by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 6, 2011 | Interviews
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I am a twenty four year old student, make-up artist and wanna-be photographer. I am studying Arts Management at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, working part time at Mecca and Freelancing as a makeup artist anywhere! I am born and raised in Perth and currently live in Innaloo with my sister and my amazing Cavoodle, Osca.
Dr Brandt Detoxygen Experience – $115
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
My beauty routine changes all the time because my bathroom is overloading with skincare products from Mecca!
At the moment i’m using a foaming DG Skincare (formerly MD) foaming cleanser followed by Revive Sensitiff Cellular Repair Moisturiser (oil free) during the day.
At night I am using this Amazing DG retinol serum which is called Hydra Pure Radiance Renewal. It makes my skin feel like silk! Because my skin is particularly problematic I have been doing a Dr Brandt Detoxygen mask 3 times a week as well which I absolutely love. A daily Makeup routine includes a quick application of Hourglass Veil Foundation, a touch up of Nars Concealer in custard and a lather of Loreal Volume Million Lashes. Always set with Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I cant live without manicures. I wasn’t blessed with naturally good nails so I find the sporadic manicure does wonders! I just go to my local down at Karrinyup shops!
Another fan in the long list of people who swear by this salon.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Although i am not precious with my hair at all, I am very fussy! Only two places- Head Studio (King St), and I always book in with either Shane or Marie, and Daniel Bromley Couture Hair (South Perth). They have not disappointed me yet!
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
A pedicure always makes me feel so polished and groomed!
Molecule 02 Fragrance – $240.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Such a tough one as I am completely spoilt for choice… (after much thought) I would have to say:
– Bumble and bumble hair powder
– Molecule 02 fragrance – Ed: Interestingly, it is a nature identical scent to that of an excretion from the sperm whale, said to impart a fresh, mineral smoothness!
– Kiehls Creme de Corps Body Moisturiser – a cult favorite (Available at StrawberryNET)
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Drinking water always helps, and having just enough (but not too much) sun.
Seaweed!
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
I would absolutely love to have a seaweed wrap. I would feel so pampered.
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Two pieces of toast and a glass of orange juice. Toast always must have real butter and vegemite on it!
Lunch might be soup or rice paper rolls followed by a sweet treat (possibly Tim Tam double coat), a handful of almonds in the afternoon and a big dinner. (Followed by another sweet treat!) Dinners change all the time. Last night I made chilli con carne and that was delicious. As you have probably noticed I am not the healthiest eater!
Pup!! ♥
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I dont work out although I try to take Osca (above) for a walk every day.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
No, but I would love to see a chinese herbalist. That is next on my agenda!
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
A face mask, a long hot shower, and a movie always do the trick! I love having massages to relax, but because I am so busy I rarely find the time during the day to make it happen.
Thanks Courtney! Any questions, leave them below đ
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 29, 2011 | Products, Reviews
♥ Ain’t no party like a Kiehl’s club party! ♥
Kiehl’s. Since 1851. EIGTHTEEN FIFTY ONE. These guys have got looking after your face down to a fine art. So how are they helping the modern gal quash her skincare concerns? Letâs find outâŠ
Kiehl’s Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover – $36
I have a very real fear of getting things in my eye that will burn excessively, but recently I was involved with a project that meant I had to wear a lot of heavy eye makeup 6 nights a week and I knew that I was going to have to do something, nay USE something, to get it off. So I tried Kiehlâs Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover with much hesitation and told those around me that if it hurt I would hurl the bottle out the nearest window with the intensity of a thousand suns.
Of course, my dear logical reader, there was no hurling. The lightweight formula doesnât smell, doesnât sting, doesnât burn, doesnât HURT. It seems completely free of the things that would lead to causing irritation in the eye or the delicate skin around the eye. Now you might be wondering with all this delicacy and cucumber and apricot kernel oil – does it actually work? You bet your eyes it does. A little on a tissue or cotton ball completely removes the make up from your eyelids and eye lashes. And in my case eyebrows as well (I told you it was HEAVY makeup).
I’m in ur makeup cupboard, testin ur productz.
And for those contact lens wearers – completely safe for you too. You can rest assured knowing its Ophthalmologist tested (see image above). This product easily does the job without causing any discomfort or pain.
Kiehlâs Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion – $84.
This no pain, max results thing seems to be a reoccurring theme with the Kiehlâs crew, because I am in full-blown love with Kiehlâs Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. Itâs a super duper exfoliator that you have complete control over. Squeeze out a small ânickel sizedâ amount and apply it to your clean, damp skin in circular motions. Wait – if feels too rough! Then just go easier! Wait – Iâve had enough! Then just stop! See? You ARE in control. My skin felt cleaner, clearer, smoother and better without any makeup on it, which for me is always the benchmark of a product doing its job superbly.
