by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 9, 2011 | Products, Reviews
Winter. It’s clearly here, intruding its way into our lives with the chilliest of mornings and nights. However, I love winter! The smell in the air on rainy days, that glimmer of raindrops off flowers, getting to rug up in clothes that have spent a year in your closet unloved, a close cuddle with someone special and best of all, long, hot showers! Though as much as I love a long hot shower, like 1 in 3 other Australians – I suffer from eczema, where hot showers mean sore, itchy skin. Thankfully I came across the new Eczema Relief Range from Nyal, and decided after years of searching for a decent shower wash and soap, I would give this newcomer a try.
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First up, the Nyal Eczema Relief Shower and Bath Oil
The first thing I notice is the smell, and it is goood. Most shower washes I’ve used that have eczema relief qualities have been ok when it comes to calming the skin, however they smell like a hospital hallway. Not really an appealing feature for something that you are going use all over yourself. No thanks! However with this productl I’m being hit with a very enjoyable buttery/caramel type smell, which is a nice change to say the least. The oil also lathers to a milky texture as applied and mixed with water, which leaves a smooth feeling afterwards on your skin.
I’ve found it a really good change to have a pleasant smell and a smooth, soft feel to my skin. The best thing about this shower and bath oil is that it’s made with colloidal oatmeal, which is basically a whole bunch of oats ground down into powder that is really effective at soothing and comforting itchy, scratchy dry skin. And before you think to yourself, hmmm really oatmeal, like I have for breakfast, yummo! You can’t eat it. I checked…
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Nyal Eczema Relief Soap Wash
The soap wash seems to be more your traditional-styled eczema wash than the shower and bath oil. It’s comes across nice and mild so you can use it every day, and really seems to cleanse the skin well, leaving your hands feeling nice and soft. The soap wash has been great to me since I started using it, as I recently had a terrible run-in with a nasty massage oil that left my hands with a pretty severe rash for a week or so! Since then, most soaps seem to cause dry skin and eczema to hijack parts of my hand. Not fun. However, this new Nyal soap wash has never given me a problem with that, and I have the comfort of knowing that every time I use it I won’t be applying any soothing cream an hour later. I’ve found it a relief and a much loved addition to the bathroom.
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The other good news is, both of these products do not have any parabens in them which makes them even better for you, as these nasties have been linked to the development of breast cancer. They also don’t contain any lanolin, so our cute woollen friends aren’t contributing to our skin care and can remain woolly and warm throughout winter too!
So if you’re looking for a decent relieving soap or shower oil give the new Nyal range a shot as I really enjoyed using these products and will use them in the future, knowing that long hot showers are back on the menu for wintertime. Yes! Though as we know that skin types can differ, I do suggest you try them first if you have eczema or dry skin, and see how its works for you. I know I found them very helpful and good to use. You can find them at your local supermarket or chemist.
Review by Russell, boyfriend extraordinaire.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 8, 2011 | Food, Organic, Products, Reviews
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I love tea. This can be proven by the following fact: currently there is a dodgy kettle in my apartment, every time my housemate or I switch it on it cuts the power to the rest of the house. The tea love is so strong, that it constantly overrides this knowledge of said dodgy kettle and I continue to try and try, failing every time and shutting off the power (which gets annoying after say, one time).
THANKFULLY, a new kettle is on the way. But for now I’m considering taking a step back about 25 years and boiling some water on the stove to make a delish cuppa.
I have been slowly incorporating more organic into my life lately, the idea that I’m putting a few less pesticides into my body is a good one, therefore I’m going to share with you my absolute fave organic teas today, and hopefully inspire some new pesty-free crushes in you too!
♥ Endota Organic Teas
I have a giant crush on Endota, while we haven’t been lucky enough yet to have this day spa chain in Perth (though I am promised it will be here early 2012 in a CBD location!), their organic philosophy and natural, earthy treatments give me a brain buzz when I read about them!
I got to try two of these beautiful tea babes, lavender and rosehip – plus check out the box! Tea with a ribbon? Already got my heart. Having never tried LAVENDER tea before, I was pretty excited to get brewin’ late one winter night after a stressful day. It was a delicious soothing sip, and the rosehip tea? Fannnn-tastique, as always, rosehip is so good for you and really tangy & tasty. There is a generous amount of tea packed into the box as well, but you will need a teapot with strainer or some kind of infuser as it’s loose leaf.
My pick is the T2 Small Mesh Tong, it serves me well.
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♥ Clipper Decaffeinated Green Tea
I’ve previously written about this tea. Lurve lurve lurve! It’s decaf so you can drink it at any time of the day or night. My daily ritual is to turn up to work, boil the kettle, brew a cup of this and then settle into my day. I will usually drink 1-2 cups per day, but if you drink 3+ you will see incredible benefits to your skin.
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♥ T2 Organic Teas
T2 also has a new range of organic teas which I’ve checked out a few times and I think it’s great that they’re expanding their range to incorporate more organic. They have a beaut looking lemongrass & ginger tea that will soon be vying for space on my already overflowing shelf – delicious and purrrfect for keeping sniffles at bay!
In closing: tea is a total babe who can make you feel amazing for minimal bucks, certified organic tea is even better so if you haven’t already got some in your life, I reckon you should jump on the ideas above, or seek out some other varieties and organically warm up with some delish liquids! x
What are your favourite teas?
