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Bonjour! I hope you’re reading this while having a brilliant hair day, feeling super-nourished, and with a cup of tea (or wine) in hand.

I really love sharing my current favourite products, exercise classes & wellness treats with you – so let’s get cracking!

♥ To Save Face SPF 50+ Sunscreen

This facial sunscreen is my go-to every single day of the year – rain, hail or shine. When I was younger I didn’t wear facial sunscreen and as a result I have a little spot of sun damage on my left cheek. Once it started appearing I quickly sprung into action and as such now make sure to pop some of this on under my makeup each day. It doubles as a primer and I love the way my makeup looks with this as a base so much, that I often use it in the evenings as well!

10/10!

♥ Reformer Pilates in Subiaco

♥ kX Pilates Subiaco

I’ve been having a little bit of a love affair with ClassPass lately and have slowly been discovering my favourite places to stretch & sweat, creating ever-changing weekly routines that work for me. I love it!

One of my faves is kX Pilates in Subiaco. This is a reformer studio that offers 50 minute classes and goes the extra mile by incorporating weights, yoga stretches, ball-work and more to create seriously shaking muscles and a toned butt & core. I’ve been to around 4-5 classes so far, and all of the teachers are friendly, helpful if you have any new or ongoing injuries, and will work you to your personal maximum ensuring you leave each class feeling like you’ve had a fantastic workout, but not been pushed past your limit. Which is my favourite way to work out!

Do yourself a favour and check out kX Pilates in Subiaco if you’re looking to tone up in 2018 (and beyond).

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♥ Adalase

This one is really new to me – during a delicious gnocchi & wine catch up with my naturopath Marnie Downer (see her, she’s the best!), I mentioned that despite making a number of changes to my diet and supplements, I was still struggling with dairy & sugar based skin breakouts. While I generally try to avoid both of these with varying degrees of success, sometimes there’s cheese and crackers at work or a party and I just can’t help myself… and then instantly regret it when an acne cyst starts popping up within 2 hours.

Cue: Adalase. This is a chewable vegan Vitamin A supplement, somewhat of a miracle, and tastes slightly like liquorice. At first I wasn’t into the taste but grew to really like it! There are 60 tablets in a bottle and for me Marnie recommended I super-dose and take 6 per day (!) and then go down to 1 per day. This proved difficult and I ended up having 2-3 a day, I just broke them in half (they are about the size of a 10 cent piece) and nibbled on them throughout the day. I then went down to 1-2 a day.

Since I have started taking this supplement, around 1-2 months, I can hand on heart say that I have not had ONE new pimple – and I’ve indulged in cheese, icecream, sugar and alcohol. Along with plenty of good things of course 😉 But generally regardless of how much goodness I put in my body, if I stray from the 100% healthy eating path it soon shows up in my skin, and I haven’t gone more than a few weeks without a zit since I was about 13 years old – so that’s 20 years!

I would love, love, love if anyone else with hormonal/cystic/general acne or pimples wanted to try this and let me know how they go with it – it’s been a confidence saver for me.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the above, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below so we can have a chat!

Be well,

xoxo

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What if I told you that there was a way to get your skin in tip-top, glowy shape that only required 1 facial a month for 3 months, and then every 2-3 months after that.

Sound good?

That’s what the signature Hydrafacial offering at Perth’s newest beauty clinic, Youth Lab by Dr Kate, promises – and after just one treatment I’m convinced they can deliver.

To start with, this is no ordinary beauty clinic. Dr Kate is one of Perth’s most highly regarded medical aestheticians and she has the raving, dedicated following to prove it. Kate specialises in dermal fillers & cosmetic injectables, non-surgical beauty treatments and other advanced dermal therapies. Most of these aren’t on my radar as I personally align with a more natural approach to beauty (green smoothies, yoga and saunas come at me!), however I’ve seen her work and if you’re looking for this type of service then she is second to none in Perth.

