Just for you

Want to rock up to the beach with the perfect tan? Then now’s the time to book yourself in for a pre-holiday escape with a tanning treatment at a Clarins Spa. After an extensive scrub, body massage and shower, self-tanning cream is applied to the body and lotion to the face so you’re left with a healthy jolt of warm colour and an even tan, complete with radiantly hydrated glow.
Consider it the perfect way to show up to the beach looking beautifully bronzed without exposing yourself to harmful UV rays.
In Paris, head to the Royal Monceau Raffles, The Molitor, or find your nearest Clarins Skin Spa at www.Clarins.fr €130 for one hour.

Think your apartment’s stylishly on trend? If you don’t have any plants, then think again. For proof, just log on to Pinterest for a glimpse of the latest green wave that’s taken the interiors world by storm. To breathe fresh life into your interior, there are even a few varieties that can purify the air that’s filled with chemical pollutants – from furniture, carpets and household cleaners. So much so in fact that some plants can clean up to 10m2. We round up a few of the gorgeously green best.

Spider Plant
As demonstrated by NASA research, its long leaves eliminate carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

Ivy
This king of household plants can eliminate up to 90% of benzene and plastics in the atmosphere.

Philodendron
This plant’s huge leaves capture formaldehyde and pentachlorophenol, a chemical that can be found in wood. Plus, it humidifies the air.

Anthurium
This stunning oval-leafed plant has been shown by NASA to absorb ammonia.

Areca Palm
This pretty little palm can put a stop to formaldehyde, xylene and toluene chemicals.

Detoxing, not only is it the last word in diets, it’s also the summer smoothie word on everyone’s lips. Especially now there are so many different juice fast options to choose from. And while detoxes are designed to lighten the load on your digestive system, the question remains, is a juice-only diet worth the effort? The answer? Yes, but not for extended periods of time. That’s because the body is in fact already very efficient in eliminating toxins from the body. Instead, why not embark on a one-day 100% juice cleanse once a month or every 15 days? Go for a Monday, for example, to help the body recover from a weekend of excess. Or, twice a year go for a five-day cure as a seasonal health reboot. Whatever you do, just be sure to avoid the sugar trap and avoid juices that are overly packed with fruit, after all when stripped of its fibre, as is the case in juice, fruit can spike glycemic levels. Instead, blend plenty of vegetables along with a little fruit and vegetable protein and you’ll stay satiated as you detox your way to health.

To slumber for 24 minutes longer and fall asleep even faster, (67% faster, to be precise) Professor Damien Léger of Paris’ Hôtel-Dieu hospital suggests giving a new pillow a go. But we’re not talking about any old pillow here. Now’s the time to find one that suits your physiology and sleep habits. Introducing your all-new pillow matchmaker with www.petit-meunier.fr, a super-simple questionnaire which was created in partnership with Hôtel-Dieu’s Centre for Sleep and Vigilance (Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance). Of course, the same goes for mattresses, as softer ones prove better for smaller frames and firmer ones for larger. When in doubt, swipe right on firmer rather than softer styles and you’ll forge better back health. You can always add a mattress pad for a touch of cushion-soft comfort later.

Time to get your little ones onto a yoga mat? We say yes. Or, should we say om? And, while there are plenty of yoga classes available for kids as young as three years old, there’s no reason not to try a few yoga moves with a much younger tot. In fact, as soon as your baby yogi can walk, there are a few great at-home yoga positions you can try.

After all, yoga teachers name plenty of health benefits, as greater self-perception, self-understanding and improved spinal posture all make the activity particularly beneficial for little growing bodies.

Better still, yoga can also help improve concentration, as breathing exercises teach children how to manage their feelings and prevent over-excitement. Consider that a skill someone of any age can benefit from.

Add to that more self-confidence and body assurance during adolescence and there’s no reason why yoga shouldn’t take its place in kids’ line-up of football and tennis lessons to forge a healthy balance between body and mind. Just be sure to foster mindfulness and steer kids away from any need to get competitive and you’ll create the foundation for a fit future.

A must-read: Zen, un jeu d’enfant (Zen, child’s play)
by Elodie Garamond.

When you want something done well sometimes it’s best to just do it yourself. At least it can certainly apply to head massage. Stressed-out? No need to wait to schedule a treatment, simply flex your fingers, settle your fingertips onto your scalp and get set for some DIY relaxation. Begin by resting your elbows on the table, then with fingers on the back of the head, move them up towards the forehead in a circular motion. Next, place your palms on either side of your head and gently move the scalp upwards. As microcirculation is boosted, hair follicles are oxygenated and nerve endings are stimulated, causing the whole body to relax. Do double duty and add a little face mask and you’ve got all the makings of a lush pampering treat.

