by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 2, 2013 | Interviews
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I’m a Perth girl at heart now living in Sydney. Growing up in City Beach and going to St Mary’s, I had and still have a natural love of being outdoors, and keeping fit & healthy.
Just over a year ago, I launched an online store called Relauncher, which is all things health, beauty, lifestyle & wellbeing; with an organic & eco-friendly focus. The business is about helping people be their best, ‘relaunching themselves’ – via items from the store, as well as being inspired & motivated via the blog and social media outlets.
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I start each day with a warm water drink including, chopped ginger, Coconut Magic coconut oil & freshly squeezed lemon juice. I think of this as part of my beauty routine because it’s a great all-over detox which my skin definitely benefits from.
I also dry body brush everyday with a Bodecare brush – this gets my circulation pumping, along with removing dead skin cells. It’s the same brand that Miranda Kerr uses and talks about on her blog.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I’ve just been to Bali and have been luxing out on the massages.
I’m going to make a point of having them more often now I’m back in Sydney. My favourite place for massages is The Beauty Bar in Erskineville, NSW. They are tucked away, and unless someone has referred you to them you probably wouldn’t know about them. It’s one of those places I refer to as a ‘hidden gem’.
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I live in Sydney, so I haven’t had my hair cut / coloured in Perth for years.
In saying that, I was recently in Perth for my school reunion & had my hair done at The Blowdry Bar in Murray St, Perth.
The Blowdry Bar only recently opened in August, and I can highly recommend them if you’re wanting your hair done before going out, (they also give you a glass of bubbly). For $40, it’s money well spent.
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Coconut Magic coconut oil, I can’t get enough of it. It’s such a versatile product – everyone should have 2 jars. 1 for the kitchen and 1 for the bathroom.
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Dry Body Brush – my skin has never felt so good after daily body brushing. Ideal for improving circulation, exfoliating and evening out fatty deposits & cellulite (especially on your thighs & bum!)
Clear Bag Liner – it’s a stylish way to stay organised. I keep all my important bits & pieces in this and transfer the liner between bags. It was also great for travelling while I was recently in Bali!
Yoga Mat Bag – I recently imported these yoga bags from New York. They carry like a yoga bag, store like a gym bag with all the amazing pockets and can also hang like a garment bag. I love slinging it over my shoulders then riding to yoga – so easy and versatile.
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Exercise & Nutrition – I know so many people say this, but it’s the truth. Increasing blood circulation, stretching muscles and clean eating is the way to go.
Sleep – I try to get 7hrs a night. Without it, hmmm – not coping so well…
Family & Friendships – although I like a little alone time, I’m far more a people person. It’s all about the chatting, nattering & giggles.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
It’s got to be the trapeze. I’m completely scared of heights – it makes me feel sick, dizzy and unbalanced.
There’s a trapeze school not far from where I live and I’m daring myself to give it a go. Now I’ve just put it in writing, I’ve just committed myself. I’ll have to find someone to come along with me now….
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I start each day with a warm water drink (including chopped ginger, Coconut Magic coconut oil & lemon juice).
Breakfast – either an omelette or sugar-free muesli.
Lunch – usually a few Vita-Weats with either tuna / salmon and a HUGE amount of salad – including mint, spinach, coriander, basil, avocado, beetroot, with lemon juice squeezed over the top & activated nuts.
I then always have either some home-made cacao balls / chocolate nut cake / raw pecan pie (something sweet that has been made with cacao powder & coconut oil). Most of the recipes can be found here!
Dinner – includes protein & greens.
Overall, I don’t add sugar to my diet and stick with eating less than 7g/100g of sugar when looking at the nutritional panel. I also exclude gluten where possible, eat a large amount of greens, superfoods & steer clear of processed foods.
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I rotate my fitness routine every 3 months to keep it interesting.
At the moment it’s yoga, pilates, zumba and lots of walking.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I love alternative therapies. Recently I tried Shirodhara – an Ayurvedic treatment where 1L of warmed pure sesame oil is poured on your 3rd eye (centre of your forehead). It promotes better sleep, reduced stress & removal of toxins. Bliss ☺ (Ed: If you’re looking for my top tip for an Ayurvedic doctor in Sydney, make sure you check out Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre).
