Beauty & Wellness Routine with Elsie & Dominika, Founders of BYBI Beauty!

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First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

Hi, we’re Elsie & Dominika, beauty bloggers, trained formulators, skincare experts, podcast hosts and Co-founders of BYBI Beauty.

It all started in 2015 with Clean Beauty Insiders, our natural beauty blog where we published DIY recipes, product reviews and industry news. Building up our clean beauty blog before starting the BYBI brand gave us time to immerse ourselves in the market and really understand where the gaps were. For us, after trying many other natural skincare brands and also making our own products, there was a clear gap for a beauty brand that upheld great ethics around sustainability and ingredients, but that was marketed in a way that spoke to a mainstream beauty consumer. We took the leap and founded our own brand, BYBI, in February 2017. BYBI stands for By Beauty Insiders.

BYBI makes ethical, effective skincare that doesn’t cost the earth and has the ability to transform your skin. We’re about sustainability, affordability and great performance (plus our products also look cute on your bathroom shelf!).

What time do you wake up most days and how many hours of sleep do you aim for?

About 6am, we aim for a solid 8 hours but that’s pretty rare!

Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?

A full BYBI routine (of course). With a focus on Mega Mist, our skin plumping hyaluronic acid facial spray, plus a blend of the Boosters. As the temperatures get colder in the UK, Buriti & Strawberry are essential! The Buriti Booster is a potent antioxidant and helps protect the skin against free radicals – so great for those that commute or live in a city. The Strawberry Booster is an epic skin softener and helps keep it even and hydrated.

To look my best I follow this up with a dewy base, lengthy lashes and natural blush. Our favourite clean beauty brands are: ILIA, JuiceBeauty, W3LL PEOPLE & INIKA Organic.

Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?

A thorough double cleanse at the end of the day. Starting with an oil-based cleanser to attract and disintegrate dirt and makeup, followed by a water based cleanser to balance and regulate.

Step 1: Swipe Clean – Our highly effective yet super gentle oil cleanser and makeup remover. Hibiscus and papaya, both high in AHAs help to break down and remove grime, dirt, oil, stubborn mascara and the last traces of lipstick.

Step 2: Crystal Clear (soon to be launching into SEPHORA Australia!)

This one is our foaming gel cleanser with prebiotics to protect your skin’s microbiome and salicylic acid to unclog pores. Deeply cleanses and clarifies for a clear, balanced, healthy complexion. You’re gonna love it!

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If you could only wear one brand of activewear for the rest of your life it would be…

Girlfriend Collective. They’ve just launched ReGirlfriend, where you can send back your old activewear to make new items. You receive store credits for taking part and they don’t have to create as much virgin material.

What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?

We both love yoga and getting sweaty at Barry’s Bootcamp!

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You’ve got a big event in 7 days time that you need to look incredible for. What’s your plan of attack to look & feel your absolute best?

We approach it from the inside and out! Firstly, eating really well, packing in more nourishing and energising foods. Secondly, really taking care of our skin, spritzing Mega Mist as often as possible and using the Bakuchiol Booster every night to plump skin and give it a naturally radiant glow. We’re partial to a natural looking spray tan too!

And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

For the dewiest natural highlight, we use our Babe Balm Bronze (soon to be launching into SEPHORA Australia). It’s a hybrid of skincare and makeup, a blend of our iconic Babe Balm and glittering mica powder. Its buttery texture means it melts into skin, leaving it hydrated, soft and naturally luminous. It’s the shortcut to fresh skin.

Thanks Elsie + Dominika! If you have any questions for the girls, please leave them below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

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Beauty & Wellness Crushes: Light Illusion Vegan Foundation & Personal Training.

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♥ Flower Beauty – Light Illusion Vegan Foundation – $13.99

Drew Barrymore’s brand new vegan ‘Flower’ beauty range, available from Chemist Warehouse, has hands down been my beauty find of the past 12 months. I’m absolutely OBSESSED with the Light Illusion foundation – my shade is Porcelain. After years of spending $50-$100 on foundations, I am floored to have found something that’s cruelty-free, vegan, a perfect match to my skin tone, generously sized (lasts approx 2 months with daily use for me) AND just $13.99?!?!

