Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Lisa and Candice from My Kitchen Rules!

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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

We are a Mother and Daughter team representing WA on the television show My Kitchen Rules for 2013. We grew up in the Southwest and have been cooking for our family and friends our whole lives using fresh, homegrown produce.

We enjoy a healthy lifestyle of going to the gym together, cooking our own healthy versions of restaurant meals and shopping, where we source out mix and match outfits for our cooking demonstrations! We love vivid colours such as reds, yellows, sapphire blue and coral and create outfits that compliment us together as a mother daughter duo. (Sometimes we accidently buy the same outfits!)

Mum and I are both High School teachers of Information Technology and mum teaches voice and is a trained singer and I teach dance, piano and am a trained Flamenco Dancer. Mum and I have put on a number of shows in which mum sings, I dance and our family accompany on musical instruments. Our last show was a fundraiser called “Flamenco Love” a cabaret style performance in which audience members watched our live performance while sipping on Sangria! Mum and I have both been crowned “Busselton Festival Queen” as a part of the Festival of Busselton.

We are currently working on a project that involves healthy gourmet cooking demonstrations with a twist “Themed Cooking Demo's with a Difference”! We are developing shows in which we chose a theme. say “Spanish”, then we hold a cooking demonstration on that theme such as Healthy Paella and then mum will sing a little bit of Spanish and I will Flamenco dance! So a cooking demo with a bit of a performance attached!

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

Exercise, healthy meals, singing and dancing, laughter and plenty of water is our beauty routine! We also like to use Dove body wash instead of soap and make sure to remove all makeup before going to sleep!

♥ What's the one beauty treatment you can't live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

Mum and I like to get together and give each other pedicures and manicures while we have a good catchup!

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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why? Regular trips to our favourite hairdressers at “Hair Freedom” in North Perth is a treat! The guys there really know how to deal with curly hair! We send the whole family there!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Mum bought me a Shellac nail kit for my birthday now we shellac our nails all the time!

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

Both Candice and I cannot live without Max Factor “Miracle Tough” foundation in Natural, Garnier Roll-on “Anti-dark circles” stick, Maybelline “The Falsies” mascara!! I also want to mention that I am a fan of Estee Lauder “Resiliance Lift”.

♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

We follow a nutritious and healthy diet which limits carbs, fats and sugars, we are currently working on creating our own cooking demonstrations in which we show people how to cook gourmet meals healthily (such as reducing fats and sugars and using healthy alternatives). We want to teach and create an awareness to people that you can still have tasty gourmet restaurant meals that are healthy. We also exercise regularly and drink lots of water! Spending time with family and friends is really important to us and for our well-being! Our little silky terrier dog “Shibbi” also is our de-stressor!

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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven't yet?

Candice and I would love to spend a day at an organic beauty spa!

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

Candice and I follow a healthy protein and veggie style diet which consists of Oatbran porridge or pancakes for breakfast, lunch of quark, cottage cheese, tuna, healthy meats and salad. We both love Beef Carpaccio, fish ceviche and fresh Japanese cuisine! We love Aussie BBQ's with rump steak, marinated chicken, our “prawn and mushroom cassoulet”, fish with herbs and lemon and the occasional lamb cutlet served with fresh salad, vegies from our family gardens finished with yoghurt, fruit or homemade lemon sorbet! Mum and I drink lots of water, herbal teas and skim milk smoothies! And always avoid processed foods!

♥ Our dog Shibbi!

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

Mum and I attend the gym as much as we can and are always active whether it be doing water sports, going for walks with our dog or generally being outdoors! Exercise is important for healthy bodies and minds!

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

I believe that a healthy mind and body is the key to a happier lifestyle. Mum sings and I dance often which keeps us happy!

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

Mum and I are night owls. We get most of our important work done during the night! Our favorite pastime at night is researching healthy alternatives to recipes! We try and get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

We relax doing what we love best healthy cooking, singing, and dancing around with our friends and family!

Thanks to Lisa & Candice for taking time out of their busy schedule to share their routine with us!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Lisa and Candice from My Kitchen Rules!

Health Supplement Review: Plant-based Protein Powders + A Recipe!

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Firstly, let me just say that in no way am I suggesting that a plant-based diet needs to be supplemented with protein powder – it is now common knowledge in the health and wellness industry that we can get adequate protein from a wholesome and varied plant-based diet.

