by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 4, 2012 | Organic, Products, Wellness Tips
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Detox. Even the word doesn’t sound fun. I think it’s the presence of the letter x. X, tox, toxic. I understand the etymology but it sounds like it’s going to hurt. But what about a HAIR detox? Now that’s something I could get behind…that sounds painless? I was interested so decided to get some more info from The Purist Company’s in-house Botanical Chemist Annabelle Personeni.
Her four simple suggestions will detox the hell out of your hair and it wont hurt you (or the planet) one little bit!
While silicones might give you hair like this in the short term, in the long run your hair will suffer.
♥ Cut out the silicones
Silicones are like fast food to the hair, a quick fix with immediate results. Often found in hair styling serums, silicone based products don’t actually treat or nourish the hair. Used long term, product can build up, weighing hair down.
BEWARE! Silicones can be found in most “nourishing” shampoos, in almost every conditioner and serum. Products containing silicone may also be listed under its synonyms (i.e. Dimethicone and Cyclopentasiloxane). If there is a cone or silane at the end of an ingredient, it is likely to contain silicones.
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♥ Invest in a quality shampoo and conditioner
To nourish the hair and scalp, switch your silicone based conditioner to a natural conditioner. Using a natural conditioner will “re-boost” your hair with the nutrients and proteins it needs to look shiny and healthy. A deep cleansing shampoo will aid in removing product build up.
Try: Al’chemy Lemongrass Shampoo, Vanessa Megan Tangerine & Geranium Shampoo or (for fine haired ladies) Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo & Body Wash.
If it is too difficult to part with your current styling regime, try reducing the use of silicones by choosing a natural based shampoo and conditioner but keep your silicone-based serum for a while. Then, slowly reduce the use of the serum and switch to a leave on natural hair conditioner.
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Try: Al’chemy Leave in conditioner
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♥ Make good use of the basics
Break the habit of over washing: Wash hair with a gentle shampoo once every few days as using shampoo daily can strip hair of its natural oils while over stimulating the production of sebum. Those who perspire a lot from physical activity or weather may still rinse hair daily if necessary as perspiration is freely washed off with pure water.
To get the most out of your conditioner, rinse it out in two steps as it enhances the deposition of natural conditioning ingredients. Apply conditioner as usual and but rinse with only ½ cup of water first, followed by a full rinse. Doing so will break down the emulsions, releasing more nutrients to the hair.
Try: Al’chemy Jojoba Light Conditioner, Vanessa Megan Ylang & Lemon Myrtle Conditioner or Dr Hauschka Neem Hair Lotion.
♥ Read your labels
Healthy hair will benefit from products that are free from harsh chemicals like parabens, sulphates, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours. If you come across an unfamiliar ingredient, sites like www.skindeep.org are a great resource for ingredient profiles and its safety ratings.
♥ Just at first!
Thanks Annabelle! And, let me finish off by saying don’t be scared about switching to organic hair care brands! It won’t fall out! It might feel a little straw like for the first few washes but that’s just your hair adjusting back to its NATURAL state and (guess what) DETOX-ing all that silicone out of your hair and out of your life.
Then your hair will return to the lustrous bouncy state of a young maiden who cares for goats and lives in the mountains. Yodel! Stick with it beauties…
More information about Al’chemy products available at www.purist.com
More information about all other products listed, available at Peachy Clean.
Be well,
Adriane
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 3, 2012 | Food, Products, Wellness Tips
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My once loved white sugar substitute agave has been receiving quite a bit of negative press recently (mostly because of its 90% fructose level). Confused and left doubting agaves’ previously praised heath benefits, I embarked on a mission to find a healthier and less controversial sweetener alternative. The search led me to the discovery of my ‘sweet’ little new friend, coconut sugar!
What it is:
Coconut sugar is drawn from the sap of the coconut
palm tree buds. It is similar in taste and color to brown sugar, with a slight caramel flavor.
Health Benefits:
Coconut sugar contains less than 9 percent fructose. It has a considerably lower glycemic index (35) than agave (42), honey (55), and cane sugar (68), thus helping to stabilize glucose levels. Coconut sugar can also do a lot more than just add sweetness to your morning coffee! It’s loaded with minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins.
Ways to Incorporate into Your Diet:
Coconut sugar can be used as a substitute for white sugar in baking or dessert recipes or anything else you’d use sugar for!
Where to Find it & Cost:
Coconut sugar can be found at most health food shops. I use the Loving Earth brand, which costs around $7.50 for 300g.
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Recipe Idea:
These cookies are to die for! They are quick, easy to make and require minimal cleaning (just what I like!). They are perfect for a picnic or to accompany a cup of tea. Just try not to eat all the mixture before the cookies make it to the oven 😛
Coconut Date Cookies
Makes 6-8 cookies
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Ingredients:
♥ 1 cup pitted dates (soaked for approx 5 mins to soften then drain)
♥ 1/3 cup rolled oats
♥ 1/2 cup shredded coconut
♥ 1 tsp baking powder
♥ 1 TBS vanilla
♥ 1-3 TBS coconut sugar (depending on how sweet you want them)
♥ 1 TBS coconut oil
♥ 1/4 cup coconut milk or choice of milk (use nut milk for vegan cookies!)
