Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Karen Fischer, Nutritionist.

♥ Photo by Vanessa Levis

♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m a nutritionist who writes health and beauty books, I occasionally eat chocolate, and my latest book, Younger Skin in 28 Days (RRP $29.99), has just been released.

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine. (please include specifics about brands/products used)

I have sensitive skin and I use products that are both gentle and anti-ageing.

In the morning I moisturise my face with Vitamin B serum and Uberzinc, which is SPF15+ and has anti-inflammatory ingredients. I also apply ReviTaleyes which is an anti-wrinkle eye serum (all by Synergie). At night I cleanse with Hydra Calm Cleansing Crème by La Mav, and then I apply an anti-ageing serum Ultimate A and moisturise with Uberzinc.

♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

I usually do my own exfoliation beauty treatments, which remove dead skin cells and smooth my skin. It’s really simple and involves using an exfoliating mit and gentle body wash, and for my face I use ReVeal by Synergie. When I want to treat myself I go to Amy Erbacher Beauty (in Sydney) for a skin-smoothing facial.

♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

I love this simple Foot Soak and Scrub weekly treatment to remove dead skin for younger, more beautiful feet. Place warm water into a large, wide bowl and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Place the bowl onto a towel on the floor where you can comfortably sit and soak your feet for 5 minutes. Then use a pumice stone, rubbing it gently on the soles of your feet in a circular motion.

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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

Ultimate A by Synergie, it’s the wrinkle eraser!
Body moisturiser such as B-Juvenate by Synergie or Dr Organics Pomegranate Body Butter.

All can be found here.

♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

I take a powdered calcium supplement every day – it’s fantastic for the skin. Calcium helps to moisturise and protect the skin from harsh weather conditions and it’s great for bone health too, which is important as you age!

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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet?

I’d like to go to a health spa where you can’t talk for a week.

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I wake up early and have an organic chai tea. Later, for breakfast I have Omega Muesli which is 3/4 cup oats and 1 teaspoon of linseeds soaked overnight, drained, and served with organic soy milk, cinnamon and seasonal berries. Lunch varies but often consists of brown rice (Low GI by SunRice), roasted pecans, radicchio lettuce, mixed purple salad leaves, celery, grape tomatoes and home-made salad dressing. In the afternoon I snack on fruit (such as peach, papaya and cherries) and dinners vary greatly but I do love sushi and home-made curries.

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

I recently joined a gym so my routine now consists of lifting weights – upper body one day and lower body the next. I go about 5 times per week and I also do about 300 squats per day.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

I take my own custom designed supplements for healthy skin, hair and nails, one with each main meal. I also have powdered calcium (with magnesium and vitamin D) every night.

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

I have about 7 hours of sleep each night. I sometimes have trouble falling asleep so I do this Younger Skin face steaming routine just before bed, to relax the facial muscles and promote sleep:

Cleanse your face and rinse, then fill a bowl with very warm water. Add a small amount of apple cider vinegar — the vinegar is an optional step that is designed to help restore the acid mantle of the skin. Wet a soft cotton face cloth and quickly wring out the excess water. Hold the hot/warm cloth against your face (eyes closed) and gently press, imagining your facial muscles relaxing each time you breathe out. Hold the cloth over your face for 5–10 seconds and repeat the process three times.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

Enjoying hobbies is an important part of being healthy, for me. I love listening to music, and once a week I’ll go to the cinema by myself. If I’m really stressed I’ll go for a beach run or buy a big bag of cherries – I love them!

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Karen Fischer is a nutritionist, award-winning author and a former television presenter (What’s Up Doc? Nine Network). Karen’s bestselling books include The Healthy Skin Diet, The Eczema Diet and newly released Younger Skin in 28 Days. Karen’s website is www.healthbeforebeauty.com

Thanks Karen! If you have any questions on Karen’s routine, please leave a comment below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Karen Fischer, Nutritionist.

Trail Run Review: The Coastal Trail – Lucky Bay to Hellfire Bay… Almost!

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Change, transition, and moving are all tough. There are certainly elements of them that provide a sense of excitement, but often these expected and unexpected life events can leave us feeling a little less in control and without energy and motivation to get out the door and move our bodies.

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What’s your Therapy?

I have moved a lot in my life and the one thing that I can always count on to ground me in any new surrounding is running. In my books running is like therapy, some of my worst moods have been turned around after a 30min trail run, some of my best ideas after a long run along a river and some of my best connections with friends have been made on a single-track trail. I love running, pure and simple.

Moving to Western Australia was quite the change for this Canadian Rocky Mountain girl and regardless of how open and prepared I was to this change my body was sure feeling the effects of an energy zapping transition. So I turned to the trails to lift my spirits and get a bit of that spark back I had been longing for.

I have always believed the best way to fall in love with a new place is to go for a run. We did just that in Esperance, WA when we ran from Lucky Bay to Hellfire Bay (well almost to Hellfire Bay) . Not only was this my first time in WA, but it was also my first time running in WA!

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The white sand contrasting with the clear blue ocean and then punctuated by the red rock was a spectacle that I don’t think I could quite comprehend at the time and I couldn’t have thought of a better way to experience other than with a trail run.

Nothing could have prepared me for that piece of humble pie as I realised right then and there I was so lucky to have this experience and the health and fitness to experience such a place on a run.

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What helps you gain perspective?

Energy restoring and grounding run? Mission Accomplished!

The best part about finishing this run aside from the runners high was jumping in the crystal clear water and then having a hot solar heated shower! Heaven!

A few technical tid-bits about this trail!

Trail Name: The Coastal Trail
Total Distance: approx. 15 km one way, but we did 7.5 out and back
Where we started: Lucky Bay Camp Ground
Where we turned around: Just past Thistle cove
Type of Trip: Out and Back
Type of Surface: Trail

More Information on this trail can be found here!

Do you have a favourite trail run in WA? What motivates you to run? We'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below!

Article by Brooke Darlington, Canadian gal turned Aussie lover, check her out at Mountain Girl Meets Surfboard!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Exercise, Other, Up North | 2 Comments »

Health Supplement Review: Plant-based Protein Powders + A Recipe!

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Firstly, let me just say that in no way am I suggesting that a plant-based diet needs to be supplemented with protein powder – it is now common knowledge in the health and wellness industry that we can get adequate protein from a wholesome and varied plant-based diet.

I personally choose to include protein powder in my diet because I’ve amped up my exercise load, I’m trying to increase my muscle mass and because I like to include it in smoothies to create more substantial and filling snacks and meals.

Whilst it is easy to get lost in the endless shelves of chemical laden protein powders and meal replacement shakes full of false promises, more and more natural alternatives are popping up in Australia. I definitely do not consider myself a protein powder connoisseur but in my search for a healthy AND palatable post workout drink (let’s face it, natural does not ALWAYS taste best – especially where protein powders are concerned) I’ve tried a few plant-based brands and would love to share my experiences with you. All of the below protein supplements are dairy, gluten, soy and refined sugar free.

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First up is vanilla flavoured Sunwarrior Rice Protein: Bio-Fermented, Raw, Sprouted Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein sweetened with stevia, 16.8 g of protein per serve.

This was my introduction to the brown rice protein brigade and I have to admit, I nearly spat the first sip back out. I then pondered on how I was going to get rid of it and considered pushing it on to a friend. A month later I gave it another shot and actually slowly began to enjoy it. I think the trick with protein powders that are sweetened with stevia is to not mix them with sweet fruits, unless you’re after a total sweet taste bud assault. I enjoyed Sunwarrior blended with almond/soy/rice milk and loads of ice or with frozen raspberries. Once I learned to enjoy the taste the only downside I found was the slightly chalky texture. Which lead me on to my next tub…

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Growing Naturals Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein Isolate in Vanilla Blast, sweetened with brown rice syrup and stevia, 24 g of protein per serve.

I like the fact that this one is sweetened with brown rice syrup as I enjoy the taste more than stevia. This would also suit someone looking to include more carbohydrates in their diet as brown rice syrup contains both fast carbohydrates suitable for muscle recovery and complex carbohydrates for sustained energy. It has the same texture as other brown rice protein powders but I enjoyed the taste more. I also used it in a banana muffin recipe which turned out well.

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Ezy Protein: Organic, Sprouted, Bio-Fermented, Raw, Wholegrain Brown Rice Protein sweetened with stevia, 25.8 g protein of per serve.

This has the same texture as Sunwarrior but is a little sweeter and tastier. I quite like the tub that it comes in as your hand doesn’t get coated in protein powder as you try and scoop out the last few serves.

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Vega Sport Performance Protein in Chocolate and Vanilla: A complete multi-source, alkaline-forming, plant-based protein blend sweetened with stevia, 26 g of protein per serve.

This is a little different to the above proteins as it contains a mixture of yellow pea protein, SaviSeed protein, sprouted wholegrain brown rice protein, hemp protein and alfalfa protein as well as a branched chain amino acid complex, glutamine and a digestive enzyme blend.

I like the fact that this contains a variety of protein sources and includes other ingredients which assist recovery and improve digestion. I found the texture to be a lot smoother than plain brown rice protein powders and it blends far more easily. Chocolate is my flavour of choice, I’m not a big fan of Vega’s vanilla.

In the end none of these protein powders are delicious, but they do contain high quality healthy ingredients which can compliment your diet and exercise program, and possibly boost your results.

Overall Vega has been my favourite protein powder based on taste, texture and ingredients, but there are still other brands out there that I’m keen to try such as Garden of Life RAW Protein, Juice Plus Complete and David Wolfe’s Raw Sprouted Brown Rice Protein.

Have you tried any of these or ones I haven’t listed? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience.

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Bonus: My Choc Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

♥ 1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate plant-based protein powder
♥ milk of choice (almond, rice etc) I used around 100 mL in the one above but I like mine super thick
♥ 1 cup of frozen raspberries
♥ 1 tbsp of raw cacao powder (less if using chocolate flavoured protein)

Blend, serve and enjoy 🙂

Article by Emma Smyth, nutrition student & health coach who blogs over at This Sparkly Life!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Exercise, Food, Organic, Products, Reviews | 11 Comments »

Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Ashley Piotto, Founder of Fusion Life Perth.

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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

I have been hooked on personal development ever since my Dad gave me the book ‘Coach Yourself’ after I graduated from school. The desire to really “find myself” was ignited so after a couple years of deliberation (aka fear) I moved to London to begin the search! I loved the cosmopolitan city that never sleeps and everywhere I went, even if it was just on the underground train to work – there was a sense of excitement. That you really can be whoever you want in this city and accepted for it. Moving back to Perth after the cold grey winters got the better of me and my business idea Fusion Life was born.

I wanted to bring a slice of London to Perth, to show the up and coming women that Perth can also be a place of excitement with lots to do. So day to day I now run Fusion Life which involves organizing personal/professional development and networking events in the city and updating the website with articles and tips on how to live a balanced lifestyle and make the most of our beautiful Perth!

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

I have always liked to experiment with different beauty products and very rarely purchase the same product twice. As my Fusion Life motto goes – balance is key and I like to keep trying new things on my ultimate search for a perfect balance!

Although I do have some faves of course:
• Palmers Cocoa Body Butter – yummy chocolatey scent and very nourishing.
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Face Moisturiser – natural as my face doesn’t need any more chemicals.
• Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – face scrub gentle enough to use every day.
• Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment – everyone loves this for a reason! Helps condition and add shine to my newly blonde hair.
• Maybelline Nude Airfoam Moisturiser – like mousse for the face – goes on light and fluffy but gives me amazing coverage!

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Other activities that make their way into my beauty routine include:

• After my morning shower I always moisturize from head to toe.
• Use exfoliation gloves over my entire body at least twice a week.
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and take my daily Swisse Women’s Ultivite Multivitamin. If I don’t drink water I definitely notice the difference in my skin.

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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

Of course you can’t go past a nice relaxing massage or facial. This helps to radiate beauty from the inside out. If I’m relaxed this shows in my care free and peaceful nature. I must admit I haven’t been to many in Perth lately, I was in Bali last year and loaded up on the treatments! If I were to have a massage or facial in Perth I would go to my brilliant beautician Corinne at The Beauty Chamber in Attadale.

♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?

Jelosia – Amanda and Steph, they were recommendation by my beautician and my mum! About 11 months ago I decided to go blonde for the first time ever, I was a little nervous to see if it would suit me but the girls at Jelosia helped me gradually go from dark (almost black) to a nice golden blonde which I love. Their foils are right to the root and very fine so you get a great even colour. Blonde’s definitely have more fun!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Love the facemask Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask this is very affordable and makes my skin glow. Also doesn’t cause me to break out like I have a tendency to do with other facemasks. Also love to exfoliate my whole body with exfoliation gloves – makes my skin feel amazingly soft and smooth!

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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

1. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – this is gentle enough to use every day and gets all the make-up off as well as making my skin look vibrant.

2. Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus Hair Treatment – after going blonde my hair was so dry and seemed to snap off every time I combed it! After being used to long healthy brunette locks, the thinning blonde hair was very scary. I tried a few different treatments and nothing was working, my hair kept snapping! Then a good friend introduced me to the Redken Protein Treatment and my hair is becoming healthier every time I use it. Yay I can stay blonde!

3. Maybeline Unstoppable Eyeliner Onyx – I have used this ever since I discovered makeup and now if I don’t wear it I feel like I’m missing something!

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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

It’s not really a secret – but the two things that really keep everyone alive are… oxygen and water! So when I wake up every morning I try to drink a big glass of water and take 5 deep belly breaths. This along with some gentle stretching puts me in the right frame of mind to conquer the day with peak energy and vitality. So my main tips are:

1. Breathe properly – this means breathing in deep, extending your stomach to get maximum lung capacity, hold for a few seconds and release slowly. Instant stress reliever, try it now!
2. Drink lots of water all through the day – add lemon if you’re feeling extra healthy, the lemon helps to alkalise your body (the less acidic your body is – the better you will feel)
3. Get moving – we’re not designed to sit in a chair for 8 hours. I know it’s cliché but take the stairs, get off the bus a few stops away from your house, take regular breaks from the computer – it all helps. Even better find a sport that you love or a running partner to keep you motivated.

Implement those 3 simple things every single day and you will definitely notice the difference to your energy levels – no coffee required!

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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)

I really need to try dry body brushing. Apparently this is like a detox for the skin and a few of the many benefits include:

• Removal of dead skin layers which leaves the skin looking more vibrant
• Reduction of cellulite
• Aids digestion
• Strengthens the immune system
• Increases the flow of blood which tightens the skin and prevents premature aging

And it is easy, inexpensive and invigorating to do. If it’s good enough for Miranda Kerr it’s good enough for me!

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I normally wake up and have a big glass of water to kick start the day. Then I have a shot of wheatgrass which helps to keep my body more alkaline (as opposed to acidic.) This helps with the energy levels throughout the day.

I start work early at 7am so have something simple like muesli and yoghurt for breakfast. I love a bit of crunch so like to add almonds as well.

Lunch will usually be a tuna salad with whatever veggies are taking my fancy that week! Again I love the crunch so will add some walnuts or crunchy Asian noodles. If I haven’t had time to make my lunch the night before I always have a few of the John West Tuna & Bean salads in the fridge for lazy times. Yes I love my tuna ☺

My favourite easy dinner is pan-fried salmon or chicken with mashed sweet potato, broccoli, asparagus and corn. I will have this most nights provided I am not out or if my boyfriend is over we try to cook new meals to spice up the menu – always with lots of veggies!

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♥ Describe your fitness routine.

I am currently training for the Mooloolaba Olympic distance triathlon in March next year with a few friends, which means lots of running and riding – I’ll be starting the swimming training next week now that it has warmed up a bit! So I run at least 5 km 3 times a week and ride to work 2 days a week.

Luckily I have a training partner that I work with and that is great motivation to not skip out the lunchtime run! We also train together sometimes on the weekend – last one was a 40km bike ride followed by a 6km run which was a real test to my fitness but so worth it! I also make sure I stretch most mornings and after every exercise session.

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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

I take the Swisse Women’s Multivitamin, which gives me all the vitamins, and nutrients I have missed out on in my diet that day. This is the first multi vitamin I have taken regularly that I have actually felt the difference in daily life.

I have also just started taking another dietary supplement called E3 Live. The benefits of which include: ability to manage everyday stress; increased energy and endurance; improved attention and alertness; and strengthened immune system. After a week I am definitely noticing the difference and crossing lots more off my ‘to do’ list!

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

I am lucky and have always been able to sleep well. I have recently completed a Fatigue Management course and was profiled as needing to get 8-10 hours sleep for maximum energy during the day! I certainly don’t get that but do try for at least 7 hours every night. I definitely notice the difference if I don’t, and snooze the alarm a few more times! There are some good tips on the Fusion Life website for learning how to wake up earlier in the mornings.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

When I walk out of a Les Mills Body Balance session I feel so calm and relaxed! I love it because it is a mix of pilates, tai chi, yoga and meditation and I never get bored with the routine. Either that or having a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc with friends or family will do the trick! Life is all about balance 😉

Thanks to Ashley for sharing her routine with us – if you have any questions for her, please leave them in the comments section below!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Ashley Piotto, Founder of Fusion Life Perth.

Top 6 Vegan Beauty Products You’ll Love!

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It can be tough to find delicious, natural body products that are kind to animals and the earth. Vegans may be stereotyped as unwashed hippies but this girly-girl likes to look and smell cute while she’s helping to save the world! It’s taken a lot of experimentation to find my favourites but here are my top six:

♥ Lush – I love Juicy Shampoo, from $10.95

Remember when Lush were just about glittery bath bombs? Those sparkly balls of fun are still there, but now Lush also stock an incredible range of fresh, hand-made skin and body care clearly labelled ‘Vegan’. Thank you, Lush! This fun, fruity shampoo smells amazing and is packed with organic papaya, kiwi and citrus oils for beautiful shine.

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♥ Lush – Veganese Conditioner, from $13.95

This creamy conditioner kicks lanolin to the curb and uses agar seaweed gel to soften, and lavender and lemons to add shine. It’s perfect for fine hair like mine – adding moisture without weighing it down or becoming too greasy.

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♥ Lush – Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner, $29.95

Chock full of creamy capuacu, brazil nut, shea and cocoa butters, this is the ultimate in deep, hydrating luxury. The fact that it makes your skin smell like roses in the sunshine is just a very happy bonus.

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♥ Kosmea Rosehip Oil, from $24.95

Incredibly rich and velvety, Australian owned, ethically sourced and 100% certified organic, this is bliss in a bottle. Best of all I started receiving compliments about my ‘glow’ from the end of the first week! Apply immediately after showering and allow it to absorb for a couple of minutes before applying eye cream, moisturiser and make-up. It’s perfect for night time application before bed too, but just be careful to protect your pillowslips because the rich colour can stain. Read about a rosehip ritual here for more rosehip goodness!

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♥ Joi Pure Recovery Eye Serum, $35.00

Enriched with natural anti-ageing ingredients like Argan Oil, Green Tea and Ginseng, I apply it twice a day and pop it into the fridge first if I feel like an extra treat. The cool creaminess is oh so soothing on your delicate eye area.

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♥ Lush – Ultrabalm, $7.90

As a former-Lucas’ Papaw Ointment addict, this all-purpose balm is my all-time, so-crazy-good, can’t-live-without-it favourite! First recommended to me by one of my blog readers when I mentioned my previous battles with eczema, I was hooked from the minute I first tried it and now never go anywhere without it. Great for dry hands, cracked heels, sunburnt lips and even under your make-up if your face is feeling particularly dry. Free from all of the nasty petrochemicals found in Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, it contains just three heavenly ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Candelilla Wax and Rose Wax.

Article by Rebecca, a self-confessed glitterbug and fruit addict. She is currently studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and writes about love, life, laughter and sparkly vegan adventures on her blog Vegan Sparkles!

Posted in Products, Reviews | 3 Comments »