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The start of the REAL autumn-y weather has put a spring in my step. I don’t know what it is, but my whole outlook changes when the cooler weather starts setting in. I feel happier, more content and like there are endless possibilities to be explored. It’s a fun time. Plus, there’s lots of tea to be consumed! I am planning on hitting up T2 very soon to pick up a whole bunch of new brews to keep me toasty over the winter.

I’ve been crushing on so many things lately, but these 5 are the cream of the crop! Hope you enjoy 🙂 x

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♥ Chantecaille Future Skin

Being of porcelain complexion is hard. HARD I TELLS YA! Finding a foundation shade that suits my skin tone perfectly often takes many trips to the shops and frequently ends in frustration.

I was once told by a makeup artist working at a Clarins counter that fewer lighter shades are sent to Australia because we’re generally more tanned than those in Europe or Asia. Interesting! But no good for ghosties like me.

Luckily I’ve found my new favourite in the form of Chantecaille Future Skin!! They have a a bit of a range of paler shades (5!) and the Porcelain one suits me perrrrrrfectly. Sometimes I like to pop in a little Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser if I need a bit more of a glow, but usually priming with rosehip oil after cleansing does the trick. Chantecaille Future Skin is $105 for 30g, so it’s a pricey peach, but worth it if you’re like me and find it tough to get a foundation match 🙂

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Kale Chips

What can I say but – AH-MAZE-ING. After hearing so much about this healthy crunchy, snacky alternative to potato chips, I decided to finally make some of my own. I’m so glad I did. There are so many benefits to eating kale (here are the top ten!) and it is soooo yummy steamed as well.

How to make kale chips:

♥ Tear kale off of stalk into small bite sized pieces and place into bowl
♥ Drizzle olive oil over the kale and massage into all the leaves so that they are all very lightly coated – you don’t want them dripping
♥ Arrange on baking tray, sprinkle with Caesar Salt
♥ Put into oven heated to 180 degrees celcius and cook for 12-15 minutes

ENJOY!!! A seriously yummy snack, and healthier than potato chips. I made a gigantic batch tonight and it’s official, I’m in love.

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Fab Iron

I’ve recently started taking these iron tablets as I’ve been feeling pretty tired. I know that my iron is low from the last time I had my blood levels checked, so hopefully this will keep me all iron-ed up along with the Floradix that I sometimes take too. Super easy to swallow and I like that it’s in vegecaps and 100% vegetarian and vegan suitable 🙂

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Noni Juice

I’d always been curious about this juice, since Miranda Kerr touts it as one of the reasons she is so healthy / ridiculously good looking, unfortunately I found the price quite expensive so never got around to trying it. Fast forward to last Thursday when I attended the Perth KORA Organics event (more on that to come soon) and we were lucky enough to receive a bottle of the purple grape flavoured noni juice!

Apparently this stuff is packed full of minerals and antioxidants and will neutralize free radicals like it aint no thang. I’ve been taking it for about a week now, so can’t really comment on the benefits yet, but it tastes pretty good so long as it’s mixed with water, and I don’t think it’s doing me any harm so I’m going to continue with it!

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♥ Be Asleep Pillow Spray

This relaxing sleep mist is different to most in that the prominent scent ISN’T lavender. Containing bergamot, cederwood atlas, lavender, roman chamomile, lemon and mandarin, it really does smell a little more citrusy but is incredibly relaxing at the same time. I’ve been spraying this all over my pillows every night and instantly feel calmer once I catch the first whiff. For extra relaxation you can spray some on your feet too!

Recommended for anyone who needs a little extra help falling asleep at night due to a stressful or busy lifestyle.

Extra: Naturlea, the company who produces the sleep spray, also hold product parties (all the prods are sublime) and for the month of April & June, if you book a party you get a FREE rosehip oil! Get in touch with Nyssa if you may be keen: nyssabowker@naturlea.com

I hope you guys have enjoyed my beauty and wellbeing crushes this week! I’d love to hear yours 🙂

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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I’m a tea enthusiast, and since I know of many fantastic small tea companies, I was really excited to try out Indigiearth’s teas and Little China Teas.

A special mention for Indigiearth’s wonderful plum cream biscuits, though I didn’t review them because there’s not much you can say besides yuuum!

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♥ Lemon Myrtle tea

I’m impressed at how organic this is. I really feel like I could drop some on the ground and have something grow there. The scent is lemon with an extra spice to it – reminds me of cinnamon, but softer. I found this tea ultra-soothing. I’ve drunk lemon tea before when I’ve had colds, and found it unbearable – this is a very soft lemon with all the soothing, pleasant-smelling bits and none of the sourness.