I personally choose to include protein powder in my diet because I’ve amped up my exercise load, I’m trying to increase my muscle mass and because I like to include it in smoothies to create more substantial and filling snacks and meals.

Whilst it is easy to get lost in the endless shelves of chemical laden protein powders and meal replacement shakes full of false promises, more and more natural alternatives are popping up in Australia. I definitely do not consider myself a protein powder connoisseur but in my search for a healthy AND palatable post workout drink (let’s face it, natural does not ALWAYS taste best – especially where protein powders are concerned) I’ve tried a few plant-based brands and would love to share my experiences with you. All of the below protein supplements are dairy, gluten, soy and refined sugar free.

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First up is vanilla flavoured Sunwarrior Rice Protein: Bio-Fermented, Raw, Sprouted Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein sweetened with stevia, 16.8 g of protein per serve.

This was my introduction to the brown rice protein brigade and I have to admit, I nearly spat the first sip back out. I then pondered on how I was going to get rid of it and considered pushing it on to a friend. A month later I gave it another shot and actually slowly began to enjoy it. I think the trick with protein powders that are sweetened with stevia is to not mix them with sweet fruits, unless you’re after a total sweet taste bud assault. I enjoyed Sunwarrior blended with almond/soy/rice milk and loads of ice or with frozen raspberries. Once I learned to enjoy the taste the only downside I found was the slightly chalky texture. Which lead me on to my next tub…

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Growing Naturals Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein Isolate in Vanilla Blast, sweetened with brown rice syrup and stevia, 24 g of protein per serve.

I like the fact that this one is sweetened with brown rice syrup as I enjoy the taste more than stevia. This would also suit someone looking to include more carbohydrates in their diet as brown rice syrup contains both fast carbohydrates suitable for muscle recovery and complex carbohydrates for sustained energy. It has the same texture as other brown rice protein powders but I enjoyed the taste more. I also used it in a banana muffin recipe which turned out well.

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Ezy Protein: Organic, Sprouted, Bio-Fermented, Raw, Wholegrain Brown Rice Protein sweetened with stevia, 25.8 g protein of per serve.

This has the same texture as Sunwarrior but is a little sweeter and tastier. I quite like the tub that it comes in as your hand doesn’t get coated in protein powder as you try and scoop out the last few serves.

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Vega Sport Performance Protein in Chocolate and Vanilla: A complete multi-source, alkaline-forming, plant-based protein blend sweetened with stevia, 26 g of protein per serve.

This is a little different to the above proteins as it contains a mixture of yellow pea protein, SaviSeed protein, sprouted wholegrain brown rice protein, hemp protein and alfalfa protein as well as a branched chain amino acid complex, glutamine and a digestive enzyme blend.

I like the fact that this contains a variety of protein sources and includes other ingredients which assist recovery and improve digestion. I found the texture to be a lot smoother than plain brown rice protein powders and it blends far more easily. Chocolate is my flavour of choice, I’m not a big fan of Vega’s vanilla.

In the end none of these protein powders are delicious, but they do contain high quality healthy ingredients which can compliment your diet and exercise program, and possibly boost your results.

Overall Vega has been my favourite protein powder based on taste, texture and ingredients, but there are still other brands out there that I’m keen to try such as Garden of Life RAW Protein, Juice Plus Complete and David Wolfe’s Raw Sprouted Brown Rice Protein.

Have you tried any of these or ones I haven’t listed? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience.

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Bonus: My Choc Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

♥ 1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate plant-based protein powder
♥ milk of choice (almond, rice etc) I used around 100 mL in the one above but I like mine super thick
♥ 1 cup of frozen raspberries
♥ 1 tbsp of raw cacao powder (less if using chocolate flavoured protein)

Blend, serve and enjoy 🙂

Article by Emma Smyth, nutrition student & health coach who blogs over at This Sparkly Life!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Exercise, Food, Organic, Products, Reviews | 11 Comments »

Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Ashley Piotto, Founder of Fusion Life Perth.

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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

I have been hooked on personal development ever since my Dad gave me the book ‘Coach Yourself’ after I graduated from school. The desire to really “find myself” was ignited so after a couple years of deliberation (aka fear) I moved to London to begin the search! I loved the cosmopolitan city that never sleeps and everywhere I went, even if it was just on the underground train to work – there was a sense of excitement. That you really can be whoever you want in this city and accepted for it. Moving back to Perth after the cold grey winters got the better of me and my business idea Fusion Life was born.

