Cara Grogan-McIlroy,
Genie Juicery
Tell us how you decided to launch Genie Juicery.
I’ve been modelling for 15 years now, but I always wanted to have my own business and I was always very healthy and doing cleanses and interested in health-related products, so it seemed like the perfect business to start. I felt there was a big gap in the market at the time I started Genie Juicery. There were no other
cold-pressed juices in Hong Kong when we launched.
What’s the lasting power of juicing? There are so many diets and trends that come and go each year, but this seems to have survived.
Juicing is a simple way to get maximum nutritional benefits from fruits and vegetables. Your body easily absorbs them and much faster, and the amount of nutrients you get at one time is a lot bigger and a lot quicker than if you’re eating fruits and salads at a meal. So it’s the perfect way for people to get minerals,
vitamins and enzymes quickly. That being said, cold-pressed juicing isn’t anything new, it’s been going on for a long time now, but we here are just waking up to it now. I don’t think it’s a trend, I think it’s a lifestyle change as people want long-term health goals.
What do you recommend from your menu?
It’s not one particular product but a combination of fruits and vegetables and ingredients in each drink that are beneficial to different parts of the body. Depending on what you’re looking for, a combination of
lemon, lime, ginger and turmeric is immune boosting because of all the vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinks that contain chia seeds are great for weight loss, energy levels and cleaning out your colon. Look for the ingredients – which is true for all products. What are you putting inside you?
What’s been a really popular product?
People really love a drink called The Master as it’s fat burning. It has chia seeds and cayenne pepper. That helps to eliminate toxins, break down fat cells and helps you go to the toilet and poo-poo (can you tell I’m
constantly with kids now?)!
What’s your favourite?
My favourite might be Green Dream. I really like the green ones. I also like Smooth Operator in the morning as it’s a great smoothie – what I pick depends on what time of day you ask me. A smoothie when I’m really
hungry, when I haven’t had a chance to eat.
Come on now, there must be one drink that’s difficult to swallow.
There’s none that I can’t bear – I came up with all the recipes so there’s not one that I don’t particularly love, but for first-timers to juicing, I might not recommend Hulk. It’s one I like but it’s spicy, it’s very green and it’s a bit harsh as it has no fruits.
Tell us about your beauty regime, and how you stay in shape after having children.
My regime at the moment is non-existent; I don’t have time to brush my own hair. But I am very diligent about moisturising, and making sure I use a lot of oils in their most organic form so they are really beneficial for your face, especially as I have really dry skin. I do a good scrub when I have time. Eating healthy, drinking lots of water and jucies, that’s pretty much it for now.
What are your go-to products?
I have to say, I do love all Fresh products. I’d never heard of them before I started working
with them but I was lucky enough to get all these products from them, and now I’m completely obsessed. My skin’s been amazing since I started using them. I also love Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair cream and Shiseido has a really great eye cream I really love.
What have you seen recently that made you go, wow, that’s really beautiful?
That’s easy – that would be my two daughters and how they interact together. My youngest is starting to get a little bit older now so she’s a bit more fun to play with for my older daughter India. I’m just blown away by how amazing India is with her so I’m constantly counting my blessings. It’s not the products that I own
that are beautiful, it’s the people in my life.
For this and more interviews, pick up Lifestyle, by PRESTIGE HK. On newsstands now.
Read the Cover Story with Rosamund Kwan and Helen Ma here at Prestige Online.
Previous interview with Cara Grogan here
For this and more interviews, pick up Lifestyle, by PRESTIGE HK. On newsstands now.
Previous interview with Cara Grogan here
