by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 30, 2012 | Products, Reviews
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The first share house I ever lived in, in North Perth (I was 19) always had one or more bottles of the original Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion in the shared bathroom. We were four broke girls and it was our favourite, affordable moisturiser go-to. It was hassle-free to use (pump pack), slid on easy, kept our legs shiny and smooth during all that dancing at summer parties, and made us smell like chocolate (reeled in all the boys!).
That was six years ago – these days, I demand more from my body moisturisers than just ‘make my legs not dry’ and ‘smell nice’ (although I still demand this!). Now I’m moving into my late twenties, I also want: ‘make skin tighter‘, ‘smooth out dimpled skin’, ‘prevent potential stretch marks’. It seems Palmer’s must somehow know this, because they’ve taken the familiar, reliable, affordable moisturiser I know and love and added in Vitamin E, Collagen, and Elastin, to make Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula – Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks.
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I have been using this all-over lightweight lotion for about a month now, once post-morning shower and again before I go to bed – on my thighs, butt, abdomen and chest. I don’t have any severe stretch marks, so I’m mainly using this product to increase my skin’s elasticity and prevent potential stretchmarks – as us smart ladies know that prevention is better than cure (for the record, stretchmarks can come not just from pregnancy, but from weight loss/gain, bodybuilding, running with an unsupportive bra, even teenagers can get them from growth spurts – read about them here!).
The results are in, and my skin legs and stomach feel hydrated, smooth and firm, and the light stretchmarking I did have on my inner thighs has almost completely disappeared.
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I love the traditional cocoa scent, but there’s also a fragrance free version (if you’re a mum-to-be with a heightened sensitivity to scent, this is handy), as well as Vitamin A (retinol) free, and contains Shea Butter (as well as the cocoa butter), which soothes, tones and moisturises (can’t have enough of these three things going on, seriously). There is also a more concentrated lotion for problem areas). At about $10-$14, depending on where you shop, this moisturiser has refound its place as a staple in my bathroom.
The lotion is available at most supermarkets and chemists, check this full list of stockists for specifics.
Have you used the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter range before? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on chocolate scented skin and what products you’ve found helpful for stretchmarks!
Review by Thousands Perth City Guide editor Danielle Marsland, who likes to keep legs dance-party ready at all times
by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 28, 2012 | Interviews, Wellness Tips
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
My bio reads something like this: Freelance beauty editor in charge of the beauty pages of Good Health magazine; PRIMPED.com.au contributor; proud creator of The Happiness Cocktail; health and wellness whiz; incessant tweeter; lover of pinning. My real life reads something like this: All of the above plus a loving wife to the world’s most amazing man; international happiness seeker; adorer of family, friends and all things furry; mad cook.
♥ Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation available on StrawberryNET
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I do try as many beauty products as possible so that I can honestly talk to my readers and share my opinion, rather than play make-believe. But right now I start the day with shu uemura mamachiyo skin purifier cleansing oil, Dr. Spiller Aloe Sensitive Cleansing Milk and QV Daily Moisturiser. I then apply sunscreen (I like Invisible Zinc), a mixture of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundations, creme blush, mascara, and eye shadow (my current obsession is Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Tortoise Shell Palette. It’s amazing!). At night I remove all my makeup with the shu cleansing oil and Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover, before cleansing again, and popping on Dr. Spiller Sensitive Beauty Night Cream and an eye cream. Phew! It never seems that much when I’m doing it, but looking back…
♥ Siam Cabana
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
It’s a toss up between a facial and a massage. I love the Omnilux Light Therapy Treatments that come with the Priori Facials I get done at the Spa Universe headquarters in Sydney. If you want to try one, give them a call and they’ll let you know where the nearest salon to you is. For a quick weekend unwind, my husband and I go to Siam Cabana in Bondi for Thai Massages. If I’m really suffering from stiff neck syndrome, I head to Glenn Walmsley in Double Bay for some myotherapy – he is a magician.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Unfortunately I’ve never been to Perth, but in Sydney I’ve been blessed with some great hairdressers. Brad Ngata and Barney Martin are both wonderful, as well as Hamish Glianos from PEOPLE Hairdresser in Surry Hills. If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend Suzie from Sudu Hair in Sydney. Super high quality without the price tag. WIN!
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
You really can’t beat a strawberry, honey and oat mask made in your kitchen and slapped on your skin. It’s a super quick way to temporarily add zing to your skin, and best of all, it’s chemical-free.
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
My electric toothbrush – dental hygiene is so important. My eve lom lip balm. Bronzer. Of any variety.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking/feeling great?
It’s not all that secret now that I blog on The Happiness Cocktail, but I am a firm believer in feeding your skin from the inside out. So, I follow a wholefood diet with lots of fruit and veggies (plus whole grains and high quality meat), try to eat a large amount of raw as well as cooked food, and keep my system alkaline by drinking barley grass and wheat grass everyday. I also love liquid chlorophyll and young baby coconut juice. YUM!