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I find yoga and pilates relaxing. When I’m stressed and busy, these forms of exercise allows my to centre on the present. A great form of Sadhana (self-enrichment).
Thanks so much to Alison for taking the time to fill out this routine, hopefully you’ve found it inspiring! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below 🙂
Find Alison in various internet places below!
Website – www.relauncher.com.au
Twitter – www.twitter.com/Relauncher
Facebook – www.facebook.com/relauncher
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 31, 2012 | Other, Wellness Tips
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Hi everyone! As we all know, 2013 is just around the corner. When the clock strikes midnight we’ll be transported into a brand new year – how exciting is that?! A brand new year to look after yourself, strive to feel as healthy as possible, reach towards your biggest goals and dreams & live the life you’ve always wanted to. Every day is a chance to take a step closer to it. You can do it!
Instead of a resolution this year, I’m adopting a mantra for 2013:
“There is no limit to how radiant, alive & irresistible I can be“
The amazing Marie Forleo said this, and it’s already helping me stay on track – whenever I have a decision to make I think of this mantra and whether my actions are going to work towards radiance, or detract from it. Powerful stuff!
I’m also going to be doing the following: drinking water, eating veggies, sleeping, breathing, and moving. No pressure though, just doing the best I can.
So without further chit-chat I present to you the most read articles* of 2012 on Wellness WA!
1. Wellness WA Green Smoothie Database – seems a lot of people were getting in on the green drink action this year, something I hope to continue exploring and experimenting with in 2013!
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2. Where Can I Get a Fish Pedicure in Perth? – great question, check out my answer in the post!
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3. Health Food Focus: Natvia Natural Sweetener – with the surge in people interested in quitting sugar thanks to Sarah Wilson’s fantastic “I Quit Sugar” E-book, this recipe post about sugar alternative Natvia was a raging success!
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4. The Wonders of Pomegranates: A Three Way Pomegranate Ritual – a fantastic article on how drinking, eating, and using pomegranates on your skin is wonderful for your wellbeing and beauty!
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5. Product Review: Nature’s Botox Alternative – nuff said! People want the results of medical skincare, without the needles.
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6. Perth Market Review: Stirling Farmers Market – a new trial farmers market popped up in Stirling this year, and thanks to the support of local residents it got the go ahead from the council to keep running. Yippee!
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7. Quinoa and Where to Buy it in Perth – it’s been a good year for quinoa, this post will let you know where to pick up this super healthy superfood!
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8. Wellness Recipe: Superfood Raw Fudge Balls – I can personally attest to the yumminess of these, in fact I just whipped up a batch as I was writing this post!
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9. Perth’s Newest Deluxe Day Spa: Endota, Perth CBD – this new spa in the heart of our beautiful city caused quite a whirlwind of excitement when it launched in March. If you’ve not been yet you should certainly do yourself a favour in the New Year.
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10. Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Emma Smyth, Model – Nutrition Student – Wellness Blogger – local beauty & blogger Emma caused traffic numbers to spike dramatically in the day we posted her interview (and ever since!). A combination of her gorgeous looks, holistic approach to nutrition and exercise and her bubbly personality made this one of the top interviews we’ve done so far. Check her out!
* Some of them may not have been written in 2012, but have resonated with people this year.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 31, 2012 | Beauty Salon, Day Spa, North of River, Reviews
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I was recently treated to an ultra-luxe facial by the lovely ladies at Revive Day Spa in Mount Hawthorn, using the crème de la crème of Dermalogica products matched specifically to my skin concerns.
I arrived a bit early and chilled out with a herbal tea in Revive’s lounge area before my therapist, Kelly, came to collect me.
♥ Revive Day Spa Foyer
Revive is super clean and sanitary, without feeling hospital-like. There was just the right amount of pretty scent perfuming the room and the music was at a good volume with a playlist of easy-listening tunes. Hey, first impressions are important!!
I explained to Kelly that I had easily upset combination skin. I also had a ton of breakouts around my chin and cheeks that I wanted to magically erase. She took a closer look at my skin under a magnifying glass and suggested I try Dermalogica’s UltraCalming range along with products from the AGE smart range to gently resurface my skin and balance its pH levels.
