Uh-oh, you’ve gone and done it have you? You’ve been busy enjoying your summer romance with the sunshine and now it’s left you feeling burnt - and looking like a lobster. It’s ok, we’ve all been there, when those long and lazy days at the beach leave you so relaxed that you forget to re-apply your sunscreen every hour.

So now that you’re left a fetching shade of fuchsia and your skin’s feeling hotter than the footpath on a Queensland summer afternoon, you’ve hit the internet to search for every known cure under the sun to find yourself some relief.

Well, you came to the right place, because we’ve popped together a list of our favourite natural ways to cure your sunburn without having to resort to nasty chemicals (or a body transplant).

Compress:

For immediate relief, place a cold compress on your poor, sunburnt skin or take a cool shower to soothe the area.

Oatmeal Bath:

If you’re finding that your sunburn needs an ‘all over’ approach, try running a cool bath with some chamomile extract or oatmeal - it might feel a little bit icky but you’ll be amazed at the relief old fashioned rolled oats can bring to your stressed out skin.

Aloe Vera:
Ever checked the back of those ‘after sun’ cures and noticed a common theme? Aloe vera! This spiky, kind of crazy looking plant is the first word in every sunburn cure thanks to its healing properties. But if you are going to commit to it be sure you get the genuine article. Most chemist brand aloe vera gels and sprays actually contain alcohol which will only succeed in drying out your poor skin even further.

Buy yourself a small aloe vera plant for your garden or window sill, slice the prickly outer layer off and either scrape the pulp into a paste to spread on the area of shave thin slices off the middle to store in your fridge and apply in a bandage.

H20:
It doesn’t matter if you swim in moisture on the outside, if you’re not moisturising from the inside out your skin simply won’t heal like it should. In other words? Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fresh, filtered water to keep your cells healthy enough to heal.

Cucumbers:
Not only are they delicious and full of antioxidants, but cucumber is an excellent way to keep your skin feel soothed after a battle with the sun - especially during the dreaded ‘peeling’ phase that comes afterwards. Try mashing your cucumbers into a paste and then putting them in the fridge to cool.

Prevention:

Sunny day? Sunscreen! Cloudy day? Sunscreen! Sitting inside all day watching Netflix? Sunscreen! I can’t stress it enough, if there is one thing that is not only going to protect that beautiful skin you’ve worked so hard to achieve, it’s applying a natural mineral based broad spectrum sunscreen every single day. While you’re at it, throw on a fabulous looking hat and a glamorous looking beach cover up to keep your shoulders and decolletage looking pristine.

It might technically be spring but here in sunny Queensland the mercury is well and truly rising. With the warmer days, our appetites naturally shift wanting lighter options for meals. That doesn't mean that you have to forgo taste and nourishment. I love these easy to make zucchini wraps especially because they make great grab-and-go lunch options! 

Enjoy,

Lily. 

Zucchini Wraps

Serves 2

What You'll Need

• 2 grated zucchinis (squeeze to remove excess moisture)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons almond meal or tapioca flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 200˚C. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and mix well. Scoop even portions onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and spread into a circular shape – making sure to not make it too thick or too thin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Serve with your favourite fillings. My favourite combination is Kehoes kitchen beetroot cashew cheese, roasted moroccan chickpeas, pumpkin and salad greens like baby spinach, rocket or sorrel.

Zucchinis are such a versatile vegetable and can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. It’s high in fibre, helping you to feel fuller for longer and is rich in potassium, vitamin A and folate all beneficial nutrients for healthy, efficiently functioning cells!

This is a low-carb, gluten-free, grain-free alternative and won’t leave you feeling heavy. When combined with the beetroot cashew cheese, it provides a perfect balance of probiotic bacteria (from the cultured cashew cheese) alongside the prebiotic goodness from the chickpeas, it will leave you feeling satisfied and your gut will thank you for it.

Welcome to a new blog series that our newest Kindred team member Lily will be penning for us each month. With a background in nutrition, Lily knows that getting your skin to glow is just as much about what you put in your body as what you apply to your skin. And with that in mind, welcome to Lily's first recipe that you can try at home to help keep you nourished inside and out. 

Lily says, "This salad is the perfect balance of healthy fats, antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy glowing skin. And it is a great salad for work lunches or at home on the weekend if you're having friends around - perfect for the warmer weather we're having, too!" 

Glowing Skin Salad 

Mix Together: 

• 2 handfuls of organic salad mix (this one was a combination of mizuna, tatsoi, chard)
• 1 handful blueberries
• ½ diced avocado
• Small handful of chopped cucumber
• Cooked sustainably caught salmon (either canned or fillet)
• Small handful pumpkin seeds
• Handful of pea sprouts
• 1 tbsp sauerkraut
• Dress with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Why this is a great salad combo? 

• Avocado is rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that protects the skin against free radical damage.
• Salmon is a lean source of protein rich in omega 3 fatty acids, it is anti-inflammatory and helps to keep the skin supple and dewy
• Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc. Zinc plays a massive role in our immune system and wound healing, helping to repair cells efficiently
• Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins - an antioxidant compound that gives them the dark blue/purple colour. Blueberries protect against oxidative stress, working to eliminate free radicals from the skin
• Sauerkraut is our gut loving, fermented cabbage. When made with red/purple cabbage, it also contains anthocyanins – increasing antioxidant status as well as providing the gut with probiotic bacteria for a happy healthy tummy.
• Lemon is a potent source of vitamin C, it stimulates the production of collagen, and increases the absorption of iron – hello healthy glowing oxygenated skin!