Want to feed your beauty regimen? In his latest book, Belle Dans Mon Assiette, Dr Olivier Courtin-Clarins dishes up everything you need to know about which ingredients, condiments and spices you can add to your everyday diet to foster fabulous skin. Better yet, you’ll also learn which products you should be avoiding and how to combat sugar cravings. Beautifully illustrated by Fabienne Legrand, this healthy eating bible serves up all the latest on food trends, from detoxes to gluten-free and lactose-free eating, and is topped off with plenty of tasty, yet healthy recipes. Now that’s what we call a feast for the eyes.

“Belle Dans Mon Assiette” (Beauty on a plate) is published by Cherche-Midi Editions.

Sitting stone still as you concentrate on breathing isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of relaxing fun.

So why not give mediation while running a try? After all, running is known to increase feelings of mental calm. If you’re not used to running for 30 minutes straight, it’s best to get a few sessions under your belt before you give it a try. Especially as 30 minutes is optimal for meditation.

As you run, make it your goal to reach a stage whereby the body feels like it is running by itself, unaffected by thoughts of aching thighs or strained abs. Try to run rhythmically, without music, listening to your breath as you zone out.

Next, focus on becoming conscious of your body. With each and every movement, identify which muscles you’re using, how your feet touch the ground and how you move the arms. Then, let any feelings or thoughts you have float into and out of your consciousness. You’ll soon realise that the things that usually stress you out feel less important and less worrying.

Toning and meditating in one freeing move? On your mark, get set, lace up the running shoes and give it a try.

On the hunt for a few new ways to hit refresh on your health, fitness and wellness? Well, take a deep breath because we’ve struck upon a super-effective, all-natural method which also happens to cost nothing! We’re talking breathing exercises here. In fact, five minutes a day is all you need to catch your breath and exhale your way to great results. Time to give these three exercises a try.

Cardiac Coherence Breathing
To begin, breathe in, rounding the belly as you go. Then, breathe out emptying it. Try to take the same amount of time breathing in as you do breathing out. Gradually, the heart, which often races when under stress, will calm and the pulse will slow, allowing you to feel all the more relaxed and at ease. To find the proper heart rate and breathing balance, give a handy app a try. Options like RespiRelax, CardioZen or Heart Rate + can all make five minutes of exercises three times a day a breeze.

Kapalabhati
Best done first thing in the morning, this powerful breathing technique is perfect for switching on, giving your day a killer kick-start and giving your body a germ-busting detox. While we frequently breathe through the nose, Kapalabhati uses the belly to guide breathing, using it to pull in each breath over the course of a minute. Think stomach massage and breathing technique all rolled into one.

Alternating Breathing
Want better balance? This technique harmonises the left and the right sides of the brain to forge equilibrium. To begin, hold your right nostril shut with the thumb and breathe in through the left. Then, hold the left nostril down with the ring finger and exhale through the right. Next, breathe in through the right nostril, hold your finger over it and breathe out through the left. Repeat for at least a minute.

A fun page-turner
From the author of the Devil Wears Prada comes The Singles Game and a glimpse into the cut-throat world of tennis, filled with many of the same sacrifices and squabbles of the fashion game.

A practical read
The Joy of Leaving your Sh*t All Over the Place by Jennifer McCartney picks up where Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up leaves off to extol the creative benefits of a little mess and mayhem – all making for a fun and refreshing read.

An inspirational
In Happiness: A Philosopher’s Guide, Fréderic Lenoir offers up an inspirational meditation on happiness that’s sure to spur you to make a few changes in life.

As far as tried-and-tested techniques for getting toned and trim go, there’s nobody better to go to for advice than a top model. After all, whether they have enlisted the help of a coach or not, many of them know precisely how to train the whole body without bulking up. We round up our three favourites:

Boxing
Make like Constance Jablonski and Toni Garrn and get in the ring. Complete with plenty of fast movements, cardio and skipping, boxing works the entire body as well as the heart. All while boosting coordination and agility. There’s a better way to release a little pent up energy.

Body building
Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton are both fans, but we’re not talking body building of old. The new trend? Strength training using a mix of body weight movements and exercises with light weights that help prevent bulking up. For best results, get started with the help of a coach to help you dial in how many reps and rounds to complete.

