by Annette @ Wellness WA | Sep 4, 2011 | Other
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Dear Zoe,
Why hello there ultimate swoon-boat and idol of dreams (check out Primped if you haven’t already, dear readers)! It appears that you have a new and fancy book out called Amazing Face (RRP $39.95) on how to be a pretty awesome makeup, hair and skincare princess + many more wondrous tips.
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I feverishly read your book from cover to cover, barely stopping to breathe, on the first day it came out. I also had to harass some Dymock’s employees to find your tome in a box out the back! It was well worth it.
Here is a list of reasons why your book heaps deserved to be at the number one spot on the Dymocks best selling books for a couple of weeks (true story!):
♥ It’s for everyone. There’s tips for teens, 20 somethings, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s+
♥ This quote “Happy, healthy, radiant skin is your finest and most powerful accessory”
♥ You’re so smart, and witty, and funny, and pretty. Every page is ultra enjoyable to read and you tell me correct order in which to apply my skincare before bed, which I previously DID NOT KNOW!
♥ There is approximately 5 million tips in here about how to glow ‘a rude shade of health’.
♥ Tutorials, how-tos, lists (with pix!), Q&A, bonus tricks… there is a lot of information, presented in lots of different ways.
♥ The design is stunning, every page is different and delightful.
There are more reasons! But I don’t want to reveal all of your secrets.
Cute haircut n makeup Zoe! It looks like you do know your stuff.
Thanks Zo, you have once again inspired me to mix up my beauty routine a bit and reminded me to pull up my socks and stop being a bit lax with skincare, naughty naughty.
♥ ♥ ♥
Lucky readers! Penguin Books Australia have generously provided 2 copies of Ms. Foster’s book for us to give away š To be in the running to win, all you need to do is make sure you’re a fan of our Facebook page and leave a comment below letting us all know:
Why would you like to win a copy of Amazing Face?
Good luck! Entries close 19th September xx
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 30, 2011 | Events, Products, Reviews
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A couple of Wednesdays ago, I was in the city after hours on a cold and rainy night, only to end up being locked up in a store. Donāt worry, I had it all under control, I was actually there for Kitās Viva Le Colour Fiesta event. It really was every gals dream, locked in a store, with champagne, nibbles and hours to kill. As the name suggests, Kitās latest offering is all about colour. Inspired by the bright shades found in Spain and Mexico, the limited edition mineral range of products are sure to catch your eye.
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Kitās effervescent National Sales Manager, Pauline kicked off the night with the war cry, ācolour isnāt scaryā promising that her team of Makeup artists (pictured above) would have us convinced and in colour by the end of the night. A step-by-step demonstration on how to achieve a subtle, yet colourful face soon followed, with helpful tips from the makeup artist and plenty of audience interaction. As a makeup artist myself, I did think (for a moment) that I would be sitting smugly in the corner during said demonstration, but I was immediately drawn in by the fun and interactive performance and found myself making mental notes!
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The crowd was a varied bunch, ranging from those who really wanted that one-on-one time with their favourite artists and those who just wanted uninterrupted time to peruse the aisles after hours. Kit events really are a valuable chance to learn about makeup in a relaxed environment. While wandering around the event (sticking my nose in everywhere really!) I caught snippets of useful information ā did you know Kit do not test on animals? ā and really acquainted myself with the products on offer.
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The Viva Le Colour Fiesta range is full of fun new mineral items; my pick of the bunch would be the Viva La Coral Kit ($29.95), and the Long Live Colour Palette for eyes, lips, cheeks ($69.95) which I was lucky enough to take home with me. As promised, the audience was in colour by the end of the night and I was making plans to line my eyes with electric blue eye shadow the following day, a big feat for me as my wardrobe consists of black, black and more black. I would like to mention the girls who pulled the night together, Amelia, Sashelle, Daniella, Loren and Pauline, their approachable attitude and abundance of product knowledge was a delight to witness.
More pics from the night:
Pauline and Sashelle
Yum!! (Note the healthy options too, good to see!)
Cute girls with colour, tricky to see the eyes, but there’s a nice coral lip on the right.