I work with lots of brides-to-be before their big day to calm, nourish and soothe their skin (and emotions!) ensuring it looks the absolute best it can. As with all thing weddings, you have to do what is right for you and this is only my guide for a routine to lead you into the big day.

Working with a skincare professional

I recommended that my brides booking in monthly skincare rituals a minimum of six months out from the wedding – 12 is perfect, as it allows you to start getting into a good routine and the right state to remember what is important and making decisions that are right for you. If you don’t have that long before your big day just start incorporating good skin care practices as soon as you can. Something is better than nothing!

The month prior to the wedding, I suggest coming in weekly to keep you calm and on top of any breakouts, and because Kindred rituals include a lymphatic massage this ensures you are ready to glow as you walk down the aisle.

We've created our exclusive bridal skincare packages to ensure you've got one less thing to worry about in the lead up to your big day. We have created two options for our brides-to-be (or mothers of the bride!): 

The Kindred Bridal 6 Months of Rituals

This includes nine signature 60-minute Kindred Facials. One treatment every month and then transitioning to one treatment a week in the month prior to your big day. Because we want your skin to keep glowing in between appointments, this package also includes a $150 credit to spend on recommended products at your first appointment. This must be spent at the time of your first treatment. 

Investment: $1440 Senior Therapist / $1215 Junior Therapist 

- Book Now - 

The Kindred Bridal 3 Months of Rituals

This includes six signature 60 minute Kindred Facials. One treatment every month for two months and one every week in the month before your big day. This package also includes a $100 credit to spend on recommended products at your first appointment. This must be spent at the time of your first treatment. 

Investment $960 Senior Therapist / $810 Junior Therapist 

- Book Now - 

You can select Afterpay for these packages which means you can budget out the package price and keep your wedding budget on track!

The packages also allow me to see how your skin reacts and target any of your concerns with gusto before your wedding. Some people get a post-facial glow straight away – meaning you would want one 2-3 days prior to wedding – and some people take 7 days for their skin to become it's best. By working with a professional therapist in the lead up to your big day, you can plan your appointments in advance to minimise stress and ensure you have the best results when you most want them. If you’d like to book one of the bridal packages, please email us. 

What you can do in between sessions?

Of course, regular facials can only do so much. As with any skincare routine, almost equally important is looking after yourself from the inside out.  My golden rules are:

• Up water intake and consider including a few key supplements to boost your efforts (which you can read more about here)
• Include super hydrating products into your morning and night skincare ritual including a Rose Mist after you cleanse and before you moisturise, or a serum like the Emerald Elixir
• Reduce redness with the Gold Balm, which will also ensure your skin is smooth. I also recommend using it underneath make up on the day for flawless skin.
• I love infrared saunas. They are amazing for detoxing, purifying and boosting your immune system. Read more about my favourite one in Brisbane here. 
• Get moving. Not just to look amazing in your dress, but to feel amazing in the lead-up. Don’t become a stressed out Bridezilla – maintain your cool by nurturing your body with your favourite exercise. 

So you’ve decided to invest in regular facials? Congratulations! I’m biased but I really don’t think there’s a kinder thing that you could do for yourself or your precious skin. As someone who has worked in the beauty industry for over 17 years, I can personally guarantee you that incorporating regular treatments into your beauty routine is the best way to achieve a glowing complexion year round.  

However,  if you’re at-home beauty routine is lacking between rituals, then it’s not surprising that you’re going to find that you’ve been pushing a rock up a hill only to watch it roll back down again at the end of the day. So, before you get started on your exciting new skincare journey, I recommend taking some time to get acquainted with the four absolute must-do’s of post facial skincare.  

Hydrate from the inside out 

Be honest, are you drinking enough water? Your journey to great skin begins with making sure that you’re properly hydrated from the inside, to ensure that you’ll stay glowing on the outside. Because my rituals incorporate lymphatic drainage, drinking at least 1L of water is especially important post facial to ensure that you’re effectively flushing out all those nasty toxins. You can literally sip your way to better skin!  

Slip, slop, slap  

After a thorough exfoliation like microdermabrasion you need to remember to treat your new skin gently and keep it protected from the harmful UVA rays that the sun throws off.  You learnt it as kid and now it’s time to put that jingle to good practice because if there’s one thing that is guaranteed to keep your skin looking younger and more radiant post-treatment  it’s wearing a natural sunscreen. Some of my favourite products include La Mav BB cream, Coola Mineral Sunscreen and the Simple As That Natural Sunscreen lotion. Don’t be afraid to slap it on. Even on a cloudy day. Even if you’re just going to the office. Just do it.  

Keep up your routine at home  

Booking in for regular facials every 4-6 weeks is a great way to give your skin care a boost. However you also need to ensure that you’re arming yourself with a great at-home routine to maintain your results. Which is why I help my clients design a custom regime to suit their skin type (Sorry guys, there’s no such thing as one size fits all skincare). You wouldn’t slog it out with a personal trainer only to go home and eat McDonalds, so why would you get a monthly facial and not take of your skin everyday in between?  

Go with your gut instinct

Sometimes even when you’re armed with a great products and solid routine you might find that hormone imbalances, stress and allergies can have a negative impact on your skin. If you’re looking for a natural approach to tackling your internal health concerns I recommend seeing Katherine at Herbs on the Hill for a tailored homeopathic solution. I’m also a huge fan of bumping up your routine with an internal collagen supplement like Luxaplen and the Inner Glow Powder by Beauty Chef.