♥ Dermalogica Products
My facial started with a gentle steam to open up my pores. The AGE smart MultiVitamin Thermofoliant, a heat-activated exfoliant with salicylic acid, was then applied to gently dissolve dead skin cells. I could feel a bit of tingling around the more sensitive areas of my face, but it wasn’t uncomfortable and if anything, a sure sign the product was doing its thing!
The UltraCalming Cleanser was very gentle and followed by the MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque, which gave my skin a generous helping of antioxidants to boost its tone and re-hydrate the drier areas of my face. I was delighted when Kelly asked me if I would mind if she gave me a hand and foot massage while the masque was on – it was so relaxing that I very nearly fell asleep.
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After a spritz of the UltraCalming Mist to calm my redness and sensitivity, Kelly massaged the UltraCalming Serum Concentrate into my skin. The serum is said to work below the surface to help minimise irritation.
Finally, my skin was re-hydrated with the UltraCalming Ultra Sensitive Tint spf30 to protect my skin from the bright sun outside while providing some light coverage. My eye area is quite dry, so Kelly used the very moisturising AGE Smart Multivitamin Power Firm eye cream.
I was left to unwind and come ever-so-close to falling asleep again, before getting ready to face the real world with a brand new, glowing complexion!
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Kelly explained that I’d see some more break-outs in the coming days due to the products she’d used drawing out the impurities. She was spot on (pun intended) and my skin did purge for about a week, but I’ve seen a huge improvement since then. This is also thanks to some Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel samples Kelly gave me. The product works wonders in reducing redness and making the recovery process quick when break-outs strike and went straight onto my Christmas wish list after only two uses!
Overall, the facial provided me with a great idea of which Dermalogica products work well with my skin and the team at Revive were incredibly informative about what each product was designed to do. While I haven’t got the budget to overhaul my entire skincare routine with Dermalogica products, the Revive ladies were very helpful in explaining which products would make the most difference in my current routine.
Reviewed by Gemma Clark, a pale, sensitive and fair-haired skincare junkie.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 27, 2012 | Cheap / Free, Makeup, Products, Reviews
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Picture a scene: you and friend sitting around doing what you do and all of a sudden their phone goes ‘buzzzzz buzzzzzzz‘ then a second later yours goes ‘buzzzzzzz buzzzzzzz‘ and after reading you both look up and almost perfectly in synch say; ‘is $49 for 10 yoga sessions a good deal?’
Has that happened to you? No? It will. Why? Because everyone’s inboxes are filling up with DEALS DEALS DEALS! Quick as a wink.
So today I’m going deep for you guys, I’m seeking out the deal BEHIND THE DEAL. And my dealer of choice today, is Groupon. In the first instance it must be said, I know it seems a little overwhelming. I know it seems easier to just bin that email without opening it. But if you do look you may just stumble upon a shining shimmering splendid.
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So with that in mind and for the purposes of this article I decided to get myself a 24-piece Makeup Brush Set for $29. I had a choice of colour (black or pink) and the delivery was free. TWENTY NINE DOLLARS! PINK! FREE! !!! My choice was motivated by the fact that I have always gazed at makeup artists brush sets in giddy wonderment (in that clap your hands together and bob on the spot kind of way) and as previously mentioned on Wellness WA, I massively enjoy drawin’ on me face.
To balance this out I also bought a 20 session pass to a gym for $49 (CBD Health Spa, a gym I like and where WE ARE LOVING that I don’t have to buy a full year membership, aren’t we guys?) so we are now looking at a product and a service. Range. I like it.
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The brushes are flipping marvellous. I really cannot believe how it worked out to a little over a dollar a brush because the quality of them is so good. No stray brush hairs coming loose and hanging onto your chin like you're growing the worlds thinnest most disgusting beard and my makeup application game has gone up a notch or two- hey don’t wanna brag…all in all I’m THRILLED. The only downer was that they literally took months to be delivered – like 3 months- but my unease about that has subsided since I use these brushes everyday and am so happy with them. Plus the delivery was free so maybe chill Adriane, gees.
