lots of sleep. 3 - Eat healthy food. Fresh fruit and veggies and good bread. It’s not hard to eat well. Keep it simple and pure. 4 - Dry body brush daily. It makes you feel great and your skin soft. 5 - Smile. It sounds like a cliché, but as I get older, I realise that being happy is what makes you healthy and beautiful.”
Natural Anti-Ageing. “I have a qigong rice bag that I swear keeps my facial muscles strong and taut (but you could even just use a bag of regular rice). Every few days, I place the rice bag on various parts of my face - the forehead, the eyes, the jawline - and do a variety of movements until I feel the muscles there start to tire. It’s a great botox-free way to make sure muscles don’t get lax.”
On Unnatural Anti-Ageing. “I’ve seriously thought about botox in the past. I used to live in America, where it’s so accepted. But since moving back to Australia, I’ve decided against any kind of cosmetic or plastic surgery. It’s so much more important to be healthy and happy - that’s when you’re your most beautiful. The thought of putting foreign substances into my body also makes me shudder. Surely it puts the body in some kind of state of anxiety.”
Top Beauty Trick: Beach Hair. “I used to always get booked for lifestyle and body shoots, because I had a more athletic type of body. And the hair and makeup artists would always keep my look really natural. One hairstylist once simply used saltwater in my hair - it gave a kind of wild texture to my curls. And this was way before you could buy saltwater-inspired styling sprays in store. I’ve made my own hair styling sprays ever since, either taking a bottle to the beach and filling up with the real thing, or just adding rock salt to regular water.”
Oil Well. “Many women shy away from oils, but I love them. When I get out of the shower, I apply jojoba oil all over, when skin is still damp. It gives the body a kind of protective barrier for the day; I also like its slightly waxy look. For the face, I’ve been using Dr Hauschka Normalising Day Oil ($58.60, see Dr Hauschka for stockist info). It’s a lovely, light moisturiser that helps sort out t-zone shine.”
The Favourites File … “For lips, I use a hemp seed butter gloss that I found at my local health food store. It’s delicious and tints lips just enough … I dye my own lashes and brows, which is mostly all the eye makeup I wear. Although if I go out at night, I pack on loads of Maybeline Great Lash Mascara ($14.50, from pharmacies) … my skin’s starting to play a little join-the-dots, so I’m finding that I’m needing more coverage these days. I use MAC Studio Fix ($48, from MAC), which allows me to go as light or as heavy as I need … I love any skincare featuring Q10, particularly Nivea Visage Anti-Wrinkle Q10 Plus Eye Care ($17.55, from pharmacies). … I have a super-cleansing facial complete with extraction every couple of months. In the meantime, Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar ($125, from Mecca Cosmetica) is a great way to keep skin smooth.”
For more information on Kate, visit Kate Bell