The Light Illusion Foundation range has 15 shades and is WELL worth the effort to pop into a Chemist Warehouse and see if you can find a match. My skin is notoriously hard to match and I got one first go, so miracles do happen.

I feel like I’m in a dream I don’t want to wake up from. I pray this foundation never gets discontinued because it is just that good, and it’s saving me a tonne of money. And don’t even get me started on the lipsticks – more info on these coming soon!

♥ My Personal Trainer, Amy Richards

Dragging myself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning in order to better myself has never, and I mean never, been my forte, but I know I’m at my physical and mental best when someone is kindly forcing me to do exercises that are specifically tailored to my body and goals. Enter twice weekly 7am / 8am personal training sessions with Amy Richards for the past 6 months or so.

Now I will be the first to admit that I’m probably not anyones “ideal” personal training client. I don’t like working out very hard and often adopt the mindset of “well, I’m out of bed at a ridiculous hour so anything else is a bonus, I’ll just take it easy”. I’m also a mild whinger but trying to be better – haha. Anyway, since seeing the lovely Amy since June 2019 – once a week at first, and more recently twice a week – which is when I have really seen results ramp up. In this time I have gotten much fitter and stronger, seen a dramatic improvement in my body shape & tone (hi perky butt, hi fitting into old clothes), as well as improved mental health.

For anyone who has health & fitness goals on their 2020 to-do list, and perhaps like me has a bit of trouble with personal fitness motivation, I would highly recommend seeing a PT at least once a week – and can definitely recommend Amy! Check her out here.

I’d love to hear what you are crushing on at the moment! Hop on over to our Instagram page and let me know, or leave a comment below!

Be well,

xoxo

Annette

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Perth’s Best Pilates Studios – South of the River Edition!

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What is Pilates? Pilates is an uplifting practice focused on toning, lengthening and balancing the body. As a self- confessed Pilates nerd and instructor, I work with clients to discover their mind to muscle connection, where we not only target the large muscle groups, but also those teeny tiny muscles you never knew you had. Yup, Pilates burns, but the burn is so good and slightly addictive!

It’s no secret Pilates has played a starring role in creating some seriously hot bods (think Jennifer Hawkins, Miranda Kerr and Kate Hudson to name only a few). But Pilates isn’t just for the ladies. Over the years, as a Pilates instructor I’ve seen a marked increase in the number of dudes in my classes. You know when the likes of Nat Fyfe credits Pilates to minimising his soft tissue injuries (in a Brownlow winning season no less) you’re sure to see an increase in foot traffic! The best thing about Pilates is there are so many different styles to choose from. You can choose to get sweaty, go classic (technique is boss in these classes), clinical (good-bye funky knee) or even mix a little dance in to the class- the options are endless!

Lucky for us Perth being home to some of the most active people in Australia and has a bevy of gorgeous studios just waiting to be discovered! Check these studios out for your Perth Pilates fix!

Body Base Pilates – North Fremantle

A beautiful boutique studio nestled in the back pocket of North Fremantle, Body Base Pilates is only a short distance walk from Leighton Beach and some of the freo locals’ favourite cafes and bars including Bib and Tucker, The Orange Box and Mrs Brown. A newly renovated studio, Body Base is breezy, light and modern, with so many cute indoor plants you’ll be inspired to start your own plant baby fam! Body Base offers all your classic Pilates classes including matwork and reformer, however spices the offering up with some newly introduced classes including a 30-minute power session (think TRX on steroids), progressive reformer (a combination of more advanced repertoire) and barre classes.

Reformed Pilates Co – Applecross

A small boutique studio that offers an intimate setting with an 8 client max, you are guaranteed personal attention from your instructor. This studio caters for all types of fitness and has specific classes for over 50’s and mums and bubs, so there’s something to suit everyone’s needs!

KX Pilates – Booragoon

KX Pilates is your one stop shop for taut tums and toned peaches! This Pilates studio follows a more a modern approach to Pilates, integrating heavier weights, cardio and advanced repertoire and is a good place to get your sweat on. You know those fancy Instagram Pilates poses? You’ll likely get to try these here. The instructors are not afraid of a challenge so why should you be?!


Pilates Centre WA – East Fremantle

Pilates Centre WA is owned by one of WA’s most senior and experienced instructors Trudy, who will put you through your paces! Classes are small here, so you will be given ample attention and the instructors are simply lovely. My tip is to try instructor Kasey’s cardio class. An ex prima ballerina for the WA ballet, she knows how to lengthen and tone like no other.

