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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on June 12, 2012
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Beauty & wellbeing crushes is BACK, and this time I have some superb treats to share with you. Let’s dive straight in!
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♥ Sodashi Brightening Marine Mineral Face Mask – $110
If you’re craving softer, brighter, plumper skin, then this new mask from Sodashi is hard to look past. Any day that a Sodashi package shows up in the mail is a good day, and this mask takes the cake in terms of excellent results! It’s one of those products that will make you want to endlessly touch your skin after you’ve washed it off due to how silky it’ll be feeling. Yum!
I’ve been using this prior to any big event (Going out to dinner with friends… I’m taking liberties with the terms ‘big’ and ‘event’ here!) and loving the results. Contains seaweed, spirulina, several varieties of clay and rosewood oil. Radiance almost guaranteed 🙂 Available from Peachy Clean.
♥ Random picture of Miranda Kerr for no other reason than she looks much better in gym wear than I do!
♥ Joining the Gym
I have been enjoying the gym SO MUCH since joining and noticing lots of small and exciting changes in my body! There are some fantastic yoga classes, and the equipment is top notch. I have started a light weights routine to try and gain some strength and put on a touch of weight, as well as doing lots of hill walking (for calf definition) and even a few sauna and steam room stints – which are resulting in some seriously glowy skin afterwards! I’m excited to continue on and develop my muscles & peace of mind. It’s been a great decision and I’m loving getting back into it 🙂
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♥ Grown Haircare
I was recently sent a few samples from Grown to test out, I love their ethos of ‘Botanical Beauty‘ and I’m very much enjoying the Damask Rose, Chamomile and Lavender Stem Conditioner in particular. The shampoo smells great, but I find my hair needs quite a lot of it to get the smooth clean feeling that I’m usually after. That said, my hair is a difficult beast, so I’d recommend both of these to anyone to give a go if you’re looking to give silicone-free haircare a go. Plus the bottles look just gorgeous in the shower!
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♥ Mecca Lit From Within – $40
I’m all for naturally derived glowing skin (think green smoothies, tonnes of water, exercise, steam rooms and rosehip oil), but sometimes we need a little extra help. And lately for me, there has been a LOT of extra help needed. I’m blaming the change of seasons!
If this sounds like you then FEAR. NOT. I’ve been mixing Mecca’s Lit From Within into my foundation/tinted moisturiser combo and have been receiving a lot of compliments on my skin since doing so. You can do this, and then also use an extra bit to highlight certain areas of your face to give it even more of a glow. I am really, really diggin this. My only qualm is that it contains carmine, which is a dried, ground up insect (sometimes this stuff is even found in yoghurt!), so I would much prefer to find a highlighter which doesn’t contain it. However it is doing some wonderful things for me at the moment, so I am putting up with the beetles until further notice! Leave me a comment if you have any alternative suggestions!
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♥ Cheeki Water Bottle/Smoothie Transportation Device
I was lucky enough to be sent a Cheeki stainless steel water bottle to trial recently, it came at the perfect time, as I was searching for something that could safely transport my green smoothies on the journey from my apartment, through the perils of public transport and the walk to school. This kid did the trick!
For ages I’d been using dodgy old water and juice bottles to cart around my morning smoothie extras, but they were always too small and sometimes leaked. Not the best. I’m super happy with my new stainless steel bottle and can’t believe it took me so long to try one out, I use it every day at school & at the gym and it inspires me to drink lots more water too. Love + recommend it! I preferred a the plain silver version, but Cheeki has a range of more colourful options too!
QUESTION TIME! Do you use a stainless steel water bottle? What mask are you currently loving? Recently joined the gym too? Recommendation for a carmine free highlighter? Talk to me about it below! 🙂
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Products, Reviews, Wellness Tips | 
8 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 28, 2012
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
My bio reads something like this: Freelance beauty editor in charge of the beauty pages of Good Health magazine; PRIMPED.com.au contributor; proud creator of The Happiness Cocktail; health and wellness whiz; incessant tweeter; lover of pinning. My real life reads something like this: All of the above plus a loving wife to the world’s most amazing man; international happiness seeker; adorer of family, friends and all things furry; mad cook.
