Laura Henshaw on beauty, confidence and staying motivated

Laura Henshaw is far from just another fitness influencer. She’s an entrepreneur (as the co-founder of the Keep It Cleaner (KICGirls) fitness and health program) but she’s also one of Australia’s most popular fitness models and a part-time law student – all at the age of just 25!

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Apart from being one hell of a hard worker, Laura also possesses an infectious positivity that radiates through her social channels and has helped to amass her loyal Instagram following of more than 177,000.

Women – young girls in particular – look to her for inspiration every day, whether it’s for motivation to get their workout done or just to maintain a positive mindset. No matter how busy she is, Laura always promotes an optimistic, healthy outlook towards life, health and fitness – and she always keeps it real.

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Me 0.01% of the time vs me 99.9% of the time. The left took 2 hours of hair makeup prep, a very talented artist etc - and it’s definitely not how I wake up! The real me is image #2 and I am very proud of that. Beauty is on the inside - so never ever let anyone make you believe otherwise. Remember that while of course it’s ok to take inspiration from social media - don’t directly compare yourself to it as not all images are a true representation of real life ❤️ There is no happiness in comparison ❤️... And to be honest sometimes I wish I could wear grey on grey to events...or my runners..Still working on that 😆

A post shared by Laura Henshaw (@laura.henshaw) on Jul 1, 2018 at 2:52am PDT

As a religious KICGirl myself, I wanted to soak up even more of Laura’s sunshine. So I managed to pin her down for a few minutes to find out about her favourite beauty products, her tips for feeling confident and how she stays motivated to work out every morning.

On her beauty philosophy…

“I'm quite a natural girl when it comes to makeup (despite having to wear makeup for shoots all the time!) so I like to keep my routine simple and lightweight. I hate the feeling of heavy products on my face so I like to focus on making sure my skin is clean and clear, so I don’t have to wear as much makeup. And of course I believe that nourishing your skin from the inside, by drinking lots of water and eating well, is just as important as what you put on your skin.”

On her gym bag beauty essentials…

“A go-to for me at the moment is the NIVEA Invisible for Black & White Limited Edition by Jaggad Clear Aerosol Spray Deodorant. It keeps everything from your activewear, to your-post workout clothes and everything in between, clean and protected. I always like to have some makeup wipes handy. It's the best way to remove oil and dirt after any workout. I also religiously wear an SPF 50+ sunscreen. As a runner I'm outside a lot so I always make sure my skin is protected from the sun, whether it's a sunny or cloudy Melbourne day! A dry shampoo is also an essential after any workout and you'll always find a can in my gym bag. I only wash my hair once a week so I rely on dry shampoo most days!”

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Working out should be something you don’t take too seriously, and you can have fun doing - and that is the philosophy behind #KICGirls. We want you to feel strong, empowered, love who you are and be driven and have confidence to do what you want to do on you journey. We are here for you everyday to laugh with, workout with and offer any support we can. Along with our beautiful army of KIC Girls who make up the most incredible supportive community we have ever been a part of. Thank you to our KIC Girls who make us feel that if any of us ever fall- there is a trampoline of incredible supportive women who will help us support us through and bounce us straight back up ❤️ @stephclairesmith and I love you all so much x #KICGirls @keepitcleaner

A post shared by Laura Henshaw (@laura.henshaw) on May 28, 2018 at 1:06am PDT

On her minimal makeup routine...

“I like to keep my face natural when I hit the gym but I have a good mascara and eyebrow brush in my bag in case I need to go somewhere straight after. You never know what meeting or event you'll be going to so I always like to be prepared.”

On her go-to activewear...

“As the newly appointed Jaggad ambassador it's safe to say that it's without a doubt my favourite brand of activewear. I love that their gear looks amazing but also performs in the gym. The tights don’t go see through and they don’t fall down, which is the best.”

On her quick tricks for getting fresh post-workout...

“A good antiperspirant is my must-have for looking and feeling fresh both before and after a workout. My current favourite is NIVEA Invisible for Black and White Jaggad Limited Edition deodorant – it’s super effective and has the added perk of protecting my activewear. My other trick would be to run dry shampoo through your hair and then tie it up into a bun or a braid. It’s a simple trick but you’ll feel and look better when your hair is up after a workout.”

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Long weekend 🙌🏻..Just kidding it’s exam time 😆🤦🏼‍♀️ This is the one long weekend of the year I don’t look forward to 😂 Locking myself inside for the next 5 days 🤓🙄

A post shared by Laura Henshaw (@laura.henshaw) on Jun 8, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT

On feeling confident and comfortable in her own skin...

“I learnt a while ago that no one will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself so I really shifted my focus to this. I try and focus on what I love about myself instead of things I want to change and especially why my size or body does not in any way connect with my happiness or life. As long as I feel fit and healthy, that’s all that matters to me.

On how she stays motivated...

“I am motivated to go to the gym for how it will make me feel and to do something for myself to start the day. I love to work out because it’s my ‘me time’, and it gives me energy and makes me feel good.”

What are your gym beauty essentials?