Natural beauty secrets of high profile women.

They may be celebrities or high profile women with outstanding careers, but when it comes to their beauty regimen, these women would rather go for affordable and simple natural products to keep their skin looking smooth and flawless.

Stars such as Cameron Diaz, Shailene Woodley, Lupita Nyong’o, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Blake Lively have it all-good looks, perfect figures and skin to die for and they have spilled their beauty secrets numerous times to international magazines.

Closer home, Catherine Kasavuli, a popular media personality who graced our screens for years has managed to stand out from the crowd because of her flawless complexion and stunning looks. Kasavuli can simply be described as a beauty that never ages.

“My beauty secret is natural coupled with having a positive attitude towards life. I don’t use any expensive product or beauty regimen,” says Kasavuli.

She explains: “I tend to avoid any product too ‘strong’ for my face. I don’t have the need for the latest or expensive products. Drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fruits and vegetables-indigenous vegetables- works wonders for my skin. I can take up to eight glasses of water in a day if I am in a very hot area but normally I do take four glasses. I also do light exercises such as swimming at least once in a week and walking a lot.”

Kasavuli is quick to point out that your skin exudes what you have been eating hence, it is important to ensure that you eat the right foods- a balanced diet.

“There is a strong connection between what you eat and how you look. With the right foods, you can even reduce signs of ageing like wrinkles, thickening and discolouration. At the same time, eating proper foods helps keep you healthy from within. A healthy body will always reflect healthy skin.”

Wahu Kagwi, a popular musician says that in as much as she goes for a facial treatment every month to exfoliate her skin, she also uses natural products, specifically turmeric, from which she makes a mask.

“I take some time to prepare a turmeric mask, which is basically a combination of ingredients such as turmeric, honey and milk. I apply it on my face and wash it off after 20 minutes,” says Wahu.

“At some point, I used to apply the potato mask but once I discovered my latest beauty secret, turmeric, I opted to stick to it. It evens out my skin, leaves it glowing and I feel fresh whenever I use it,” she adds.

Gospel music artiste Rosy Ohon says: “I take a lot of rest to avoid eye bugs (currently, I have an 11-month-old baby girl hence, my nights have not been that easy). Besides that, I scrub my face at least once a week using a face mask made from mixing bar soap and maize flour. It is cheap and works wonders. I also tend to drink a lot of water and avoid the sun at all costs. A happy me is a happy skin.”

KTN’s news anchor, Nancy Kacungira, who is a big fan of natural beauty treatments, says her beauty regimen is very simple.

“The simpler, the better for me. My skin is quite sensitive hence tends to react with chemicals. That is why I would rather go for natural products,” says Kacungira.

She adds: “I get raw shea butter from Uganda and it’s totally amazing. I also prefer olive and coconut oil. When my skin feels somewhat dry, I  apply honey. Due to the nature of my job, I wear lots of make-up and that is when I use a product called Clearasil to wash it off.”

Meanwhile, musician Valerie Kimani, who is currently based in the US, says she loves the idea of do-it-yourself masks for healthy, gorgeous skin but usually ends up buying natural products instead.

“Masks are my favourite facial splurge. They help keep my skin firm. Besides that, I also get regular facials. These always give me amazing results,” says Kimani.

She adds that her beauty secret incorporates washing her face twice in the morning and twice at night.

“My job, which is singing at Michael Jackson ONE, entails wearing heavy make-up hence I find that two washes ensure a thorough clean. In the first wash, I use a gentle oil make-up remover to lift off the make-up and grime (I use MAC). In the second wash, I use a deep cleanser (Neutrogena). After cleansing, I don’t let my skin air dry but instead I immediately tone to trap the moisture. I also live in the desert - Las Vegas - hence I always wear sunscreen and keep my body hydrated,” she explains.

Phoina Tosha, a make-up artist, says natural products do work perfectly and give you that desired look.

“Personally, I have stuff I use from my kitchen, from egg mask, sugar and honey scrub, turmeric to brighten my skin. What one needs to do is to research and get more information on the products they intend to use,” she says.

Her sentiments are echoed by Quincy Mwega, a beauty expert, who says natural products are good in the sense that they are cheap and rich in minerals (they are not refined like manufactured products).

However, he is quick to point out that they could react on your skin and lead to rashes and pH imbalance, causing pigmentation problems.

“To avoid such adverse reactions, it is important that before you start using any product even at the reach of your home, first consult your beauty therapist,” says Mwega.

“Many women want to use a product simply because it worked for a friend or colleague. But it is important to keep in mind that our skin types vary thus what works for a certain individual may not work for you. Seek advice,” he says.

Hollywood secrets

Apparently, Shailene Woodley, an actress who is a big fan of natural beauty colours her lips with roasted beetroot. She has confessed to cooking the vibrant vegetable to use it as an alternative to lipstick.

“It’s totally awesome. Beets are amazing. If you roast them you’ll get a better lipstick. They are not as potent and they don’t stain the same way if they are raw. So I roast them and then dab a little of the juice on my lips using my finger,” she told an international magazine.

Meanwhile, 12 Years A Slave actress Lupita Nyong’o combats her dry skin with oily vegetables. Lupita is best described as the new age black beauty with her beauty secret simply being avocado oil!

“Avocado oil is a big thing for me. I discovered it last year, and at first I was using it just on my body, but then I realised it works on my face and hair too!

“Especially in the wintertime, when my skin is drier. It seeps in and leaves it nice and lush,” she is quoted as saying.

If actress and former fashion model Cameron Diaz was to give just one tip for a healthy skin-and life-it would be to drink lots of water.

“Every night before I go to sleep, I fill up a big glass bottle with water and put it on my bathroom counter. First thing in the morning, right after I brush my teeth, I drink it. Because I know that during the night, while I am sleeping, all of that breathing in and out exhales a lot of moisture from my lungs. Imagine how much water you can lose during eight hours of breathing! Because we can’t replenish it while asleep, it’s important to rehydrate once we wake. Once I drink the water in the bottle by my sink, I feel it immediately. I go from being a wilted plant to one that has just been rejuvenated by the rain,” she explains.

Natural beauty Catherine Zeta- Jones is happy to use her own home-grown beauty secrets, such as rubbing honey and salt on her skin to beat wrinkles, washing her hair in beer and brushing her teeth with a strawberry. In a past interview, the actress admitted that the answer to preserving her youthful appearance lies as much in her kitchen as her make-up bag.

“I rub a mixture of honey and salt all over my body to moisturise and exfoliate,” she said. “You wash it off and your skin is gorgeous. Also, I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards. If there aren’t any apples in the fruit bowl, a strawberry will suffice. The juice or pulp of strawberries contains malic acid, which serves as an astringent and can lighten surface stains. Pineapples work the same way,” she explained.

However, while her rather unusual beauty regime appears to have its benefits, she admits it has its drawbacks too.

“I do condition my hair with honey and beer. I smell like the bottom of a beer barrel for days afterwards but it’s very good for the hair.”