by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 21, 2012 | Interstate/International, Interviews
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I’m a 29 year old PR/ Digital Comms Exec by day, and I write about inspiration and living a big, beautiful life on my blog In Spaces Between in my spare time (or “in the spaces between.”)
I’m Sagittarian to the core, adore reading, have an addiction to lip gloss, am always looking for my next adventure and get high on excitable chats with inspiring women. I’m a passionate believer in the power of positivity and creating your own magnificent reality.
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
In the mornings, I use Nivea Light 30+ sunscreen and the glorious Sodashi Rejuvenating Face and Neck Moisturiser, followed by my make-up.
At night, I cleanse with Sodashi Clay Cleanser with Lime, then give myself a mini face massage with Trilogy Rosehip Oil, and finish it all off with my Sodashi Moisturiser and a dab of Priori Eye Cream.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
Getting my hair done! My stylist Alisha from Mods Hair at Circle on Cavill on the Gold Coast is an absolute gem.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Hair masks made from organic coconut oil. YUM!
1. Wash hair and remove moisture with towel.
2. Apply virgin coconut oil (10 cent piece amount) to your hands and rub hands together to melt the coconut oil. If it’s already melted, just use the rubbing motion to heat it up.
3. Rub fingers through hair – I concentrate on the ends, and try and avoid putting too much oil through the top part of my hair.
4. Pop on a shower cap for about and hour, then rinse hair thoroughly and it should feel super soft and silky! If it feels too oily, give it a shampoo to remove excess oil.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
I couldn’t live without sunscreen, my Holy Grail mascara – Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill – and NARS Orgasm blush.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Sweating it out! Everything looks better when I exercise regularly – I find my skin looks really dull if I don’t and I feel super sluggish and flat. I’m an early riser so my favourite time of the day to exercise is 5:30/ 6am so I can reap the rewards of high-octane energy all day!
♥ Six Senses Yao Noi
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
I’d love to go to an amazing detox retreat overseas – 7 days of juices, meditation and yoga. I plan on making that happen one day very soon.
♥ Pic from http://foodsforlonglife.blogspot.com/
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Breakfast: Hard boiled or baked eggs with spinach and mushrooms.
Morning snack: A homemade raw bliss ball, or bowl of mixed berries/chopped up fruit.
Lunch: My gorgeous fiancé makes me a big salad with tuna or chicken most days. He generally throws in lots of random bits and pieces such as leftover roast pumpkin, toasted tamari almonds or low fat fetta to keep it interesting. Failing that, I grab sushi on the run.
Afternoon snack: It used to be something naughty like chocolate, but as part of my 2012 goals, I’m mending my sneaky sugary ways and I’m trying to eat filling snacks like cheese on Rice Thins or fruit with natural yoghurt and nuts.
Dinner: My man has been a vegetarian his whole life so most of our dinners are veggie based, with tofu or a nice piece of Snapper added in for some protein. We eat a lot of Asian-inspired meals so things like lime, chilli, mint and coriander (from our herb garden) feature heavily!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I do group training – encompassing everything from hill sprints to resistance exercises and soft sand running – 3 days a week; go to the gym once a week (weights session or Body Attack) and run 2 – 3 times a week. I’ve got a goal to run 500km before 1 June, so I’m definitely ramping up my running at the moment!
♥ Chia seeds
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
• I take a bunch of vitamins daily (B, Magnesium, Iron, Omega 3’s) and add MOR Life Alkalising Greens to fresh fruit/ vege juices for energy.
• I throw chia seeds into whatever I can (smoothies, date balls and salads).
• When I’m feeling super frazzled, acupuncture always gets me back on track. Love it.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I’m not sure I’m familiar with that word? Haha!
I’m sure my loved ones would beg to differ because they don’t think I actually know how to sit still and relax, but snuggling up with a great book on our daybed, stretching out in a pilates class, meditating (before bed so I can drift into a beautiful deep sleep) or spending time with my girlfriends, laughing and chatting for hours is my idea of bliss.
Thanks so much to the lovely Rachel for taking time out from blogging and her busy schedule to share her beautiful routine with us!