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And the gym one? Um…well…you know…uhhh- that one was instantaneous as soon as I bought it and so there were no problems in THAT regard. Full access to the 24hr gym, all classes and even a couple of PT sessions. But I've only been about three times. I KNOW. But I’ve got three months to use that one so I'll just, you know, go every single day from now until the end of the year and then I will be the Queen of Groupon Success*. Tha’s totally possible right?
If you’ve been ignoring those emails because they are annoying you in their multitude then downscale to the ones you are interested in (yes you can choose) and be in it to win it. You might end up with something useful for yourself or your loved ones.
What do you guys reckon? Have you got a good Groupon deal of late?
*Groupon never said they would MAKE me go, that has to come from within…is there a deal that could help with that?
Reviews by Adriane Daff. Make up enthusiast and world class gym procrastinator.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 21, 2012 | Other
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There’s not much better than melting into a warm bath after a tough day. Taking 30 minutes to allow the muscles & mind to unwind is one of my favourite ways to de-stress. I’ve made it my mission to trial lots of beautiful bath goodies for a while now, and want to share my absolute favourite picks for saying “see yah!” to stress and muscle tension. I’d love to hear your top picks too, so leave a note below with any favourites you think I should check out! 🙂
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♥ Lula Detox Bath Salts
This ones a newie in my collection, and it’s a firm favourite for a few reasons. First up, the amazing ingredients! The blend contains sea salt, magnesium (ultra-relaxing), botanicals & is infused with organic essential oils – rosemary, geranium, clary sage & lime with green tea. YUM. The salts smell absolutely divine, and the best part is the little bits of green tea & petals that float around in the bath with you. I choose this bath when I’ve had a few too many treats and on Sunday evenings to prepare for the week ahead. $24.95 from the Lula web store, comes with a cute little wooden scoop too!
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♥ Be Genki Bath Oils
Be still my beating heart! The Be Genki Tranquility Bath Oil is a LONG TIME favourite of mine, and the one I reach for most frequently. 5-10 pumps of this little hero + some epsom salts, see below, into a running bath is one of my top saviours for a day/week/month gone bad. There are three other blends in the range, Serenity, Vitality & Sensuality. I love a bath with Vitality after an epic personal training session or post-work-pre-going out when you need an extra jolt of energy to face your social life.
I have to admit I haven’t tried the Sensuality one yet, but based on the effectiveness of the other three I’d warn against using this before dinner with the folks or a long day of work meetings!
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♥ Echolife Magnesium Bath Crystals
Another all time favourite and an addition in almost all baths undertaken. These naturally harvested magical crystals are scientifically proven reduce anxiety, tension & stress due to their magnesium content, which is a mineral many of us are deficient in. Magnesium is said to keep the heart rhythm steady, bones strong & to normalise blood pressure.
We can naturally get enough magnesium by eating plenty of leafy greens, nuts, beans & whole grain cereals. Still, many people are deficient, and a magnesium bath is a quick way to replenish our stores & feel blissfully relaxed at the same time. A++. Available through the Echolife online store, & good health shops.
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♥ Faulding Epsom Salts
In an ideal world an unlimited supply of the natural Echolife salts would be on hand, this isn’t always possible, so in a pinch or when the budget is tight I grab a box of cheap & cheerful Faulding Epsom Salts. You’ve probably seen these around, maybe your parents always had a box in the back of the cupboard like mine did?
Regardless, if you want all the benefits of a relaxing magnesium bath on the cheap – this is your go to. 1/2 a cup to a cup in a warm bath will take you a good deal of the way to cloud 9 for under $10. As these salts are created chemically, I prefer the naturally harvested ones above when I can – but am happy to use these when needed! Available from most supermarkets & chemists.
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♥ Dr Hauschka Lemon Bath
Although lemon isn’t a scent regularly associated with relaxation, this fresh & citrusy bath from Dr Hauschka has a very calming and refreshing effect on me. Perfect for post gym relaxation! Available from Peachy Clean for $29.95, a little goes a long way so this is a bargain!
Bonus Tip:
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To boost the wellness of your bathing experience even more, fix an alkalising glass of chlorophyll & water before you jump in the tub, and sip on it when you get thirsty. You’ll be relaxing and improving your health at the same time. Multi-tasking at it’s finest!
What are your favourite bath products for relaxation? Let me know in the comments below!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
