by Annette @ Wellness WA | Oct 26, 2012 | Organic, Products, Reviews
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Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner (for healthy, lustrous hair!)
Allow me to introduce the best non-conventional shampoo & conditioner yet. I was reluctant to be hopeful prior to trying this 100% organic, natural and sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner duo, having been promised the world with other good-for-you haircare ranges and experiencing lacklustre results. As such, some more generic and chemical-laden prods had sneakily made their way back into my routine. Until today!
The amber coloured, mildly scented Rahua Shampoo is a joyful first step. Many natural shampoos I’ve tried make the hair feel kind of ‘tacky’ when you first start using them after a period of using silicone-based haircare, but this just gets right down to work and feels just as smooth and silky on the hair as the bad stuff. Win!
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The Rahua Conditioner reminds me a bit of custard, and is equally easy to apply and rinse out. Leaving my hair silky soft (softer than most “normal” conditioners!), smooth and shiny. It also contains quinoa and coconut & shea butter!
In other feel good news, every purchase of Rahua products supports sustainable industry run by local Amazonian women.
This duo is a definite winner, and one I wouldn’t hesitate to use again and again! The only restricting factor is the cost, at $40 per bottle of both shampoo and conditioner, but I’d recommend that anyone who is interested in extremely high-quality organic haircare give this a go at least once! š
Both products are available from the fabulous Flora Organica Natural & Organic Skin Apothecary!
What do you think? Have you tried Rahua before? Keen to make the switch from conventional to more healthy haircare? Comment below! X
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Oct 24, 2012 | Alternative Therapy, Down South, Food, Massage, Yoga
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Picture a leisurely getaway, the gorgeous late spring warmth and sunshine on your skin as you take part in a beachside morning yoga class before revelling in the delicious heat of a detoxifying sauna, drinking a fresh green juice and then sinking into massage heaven and relaxing by the indoor or outdoor pool for the rest of the afternoon. Sound like much needed bliss?
Infrared Sauna = ultimate relaxation
You’d be forgiven for thinking I’m talking about a Balinese retreat. Thankfully this one is closer than you think! We are incredibly lucky to have Leisa from Embracing Health Retreats making the trip over to WA to host one of her world renowned 8 day ultimate wellness and relaxation retreats in Busselton from the 23rd of November til the 1st of December.
Leisa is a leading Australian naturopath, live and whole (raw) foods expert, fatigue specialist and detoxification expert who is dedicated to making you feel vibrantly alive and renewed during her retreats.
The retreat is being held at the local Grand Mercure Apartments at Geographe Bay, Busselton in November, and offers a week of fun, relaxation and world class health education.
An example of the amazing raw food that will be giving you loads of energy!
āMy passionā, says Leisa, āis to bring together groups of people and teach them how they can use everyday foods to improve their health. With the rise of chronic diseases such as obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, there has never been a more important message than how what you eat can change your life.ā
And changing lives is what the Embracing Life! Retreat is all about.
So what does this amazing oh-my-god-book-me-in-right-now retreat include?
♥ Luxury accommodation for eight nights
♥ All food and drinks from Friday evening to Saturday morning
♥ All activities including Yoga classes
♥ Two x one hour healing therapeutic massages
♥ Two food preparation classes with our Raw Food Chef Extraordinaire
♥ One magical Art Therapy or Sound Healing Class
♥ A Wu Tao Dance Class
♥ Unlimited use of Sunlight Sauna (bliss!)
♥ Unlimited use of resort facilities
♥ Options for booking extra Day Spa treatments and Colonic Irrigation where applicable
♥ All workbooks and lecture notes
♥ A gift bag on arrival containing lots of free goodies valued at over $100!
Check out the Embracing Health website for more details, including cost and how to book in!!
And tell me…
Have you ever been on a retreat before or wanted to? Did it change you in any way?
