by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 4, 2011 | Organic, Products, Reviews
When the opportunity to try some Weleda products came up I jumped at the chance. Having used several Weleda products in the past I was very keen to get them back into my life.
How do I love Weleda? Let me count the ways…
♥ Their philosophy – they believe in harmony between nature and human beings.
♥ The plant extracts and ingredients and grown using bio dynamic and organic methods.
♥ All formulations are free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colours & parabens.
♥ No animal testing!
This guy? Not harmed.
I had the chance to trial four Weleda products; Lavender Creamy Body Wash, Birch Body Exfoliant, Wild Rose Body Oil and Wild Rose Face Mask. The review of the Weleda products is split into two parts so read on to find out more about the Lavender Creamy Body Wash and Birch Body Scrub and stayed tuned for reviews on the Wild Rose products.
♥
One of my favourite scents is lavender; it’s very soothing and calming and I’ve been using lavender and lavender based products for a long time. It is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress.
I’ve been using the Lavender Creamy Body Wash at night, the scent is just divine and it is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress. Weleda uses organic lavender grown from Moldova in a fair trade agreement.
I found this body wash very gentle, didn’t strip my skin and it lathered well .The formulation as the name suggests is a lovely creamy consistency. The scent tended to linger for a while after I used it which was lovely.
♥
I’ve been on the lookout for a gentle body scrub for awhile. The last few ones that I tried have been quite rough and have even left nasty red scratch marks on my skin. Trying the Birch Body Scrub was a dream.
According the Weleda website Birch has been proven to be helpful to rid the body of toxins and help in the detoxifying process. The Birch Body Scrub uses natural plant wax pearls to gently but effectively exfoliate and smooth the skin. I noticed that my skin was smoother after just one use. The scrub is effective but not harsh at all. Tough areas like my elbows and knees are feeling softer. Even the scent is refreshing and uplifting. This is the perfect scrub to use in summer to get ready for all those skin baring party dresses! This scrub is a winner!
Have you tried Weleda products? What are your favs?
Review by Hannah-Lee.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 2, 2011 | Food, Products, Reviews
♥ Amazing graphic design by yours truly! ♥
Eating lentil burgers is one of the true great delights of being a vegetarian, of course meat eaters can (and should!) indulge in these legume-y treats too, but they do hold an extra special place in my non-meat lovin’ heart due to their deliciousness & high protein content!
Some people I’ve spoken with think lentils are a little bit hippy. A bit too mung beans, peace signs and make love not war, man.
Well I’m here to tell the naysayers to get nay-ed, and throw it out there that I think my most recent healthy lentil burger creation would turn even the most hardened carnivore into a giant big fan of these less than beautiful, but more than tasty food friends.
Time Required: 30-35 minutes ’til you get to dine.
Difficulty Rating: 1 lentil. If I can do it, anyone can.
Notes: This burger is very filling, you will more than likely feel like chowing down another one straightaway but wait 10 minutes for your food to settle, then reassess! The structure of the burger is very important so as to separate the flavours in the optimum way, so take care 😉
Ingredients:
♥ 2 slices of your bread of choice. Mine since you asked is Abbott’s Village Bakery – Light Rye. Stunning!
♥ 1 Sanitarium Lentil Patty. These are located in the frozen section of the supermarket, most Coles & IGA’s I’ve been to have them.
♥ 1/2 a tomato.
♥ 2-3 thin slices of reduced fat fetta.
♥ 1/4 sliced avocado.
♥ 1/2 tbsp hummus.
♥ A lil bit of tomato sauce.
Method: (is that the right word? or did I just slip back into high-school science..)
Cook the lentil patty in the oven til golden brown and crispy on both sides, this takes a while in my non fan-forced oven, so I heat it to 200 degrees cook for 15 mins, then flip over and cook for another ten.
Toast the bread & spread hummus on one piece and spread/place the avo slices on the other.
Place the patty on the avo side, and decorate patty with the desired sauce pattern then top with the thin fetta slices.
