Posts belonging to Category 'Organic'

The 4 Best Vegan Vitamin C Serums For Seriously Glowing Skin.

With warm weather well on the way, there’s no better time to include a vitamin C serum (vegan, of course!) into your daily skincare routine.

The benefits of doing so are great and varied, my skin has personally never been glowier since I’ve been trialling my top picks below, but don’t just take my word for it – the OFFICIAL (read: scientifically proven) benefits list include the following…

♥ Antioxidant-rich, so can prevent free radical damage to the skin
♥ Supports collagen & elastin production / preservation
♥ Brightens and evens out skin tone

Over the past 6-12 months I have been trialling A Whole Lotta Serums and below you’ll find my absolute favourite, top 4 that stood out above the rest – come along on a glowy journey with me allow me to share my findings – your skin will thank you.

Synergie Skin Effica C Essential Vitamin C Serum – $125

This has become my go-to during Spring – the product is creamy & thick enough to spread easily across your entire face + neck + decolletage (the package says use 1 pump, but I prefer 2 to get full coverage of these 3 areas).

It’s an absolute treat to apply, and really FEELS like it’s working. It doesn’t have the tingle of the previous product, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch. Effica-C has been carefully designed to have moderate to high potency, but a ‘low irritation profile’ – in simple terms, the product does its brightening thing while being ultra gentle on the skin. Perfect for those new to the Vitamin C game, but who are wanting a product that feels good, works, and is backed up by loads of science.

Recommended for all skin types. Add to cart immediately.

Mukti Vitamin Booster Vital C Elixir – $116.95

If natural, organic and absolutely DELICIOUS smelling skincare is what you’re looking for in life, then Mukti has you sorted for the rest of your days. The first time I used the Mukti Vitamin Booster Vital C Elixir I was instantly obsessed with the scent. I swear to you that this serum smells -exactly- like Sherbies. Yep, I’m talking about the little orange and blue sherbet candy that was definitely the cause of more than a few sugar highs when I was younger.

This delish scent makes applying the milky white drops an absolute delight, although it might have you craving something sweet. When I’m feeling like my skin needs something more natural, or I’m not wanting anything too intense – this candy-scented elixir is my go-to, plus, it’s certified organic, nut free, gluten free, vegan and cruelty free (always) and packaged in biophotonic glass to help the product last as long as possible.

Efani Speisialtóir Vitamin C & E Serum – $99.95

The tingly sensation experienced with Efani’s vitamin C serum lets you know that they’ve spared nothing in terms of including super active ingredients, it’s 20% pure vitamin C, and you can feel it get to work straight away. The tingling only lasts around 5-10 seconds and leaves a slightly dry feeling on my face due to the potent active ingredients, so I’d recommend applying your favourite moisturiser a few minutes after application.

For a slightly more gentle & multi-tasking application during the day – add it to your favourite SPF moisturiser and then apply – this ended up being my favourite way to use this product.

How I use it: I add 2-3 drops to Mecca’s To Save Face SPF 30+ and gently rub into my face, neck and decolletage. I can hand on heart say that when using this regularly – along with hot yoga & green smoothies, of course – my skin has a glow to it that it otherwise wouldn’t. I very often find myself rummaging in my skincare box for the little amber vial so I can get my face tingle on. Highly recommended!

Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum – $68

If you’re looking for a super lightweight & spreadable vitamin C serum, which I often am, then the Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum could just be your new bestie. I found this light & hydrating enough to use morning or night, and a much more gentle option than the more science-backed serums. No tingles here, but what you will get is a fresh glow and dewy skin which will make you feel a million bucks. There’s also added vitamin A & B for good measure, too.

Cleanse, apply the silky serum, follow with SPF in the morning (or just leave as is if applying in the evening), apply your fave vegan tinted moisturiser or foundation, a touch of blush and you’re good to glow for the rest of the day.

In conclusion…

Currently I prefer to take a ‘skin cycling’ approach to my vitamin C serums, to ensure my skin gets a bit of a break from the more active serums, and also gets to enjoy the benefits of all four products.

