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Welcome back to one of my favourite segments to write – Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes! While I absolutely love doing a deeper review of a fitness class, spa experience or wellness retreat, there’s something super satisfying and fun about sharing the little bits and pieces that are making my dady to day life just that little bit more wellness-y.

Let’s get started!

♥ All the Facial Oils

Do you ever find that sometimes you fall off the wagon with a health or beauty tip that you promised yourself never to skip? Same here. For quite some time I just “totally forgot” that my skin thrives when I’m applying 100% natural oils to it on-the-reg. Pressing some jojoba oil into my skin in the morning before my facial sunscreen gives an all day glow that I wouldn’t otherwise be lucky enough to have, and after cleansing the days makeup & dirt off at night, 4 drops of rosehip oil massaged into my face followed up with a face cream also does WONDERS. I can’t believe I let myself lapse on this for so long, but I’m very happy to back on my oily regime!

Currently I’m using 100% organic jojoba oil from The Jojoba Company in the morning & Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ in the evenings. I also highly recommend Two Drops by Herbs + Heart which is a blend of incredibly lush oils for evening use, I’ll be moving onto this one when the rosehip is done!

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♥ Chlorella Supplements

I’ve just jumped back on board with these bright green little beauties. Chlorella, a freshwater algae, is said to be one of nature’s perfect superfoods – it’s high in protein, iron, antioxidants, magnesium and many more vitamins and minerals. It’s also meant to be fantastic for drawing out heavy metals & chemicals from your tissues and helping the body dispose of it. Thanks, chlorella!

Personally I just like the idea of taking a green supplement each day in the hopes that it’s doing something positive – I’ll report back on my findings soon! My favourite brand is Sun Chlorella which you can purchase from iHerb (use this discount code – MZB674 – for 10% off your first order, woo!)

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♥ Cheezels vs. Mary’s Gone Crackers

Having low blood pressure (or the blood pressure of a 5 year old child, as a doctor once told me – I’m 35) comes with a few challenges. One of which is an almost constant craving for salty foods. I most definitely have a ‘salt tooth’ rather than a sweet tooth. Because of this I am almost always reaching for something crunchy + salty, and often that takes the form of something less than wellness… cue, Cheezels, Pizza Shapes, or the probably-not-even-that-healthy Honey Dijon Soy Crisps. At a couple of bucks a piece it can be an easy choice to make on a 10 minute rest break at work, but the resulting energy slump and feeling crappy hasn’t been doing me any favours lately.

In my quest to change things up I’ve started purchasing the herb flavoured Mary’s Gone Crackers snacky biscuits and pairing them with Caramelised Onion Hommus and OH LAWD is it goooood! This salty, crunchy, snack with a hint of sweetness really hits the spot, and leaves me feeling fantastic afterwards as well. The only downside is the cost. A packet of MGC will set you back around $8, and the hommus anywhere from $3-4. So it’s the $2 snacks versus the $12 snacks, but the wellness & energy benefits of the latter are well worth it in my opinion. I’d love to hear your favourite healthy, salty snacks in the comments so leave one below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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…!

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♥ 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.

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♥ 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

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Feeling a little dull? Lost that sparkle in your eye? We live in a fast-paced world where stress can get the better of us, sleep is not a priority, we’re stuck in air-conned offices or exposed to harsh sunny rays and all of that can cause us to lose that ethereal radiance from within. Check out these simple ways you can wake up with an island holiday glow.

1. Sip on a mug of warm lemon water

There’s a reason so many health-conscious celebs choose to wake up in the morning by drinking a mug of warm lemon water – it’s amazing for skin, energy and digestion! Hydration is super important for our circulation and skin elasticity, so any extra water you can sneak into your day is going to do great things for your bod. While lemon juice is acidic, when it gets into your digestive system, it actually has the opposite effect and is alkalising. This helps ensure our tummies don’t secrete too much or too little hydrochloric acid (which is what happens when we eat so we can break down food) and in turn, makes digestion a treat. Happy guts = happy skin! It’s a great little habit to get into to refresh your body in the morning, and perhaps replace any habits that could be exacerbating any dullness in your mind or body (I’m looking at you, coffee).