Control Pilates and Fitness – Hamilton Hill

The new kid on the block, Contrology Pilates opened in Hamilton Hill just over a year ago now, bringing the love of Pilates to Hammie Hill locals. This studio has a diverse schedule and a host of creative instructors who are not afraid to teach you Instagram style moves. Best of all the studio just got Afterpay, so now you can buy your Pilates classes in an even more budget friendly way – winning!

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7 Tips to Wake up to Better Skin

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Every new day is like turning the page on life and having a chance to refresh, re-set and start again! So, if we’re refreshing ourself, it makes sense for us to be able to refresh our skin too. Is it even possible to wake up with better skin? Well, I’m hoping my seven top tips might help you do just that!

Always Be a Barefaced Beauty

It’s the absolute golden rule that you should always, always, ALWAYS, remove your makeup before bed, yes, even after a late night out. This is with good reason. Hopping into bed without taking your full face off is a surefire way to clog up your pores and boost free radicals. This speeds up the ageing process , which is certainly NOT what you want if you’re looking for a dewy morning glow.

Pamper Yourself Ready for Beauty Sleep

Although I’ve told you above to be a barefaced beauty when you slip between the sheets, once you take off your makeup, there are a few more layers of the good stuff you should think about popping on to your face, to help you wake up with glowing skin. A nice cleanse, tone and moisturise should do the trick!

Think Smartly About What you Drink

If you do happen to be out socialising ahead of hitting the sack, make sure you’re not crawling into the sheets parched! Try soda water with fresh lime or coconut water as a mixer if you’re having alcohol, to counteract its dehydrating effects. Definitely avoid sugary, caffeinated drinks too, such as cola, fruit juices and energy drinks, as they can unsettle your sleep and leave your skin thirsty.

Nail Your Pillow Position

Did you know, your beauty sleep may actually be contributing to your wrinkles!? No word of a lie, sleep wrinkles can actually form by what is believed to be the result of the skin being pushed and pulled against the pillow, damaging skin-smoothing collagen over time. Future-proof your face by sleeping on your back – lying face down or sideways on your pillow can help cause lines to form.

Slip On a Silky Eye-Mask

Another nifty trick to avoid those dreaded face creases, while you unwittingly catch your zzzzs, is to invest in a silk eye mask! It not only blocks out the light to help you drift off, but it can also help with your skin staying crease-free by helping to prevent the pillow from being pushed into the side of the face. Plus, the silk can also soothe the skin, helping to lock in moisture and prevent visible dehydration. Amazing!

Pile the Pillows Up High

Aim to sleep with your head elevated on two pillows, as if you lie flat during your slumber fluids can pool around your eyes causing you to wake up with puffy peepers! Keeping your head elevated during the night means the fluids don’t have the opportunity to gather up, so you wake bright eyed and beautiful!

Bank Those ZZZZZZ’s

Perhaps the most obvious tip, but certainly the most crucial, is to actually get enough sleep to quantify the phrase beauty sleep in the first place. Go to bed at a decent time to ensure you lock in a good eight hours. Those that get the recommended dose of shut eye wake up with smoother, clearer skin. If you are sleep deprived, there’s a chance you’ll look pale, worn-out, and have bags under your eyes. So get into a relaxing bedtime routine, avoid screens and get ready to reap the rewards when you wake!

Contributor: Katy Rachel Moore is into all things wellness and loves to get her teeth stuck into into the latest health trends.

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Perth’s Latest & Greatest Healthy Date Night Ideas!

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It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of unhealthy (but still fun!) habits when you are in a relationship – Netflix, Uber Eats & a bottle of wine every weekend… sound familiar?
That’s why we’re here to shake things up and make date night a health-boosting experience again, at least every once in a while!

We have compiled some of our favourite fun, healthy and unique date ideas that might have you considering cancelling your Netflix subscription. (Oh who are we kidding, we could never give up Queer Eye!)

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Recipe for Love

So you’ve heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? I think that definitely goes for ladies too! So why not improve your culinary skills together by taking a cooking class?