I wanted to bring a slice of London to Perth, to show the up and coming women that Perth can also be a place of excitement with lots to do. So day to day I now run Fusion Life which involves organizing personal/professional development and networking events in the city and updating the website with articles and tips on how to live a balanced lifestyle and make the most of our beautiful Perth!

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

I have always liked to experiment with different beauty products and very rarely purchase the same product twice. As my Fusion Life motto goes – balance is key and I like to keep trying new things on my ultimate search for a perfect balance!

Although I do have some faves of course:
• Palmers Cocoa Body Butter – yummy chocolatey scent and very nourishing.
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Face Moisturiser – natural as my face doesn’t need any more chemicals.
• Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – face scrub gentle enough to use every day.
• Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment – everyone loves this for a reason! Helps condition and add shine to my newly blonde hair.
• Maybelline Nude Airfoam Moisturiser – like mousse for the face – goes on light and fluffy but gives me amazing coverage!

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Other activities that make their way into my beauty routine include:

• After my morning shower I always moisturize from head to toe.
• Use exfoliation gloves over my entire body at least twice a week.
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and take my daily Swisse Women’s Ultivite Multivitamin. If I don’t drink water I definitely notice the difference in my skin.

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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

Of course you can’t go past a nice relaxing massage or facial. This helps to radiate beauty from the inside out. If I’m relaxed this shows in my care free and peaceful nature. I must admit I haven’t been to many in Perth lately, I was in Bali last year and loaded up on the treatments! If I were to have a massage or facial in Perth I would go to my brilliant beautician Corinne at The Beauty Chamber in Attadale.

♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?

Jelosia – Amanda and Steph, they were recommendation by my beautician and my mum! About 11 months ago I decided to go blonde for the first time ever, I was a little nervous to see if it would suit me but the girls at Jelosia helped me gradually go from dark (almost black) to a nice golden blonde which I love. Their foils are right to the root and very fine so you get a great even colour. Blonde’s definitely have more fun!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Love the facemask Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask this is very affordable and makes my skin glow. Also doesn’t cause me to break out like I have a tendency to do with other facemasks. Also love to exfoliate my whole body with exfoliation gloves – makes my skin feel amazingly soft and smooth!

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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

1. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – this is gentle enough to use every day and gets all the make-up off as well as making my skin look vibrant.

2. Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus Hair Treatment – after going blonde my hair was so dry and seemed to snap off every time I combed it! After being used to long healthy brunette locks, the thinning blonde hair was very scary. I tried a few different treatments and nothing was working, my hair kept snapping! Then a good friend introduced me to the Redken Protein Treatment and my hair is becoming healthier every time I use it. Yay I can stay blonde!

3. Maybeline Unstoppable Eyeliner Onyx – I have used this ever since I discovered makeup and now if I don’t wear it I feel like I’m missing something!

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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

It’s not really a secret – but the two things that really keep everyone alive are… oxygen and water! So when I wake up every morning I try to drink a big glass of water and take 5 deep belly breaths. This along with some gentle stretching puts me in the right frame of mind to conquer the day with peak energy and vitality. So my main tips are:

1. Breathe properly – this means breathing in deep, extending your stomach to get maximum lung capacity, hold for a few seconds and release slowly. Instant stress reliever, try it now!
2. Drink lots of water all through the day – add lemon if you’re feeling extra healthy, the lemon helps to alkalise your body (the less acidic your body is – the better you will feel)
3. Get moving – we’re not designed to sit in a chair for 8 hours. I know it’s cliché but take the stairs, get off the bus a few stops away from your house, take regular breaks from the computer – it all helps. Even better find a sport that you love or a running partner to keep you motivated.

Implement those 3 simple things every single day and you will definitely notice the difference to your energy levels – no coffee required!

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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)

I really need to try dry body brushing. Apparently this is like a detox for the skin and a few of the many benefits include:

• Removal of dead skin layers which leaves the skin looking more vibrant
• Reduction of cellulite
• Aids digestion
• Strengthens the immune system
• Increases the flow of blood which tightens the skin and prevents premature aging

And it is easy, inexpensive and invigorating to do. If it’s good enough for Miranda Kerr it’s good enough for me!