Tomato slices are up next and you may then finish with the piece of hummus’d toast on top.
For optimal eating pleasure, cut diagonally into two halves.
Experience the taste sensation, then come back here and leave a comment telling me how brilliant I am! Hehe.
This burger is so good for you, full of nutrients, good fats & protein. If you try it, let me know! Just writing about it has made me hungry so I’m off to create some havoc in my kitch.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 1, 2011 | Interviews
Tammi Ireland, Coveted Canvas.
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I’m a mag-loving, journalist working in newspapers full-time while also free-lancing for other newspapers and online sites. Thus, my ‘fluffy’ writing had to be directed elsewhere, so I founded Coveted Canvas in March 2010. It’s a beauty website with tips and tricks, product and salon reviews, trend reports, holistic tips, competitions and more. I put all the info I’ve learnt from years working in the modelling industry and behind the scenes at mag shoots onto the web for girls like me who love experimenting with their look.
In my spare time, I write letters to myself, read books, watch Mad Men and sample Perth’s restaurants.
Bloom Organics Rosehip Oil
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
Reviewing countless products means no day is the same. That being said there are some steadfast rules I stick to. I cleanse with Dermalogica’s Pre Cleanse twice (once to remove impurities, once to actually cleanse), followed by scrubbing my face and neck with their Daily Microfoliant. If I skip this step, my skin is really dull – the movement of exfoliation brings blood to the surface. Next I’ll apply a serum or moisturiser (always with SPF), depending on my plans for the day and follow with makeup.
At night I either repeat the Pre-Cleanse process or remove makeup with WotNot wipes (amazing!) before applying Bloom Organics Rosehip Oil over my face and neck, and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye to prevent premature wrinkles. Vaseline keeps my lips from drying out during sleep.
♥ Hidden Valley ♥
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
Working six and a half days a week means I don’t get to the salon that much, which makes me extremely sad. When I do, it’s more a time-saving thing than an experience. Eyebrow waxing at Lovely Lady in Midland is great for those weeks I just can’t be bothered plucking my own brows.
That being said, I actually had my very first professional massage in June at Hidden Valley Eco Retreat, which was amazing. I’ve got vouchers for those on every one of my distributed Christmas lists.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Head Studio in King Street. I used to get around when it came to hairdressers but the guys at Head Studio were great when I went in to get balayage and a new style. There’s nothing more reassuring than having your stylist listen to your wants before they take to your hair with scissors! Plus the salon’s décor and coffee alone, is worth going back for.
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
An at-home manicure. When I went to LA last December, I stocked up on OPI nail polishes (they’re only $7 there!) so I’m quite enjoying working my way through them all. A slick of colour on your nails can completely change your mood.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (see above)
2. Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara for everyday because I can easily take it off and wake up without looking like a panda
3. Burt’s Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Açai Berry to keep my lips hydrated under the office aircon.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Not really secret, but I like to drink a lot of water and use concealer religiously. I can definitely feel the difference when I eat better, too, so I try to avoid bad foods and (recently) caffeine.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
There are so many! When I started Coveted Canvas, I had no idea about some of the amazing treatments out there.
I would love to say goodbye to unwanted hair permanently with laser removal but find it hard to justify the price, I want to try meditation and more yoga, and after reading your Sodashi Chakra balance review I’d like to try that too.
ED: Check out our IPL/SPL review!
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
No day’s the same but I always like a high-fibre breakfast with a few glasses of water to kick off the day. I try to eat a healthy lunch – salad roll or left-over stir-fry – but the problems come in around 3.30pm when I’ve been at my desk all day. Here I’ll have endless amounts of tea to get me through to dinner. Usually that’s protein and veggies. I snack on cashews, summer fruits and some health bars throughout.
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
It’s definitely not as good as I’d like it to be! I try and do some stretching or yoga in the morning to get my blood pumping, then walk throughout the day where I can (parking the car far from the office entrance, for example). I recently tried Zumba and plan on doing that a lot more.
