7 Tried & Tested Ways to Get Glowing by Tomorrow!

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Feeling a little dull? Lost that sparkle in your eye? We live in a fast-paced world where stress can get the better of us, sleep is not a priority, we’re stuck in air-conned offices or exposed to harsh sunny rays and all of that can cause us to lose that ethereal radiance from within. Check out these simple ways you can wake up with an island holiday glow.

1. Sip on a mug of warm lemon water

There’s a reason so many health-conscious celebs choose to wake up in the morning by drinking a mug of warm lemon water – it’s amazing for skin, energy and digestion! Hydration is super important for our circulation and skin elasticity, so any extra water you can sneak into your day is going to do great things for your bod. While lemon juice is acidic, when it gets into your digestive system, it actually has the opposite effect and is alkalising. This helps ensure our tummies don’t secrete too much or too little hydrochloric acid (which is what happens when we eat so we can break down food) and in turn, makes digestion a treat. Happy guts = happy skin! It’s a great little habit to get into to refresh your body in the morning, and perhaps replace any habits that could be exacerbating any dullness in your mind or body (I’m looking at you, coffee).

How: Just squeeze half a lemon into a mug, fill halfway with cold water, then the rest with boiling water.

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2. Get some antioxidants in for breakfast

Smoothies are not only easy to digest, but they’re great to get some fresh, green goodness in before you’ve even left the house. For a summery combo full of antioxidants and hydrating veg, try this green smoothie recipe:

♥ 1 Lebanese cucumber
♥ Big handful of spinach
♥ 1 cup frozen blueberries
♥ Half a lemon.

For an extra fresh hit, add a few mint leaves and for a creamy texture and a dose of healthy skin-loving essential fatty acids, add half an avocado.

How: Simply blitz, pour and drink! If you find you get hungry if you just have a smoothie for breakfast, try chewing on a small handful of raw nuts before your smoothie. The chewing action prepares your stomach to digest your smoothie slowly, and the fats and fibre from the nuts will help keep you satiated.

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3. Get those fats in

It was the scam of the last century and we’re still getting over the hangover of being told fat makes us fat – avoid at all cost! The truth is, healthy fats are literally essential for our bodies to function optimally, but more importantly (right?), for our skin to ooze radiance.

Our cell walls are made of fats (as are our hormones, which can influence skin breakouts amongst other things if we don’t look after them), so it’s important to keep our bodies happy with a regular fat intake.

How: Try to work any of these foods into your daily diet: raw nuts, avocado, olive oil, raw seeds, eggs, coconut oil/milk/cream/flakes.

♥ Sodashi Brightening Marine Mineral Mask – $120

4. Treat your skin to a natural, nourishing mask and moisturiser

Topical treatments are the cherry on the cake when it comes to your skin. Clear, glowing complexions are built from good lifestyle and diet choices, but skincare adds a little extra somethin’ somethin’. We love brands that are completely natural with amazing active ingredients designed to completely nourish your skin.

How: Once or twice a week, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, pat dry and slather on a face mask rich in glow-inducing ingredients (we love Sodashi’s Brightening Marine Mineral Mask because it’s packed with revitalising phytonutrients and detoxifying marine minerals). Leave on as directed, rinse and follow up with a rich and creamy moisturiser (Mukti Organics makes a fantastic Marigold Hydrating Crème which my skin just DRINKS UP!).

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5. Fall asleep before 11pm

In the sleep world, 11pm is the golden hour after which the magic happens. Those who fall asleep before 11pm tend to have more restful, restorative sleeps than those who fall asleep after 11pm. Plus, the earlier hours of the night are typically when we have deeper, restorative non-REM sleep and shifts to lighter, dream-filled REM sleep as the night wears on (and this shift occurs during the night regardless of when we go to sleep because #circadianrhythms). Hitting the hay early means more deep sleep and a fresher face in the morning thanks to the opportunity you’ve given your body to repair and refresh itself.

How: Dim the lights or go tech-free at least an hour before bed to stimulate melatonin production and wriggle into bed when you start getting sleepy. Oh, and leave your phone on the other side of the room (your Insta feed will still be there in the morning).