I’ll start my week with the Synergie Skin Effica C, followed the next day by the Mukti Vital C Elixir which is a little gentler, then give my skin one day off in between, followed up by the Efani Speisialtóir the next day & then the Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum the day after that. Weekends depend on what I feel my skin needs most that day – more moisture, something gentle, or something more active. I find this works a treat for my skin, and I hope this article has been helpful!

If you have any vitamin C related questions, or have any questions about any of these products – feel free to come and hang out with me on Instagram and send me a DM!

Be well,

Netty

xoxo

* All products provided for consideration, all opinions are my own.

My Three Favourite Cleansers this Winter.

When the weather starts to get chilly, my skincare tends to need a bit of a switch up in order to prevent dry & flaky skin. And it has sure been cold and rainy the past few weeks!

I currently have three cleansers in my kit that I wanted to share with you because they are all FANTASTIC, and I use them in different ways depending on how my skin is behaving on any given day. I would love to hear what your favourite Autumn / Winter / cooler weather cleansers are, so please leave a comment below to let me know!

ESK Hydroxy Cleanser

ESK, or Evidence Skincare, is a results-based, cruelty-free skincare range and I am absolutely obsessed with their Hydroxy Cleanser.

I’ve never experimented much with Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (which are meant to be incredible for your skin, according to the likes of Zoe Foster-Blake and many others), and this cleanser contains both.

What does this mean exactly? Well, according to Adore Beauty, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) are water-soluble, so they dissolve surface level dirt and some dead skin cells – revealing smoother skin below and assisting with reducing fine lines.

Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) on the other hand are oil-soluble so they can unclog pores (!!!) and assist with acne prone skin, making this cleanser a winner for many age groups.

Over a month or so this cleanser made my skin supppppper smooth, and dare I say it – better than ever? I use the ESK cleanser every evening and every second morning to dissolve away any dirt, makeup, pore gunk & dead skin cells and it is honestly working wonders – I think it may be the best cleanser I’ve ever used.

Highly, HIGHLY recommend giving this one a go if your skin is dull, ageing, or acne prone.

The Hydroxy Cleanser is $45 direct from the ESK website.

Antipodes Juliet Skin-Brightening Gel Cleanser

I’ve been using this one for a while now, and its yummy fruity scent is always welcome when I pop the cap. Packed full of kiwi fruit, Manuka honey, and grape extracts, this certified organic cleanser is more suited to oily skin types, and I tend to use it every second morning when I want to give my skin a more gentle cleanse or if I’m feeling a bit oily.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a light, gentle, organic cleanser that is non-stripping and suitable for oilier skin types.

Available from Adore Beauty for $35.50.

House of Immortelle Gentle Cleansing Oil

Oil cleansers are all the rage at the moment, they feel amazing on the skin, are especially good in winter, and – most importantly – they deliver fantastic results.

My current favourite is this Gentle Cleansing Oil which has a grapeseed & almond oil base. I call this bad boy in when my skin REALLY needs some extra nourishing, or if I have a full face of makeup to take off.

The best way to describe it is that it really feels like you are nourishing each and every cell when you massage it into your face. Dirt, oils & makeup are all magically dissolved by the oil, and when you wipe it off with a face washer / flannel you’re left with ultra soft, beaming skin.

My favourite mini ritual on a Sunday evening is a deep oil cleanse, followed by the ESK cleanser, and finished off with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Serum to lock it all in. It’s a bit of a pick and mix routine, but one I currently swear by!

The Gentle Cleansing Oil is available from the House of Immortelle website for $29.98.

Looking forward to hearing what your favourite cool weather cleansers are!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Beauty & Wellness Routine with Lisa Raciti, Founder of KIND-LY Natural Deodorant & Armpit Detox!

First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

Hi, I’m Lisa, founder of KIND-LY. We’re a natural deodorant brand that is vegan, cruelty-free, Aussie made and uses only natural and organic ingredients. Our award-winning range of natural deodorants are enriched with probiotics and magnesium and we also have a fabulous product called The Armpit Detox, which is similar to a mud mask for your face, but goes on your pits! It’s a great companion to assist in the transition to natural deodorant.