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Directions:
♥ Preheat oven to 170*C (fan forced).
♥ Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend well until there are no large date pieces.
♥ Portion mixture into equal sized balls, place on greased cookie sheet, and flatten with the back of a spoon/spatula.
♥ Bake for 12-15 minutes on 170 degrees.
♥ Remove from oven and cool on cookie rack.
♥ Store cookies in the refrigerator.
YUM! Do you like the sound of these healthy cookies?! Let us know 🙂
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.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 2, 2012 | Events, Inner City, Western Suburbs, Yoga
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We’d love for you to join us for an afternoon of celebrating life, bringing together yoga, music, nature and our hearts.
Stuart Watkins and friends will be combining yoga with music while we celebrate life and connect with nature.
This event will be running on a donation basis and all of the profits will be going to Africare.
The yoga will be suitable for complete beginner to advanced yoga practitioner. Even if you just want to dance and/or meditate we’d love for you to join us.
There are two events, both at the Saw Avenue Amphitheater in Kings Park:
1. Friday, April 6, 2012 – 3:00pm until 6:00pm
2. Friday, April 29, 2012 – 3:00pm until 6:00pm
Sign up on the Facebook event page to keep up to date!
Be Love, Be Truth, Be Yoga.
Hope to see you all down there! Ommmm.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 30, 2012 | Organic, Products, Reviews
As we get older and wiser our lifestyle choices experience a little bit of a change. As teenagers our ideal lunch may have been a Happy Meal followed up by a large chocolate sundae (extra topping), but as adults the more vegetables and super foods packed into healthy meals the better. I’ve found that my skin routine has followed this cycle too, as a teenager showering every night was the height of my skin-care schedule and now as an adult I look for products that I know are putting goodness into my pores. So when the Laviol Organic products arrived on my doorstep I felt as though I had a big, delicious and healthy meal waiting for me to enjoy!
Laviol Organic is an Australian owned and made certified organic skin brand. Their delicious smelling products are made with only pure, natural and certified organic ingredients. The brand ‘Laviol’ has a beautiful meaning, the name comes from a combination of Lavender, Violet and Olive Leaf and these plants symbolise constancy, modesty, simplicity, peace and healing. They helped give my skin that extra bit of organic love it deserved and here are my thoughts;
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♥ Shea Butter Cleanser – $38.50 / 125ml
The orange scented cleanser was like a well deserved dessert for my skin, indulgent and delicious. It’s said to gently lift away surface impurities and cleanse, balance and keep skin soft and hydrated- which it did.
♥ Rosehip Antioxidant Cream – $59.95 / 50ml
This was my favourite product. I loved the wonderfully thick cream and the luxurious feel of it on my face. I also found it extremely versatile, easily enjoyed as a day or night cream. Smelling like a delicious cup of herbal rose tea didn’t hurt either!
♥ Bearberry Brightening Moisturiser – $62.50 / 50ml
Whilst this product didn’t suit my personal beauty routine, the hydrating natural oils and antioxidants would be perfect for women who have a tired, dull or uneven skin tone.
♥ The perfect combo.
♥ Rose Otto Hydrosol – $34.95 / 125ml
With the addition of Aloe Vera this product is perfect for any lover of sunshine, I’ve been making sure to spritz myself after every beach trip to rehydrate my dry and salty skin.
♥ Seaweed Antioxidant Eye Cream – $55 / 30ml
I’ve always had a fascination with eye creams. As a younger version of myself I watched my mum apply hers delicately every night and this one was no different. You only need to apply a tiny amount to leave your eye region feeling renewed and brighter.
Laviol Organic is available online through their web store.
What do you think of the look of the range? Any other organic favourites you’d like to share? Comment below! 🙂
Review by the wonderful Jade, now with added organic face nourishment!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 28, 2012 | Events, Exercise, Inner City
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Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year by turning out the lights for one hour in support of the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour.
Miranda Kerr is one the of the global ambassadors for Earth Hour and will be hosting her own yoga session in Sydney, whilst here in Perth you can join this amazing initiative while also cherishing your body and mind.
♥ Renee
Local Pilates Instructor and fitness specialist Renee Kendall, who writes a weekly blog for Miranda’s KORA Organics website, will be hosting a Perth Earth Hour event to raise awareness and support for Earth Hour 2012.
Together with studio director and Physiotherapist Audrey Ng, a free Pilates class will take place under candle light at Performance Pilates & Physiotherapy in West Perth on Saturday 31 March at 8:30pm.
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“The studio has an amazing view of Perth’s city skyline. It will be really special to see Perth’s entire city lights turn off for the hour in support of Earth Hour while we will be hosting Pilates by candlelight.” says Audrey Ng.
There will also be prizes and goodies with thanks to KORA Organics! Free pilates, candles, organic skincare and wonderful company. What more could you want! 🙂
Register online at Renz Pilates or call Performance Pilates & Physiotherapy on 9228 2778 to be part of this magical initiative. Spaces are limited.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
