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The bee is one of the most important creatures on the planet: we rely on bees to pollinate around one third of the plants we eat, with ecosystems around the world depending on them for balance and survival.

One Perth local, Blaine Campbell, experienced their magic first hand. She cultivated a beautiful vegetable garden at home with one problem, there were no veggies! Her husband Tristan suggested a beehive for pollination, sending Blaine into a two year spiral of researching and reading beekeeping books before she ordered her first hive in 2010. Fast forward a year and her garden was laden with veggies and the pair launched Honey I’m Home, selling raw honey from their own and other Western Australian apiaries.

Honey possesses naturally occurring antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that promote healing and can reduce infections. This is measured on what’s called a Total Activity Scale, with high TA rated honey excellent for sore throats, mouth ulcers and even used for topical medicinal use. There is also evidence to show that consuming honey from your local area can help prevent hayfever (and that’s a big win in my ever-watering eyes!)

Honey is influenced by the surrounding flora, meaning not only that honey flavour can vary greatly depending on where it has come from, but the honey produced by a single hive can have a different taste from one harvest to another. “Being an apiarist makes you look up. Literally,” says Blaine. “You notice the flowers, how many there are, and where they are flowering. You look at the clouds and consider how that will affect your beekeeping day, the bees and the honeys they will make.”

Whilst global bee populations are being threatened by colony collapse disorder, thanks to our strict bio-security laws the Western Australian bee population is the healthiest in the world. It’s vital that we protect it, and one way to do so is to support our local apiarists. Imported honey is often not 100% honey, despite being marketed as such. It can include antibiotics, be mixed with corn syrup or other fillers. If you want to know exactly what you’re getting, as well as keeping those food miles to a minimum, nothing beats buying from the source!

“However the bees make the honey is how you will get it,” explains Blaine; the Campbells’ honey is 100% pure, cold extracted honey, without being homogenised, pasteurised, micro-filtered or blended.

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You might also have seen Postcode Honey at your local gourmet supermarket. With the hive’s location apparent from the postcode emblazoned on the front of the jar, it’s clear how few food miles this honey has clocked. Postcode Honey was launched by John Faherty back in 2014 when he quit his day job to set up the business with a goal to represent every postcode in and around Perth. Though the number fluctuates seasonally, 75 different postcodes are currently represented. Head here for a full list of stockists.

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I first discovered Small Batch Honey by chance – I parked my car out the front of their residence and saw someone rounding the corner in full beekeeping get-up. How could I resist grabbing one of the jars for sale on their doorstep? It’s worth a detour past their Mt Lawley abode, but make sure you bring cash to leave in exchange for your jar. Get in touch with Small Batch and request their address through their Facebook page.

For me, a trip to the Swan Valley is not complete without stopping in at The House of Honey. If I am hosting visitors to Perth then all the better – local honey makes an ideal souvenir or gift for them to take home! The House of Honey is an experience: you’re invited to taste a raft of different honey types, check out bees in action at their observation hive, as well as take a seat at the Sticky Spoon Café and refuel with afternoon tea where the honey ice cream comes highly recommended. You can even participate in a mead tasting, to spice up your valley wine tour.

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Beautiful honeycomb is the specialty of Bayswater based business, Pure Naked Honey. As well as the goodness of the magnificent raw honey inside the comb, the actual comb part is highly nutritious itself – not to mention it looks great on a grazing board! Locate Pure Naked Honey products through their stockist map.

If you’re heading out of town, West Coast Honey in Gingin will delight you with free honey tastings and a live bee display. Take time out with a coffee and a slice of their layered honey cake, and if you are lucky enough to drop by when the plant is in action, you can watch the honey extraction process too!

Want more? Try More than Honey for honeycomb sections and raw honey jars, Sticky Goodness for unique products like honey jar wedding favours, and head to Bee the Cure Honey Map to browse your area for more small producers.

Got any local / organic honey recommendations or any burning bee questions? Let us know in the comments!

Article lovingly written by Claire Trolio. She sells nice things at her shop Ruck Rover General Store in Northbridge – check it out 🙂

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When the weather starts to get chilly, my skincare tends to need a bit of a switch up in order to prevent dry & flaky skin. And it has sure been cold and rainy the past few weeks!

I currently have three cleansers in my kit that I wanted to share with you because they are all FANTASTIC, and I use them in different ways depending on how my skin is behaving on any given day. I would love to hear what your favourite Autumn / Winter / cooler weather cleansers are, so please leave a comment below to let me know!

ESK Hydroxy Cleanser

ESK, or Evidence Skincare, is a results-based, cruelty-free skincare range and I am absolutely obsessed with their Hydroxy Cleanser.