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6. Lavender is not just for old ladies

If you struggle to get to sleep, particularly with an active mind, try brain dumping your thoughts into a cute journal and then spritzing some lavender essential oil on your pillow. Lavender is amazing for de-stressing and cueing our bodies to relax and unwind. Plus, it smells amazing! It’s like a lullaby for our brains and when we’re not wired, we get a deeper sleep. Goodbye under-eye bags!

How: Grab a mini spray bottle from the travel section in your local chemist and fill with water or rose water with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Keep next to your bed and mist liberally before you hop into bed.

♥ Go-To Skincare Face Case – $65

7. Cotton on to a silk pillowcase

They’ve been on the health and beauty radar a lot recently, but silk pillowcases do really stand up to the hype. If you’re one who suffers from pillowcase wrinkles (“crease-face”) in the mornings, you’ll love resting your head on silk case. The natural fabric is gentle on your face, shifting with your skin rather than causing friction and wrinkle marks. It’s breathable, which also means it’s less likely to harbour bacteria that can cause or aggravate acne, and won’t absorb skincare like cotton, allowing your skin to reap the most benefit from your products. Added bonus for those of us in the messy-bun-to-bed club – silk pillowcases have a lot more slip and less friction than cotton, so your hair won’t pull or tangle as much as you sleep.

How: There are lots of brands to choose from these days, but be sure to buy a 100% natural silk pillowcase. Our pick is the Go-To Skincare Face Case which is all kinds of cute, and the perfect gift!

Try these tips today and let us know how you go!

What are your favourite tips for glowing skin ASAP? Leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!

Be well,

Gemma & Annette

xoxo

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Gettin’ Sweaty: A Month of Infrared Sauna Treatments at Kardia Skin & Body (Tuart Hill, Perth)

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When I was little, I absolutely LOVED Winter. Give me cloudy, chilly, rainy weather any day and I was happy as a lamb. These days I’m basically cold-blooded and love Summer, sunshine, heaters on at all times, 6 blankets on the bed and 4+ cups of hot tea a day. Bliss.

If this sounds like you, you’re going to love what I share with you next. What if there was a way that you could get ridiculously glowing skin, a little bit of sweaty cardio, a little bit of detox and a lot of delicious toasty warm heat that is doing a tonne of other good things for your body at the same time?

You can! And this is where an Infrared Sauna comes in. For a really quick rundown – an Infrared Sauna is said to heat you up from the body’s core, rather than heat the air around you like a traditional sauna. That’s why the air feels totally different in your Infrared box – it actually feels really gentle and cosy rather than the super intense heat of your gym’s sauna.

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A friend introduced me to the owner of a new beauty & skincare clinic in Tuart Hill, Natasha from Kardia Skin & Body, who uses an Infrared Sauna daily and offers sessions in her clinic. Natasha is absolutely stunning & if she says a sauna helps her get that way, then sign me up!

I decided to book in for a month’s worth of sauna treatments, approximately 3-4 per week, and cross my fingers that my skin could look as glowing as Natasha’s after that amount of time. What follows is my week by week account of my road to glow.

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Week 1:

I’m sooo excited to be starting my detox, relax & glow program at Kardia tonight! I personally receive SO many benefits from just one session – ultra glowing skin, a deep sense of relaxation & a positive and joyful mindset are my top results! Hoping to multiply these results with ongoing sessions, stay tuned! ??✨

This home salon/wellness studio has to be seen to be believed – absolutely stunning & you feel peaceful as soon as you step inside the doors. There’s soft towels, flowers, Doterra oils, and an amazing filtered & alkalising water machine to keep you hydrated pre & post sauna – loving this!

Week 2:

My body is feeling great after all the sauna sessions so far, another positive benefit is that I’m recovering quicker from my workouts which is a bonus. I can really see how including an infrared sauna as part of my wellness routine could create optimal results.