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I normally wake up and have a big glass of water to kick start the day. Then I have a shot of wheatgrass which helps to keep my body more alkaline (as opposed to acidic.) This helps with the energy levels throughout the day.

I start work early at 7am so have something simple like muesli and yoghurt for breakfast. I love a bit of crunch so like to add almonds as well.

Lunch will usually be a tuna salad with whatever veggies are taking my fancy that week! Again I love the crunch so will add some walnuts or crunchy Asian noodles. If I haven’t had time to make my lunch the night before I always have a few of the John West Tuna & Bean salads in the fridge for lazy times. Yes I love my tuna ☺

My favourite easy dinner is pan-fried salmon or chicken with mashed sweet potato, broccoli, asparagus and corn. I will have this most nights provided I am not out or if my boyfriend is over we try to cook new meals to spice up the menu – always with lots of veggies!

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♥ Describe your fitness routine.

I am currently training for the Mooloolaba Olympic distance triathlon in March next year with a few friends, which means lots of running and riding – I’ll be starting the swimming training next week now that it has warmed up a bit! So I run at least 5 km 3 times a week and ride to work 2 days a week.

Luckily I have a training partner that I work with and that is great motivation to not skip out the lunchtime run! We also train together sometimes on the weekend – last one was a 40km bike ride followed by a 6km run which was a real test to my fitness but so worth it! I also make sure I stretch most mornings and after every exercise session.

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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

I take the Swisse Women’s Multivitamin, which gives me all the vitamins, and nutrients I have missed out on in my diet that day. This is the first multi vitamin I have taken regularly that I have actually felt the difference in daily life.

I have also just started taking another dietary supplement called E3 Live. The benefits of which include: ability to manage everyday stress; increased energy and endurance; improved attention and alertness; and strengthened immune system. After a week I am definitely noticing the difference and crossing lots more off my ‘to do’ list!

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

I am lucky and have always been able to sleep well. I have recently completed a Fatigue Management course and was profiled as needing to get 8-10 hours sleep for maximum energy during the day! I certainly don’t get that but do try for at least 7 hours every night. I definitely notice the difference if I don’t, and snooze the alarm a few more times! There are some good tips on the Fusion Life website for learning how to wake up earlier in the mornings.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

When I walk out of a Les Mills Body Balance session I feel so calm and relaxed! I love it because it is a mix of pilates, tai chi, yoga and meditation and I never get bored with the routine. Either that or having a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc with friends or family will do the trick! Life is all about balance 😉

Thanks to Ashley for sharing her routine with us – if you have any questions for her, please leave them in the comments section below!

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Ashley Piotto, Founder of Fusion Life Perth.

Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: A Fun Way to Meditate, Style Your Hair, Double Yoga & Gem Infused Body Wash!

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♥ My Diamond Days

I’ve been talking about the benefits of meditation a lot lately, here on Wellness WA, as well as going on about it to my friends a LOT! I’ve also been creating a few little morning rituals for myself – 2 sets of sun salutations followed by a couple of minutes meditating, and it’s incredible how much better I feel on the days that I do this.

If you’d like to start meditating but are not sure how, then you need to check out My Diamond Days, a delicious program which gives you access to a large variety of high-quality guided meditations that you can listen to on your computer, MP3 player or smart phone whenever you want. My Diamond Days sends you a daily email with a new guided meditation, so you never get bored, and there’s such a big variety of meditations that if you’re not so keen on one, then you can easily go through the archives to find one that suits whatever you need at that point in time.

I like to listen to mine before bedtime using their mobile app, that 5 or 10 minutes helps calm my mind and ensure a great nights sleep. Highly recommended! Find out more at www.mydiamonddays.com

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♥ Style Your Hair

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the launch of a brand new smart phone and tablet app that promises to make the downtime between appointments at the hairdresser less of an ordeal. Enter – Style Your Hair.

Promising to teach you how to whip together a salon-worthy hairstyle in just a few minutes with its easy to follow videos, this app was created by two of the award-winning hairdressers from local salon Chilli Couture.

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There are 67 videos in the paid version ($2.99) and there is also a free lite version which gives you a taste of the program! Available for both iPhone & Android products, this is one to check out if you need a little extra help keeping your follicles in check.