How: Just squeeze half a lemon into a mug, fill halfway with cold water, then the rest with boiling water.

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2. Get some antioxidants in for breakfast

Smoothies are not only easy to digest, but they’re great to get some fresh, green goodness in before you’ve even left the house. For a summery combo full of antioxidants and hydrating veg, try this green smoothie recipe:

♥ 1 Lebanese cucumber
♥ Big handful of spinach
♥ 1 cup frozen blueberries
♥ Half a lemon.

For an extra fresh hit, add a few mint leaves and for a creamy texture and a dose of healthy skin-loving essential fatty acids, add half an avocado.

How: Simply blitz, pour and drink! If you find you get hungry if you just have a smoothie for breakfast, try chewing on a small handful of raw nuts before your smoothie. The chewing action prepares your stomach to digest your smoothie slowly, and the fats and fibre from the nuts will help keep you satiated.

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3. Get those fats in

It was the scam of the last century and we’re still getting over the hangover of being told fat makes us fat – avoid at all cost! The truth is, healthy fats are literally essential for our bodies to function optimally, but more importantly (right?), for our skin to ooze radiance.

Our cell walls are made of fats (as are our hormones, which can influence skin breakouts amongst other things if we don’t look after them), so it’s important to keep our bodies happy with a regular fat intake.

How: Try to work any of these foods into your daily diet: raw nuts, avocado, olive oil, raw seeds, eggs, coconut oil/milk/cream/flakes.

♥ Sodashi Brightening Marine Mineral Mask – $120

4. Treat your skin to a natural, nourishing mask and moisturiser

Topical treatments are the cherry on the cake when it comes to your skin. Clear, glowing complexions are built from good lifestyle and diet choices, but skincare adds a little extra somethin’ somethin’. We love brands that are completely natural with amazing active ingredients designed to completely nourish your skin.

How: Once or twice a week, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, pat dry and slather on a face mask rich in glow-inducing ingredients (we love Sodashi’s Brightening Marine Mineral Mask because it’s packed with revitalising phytonutrients and detoxifying marine minerals). Leave on as directed, rinse and follow up with a rich and creamy moisturiser (Mukti Organics makes a fantastic Marigold Hydrating Crème which my skin just DRINKS UP!).

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5. Fall asleep before 11pm

In the sleep world, 11pm is the golden hour after which the magic happens. Those who fall asleep before 11pm tend to have more restful, restorative sleeps than those who fall asleep after 11pm. Plus, the earlier hours of the night are typically when we have deeper, restorative non-REM sleep and shifts to lighter, dream-filled REM sleep as the night wears on (and this shift occurs during the night regardless of when we go to sleep because #circadianrhythms). Hitting the hay early means more deep sleep and a fresher face in the morning thanks to the opportunity you’ve given your body to repair and refresh itself.

How: Dim the lights or go tech-free at least an hour before bed to stimulate melatonin production and wriggle into bed when you start getting sleepy. Oh, and leave your phone on the other side of the room (your Insta feed will still be there in the morning).

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6. Lavender is not just for old ladies

If you struggle to get to sleep, particularly with an active mind, try brain dumping your thoughts into a cute journal and then spritzing some lavender essential oil on your pillow. Lavender is amazing for de-stressing and cueing our bodies to relax and unwind. Plus, it smells amazing! It’s like a lullaby for our brains and when we’re not wired, we get a deeper sleep. Goodbye under-eye bags!

How: Grab a mini spray bottle from the travel section in your local chemist and fill with water or rose water with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Keep next to your bed and mist liberally before you hop into bed.

♥ Go-To Skincare Face Case – $65

7. Cotton on to a silk pillowcase

They’ve been on the health and beauty radar a lot recently, but silk pillowcases do really stand up to the hype. If you’re one who suffers from pillowcase wrinkles (“crease-face”) in the mornings, you’ll love resting your head on silk case. The natural fabric is gentle on your face, shifting with your skin rather than causing friction and wrinkle marks. It’s breathable, which also means it’s less likely to harbour bacteria that can cause or aggravate acne, and won’t absorb skincare like cotton, allowing your skin to reap the most benefit from your products. Added bonus for those of us in the messy-bun-to-bed club – silk pillowcases have a lot more slip and less friction than cotton, so your hair won’t pull or tangle as much as you sleep.