I accidentally ate some icecream and had a mega breakout – NOOOO! I’m back in the sauna trying to sweat out my sins. Natasha gives me a sample vial of a product that she uses in her facials that should help “dissolve” the zit, I give it a go that night and it definitely helps.

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Week 3:

I’ve been busy at work and come down with a cold, I’ve also just been offered a three day juice cleanse with Pure Glow Cleanse. It’s actually the perfect time for this as I don’t feel like eating and hopefully it will enhance the benefits of my saunas! There’s an activated charcoal juice and this is my favourite to drink while sweating it out. It’s so good!

My favourite part of being in the infrared box is after about 10 minutes of relaxing in there, when the sweat starts to kick in and my skin is tinged with a sweaty glow. Love it.

Week 4:

Even my elbow is sweating today.

While this wasn’t something I was looking for, I’ve lost 2 kilos from a combination of travelling recently (Sri Lanka!), saunas, juice cleanse & maybe my cold. I’m looking forward to keeping it off as my stomach is looking pretty flat right now and I feel great.

One of my biggest tips is to keep SUPER hydrated before and after the sauna so you can 1) sweat it out with ease, if you’re not hydrated enough the body will try harder to hold onto the water, 2) replenish the h20 that you lose during the session.

I’ve found my time in the sauna to be, at times, deeply reflective. With nothing but your sweat to keep you company, each new drop seems to bring with it a fresh contemplation: Is “glamping” something I should consider doing? How many frogs live within a 1km radius of my house? How can I figure out and achieve my deepest goals in life? The thoughts are coming thick and fast, with no rhyme or reason to many of them. I let them come and go as they please.

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End result?

Toxins begone, glow be mine ??? I really saw the compounded benefits after my 4 weeks of session at Kardia, especially when I added on the 3-day cleanse in the middle. I haven’t had any breakouts, my skin is noticeably clearer and glowier despite being sick and I’m feeling FANTASTIC. I would recommend this to anyone.

How many times a week should you go? It really depends on you and your schedule. Basically, the more the merrier and the quicker you’ll get your glowy results. But if all you can squeeze in is once a week or fortnight then you’ll see more gradual benefits.

Lets chat about infrared saunas, have you had one before? Would you like to try it? Leave a comment below!

Sessions provided by Kardia Skin & Body for review consideration. All views are honest & my own.

Be well,

xoxo

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Where to Get Watermelon Jerky in Perth?

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Let’s face it, beef jerky kinda sucks, and up until now there hasn’t been an option available for plant eaters who are keen to get their teeth into something spicy, chewy and delicious without splashing out on exy dehydrators. Enter pre-packaged Watermelon Jerky from Pure Glow Cleanse.

This stuff is so delicious that you’ll want to make sure you buy more than one packet at a time, because your first one will definitely be inhaled quicker than you can say “Watermelon jerky CHANGED MY LIFE, baby”.

With just 3 simple ingredients, watermelon, lime juice & cayenne pepper, it’s a a snack you can feel good about and even eat everyday if you wanted to. Hop to it!

Have you tried watermelon jerky before? Is there anyone else dishing out this delicious vegan delicacy in Perth? Let me know in the comments below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost, QSilica Cleanser, Exfoliating Swipeys + Kosmea Rosehip Oil.

Lately I’ve been getting into a whole range of new skincare products which have been rocking my world, so this edition of Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes is solely dedicated to all things skin!

♥ @thebeautychef

♥ Carla Oates Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost

I’m a HUGE fan of the concept of ‘internal skincare’, and Carla Oates is all about it too. Her catchphrase “beauty begins in the belly” resonates with me, and is a nod to the exciting new research into the effect of probiotics and gut health on all systems of the body – including the quality of our skin.

Antioxidant Inner Beauty Boost tastes fantastic and is PACKED full of probiotics, antioxidants and other goodies. I’ve just started to include a tablespoon per day in a glass of filtered water. I definitely feel that when I take this beauty elixir I’m helping to give my skin & body what it needs to thrive and can’t wait to see the long term results of taking it daily! As an added bonus it’s really good for your digestion too.

