Every day, twice a day

So I've lamented about the Hobart temperatures of late but every puffa jacket has a silver (albeit polyester) lining my friends and the flipside to freezing my frangipani off all day is a steamy, long hot shower. Long, toasty, boiling hot showers. I know that it's bad yadda yadda and it supposedly dries your skin out more blah, blah but after a long day in the office and an evening in the gym and the almost vertical ascend up the hill to my house all I can think about is my shower. Warm, soothing shower.

Plus the house we are renting has this cool design wet room type shower with an oversized shower head that pounds down on to the floor. No shower curtains or shower doors or rails just steamy hot water pounding on the tiles and walls with 270 degree glass panels surrounded by bamboo plants outside. It is so zen and really a very cool design bathroom that wouldn't be out of place in a boutique hotel in Bali somewhere.

I just love it in there. So only the best shower gel will do for my Eco tools shower puff. Plus the steaminess of the room is just asking for some essential oils to add to the spa-esque feel.

And there has been two contenders that have been filling the brief.

Standing tall side by side these oversized pump bottles have lots in common other than soaping up a storm on my hide daily

• Both Sulfate free - no SLS in my shower any more, creamy lather yes, synthetic suds no.
• Both 500 ml+ handy pumps
• Both Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi, Oi, Oi
• Both jam packed with goodness and essential oils including soothing chamomile
• Both have a zingy citrus oil scent base
• Both concentrated and last an age

One is a budget buy the other a little more exy.

(On a side note- how fab is the reccess tiled shelf- whn I grow up I so want one of these in my bathroom)

The contenders:

Sukin Botanical Body Wash & Kit, Essential Kit, Hand & Body Wash

Sukin is the budget buy of the two - a measly 12 beans!-  serious ksin goodness starting with an aloe vera base and added jojoba, avocado and rosehip oils for extra nourishment and essential oils of tangerine, mandarin, lavender and vanilla extract which features across frequently across a lot of the Sukin range. It is quite delish - citrusy but in a soft, mellow sweet way thanks to the vanilla. Amazing value and props to Sukin for doing good quality, envro-loving prods that are affordable (note there are some PEGs in the ingredients which bummed me a little, close but not so all natural Sukin, tsk)

Then the pricier of the two - Essential Kit, Hand & Body Wash* at $34.95 and let me tell you
that not on your Nana's nelly would I use this as a hand wash. Nope - that would be wasteful. This needs to be used full body because the texture is so fabulous. Its slinky and slippery not unlike the texture of Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel if you are familiar. I adore how this gel feels like its sliding, silkily over your body, which also makes it perfect for shaving too. I don't think I've ever used a showergel that felt that way. So, so slinky!!

Zingy and citrusy but darker and deeper than the Sukin scent, almost carmalised orange peel and marmaladey like with a piney , Christmasy hint that probably comes from the cedarwood oil. There is also Kit ingredients regulars and native Australian extracts: Kakadu plum for vitamin C, soothing quandong and lilly pilly for anti-oxidant benefits.

Two great excuses for spending longer in the shower and taking two a day and I do.

Are you a shower hog? The hotter the better?
Twice a day? Excessive?

* Kit provided for consideration, opinions and Bali spa fantasies all my own

Fizzy Fingers

If champagne makes my brain go POP then these nail appliqués (fancy schmancy word) make my brain go Fizz.Bang.Weeeee.

Seriously could they be more fizzfabulous.

Not only are these Kiss Nail Dress stick ons multi-faceted and sparkly and a different pattern on each little digit they are three dimensional. That is right 3freakinD.

I made a little strange at first and kept rubbing my thumb over them , not unlike when you have a blister on your tongue and you cant help but compulsively run your tongue over it. Oweeee. But I soon acclimatised to a respectful stare at them awe.

Now I have a love-hate with stick on nail strips. They have been erratic in the past doe me performance wise, dependant on the weather/continent/ my mood/how much sellotape I picked off things that week so I didn't have much hope for these souped up stickies.

Firstly they are quite thick and not very pliable and sort of get that whiteish pressure-bend mark on them when you manipulate them- you know like a thin piece of plastic would.

But miraculously once on the stayed on, any foldy marks vamoosed. A quick file to the tip an you are good to go.

Now the real deal-cincher for me. They lasted and bloody well lasted - I seriously was over excited at how these stayed on my nails.

One edge on each hand lifted slightly around day 3 but I dabbed on some Orly Glosser to seal it and they held up fine. And there they stayed only to be taken off after 9 days as I was heading to Perth for a wedding. Granted the tips had gone a little manky, some of the 3D-ness was worn down and the lifters were lifting again but they still were for the most part presentable. It also helped that the base colour was a pale translucent champagne which was probably more forgiving.


Plus 24 in a pack at $13.99 a pop means you get two sparkly outings.

Impressive.

Here is the range - I have the black and silver flowery ones on the far right to try still and am all kinds of excited but am holding out for a spesh occasion. A Saturday evening that doesn't warrant my uggs, a sofa and an open fire will suffice!

Nail strips - what is your stance?

Champagne nails- does it get more fabulous?

Tried these bad boys?

Kiss Nail Dress Pack supplied for consideration. Sparkling wine supplied for consumption by Hobart Botanical Gardens. Weeeeee.