How: There are lots of brands to choose from these days, but be sure to buy a 100% natural silk pillowcase. Our pick is the Go-To Skincare Face Case which is all kinds of cute, and the perfect gift!

Try these tips today and let us know how you go!

What are your favourite tips for glowing skin ASAP? Leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!

Be well,

Gemma & Annette

xoxo

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Let’s face it, beef jerky kinda sucks, and up until now there hasn’t been an option available for plant eaters who are keen to get their teeth into something spicy, chewy and delicious without splashing out on exy dehydrators. Enter pre-packaged Watermelon Jerky from Pure Glow Cleanse.

This stuff is so delicious that you’ll want to make sure you buy more than one packet at a time, because your first one will definitely be inhaled quicker than you can say “Watermelon jerky CHANGED MY LIFE, baby”.

With just 3 simple ingredients, watermelon, lime juice & cayenne pepper, it’s a a snack you can feel good about and even eat everyday if you wanted to. Hop to it!

Have you tried watermelon jerky before? Is there anyone else dishing out this delicious vegan delicacy in Perth? Let me know in the comments below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Lately I’ve been getting into a whole range of new skincare products which have been rocking my world, so this edition of Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes is solely dedicated to all things skin!

♥ @thebeautychef

♥ Carla Oates Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost

I’m a HUGE fan of the concept of ‘internal skincare’, and Carla Oates is all about it too. Her catchphrase “beauty begins in the belly” resonates with me, and is a nod to the exciting new research into the effect of probiotics and gut health on all systems of the body – including the quality of our skin.

Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost tastes fantastic and is PACKED full of probiotics, antioxidants and other goodies. I’ve just started to include a tablespoon per day in a glass of filtered water. I definitely feel that when I take this beauty elixir I’m helping to give my skin & body what it needs to thrive and can’t wait to see the long term results of taking it daily! As an added bonus it’s really good for your digestion too.

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♥ Qsilica Naturally Clear Skin Cleanser

I’ve been using this product for a couple months now and I have to say, this is a really good cleanser! My skin never feels too dry / too oily / stripped afterwards. It just feels soft, dewy and perfectly cleansed. For me, this cleanser doesn’t stop most breakouts, my skin is mostly affected by what I eat and drink – so it wont prevent a breakout if I’ve “accidentally” consumed half a block of Whittakers Coconut Chocolate and 3 ciders, but it does stop any pesky little spots caused by “accidentally” falling asleep in my makeup. And it makes my skin feel amazing regardless, so I will continue to use it while I pray that coconut chocolate becomes a thing of the past so that I’m not regularly tempted by it (probably not going to happen).

♥ @gotoskincare

♥ Exfoliating Swipeys by Go-to-Skincare

This product. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways! I’ve been following skincare saviour and all round quirky gal Zoe Foster Blake since her days penning her first blog, Fruity Beauty. She’s the ultimate “it’s totally okay to be kinda weird but also cool girl”, and for a while now she’s been killing it with her own beauty range, Go-to-Skincare.

There are a number of pretty special products, but the Exfoliating Swipeys are my DEAD SET FAVOURITE!

First, the name. Very good. Next, the results. Also very good. Each swipey, which is a little cotton pad, is full to the brim with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) and gently dissolves dead skin cells, unclogs pores, refines skin and generally just makes your skin totally ace. I like to use mine in the shower after cleansing, I get swipey on my face and then do other showery things for a minute while keeping my face away from the water so the AHA’s don’t wash off. After 60 seconds you can rinse away to your hearts content.

The best thing to do afterwards is massage 4 drops of rosehip oil – Kosmea is my current favourite – into your skin, wait 10 minutes and then apply Very Useful Face Cream, which is another Go-to-Skincare prod. My best advice is to do this right before bed, get a long snooze in, and then wake up to incredible, glowy skin that you’ll really want to touch (but you shouldn’t!)

SO! Those are my current recommendations. Like it? Lump it? Leave a comment below and let me know! Xo

Be well,

Annette