There are a few excellent options around Perth, but some of our favourites are Taste Budds Cooking School in Highgate who offer Sophie’s Seafood Cooking School (non-vego – if that wasn’t obvious!) where Chef Sophie Budd will teach you to cook healthy pescetarian recipes like ‘Thai Fish Cakes’ and ‘Goan Fish Curry’.

If plant-based is more your style like it is ours, why not bump the health factor up a notch and try a Vegan cooking class at Salt and Company in West Perth? Even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, plant-based cooking is a great way to incorporate more variety into your repertoire, perfect for #meatfreemonday!

Cute and healthy date where you get to learn a new skill, get a little competitive over who can cook the tastiest Jackfruit taco, AND enjoy some delicious food at the end of it? Sign us up!

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Axe me on a date!

What could be more romantic than axe-throwing? Ok hear us out, this one is a little unconventional, but there is nothing like a little bit of friendly, flirty competition! Axe throwing isn’t just a sport for bearded men in flannos, it’s actually the newest trend to hit the streets of Perth, perfect for a fun night out!

And it’s the dream date night combo, whether it’s to help break you out of your relationship rut or break the ice with a new bae (#swiperight), you can enjoy a special Date Night package with the team at Maniax. Running every Friday from 8-10pm, it includes a 2-hour axe throwing session, plus 1 on 1 coaching, target practice and a tournament against other couples, all for only $100!

Plus, since it is conveniently located in Northbridge, you are only a short stroll away from bars and restaurants for when you have worked up your appetites.
For more information on Maniax Date Night, visit their website.

Bleeding Love

There is no greater feeling than being able to help people, apart from the feeling of being in love, of course! So why not combine the two and have a date night where you can truly make a difference, by making an appointment to donate blood?

You need to check whether you are able to of course (visit their website here to see the requirements!) but Australia is in desperate need of donor blood and it literally takes less than 30 minutes, and barely hurts at all! Plus, the warm, fuzzy feeling, and the great karma you will receive make it all worth it.

The Perth CBD donor centre is centrally located in 140 Perth (just behind the Perth Underground train station) and is surrounded by great food options, so you can truly make a date of it and head out for a bite to eat after you donate (just make sure you skip the drinks!).

Make an appointment here.

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Be More Flexible

Whether you’re a regular yogi, or you don’t know your downward dog from your Warrior II , there are a million reason why you should try yoga on your next date! Okay, so we don’t have time to list the full million reasons, but we have three very good reasons why practicing yoga with your significant other can help improve your relationship.

♥ Stress less – Yoga has been proven to help ease stress and lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It has also been proven to help relieve anxiety.
♥ Smarten up – Studies have shown that yoga can actually improve your brain’s ability to think more quickly and accurately – meaning you might be less likely to say the wrong thing when your partner is grumpy!
♥ Flexibility – Yoga can increase your flexibility… ummm… need we say more?! 😉

Our favourite new spot for yoga classes is Yab Yum Yoga studio, located in Victoria Park and their brand new inner city studio! Choose from a range of classes including Slow Flow, Deep House Vinyasa, or Restore and Align. Check out their website and timetables to book in your next class!

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

If you are after something that is a bit more low-key, then strap on your runners and slap on some sunscreen because we know the most romantic hiking trail in Perth.
Ellis Brook Valley is located in Martin, just minutes from Gosnells town centre and is one of the richest wildflower locations in Perth. What could be more romantic than spending your day wandering through stunning wildflowers and amazing views? There is also a huge array of wildlife in the area, so you might even spot an eagle or kangaroo!



There are a couple of easy trails to choose from, ranging from 430 meters to 2.8 km’s, but for those after a bit more of a challenge, try the Sixty Foot Falls Circuit which is a 2 kilometre loop that reaches to top of the stunning Sixty Foot Falls waterfall, giving a jaw-dropping view of the valley and Perth City beyond.

Click here for directions.

So not matter if you have chosen to follow some of our ideas, or if this has sparked your own idea for a fun activity for your next date, we know that you can wave bye-bye to Netflix for a while! (At least until the next season of Queer Eye drops!)

If you do follow any of our ideas, make sure you tell us! Tag #wellnesswa on your social pics or leave us a comment!

Be well,

xoxo

Leah is a freelance content creator from Perth who loves her dog, trying weird fitness trends, beach days and avocado toast. Follow her Instagram @leahonthedoor

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