Seeing Tahyna Tozzi in life -- real life -- proves that she’s just as much a gorgeous little glow machine on screen as she is in person. She’s perfectly bronzed after just returning to Sydney from a week in Bali, casually dressed in her bathrobe and ready to take on the world, talking about her life in Los Angeles and how it wasn’t entirely easy to move countries and settle in right away.

But settled she has, landing roles in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and three films set to release this year (Trophy Kids, where she plays Quinn Thorndike, a love interest shared by two boys; Needle; and The Science of Cool), and with her perfect skin, not-at-all-heavy makeup and freshly washed hair that was left out and not blow-dried, it’s no surprise that this girl knows a thing or two about beauty on the inside and out.

Tahyna loves natural beauty products and barely-there makeup. She admits that before she became an actress and had access to the top makeup artists in Hollywood, she rarely wore makeup at all. “I've learned how to wear eye shadow and liner. I have never really worn a lot of makeup, so when I see something I like, I always try to recreate it at home.”  

But looking at her in person, you’d be pushed to think she wasn’t a beauty fanatic -- or at least a skin care one. Her face is blemish-free and healthy looking, with a touch of tinted moisturiser, a slick of nude gloss and some mascara. That’s all. Tahyna typically applies just those three little products so lightly to her face. Shocking! -- I know. In a world where Hollywood up-and-comers feel the pressure to boost, lift and up their makeup application to megawatt levels, Tahyna’s self-confidence and lack of pretence stands out. In fact, it makes me love her just a little bit more -- she’s an absolute delight.  
 
Her daily makeup regimen consists of soap, of which she knows isn’t the best option, and a simple pack of cleansing wipes. “I know this seems quite bad, but I usually just wash my face with an all-natural soap bar and water in the morning and follow by moisturiser. At the end of the day I use a cleansing wipe and end up adding a little pure vitamin E oil or coconut oil. It seems so basic, but I'm a big believer that what goes into the body comes out. So I work on looking after myself from the inside,” she explains.

Tahyna’s approach to beauty is easy and relaxed, and just how she likes it. She looks at things holistically and carries her down-to-earth attitude through all aspects of her beauty regimen, choosing products that are packed with natural oils, or anything that slightly resembles a rose in both colour or scent. She knows what works for her, doesn’t take fame, beauty or life too seriously, and above all, lets her sparkly personality take centre stage.

Let’s admit it, we’re all a little envious of those celebrities who seem to get better with age. Before embarking on a nutritional regimen to rival Jennifer Aniston’s, it would be wise to find out just how healthy and effective their diets are.

Celebrity Diet No. 1: Cooler Cleanse
Celebrity follower: Salma Hayek
The lowdown: Hayek started the Cooler Cleanse with Eric Helms, owner of the popular juice bar Juice Generation. Helms formulated the drinks upon the challenge of Hayek, who was looking to improve her cleanses with juices that were effective and enjoyable. The Cooler Cleanse can be done with either a three-day or five-day program, where regular meals are replaced with fresh-pressed juices delivered to your home in a cooler. The drinks, with names like almond nut milk and grapefruit and mint are fresh-pressed and made from organic, sustainably grown produce. Hayek credits cleanses for giving her renewed energy and glowing skin, and of course, losing weight.

The program is good for a body cleanse, but not to obtain a shocking or long-lasting weight loss, as the pounds will most likely come back after the diet. Hunger, food cravings and lightheadedness are likely to occur, which the company confirms saying, “Cold and flu symptoms may be more pronounced if you typically eat a diet high in processed foods.”

Celebrity Diet No. 2: Baby Food Diet
Celebrity followers: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon
The lowdown: Developed by celebrity fitness trainer Tracy Anderson, who has Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna as devotees, the plan involves consuming 14 portions of pureed food daily, followed by a healthy adult dinner. Aniston’s diet is said to include fruit smoothies, pureed oatmeal with pears and cinnamon, soups and meals of lean meats and lots of vegetables.

No specific guidelines have been published on the Baby Food Diet, and caution must be taken before embarking on this program. Some people have actually gone on the diet by consuming baby food jars bought at the supermarket. However, this diet can lead to cravings, especially since the taste and texture of the food might not appeal to anyone.

Celebrity Diet No. 3: The Master Cleanse
Celebrity followers: Beyonce, Naomi Campbell

The lowdown: Most of us have heard of the Master Cleanse, a rigorous detoxification process that involves consuming nothing but a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water for 10 days or more. Beyonce admitted to going on the diet to lose weight for her role in Dreamgirls, while Campbell is said to do the cleanse three times a year.

Is the diet for you? It is extremely hard to follow, and while it may work to flush out junk from the body, many experts are wary of the diet’s caloric restriction and advise against it. Most of the weight loss comes from water leaving the muscles. As soon as carbohydrates are consumed again, water goes right back in the muscle, says Garry Peters, a fitness expert and personal trainer. The Master Cleanse, however, might do your body more harm than good, as your body could go on starvation mode and shut down. Even Beyonce admitted to being cranky while on the diet, and has said that she gained the weight back as soon as it was over. 