As I mentioned, I generally stick to yoga, green drinks, sweating it out, green tea, vitamin supplements and trying to get to bed early as my “beauty routine”, however after a busy couple of months and more soft pretzels with chocolate dipping sauce than I care to share with the internet, it was time for some serious measures to get my skin back on track and the opening of Youth Lab came at just the right time.

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Located on a relaxed, leafy-green West Perth street, the clinic is set in a spacious building with multiple rooms and a chic but welcoming well-lit interior. There’s free parking out the front and it’s very easy to access via public transport – win win. Upon arrival there’s pomegranate tea, comfy lounges and stacks of books to flick through while you wait.

My therapist Alison has the clearest, most glowing skin I’ve ever seen (actually, everyone who works there does!), and is incredibly knowledgable and welcoming. We have a chat and then get down to serious business – it’s Hydrafacial time!

Key Points

♥ The Hydrafacial deeply cleanses, exfoliates, extracts blackheads/clogged pores, AND intensely hydrates the skin within just one treatment

♥ The machine used has an abrasive tip and vacuum to simultaneously suck up the dead cells and dirt, whilst infusing your skin with antioxidants & hyaluronic acid for gleaming skin!

♥ Glycolic & salicylic acid are used for the pore extractions. These two work together to gently dislodge

♥ You get to check out the dirt/gunk that is removed from your skin afterwards… if you’re brave enough!

♥ This facial is perfect for improving skin congestion, and would particularly suit those with breakouts and blackheads

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After my facial, I’m taken into another room to lay under the Healite, which is an LED light (simliar to Omnilux) that promises to help promote skin rejuvenation, as well as targeting acne bacteria. Win win. Laying underneath the Healite is like basking in the sunshine on a warm day, bliss.

Post-treatments I’m feeling a little self-conscious with my totally bare skin on display, but I can see the instant improvement in texture, glow & clarity.

The team at Youth Lab recommend 3 treatments to start with, once a month for three months for the best results. If you really want to ramp up the results & acne and sun damage are your primary concerns, a course of 6 monthly treatments is recommended. Following the initial treatment course you can get away with a facial every 2-3 months – which is music to my ears!

The Nitty Gritty

Cost: $149 for the Hydrafacial, Healite additional $50

Location: Youth Lab by Dr Kate, 1 Richardson Street West Perth WA 6005

Special Offer: If you’re keen to make a booking and check out this facial, just mention Wellness WA for 20% off your first Hydrafacial before the end of March 2018!

Have you had a Hydrafacial before? Would you try one? Let’s chat in the comments!

Be well,

xoxo

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Stepping into my first ever treatment at the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape in Perth, I took a deep breath – I had been dreaming of this moment for some time now. Located inside of the beautiful Como The Treasury building, the spa is tucked away behind the main reception area, just past the beautiful arched hallways.

Browsing through the deluxe spa treatment menu, I decided to opt for the Deep Tissue Massage as I’ve been hitting the gym hard in the last month and my neck has been stiff and joints aching… the things we do for fitness!

The description on the menu sounded perfect – ‘a prolonged state of reduced muscular tension’ and I knew it was going to do just the trick for my body.

Walking through from the stunning reception area which was kitted out with luxe Sodashi products – I immediately forgot where I was. Right smack bang in the middle of the Perth CBD? It felt like I could have been overseas in an exotic location. Marie, my masseuse, escorted me to the Balinese style treatment room, and from the moment I sat down on the lounge I was transported to a state of happiness. Marie kindly asked me which areas of my body I wanted to focus on and she left me to get changed before returning.

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Each movement of the massage was purposeful and soothing. Marie was very mindful to ask me if the pressure was ok. First, focusing on the area that I needed most, my neck and upper back, then from my toes to my head, it felt amazing. I felt amazing. Finishing with a head massage and hot towels on my neck and toes, I couldn’t have asked for more. The 75 minutes always goes so quickly but I try to revel in every moment, and I did.

I decided to use the facilities to wash my hair afterwards, so I jumped into the warm rain shower in the treatment room. I felt calm and I was in a state of total bliss.

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Waiting for me outside was a hot cup of home-made ginger, lime and honey tea and a beautiful signature Como Shambhala cookie (the recipe is available in the cookbook pictured above!). Gluten free and coated in honey, with nuts and seeds. Energy for my next adventure of the day!

