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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on December 4, 2010
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Hiya! Okay, we’re going to change the format of this a tiny bit! First up will be all the posts from the previous week, then after that will be all the wonderful little snippets I’ve come across, that way if you’ve missed out on something you can check it out 🙂 Hopefully this is helpful for everyone, hope you have had a wonderful crazy weathered week! xx
♥ Product Review: Rodial Anti-Aging Snake Venom Range – a review for those serious about anti-aging.
♥ Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Elly Squire / Clare Cupcakes, dancer for Sugar Blue Burlesque. Ooh la la! Clara is a cutie.
♥ Eyebrow Waxing Vows – following a bad eyebrow burny experience (the poor things are peeling as we speak…eww!) I devised these vows to be repeated to any new waxer you think of allowing near your little face caterpillars.
♥ Personal Trainer in Perth, a Diary: Part One! – follow me on my journey to get fitter and stronger!
♥ Blueberry, Banana & Cashew Butter Smoothie – One word: yes.
♥ Wellness WA Christmas Wishlist! – Don’t know what to get for someone? Don’t know what you want yourself? Want to shower me with gifts? This article can help you with all three!
♥ The Importance of Having a Delicious Body Wash that Makes You Feel Amazing – I think it’s very important to treat yourself as kindly as possible, and this is one little way.
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♥ Walking Meditation, have you tried it? – Sarah Wilson gives us the lowdown on this interesting form of meditation.
♥ The Taste of Effort – seriously interesting! More research into the old adage that the harder something is to achieve, the more we appreciate it.
♥ What Are You Affirming? – a pretty lengthy article on one woman’s experience with affirmations, a lovely read.
♥ One of the Worlds Best Kept Beauty Secrets – what is it I wonder…?!
♥ What is a Self-Healing Acupressure Pranamat? – I’m about to find out on Monday, as I’m picking up my long awaited pranamat from the post office! SO interested to see how it goes!
♥ Feed Your Brain: Part Three! – if your brain could talk, what would it want you to be eating? Get some help here!
♥ Tips for Preparing for a Big Night Out – some ideas I hadn’t heard of here before!
♥ 100 Ways You Can Start Loving Yourself Right Now – such an excellent article, MUST READ!
♥ Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Worth, Self-Love & Self-Gratification this Holiday Season – another beautiful article by Sam from Be Genki.
That’s it for another week!
Be well and take care,
Annette
xo
Posted in Other, Wellness Tips | 
Comments Off on Weekly Wellness Wishes!
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on December 2, 2010
Care for some venom?
If you asked me to make a list of things I would never consider putting on my face, snake venom would feature in the top ten. Probably top five.
I have no interest in doing such a thing even if you told me it was going to instantly lift my face and plump fine lines and wrinkles. So the real stuff is o-u-t, but what if it was Syn-ake, a synthetic ‘venom’ that mimics the effects of the Temple Viper’s potent venom? …Yeah I’m still not that interested. It all sounds a little…full on. Therefore I guess it’s fitting that the people behind this fake venom, the crew over at Rodial, have decided that the question they want you and I to answer is:
‘How far will you go to look younger?’
(Like snake venom far?)
I mean it’s all a bit extreme isn’t it? Going in to review the Rodial products (Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum, Rodial Glamtox Night and Rodial Glamtox Active Daily Moisturizer) I was thinking a lot about how anti ageing products are all around us, constantly getting in our faces, telling us to look harder at those faces and suggesting maybe its time to start thinking about anti ageing at a point in your 20s where you shouldn’t really be giving a care. BUT social issues aside, maybe it can help to start using a product with anti ageing qualities as a preventative measure, IF you want to.
So back to Rodial.
I didn’t want this to work. I didn’t want to like it. I wanted to write it off as some crack pot way (I mean snake venom REALLY?) to get money off of people…but. Well. It’s like this. We got along really well. And I think it’s really great. Fake venom and all. I actually think this works. I would like to point out though- this did not instantly, miraculous freeze my face in a way that meant I couldn’t move it, it didn’t give me an instant face lift and it didn’t do anything that sounds like it is breaking the boundaries of science. But what it did do, moisturizing, fading fine lines and imperfections and best of all beginning to even out my skin tone was enough to have me hooked. Absolutely hooked. I also give massive, massive thumbs up to a company that puts an SPF in their daily moisturizer (that sun guy is the one that’s going to prematurely age you) and puts antioxidant protection in their products.
