Best drinks on the market to add live cultures to your diet and boost your gut health
ONCE upon a time, if someone suggested you need to have live cultures in your diet to support the good bugs in your gut fighting the bad bugs, you would think they were crazy. Now it is big business.
Here are the latest drinks to guzzle for your gut, while our Beauty Editor puts sheet masks to the test.
DRY APPLE: Genie’s dry apple kombucha tastes like dry cider without the alcohol. Fermented for 21 days, it is blissful to drink.
It is the least fizzy of the three here, but is the highest in sugar and calories (60cal per 330ml can). But if you are having an alcohol-free night, this is a healthy cider substitute. (£2.25 per 330ml can or 12 for £22.50, )
MANGO: Remedy’s kombucha mango passion is not too sweet, not too sour. Refreshing and fruity without too much fizz.
It has such a long fermentation that all sugar is eradicated and it is bursting with live cultures, organic acids and antioxidants. Nine calories per 330ml bottle. (£2.99 per 330ml bottle or £24.99 for 12, )
GRAPEFRUIT: Purearth’s grapefruit sparkling water kefir is a bit different. Up until now kefir was a fermented milk drink but this is the UK’s first dairy-free water kefir from Purearth.
It smells yeasty but it has a sharp, zesty taste of grapefruit. Not one for the kids. 19 calories per 270ml bottle. (£2.79 per 270ml, )
Beauty with Gabriella Stein
BUDGET: Skin Republic brightening vitamin C sheet mask (£3.31, ): Enriched with vitamins C and E as well as seven plant extracts to brighten and even skin tone.
Coffee bean extract helps tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Relatively easy to use.
Simply unfold on cleansed face and leave for 15-20 minutes. My skin looked bright and fresh immediately after use.
MID: Skin Glow London glow mask (£12, ): This hydrogel sheet mask comes in two parts – one for the top and one for the bottom half of the face – making it easier to apply.
Hyaluronic acid gives an intense moisture boost and plumps skin to reduce fine lines, while turmeric enhances skin tone. The gel texture is cooling and leaves skin incredibly soft and glowy.
An amazing difference that lasted for a few days after. My favourite.
LUXURY: Charlotte Tilbury instant magic facial dry sheet mask (£18, ): A unique dry sheet mask promising facial-worthy results in 15 minutes.
The textile fabric is infused with vitamins and floral extracts as well as a blend of shea and mango butters and avocado oil. Loopholes for your ears keep the mask in place and let the ingredients penetrate.
It was much better than I anticipated. It can be used up to three times so great value.