What’s your morning routine to set you up for a great day?

Business start up life means on a typical morning I’m awake at 6:00am. Over breakfast I usually start responding to emails, checking overnight orders through the website and plan out some social media posts for the week. I find it’s easiest to get through quite a bit of work early in the day before the official workday starts which allows for a less stressful day.

Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?

The major non-negotiable when it comes to my daily beauty routine, is of course natural deodorant! My KIND-LY 100% Natural Deodorant is the first thing applied every morning after a shower. I keep the rest of my routine quite simple with natural skincare products for my face and body. It can be overwhelming (and expensive) trying to switch every product you use to an all-natural option, however, I’ve found it easiest to begin with the products you use the most on the daily or applied to your body and then work outwards.

Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?

A good cup of tea and an Epsom salts bath is a great way to wind-down of an evening.

What are your top 3 wellness non-negotiables?

♥ Natural/organic food and products for body and home;
♥ A positive mindset;
♥ Relaxation and disconnecting from the digital world for some regular down time.

What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?

I don’t have a fixed fitness routine as such and it really does vary depending on my schedule, mood and weather! Yoga and a simple walk around my neighbourhood will do just fine for me most of the time! Any activity that I can incorporate into my normal day is much more appealing to me, rather than a fixed routine or having to go to the gym.

Are you into any woo-woo wellness trends? (think crystals, sageing, tarot cards etc)

I’ve recently started my crystal collection and have been enjoying gradually adding new pieces to my home and learning about the benefits of each stone. Not only do crystals look beautiful as a décor item, but they also bring a lovely positivity and energy into your space.

And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Looking and feeling great really does start from within and a positive mindset and inner belief in yourself can have an impact on all areas of your life. When you’re feeling confident and happy within yourself you will also be more inclined to want to make positive changes in other aspects of your life as well.

Thank you so much, Lisa, for taking part in our wellbeing routine series! If you have any questions for Lisa, please leave them below and make sure you check them out on Instagram here: @kind_ly

Weekly Wellness Crushes: Calm Down Tea, Sauna Highs and Fresh Haircuts at Hair Addicts Perth.

I hope the start of your year has been full of wonder, joy & lots of wellness treats. This week I’m excited to get back into sharing my crushes with you – the little wellness snippets that are brightening my days & making me feel amazing. I can’t wait to start sharing more of these and hopefully helping you find a new product, fitness class or healthy tip you can add into your life.

Lets go…!

Calm Down Tea

I’m absolutely loving this tea lately because of it’s simple ingredients, yummy taste & peaceful vibes. Containing organic rooibos, biodynamic apple, chamomile & pink rose petals, it’s the perfect cup to brew after a busy day, or even to have on hand at work so you can mitigate any stress as it pops up. You can purchase online directly from Yarra Valley Tea Co. or I’ve also spied it in the extensive tea selection at Fresh Provisions Mount Lawley.

Sauna Highs

Recently I’ve been resdiscovering the wonders of your stock-standard gym sauna. For a while I was off these, mostly due to not having stepped foot in a gym for a while, and the thought of having to talk to sweaty men in an enclosed space made me slightly uncomfortable. However I dusted off these concerns and booked in for a Swim Session @ Beatty Park through ClassPass. In this session you can use any of their indoor & outdoor pools, steam room, spa and the sauna for three ClassPass points, which works out to be $5 – a saving of $6 from their regular casual swim passes – win!

The dry heat of the sauna is perfect after a few casual laps of the 50m outdoor pool, and luckily for me the few times I’ve been noone has been in an overly chatty mood, but if they are and you don’t feel like talking you can always just close your eyes and pretend you’re meditating. It only takes 5-10 minutes to start sweating up a storm, and the heat tends to have a magical calming + invigorating quality to it that will leave you feeling energised and present at the same time.