I’d love to hear from you! š
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
This is a sponsored post.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Oct 22, 2012 | Interviews, Wellness Tips
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi there! Iām a personal trainer, nutrition & lifestyle coach, actress/model and a blogger ā all of which keeps me very busy and active! I only moved back home to Perth in April after living away for 13 years mostly in Sydney, Melbourne, South-East Asia and New York. Itās a refreshing change of speed being back in Perth and I absolutely love the climate and lifestyle here āŗ
My blog, Life with Elizabeth Rose, is very much from my heart and covers lots of lifestyle topics to do with health & fitness, business and personal development. The tagline on my blog is āDream. Create. Live with joyā – Iām always dreaming big, creating things & trying my hardest to live my life with happinessā¦my goal is to guide my readers and clients in doing the same with their lives, with a strong focus on health and well-being!
You can find me at Fitness First Platinum in Subiaco for personal and small group training. Iām about to run a boot camp at Cottesloe Beach beginning November 5th. Iām really looking forward to it and canāt think of a better way to start the day!
As an introductory offer, mention this interview and receive 10% off your first 4 weeks of training āŗ. Register your interest at liz@lifewithelizabethrose.com
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I cleanse morning and night with Sukin Organics Cream Cleanser. I have very sensitive skin and find a cream cleanser to be the best! I havenāt used a toner for a few years now, and find my skin is fine without it!
I moisturize with Priori CoffeeBerry Natureceuticals Day and Night Complex which are both 98.5% natural. CoffeeBerry extract is natureās most potent antioxidants to fight free radicals and the causes of skin aging, and it smells divine! If my skin is feeling particularly dry, Iāll add some Trilogy Rosehip Oil at night over my moisturizer.
For my eyes I use Aesop Parsely Cream Antioxidant Eye Creamā¦Iāve always used creams as opposed to serums for my eye areaā¦I find my concealer goes on much easier too!
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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
The Deluxe Skin Renewal Spa Treatment by Suzey Luong at Vanity Box! This is a superior boosting treatment incorporating a facial massage with a soothing balm and a replenishing mask that firms, hydrates and exfoliates your skin. Itās such a relaxing treatment and is like a natural botox! My skin hasnāt looked this flawless in years!
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I go all the way up to Yanchep which is exactly an hour away from my place, so I can see the lovely Rachel Firmin who is from the UK. My Mum and Aunty see her as well, so itās always a bit of a family affair! I love seeing Rachel as she always keeps up to date with the latest styles from London and she is so sweet and friendly and offers endless cups of tea.
Because she works from her home, having a cut and full head of foils costs me roughly half the price of going to a salon! You can contact Rachel on 0415049311.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Iāve recently become an avid follower of Maria Hannafordās blog, Econest, which is all about living life more sustainably! I love this easy and economical beauty treatment that Maria suggestsā¦simply mash Ā½ an avo with a dash of milk and apply to a wet face ā perfect as a skin conditioner and so simple!
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
1. Coconut oil – this medium chain fatty acid has so many amazing health benefits! I cook with it and sometimes use it as a face and body moisturizer, hair conditioner and shave my legs with it! You can even use coconut oil as a base of a natural deodorant.
2. Priori CoffeeBerry Mineral Perfecting Foundation 3 – It has the best coverage and loving the fact the packaging is eco-conscious.
3. INIKA – all natural certified organic mineral blush in rosy glowā¦I love all their products!
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
I have a few!
1. Daily exercise is a must! I feel so much better after moving my body, even if itās just a leisurely stroll outside in the fresh air.
2. Sleep! I aim for 7-8 hours but have been struggling with this lately! Iām terrible at falling asleep before 10pm but know I need to as I wake up so early! When I do get adequate sleep, the difference in my energy, mood and creativity is huge.
3. Nutritious, organic food and plenty of water! You are what you eat!
4. Taking time out for myself. I always feel so revitalized after a bit of āme timeā.
5. Keeping a gratitude journal always makes me feel great! Every Tuesday I write my āLWER Tuesdayās Blessingsā with 5-10 things Iām grateful for on my Facebook page. I love it when people comment with their own gratitude list āŗ
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet?
