♥

Recently, my hair has been getting real long. I’ve been growing it for ages in an attempt to get to a length that I call ‘mermaid hair’. I’m not too far from my goal, but with great hair lengths comes great responsibility. Unlike a real mermaid I am not underwater all the time and my hair is oft tormented by the ravages of dryness and breakages, split ends and unruliness. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the ends of my hair sometimes feel like straw or a broom. Or a straw broom.

Guy De On (natural care from the Dead Sea) have created a Peach Shampoo and a Peach Conditioner to help rehabilitate the hair follicles and prevent splitting and dehydration. Which is exactly what my straw broom is in need of. Both of these two products contain Peach Kernel Oil antioxidant (containing Vitamin F and fatty acids), Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin C and Meadow Foam Seed Oil and claim to replace essential elements that the sun and pollution steal from your hair. I was glad to hear this, because with the Australian sun returning in a couple of months to give us another long hot summer, my mermaid hair will need more care and attention than ever.

♥ Peach Shampoo – $25.80

After using the Peach Shampoo and Conditioner my hair (especially the ends) felt smooth and soft (as I was expecting) but also surprisingly lighter which was a great bonus considering that the longer your hair gets the more it can feel like a heavy lifeless curtain. I would almost go as far as saying that I felt like I had more volume in my hair, which for someone with dead straight follicles is not something that I can say after every wash. Also, and this is a far more personal preference, I don’t like to over-wash my hair (one or two times a week tops) and not all shampoo and conditioners can give a good enough clean to go the distance- but the Guy De On products seem to be able to handle two times a week without any trouble.

♥ Relaxation Bath Crystals – $30.25

One last honourable mention from Guy De On is the Dead Sea Relaxation Bath crystals. I was having one of those weeks, the kind of awful week where it’s only Tuesday and you just can’t wait for it to be over. You know the kind. Well, my week was made significantly more bearable by having a bath with these Guy De On crystals every night which maybe that was slightly indulgent of me, but the beautiful smell of the crystals (extracted from the Dead Sea) and the aromatic oils really helped soak away my aches and pains and made me feel a little less like I was falling apart.

Who would have thought that such life-giving products could come from the Dead Sea?

Review by Adriane Daff, actress and Dead Sea Devotee!

Products were provided for consideration.

Be well,

xoxo

♥

Just hearing the name “Jurlique” takes me back to my teenage years, where I yearned so strongly to be able to afford to buy their products from Myer and relished in the 2ml sample of the now discontinued ‘Moor Mud Masque’ I found in a showbag from an unknown womens expo.

The packaging has had a facelift since then though, a natural one of course, but the products are still as widely coveted as ever and I am thrilled to be able to write about three of Jurlique’s glorious beauty children which landed on my doorstep recently.

♥ Jurlique Daily Exfoliating Cream

How is your current exfoliant treating you? Is it harsh, scrubby or scratchy? Does it leave your skin red or dry? If you answered yes to any of these questions it’s time to get something a little more soothing onto your face to buff away your tired and dull skin cells. Daily Exfoliating Cream works a treat and is made primarily of oats, ground almonds and honey to sweep away dirt and debris.

I’ve been using this daily and really enjoying it, just make sure you rinse well as sometimes almondy-oaty bits can get stranded on your face!

TIP: Make sure you focus on your forehead & t-zone when exfoliating, so many peeps focus on the cheeks since it’s what we see on TV/in magazines but the other areas are usually in need of more scrub-a-dubbery.

♥ Jurlique Jasmine Body Care Lotion – $44

This moisturiser is creamy and dreamy. I had a revelation when I smelt it, it reminded me of some flowers that grew at my house and that I LOVED sniffing growing up. A quick google led me to the truth – they were jasmine flowers! I didn’t know I liked jasmine prior to using this, now I know I LOVE it! I use this at night before bed all over my legs, to guide me into a childlike slumber.

Childhood jasmine flowers, I’m so glad I found you! Lets never be apart again. – xoxo a

♥ Jurlique Purely Age Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream – $90

Whilst I’m more often than not mistaken for someone of a much younger age (not complaining!), I’m still a big fan of this “age defying” cream. I usually find myself applying it in the evening before bed and can instantly notice that my skin feels much smoother and plumper, I just want to keep touching it, but of course that is Very Naughty and so I try and control myself. I found it also makes a good base under makeup, though I would only do this at night as there’s no SPF included.

The smell is very pleasing to my olfactory nerve as well, which can only help when you’re pressing something into your face. Yep, press! The jar specifically states that pressing the product gently into the skin will yield you the best results and I’ve become quite a fan of the pressing method, which is new to me.

I’d certainly recommend this for anyone wanting plumper, firmer skin, whether it works on wrinkles as well I can’t currently say – maybe I will know in a few more years!

So concludes the tale of my three new loves.