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♥ 2 x Yoga in a Row

While I’m not quite at the level of the lass in the picture above… I’m a pretty big fan of yoga. You might know this by now. If you ever want to have a chat about yoga, get in touch! I’m lucky enough to go to a gym that has fairly plentiful, high-quality yoga offerings available, in fact it was the deciding factor in me signing up! One such yoga offering comes on a Sunday afternoon in the form of two yoga classes in a row. Most people attend one or the other, but there’s a few of us who’ve cottoned on to the fact that each class is different and that double yoga = double the benefits.

I can turn up frazzled and stressed, and walk out of class two hours later with a significantly lighter mind. A cheaper option is to do two different yoga DVD’s in a row – both are sure to have different focuses, and you’ll get a double hit of stress dissolving goodness. Let me know if you try it!

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♥ AEOS Beauty Body Shower

This organic/biodynamic body wash contains the gem & crystal essences. Yep. Amethyst, turquoise, emerald, quartz and more. AEOS stands for Active Energised Organic Skincare, and these guys know how to make some truly great, and very natural, products.

“A gentle cleansing wash for the body, containing a blend of organic and biodynamic essential oils, plant extracts and the energies of gems and crystals. Rich in rosemary, white birch and gardenia to leave the skin feeling fresh and soft, whilst the scent of lemon myrtle transforms your showering ritual in to a refreshing and uplifting experience.”

I’ve been enjoying using this in the mornings, and even though I don’t really know how the whole gemstone/crystal thing works, I can’t help but think it makes my mood a little more sparkly. Available for $18.50 from Be Genki Shop.

What’s making your beauty & wellness world spin this week? Share your crushes below, I’d love to hear them!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Posted in Hairdresser, Organic, Products, Reviews, Yoga | 3 Comments »

Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Facial Radiance Pads, Illuminating Makeup, Cucumber Slices & More!

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♥ FAB Facial Radiance Pads

These babies are a chemical exfoliant, in an incredibly handsome jar (First Aid Beauty has gorgeous packaging. I appreciate such things). They're intended to be used after cleansing, but as a glycolic product, ultra ultra sensitive types might want to let a bit of time lapse after cleansing before using these. They clarify and brighten and are a joy to use in hot weather since the pads are generously saturated with product. Keep in fridge for optimal awesome. Available in David Jones stores & on the First Aid Beauty webstore (US Site)

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♥ Face of Australia Illuminators

It's hard to downplay the awesomeness of this range (there's four shades) – mixes well with standard moisturisers for a bronzey glow, a tiny bit lends a glossy blush to the cheeks, and the sheer size and value for money factor is astronomical. There's more in these illuminator tubes than most foundations, and at just over $12 a pop they are truly epic. I highly recommend mineral foundation (loose powder) with a dash of this on the cheeks – optimal effect with minimal layers on the skin, which is all for the best in sweatier months. Check it out here.

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♥ Cucumber Slices

It's old, and is likely the absolute first thing your first ever Dolly magazine told you to do. Of course, you could also use teabags instead (I heartily endorse peppermint teabags), and if you've got the time, a cold flannel across your whole face is going to do some pretty wonderful things in terms of de-puffing, de-redding and forestalling your summer lethargy.

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♥ Echolife Facial Mists

While Kosmea's Rosewater Mist is a popular favourite in summer, in terms of value for money I have to hand it to the Echolife range of sprays. There are four types, made to address different skin concerns – Lavender, Rose, Tea Tree and Witch Hazel. I'm a big fan of the lavender, and the 250ml bottle invites more liberal usage than Kosmea's dainty little spray bottle.

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♥ Klorane Dry Shampoo

Plenty of other dry shampoos have sprung up in its wake, but for me Klorane is still the best. Summer is a rough time for hair – you can be freshly washed but still saturated at the roots within an hour, and things like a rough dry towelling and some dry shampoo will do wonders. And also save you having to rewash and blow dry your hair, as blow drying in summer is a torturous and miserable endeavour. Klorane have also recently released a version of their dry shampoo with nettle to address oilier scalps (hoorah!) so those who have written off dry shampoos in the past would do well to reinvestigate!

Do you have a crush on any of these products too, or some crushes of your own? Leave a comment below and share the crush-love!

Crushes by Suzanne from Don’t They Know Who I Am?

Be well,

xoxo

Posted in Products, Reviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Facial Radiance Pads, Illuminating Makeup, Cucumber Slices & More!