by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 30, 2018 | Hairdresser, Inner City, Organic, Products, Wellness Tips
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…!
♥ 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
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 27, 2018 | Other
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Good morning! While January coming to a close and February sneaking up fast (how did that happen?!), I wanted to start our new blog series dedicated to sharing all the best health & wellbeing events that are popping up all around Perth each month. Shoot me an email if you’d like to suggest another event! Hope you enjoy xo
End of January!
Sunday 28th January
♥ Journey into the Heart with Stuart Watkins & Sounds of Samadhi – $70
Wednesday 31st January
♥ Let That Sh*t Go: Full Moon Event @ Friday’s Studio – 6:30pm-8:30pm – $57
Friday 2nd February
♥ Beyonce Routines Workshop @ Shemoves Dance Studio – 7pm-9pm – $55
Saturday 3rd February
♥ Beginners Yoga Workshop @ Bloom Yoga Perth – 1:30pm-4:00pm – $49
♥ Reset & Realign with Mandy & Mel @ Twisting Peacock Yoga – 12:30pm-2:30pm – $40
Sunday 4th February
♥ Soul Sparkle Day Retreat – 9am-4pm – $190.10
♥ The Perth Wellness Festival @ Friday’s Studio – 10:30am-5pm – $101
Wednesday 7th February
♥ Transform Your Life Through Movement Workshop @ The Little Shop of Plenty – 6:30pm-8:00pm – $10
Friday 9th February
♥ Yoga, Meditation & Nature Weekend Retreat @ Kookaburra Yoga – Friday to Sunday – starting from $450
Saturday 10th February
♥ Mindset Reset @ The Little Shop of Plenty – 9:30am-11:30am – $49 (includes workbook)
♥ Schweattt Sessions @ City Beach – 8am-12:30pm – from $26.50
♥ Love Yourself Festival @ Perth City Farm – 9am-3pm – FREE entry, small fee for workshops
Sunday 11th February
♥ Couples Tantric Connection Workshop by Soul Sparkle – 10am-12:30pm – $245 per couple
♥ Heart Your Body Retreat @ Friday’s Studio – 10am-2pm – $97
Saturday 17th February
♥ Intro to Plant Based Eating @ The Raw Kitchen – 12:30pm-3:00pm – $125
♥ Food As Medicine Masterclass @ The Raw Kitchen – 4:15pm-6:15pm – $125
Sunday 18th February
♥ Sangha Yoga Festial @ Spanda Yoga School – 8am-6pm – $40
Friday 23rd February
♥ Yallingup Retreat by The Reset: Wellness Retreats – 3 days – from $945
Saturday 24th February
♥ Pranayama + Meditate Workshop @ Blue Lotus Yoga – 10:30am-12:30pm – $45
Sunday 25th February
♥ 1-day Silent Yoga & Meditation Retreat @ Spanda Yoga School – 9:30am-3:30pm – $165
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 4, 2017 | Products, Wellness Tips
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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
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Sep 23, 2017 | Other
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When I was little, I absolutely LOVED Winter. Give me cloudy, chilly, rainy weather any day and I was happy as a lamb. These days I’m basically cold-blooded and love Summer, sunshine, heaters on at all times, 6 blankets on the bed and 4+ cups of hot tea a day. Bliss.
If this sounds like you, you’re going to love what I share with you next. What if there was a way that you could get ridiculously glowing skin, a little bit of sweaty cardio, a little bit of detox and a lot of delicious toasty warm heat that is doing a tonne of other good things for your body at the same time?
You can! And this is where an Infrared Sauna comes in. For a really quick rundown – an Infrared Sauna is said to heat you up from the body’s core, rather than heat the air around you like a traditional sauna. That’s why the air feels totally different in your Infrared box – it actually feels really gentle and cosy rather than the super intense heat of your gym’s sauna.
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A friend introduced me to the owner of a new beauty & skincare clinic in Tuart Hill, Natasha from Kardia Skin & Body, who uses an Infrared Sauna daily and offers sessions in her clinic. Natasha is absolutely stunning & if she says a sauna helps her get that way, then sign me up!
I decided to book in for a month’s worth of sauna treatments, approximately 3-4 per week, and cross my fingers that my skin could look as glowing as Natasha’s after that amount of time. What follows is my week by week account of my road to glow.
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Week 1:
I’m sooo excited to be starting my detox, relax & glow program at Kardia tonight! I personally receive SO many benefits from just one session – ultra glowing skin, a deep sense of relaxation & a positive and joyful mindset are my top results! Hoping to multiply these results with ongoing sessions, stay tuned! 💦💕✨
This home salon/wellness studio has to be seen to be believed – absolutely stunning & you feel peaceful as soon as you step inside the doors. There’s soft towels, flowers, Doterra oils, and an amazing filtered & alkalising water machine to keep you hydrated pre & post sauna – loving this!
Week 2:
My body is feeling great after all the sauna sessions so far, another positive benefit is that I’m recovering quicker from my workouts which is a bonus. I can really see how including an infrared sauna as part of my wellness routine could create optimal results.
I accidentally ate some icecream and had a mega breakout – NOOOO! I’m back in the sauna trying to sweat out my sins. Natasha gives me a sample vial of a product that she uses in her facials that should help “dissolve” the zit, I give it a go that night and it definitely helps.
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Week 3:
I’ve been busy at work and come down with a cold, I’ve also just been offered a three day juice cleanse with Pure Glow Cleanse. It’s actually the perfect time for this as I don’t feel like eating and hopefully it will enhance the benefits of my saunas! There’s an activated charcoal juice and this is my favourite to drink while sweating it out. It’s so good!
My favourite part of being in the infrared box is after about 10 minutes of relaxing in there, when the sweat starts to kick in and my skin is tinged with a sweaty glow. Love it.
Week 4:
Even my elbow is sweating today.
While this wasn’t something I was looking for, I’ve lost 2 kilos from a combination of travelling recently (Sri Lanka!), saunas, juice cleanse & maybe my cold. I’m looking forward to keeping it off as my stomach is looking pretty flat right now and I feel great.
One of my biggest tips is to keep SUPER hydrated before and after the sauna so you can 1) sweat it out with ease, if you’re not hydrated enough the body will try harder to hold onto the water, 2) replenish the h20 that you lose during the session.
I’ve found my time in the sauna to be, at times, deeply reflective. With nothing but your sweat to keep you company, each new drop seems to bring with it a fresh contemplation: Is “glamping” something I should consider doing? How many frogs live within a 1km radius of my house? How can I figure out and achieve my deepest goals in life? The thoughts are coming thick and fast, with no rhyme or reason to many of them. I let them come and go as they please.
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End result?
Toxins begone, glow be mine 😅💦😘 I really saw the compounded benefits after my 4 weeks of session at Kardia, especially when I added on the 3-day cleanse in the middle. I haven’t had any breakouts, my skin is noticeably clearer and glowier despite being sick and I’m feeling FANTASTIC. I would recommend this to anyone.
How many times a week should you go? It really depends on you and your schedule. Basically, the more the merrier and the quicker you’ll get your glowy results. But if all you can squeeze in is once a week or fortnight then you’ll see more gradual benefits.
Lets chat about infrared saunas, have you had one before? Would you like to try it? Leave a comment below!
Sessions provided by Kardia Skin & Body for review consideration. All views are honest & my own.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 26, 2017 | Food, Products
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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