I guess I really lost sight of how important exfoliation is after a bad Micro Dermabrasion experience at a salon. But not getting rid of the dead skin cells, product build up and other things that get in the way of good skin can contribute to bad skin no matter how much you cleanse it. Iâm sorry I have neglected exfoliating my face for the past couple of years but it is back and boy oh boy it is great.
Kiehlsâ Double Strength Wrinkle Filler (Available on Kiehl’s counters)
And finally we have the Kiehlsâ Double Strength Wrinkle Filler, espousing to fill those wrinkles and lines you may wish werenât there. Now, Iâm a long way off from what is maybe the desired clientele of this product BUT Iâm a smile-y kind of person, and continually creasing my face in the same place in the same way is starting to show.
Did this instantly fill my lines? No. Did it improve the condition of my skin in terms of elasticity and how moisturized and smooth it felt? Absolutely yes. Would I keep using it? Yes again. Because better skin condition of those areas that do get a work out (facially speaking) will surely lead to a reduced appearance of fine lines. And short of invasively having them filled with something from the inside, I think taking care of the outside is a smarter, safer and much more enjoyable bet. Good one Kiehls.
Reviews by Adriane Daff, dream babe extraordinaire.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 3, 2011 | Products, Reviews, Wellness Tips
The whole beGenki Serenity range!
When the beGenki Serenity products arrived in the mail, I squeezed my eyes shut and planned, in my near future, a night in the bath with lights dimmed, candles lit and Jack Johnson softly playing in the background. Finding a night off to relax was just what I needed! So why, oh why, am I two weeks post-daydream wondering what happened to this night of serene perfection?
♥
Before you get mad at me and think âhow hard is it to fit in one hour of peaceâ and I bullet point the thousand reasons that make me busy, Iâd like to share an epiphany:
People relax in different ways.
I was beating myself up for not having a bath because they are the grand dame of the relaxation world, when I realized most days I find a way to chill out that doenât find me a wrinkled, sweet-smelling seal impersonator by the end.
Prior to revealing my top five tips for stress relief, I must tell you about the lovely beGenki products I had the opportunity to try. The brand advocates wellness on a physical, emotional and spiritual level and to be âgenkiâ is to be happy, healthy, positive and in harmony with oneself on all levels.
Serenity Bath & Shower Oil – RRP $34.
The two products I tried were from the Serenity range, the bath and shower oil and the body oil. The bath and shower oil was sampled in the shower after a swim session which left my poor skin gasping for moisture. The bergamot essential oil was the most dominant which gave it a refreshing and very slightly masculine scent to me. Rubbing the oils into my legs and arms was like a quick massage pre-shower and the smell and rub did provide a calming effect. However, after the shower I found the moisturising aspect of the oils couldnât quite handle my dry skin and I still needed to slather on Benefitâs Bathina cream (current favourite moisturizer).
Bathina by Benefit – a diversion from beGenki, but also a lovely prod!
The body oil was sensational, much lighter than other massage oils I have used in the past and I didnât feel like a grease burger once my husband gave up on the shoulder knots. The finish was more like a moisturizer and my skin loved it. Now, I just need to convince the husband to have another shot just to make sure it was as good as I remember!
So once I was moisturized and massaged and a ball of love and serenity, I thought about what truly relaxed me.
Here are my top five ways to jump out of the rat race;
1. Create a soulful playlist on your iPod, lie on the couch and stare out the window for 15 minutes. Music has long been proven to have therapeutic qualities and when the day has been too much, it helps me zone out. My current favourite is The Black Keysâ new album, Brother which is so soulful youâll forget all your worries.
2. Get into the kitchen and bake something amazing⊠this isnât for everyone, but put me in a kitchen with an apron, butter, flour and sugar and Iâll emerge singing a happy song. Fill your house with delicious smells (no candle or perfume has the same effect), dish out a slice of something wonderful for people you love and of course, you must lick the bowl.
3. Stretch out those overworked limbs. I love exercising and my body sometimes complains, so throw out your favourite beach towel in the backyard and run through a few key stretches (hamstrings, back, calves, shoulders and hip flexors are a good start) to relax your body and allow it to recuperate from daily stresses.
He’s showing us how the downward dog is done!
4. Get thee in the downward dog position. Focused breathing, stretching and meditation time at the end⊠there just doesnât seem to be a better way to calm the mind and body than a yoga class. They do make the wallet squirm though, so if youâre strapped for cash, head to Lululemon in Perth or Cottesloe for free classes. Visit in-store or check their website http://www.lululemon.com for more details.
5. Book yourself in for a pedicure. Putting your feet up and having them rubbed at the same time is the ultimate stress reliever for this busy girl. I switch my phone off, the massage chair on and allow the pedicurist to work her magic on my trotters before walking out a new gal.
beGenki can be purchased online at: http://www.begenkishop.com
Review by Lisa OâNeill, a freelance journalist and part-time triathlete who loves to squeeze in as much pampering as possible in her free time.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 28, 2011 | Events, Inner City, Products, Reviews
♥
Let me share some of my New Years Resolutions with you:
♥ Call or catch up with Mum and Dad once a week
♥ Try Omnilux and microdermabrasion
♥ Call my friends on their birthdays
♥ Finally learn, ONCE AND FOR ALL, how to apply makeup with at least a 1% degree of skill!
