The Feelgood Files: Laura Crane Talks DIY Face Masks

Former pro surfer and Love Islander talks about all the little things that can boost her mood in an instant

by grazia |

Updated on12th May 2020 at 4.45pm

The majority of us first got to know Laura Craneduring season 4 of Love Island. She made a late entrance to the show winning the unrequited affections of Dr Alex before finding her match in Jack Fowler. Laura Crane, however, was a world-renowned player in the surfing game long before she found fame on reality TV. After moving to North Devon in her early teens, she became a UK surfing champion at just 14 years old. Since then she has travelled the world representing Great Britain in international surf meets, even ranking fifth in the 2013 International Surfing Association European Championships. She has modelled for big names like Nike and Billabong and was based in both Bali and Portugal for years before Love Island came knocking in 2018. Though she's more used to the fast pace of city life nowadays, it's the ocean that remains her happy place. Here Laura tells Grazia where she's finding her everyday mood boosts in lockdown this year...

The song I listen to when I need a boost: High Fashion by Roddy Ricch, such a good pump up song for the start of a workout.

The book I can’t put down: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I started reading this on my last trip to Bali to help me with my shift to living a fast paced lifestyle in the city, which was very new to me and this book helped me to stay focused and live in the present.

My go-to feelgood recipe: Roasted kale and spinach salad with pine nuts and feta. It’s just full of flavour and nutritious.

©Laura Crane

The Instagram account that brings me joy: @celestebarber. She is joy of all joys and lifts every mood.

What never fails to make me smile: Surfing. It’s my absolute tonic and I’m so lucky I found it….or it found me!?

My go-to supplement: LyVit, from £24.95, works best for me. It offers really good hydration pre and post exercise because of the cocomineral in it.

My favourite at-home workout: Skipping. Such a simple one (although I get quite competitive) but I used to skip loads for surf training and hadn’t for a while. I have taken it back up again in lockdown and it’s such a great workout. I’ve been sharing some tips on social and people have been sharing their own with #skip4yourmind. I started the hashtag to encourage everyone.

My feel-good at-home beauty routine: REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, £27, I love this product. I use it after I cleanse my face when I wake up and every time I work out. REN Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser, £25, I use this every morning, evening and after I sweat! REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream, £34, is my favourite moisturiser ever. Clarins SOS Comfort Nourishing Balm Mask, £30, too, I love this mask. No matter how many hours I spend in the sun and ocean this was never fails to bring it back to life

My failsafe face mask: 1 butternut squash, pureed in a food processor, 1 tbsp honey, 2 drops of tea-tree oil. It fights blemishes and gives your skin a real glow too.

©Laura Crane

Another song that makes me smile: Miraa May, Angles. It makes you want to have a little dance.

The smell that lifts my mood: Incense – It’s every memory I need of living abroad when I was competing but if we’re talking perfume I love oud. It’s just the most perfect smell.

Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind

The movie I’ll happily watch again and again: Blue Crush, do I need to explain this one?? It will always hold a place in my heart.

The Netflix show I tell everyone to watch: The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth and her team are actual legends for what they have achieved with this.

My happy place: The ocean (wherever that may be).

A final feel good note from me: Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment. Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.

Laura was talking as part of the NHS Every Mind Matter campaign.