If you have any questions for her, please leave them below 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 17, 2012 | Makeup, Products, Reviews
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My love for Bobbi Brown first blossomed when I stumbled upon a campaign in an old magazine (probably while waiting for the dentist or something equally dismal) and was immediately taken by the image of a clean-cut, classic, yet modern woman. Intrigued, I looked further into the brand and was swept away by the story of Bobbi’s rise to the top from humble roots, her wholesome image, and her amazing advice. Last year Bobbi celebrated 20 years in the business, and I was proud to be a part of the company for that year. This year however, brings a new chapter, and even though I am no longer with Bobbi Brown, I still love to rant and rave about the products.
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Today my product of choice is this amazing ‘Ultra Violet’ Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow ($44) from the Neon and Nudes collection.
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Of course this collection has been done ‘the Bobbi way’, which requires beautiful skin, soft cheek colour and either an accent of colour on the eyes, or on the lips. Another product from the Neon and Nude line I am itching to play with is the Limited Edition Ink Liner ($46). Ink liner is not a product you will often find at Bobbi Brown, and would go amazingly with the look below.
♥ Look #1!
My hints and tricks on how to wear a neon shadow.
♥ Use an eye primer – Bobbi Brown long wearing cream shadow in Shore ($50)
♥ Lashings of black eyeliner make the colour pop – Bobbi Brown Gel Liner ($45)
♥ BIG lashes – Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara ($48)
♥ Sweep the shade over the lid as a soft wash of colour, pop on any pretty pink gloss – I like Bobbi’s Tutu ($42)- and some bronzer for a summer look
♥ Build it up to an intense smoky eye by adding a darker purple like Bobbi Brown Eggplant eyeshadow ($44) and LOTS of eyeliner
♥ Do your eyes first as this colour will drop down!
♥ Look #2!
Bobbi Brown products are available in store, at the official online store or through StrawberryNET (who often don’t have the whole range, but you can pick up some pretty sweet deals through them!)
Neons and Nudes collection available in-store from the 19th Feb, and online now! Get in quick, as it’s limited edition.
What do you think of the two looks, readers?
Which is your favourite?
Are you keen to play with some Neon Neutral looks?
Written by Jacqui. Makeup artist, Blogger and Bobbi die-hard.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 15, 2012 | Products, Reviews
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I am going to start straight off by going out on a tangent and then I will quickly get to the point of this review, which, for the record, is of a few lovely Comvita products. I tend to suffer pretty badly from hay fever in the spring-time months and after a particularly bad bout this year I decided to look into how I could stop feeling like my life force was slowly dripping out of my eyes, ears and nose every time I stepped out of the house. One of the coolest suggestions was from a naturopath who said I should have a spoonful of honey (the real deal kind of stuff) every morning. Apparently the natural pollens and…ah…bee juices (?) would help build up my resistance to the outside world which I believed was trying to kill me.
I thought this woman was a genius, but guess what? Turns out other people have been onto this honey idea for a while. Example; Claude Stratford (aged 63, go Claude!) started the whole Comvita line by making and selling a range of bee products from his home.
His goal, ‘to produce natural products that work, and acting in a way which preserves the environment for generations to come’ is something that I can really get behind, so for the purposes of this review (see I told you I would get there in the end) I tried the Brightening Moisturizer, the Intense Hydrating Mask and the Medihoney Eczema cream.
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I don’t think there’s much that’s been left out of the Brightening Moisturizer (RRP $44) – Olive leaf extract, liquorice root extract (for brightening), rosehip, macadamia, sunflower and soybean oils AND shea butter. AND SPF 15. I heartily applaud any moisturizer that has an SPF in it. What an added bonus. This moisturizer is thicker than your average bear but its not greasy and its doesn’t leave a slimy residue, which means you aren’t left looking shiny. I loved it. An instant addition to my use-everyday beauty products.
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The Intense Hydrating Mask with Manuka honey (RRP $50) is a very light mask that kind of just looks like a really heavy moisturizer. You can leave it on for a while and then rinse it off or you can keep it on overnight for something a bit more…as the name states…intense. The Manuka honey in the product is there to slow down the signs of ageing by targeting the skin’s elasticity. I really enjoyed it for its hydrating prowess; in these dry summer months this would be a friend indeed for those of you who are feeling the heat! Heaven knows your skin is feeling it too.