The bottom line is, there are no hard and fast rules to being slim and trim. “The problem with the concept of a ‘diet’ is that it implies a finite change in eating patterns,” says Peters. “When the person reaches their goal, they believe that they can resume eating the way they did before the diet. If a person returns to her old habits, she will also return to the state she was in before the diet.”

Thus, it is important to eat “clean,” which means steering clear of processed food. Peters recommends a macronutrient profile of 50 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat in a person’s diet. “If you follow these recommendations, your body will slowly cleanse itself, and you won’t accumulate all the artificial chemicals that a cleanse is meant to rid you of in the first place,” says Peters.

Finally, if you do decide to go on a diet, be sure to consult with a health care or nutrition professional first.

To say that Heidi Hollinger has always had a lot of energy is an understatement. Heidi captured the soul of the emerging “New Russia” with her iconic portraits of powerful politicians and ordinary people. She chronicled businessmen and babushkas. Her sensational photo of the nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky -- in his underwear -- sealed her reputation when it was snapped it up by magazines around the world. It was the talk of Moscow, and the world. And it was a coup for the young Canadian, who literally drinks up Russian culture.

Now, Heidi is sharing her unique focus on the world -- in front of the camera. Her latest project is a documentary travel show for TV5, Ports d’attaches. In it she visits 13 of the world’s most interesting ports, including13 épisodes où Heidi parcourt une ville à chaque semaine : Helsinki, Le Cap, La Havane, Lisbonne, Tel Aviv, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Houston, Reykjavik, San Francisco, Marseille et Moscou. Helsinki, Cape Town, Havana, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Houston, Reykjavik, San Francisco, Marseilles and Moscow. On pourra par exemple assister à une cueillette de champignons en plein cœur d'Helsinki, ville où on trouve plus de saunas que de voitures, visiter la prison où Nelson Mandela a été incarcéré au Cap, naviguer dans les calanques de Marseille avec le comédien québécois Serge Dupire , faire une simulation spatiale avec des astronautes de la NASA, dont Julie Payette , à Houston ou encore visiter San Francisco avec le célèbre écrivain américain Armistead Maupin (Chroniques de San Francisco).So how does Heidi maintain her energy and youthful appearance with this grueling scheduling, and raising two young children?

Exercise

Her fitness routine depends on the season, but she will do anything but spend time in a gym!

“Right now, I am all about biking. I bike to meetings -- everywhere”, she said. “I love hot yoga too. I go a couple times a week for an hour and half. It’s like boot camp. It’s hard, but changes your body. It’s also such a great cleansing and makes me feel so energized. It takes away my stress and helps me focus. It helps me to be more patient and a better mom too.” Who knew yoga improved parenting skills?

Heidi also loves tennis in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. “My mom gave me her love for skiing and now we do it together”.

Heidi’s hectic work and travel schedule can play havoc with her exercise needs, so she sometimes resorts to the Stairmaster or renting bikes when she travels.

Diet

A healthful diet is important to Heidi. She is quick to credit her eating and nutrition habits for her slim figure and high energy level. “When I was living in Russia, I read a book called, Eat Yourself Slim, by Michel Monignac. It really worked for me -- I don’t mix proteins with starchy carbs like bread or rice, and I don’t eat red meat. I eat small meals all day instead of three large ones. And I always carry almonds or walnuts with me, so I never get too hungry.”

Another rule of Heidi’s: No bread or muffins after noon. She does indulge in her own homemade whole-grained muffins for breakfast, or freshly-made fruit smoothie.

As for supplements, she takes omega-3, vitamin D, and adds oregano oil and zinc lozenges for colds. She confides that while it is not foolproof, “it definitely helps as long as I start doing it as soon as I feel something coming on”.
 

Beauty

Heidi takes a natural approach to beauty. Her favourite beauty tip is moisturizing her face with pure glycerin. She stressed she is never without sun screen and always protects her face by wearing a hat.

Heidi relies on exercise and diet to keep her in top form, but she is far from a fanatic. She is quick to say she loves a good glass of wine and that fine cheese is her weakness.

Heidi’s healthful habits add up to a look and charm that is as effervescent as when she first exploded onto the Russian scene.

Elizabeth Gilbert first seduced us in her best-selling memoir Eat, Pray, Love, then, we watched with envy as Julia Roberts recreated the author’s life-changing journey on the big screen. Now you can revive your own spirit at home -- no passport required -- by incorporating some of Gilbert’s happiness-inducing discoveries into your everyday life.