In short the Glamtox Night (above) has a really nice thick, but not oily, texture and is designed to work on re-surfacing your skin (again working on hyper pigmentation) and even in the short amount of time I used it I could see this beginning to already happen. It also is meant to reduce the size of your pores, maybe with extended use I would’ve seen that, but I didn’t over the 2 weeks I used it.
The Snake Serum is probably intended for someone who wants a more concentrated product to work on deep-set wrinkles, but I really liked the way that it made my skin feel. Kind of soft but very firm at the same time. It’s a really difficult feeling to try and describe (must be that venom huh?) And the feeling is addictive. The downer on this one is the price tag. The only way I think I will be able to add this to my daily routine is if Santa delivers it to me.
My favourite though was the Glamtox Active Daily Moisturizer. Holy Groceries this was good. The SPF! The non-greasy texture! The ability it had to make my skin feel hydrated all day! The fading of fine lines! I’ve always been pretty skeptical about anti ageing products on the basis that they just seemed to go against common sense but if you cut through all the snake venom/freeze your face/miracle cream/turn back the hands of time hype surrounding this you will hopefully see the Rodial products for what they really are, well made, nicely packaged, of a very high quality and certainly helping you and your skin out to look as healthy and youthful as it can possibly be.
Also, I guess with the venom being synthetic that means no snakes were harmed in the making of these products, so that’s good to know too.
Buy it online from Australia’s number one online beauty retailer, Adore Beauty!
Adriane Daff, faux snake venom convert.
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Other | 9 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on December 1, 2010
♥ First up tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Elly Squire but I tend to be better known as my stage moniker Clara Cupcakes. I perform with Sugar Blue Burlesque in shows all over WA. I also teach Hula Hooping at the Burlesque Academy. In my real person life (I couldn’t live like Clara Cupcakes – she’s an absolute drunken floozy!) I like to go lindy hopping, sew pretty clothes and bake cupcakes, mostly for the Retro Market. You can usually find me otherwise rehearsing like crazy for one of our shows!
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
It’s complicated! My skin was always super easy care (just cleanse, tone, moisturise and the odd exfoliation) until I moved to Thailand. I don’t know if it was the weather or the pollution but my skin changed completely. It was both oily and dry at the same time and it got really rough and lumpy. I had to change my whole routine and all my products. I got rid of anything that had parabens and the like and just used the most natural products I could find. I have a separate day and night routines because I find my skin needs different things at different times of the day. I keep it really light and oil free during the day and put the oils back in at night. Sure my face feels a little sticky and oily when I go to bed but I wake up with the softest skin!
Burt’s Bees Radiance Creme RRP $39.95
In the mornings I use Coal Face by Lush to cleanse, rose water (which I just buy from my local market) to tone and then Burt’s Bees Daily Radiance Creme , plus arnica oil for my eyes. At night I use Burt’s Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream followed by my own tea tree toner blend and moisturize with a jojoba/vitamin e/ rose hip oil blend (that I also mix myself) and Burt’s Bee’s Carrot Nutritive Night Creme and Beeswax & Royal Jelly Eye Creme. It sounds like a lot but my skin thanks me for it!
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I am obsessed with keeping my eyebrows groomed. I don’t really have a favourite place. I kind just go wherever is open and has a free appointment at the time.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I hadn’t had my hair cut for a good two years because of a terrible hairdressing fiasco that had let me somewhat bitter and vowing never to go back to anyone EVER. But I recently gave in had it all chopped off in New York at Pimps and Pinups (who were AMAZING by the way. Ask for Lizzy!). So I don’t have anyone here that I go to but I will definitely be going to Head Studio in the city for my maintenance. I have heard amazing things!
Olive Oil.
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Avocado, coconut oil and jojoba oil hair mask that I make myself. It’s so easy to make great, natural treatments for yourself that don’t break the bank. I also like warm olive oil and salt as an all over body scrub.
Dr Feelgood by Benefit , RRP $53
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
♥ Dr Feelgood by Benefit – I wear this instead of foundation when I’m having a stretch of good skin days. It’s a super light balm that makes your skin look matte so you have that look of foundation without actually wearing it.
♥ Jojoba and Arnica Oils – Jojoba oil has made a huge difference to my skin. It makes it glow, but not in an oily way. You can even use it on your hair. Just put two drops on your hands and run them though your locks. It makes it soft and shiny. Arnica is also a big favourite with me because I bruise like a week old peach and this helps get rid of the colour a little quicker. I also use it under my eyes in the morning to help get rid of dark circles.