I’ve never experimented much with Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (which are meant to be incredible for your skin, according to the likes of Zoe Foster-Blake and many others), and this cleanser contains both.

What does this mean exactly? Well, according to Adore Beauty, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) are water-soluble, so they dissolve surface level dirt and some dead skin cells – revealing smoother skin below and assisting with reducing fine lines.

Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) on the other hand are oil-soluble so they can unclog pores (!!!) and assist with acne prone skin, making this cleanser a winner for many age groups.

Over a month or so this cleanser made my skin supppppper smooth, and dare I say it – better than ever? I use the ESK cleanser every evening and every second morning to dissolve away any dirt, makeup, pore gunk & dead skin cells and it is honestly working wonders – I think it may be the best cleanser I’ve ever used.

Highly, HIGHLY recommend giving this one a go if your skin is dull, ageing, or acne prone.

The Hydroxy Cleanser is $45 direct from the ESK website.

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Antipodes Juliet Skin-Brightening Gel Cleanser

I’ve been using this one for a while now, and its yummy fruity scent is always welcome when I pop the cap. Packed full of kiwi fruit, Manuka honey, and grape extracts, this certified organic cleanser is more suited to oily skin types, and I tend to use it every second morning when I want to give my skin a more gentle cleanse or if I’m feeling a bit oily.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a light, gentle, organic cleanser that is non-stripping and suitable for oilier skin types.

Available from Adore Beauty for $35.50.

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House of Immortelle Gentle Cleansing Oil

Oil cleansers are all the rage at the moment, they feel amazing on the skin, are especially good in winter, and – most importantly – they deliver fantastic results.

My current favourite is this Gentle Cleansing Oil which has a grapeseed & almond oil base. I call this bad boy in when my skin REALLY needs some extra nourishing, or if I have a full face of makeup to take off.

The best way to describe it is that it really feels like you are nourishing each and every cell when you massage it into your face. Dirt, oils & makeup are all magically dissolved by the oil, and when you wipe it off with a face washer / flannel you’re left with ultra soft, beaming skin.

My favourite mini ritual on a Sunday evening is a deep oil cleanse, followed by the ESK cleanser, and finished off with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Serum to lock it all in. It’s a bit of a pick and mix routine, but one I currently swear by!

The Gentle Cleansing Oil is available from the House of Immortelle website for $29.98.

Looking forward to hearing what your favourite cool weather cleansers are!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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

I’m Sarah, I grew up in Geelong with 4 siblings (including a twin sister) and have 2 kids of my own – 3 if you include our dog Gilchrist.

My background in beauty started with Bellabox, Australia’s leading beauty box. Like most people my sister, Emily, and I were obsessed with discovering new products. Testing and retesting products to find what we loved and what genuinely worked became our passion, so we founded a business where we able to bring this to all the beauty junkies out there.

Not long after, Emily and I created Sand & Sky, and the iconic Australian Pink Clay mask was born. We knew we wanted to showcase Australia to the rest of the world and highlight our incredible botanical ingredients. Oh, and I’m the co-founder and Managing Director of both brands!

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

Most days I’m up at 6am and I aim for 8 hours sleep. Although I’ll settle for a solid 6!

Describe a typical day of eating for you.

Banana and latte, pre exercise, then fruit and toast with avocado and vegemite for breakfast. Salad and a protein for lunch, and whatever I am given for dinner as I don’t cook! Finally, at least one bottle of kombucha!

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

Definitely Sand & Sky Australian Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops, a good coat of mascara, Olaplex for my hair and then Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask as an overnight spot treatment to wake up blemish-less.

Do you take any supplements, vitamins or special wellness elixirs? If so, we’d love to know!

I try to have WelleCo Super Greens every day and anything by The Beauty Chef. I get hay fever and I think garlic is the answer to all ills, so I take horseradish and garlic tablets daily.

Best place to get a green juice or smoothie in Melbourne?

Laneway Greens.

Favourite farmers market or healthy place to shop?

I’m still a sucker for Whole Foods Market.

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

Nimble Activewear.

What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t got around to yet?

Well being activity that I can’t make happen is a monthly body massage and exfoliation.

Thanks to Sarah for taking the time to share her routine!

Be well,

xoxo

♥ Creamy, dreamy & delicious!

Let’s face it, while we’d all love to take a trip to a wellness retreat once a month (just me?), sometimes funds, work, day-to-day life or Coronavirus just wont allow us the regularity of retreating that we definitely deserve.

That’s why building retreat-style rituals into your week is the perfect way to dial up your zen, infuse your body with much needed nutrients and give yourself a couple of minutes time out.

Today we chatted to the gorgeous Shelley Pryor, organic gardener & smoothie expert at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, to find out her top glowing smoothie recommendation that will get you glowing.