Do you have any organic? Let me know! I love to chat tea 😀
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 5, 2011 | Products, Reviews
You know those times when all you and your skin crave is just a little nurture and comfort – enter ‘Franc Essential’.
Franc are a West Australian company based in Darlington. They make stunning face and body care products without any chemicals or any other yukky harsh stuff. This is why not only are they treatments for your skin, but also work like aromatherapy and are good for the soul.
I live a very busy life and get up at 4am for my current gig and often go to bed late. My poor face was in need of a bit of TLC, hello ‘Franc Serum’! RRP $72
It’s an intense skin rescue that hydrates and helps to stave off the introduction of those pesky fine lines. Silky and indulgent, it goes a long way so you only need to use the smallest amount. From the first use my skin was glowing and my nerves calmed. In its all consuming aroma I can smell lavender, rose & geranium. It’s calming, healing and just beautiful.
The list of ingredients is like a gorgeous summer menu, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, carrot & macadamia oils and more! It’s got to be jammed packed of vitamins! However as this product is made of oils if your skin is more on the oily side this is not for you.
Now on to my next point – are times when you feel yourself flagging? Well crumple no more my lovelies! These days I just reach for my ‘Lemongrass Balancing Mist’ RRP $18 and give myself a big ol’ pickup!
Reminiscent of day spa’s I’ve visited in Asia this uplifting spray is best carried around in your handbag or the top drawer of your desk. It would also be a skin life saver when flying, making you the envy of the other passengers! On top of being a great pick me up it also prepares your skin to make your moisturiser more effective – clever little thing!
So give your skin and your soul a lift and support a fabulous West Australian company – Franc Essential.
Review by Kristy Mollica freelance TV and radio presenter, lover of girl power, farmers markets & things that are so totally not beige!
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 3, 2011 | Food, Wellness Tips
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♥ Avocado and Danish Fetta on Toast
Confession time: I. LOVE. AVOCADOS. Maybe not as much as the person above, who clearly wants to take their avocado obsession to the grave – which is cool – but definitely enough to want to eat them every single day.
And what’s not to love? They’re teaming with carotenoids (People consuming diets rich in carotenoids from natural foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are healthier and have lower mortality from a number of chronic illnesses – source, wikipedia), known to be highly anti-inflammatory (good for arthritis and skin conditions), promote a healthy heart, help prevent against cancer, regulate blood sugar AND taste delicious.
One of my favourite super quick and easy avocado “recipes” is as follows:
♥ 2 slices of Abbott’s light rye
♥ 1/2 an avocado
♥ Small bit of slice-able danish fetta
♥ Indigo Grinds – Caesar Salt
Bread into the toaster, slice up the avo and the danish fetta, when toast is done, spread on the avocado (or place slices, your call), place some sliced danish fetta on top, garnish with the salt grind.
DELICIOUS! Eat and bask in the deliciousness of my favourite snack.
Are you an avocado fiend like me? Let me know if you try this ‘recipe’!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Aug 2, 2011 | Organic, Products, Wellness Tips
I think I’ve said before that being spoilt by natural and organic beauty prods is on the top of my non-guilty pleasures list. In the last couple of weeks I’ve been lucky enough to come across 5 new products that have made me swoon/spend many hours locked in my bathroom in beauty heaven. Please allow me to share them with you!
1. Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil – from $21.95
While being excellent for scars, stretch marks and wrinkles, rosehip oil is also the BEST hydration remedy. Like many of us find in the winter months, I’m accustomed to red, tight skin after my nightly shower. I find that rosehip oil over my normal moisturiser before bed restores some of that moisture and I wake up with plump, smoother skin. Handy hint: Pull your hair back off your face so you don’t wake up looking like someone smeared your locks with grease.
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2. Trilogy Face Care Vital Moisturising Cream – $40.95
Another Trilogy love! I’ve recently begun a new job where I’m confined to an office – much to my skin’s disgust. This is causing my skin to produce more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration caused by artificial heating (clever body huh?). This moisturiser has been perfect for everyday use – super hydrating but also light enough for the morning.
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3. Joi Pure Recovery Eye Serum – $35
This product hails from our very own Swan Valley, is 95% certified organic and made from so many yummy ingredients including rose water, rosehip oil, shea butter, green tea and ginseng. If I apply before bed, I wake up and don’t look tired even if I’ve only had 5 hours sleep. Need I say more?
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4. Rejuvenate Beautifying Organic Night Cream – $69.85
This little night cream is incredibly deceiving. At first glance it could be just another organic face cream. However, I’ve been taking this product EVERYWHERE – the texture is beautiful and it’s in a pump bottle that makes it easy for girls on the go. It comes with a little info lanyard that sits around the neck of the bottle with pictures of the ingredients – such a unique idea!
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5. Herbfarmacy Organic Mallow Beauty Balm
Thanks to the lovely Perth organic beauty website Bathing Beauty, this beauty balm has become my new lip balm. I’ve previously been using a popular lip ointment that never really sank in, so didn’t combat dryness and cracking. This beauty balm is made from natural oils that absorb with ease. Use it like Vaseline – on your eyes, lips, cracked elbows…anywhere! I’ve even got my parents hooked.
Written by Ellie Swift, a new graduate in PR and journalism and loving less study/more money.