Pilates
Miranda Kerr and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are devotees of this exercise that was created in the 1920s. Whether you take to the mat or a machine, these controlled yoga-like movements are guaranteed to work your ab muscles and help you build core strength.

Far from just being an indulgently lazy habit, naps are ideal for refreshing and recharging the body. And now it has been scientifically proven! It is now known that sleep provides the body with the perfect conditions to repair itself, for the brain to be refreshed and for overall inflammation to be lowered (which incidentally is great for forging youthful-looking skin). Better yet, naps offer up exactly the same benefits as a longer sleep. So, while 20 minutes of nap time won’t prevent you from sleeping at night, it will revitalise the body and mind. Why not replace that after-lunch coffee and take to a deck chair, couch or bed for a short nap?

When it comes to traditional medicine, Ayurveda ranks as the oldest of them all. In fact, at 5000 years old, even the World Health Organisation has recognized it. Meaning “the science of life” in Sanskrit, this Indian science works on the balance between mind, body and overall health.

And unlike the mainstream allopathic healthcare approaches that we generally turn to when sick, Ayurveda takes a daily view of healthcare.

To get a taste of Ayurveda’s benefits, look no further than a traditional cleanse to help reset energy reserves, improve sleep and chase away stress. Featuring yoga, meditation, massage and vegetarian Indian cuisine, a spell at a cleanse proves pleasant too. Especially if you escape to India itself for a little added sun.

While traditionally meant to be taken over three weeks, a week-long or ten day-long cleanse can prove just as beneficial. Prepare to become addicted.

Destinations:
Kerala: Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort, www.somatheeram.org

France: Centre Tapovan. www.tapovan.com

If the name Mary Helen Bowers doesn’t mean anything to you, you’re probably not alone. Yet Bowers ranks as one of the most influential classical dancers of our time. In fact, it was Bowers who trained Natalie Portman for her role in the film Black Swan and helped the actress scoop a 2011 Oscar. And, it’s Bowers who has been training and toning the likes of Liv Tyler, Sophia Coppola and more than a few Victoria’s Secret Angels ever since.

Her story? In 2008, after 10 years with the New York City ballet, Bowers decided to launch Ballet Beautiful, a series of video dance classes. The rest, as they say, is history.

So why are we sold on Ballet Beautiful? Because the tutorials are stunning and they’re accessible to all levels. Top on our must-try list has to be the supermodel exercises that make for a long, lean and toned ballerina bod. Bowers has even come up with a line-up of ballet-based exercises for pregnant Primas.

For more information, simply follow Mary Helen Bowers on Instagram @balletbeautiful.

Subscribe for $39 a month at Ballet Beautiful www.balletbeautiful.com or with Ballet Beautiful on www.youtube.com

No questions asked, the best part of any summer day has to be the chance to enjoy a few early evening happy hour drinks. But, if you’re worried about consuming too many calories come drinks time, there’s good news! You need not miss out. Why not keep a cool conscience this summer with this refreshing drink that looks like alcohol, tastes like alcohol, but does not contain any alcohol? And, better yet, it’s also rich in vitamin C, it’s hydrating and packed with great health-boosting minerals. We’re talking about Naturo Pastaga, the drink that’s about as Marseillais as a game of boules and clear blue skies. Cheers!

Instructions:
In a small saucepan, heat a small carton of rice milk (25ml) with a teaspoon of turmeric, a tablespoon of aniseed, a tablespoon of fennel seed, one stick of liquorice and three tablespoons of agave syrup. Allow to cool, strain and serve with ice cubes. If you close your eyes you can almost see the Marseille skyline!

Adapted from a recipe by Angèle Ferreux-Maecht, owner of La Guinguette d’Angèle.

Yes, you read that right, we’re talking about a few dessert-delicious go-tos here. But, all from Tess Master’s mouthwatering ‘Blender Girl Smoothies’ collection, a lip-smackingly sippable selection from Blogger Sarah Britton, the mind behind mynewroots.org. And apart from being deliciously rich in vitamins A, C and E, fibre and potassium, they’re also the perfect way to bring zest and colour to your summer.

Blueberry Tart Smoothie

540 ml of unsweetened almond milk, hemp milk or rice milk, 45g of unsalted cashews, 30g of soaked oats, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, ½ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 320g of frozen blueberries.

Blend the milk, cashews and oats together in a blender for about 1 minute, or until you have a creamy mixture. Add the remaining ingredients and blend for another 20 seconds. Pour in the maple syrup. Then, to give your blend a boost, add a spoonful of Maqui berry powder, some flaxseed and a little coconut oil.