♥ Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation available on StrawberryNET
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I do try as many beauty products as possible so that I can honestly talk to my readers and share my opinion, rather than play make-believe. But right now I start the day with shu uemura mamachiyo skin purifier cleansing oil, Dr. Spiller Aloe Sensitive Cleansing Milk and QV Daily Moisturiser. I then apply sunscreen (I like Invisible Zinc), a mixture of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundations, creme blush, mascara, and eye shadow (my current obsession is Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Tortoise Shell Palette. It’s amazing!). At night I remove all my makeup with the shu cleansing oil and Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover, before cleansing again, and popping on Dr. Spiller Sensitive Beauty Night Cream and an eye cream. Phew! It never seems that much when I’m doing it, but looking back…
♥ Siam Cabana
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
It’s a toss up between a facial and a massage. I love the Omnilux Light Therapy Treatments that come with the Priori Facials I get done at the Spa Universe headquarters in Sydney. If you want to try one, give them a call and they’ll let you know where the nearest salon to you is. For a quick weekend unwind, my husband and I go to Siam Cabana in Bondi for Thai Massages. If I’m really suffering from stiff neck syndrome, I head to Glenn Walmsley in Double Bay for some myotherapy – he is a magician.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Unfortunately I’ve never been to Perth, but in Sydney I’ve been blessed with some great hairdressers. Brad Ngata and Barney Martin are both wonderful, as well as Hamish Glianos from PEOPLE Hairdresser in Surry Hills. If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend Suzie from Sudu Hair in Sydney. Super high quality without the price tag. WIN!
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
You really can’t beat a strawberry, honey and oat mask made in your kitchen and slapped on your skin. It’s a super quick way to temporarily add zing to your skin, and best of all, it’s chemical-free.
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
My electric toothbrush – dental hygiene is so important. My eve lom lip balm. Bronzer. Of any variety.
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking/feeling great?
It’s not all that secret now that I blog on The Happiness Cocktail, but I am a firm believer in feeding your skin from the inside out. So, I follow a wholefood diet with lots of fruit and veggies (plus whole grains and high quality meat), try to eat a large amount of raw as well as cooked food, and keep my system alkaline by drinking barley grass and wheat grass everyday. I also love liquid chlorophyll and young baby coconut juice. YUM!
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
Ha! This is a tough one because I have tried so many of them. Oh wait, I’d love to dive into a freezing pool in the Swiss Alps like they did on The Biggest Loser. That looked so, erm, refreshing. No seriously, it looked kind of wild.
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Wake up to a glass of wheat grass powder and water before sitting down to green tea. I then have a bowl of fruit with nuts. About an hour or two later I’ll have a small bowl of muesli, then have lunch (lots of greens), snack if I’m hungry, then dinner (more greens, and protein, and yumminess), elegantly finished off with couple of pieces of dark chocolate (for being so good).
♥ Beautiful Centennial Park
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
It varies. Constantly. I live in a suburb called Centennial Park which, as the name suggests, is a giant park in the middle of Sydney. It would be sacrilege to live so close and not utilise it, so I’m often seen walking or running around there. I also do boxing with my best mate, yoga, and keep my mind fit through meditation.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I know it’s super controversial but I get colonic hydrotherapy every now and then. I’ve done my research and I go to an amazing place with well-trained staff who know exactly what they’re doing, and it makes me spring out of bed and have whiter-than-white eyes. It works for me. I also do a 3-day juice cleanse maybe twice a year, and meditate as much as I possibly can. On top of that I take Omega 3 supplements and a probiotic.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Meditation is an obvious one for me, but I’m also blessed with a husband who is incredibly calm and lovely, so just being around him instantly makes me feel like everything is going to be OK. I love catching up with friends over a few glasses of red, playing with my 3 month old niece, laughing LOTS and planning holidays – because what’s life without an adventure in the pipeline?
A million and one thanks to Yaz for sharing her beauty & wellbeing routine with us today! I feel super privileged as she has been one of my ‘blogging idols’ for some time. If you have any questions for her please leave them below and make sure you check out The Happiness Cocktail for lots of yummy inspiration!
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Interviews, Wellness Tips | 5 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 21, 2012
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Relauncher is a luxe online health, beauty & lifestyle destination with handpicked products & services, all in the essence of looking and feeling your best, and it just so happens that we have TWO $40 vouchers up for grabs to spend on anything in their online store. Aren’t we good to you?!
Relauncher also feature Sydney-based services – ideal for those visiting and unsure where to get their hair done / facial / makeup for a special event / visit a yoga guru / shopping with a personal stylist who will take them to the best places within their budget rather than wasting time trying to work out where to go themselves…
Annette’s Top Picks
If I was able to win the voucher, which unfortunately I’m not (I don’t think that would be fair!), I’d be preeeeetty happy with any of the following gorgeous little morsels:
♥ Parakeet Drink Bottle – $21.95
ABSOLUTE BLISS IN A STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE. I am very enamoured with this one, in case you couldn’t tell. Cutest way to cart around your green smoothie with you that I’ve ever seen 🙂
♥ Still Your Mind Meditation Blanket – $87.95
Not much to say but – YUM. These cosy blankets are a great way to stay warm in winter and add a touch of the deluxe to your yoga practice.