Otherwise, I try to walk and use the family Ab-Swing and rower where possible. If I had more time, I would be all over the Bikram yoga and salsa dancing again. Sadly, I just can’t find time to get to the classes.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
When I’ve had a few hard days, I’ll pop a women’s multivitamin and if I’m feeling iffy, I’ll try Inner Health Plus but really I prefer to just ride it out and get the nutrients from my diet. I’m a big believer in mind over matter and that if you think you’re well, you’ll be well.
Thanks Tammi 🙂
If anyone has any comments or questions please leave them below!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 30, 2010 | Day Spa, Inner City, Products
♥ ♥ ♥
Woah woah woah! I literally just let out a “YES!” and clapped my hands with glee! You see, I’ve heard so much about these little pockets of bliss that are available to my Sydney, Melbourne & even Adelaide mates…tiny spa wonderlands where divine organic ingredients envelop you and you leave a changed person.
Okay okay, I haven’t tried it myself but this is what I’ve heard through my extensive reading of spa & beauty blogs from other states!
SO, the biggg news is (as I’m sure you can guess from the title) is that these bliss havens called Endota Spa’s will FINALLY be making their way to our West coast home!
David Jones city store will be the location of the first spa… and there will be more to come, they are currently offering franchising opportunities in these areas:
Territories available in greater Perth:
– Cannington
– Cottesloe
– Daglish
– Fremantle
– Innaloo
– Joondalup
– Mt Hawthorn
– Mt Lawley
– North Perth
– Perth CBD
– Scarborough
– Subiaco
– Warwick
territories available in regional WA:
– Mandurah
– Margaret River
I’ve also had the privilege of using the Endota Organic Rose Hip Oil and Honey & Rosehip mask of late and by golly, my skin is glowing! It’s like it just eats it up! There will be a proper review later, but I just wanted to give a bit of an idea as to why I’m excitedly raving like a lunatic.
So, to recap.
Endota Spas. Perth. 2011. Organic / Natural. Completely amazing. I will be first in line!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Dec 28, 2010 | Products, Reviews
Wotnot Facial Wipes
If you’re anything like me and are in a constant mini-war with your face, fighting dry, sensitive spots one day and little breakouts the next, you’ll know how difficult it is to find a face wipe that settles down the battle zones.
Not to mention the difficultly in finding one that quickly removes your makeup before you fall into bed after a big night.
So the recipe for my dream facial wipe would go something like this…
♥ Doesn’t sting sensitive bits or aggravate breakouts.
♥ Doesn’t dry out and tighten the skin.
♥ Nourishing and calming.
♥ Takes off makeup in a flash.
++ Bonus points: Improves skin condition.
Almost impossible?
Enter our star and my new fav. product, Wotnot Facial Wipes!
This baby is a winner in my eyes because it does all of the above, contains heaps of organic goodies AND is environmentally friendly as it’s 100% biodegradable / compostable!
Why didn’t someone think of this before?!
So down to the nitty gritty…
♥ Contains: soothing organic aloe vera, organic sweet almond oil, organic rosehip oil, organic jojoba oil.
If you guys didn’t already know, those three oils are the who’s who of the “oils that are good for making your face healthy & pretty” scene. So get to know ’em!
♥ Does not contain: alcohol, chlorine, sulphates, petrochemicals, parabens, artificial fragrances, artificial preservatives, animal extracts and they are of course against animal testing. PHEW.
This guy wasn’t harmed during the making of these wipes! YAY!
This is all well and good, however we need performance as well as enviro-responsibility, and Wotnot wipes deliver on that front too.
It takes off my makeup in a flash and feels GREAT afterwards!
I love this product and won’t be giving it up anytime soon, it’s replaced my stinging wipes and now takes pride of place in my messy bathroom.
Wotnot Naturally Nurturing Facial Wipes are $11.95 for a pack of 25 wipes and available to buy online (with free shipping) at http://www.wotnot.com.au.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
