Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day so who better to consult than Miss South Africa 2022 runner-up Ayanda Thabethe on looking and feeling beautiful from the inside out for your big day.
While she’s never had to endure the stresses that come with planning a wedding, Ayanda, who will be representing the country as Miss Supranational South Africa at the pageant taking place in Poland in July, knows about putting her best foot forward when it comes to how she looks. She says ultimately it reflects how she feels.
“I believe that good food is the beginning of a better life for everyone, and nourishment is the cornerstone. The same goes for life in the world of beauty. We are a reflection of what we eat and our bodies – mind and skin included, thrive on being given the best nourishment possible in order to look and perform at their best.”
Having always been passionate about food security and nutrition, the 23-year-old was in her final year of a BSc degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition at the University of KwaZulu-Natal when she entered the Miss South Africa pageant last year. She recently launched her advocacy campaign, Project Khulisa. This initiative aims to help communities struggling with food insecurity while opening critical discussions around nutrition and the country’s double burden of malnutrition and obesity.
No stranger to preparing for many a big day (not the wedding kind of course) Ayanda knows all too well how the stresses of a massive event or special occasion, where at the centre of it all lies YOU, can feel overwhelming.
“As the day is getting closer for you to say ‘I do’; the details are falling into place, and it’s time to start thinking about your appearance and what you can do to maximize the wow factor on your big day. Full disclosure – I’ve not yet been down the wedding road, but I do know a lot about preparing for a big day and pulling out all the stops to make sure I feel like a celebrity every step of the way.”
Skincare
This is just as important as your makeup. Experts are aware of this, which is why I keep only the best supplies in my bag. By simply washing your face and applying skincare every morning and evening, you invest in having gorgeous, hydrated skin every day. It doesn’t take long at all with the correct products. Make it a crucial component of your routine and see how your skin changes and your inner glow appears!
Food sensitivities and digestive problems
These are frequently the cause of problematic skin for many people. One way the body deals with toxins in our systems is through acne and breakouts. Test your diet to see if there are any foods that cause you to break out if you are concerned about your skin. Dairy and gluten are the two most common. Oily meals should be avoided and eating lots of organic fruits and vegetables will be very beneficial. I personally breakout whenever I have peanuts or too much caffeine, so I try to make the effort to limit foods that contain these ingredients – more so when I’m preparing my skin for a pageant.
A natural glow
Make your skin glow naturally rather than just using shimmering highlighter. Water is really good for your body, but it also has a huge impact on your skin. Chronic dehydration is very obvious on the face. You’ll feel so much more energized after drinking water, and it also aids in detoxification, acne prevention and healing, and breakout healing. It’s crucial to consistently drink enough water if you want to look truly healthy and radiant from the inside out. As most doctors would, I highly recommend drinking at least two litres of water every day.
Avoid too much sun
Overexposure to the sun will accelerate the aging process of wrinkles and spots over time. It’s a nightmare to try to get rid of short-term sunburns and dry, peeling skin before your wedding day! Your hopes for a gorgeous dress with a décolletage (low cut neck line) can be spoiled with just one sunburn. Always wear sunscreen when you are outside.
Ayanda’s Top 5 go-to products
Motherkind OceaGlow Marine Collagen I add this collagen powder to a hot cup of water every single morning right after I wake up (on an empty stomach). You can get yours online on www.motherkindco.co.za for R1250 a tin! A tin that will comfortably last you a month!
Nano Mist Sprayer Every morning and night after cleansing my face I fill up the little 30ml tank of my mist sprayer with mineral water and place that near my face for a good 5 minutes before continuing with the rest of my routine. It leaves my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth. I got mine online at www.takealot.com for only R114.
WBeauty Hydrating Serum I use this serum every night after cleansing my skin. I try to put it on at least an hour before I go to bed so that all those great ingredients are soaked into my skin allowing me to see real results. Get yours at any Woolworths branch for R349.
WBeauty face masks My personal favourites are the avocation, tea tree and vitamin C. I absolutely love a good face mask! Not only does it hydrate my skin, but it also feels like self-care to me. I usually spend my 20 minutes with any one of these masks on sitting in my reading corner with a book and a snack on my lap. These are also available at any Woolworths branch ranging between R55.95 to R79.95.
Eucerin suncreen In the morning I actually moisturise my face with sun screen, which is something that I have found to work for me personally. I prefer the SPF50 one which I usually buy at my local Clicks for around R360.