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I have left the Medihoney Eczema Cream (RRP $13.95) ’til last, because in my opinion it’s the most successful. What I am about to tell you…I do not know why I am publishing this on the Internet, but what the hey it might help others right?
I have one fingernail that I call Howard. It’s my middle finger on my right hand, and up until recently I thought we were going to lose Howard. I thought he was going to fall off. For some unknown, ungodly reason I was getting such bad eczema underneath my finger nail (ew ew ew gross I know) that it was pushing my fingernail (my poor Howard) off of my body. It was awful, it was painful and it was just plain old weird (why only one fingernail?) But guess what? The Medihoney Eczema Cream saved my Howard!
He has rejoined his nine other brother and sisters back where he belongs and things are looking good! I’ve tried many, many different products and I am being absolutely honest with you when I say that this is the first thing to really work. It might be the medical honey or the coconut oil, the evening primrose oil, the aloe vera or the vitamin E present in the product but whatever the magical ingredient I don’t live in fear of having one ugly nail-less finger.
♥ Medical Manuka Honey
The bees and I have been triumphant! Now I cant wait to try that spoon full o’ manuka honey next year when the fever of hay rears it’s ugly head once more…
In the meantime, you can get the three products I mentioned (plus many more) here:
http://www.comvita.com.au/
Have you tried medical honey before? Got some eczema that wont budge? Lets chat about it!
Review by Adriane, Wellness WA contributor & slightly embarrassed owner of Howard.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 14, 2012 | Other
♥ Exposed Skincare Range
Clean and clear – that’s all I ask. And as someone who has suffered from acne since the age of 13, I don’t think it’s too much to ask, now that I’m 36 and still categorise myself as ‘blemish prone’. Possibly like many others, I thought I’d grow out of it, and there have been times when no-one would ever suspect I battle with problem skin – particularly when I was pregnant, but since staying constantly pregnant is not an option – I’ve had to search far and wide for assistance to keep the zits at bay for many years.
Yes, I am one of those people who has literally tried everything on the market, topical and medical, including two courses of the strongest dermatologist prescribed treatment there is – Roaccutane at the ages of 17 and 30. Great when you’re on it – not so great when you’re not – and once again, not something you can take forever.
So what next? Enter Exposed Skincare!
Never heard of it? Well neither had I until one day when google searching for ‘acne treatments that actually work’.
Of course I was skeptical, as someone who had seen and heard all the sales pitches before – the perfect balance of science and nature, clear skin in 30 days guaranteed, special introductory offer etc etc, plus hello, you can only get it in America – got to be a farce, right?
So what made me try it – and love it, to the point that I felt the need to write this article and share my experience?
♥ Picture from the Exposed Skincare website!
♥ Firstly, no celebrity endorsements, but real success stories – I did the research on the people they promote as their ‘Exposed users.’
♥ Secondly they told me if I sent them my empty bottles of any other acne products I’d tried, I’d get $25 dollars off the next purchase,
♥ And thirdly they offered a one year money back guarantee. Now I’ve heard of 30 day or 60 day money back offers, but one year was quite persuasive!
So clearly I took the plunge and signed up for the ‘Exposed Advantage’ and have kept my purchasing account going for just over two years.
But what about the results I hear you screaming! Well I can’t claim to be completely blemish-free and every monthly cycle still presents those hormonal spots – but I can absolutely say that Exposed does do what it says it will do.
♥ Just one of the natural ingredients in the range – green tea!
It does treat active acne and prevent bumps from coming up in the first place. It combines those active ingredients (salicylic acid) and a range of natural botanical ingredients like sage extract, green tea, tea tree oil, licorice root and passion flower, that work well enough to do the job, without drying or irritating your skin.
It does unclog your pores, regulate oil production and calm redness – fast! And yes I did indeed see a difference in my skin in just 30 days.
So if you’ve got a similar story to mine and feel like you’ve tried everything – I’d say try this. For me it’s worth the $49.95 plus $19.95 shipping charges, to be sent out from the USA by Fed Ex direct to my door, every three to four months. I’ve spent a lot more on other products and medications that don’t last as long and have done a lot less.
Hope it works for you too.