Iād luurve to do some kind of retreat in Ubud, Bali. I hear itās amazing at Como Shambala, which advocates proactive holistic wellness, combining modern science with ancient healing.
Iād also love to do an Ayurvedic retreat at Deepak Chopraās āChopra Centerā in California.
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I eat very closely to the Paleo Diet (and recommend this to most of my clients), which is a diet that closely resembles what our ancestors ate in the Paleolithic era. Itās basically very high in protein and good fats, with lots of low starch veggies, salads, nuts & seeds and fruits such as berries.
My day always starts with a tall glass of water with lemon juice, some powdered greens in water and a probiotic. I shower then for breaky I will always have some protein such as 2 eggs with smoked salmon and wilted spinach (no toast!).
Morning tea is usually a āmini mealā which is basically a bit of what I prepared for lunch (I always make a little bit more so I have enough for a snack and lunch!), or my own trail mix of activated almonds, coconut flakes and goji berries.
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Lunch is protein of some sort with either a salad or steamed greens. Kale is my favourite at the moment! So good for you!
Afternoon tea is usually one of my superfood protein smoothies from my Super Smoothie Collection, that I have post workout or a green juice.
Dinner is either oven baked salmon with veggies or chicken and salad.
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And finally for supper I have herbal tea and blueberries with 2 tablespoons of organic full-cream greek yoghurt or occasionally 30g of dark organic chocolate such as Loving Earthās āluvjuā coconut mylk raw organic chocolateā¦yum!
I get emails all the time from women wanting guidance on what to eat. I know it can be confusing and frustrating trying to decide what to cook and which foods to buy, so I recently put together two 7 day meal plans to help shape your bod for summer! They are available for sale on my blog: click here! For the next 48 hours I’m running a special price of $17 (down from $27) for Wellness WA readers if you use the code “LWER” when you purchase!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I train with weights 3 times a week, practice yoga twice a week, and do interval training (HIIT) 2-3 times a week, plus Iām about to give pole dancing a go for a bit of fun! I like variety and my body does too āŗ
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I have an entire drawer in my kitchen that is filled with supplements! At the moment, I mostly take fish oil capsules, Vital Greens, a pre & probiotic, mega B and magnesium.
Iām a bit of a fan of alternative therapies, and have experimented with many in my pursuit of tip top health! Iāve been to naturopaths, homeopaths, Ayuvedic practioners and Iāve tried kinesiology and colonics, to name a few! Iām currently seeing a GP who specializes in nutritional medicine at Health Quest in Melville, and just had my first hair mineral analysisā¦Iām very interested in finding out the results!
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Oooh how I love relaxing! My fav ways include practicing yoga at Tamara Yoga, meditating, getting a massage/facial, or simply enjoying some quiet time at home watching a dvd.
If you have any questions about Elizabeth’s fantastic routine, please leave a comment below!
Make sure you check out her blog too!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Oct 16, 2012 | Food, Products, Reviews
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The first time I saw Pana Chocolate my heart did a flip. They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but a cute package never hurt anyone. And in this case the friendly looking critters, silver hearts and recycled packaging definitely convinced me to put down my bar of Cadbury chocolate and try this new treat.
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I wasn’t disappointed. Upon opening the box the love just keeps on coming; what lies within is some sweet printed choccy wrapping paper (no boring silver foil here) and 6 squares of raw, organic, vegan chocolate heaven.
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That’s right, this isn’t your average bar of chocolate. Pana is raw, vegan, organic, handmade, low GI, dairy free, soy free, gluten free and has no added sugar. Healthy chocolate, sans guilt. For those who haven’t tried raw chocolate before and are at this point feeling rather sceptical reading that list, FEAR NOT! Here’s what the bars DO have:
♥ 50-60% cacao solids (raw chocolate material)
♥ Cacao butter & cacao powder (lots of chocolate-y cacao goodness!)