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
Ha! This is a tough one because I have tried so many of them. Oh wait, I’d love to dive into a freezing pool in the Swiss Alps like they did on The Biggest Loser. That looked so, erm, refreshing. No seriously, it looked kind of wild.
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Wake up to a glass of wheat grass powder and water before sitting down to green tea. I then have a bowl of fruit with nuts. About an hour or two later I’ll have a small bowl of muesli, then have lunch (lots of greens), snack if I’m hungry, then dinner (more greens, and protein, and yumminess), elegantly finished off with couple of pieces of dark chocolate (for being so good).
♥ Beautiful Centennial Park
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
It varies. Constantly. I live in a suburb called Centennial Park which, as the name suggests, is a giant park in the middle of Sydney. It would be sacrilege to live so close and not utilise it, so I’m often seen walking or running around there. I also do boxing with my best mate, yoga, and keep my mind fit through meditation.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I know it’s super controversial but I get colonic hydrotherapy every now and then. I’ve done my research and I go to an amazing place with well-trained staff who know exactly what they’re doing, and it makes me spring out of bed and have whiter-than-white eyes. It works for me. I also do a 3-day juice cleanse maybe twice a year, and meditate as much as I possibly can. On top of that I take Omega 3 supplements and a probiotic.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Meditation is an obvious one for me, but I’m also blessed with a husband who is incredibly calm and lovely, so just being around him instantly makes me feel like everything is going to be OK. I love catching up with friends over a few glasses of red, playing with my 3 month old niece, laughing LOTS and planning holidays – because what’s life without an adventure in the pipeline?
A million and one thanks to Yaz for sharing her beauty & wellbeing routine with us today! I feel super privileged as she has been one of my ‘blogging idols’ for some time. If you have any questions for her please leave them below and make sure you check out The Happiness Cocktail for lots of yummy inspiration!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 25, 2012 | Organic, Products, Reviews
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Growing up as a teenage girl, I was intrigued about skincare. I would try samples of brands that I thought would make my skin look as flawless as the models in Dolly magazine (which I later found out were heavily photoshopped) and after trying a few brands, I found Kosmea, on a shelf in a health food store (the vogue forums led me to try this brand) and according to the raves about this skincare line, it was –the– one to use.
♥ Rosehips in the wild!
Fast forward to today, and I continue to use the same skincare as I did then. Whether my skin gets dry in the summer months or sensitive in the winter months, it has always made my skin feel amazingly soft and clean, as well as helping to create the perfect base for makeup. Kosmea is one of the brands I keep going back to for many reasons.
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The Clarifying Facial Wash is for all skin types and contains organic rose hip oil including Australian ingredients such as lily pilly and quandong extracts. It also contains macadamia oil, which makes my skin feel silky smooth and clean.
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One of my all time favourite products is the Hydrating Rosewater Mist that I like to spritz on my face, I carry it in my handbag for times when I’m on the go. I’ve found it’s most effective after a long flight under air-conditioning vents when my skin becomes dry and thirsty. After spraying the pure rosewater contained in the bottle, my skin looks hydrated and feels soft. It also works as a wake-up call at the office, just keep it in the fridge for a refreshing lift!
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Kosmea’s Rosehip Oil contains all the ingredients for healthy, gorgeous looking skin. Applying 2-3 drops morning and night on damp skin improves the overall smoothness and look of my skin after a few days. The rosehip oil is certified organic and uses the fruit, skin and seed of the wild rosehips. I have oily/combination skin, so the rosehip oil actually repairs my skin without feeling too oily at night!
After cleansing and exfoliating, I like to pop some moisturiser on my face. Kosmea has 2 moisturisers, one containing SPF 30+ for the day, both with (my favourite) green tea extract. I love the smell of the moisturisers and it is one of my ‘can’t live without’ products in the Kosmea range.
The word ‘Kosmea’ comes from the Ancient Greek meaning to harmonise and bring into balance. It couldn’t be more true, it always seems to balance out my skin and whatever the weather, my skin always looks great.
The travel collection is available from Echolife. Happy Skin comes from using the right products and within!
♥ No photoshopping here!
What do you think of Kosmea and Rosehip oil? Love to hear your thoughts!
Review by Kelly-Anne.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 23, 2012 | Alternative Therapy, Products, Reviews
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It might sound a little odd coming from a 20-something female with a mild case of credit card reliance, but I really can’t stand perfume. That sickly sweet, acidic smell makes me wrinkle my nose and pray for sweet release every time I walk past the fragrances counter. I may as well be sniffing bleach. I’m the odd one out amongst my peers, but I much prefer more natural, and less pungent products rather than 100mls of olfactory assault dressed up with Justin Bieber’s seal of approval. Ick.
I am not a Belieber. Sorry Justin.