Thanks to Kit Cosmetics for inviting us along to the event, they host them quite regularly so make sure you ask in store or sign up to their mailing list to find out about any that are coming up!
Event review by Jacqui Bradfield, makeup artiste extraordinaire!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 29, 2011 | Organic, Products, Reviews, Wellness Tips
Feeling your belly blossom with a growing baby is an indescribable privilege Iāve been granted. There isnāt a day that goes by without a zing of excitement about who that bump will turn out to be.
However, despite the wonder and excitement, my body is throwing all sorts of wicked challenges my way. Discovering an aversion to my favourite vegetables (keep sweet potato and broccoli far, far away), the now-passed morning sickness (welcome second trimester!) and watching my muscles fade as a softer look wraps around my body.
There are certain things that you can do to make yourself feel like the lady you once were; manicures and pedicures, making the most of the lustrous condition of your hair (one of the pros, less hair shedding!) and taking care of that stretching skin.
Some believe certain body types are doomed to stretch marks no matter what, but Iām not taking my chances. Itās better to prevent rather than cure, right? So I sought out a couple of reputable brands to nix those squiggly lines before they branched out across my already stretching body.
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Be Genki creator Samantha Sample developed an all-natural body oil through a new brand Be Naturallyou after pregnant friends begged for a stretch mark elixir. After extensive research, the Body Oil ($38 for 130mL) is now a blend of avocado oil, flax seed oil, apricot kernel oil, wheatgerm oil and essential oils of mandarin, lavender, neroli and frankincense. The resulting blend boasts properties that nourish skin, promote regeneration of scarred skin, helps skin retain elasticity, moisturizes and is good for eczema and psoriasis.
The smell of the oil is pure relaxation and the lavender stood most prominently. The long-necked bottle meant the oil rushed out and surprised me on the first go, resulting in my palm covered in the slightly green oil. The oil was fabulously moisturising and kept my skin well hydrated. The strong scent meant I didnāt want to wear it during the day as it was close to overpowering my perfume, but at night it was perfect for rubbing in after a warm shower and the soothing smell was lovely to fall asleep with.
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At a much higher end price bracket, LāOccitaneās Almond Supple Skin Oil ($64.95 for 100mL) was recommended by a friend so I had to give it a go. The handy pump top means I controlled the amount a lot better and the oil was lighter in texture. The smell is delicious; sweet and a hint of almond, you could almost wear it as a light perfume but I wear it alongside my daily spritz of Bvlgari Rose. The moisturising component is also excellent although perhaps not as long lasting as the Be Genki oil.
With the combination of these two beauties, I have a day and night combo going on and am yet to see the dreaded effects of stretch marks. And let me tell you, itās not just the belly that expands and there are a few other bumps getting vigorous attention from the body oils. But the belly rub is definitely my favouriteā¦ and Iām pretty sure itās the babyās too.
Article by Lisa Oāneill, Freelance Journalist and super cute anti-stretch mark crusader.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 24, 2011 | Exercise, Food, Products, Reviews, Wellness Tips
1. Cheaper Strawberries & Oranges
There’s been an influx of these bright, summer reminiscent fruits in the shops lately and I for one am LOVING IT! I think strawberries were up around the $8-$9 mark for a while and I prefer to buy local oranges as opposed to ones that come from the USA, due to them being gassed prior to undertaking their travel!
Refreshing orange wedges, fresh strawberry smoothies & chopped fruit with natural yoghurt have been keeping me healthy & happy lately. HOORAY FOR SEASONAL EATING!!!
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2. Invisible Zinc.
Although I’ve long heard the hype about Invisible Zinc, it’s taken me until now to jump on board the ‘physical sunscreen’ band wagon. With total babes such as Elle Macpherson and Georgia May Jagger (Jerry Hall’s daughter) as spokesmodels, it’s no wonder that this brand is turning heads. Being a freckled lass means that I should have been sunscreening up on a daily basis. Emphasis on the should have. I’ve only recently been really making an effort to make sure I pop on some sunscreen before putting on my make-up.
