My Secret Sperm Smoothies

I keep colds at bay with my unique recipe...

- Angela Johnson/Claire Stephens

I spooned out a good old dollop of a certain white, sticky substance.

And then I proceeded to gently rub it all over my cheeks.

I realise to some this may sound revolting, but semen’s my magic potion.

You see, since birth I’ve had a condition called rosacea.

It causes permanent redness on my cheeks and nose, and my poor skin reacts to the slightest agitation.

Self-conscious as a child, I desperately wanted to hide my face. Growing up, I applied make-up to cover my bright-red cheeks. 

So I tried all kinds of creams, gels and ointments aimed at reducing the redness.

A vegetarian from the age of 5, I tried to eat a fresh diet to help my skin stay healthy.

As an adult, juggling work with being a single mum to my daughter Millie, 9, and son

Gabriele, 4, life’s busy.

So what I feed my body’s very important.

In 2013, I decided to go vegan, meaning I’m against cruelty to animals and won’t eat any animal by-products.

And I enjoy foods in their raw, natural state.

Later that year, I started a beauty blog, exploring different skin regimes.

Always keen to hear about products to help reduce rosacea, one day I got chatting to a beautician.

‘Ever tried egg whites?’ she asked.

But as a vegan I don’t consume or use eggs.

That week, I casually mentioned it to a friend.