♥ Agave nectar & coconut oil (yum)
♥ Wild carob, cinnamon & himalayan sea salt
♥ Pure essential oils and superfoods, depending on which flavour you’re lucky enough to be holding in your hot little hands!
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So now to the important stuff, what does it actually taste like? I was the lucky recipient of 4 flavours: Cinnamon, Goji & Coconut, Mint & Orange!
♥ It’s rich & fudge-like in consistency. Deliciously so.
♥ While it’s different to milk chocolate, there’s none of the bitterness commonly associated with dark chocolate, which is a win in my book.
♥ The Coconut & Goji flavour has lots of yummy chunks of both goodies throughout.
♥ The other 3 flavours are smooth, as they’re flavoured with ground cinnamon/essential oils.
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The best part is, because these bars pack a concentrated chocolatey punch, a square or two is enough to satisfy even the most rampant of sweet tooths. I award this chocolate company a gold star for outstanding flavours, deliciously creamy chocolate & being super healthy and environmentally friendly. Pana Chocolate, will you marry me?
RRP $6.25-$8.50, available to buy online, or check here for your closest stockist and make your way there quick-smart!
Tell me, have you tried Pana Chocolate or seen it around? I’d love to hear what your favourite flavours are – there’s even a limited edition ‘Rose’ flavour that I’m desperate to get my hands on! Lets talk chocolate in the comments!!
This is a sponsored post, however my love for the chocolate is 100% official!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Oct 15, 2012 | Organic, Products, Reviews
Hello wellness lovers! Welcome to another edition of beauty & wellbeing crushes – this is one of my FAVOURITE sections to write, as I get to share with you the little things that are amping up my wellness and making me feel great in a bite sized format. As always, please share your crushes below so we can all share and amplify our inspiration. Enjoy! X
♥ Kosmea Radiance 24/7 Youth Boost
As a Rosehip Oil devotee, I’m always looking for the latest and greatest developments in the field of RHO! This newie appeals to me because it contains:
♥ Organic Rosehip Oil
♥ Organic Seabuckthorn Oil
♥ Organic Pomegranate Oil
♥ Organic Camellia Oil
♥ Apricot Kernal Oil
+ Raspberries, rosemary and much more! YUM. So far it’s on par with regular Rosehip Oil (I’ve only been using it a couple of days), but I really like the idea of the extra nutrients from the variety of oils nourishing my face just a little more than regular RHO would. RRP $21.95.
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♥ Personal Training + Sun Salutations
I’ve long avoided any form of yoga which focuses on sun salutations, due to low blood pressure & weak upper body strength which meant a lot of the poses were difficult for me. Since re-starting personal training and beginning to whip myself into shape, my upper arm strength has increased dramatically in a short period, and as such I can now do planks, low planks and cobra pose – YAY! From this I’m slowly developing a love for the way that this more active form of yoga makes me feel, and am considering taking an Ashtanga Beginners course soon š
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♥ Yoga by Candlelight
I’m a super lucky duck and was recently sent the above goodies to trial, there’s a Dr Hauschka Lemon Bath, some healthy toothpaste (more on these two later) and some dreamy Luminessence soy candles in French Pear and Lemongrass + Ginger scents. I haven’t had a candle for a while so I was really excited to receive these, but was wondering how I could use them in a different way to the norm.
Solution: Yoga by candlelight. There really is something that makes a practice session that much more special when the lights are off, you’re bathed in a gentle flickering glow & the gentle scent of pears wafts about as you move from downward dog to plank pose.
And these eco-friendly, locally made (Margaret River!) Luminessence candles were perfect for the occasion! I use the French Pear variety when I want to wind down from a long day, and the Lemongrass + Ginger in the mornings to gently awaken my senses and they work a treat. Available online from Peachy Clean.
I would love to hear your crushes for the week, let me know below! š
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