Tales of my naughtiness aside, I am really enjoying the Invisible Zinc Environmental Skin Protector SPF30+. It feels great during and after application, lives up to it’s name of being invisible and has THREE (count em) ways in which it does our skin some serious favours:
♥ UVA + UVB protection. Physical sunscreen reflects these danger-rays, unlike chemical sunscreen (the regular stuff) which absorbs only UVB rays and then turns them into free radicals, which is less than ideal. So physical wins here!
♥ Pollution barrier! Stops city smog from interacting with your face, ESP forms a film over your face to protect you from these baddies which can contribute to aging.
♥ Packed full of antioxidants, which help to protect your skin cells pre & post sun exposure.
International model, Simone Kerr, also enjoys it – check out our interview with her here!
3. More Yoga!!!
The benefits I’ve experienced from yoga include: increased mental clarity and calm, less moodiness, increased flexibility, better sleep, clearer skin and a more toned tum. Despite all of these wonderful perks, I’ve been slack with making time to fit in into my schedule. UNTIL NOW! The past two weeks have seen yoga appearing twice in my 7 day routine and I’ve been loving it!
I would love to take part in a ‘yoga revolution’ which is one entire month of doing a yoga class, once a day. I think the benefits would be incredible, but I might have to start off with just a weeks worth first! š
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4. Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash
I am adoring this, hard. I’ve previously talked about it in my birthday wellness weekend article, but wanted to declare my love once more. LOVE YOU BB, DON’T EVA LET ME GO <3. Ahem.
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5. Mukha Natural Yoga Mats – $80
I’ve had one of these for quite some time now, but kept forgetting to take it to class with me! Very silly, I know. The mats were dreamed up when Perth based yoga teacher, Lisa Gawned, was in the well loved downward dog position.
She realised that she was ‘grounding’ herself upon a PVC mat, a man-made material which is toxic to our health and the environment. And so Mukha Mats were born, made from 100% sustainably farmed natural rubber (the smell is very strong in the mat when you first get it, but soon dissipates), healthy for you and the environment. The mat is also completely biodegradable at the end of it’s life, which is pretty awesome.
I found the mat heavier than expected when I first started using it, but quickly got used to it and am now enjoying having my own personal eco-friendly mat in which to stretch and de-stress on. No fear of sharing sweat and bacteria with other people and the knowledge that it’s non-toxic and good for the earth? Double win.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 21, 2011 | Interviews
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi, my name is Jasmine and Iām a model with Scene Model Management. I am currently in my final year studying at school.
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I use a Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser and 7 Day Scrub Cream and Become Day Cream.
During the day for make up, instead of using foundation, I use Pore Putty bb cream and face powder. Itās great because it gives heaps of coverage and makes your skin feel really soft, but looks like youāre not wearing anything at all. For blush I use Urban Decay glide-on cheek tint because they have some awesome colours. In my make up bag I also carry a Fred Farrugia transparent creme blush. I usually donāt wear any eye shadow and just use Sephora mascara.
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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I love a massage and reflexology, although Iāve only had it done in Bali on the beach as yet! Itās a great way to relax.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I donāt often cut my hair to be honest (its very long at the moment), but the last time I had it done was by Skatt in Claremont and I was very pleased.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
I sometimes use Bio Oil for dry skin treatment.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
My Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, and marocMaroc āOnguent dāArganā, it’s a nourishing body balm which is great for people who get really dry skin – like me. This is a new product that I have just discovered and thoroughly recommend it.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
I donāt use too much make-up, unless Iām doing a shoot. Also, I try to get as much sleep as possible, exercise everyday and always use sunscreen to protect my skin. Drinking lots of water is beneficial too.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
A fish spa!!
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Rather than have cereal I like to start the morning with some fruit (sometimes with yoghurt) because I find itās really refreshing. Then for lunch I usually have tuna and salad. Dinner depends on what everyone in my family is having, but normally we have roast chicken, steak or soup.
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
Exercise and keeping fit is a really big part of my life. Even if Iām really busy I try to go walking for at least an hour and a half every day (about 8km) and on the weekends I do a lot of horse riding.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
No I donāt take any supplements, I just try to keep a balanced and healthy diet, and eat sweet foods in moderation.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
When I want to relax I like to go to the movies. Its great to just sit down, chat with friends and enjoy some popcorn!