Check it out and leave a comment below if you try the recipe! x

Shelley’s Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

♥ 1 x young coconut, juice (approx. 400ml) and flesh (if you can’t find a fresh young coconut, regular coconut water can be substituted, and Amazonia do a frozen coconut meat sachet)
♥ 3 x oranges, peeled and chopped, seeds removed
♥ 2 x cups ripe pineapple, diced
♥ 2 x limes, juiced
♥ 1 x piece of fresh ginger, approx. 4cm, sliced
♥ 20 x mint leaves or lemon balm/lemon verbena
♥ 1/2 x avocado, flesh scooped out

Optional extra: Add a 5cm piece of Aloe Vera, well drained and rinsed to add amazing benefits for your digestive system and help make your skin glow.

Place all ingredients except the avocado in a blender and process until smooth. Add the diced avocado and blend again.

Serves 4 (approx. 150ml per serve)

Health Benefits

Pineapple is particularly great as an anti-inflammatory. It is rich in vitamin C, supports the immune system and aids in the production of collagen.

Coconut water is a delicious source of hydration and mint is great for digestion. Coconut is a good source of medium chain triglycerides, known to be important for liver and bowel health.

Note: During Summer switch the pineapple for mango!

Are you keen to try this glow-inducing smoothie? Let us know below!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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From primers and BB creams, through the latest eyeshadow palettes and vegan lipsticks, to a huge variety of makeup brushes and dewy mists – figuring out how to organize your beauty cabinet can be a difficult, time-consuming, and not-very-fun task.

We’re here to help! There are a few effective ways to limit the beauty product mess to a minimum. Follow our top tips on how to keep your beauty cabinet organised and save a ton of time on your morning routine.

Clean out Your Beauty Collection

The first and most important thing is to clean all of your beauty products and to get rid of the ones that have expired. Take every product you own out of its drawer, cabinet, etc. Yes, that means even the ones you keep in the shower. Spread them out and get rid of all the ones that have expired or have duplicates. After all, you probably don’t need to have five brown mascaras. Also, get rid of everything that you’ve bought impulsively and you’re never going to use. For anything that’s still in date and unused, consider gifting to friends or even your local women’s shelter.

Everyday/Special Occasions

Аfter you’ve gotten rid of everything you don’t need, it’s time to sort everyday items from speciality items. Organise your products into two categories – things that you use daily and items that are a bit more luxe that you save for special occasions.

We recommend storing these top-notch products (think your LA Mer foundation & Rae Morris brushes) which you save for date nights, New Year’s celebrations and special events, in a dedicated makeup pouch and keep it away from all the rest. Gorman have some really cute options. In addition, it’s a good idea to have another pouch for all of your travel toiletries, so the next time you’re going on a trip you won’t spend hours packing!

Evaluate Your Space

Take a hard, honest look at how much space you’ve got. Do you share a small space in the bathroom with your roommates, or have a huge vanity just to yourself? This step is extremely important because you may need to adjust how many products you can keep out in the open (we know, it sucks). If you have a little space, keep only the most important daily items on your shelf. The rest of them you can find some creative ways to organise. For example, you can buy transparent containers from K-Mart, IKEA, or Howards Storage World if you want to get fancy.

Use Containers and Labels

The availability to see your entire collection and easily access it is essential. This will help you keep your beauty cabinet organised since you won’t have to go through the entire assortment to find something. Makeup organizers that have adjustable dividers can be your new best friend. They’ll help you better organise your makeup collection as it grows or shrinks. You can put different labels and decorations on each compartment.

Divide and Conquer

You can use the same organizer for all your beauty products. However, we would recommend you to use separate ones to ensure everything has its own place and stays super easy to find.

For example, you can use one container for your brushes and divide them into the following categories: face, eyes and lips. Another one for all your skin-care products, a third one got your lipstick and lip gloss collection. The main container with your everyday makeup you can keep on top of your beauty cabinet and the other ones inside the cabinet drawers.

Final Steps

It’s time to put everything together. Arrange the containers with your everyday products front and centre. If any of your everyday beauty products comes in an enormous bottle, you can transfer some of it into a pretty little bottle that will look much better of your shelf. The same goes for cotton swabs and cotton balls. They can go into chic, small boxes that can pass as decor.

Following all these tips will get you well & truly on your way to a nicely organised beauty cabinet. It will not only ensure that your countertop won’t become a huge cluttered mess but also it will save you a ton of time when you’re getting ready to go out!

Jane Wilson is a marketing and social manager, a mom and a blogger from Melbourne. Her interests in home improvement come from an earliest age, she loves engaging in different remodeling projects, as well as creating her own natural cleaning solutions. She manages the local brand of Fantastic Cleaners, and she owns a small blog called Modern Housewives, where she shares all kinds of tips and recipes.