♥ Daintree and Lavender tea

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting with this tea, not really knowing Daintree so fixating purely on the lavender. It’s a smell I love– but which is completely non-foody – so I was expecting the sensation of drinking green tea for the first time (i.e. not much fun), but this was very refreshing. I’ve been drinking it as a herbal tea, so no milk or sugar, and I haven’t felt like it’s needed those extra factors.

Wild Rosella Tea!

♥ Wild Rosella tea

WHOA. Firstly it’s fire engine red when brewed, and looks amazing in white china. Secondly I find it FAR too strong on its own for me – it’s tart tea, and full flavoured, even when brewed with tiny amounts. I have since refrigerated this with sugar and this is completely my preferred method. A wonderful iced tea!

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♥ Little China Teas – Up-Lift

I usually find Asian teas a bit difficult to start with, and was expecting the same with this one. The overall taste is very green tea but with a refreshing, cooling aftertaste. It would be a great option for those trying to “get into” Asian teas. This is built on Chinese medicine attempting to stimulate without caffeine – which surprised me, because I assumed this one was built on green tea. Worth mentioning as well that they recommend a “pinch” of tea –and considering this tea is made up of whole leaves you’re going to be in a world of trouble if you try to measure out a teaspoon.

♥ Little China Teas – Slimming

The packaging on this tea explains how the tea stimulates metabolism and staves off hunger, but not how. Thus I couldn’t really tell you if it’s claims are viable, because it would take some sustained drinking before seeing results, but I would happily agree that it’s a temporary food replacement, since it’s a “meaty” tea. By which I mean there’s a lot of flavours in it, it doesn’t feel like water with leaves. Like the other, the individual tea fragments are huge and thus a pinch is all you need for a teapotful, Tasty, soothing and filling.

The Indigiearth teas are available online at the Thulli online store and the Little China Shop teas in their own online store.

Review by Suzanne: she is allergic to exercise, but not tea, and can only be cured with cake.

Be well,

xoxo

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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

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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

♥ Natural yoghurt, blueberries, banana, honey & cinnamon sugar – breakfast of champions!

I’ve decided to start a new segment where I’ll showcase in photo-form some of the best wellness snippets of my past week! I might also get some guest “Week in the Wellness Life”-ers so stay tuned, enjoy – and let me know if you like the idea! 🙂 xo

♥ 100% pomegranate juice from Grill’d. My friends and I all decided to try it! It was quite sweet, I prefer the sour cherry.

♥ I was incredibly happy to receive this beautiful pack from local favourites Sodashi, containing mini versions of their best selling concentrates, a soft face towel and a quiz to find out which one suits me best!

♥ A mini vegan chocolate feast for the bf and I. The cherry Green & Blacks is my all time favourite dark chocolate. HANDS DOWN. It is a little harder to find than the other Green & Blacks flavours, but if you see it make sure to swoop up a block. So good. The acai bar is a favourite of my boyfriends, I have to admit I haven’t tried it. Conscious Chocolate is a fairly new brand, WITH THE CUTEST PACKAGING OF ALL TIME! Plus their choccies are all hand-made. We didn’t try this one yet but I can’t wait! And the minty one up the top was from PAWS Vegan Cafe, unfortunately it was my least fave.

♥ Three drinks which are rocking my world.

1. Reboot Your Life – Very Berry Good. These are found in the fruit n veg section at woolies and are AMAZING. Seriously. They have the lowest sugar count of any freshly pressed juice I’ve come across (10g as opposed to upwards of 30g) so don’t leave you feeling spacey after 20 minutes, plus they have spinach in them, plus they are DELISH. They’re created by Joe Cross from the Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead doco I reviewed recently. You must try these. There are heaps of other flavours too!

2. Almond Breeze almond milk – to be honest I haven’t tried this yet. I’m just stoked at the number of convenient almond milks that don’t cost $10 a litre that are showing up in the shops. This one was about $4!

3. Sunraysia Cranberry Juice – a long time favourite of mine, packed full of vit c, antioxidants and just super tasty, tangy and good for you. Especially for anyone who may be prone to UTI issues. This will help sort em out.

♥ Lunch at Edens in Subiaco and a catch up with April Rose (AKA one of our star writers @ Wellness WA!). The smoothie is spinach, mango, banana, apple & ice. Amazing. And the sammy is rye, hummus, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, pineapple, tomato relish, spinach, cucumber, beetroot. I definitely felt healthy afterward!

Love to hear your thoughts on my wellness this week, if you like the new section and if you have any suggestions!

Much love.

Be well,

Annette

xoxo