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Things I Learned in my Early 20s Working as a Model

Writer's picture: Gabi Anderson-CourtneyGabi Anderson-Courtney

I have been looking through some old photos the other day and I came across all these old pictures, and I thought to myself, I’m so happy that I’m not living out of a suitcase anymore while being a modelling nomad.


I have done most of my travelling in my 20s and today the tally sits at 56 countries and counting. Yes, I got lucky, I am really tall, I was very skinny back then, no matter what I ate, and I was simply at the right place at the right time. I ended up moving to Italy at the age of 19, then to London at the age of 23, while travelling all over Europe and working as a model.

Trust me, it was a very different industry back then, but there always were, and always will be some inside tricks that will make a big difference, especially if you are not that young anymore.

model
I do not wish that 80s hair back, but I wish I could be this skinny again :) Around 1989, Italy.

Didn’t get enough sleep?

Nothing works better when you have bags under your eyes than teabags. Buy some black teabags, brew some tea and pop the used teabag in the fridge. When it cooled down, but still wet, pop it under your eyes. It will get rid of eyebags like magic.

You can also pop some highlighter in the inner corner of your eye and under your brow arch. It will open up your eyes and you will look well rested.


woman sleeping

Hungry between meals?

Carry some almonds with you and use them as snacks between meals. It will stop you buying sugary snacks or something with a lot of carbs.

Also, drink a lot of water. And I do mean a lot. Aim for 2-3 litres per day. It will curb your hunger, and your skin will be glowing.


Creams don’t work?

You need to exfoliate, or your serums and creams won’t work. If you don’t get rid of dead skin first, anything you put on will just sit on top of your skin and won’t be absorbed. The most effective exfoliator is brown sugar. It also works like magic when you buff your lips with it. Stop wasting your money on high priced exfoliators, most models stick to brown sugar.


woman at the beautician

Sagging skin on your face?

First of all, don’t be fooled by any hype. Any doctor will tell you that once skin is loose on your face, there is no exercise, or machine, or treatment that will help, except surgery. If you don’t want to consider surgery, simply contour your jaws. It will give the illusion of a well chiselled jawline.


Dry Skin?

Get some cooling mist for instant hydration. You can use it on top of your makeup and keep spraying all day to refresh your face. This is my personal favourite, my “cannot live without” product that I take with me everywhere.




Oily skin?

Blotting papers! They also work wonders when sweating. Pop them in your bag and you will be ready for anything.


Dry hair?

Use a hair mask once a week and forget everything else – use hair oils. I use a daily oil every evening and wake up every morning with beautiful, soft and manageable hair. Don’t over-do it though, otherwise you will have to change your pillow daily.


model with long hair

Best for fizzy hair?

Buy an extra toothbrush and spray some hairspray on it to smooth those flyaway hairs. And while you’re at it, also buy an extra toothpaste. Noting work better to remove any yellow from your nails, or to clean your jewellery with.


Want your cosmetics to last longer?

Buy a mini cosmetics fridge, it’s one of the best investments I have ever made. I’m not a fan of keeping my creams and serums in the actual fridge, where food cross-contamination can occur, and with the summer heat, they can go off really quickly.


And last, but not least..

Breathe deep. There is a reason for it. When I was in hospital, the nurse told me that I have to have the oxygen line on because I don’t breathe deep enough. I didn’t know that there was a way to “breathe wrong” but she explained that shallow breathing only uses the top third of your lungs and you are not getting enough oxygen. So, breathe deep.

 

Gabi

xx


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