Secrets of Ageless Ageing: Alison Brahe-Daddo

Posted: Thursday 6 January 2011 12:46pm

Alison Brahe was one of the most recognisable Australian faces of the 1990s, with her smile gracing magazine covers (notably Dolly) and TV commercials on a daily basis. She has lived in Los Angeles with actor husband Cameron Daddo for many years and they have three children, daughters Lotus, 14, and Bodhi Faith, 4, and son River Tru,10. In 2011, aged 41, the serenely beautiful model and mum doesn’t look a whole lot different from the days she was everyone’s favourite covergirl. I asked her to share the secrets of her ageless beauty.

Why do you think you still look so young?

I am a huge believer in being totally in the present moment and enjoying the here and now, not obsessing over the past, or worrying about the future; trusting that all will be well and I am being taken care of.  I think this belief goes along way in assisting me to not stress about too much. I truly believe that stress, unhappiness and being plain old mean ages you faster than anything else.

What keeps me young is the feeling I have inside. I still feel like a 20-year-old, sometimes younger. I also watch my kids and the excitement and jubilation they have about so many things and I remember that feeling, being so free with thoughts and emotions. So I do my best to get back to how kids operate, without all the rubbish we adults put in the way of our happiness.”

I believe 100 per cent that beauty comes from the inside, the way you are in this world. How you treat yourself, and others shows through on your face. Be nice and you’ll feel beautiful.

I also know for me that no matter what the skin product is, or how many promises it makes to make me look younger, nothing beats a good night’s sleep as the hands-down best beauty tip I can recommend.

Do you have a hectic daily routine?

I’m up every day at 6.30am. I hit the ground running with three kids to get ready. I get them breakfast, make their lunches and have them out the door by 7.30 (hopefully). Cam usually takes the kids to school, so I have a sigh of relief go and make myself a cup of tea and have a moment of quiet before the day starts.

From then on, it can be a number of different things, depending on what day of the week it is. Some days I work with two friends who own an online Yoga Catalog called The Y Catalog. Bodhi finishes school at 12.30, so I pick her up and take her home for a nap. Somewhere in there I end up going grocery shopping, going to my Women’s Group meeting, running some errands, cleaning the house, making dinner and picking the other 2 kids up at 3.30!

You seem to always have such a calm way about you. Do you have any special stress coping mechanisms?

I honestly I find the best way is to do something that raises my heart rate, gets me sweating and is fun! So, it’s a hike in the hills, an exercise class, or my all time favourite thing in the world – dancing. I cannot be in a bad stressed out mood if I’m dancing. It’s not possible!

What regular exercise do you participate in?

It changes constantly. I need to do different things or I get bored and the urge to exercise goes out the window. I teach/take my BodyMind Fitness class every Friday night, that’s a given. I hike when I can, my daughter Lotus and I recently bought a really fun Brazilian fitness DVD that involves dancing! We do that together and put our best Brazilian accents on and have a laugh.”

What does your beauty routine consist of?

I always like to do a gentle exfoliation once a day. I don’t believe in washing my face morning and night because I think that your skin has it’s own natural oils in it that need to “be in” your skin for a while. So I moisturise, always apply a great eye cream, and lately I’ve been using this beautiful rose oil that my skin just loves. The products I use change – I like to use all paraben-free and chemical-free products. I’ve fallen in love with a company called Benedetta, which uses a lot of natural, organic oils. It’s like food for my skin.” www.benedetta.com

I use a moisturising soap on my body, and always moisturise when I get out of the shower. I love to have a bath and throw in lavender and jojoba oils too.

What is your all-time favourite skin care product?

That’s hard to say I’ve tried so many. Right now I do have to say it’s the Benedetta Visibly Radiant Moisturizer.

Have you ever had any major skin complaints?

All in all my skin has been pretty good. I never had acne, though certainly pimples as a teenager. I remember turning up to a Harpers Bazaar shoot for “beautiful skin” with one of those gigantic underground pimples on my chin. The photo turned out great as the photographer was clever enough to give me a little hand towel to hold up to my chin to cover the volcanic eruption!

How do you look after your long hair when you have such a busy schedule being a working mum?

Looking after my hair can be a full time job – I have a ridiculous amount of hair! As with my skin care, I don’t wash it very often – once a week is fine. I like the natural oils to help my hair along, as it tends to be dry. I use a good shampoo and always a super rich conditioner that smells good, is chemical free and didn’t hurt any bunnies in the making. I try new things all the time. I’ll put in a nice serum while it’s still wet to stop the fuzzies and add more moisture.

What is the best piece of beauty advice you’ve ever received?

It’s simple – don’t go to bed with your makeup on. I think we’ve probably all done it, and I remember being horrified by the amount of eyelashes that fell out as I was finally removing my mascara the next morning!

Is there anything you did when you were younger in terms of beauty that you regret doing now?

I’m sure through my teen years as a full on beach bunny I needed a lot more sunscreen. And of course to always take my makeup off!

by Shonagh Walker

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