Eat
Want to impress friends and family with an Italian feast that would dazzle even a true Italian? Begin your meal with this easy-to-make fig and ricotta salad from chef Victor Casanova of Culina, the modern Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Ingredients
1 pound sheep’s milk (or cow’s milk) ricotta 

1 cup heavy cream

Sea salt to taste

2 pounds (approximately two dozen) black mission figs, cut into quarters

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 ounces arugula

Directions
1. In a food processor, blend ricotta and heavy cream until satiny smooth. Season with sea salt. 

2. On a large plate, make a circular pool of the ricotta and top with the figs. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, followed by the balsamic vinegar. 

3. Garnish with arugula and serve.

Pray
While traveling to India to find enlightenment is an enviable goal, you can bring balance to your life at home by adding an easy yoga ritual into your daily routine. Jill Crowley, a yoga expert at the Golden Door Spa at the Boulders Resort in Arizona, suggests trying Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing), a centering technique that can be practiced anywhere.

Start by sitting upright in a comfortable position, letting your hands rest in your lap. Take a deep clarifying breath in, then exhale it completely. Using either hand, let your index and middle finger rest toward the palm as you bring your thumb and ring finger to gently alternate pressing into the sides of your nostrils.  Begin with an inhalation through the right nostril, while using your fingers to block the flow of air through your left nostril. Then, alternately press your fingers down on your right nostril and release the exhalation through your left nostril. Next, inhale through the left and exhale through the right.

“Continue alternating sides, breathing slowly and deeply, allowing the energy channels to clear,” explains Crowley. “As you listen to the rhythm of your breath, you’ll feel the tension melt away.”

Love
Add a bit of romance to your bedroom with a few Balinese design elements, and you just may lure your own Felipe (or -- even better -- Javier Bardem) into the serene space. 

“Balinese design encompasses the feeling of light, nature and open spaces, so the first thing you’ll want to do is get rid of clutter,” says Los Angeles-based set designer Sharon Beeching, who redecorated two rooms in her own home in a Balinese style after a trip to Indonesia. “Once you’ve achieved a clean palette, consider neutral and earth tone bedding, accented with a colorful throw or blanket to remind you of the brightly hued sarongs worn by Balinese men and women.”

Batik throw pillows are an inexpensive way to bring a Balinese feel to your bed, suggests Beeching. A wax-resist dyeing technique that creates intricate patterns, batik often incorporates indigo, dark brown and white, colors that represent the three Hindu gods. “Find a quiet corner in your bedroom to display a Buddha statue,” she says, “and because Bali is so lush, be sure to add a green leafy plant to your look.”

If you’re not planning a trip to Indonesia anytime soon, Pier 1 Imports, Cost Plus World Market and Crate and Barrel are all excellent resources for Balinese decorative items.

Let’s face it: Etiquette and manners are important facets of everyday life. Whether you’re at a fancy restaurant or simply en route to work on the train, certain rules of decorum apply. Note that these aren’t meant to complicate your life; they’re just there to facilitate mutual respect and proper regard of your surroundings.

In a beauty perspective, “The manners you wear are another kind of perfume, and manners play a larger-than-usually-recognized role in defining one’s style and brand,” says Mireille Guiliano, former CEO of Clicquot Inc. in her book Women, Work and The Art of Savoir Faire (Atria Books). “How you embrace and demonstrate manners or etiquette sets you apart.”

Here are some tips to help you tread the waters smartly and with much aplomb.

1. Scent Strategy
How much is too much? Stretch your right arm out and do a 360. That is your “scent circle.” That’s how far your perfume should reach. Anything another person can smell beyond that circumference may be too cloying. If you’re unsure, ask friends or even just one trusted confidante to clue you in on your aroma.

2. Mane Mantra
The rule is simple: Brush your hair in the bathroom or in private -- not at your desk, on the train or at the dinner table. If you’re in someone’s home and leave a noticeable clump on the bathroom floor, as a courtesy to the next guest, use a bit of toilet paper to pick it up and throw it in the bin. The same holds true for the hair you leave on the sink.

3. Cosmetic Class
Makeup rules can be tricky because of the variety of products and the rise of multi-tasking items. The classic tip is “only lipstick and powder at the table.” But should you whip out a gigantic mirrored compact that houses both? Probably not. The best strategy is to keep it simple -- and get on with it as quickly and as discreetly as you can. Anything that takes longer than the amount of time you powder and retouch lip color, and anything that lets you shed something (e.g., nail clippings, facial hair), do in private.

4. Go With Your Gut
If there’s one “rule” that can encompass all others, it’s to go with your instinct. Etiquette and manners have a lot to do with common sense.

5. Bonus Tip!
How do you tell someone politely if she has lipstick on her teeth or has anything on her face? Speak up! If you were the other person, wouldn’t you want to know? Just do it as discreetly and as respectfully as you can, especially if it’s a higher-up at work or a business acquaintance. For friends, it should be easier and less sensitive. Casually point it out and move along.