♥ Sleep Balm by Badger Balm – I used to be a troubled sleeper until I picked up a tin of this little miracle. I smell it and instantly feel more relaxed. It’s the best! I keep trying to give it to people. I think I’m starting to weird them out.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Cold peppermint tea in summer! It’s refreshing and helps you digest so you never feel bloated, which is the WORST in summer. Oh and always use an eye cream, no matter what age you are. It’s an investment in your skin you wont regret.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!).
Acupuncture. I think it would make a difference to my horrible knee that keeps flaring up but I’m petrified of needles!
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Oh gosh, my eating habits are pretty terrible right now. I think I would scandalise everyone. But I do drink a tonne of water and herbal tea. That’s all I’ll admit right now!
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I don’t really have one to be honest. I used to do a lot of yoga but it started getting expensive and unfortunately other things came first. I do hula hoop a tonne which is not only fun but great for toning and strengthening your core. I also try and go lindy hopping once a week, although I have been failing at that pretty badly lately as well.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I have the knees of an 80 year old. I take glucosamine and fish oil to help so i’m not hobbling around everywhere. I also take a multivitamin. That’s about it really! As for therapies, well. I say get out there and dance. It’ll cure what ails you!
Any questions for Ms. Cupcakes?
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Interviews | 3 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on December 1, 2010
I, Annette, take you, Potential Beauty Therapist, to be my expert waxer, my vigilant tweezer, my faithful non-burning friend and my go-to girl for beautiful, pain free eyebrows from this day forward.
In the presence of the God of waxing, this treatment room and the products that surround us, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful client, in monobrows and in perfectly tweezed arches, in good economic times and in bad, and in joy as well as in the sorrow of not getting my preferred treatment time.
I promise to come to you unconditionally, to support you in your goals to be the salon manager, to honor and respect your need to ask what I’m doing this weekend, to laugh with you when you tell me about that boring thing your boyfriend did and cry with you when he runs off with your distant relative, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall understand that hot wax applied more than one time to any facial area will almost certainly result in a burn.
You may now wax my brows.
*** For relevance, I had a burny, ouchy eyebrow waxing experience today. Sub-optimal, so I created this vow in the hopes that the waxing God’s smile upon me next time.
Amen.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Other | 5 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on November 30, 2010
Personal Training Diary, Day 1.
I have to be honest with you, I’m a little scared about what I’ve gotten myself into. See, despite running a website dedicated to health & beauty and being a keen yoga goer, my cardio and strength generally resemble that of a sea cucumber.
I found Sarah Devlin on a random trawl through Gumtree, I think I was looking for a cute vintage bike. I clicked through to her website and was greeted by an ultra lovely looking page stating the following:
♥ I want to create long, lean muscles for you, boost your energy levels and make you look and feel fantastic.
♥ I am friendly, personable and motivating and I don’t think a personal trainer has to be shouty or intimidating.
♥ I want you to have fun and be comfortable with me while you are working as hard as you possibly can.
I was won over, so we teed up a time to have my first-ever personal training sesh (eek!).
My strength & cardio capacity resemble that of my good friend here.
We met up at a local lake / park / generally beautiful area, which I surmised would make the pain a little more bearable. There were swans and lots of puppy dogs, so I ended up focusing on them to help get me through!
Sarah listened to my concerns about a high cardio workout, so we mainly worked on strength, with heaps of exercise variations (but still working each area of the body to its limit). I didn’t escape cardio altogether though, damn, but I’m told it’s for the best!
She has a very encouraging training style and is very much focused on making sure you have correct posture / alignment, which is great for a complete novice like me who has little idea of how to hold my body correctly in the exercises.
Another thing I love is the mix of pilates and dance moves in the session, I really feel like Sarah understands women’s bodies and knows how to bring out the best in me, even if I feel like complaining.
Hello new found body part!
Post first workout I make an interesting discovery – I have triceps???! Yes, they’re calling my name for the first time I can probably ever remember and they’re not pleased with me after happily lying dormant for all these years!
The next day I felt surprisingly good, however as the day wore on my muscles grew increasingly weary and the day after that they were rebelling to the point that it was a big effort to move myself around!
No pain no gain right?
Stay tuned for Part Two of my adventures in Perth Personal Training next week! x
Web: Sarah Devlin
E-mail: sarah@sarahdevlin.com
Phone: 0431 365 342
Prices start from $70, depending on session frequency and distance to travel, contact Sarah for more info
Have any questions? If you’re currently seeing or thinking about seeing a Personal Trainer I’d love to hear from you!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Exercise, North of River, Reviews, South of River | 6 Comments »