Available online at: http://www.exposedskincare.com/
Review by Carrie, complete Exposed convert!
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 12, 2012 | Other
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Roll up, roll up! It’s time for a bite sized challenge that will kick-start your wellbeing and have you equal parts zinging with energy and cruising with calm. Sound good? Then read on.
So here’s the deal:
♥ For one week from Monday 13th of February – Sunday 19th December I am going to be doing my darnedest to eat only wholefoods. This means no junk food like: chips, chocolate, burgers, icecream, candy, biscuits etc. I would like you to join me if you feel so inspired!
♥ What can we have instead?
Instead we will feast like Kings, Queens & other noble folk on everything that is GOOD FOR US! 🙂 This means wholefoods and herbal teas, smoothies and lean sources of protein – I would encourage you to cut out as much meat as possible for this one week, if you eat it, otherwise try and get free range! You can get all your protein needs met from vegetable sources such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, avocados and, my favourite, quinoa!
♥ How do I keep track?
Commenting on this post! I’ll be coming back and updating my diet day-by-day so you can check out what I’ve been eating, I’d love you to share your daily menus (and how you’re feeling) in the comments section below and ask any questions you need answered + check out what other healthy delights participants have been tucking into.
♥Recipes & resources:
These links should help you on your way! Remember, if you have any questions or need support then post a comment below, lets try and help each other out 🙂
Recipes
♥ Fresh & Easy Summer Quinoa Salad – a staple of mine.
♥ Stove cooked porridge, plus roasted almond snack
♥ The Amazing Epic Salad of Goodness / Life (TM) – !
♥ Mango, Avocado & Butter Bean Salad
♥ Amazing looking superfood salad
♥ A Basic Green Smoothie Recipe
♥ Green smoothie #1
♥ Avocado, apple & berry smoothie – a fun twist on the regular green smoothie.
♥ Blueberry, banana & cashew butter smoothie
♥ Healthy, snacky, fruity balls
♥ Superfood Raw Fudge Balls – perfect for dessert, or when you just want something sweet!
Resources
♥ List of whole foods from WH Foods – this website is the BEST resource! They have tonnes of recipes, all super healthy and tasty. Make good friends with this page!
♥ Teresa Cutter – healthy Aus chef with incredible whole foods recipes.
PS. If you have any fantastique links to recipes etc please mention in the comments and I will add to the resources list!
SO LETS GET STARTED! Kick off monday morning with a healthy bang, personally I’ll be having a green smoothie to start my day. Comment below to get started! XOXOX
Monday
Breakfast
Green smoothie consisting of – frozen banana, 2 handfuls of baby spinach, large glass of water, 1 cup of frozen blueberries, 1 tbsp pepitas, 1 tbsp organic beauty oil, 1 tbsp liquid vitamin b, 1 tsp floradix (mega smoothie!)
Lunch
Chickpea, avocado, cucumber, pineapple & black sesame seed salad (so good)
Snack
Bowl of Anskos brown rice porridge w/plum, apple & cinnamon
Dinner
2 x avocado on rye toast w/salt, mashed chick peas & sweet potato.
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Breakfast
1 x Nudie Orange, Pineapple & Mango Smoothie (Had a crazy morning and was in a giant rush!)
Lunch
Mashed sweet potato and chickpeas
Dinner
Salad – 4 bean mix, dried cranberries, avocado, tomato.
Salad – cucumber, tomato & lettuce
Coconut water
Hummus & healthy crackers
Strawberries
(Valentines picnic!!)
Snacks
Sicilian herb & garlic roasted chick peas
&hearts (Wednesday, if you didn’t guess!)
Breakfast
Quinoa, pepitas & banana mixup
1 x Reboot Your Life Very Berry Good juice – and wow, was it good! More to come on this…
Lunch
Leftover four bean salad with quinoa & diced yellow capsicum and tomato
Green juice from PAWS Cafe
Dinner
A large corn cob, quinoa w/pepitas & lightly steamed zucchini
Snacks
Raw apple crumble with cashew cream from the PAWS Cafe (ahhh-mazing!)
Disclaimer: I’m no doctor, if you have a medical condition or are currently undergoing any form of medical treatment or taking medication, please check with your general practitioner before commencing any new program of eating.