♥ The Muesli – Gluten Free Version – From $19.50
An absolutely delicious sounding muesli, which is high in healthy fats and extremely low in sugar. I’m going to make sure I try some of this soon, as it sounds absolutely perfect for winter mornings when you need to fuel up without getting a sugar rush.
♥ HURRAW! Balm in Black Cherry – $6.95
With a weakness for all things cherry, this all-natural, organic, fair trade, certified vegan lip balm is RIGHT up my alley! And did you see all those good-for-you things it has going for it? The best part is that if you win, and lip balms are your thing, you can get a HEAP for $40!
So now it’s your turn…
TO WIN: Make sure you’re a fan of Wellness WA on Facebook and head over to the Relauncher shop and let me know what you’d spend the $40 voucher on if you won, there’s 2 chances to win and just by leaving a comment with what you’d choose, you’re in with a chance! Hop to it! 🙂
Winner drawn 4th June 2012.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Other | 49 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 17, 2012
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
Bonjeezy! I’m a 20-something Sydney girl, but I’m currently kicking it in Fremantle. By day I’m a freelance writer/marketing maestro/blogger/student, and by night I am still those things but a very lazy one.
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I have quite sensitive, acne-prone skin which flares up when I stress out/wear too much makeup/on days ending in ‘y’, so I only use Corynne’s Natural Soap bars to cleanse my skin. They’re nice and gentle, and they lather up really, really well. And they’re only like $3.50. Score! I usually follow up with a magical potion called Witch Hazel, followed by Corynne’s Light and Refreshing Moisturiser. You can buy them online and at Fremantle Markets.
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Head Studio on King Street in Perth. The girls there are absolute prodigies and are also very good looking. It’s a bit of toughie to find a hairdresser who knows how to do balayage properly, they usually just apply a few foils and you walk out stripey. Not a cool look. Not only do the girls at Head Studio actually know how to do balayage, but they’re super personable, professional, hardcore stylish, and are also good conversationalists. The studio is also tres chic and it’s very cool that you can watch movies up the back when they’re washing your hair. Did I mention they give you free tea?
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
I have to say I’m a big fan of DIY treatments. I like to steam my face by boiling some water and sitting over a gigantic bowl with a towel over my head for a few minutes to open up my pores. I then apply Corynne’s Glorious Mud Mask for sensitive skin and like to scare my flat mates by hiding behind doors. It’s the most amazing mud mask I’ve ever used, and it’s only like $12 and lasts for months and months.
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Nude Mineral Foundation FTW. I will sing to high heaven the praises of this little powdery gem. My skin is so oily I’ve had calls from American Presidents, so I try to avoid liquid based foundations. Nude products definitely helped me appear a little less like a hormonal teenager. I’m still having a battle with my skin, but Mineral Foundation is a lot more gentle.
I also love a really bold lippie, and wear either bright pinks or reds on any given day. Revlon does a few wham-bam shades which I alternate between, like Love That Pink, Blasé Apricot, Revlon Red and Hot Coral.
Finally, a good blush is a must! Makes you look all sprightly. My favourite is Lotus by Clinique. It’s the perfect shade of pink and makes me feel all girly and youthful. Available from StrawberryNET.
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
If I’m feeling a bit crap-tastic I hit the gym and sweat out all that bad energy. I feel zippa-dee-do-da afterwards and can’t recommend a good cardio session enough. I also got into meditation last year. It’s super hard at first to quiet your mind and I definitely had a few foot stamping moments, but it’s proven to be highly beneficial for my stress levels. I recommend listen to The Mediation Podcast or Meditation Oasis for some guided meditations to start with.
♥ Gabrielle Bernstein
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
There are a million things I’m yet to try but as I’m a student I can’t exactly prioritise a week long Yoga trip to Ubud, nor can I really say Acupuncture is affordable for myself. I’d have to say that on the top of my list would be attending any event hosted by Gabrielle Bernstein, particularly her upcoming workshop in Kripalu. She’s a motivational speaker and if it weren’t biologically impossible I’d have all of her babies.