Do you like the sound of any of these? There are so many other Jurlique prods that I want to try, but I can’t choose what to go for next!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥

I’ve done it! I’ve FOUND it! My search is over. I’ve been on a mission to overhaul my skincare routine for some time now and now I think I’ve found the goodies I was after.
So, a little about me. Mid-30’s gal (I refuse to be more specific here), healthy, acne problems all through adulthood (not really disastrous acne, but enough to shake my confidence) and just coming to terms with the new lines and wrinkles that are appearing on my face.

I’m also at a point where I’ve started to switch over to organic and natural products, be it cleaning products, hair products, food and skin care.

So in regards to the skin care world, I wanted to switch to a certified organic range and this proved to be more difficult than I imagined.

So, ‘certified’ organic? You got it. CERTIFIED ORGANIC. There is a huge difference between an organic product and a ‘certified’ organic product and until I looked into it, I didn’t realise just how big a difference there is.

Anyone can claim to have an organic or natural product just by having one natural or organic ingredient in the product, but they can and usually still do contain a number of potentially harmful chemicals. To be ‘certified organic’ the product needs to be in its purest form, 100% chemical free, in other words no nasties and all the good stuff. How many times have you been tempted to buy a moisturiser or shampoo that has the words ‘Organic’ or ‘Natural’ plastered all over the label and snap it up believing you are doing something good for your wellbeing? We all do! It’s only now that I realise, anyone can plaster this claim over their labels, but scratch the surface and quite often you’ll find the actual organic or natural quota is miniscule, but because it exists in the product, they push it as a selling point. For the most part, we’re fooled by it!
So, in my mission to find a certified organic skin care range, I found Serenade Organic.

Yelo!

While basking in the sun, sipping a smoothie at Yelo overlooking Trigg beach, I saw a range of skin products perched on the shelf, nestled amongst the vintage aprons, organic muesli and environmentally friendly bits and bobs. They have a moisturiser (Nourish), a cleanser (Purify) and an eye cream (Restore). The packaging was lovely and was beautifully presented with testers. Being the ‘free sample’ whore that I am, I popped some of the moisturiser and eye cream on to give it a whirl.

♥ Travel Pamper Pack

I loved it instantly, but I wanted to see how my skin reacted to it over a longer period of use. To my delight, they had a travel pamper pack available which is a 10 day sample of 3 products for $29.95. 10 days was a great opportunity to trial it at a great price. So there began my new friendship with Serenade Organic. I took it home and used it that very night.

What first grabbed me, was the gorgeous fragrance. Natural fragrance, mind you! It’s like nothing else I’ve ever used. So hard to put into words, but it reminds me of being in the countryside. It smells like a flipping meadow! Not overpowering, but completely fresh and uplifting. I’ve been using Serenade for 6 months now and still it is the wonderful smell that gives me a lift every morning and every night. Friends will say, “Ooooh, you smell nice!” and the only thing I have on is Serenade.

So aside from the magical meadow smell, the texture and feel was the next thing to impress. Serenade has managed to get that perfect consistency of ‘not too gluggy’ and ‘not too runny’ with their moisturiser so it glides on beautifully and gives your face a feeling of firmness and invigoration. You don’t have to use a lot of it, so it lasts for ages.

♥

Then there’s the eye cream. My new best friend. I kid you not, I would marry it if only the laws would change to allow it. Every morning and every night this goes on without fail. In the morning, my eyes feel fresh and hydrated. Even after a big night! I wake up now with bright eyes that don’t resemble that of a badger.

Their cleanser is the other part to their trinity of wondrous products. Wonderfully soothing and doesn’t strip the skin like so many other cleansers can. Massaged into the skin and removed with cotton balls, removes all of the day’s impurities leaving my face fresh and clean, ready for moisturising. This cleanser has usurped all other cleansers that ever called my bathroom cabinet home.

I’ve seen on their website that they’re bringing out an Age Defy Facial Serum soon, so I’m eagerly awaiting the day that I can adopt that and give it a home. My age certainly needs defying and I love the word ‘serum’. Sounds like it has super powers!

Hailing from this gorgeous part of the world…

So there you have it! I can’t rave about this stuff more (actually I could, but you must surely get the point by now – it’s amazing!). I also love the fact it’s a W.A. product created in one of my favourite parts of the state – Yallingup. I’ve since bought the travel pamper pack for gifts for 4 of my girlfriends who are all interested in making the switch to certified organic and we are all in agreement. Jackpot!

Website: http://www.serenadeorganic.com.au
Email: hello@serenadeorganic.com.au

Review by Sheridan Crofts, music quiz master & certified organic convert!

Be well,

xoxo

♥

Does anyone remember those fairy shops that you used to visit for birthday parties when you were little? They were such magical places, always playing calming music, they smelt incredible, everything looked all crystal-y and beautiful and you got a feeling while you were in there that a very special secret had been bestowed upon you and that you were in fact an ACTUAL fairy. And that this was the secret. The secret you must take to the grave.

