HONEYMOON NEWS

SKIN FOOD

Discover how to achieve that much-desired bridal glow the natural way, through a healthy diet of skin-loving foods

Flawless, blemish-free skin is high on the priority list for many brides wanting to look and feel their big-day best. There’s a world of popular skincare advice out there from variations on the daily three-step routine to alternative products, but the impact that food has on our long-term skin health is often overlooked.

Healthy skin is a sign of a healthy body so it’s worth knowing what foods can help protect, nourish and encourage a gorgeous complexion. County Wedding Magazines’ beauty editor Kelly Andrews chatted to expert nutritionists Minal Sudra and Elizabeth Andrews from Wedding Wellness to find out more. Here, they share their skin-loving food suggestions to help you glow from the inside out.

BERRIES

Berries such as blackberries, blueberries, acia and strawberries are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. A rich source of antioxidants and vitamins, consuming a handful of these little treasures regularly can help reduce oxidative damage that may contribute to signs of ageing. Mix up the colour and types you eat to get a variety of phytonutrients.

CARROTS

The chemical compound or phytonutrient that gives carrots their vibrant colour is known as carotene, a powerful antioxidant. This is a natural form of vitamin A that supports the growth and quality of new cells, contributing to healthy skin cell renewal and helping to achieve that post-facial glow. When eaten with a healthy fat such as butter or olive oil, carrots will help the body to absorb vitamin A more efficiently. OLIVE OIL

Fats are often associated with high cholesterol and weight gain, however certain fats are essential for good health, namely Omega 3 and 6 found in olive oil. With its anti-inflammatory properties it can help to calm damage in the body, boost brain health, contribute to effective hormone production and maintain healthy cell function, while supporting the skin’s natural barrier, leaving it looking dewy and nourished.

NUTS AND SEEDS

Vitamin E is widely used in skincare products due to its powerful antioxidant capabilities. It does this by safely trapping free radicals that otherwise cause damage within the body. By acting as a mediator between harmful substances and our natural defence systems, it can help calm irritation and redness, prevent blemishes and protect against environmental damage. The oils naturally found in sunflower seeds along with other nuts and seeds such as almonds and pumpkin seeds, are a great source of vitamin E for the skin.

ROCKET

Rough, dry, congested skin may be a sign of toxin build up. Cruciferous vegetables such as rocket, aid the liver to detoxify the body and help eliminate the build up of toxins that can present as outbreaks on the skin. Dark greens such as rocket also contain chlorophyll, which is also one of the best-known antioxidants found in food, further protecting the skin from breakouts and damage.

TURMERIC

One of the best-known superfoods, turmeric is a powerhouse of medicinal properties beyond skin care. It’s a great spice to include in meals or hot drinks in the winter to fight against infection.

Interestingly, it’s a traditional custom for an Indian bride to have a paste made with turmeric applied to her skin, helping to promote a calm, natural glow for the main event. Turmeric is also a great natural remedy sometimes used topically to treat skin blemishes and acne. CUCUMBER

Foods that are high in water such as cucumber, are a great way to keep the body hydrated. Water helps the body to naturally flush away toxins that can result in breakouts if left harbouring. Water also aids the gut in functioning normally and prevents constipation, which if left unmanaged, has direct implications with the skin. Other foods that are high in water and will help you to help stay hydrated include watermelon, grapefruit, grapes and celery. What’s more, these foods also contain fibre that further support gut health, and vitamin C to help brighten and protect the skin further.

CONTACT OUR EXPERTS

Wedding Wellness offers bespoke services for brides and couples, to help you reach your health and wellness goals in the lead up to your big day. Always consult a professional if you have any specific skin concerns or medical conditions for personalised support. Check out www.wedding-wellness.co.uk

chill outCHECK IN AND

Editor Kelly Andrews visited the Aztec Hotel & Spa in Bristol to find out what makes it the perfect pre- or post-wedding getaway

The four-star Aztec Hotel & Spa sits in the ideal location for a city break whether you’re after some pre-wedding pampering with your bride tribe or some mini-moon rest and relaxation. Conveniently nestled just off the motorway in Almondsbury, it lies within easy reach of Bristol and Bath and offers great access to all the sights and delights. However, if you prefer to just get away from it all and enjoy being cocooned in contemporary luxury, as I did, Aztec offers the ultimate experience.

CHILL TIME

After a three hour drive the bestie and I were well and truly ready to hit the spa! So, once we’d benefited from our early check in and been welcomed by the friendly staff we said a quick “hello” to our lovely twin room and grabbed our fluffy hotel robes and slippers to make our way down. This was an exciting prospect given it was awarded Best Boutique Spa by The Good Spa Guide earlier in 2022. I was booked in for a massage, so we were shown to the new Relax Lounge to await my therapist. Here, we found an amazingly tranquil haven complete with refreshments, armchairs and even loungers. We both made a beeline for the latter and that’s where I left my bestie, Natalie, literally living her best life when I was collected for my treatment.

Along with French skincare brand Caudalie, TempleSpa offers a professional spa menu of body treatments. It’s one of my favourite brands and its products are known for offering the perfect blend of British sophistication and Mediterranean soul. One such treatment is My Kinda Massage, perfect for all you nearlyweds out there needing to unwind from the stress of wedding planning. There’s a 25-minute back or shoulder and scalp version or a 55-minute full body massage on offer. Here, you get to choose from three scents: Drift Away with frankincense, lavender and patchouli; In Good Spirits with ginger, lemon and bergamot; and Work It Out with juniper, lavender and cypress.

TIME FOR A DIP

Having retrieved an uber-chilled Natalie from the Relax Lounge, we headed for the pool, which is what the hotel likes to call, “A proper size.” This is a fair description as often spa pools are a slightly odd shape that prevents you swimming lengths. Here though you can, and it’s divided down the middle so those who wish can swim and others can bob around, which was our preferred way to enjoy a dip. There were even foam noodles on hand for those less confident in the water.

The Jacuzzi proved the place to be for many visitors, and you didn’t have to wait long for the bubble cycle to come round, which often isn’t the case elsewhere, leaving you to wonder if it’s even working! Here the bubbles were going longer than they weren’t – heaven!

We also thoroughly enjoyed using the other facilities such as the steam room with amazing benefits of menthol, and the sauna. Reclining on the poolside loungers, we became so relaxed that we stopped talking long enough to completely zone out – a rarity.

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WINE AND DINE

Having torn ourselves away from the spa just in time for dinner, we headed into The Curious Kitchen, which has recently been awarded Best Luxury Hotel Restaurant in the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2022. It was easy to see why.

There’s a brilliantly wide range of dishes to chose from and I ordered from A Taste Of The Season menu. I opted for pigeon, roasted beetroot, chicory, pickled blackberry and salted sumac granola for starter. This was followed by flat iron steak, Cornish sea salted fries, and Café de Paris butter; while the Black Forrest verrine for dessert was divine. I should also mention Natalie’s chocolate bread and butter pudding, which was quite the showstopper when it arrived!

I was also mightily impressed with the incredible range available at breakfast, inspired by the hotel group Daniel Thwaites’ Northern roots. Everything was made fresh to order even the continental options, which added to the luxurious experience.

So, good was the food throughout our stay that we treated to ourselves to an afternoon tea before we hit the road again the following day, resolved to be back.

BOOK IT!