Last Saturday I turned up at Bella Hart in Subiaco in order to work on that final point. With my notoriously hard to match skin tone and eyes that I was certain just couldn’t ‘do’ eye makeup, the ‘Flawless and Minimalist‘ makeup workshop had found itself a tricky participant, but I was also hopeful my woes would turn out to be no match for the makeup experts.
The start of the class. The cute thing, which you can’t see very well here, is the cups! They have hearts on them đ I thought it was a nice touch.
The workshops go for 2 hours, from 9:30am-11:30am, usually on a Saturday, and there were 6 of us workshop-ees in total, a mixed bunch – all with very different skintones and colourings, as well as one main makeup artist & her model / assistant.
Dani (makeup model / assistant) and Rachael, who ran the event showing us how to achieve an easy day look. I’d also like to note here that Rachael’s makeup was gorgeous, when she came up and greeted me at the start I was very impressed with how good it looked.
Armed with our sheet to write down the products we used and liked, an array of brushes, a personal mirror & our eyes and ears to watch and learn, we worked through each area of the face
As a makeup novice, I feel like I learned a lot!
Some of the highlights include:
♥ Finding a makeup shade that gives a bit more coverage than I would usually use, but looks great in photos. (Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation in Porcelain Ivory (yep, I’m a ghostie!)
♥ Finding out you can apply primer using a foundation brush.
♥ BECCA Fine Loose Finishing Powder in Sesame. Winner.
The BECCA powder in question!
I did struggle with the eye makeup section of the class, as I literally have only the most minimal skill in that department. Another member of staff who wasn’t involved in the workshop came over and helped me by doing a great look on me with eyeshadow – unfortunately it wasn’t the one that everyone else was learning, and I have no idea how to replicate it, so I’m still lacking the basic eyeshadow skills.
Half the group!
The other half. (sorry about the pics!)
Overall I would recommend this master class for sure! It was a bit rushed towards the end so it would be nice if there was an extra half hour or additional staff member on hand to help out with the workshop, but all in all it was a success and I left with some new tools under my beauty belt.
I think the best thing about the workshops are the range of products available to try – because there is a wide range of makeup brands, you’re not going to get forced into a ‘not quite good enough’ shade like you might if you attended a brand-specific event.
I did laugh though, because the minimalist look that we did on ourselves was actually WAY more makeup than I would usually use – even for going out at night as I don’t tend to wear a lot of makeup!
I will be attending and reviewing another three workshops being run by Bella Hart in the coming months, so please stay tuned for more photos and reviews đ
I was invited by Bella Hart to attend the workshops.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jan 4, 2011 | Organic, Products, Reviews
When the opportunity to try some Weleda products came up I jumped at the chance. Having used several Weleda products in the past I was very keen to get them back into my life.
How do I love Weleda? Let me count the ways…
♥ Their philosophy – they believe in harmony between nature and human beings.
♥ The plant extracts and ingredients and grown using bio dynamic and organic methods.
♥ All formulations are free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colours & parabens.
♥ No animal testing!
This guy? Not harmed.
I had the chance to trial four Weleda products; Lavender Creamy Body Wash, Birch Body Exfoliant, Wild Rose Body Oil and Wild Rose Face Mask. The review of the Weleda products is split into two parts so read on to find out more about the Lavender Creamy Body Wash and Birch Body Scrub and stayed tuned for reviews on the Wild Rose products.
♥
One of my favourite scents is lavender; it’s very soothing and calming and Iâve been using lavender and lavender based products for a long time. It is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress.
Iâve been using the Lavender Creamy Body Wash at night, the scent is just divine and it is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress. Weleda uses organic lavender grown from Moldova in a fair trade agreement.
I found this body wash very gentle, didnât strip my skin and it lathered well .The formulation as the name suggests is a lovely creamy consistency. The scent tended to linger for a while after I used it which was lovely.
♥
Iâve been on the lookout for a gentle body scrub for awhile. The last few ones that I tried have been quite rough and have even left nasty red scratch marks on my skin. Trying the Birch Body Scrub was a dream.
According the Weleda website Birch has been proven to be helpful to rid the body of toxins and help in the detoxifying process. The Birch Body Scrub uses natural plant wax pearls to gently but effectively exfoliate and smooth the skin. I noticed that my skin was smoother after just one use. The scrub is effective but not harsh at all. Tough areas like my elbows and knees are feeling softer. Even the scent is refreshing and uplifting. This is the perfect scrub to use in summer to get ready for all those skin baring party dresses! This scrub is a winner!
Have you tried Weleda products? What are your favs?
Review by Hannah-Lee.
Be well,
xoxo