Well there is now a skincare range that has bottled that special feeling. It’s called AEOS (Active Energised Organic Skincare) and their three phase skincare range (Renew, Rebalance, Replenish) uses ‘spagyric tinctures of crystal energies together with the waveforms of colour’ to create products that will make your outsides look good and your insides feel harmonious and nurtured. ‘Crystal energies’- that’s JUST like the fairies!!!

Random drawing of fairy for extra emphasis.

Ok, let’s put the pause on the fairies (BUT ONLY FOR A MOMENT) and talk about the nuts and bolts. Despite having an inbuilt magical aura about them, do these products work? I tried the AEOS Gentle Exfoliant and the AEOS Energising Conditioner from the Renew and Rebalance lines respectively and I am pleased to say that despite the amount of times I have mentioned the f-word in this article they really are very well researched, very seriously good products.

AEOS Gentle Exfoliant (blue) 30ml – $59

The exfoliant contains Spelt, in the form of the Aura-Soma biodynamic oil which contains a high concentration of Vitamin E and leaves your skin feeling moisturized after giving it a gentle scrub. My skin had been feeling really dry to the point where I could actually feel dry patches emerging (ew) and after three days of using this they were g-o-n-e. To my delight!

AEOS Energising Conditioner 30ml – $89

The real winner though is the Energizing Conditioner. This. Smells. Amazing. It smells purely magical and fairy-like (THEY”RE BACK) and I just can’t get enough. Putting some of this clear lightweight liquid on after washing your face feels like putting on a layer of contact, the kind you cover books with, on your face. That’s how smooth it feels. Seriously contact was the only analogy I could use that comes close to how smooth it feels. Except not plastic, of course.

These products just feel so special that you want to cherish them so it comes as no surprise to me that on the back of each bottle it says ‘made with love and intention’, it just gives you a warm feeling inside. Like the fairy shops did when I was little, at last I can have that feeling back!

Available online via http://www.begenkishop.com and from Karma Living (there is a store in the Claremont Quarter shopping mall) stores nationally.

Please also visit their website to read about their awesome bio-dynamic farm where they grow most of their ingredients. That are then handpicked by fairies. Probably.

Review by Adriane Daff.

Be well,

xoxo

♥

The myfaceworks face masks have got tailoring to your specific skin concerns down pat. These cute little packets contain a cloth mask which is brimming with ingredients to get your skin on the road to… well, wherever you like!

♥ I need to… detox

The other day I was quite naughty. A gingerbread man, small packet of chips and chocolate bar had all mysteriously made their way into my tummy and I most definitely needed some damage control. A hot bath, freshly cleansed face and detox mask (which is packed full of green tea, cucumber and algae extracts) put me back on the road to recovery quicksmart. If you drink a cuppa green tea while wearing this mask you’ll see even greater benefits to your skin!

♥ I need to… wake up

This Vitamin-C Radiance Mask is perfect for weekend breakfast dates with your girlfriends or boy-friends! Here’s what I like to do:

1. Stumble out of bed, gasping in mild horror at my bleary eyes & dull skin
2. Cleanse with warm water and a gentle face wash (it shouldn’t need to be too harsh in the morning if you remember to take your makeup off the night before!)
3. Tear open the packet and apply to face, this mask has aloe vera, kiwi fruit and loads of Vitamin C
4. Lie back in bed for 15-20 minutes while the mask does its thang and try not to fall back to sleep
5. Peel mask off and rinse off excess serum
6. Marvel at the difference 20 minutes and a winner of a mask can make
7. Rock up to breakfast date with a glow and accept admiration from all angles!

♥ I need… a quickie

With a name like “I need a quickie”, this mask guarantees satisfaction in the shortest possible time. Ingredients include cucumber, grape and radish root and is a pre-makeup express mask. The only thing that confuses me about this one is that the instructions still say 15-20 minutes, same as the others, so it isn’t really any quicker, but it is perfeccct to use before a big night out as it primes the skin and makes your makeup go on smashingly well!

♥ I need to… heal

I haven’t had a chance to use this mask yet as I luckily haven’t had the need, but if you’ve been a naughty little duck and spent too much time at the beach or playing sport and have a burnt face to show for it, THIS IS YOUR GO TO!

Containing 2.6 bucketloads of aloe vera & cucumber juice, this will be just the thing to soothe your red cheeks should you be so silly enough to forget to slip, slop, slap.

The myfaceworks masks come in an even bigger range than I’ve featured here, it’s a choose your own face mask adventure series which also include such flavours as:

♥ I need to… be firm
♥ I need… a clear day
♥ I need to… bring out my youth
♥ I need… damage control

AND MORE!

Check ’em all out at Beauty Works West Australia but be warned – you’ll find it hard to pick just one!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo