Raw Food: A Primer

While for years many have deemed Perth slower to catch on, less trendy and dare I say it, boring, in comparison to our hyper-cool sibling cities of Melbourne and Sydney, seemingly lately the quality of life, art and culture are taking a turn for the exponentially greater.

More bands and festivals visit us, more art galleries and trendy boutiques are popping up and we even seem to be progressing enough that many of our restaurants now have more than zero to one vegetarian options for our animal loving friends.

Taking this a step further though are Raw Foodists. To those of you who this idea is new to, please read ahead with an open mind, I’m not trying to convert or make you do anything you don’t want to, just providing alternate ideas and ways to access health and wellness!

Raw Diet: A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed, raw plant foods that have not been heated above 46 °C (115 °F). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost much of their enzymes and nutrients and are less healthy or even harmful to the body. Typical foods include fruit, vegetables, smoothies, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains and legumes.

Most people would think the idea of no cooked food to be somewhat ridiculous, however take a look at some of the widely documented benefits of people who eat a high raw diet report:

<3 Decreased need for sleep & greater energy throughout the day <3 Improved skin; healthy glow & reduction in acne / wrinkles <3 Weight loss <3 Bouts of euphoria (seriously), consistent feelings of wellbeing and positivity <3 Healing of many old "aches & pains" <3 And so many, many more! It's different for everyone, basically whatever you have issue with within your body can be helped by eating more fresh, raw foods. Here is a great quote: “Really, when you look at it logically, it makes sense. How could it possibly be bad for your body to subsist on lots of fresh, healthy produce from the earth?”Source

There’s so much info out there about eating raw, but the best rundown I’ve found is: The Living and Raw Foods F.A.Q! They explain it all very clearly and concisely!

I can personally attest to the benefits of raw smoothies, my favourite is a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach, one banana, cupful of frozen berries, tsp wheatgerm and tbsp flaxseed oil with half a cup of apple juice and one cup of water. Whizz that up in a blender, and you will have your very own delicious liquid sludge that I can ASSURE YOU will make you feel sooooo amazing. I always feel so full of energy, positive and healthy when I drink these delights. I honestly never feel better.

If what you’ve always been eating and doing isn’t making you feel amazing, then maybe it is time to try something new, because it IS possible to feel happy, energetic and full of vitality every day. What you put into your body, is what you get out of it!

Some of my favourite Raw Food Blogs that will give you some fantastic ideas about recipes and living raw! AND you’ll see how gorgeous and healthy these ladies and their children look, it really is quite amazing: Choosing Raw, Kristen’s Raw, Green & Crunchy.

For hard-copy reading pleasure, here is one of the most popular books on raw right now, check out the testimonials: Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People!

Next, I’ll give you some information on raw food in Perth! Yes, there are some innovative, health conscious companies bringing this new way of thinking to our little city! Stay tuned…

Be well,

xoxo

Omnilux in Perth!

Today feels like one of those potentially historical moments in time, when you discover something amazing that could knock you out of your skincare rut and maybe even change your life.

This may sound dramatic, but I have high hopes for my newest finding: Omnilux Therapy!

After reading a great article by the lovely Ms. Zoe Foster of PRIMPED fame (click here), my brain cells have been tingling with anticipation of trying this somewhat miraculous sounding beauty treatment.

There are two types of light treatments available:

Omnilux Revive – “It is a non-surgical light therapy to help combat visible signs of ageing, plumping visible fine lines and wrinkles and maximising the benefits of your skincare.”

Omnilux Blue – “Omnilux Blue led light therapy is a special frequency of light that penetrates the dermis to kill the bacteria that that lie deep in the follicles causing infection and acne. Omnilux treatments allow the skin to heal naturally improving the skin texture and clarity.”

(source)

In lay(wo)mans terms, the Omnilux safely recreates specific wavelengths of light which when applied to the skin work a variety of different voodoo magic tricks by regenerating cells and killing bacteria to give you: a) clear, plump, healthy skin with minimal lines and/or b) greatly diminished signs of acne and redness, depending on which type of light you choose to use.

Here’s an example of a girl who has used the acne-specific Omnilux light:

(sorry everyone, the photo seems to have disappeared off the internet for now… I’ll work on getting another one asap!)

That is a very exciting before & after series for anyone who has ever suffered bad skin, which includes myself.

It’s been approved by the FDA as completely safe!

Beauty editors the world over are swearing by it as their new holy grail for a gorgeous complexion!

And my interest has most certainly been piqued.

So while this information is all well and good, what you really want to know is where you can possibly get such space-age sounding, too-good-to-be-true technology in our little town of Perth, yes?

Well as always, I’m here to help!

My favourite place to have an LED light treatment done is at mi:skn, they are also some of the most affordable in Perth!

307 Lord Street (cnr Court Street)
Highgate WA 6003

Absolutely Beautiful Skin Care and Body Treatment Centre

Shop 22,
Noranda Palms Shopping Centre
58 Benara Road
Noranda or phone us 08 9275 7577

Shop 4, Marmion Village Shopping Centre
19 Sheppard Way
Marmion or phone us 08 9448 8300

Offering Omnilux Revive and Omnilux Blue.

Advanced Beauty Concepts

Claremont – Platinum

Shop 11 Bayview Centre
(upstairs next to Country Road)
1 Leura Street, Claremont 6201

Ph. 9385 5500
Fax. 9385 5522
e. abcplatinum@bigpond.com

Mosman Park

Shop 2 Mosman Park Shopping Centre
50 Harvey Street. Mosman Park

Ph. 9384 0011
Fax. 9384 0511
e. abcmedispa@bigpond.com

Offering Omnilux Revive.

Bayview Day Spa
Phone +61 (08) 9384 8106
Address Shop G18
Bayview Shopping Centre
Claremont, Western Australia 6010
Email info@bayviewspa.com.au

Offering Omnilux Revive and Omnilux Blue.

Duncraig Beauty Centre
Phone 08 9447 8860
Email info@duncraigbeauty.com.au
Address Shop 16B/50 Marri Rd, Duncraig 6023, Perth, Western Australia

Offering Omnilux Revive and Omnilux Blue.

Fresh Therapy
Shop 163, Garden City Shopping Centre
125 Riseley Street
Booragoon, Western Australia, 6154
Phone: 08 9315 2060
Email: belen@iinet.net.au

Currently waiting on confirmation of which Omnilux service they provide.

Julie’s Frangipanis Beauty Salon & Reflexology
43 Rockingham Beach Road
Rockingham, Western Australia, 6168
Phone: 08 9527 2622

Currently waiting on confirmation of which Omnilux service they provide.

Luire Claremont
Times Square
Shop 20 Avion Way
Claremont
Western Australia 6010

Phone 9383 3352
Fax 9383 3356
Email sbg@luire.com.au

Offering Omnilux Revive.

Luscious Therapy
51 Scarborough Beach Road
North Perth
Western Australia 6006
Phone: +61 8 9444 0029
E-mail: info@luscioustherapy.com.au

Offering Omnilux Revive.

Serene Day Spa
82 Scarborough Beach Road
Scarborough
Western Australia 6019
Bookings and Information (08) 9245 8188
Fax (08) 9245 8338
Email reception@serenedayspa.com.au

Offering Omnilux Revive.

Skin Deep Salons (Note: You will need a PDF reader to use this website as all their information is contained within PDF files)

MULLALOO
Skindeep Medi-Spas
Shop 5 Mullaloo Plaza
Koorana Road, Mullaloo
Western Australia 6027
T. (08) 9307 6998

PERTH
Skindeep Medi-Spas
Shop 4 Central Park Building
777 Hay Street, Perth
Western Australia 6000
T. (08) 9226 2997

FLOREAT
Skindeep Medi-Spas
117 Birkdale Road
Floreat
Western Australia 6014
T. (08) 9387 5414

COMO
Skindeep Medi-Spas
Cnr Labouchere Rd., & Preston St.
Como
Western Australia 6152
T. (08) 9368 0829

All offering Omnilux Revive and Omnilux Blue.

Skin Evolution @ Cosmetic Studio
327 Rokeby Road
Subiaco, Western Australia, 6008
Phone: 08 9388 8818
Email: admin@skinevolution.com.au

Currently waiting on confirmation of which Omnilux service they provide.

You may also be interested in your own personal Omnilux which can be used in the comfort of your own home: Procyte – Omnilux new-U LED Light Techonology to treat wrinkles!

I cannot wait to try Omnilux Therapy and report my findings. In the meantime, if you have or are thinking of undergoing treatment with Omnilux somewhere in Perth, send me an e-mail or leave a comment and let me know how it went / your thoughts! I’d love to hear 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

Beauty Salon Review: Luxe Aveda Concept Salon; Eyebrow Tinting + Bonus Head, Neck and Shoulder Massage and Eyebrow Tidy Up!

What’s all this about: Eyebrow Tinting, plus bonus head, neck and shoulder massage, as WELL as a bonus eyebrow tidy up.
Ka-ching: $19
Verdict: Highly recommended
Join the fun: Luxe Aveda Concept Salon (08) 9315 5578, Shop 173, Garden City Shopping Centre, Riseley St,
Booragoon, WA 6154

Guest post by Astrid, East Perth.

At the last minute on a Thursday afternoon recently, I decided to get my eyebrows tinted before I went out for a birthday celebration. I felt lucky to find an appointment with it being late night shopping and last minute.

I almost didn’t recognise the salon! Since the last time I’d been there they have remodeled and they now also have hairdressing services using the wonderful Aveda products (eg. Aveda Shampure Shampoo). Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff and escorted to a treatment room.

The therapist who did the eyebrow tinting was very polite, friendly and was very professional, I feel she went above and beyond what other beauty therapists in the past have done.

As I have fair skin and red hair, my usual salon experience is that they just tint my eyebrows to light brown and it never really suits my hair colour. This therapist asked me if I’d like her to mix a couple of colours together to obtain a better match and more natural colour which I thought was lovely.

When getting my eyebrows tinted I usually just go home and pluck my eyebrows, but this therapist offered to tidy them up at no extra cost! I have to say I’ve never seen my eyebrows look so good. They were perfect.

Afterward, the therapist got me to sit up and applied some aromatherapy oil to my temples and gave me a short head, neck, shoulder and back massage that was so relaxing I nearly fell asleep. At no time did the therapist give me the feeling that she was in a rush to get out of there, being just before close on a Thursday night.

I left the salon feeling very relaxed and extremely pleased with the way my eyebrows looked and was also very pleased that I didn’t have to go home and tidy my eyebrows myself. I would recommend this salon to anyone and I left feeling my money was definitely well spent.

Luxe Aveda Concept Salon

Trading Hours:
Mon: 9:00 – 5:30
Tues: 9:00 – 5:30
Wed: 9:00 – 5:30
Thurs: 9:00 – 9:00
Fri: 9:00 – 5:30
Sat: 9:00 – 5:00
Sun: Closed – Closed

Beauty Salon Review: Je Suis Femme; Eyebrow Wax, Eyelash Tinting + Bonus Hand Massage!

What’s all this about: Eyebrow wax/reshape, Eyelash Tinting, Bonus Hand Massage
Ka-ching: $30 ish
Verdict: Worth it
Join the fun: (08) 9458 9650, Shop 1122, Westfield Carousel Shopping Centre, 1382 Albany Highway, Cannington.

Yesterday I decided to get my life in order, and as we all should know, that absolutely cannot be done without eyebrows that are shapely. After a month or so of wild overgrowth to the North of my eyes, I made an appointment with my regular beauty salon, Je Suis Femme, to rectify the situation.

It was easy to get an appointment given it was a Wednesday. I arrived early and they were able to accomodate me straight away. The therapist who did the waxing was really sweet, she asked me what I wanted and chatted with me about various things.

She was very precise with how she waxed them, using a cotton bud to apply the wax, so it took a little longer but I’d rather that than a haphazard & heavy handed approach to very hot liquids on my face.

The general slight pain of waxing was incurred. Afterwards she even measured my eyebrows to make sure they were correct, which I’ve never experienced before and I thought it was GREAT! Definitely A+ service.

She commented on my eyelashes, I was wearing Diorshow at the time (which may I also add is a fantastic mascara), and would I like to have my eyelashes tinted as they were having a special?

I said yes and came back half an hour later after some shopping to have it done. A different therapist who was also really nice did the tinting. I don’t think I will get it done again, as I already have pretty dark lashes and it never seems to make much of a difference to my eyes, also I don’t like the idea of crazy chemical dyes possibly leaking into my eyes – it is kind of scary!

So while the dyes were working their magic I received a 10 minute hand massage, which felt good.

Afterwards I left very happy & it was only about $30 all up! I would definitely recommend this salon, it is one of my favourites, especially for waxing.

Je Suis Femme.

Alternative Therapy Review: My first experience with Massage AND Reiki, Perth.

What’s all this about: 1 hr massage with reiki
Ka-ching: $50
Verdict: Enjoyed the reiki more than the massage
Join the fun: E-mail Me

This morning I received a massage from a lady who works from home a few streets away from me. I found her on Natural Therapy Pages, which is a fantastic way to find new wellbeing and natural therapy practitioners in your area.

I was a teensy bit nervous because I’d never been to a house before for a treatment and the possibility of serial killers briefly entered my mind before I calmed down!

I went in there and she was nice & friendly, there were a few ‘cons’ to the experience, the first being that a football talkback show was on throughout so I found it hard to switch off as much as I would have liked, also her nails were long so I could feel them scratching me a bit – strangely, I didn’t mind it too much but I haven’t experienced that before.

She focussed on my shoulders which are/were really tight so it hurt trying to work out the tension, hopefully it did some good! And she also performed some reiki throughout as well which was also new to me.

Afterwards I did feel very relaxed, but also pretty bizarre, and still do. I don’t know if it’s psychosomatic or the ‘bad energy’ wanting to leave my body but I definitely do feel an energy shift or SOMETHING so I’m drinking lots of water with lemon juice to help flush out any potential bad things that have been stirred up!

Overall it was good, it cost $50 which is really cheap & I might go again, but I may have preferred a more relaxing massage as this one was quite remedial (getting into deeper tension & knots etc). That said, I do feel relaxed!

I’m also going to try a proper Reiki session as well and see how that goes, so stay tuned!

For more info on Reiki, see: Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art.

If anyone is interested please e-mail me as I don’t want to publish a home address up here!