I opted for the valet parking, which was very convenient for me on an unusually rainy Perth morning in the midst of summer. The staff are highly attentive and will literally have your car brought up to you at the front door once you have said your goodbyes.

If you’re thinking of a treat for yourself, I highly recommend going to the Como Shambhala for a very nurturing and unique spa experience.

The nitty gritty:

♥ 75 minute Deep Tissue Massage at Como Shambhala will cost you $165

♥ Valet Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday & only $30 for 4 hours on weekdays. Make the most of the valet for a weekend treatment & book in early!

♥ There are breakfast and lunch options at Post or Petition if you are feeling peckish before or after your treatment.

Have you been to Como Shambhala Urban Retreat? Share your experiences below, or if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment! 🙂

Review by the glorious Kelly-Anne <3

Be well,

xoxo

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Good morning! While January coming to a close and February sneaking up fast (how did that happen?!), I wanted to start our new blog series dedicated to sharing all the best health & wellbeing events that are popping up all around Perth each month. Shoot me an email if you’d like to suggest another event! Hope you enjoy xo

End of January!

Sunday 28th January

♥ Journey into the Heart with Stuart Watkins & Sounds of Samadhi – $70

Wednesday 31st January

♥ Let That Sh*t Go: Full Moon Event @ Friday’s Studio – 6:30pm-8:30pm – $57

Friday 2nd February

♥ Beyonce Routines Workshop @ Shemoves Dance Studio – 7pm-9pm – $55

Saturday 3rd February

♥ Beginners Yoga Workshop @ Bloom Yoga Perth – 1:30pm-4:00pm – $49

♥ Reset & Realign with Mandy & Mel @ Twisting Peacock Yoga – 12:30pm-2:30pm – $40

Sunday 4th February

♥ Soul Sparkle Day Retreat – 9am-4pm – $190.10

♥ The Perth Wellness Festival @ Friday’s Studio – 10:30am-5pm – $101

Wednesday 7th February

♥ Transform Your Life Through Movement Workshop @ The Little Shop of Plenty – 6:30pm-8:00pm – $10

Friday 9th February

♥ Yoga, Meditation & Nature Weekend Retreat @ Kookaburra Yoga – Friday to Sunday – starting from $450

Saturday 10th February

♥ Mindset Reset @ The Little Shop of Plenty – 9:30am-11:30am – $49 (includes workbook)

♥ Schweattt Sessions @ City Beach – 8am-12:30pm – from $26.50

♥ Love Yourself Festival @ Perth City Farm – 9am-3pm – FREE entry, small fee for workshops

Sunday 11th February

♥ Couples Tantric Connection Workshop by Soul Sparkle – 10am-12:30pm – $245 per couple

♥ Heart Your Body Retreat @ Friday’s Studio – 10am-2pm – $97

Saturday 17th February

♥ Intro to Plant Based Eating @ The Raw Kitchen – 12:30pm-3:00pm – $125

♥ Food As Medicine Masterclass @ The Raw Kitchen – 4:15pm-6:15pm – $125

Sunday 18th February

♥ Sangha Yoga Festial @ Spanda Yoga School – 8am-6pm – $40

Friday 23rd February

♥ Yallingup Retreat by The Reset: Wellness Retreats – 3 days – from $945

Saturday 24th February

♥ Pranayama + Meditate Workshop @ Blue Lotus Yoga – 10:30am-12:30pm – $45

Sunday 25th February

♥ 1-day Silent Yoga & Meditation Retreat @ Spanda Yoga School – 9:30am-3:30pm – $165

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When I was little, I absolutely LOVED Winter. Give me cloudy, chilly, rainy weather any day and I was happy as a lamb. These days I’m basically cold-blooded and love Summer, sunshine, heaters on at all times, 6 blankets on the bed and 4+ cups of hot tea a day. Bliss.