I like to squeeze in a swim, followed by a sauna, another swim, another sauna, DONE.

Block Colour Package @ Hair Addicts Perth

Let me preface this by saying I’ve never been “Becky with the good hair”. On a good day my hair could manage as passable, or “not bad”, but a combination of laziness, lack of skill and a penchant for only seeing a hairdresser once a year (!!) in my previous life meant that bad hair days were more common than good ones.

Fast forward to being 33 years old, single, and FINALLY having found a fantastic hairdresser in the form of Jess @ Hair Addicts Perth, I’ve now declared 2018 the year of “no more excuses, good hair is important, you’re making a booking every 2.5 months, no questions asked” – and I’m super excited to have my locks looking and feeling good all year.

The photo above was taken directly after I finished my latest appointment a couple of weeks ago, and I hand-on-heart can say that my hair has NEVER looked that good before. Ever. I honestly didn’t even recognise it as my own hair. That result was achieved after a colour, Olaplex treatment (my first time having this and I am a CONVERT!), wash, head massage, cut, blow dry & waves added in. All in all I believe it came to $190 which is an absolute bargain, and I almost don’t want to share this hidden gem of a salon because I’m scared I wont be able to get an appointment easily anymore!

The regular cut, colour, blowdry package is $150 at time of publishing, which is out of this world reasonable. Run, don’t walk, to get your hair cut with Jess or any of the babes at this gorgeous hair salon which is located in Tuart Hill.

Questions? Comments? Leave a message below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Healthy Perth Cafe Review: Solomons, Highgate.

While it's perfectly possible to dine out on a gluten and dairy free diet, it does get a bit tedious having to ask wait staff endless questions and sometimes having to compromise on what you really fancy. In spite of this hassle, I've persevered over the years because whilst I love to cook, I also relish the social side of eating out and don't want to isolate myself because of my dietary issues.

So when a gluten and dairy free restaurant recently opened up on my doorstep it was time for celebration! Solomon's is the brainchild of Paul Ridge aka rapper Drapht. Having experienced his own health challenges and dietary limitations, Paul was determined to create a quality health-focussed outlet in his neighbourhood, giving the food-challenged consumer more choices. Nothing inspires me more than when people turn personal adversity into a gift that helps others. Bravo Paul.

To say I was keen to sample the goods is a huge understatement! A lunch date was quickly arranged and giddy with excitement I was soon devouring the menu, feeling like a kid in a lolly shop knowing that nothing was off limits. The menu includes raw, vegan, fish and meat based options – great variety to suit all appetites and a range of prices to suit different budgets. But how to choose? A dilemma I haven't faced in a long time. It all sounded so amazing. From the sweet potato gnocchi with citrus and coriander pesto, to the purple carrot and black bean sliders on homemade quinoa bread. Heaven! Orders finally placed and fingers tightly crossed that my expectations would be met, we settled in with a vegan mango lassi and enormous pot of rooibos tea.

I wasn't disappointed. A combination of organic chicken, brown rice and broccoli salad with Asian herbs and spices, and raw falafels with coconut yoghurt was a winner. Great flavours, fresh ingredients and filling, but not heavy. A large side of kale chips served with pink salt and fresh orange wedges completed our entree.

The raw goji berry cheesecake proved impossible to resist – refined sugar free of course – and was so delicious that a small amount leftover was quickly wrapped to take home.

As well as serving up tasty, healthy food Solomon's has a relaxed friendly vibe, a cool urban interior and open air dining at the back of the restaurant. Paul was a fantastic host, generously sharing information about his naturopath and other health tips alongside the lovely food. Two very happy and loyal local customers achieved!

Solomon's, 487 Beaufort Street, Highgate
08 9328 7995
http://www.facebook.com/SolomonsSoulFood

Have you been to Solomon's yet? How do you handle eating out with dietary limitations? Any go-to places in Perth that I should know about?!

Article by Karen, holistic health coach and owner of Conscious Cravings whose mission is to inspire people be more nourished with food, life and love. Find her on Facebook!

Be well,

xoxo