Mystical Mango Smoothie

1 1/2 cups (360ml) freshly squeezed orange juice, 1/2 cup (120ml) water, plus more as needed, 1/2 a medium avocado, pitted and peeled, 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, 2 cups (320g) frozen mango, 1/2 cup (62g) ice cubes.
Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and blast on high for 30 to 60 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Add more water as needed to blend. As for boosters, try 1/2 teaspoon wheatgrass powder, 1 teaspoon chia seeds or 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil.

Sure, being photogenic certainly helps when it comes to taking great photos, but it’s not everything. In fact, what really counts is having a few handy tricks and techniques up your sleeve. And that includes: 1) Choosing flattering light that is natural and slightly shaded. Always avoiding full sun, artificial light and flash photography. 2) For portraits, stand at a distance and zoom in to capture your face. Holding a camera too close can deform features. 3) For a selfie, hold the phone at arm distance, lifting it a little above face level, never lower. 4) For standing poses, try this tried-and-true actress’ trick by placing your arms on your hips or sides and crossing one leg in front of the other. It’s a pose that’s perfect for making legs look slimmer. Finally wear a few touches of make-up including mascara that will help widen eyes and a lip treatment that will plump your pout. Say cheese!

Yes, stand up paddleboard may be the hottest sport of the summer, but did you know it actually dates back to 1960s’ Hawaii? Otherwise known as SUP, stand up paddleboard consists of maintaining balance while standing and paddling through the water. All on a special board that’s bigger than a classic longboard. Do it for the LOLs, but also for the body benefits. Because, other than being fun, SUP helps tone the abs and foster good balance. Better yet, you can try SUP year long, both on the Seine in Paris and in a host of other areas close to open water. In fact, you don’t even need to be heading off on holiday to get on board. Some covered swimming pools are even offering introductions to SUP, so you can give this stability-based sport a go. No need to be an extreme sports fanatic, give SUP a try:

On Ile de Ré
www.iledere.com/receptif-groupes/les-activites-sportives-et-de-loisirs/stand-paddle

In New York
www.manhattankayak.com/paddleboard/stand-up-paddleboard-instruction

In Brazil
www.sossego-surfcamp.com

On Saint Martin
www.caribbeanpaddling.com/#home-pinel-island

Across the world
www.fun-and-fly.com/fr/windsurf/coachings/

Love fashion? Then this book is for you. From Amanda Brooks, former fashion director at Barney’s New York and the blogger behind “I Love Your Style”, now comes “Always Pack a Party Dress”.

If you’re not familiar with Brooks’ super-chic stylings, then look no further than Pinterest for a whistle-stop tour of her all-time fabulous looks. Meanwhile, covering her 20-year fashion career, this book takes you from her days as assistant to Patrick Demarchelier, right behind the scenes of the fashion world. Fun anecdotes and plenty of fascinating stories abound.

Better yet, her experiences also give you plenty of valuable tips for nailing your own personal style.

Always Pack a Party Dress, Blue Rider Press.

Mermaid fitness #goals? Time to try swimming with fins. For best results, opt for a short fin design that makes for smaller, more frequent leg kicks. Then, simply take to the water kicking your legs from your hips and not your knees. Yes, it’s harder work, but it makes all the difference. Thanks to the greater water resistance provided by the fins’ larger surface area, you’ll be increasing muscle effort. The result? A toned bottom, trim thighs and killer calf muscles. Better yet, you’ll be using your abs, massaging away cellulite and improving overall circulation as you swim through the water. Consider it your siren-approved summer exercise for the pool and the beach. Our top post-workout tip: When you hit the shower, carve out a little time to recuperate with the reinvigorating power of Clarins’ Eau Dynamisante Gel Moussant Shower Gel.

It’s the latest trend to hit Instagram that’s got us going mad for ceramics. We’re talking about ceramic design’s new guard of hip, visionary and fashion-forward ceramicists of course. Dragging what was once seen as a dated craft into a new era, they’re all part of a renewed interest in craft and artistry that has got us all reaching for lasting objects with a sense of time and place.

And not just that, in this fast-paced era of online ephemerality, pottery has become the hottest thing in relaxation as well. Because, just like gardening, there’s nothing like it for slowing down, getting the hands dirty, chasing away some stress and emptying the mind.

Some even see it as a form of meditation. Classes are popping up everywhere, so why not give it a try?