If this sounds like you, you’re going to love what I share with you next. What if there was a way that you could get ridiculously glowing skin, a little bit of sweaty cardio, a little bit of detox and a lot of delicious toasty warm heat that is doing a tonne of other good things for your body at the same time?

You can! And this is where an Infrared Sauna comes in. For a really quick rundown – an Infrared Sauna is said to heat you up from the body’s core, rather than heat the air around you like a traditional sauna. That’s why the air feels totally different in your Infrared box – it actually feels really gentle and cosy rather than the super intense heat of your gym’s sauna.

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A friend introduced me to the owner of a new beauty & skincare clinic in Tuart Hill, Natasha from Kardia Skin & Body, who uses an Infrared Sauna daily and offers sessions in her clinic. Natasha is absolutely stunning & if she says a sauna helps her get that way, then sign me up!

I decided to book in for a month’s worth of sauna treatments, approximately 3-4 per week, and cross my fingers that my skin could look as glowing as Natasha’s after that amount of time. What follows is my week by week account of my road to glow.

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Week 1:

I’m sooo excited to be starting my detox, relax & glow program at Kardia tonight! I personally receive SO many benefits from just one session – ultra glowing skin, a deep sense of relaxation & a positive and joyful mindset are my top results! Hoping to multiply these results with ongoing sessions, stay tuned! ??✨

This home salon/wellness studio has to be seen to be believed – absolutely stunning & you feel peaceful as soon as you step inside the doors. There’s soft towels, flowers, Doterra oils, and an amazing filtered & alkalising water machine to keep you hydrated pre & post sauna – loving this!

Week 2:

My body is feeling great after all the sauna sessions so far, another positive benefit is that I’m recovering quicker from my workouts which is a bonus. I can really see how including an infrared sauna as part of my wellness routine could create optimal results.

I accidentally ate some icecream and had a mega breakout – NOOOO! I’m back in the sauna trying to sweat out my sins. Natasha gives me a sample vial of a product that she uses in her facials that should help “dissolve” the zit, I give it a go that night and it definitely helps.

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Week 3:

I’ve been busy at work and come down with a cold, I’ve also just been offered a three day juice cleanse with Pure Glow Cleanse. It’s actually the perfect time for this as I don’t feel like eating and hopefully it will enhance the benefits of my saunas! There’s an activated charcoal juice and this is my favourite to drink while sweating it out. It’s so good!

My favourite part of being in the infrared box is after about 10 minutes of relaxing in there, when the sweat starts to kick in and my skin is tinged with a sweaty glow. Love it.

Week 4:

Even my elbow is sweating today.

While this wasn’t something I was looking for, I’ve lost 2 kilos from a combination of travelling recently (Sri Lanka!), saunas, juice cleanse & maybe my cold. I’m looking forward to keeping it off as my stomach is looking pretty flat right now and I feel great.

One of my biggest tips is to keep SUPER hydrated before and after the sauna so you can 1) sweat it out with ease, if you’re not hydrated enough the body will try harder to hold onto the water, 2) replenish the h20 that you lose during the session.

I’ve found my time in the sauna to be, at times, deeply reflective. With nothing but your sweat to keep you company, each new drop seems to bring with it a fresh contemplation: Is “glamping” something I should consider doing? How many frogs live within a 1km radius of my house? How can I figure out and achieve my deepest goals in life? The thoughts are coming thick and fast, with no rhyme or reason to many of them. I let them come and go as they please.

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End result?

Toxins begone, glow be mine ??? I really saw the compounded benefits after my 4 weeks of session at Kardia, especially when I added on the 3-day cleanse in the middle. I haven’t had any breakouts, my skin is noticeably clearer and glowier despite being sick and I’m feeling FANTASTIC. I would recommend this to anyone.

How many times a week should you go? It really depends on you and your schedule. Basically, the more the merrier and the quicker you’ll get your glowy results. But if all you can squeeze in is once a week or fortnight then you’ll see more gradual benefits.

Lets chat about infrared saunas, have you had one before? Would you like to try it? Leave a comment below!

Sessions provided by Kardia Skin & Body for review consideration. All views are honest & my own.

Be well,

xoxo