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♥ Qsilica Naturally Clear Skin Cleanser

I’ve been using this product for a couple months now and I have to say, this is a really good cleanser! My skin never feels too dry / too oily / stripped afterwards. It just feels soft, dewy and perfectly cleansed. For me, this cleanser doesn’t stop most breakouts, my skin is mostly affected by what I eat and drink – so it wont prevent a breakout if I’ve “accidentally” consumed half a block of Whittakers Coconut Chocolate and 3 ciders, but it does stop any pesky little spots caused by “accidentally” falling asleep in my makeup. And it makes my skin feel amazing regardless, so I will continue to use it while I pray that coconut chocolate becomes a thing of the past so that I’m not regularly tempted by it (probably not going to happen).

♥ @gotoskincare

♥ Exfoliating Swipeys by Go-to-Skincare

This product. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways! I’ve been following skincare saviour and all round quirky gal Zoe Foster Blake since her days penning her first blog, Fruity Beauty. She’s the ultimate “it’s totally okay to be kinda weird but also cool girl”, and for a while now she’s been killing it with her own beauty range, Go-to-Skincare.

There are a number of pretty special products, but the Exfoliating Swipeys are my DEAD SET FAVOURITE!

First, the name. Very good. Next, the results. Also very good. Each swipey, which is a little cotton pad, is full to the brim with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) and gently dissolves dead skin cells, unclogs pores, refines skin and generally just makes your skin totally ace. I like to use mine in the shower after cleansing, I get swipey on my face and then do other showery things for a minute while keeping my face away from the water so the AHA’s don’t wash off. After 60 seconds you can rinse away to your hearts content.

The best thing to do afterwards is massage 4 drops of rosehip oil – Kosmea is my current favourite – into your skin, wait 10 minutes and then apply Very Useful Face Cream, which is another Go-to-Skincare prod. My best advice is to do this right before bed, get a long snooze in, and then wake up to incredible, glowy skin that you’ll really want to touch (but you shouldn’t!)

SO! Those are my current recommendations. Like it? Lump it? Leave a comment below and let me know! Xo

Be well,

Annette

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Taline Gabrielian’s Secret to Seriously Glowing Skin.

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If you haven’t heard of Taline Gabrielian yet, you’re in for a real treat. This gorgeous babe has one of the prettiest Instagram’s I’ve EVER seen, and the best part is it’s all super-healthy food related. Win. From rainbow superfood toasts, star studded rice paper rolls & smoothie bowls to make your mouth water, Taline has got it goin ON. And she’s just released her first recipe book so that us mere food mortals can get in on the brightly coloured superhealth action.

Here are three of Taline’s top tips for looking & feeling your very best – enjoy!

♥ Instagram: @talinegabriel

1. What is your top smoothie recipe for glowing skin?

My fave green smoothie has all that you need for glory skin – lime, avocado, ginger, cucumber and leafy greens. Nourishing, tasty and beauty boosting – the right combination.

♥ Instagram: @talinegabriel

2. You have a SUPER busy day ahead, what meals/morning practices do you make sure to squeeze in so that you can make the most out of your day?

Organisation is key. I will often start with a power smoothie in the morning (my blueberry smoothie is a powerhouse!) to give me energy to get through my day. I pack myself snacks like nuts and fruit or a carrot muffin if I have one on hand. And I often prep ingredients for dinner in the morning so that when I’m home after work, it simply involves a throw together of pre-cut veg. Pre-cooking quinoa or pasta is also really handy.

♥ Instagram: @talinegabrielian

3. How do you wind down after a long day?

I’m all about grazing with my family or besties to wind down and sometimes that will involve some sparkly drinks, olives and my snack platter – which includes some super tasty flax crackers I make (recipe in my new book!) and a variety of colourful dips. Other times, when I want some quiet me-time, it’s a candlelit bath, some loungy tunes and a warming spicy chai latte. My favourite ritual!

Thanks Taline! If you want to find out more you can follow her on Instagram, or check out Hippie Lane – The Cookbook and you’ll be whipping up beautiful and incredibly healthy food in no time!

Be well,

xoxo

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