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Friends and family would describe my eating as borderline fanatical when it comes to health foods. And it’s true – I spend a lot of money of healthy food. But I figure, I’ve only got one body so I don’t want to stick crap in it. I’ve been vegan for 5 years now which occasionally freaks people out, but I’ve honestly never felt as healthy as I do now. I always make sure I take my multi-vitamins and get enough iron and b12. Unfortunately, I’m gluten-intolerant which is super sucky! However, lots of places now sell gluten-free products so I’m finding grocery shopping a little less of a marathon.
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I like to start the day with an Acai smoothie because it’s got so many vitamins and minerals in it, I feel like wonder woman afterwards and basically destroy my to-do list with laser beams of productivity. I used to be a maniacal caffeine addict, but I’ve cut back and will only have one a few hours after I’ve eaten. Lunch is usually a mega salad of some sort, full of beans, root vegetables, leafy greens, button mushrooms, tomatoes and a deliciously creamy Tahini dressing.
At the moment I’m on a Moroccan kick, so my dinners are full of lots of tomatoes, beans, eggplant, oranges and lots of spices.
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
My exercise routine used to be a whole lot more consistent than what it is now, but being a major multi-tasking vixen that I am, I kind of have to prioritise work, study and relationships nowadays. I really envy myself two years ago when I had the time to go to the gym every day, but at the moment I only find time for two gym sessions a week. I do cycle to and from work a few days a week though, and because I don’t drive I do a lot of walking. I also had an injury last year which has limited my exercise quite significantly, so I stick to low impact exercise such as rowing, cycling, walking and swimming.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I see a naturopath quite often for a few digestive issues I’ve been having. I know there’s a lot of skepticism surrounding naturopathy, but I can only speak from personal experience when I say that NatMed in East Fremantle has made my body sing a happy tune for the past few months. I don’t of course recommend seeing them for everything little ailment you have. I treat naturopathy as a form of complimentary medicine, because it is quite expensive and can’t cure everything.
I also take spirulina when feeling low on energy, and always have my daily dose of Floradix with my breakfast.
♥ Black Cherries Espresso
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I’m a huge fan of dilly-dallying. If I can sleep in I will, and I love the days when I can take my time to pop into Fremantle markets, grab a coffee from Black Cherries Espresso, read a magazine and people watch. I also find that burning some sweet smelling incense does a frazzled lass a world of good.
Thanks Camilla! If you have any questions about Camilla’s wellbeing routine, comment below!
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Interviews, Wellness Tips | 6 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 1, 2012
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Pilates is a series of over 500 exercises, both mat and equipment based, inspired by calisthenics, yoga and ballet. It was initially introduced into America in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates to assist athletes and dancers to safely exercise and maintain their fitness when rehabilitating injuries.
It is a system that enables tailoring and adaptation to individual requirements, both mental and physical, to ensure that the body is working in harmony: the specific focus is on abdominal strength and muscular activation, and coordination of breathing with movement.
A common question I hear is: what’s better for me, yoga or pilates? And the answer is, both are fantastic, in different ways. It will depend on what you need from your practice right now. If you are rehabilitating an injury or really in need of building abdominal strength and stabilisation through the core, commit to a regular pilates practice. There is no reason you cannot also do yoga – the body loves variety in movement and thought!
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Top Ten Reasons to Commit to Pilates
♥ 1. Improved stabilisation of the spine: consider how much impact you put on your spine through poor posture, twisting, bending, lifting heavy objects (this includes children!), poor running technique…to name but a few sins against the spine
♥ 2. Improved flexibility
♥ 3. Relaxation of the muscles through the neck, back and shoulders through improved postural awareness
♥ 4. Improved physical coordination and balance
♥ 5. Lengthens and stretches the muscles – through body weight and light weight resistance, there is an increase in muscular and bone strength
♥ 6. Time to focus on breath, movement and how the body feels
♥ 7. Improved proprioception (awareness of your body in space)
♥ 8. Released tension in the body equals a less tense and anxious mind!
♥ 9. Engages the mind throughout practice – no time to dwell on the outside world or get restless!
♥ 10. Learning to breathe in the pilates style (inhaling through the nose to fill the back and sides of the ribcage and exhaling through the mouth while bracing the abdominals) oxygenates the blood and increases energy and alertness
ED: Hopefully this has inspired you to get into some Pilates! Check out RENZ Pilates, PFIWA, Perth Pilates Studio & Sense of Space Pilates for some Perth Pilates options! x
Article by Cat Woods (http://catcore.blogspot.com; http://pinterest.com/catcore), Melbourne Pilates teacher (so check her out if you ever go for a holiday!)
Posted in Other | Comments Off on The Top 10 Benefits of Pilates!