Scent has a large effect on the emotions, and its not just a concept dreamt up by poets. For example, the smell of lavender relaxes me, cinnamon excites me, and the smell of Kim Kardashian’s latest release makes me twitch anxiously. Our olfactory receptors (our sense of smell in every day terms) are directly connected to the part of our brain responsible for emotions. Each scent may be different for everyone, but generally when a person smells something delicious their mood improves. Kind of like when you smell chocolate, or freshly baked cupcakes. Instant happy high!
This is the philosophy that the Aromatherapy Company has employed with their products. Using 100% essential oils, their wares contain no nasties like chemicals or preservatives. I managed to score some of their goods recently on a particularly crap morning, and they definitely wiped the angry princess sour puss scowl off my face.
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♥ Juniper Berry and White Thyme Massage Oil
The scent from this baby is subtle, relaxing and quite pleasant. It’s supposed to be used as a massage oil, but I found it works perfect as an after-shower all over body moisturizer. After the general slipperiness has subsided, my skin feels baby-bottom soft afterwards. It takes about 10 minutes for the product to absorb, and leaves little to no oily residue on clothes or bed sheets.
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♥ Cocoa, Vanilla and Cassia Soy Candle
You can’t really go wrong with Soy Candles. Their scent is far more potent than bees wax blends, they’re environmentally friendly, and soy wax is soooo much easier to clean off the carpet! Trust me! I find that this is the perfect candle to burn throughout winter – it reminds me of baking scones, drinking hot chocolates, and is temptingly spicy and warm. Perfect for the chillier months when you’re wrapped up in your doona cocoon, and the packaging is sleek and stylish too.
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♥ Lavender, Manuka and Wild Chamomile Essential Oil Blend
If you’re a light sleeper and like me have a serious case of ‘monkey-mind’ come bed time, give essential oils a go for a completely natural method of relaxation. This one’s made for use in a burner to achieve the best effect, but I can imagine adding a few drops to a nice, hot bath would be a sweet experience too.
Stockists: The Aromatherapy Company products are available from David Jones stores, and a few other select locations.
Have you tried aromatherapy products before? What are you favourite scents and benefits?
Review by Camilla Peffer, “Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.”
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 22, 2012 | Food, Products, Reviews
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Those who know me and my style of baking are well aware that I try to use natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar in my baking projects. I am forever playing around with natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar/raw honey/date paste, in order to ‘healthify’ any dessert recipe!
You can only imagine my curiosity and excitement when a package of Natvia goodies was express posted to my door. The healthy baking goddess inside me was screaming out, YAY!
♥ Stevia Plant
♥ What It Is:
Natvia is a natural sweetener made from Reb A stevia, and erythritol. Reb A is the purest and sweetest parts of the stevia plant, and erythritol is naturally occurring nectar in fruits, such as melons and grapes.
♥ Health Benefits:
Natvia is 100% natural and fructose free, has 95% fewer calories than sugar, contains no aspartame, or saccharin and it’s great for baking and cooking.
Another bonus- Natvia tastes nothing like artificial sweeteners. Because it’s natural, there are no nasty chemicals and no bitter aftertaste.
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♥ Recipe Idea:
An interesting ingredient calls for an even more interesting recipe. But what could I possibly make!?!? Muffins…boring. Cookies…done that. Raspberry Streusel Bars that are both gluten free and vegan?…Delicious. These even got the thumbs up from the guys at work. Bonus!
Recipe adapted from: www.elanaspantry.com
Makes 16 bars
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♥ Crust:
– 2 cups almond meal
– ¼ teaspoon sea salt
– 2 tablespoons coconut oil
– 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon water
• Pulse ingredients together in a food processor until dough forms a ball
• Press dough into a lined square baking pan
• Bake at 180°c (fan forced) for 12 minutes
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♥ Streusel Topping:
– ¼ cup coconut oil
– ¼ cup almond meal
– 2 tablespoons Natvia
– ½ teaspoon sea salt
– 1 cup walnuts
– ½ cup shredded coconut
• Pulse oil, almond flour, natvia and salt together in a food processor until combined
• Briefly pulse in walnuts and coconut, so they are left coarse, not pulverized
• Set streusel aside
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♥ Filling:
– 1 cup raspberries (either frozen or fresh)
– 4 pitted medjool dates (soak in water for a few hours before to soften)
• Process raspberries and the soaked dates in a food processor or blender until combined
• Spread raspberry mixture over warm crust
• Sprinkle streusel topping over raspberry mixture
• Bake at 180°c for 15 minutes
• Cool for 10 minutes, then refrigerate for 2 hours to set
• Cut up & serve!
Store remaining bars in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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These bars can also be served warm as a delightfully healthy autumn dessert. Just add a little vanilla ice cream or Greek yoghurt & raw honey. See, life without refined sugar isn’t so bad at all!
♥ Where To Find It:
Natvia can be found at Coles and Woolworths or online, try Aussie Health Products.
Find out more about quitting sugar with Sarah Wilson’s “I QUIT SUGAR” E-book!
Article by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ who believes a little dessert is good for the soul. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at Style My Coconut.