Kiss Nail Dress Pack supplied for consideration. Sparkling wine supplied for consumption by Hobart Botanical Gardens. Weeeeee.

Eskimo Julie is battening down the hatches

Yes that is me - under all that syntehtic padding, outside my West Hoabrt igloo residence.

You see as the Northern hemisphere cruises downhill into summer us Southies are setting out on our Winter journey.

Starting this journey in Hobart Tasmania only amplifies the seasonal change and as the mercury plummets to often below 5 degrees in the morning and evening I am now in full hibernation survival preparation mode.

 I've even sourced a puffa jacket for the first time in thirteen years since fleeing Irish winters. Style has gone out the window at 6am when walking to the gym let me tell you and in it's place a puffa, beanies and mitties taking precedence. Ah the joys of Hobarrrrrrt.

 On a positive being this close to the elements make for spectacularly pretty surrounds and feeling at one with nature's forces and all her beauty and charm. However my skin, hair and lips don't necessarily agree.

 Amplified more than ever are my needs to adapt my usual skin hair and  diet to the elements and I am making like eskimo and battening down the hatches in my bathroom cabinet.

 My element battling changes:

Fighting it off one mouthful at a time
Ok aside from the obligatory soups and increased 'tea for warmth' consumption I find I need to make some definite dietary changes to stop my skin from having a spaz and doing its usual changing of the seasons dummy spit- patches of scales on my legs, elbows and eye corners, weird scaly finger webs, dry, throbby, burny lips and frizzy-frazzle hair.  Sexy Eskimo I am not?

First change I make is taking flaxseed oil both in supplement and oil form, thrown onto any dish I can including buttering my toast. I find this helps my skin's barrier and prevents aforementioned spaz symptoms. I also throw in some Evening Primrose Oil supplements for more skin conditioning and Vitamin D (was diagnosed with deficiency two short weeks after landing in Hobrrrrt. Coincidence?I think not. I've also pop some Zinc, for all round anti-inflammatoryness and spot fighting while it is at it (works a treat).

Then on my desk lives two forms of Fresh-Picked Olive-Leaf Extract* for warding if colds and flus. My office is teaming with sufferers of what they  all the "100 day cough". Am serious, real thing apparently!

All I hear all day are the victims of this affliction spluttering and having violent coughing meltdowns. Nasty stuff but hilariously me and my desk neighbouroony are seen on cue simultaneously reaching for an Olive-Leaf extract shot every time we hear a cough attack.  This stuff is gold, I've managed to resist any germy infection so far and am determined to do so for the entire winter.

Now I was one of those sicko kids that loved the taste of medicine so seriously enjoy the taste of this stuff.  The original is a treacly, slightly bitter cough medicine type flavour. Then there is a minty one that takes the bitter taste edge off with peppermint oil. My preference is still the original though, true to sicko form!

I love that the leaves are grown in 'Stralya in old outback Queensland and labelled 'fresh' because they harvest the olive leaves at sunrise and extraction takes place before noon. This makes it potent stuff with 30 times more  antioxidants power than Vitamin C.

I also have a mouth spray which  think is a genius idea. It's the minty Olive-Leaf Extract version in spray format the serves the dual purpose of breath-freshener and potent germ fighter/ immune strengthener. So clever and handy when you reek of coffee/sushi/hangover or any other stinkies but actually provides a health boost at the same time. Love that.

My lips may be copping a weather-beating but they will not be beaten

OK there are two scenarios here; the swollen, burny type dry weird thing I get- the only salvation from this can be found in the Nivea ..... the repair and protect one, it got it's own little blog post shining moment over here .

OR at all other times I am in the middle of a full-blown Lanolips obsession. I sheepishly admit it took me a long while to get here after only trying them a few months back despite all the hype. But the important thing is I have arrived. I may be wearing a nylon and polyester quilted unsightly effort of a coat but I have arrived.

So what's the go? Medical grade lanolin. The hero. Well actually the little woolie sheep who give us their nurturing, soothing lanolin, that amazingly holds up to 200% of it's weight in water. How do we go about drinking it on a hungover day?? Plus there are no petro-chemicals or nasties which is important to me.  

(Sorry I interrupt this broadcast to bring your attention to the most beautiful story, starring Twitter-fame whore Lamington, the sheep who deserves his own timeline and Lanolips founder Kirsten and a scarf - a must read. Would like to have both Lammo and the scarf tucked under my puffa to keep my warm on those especially cold mornings!!)

Baah- where was I?

Ah yes bleating about lip balm. OK I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  their Lemonaid one - with natural lemon oil, which works to exfoliate dry while tasting so bloody zesty and real lemon-like, not sickly syntheticness. It gives just a hint of dewiness without being neither glossy nor matte. My boy has taken a shine to this too. It lives by my bed and is my 1st in the morning , last thing at night activity.

Rhubarb is my live in my bag version. Just simply a delightful rosy pink balm, for perfect blushing winter rosebud lips again with the subtle dewiness but still waxy enough to stay put for a while. It tastes and smells creamy and rhubarb crumble and custard like with SPF 15. If that smell is not enough to warm your cockles on a chillyburger day then the cartoon logo of sheep with lipstick on will. Gets me every time.

Warding off scales on the winter Limbs

Out with the lotions in with the body oils. Drastic conditions call for drastic measures and greasing my joints up daily with a body oil is what is required. These two tick the practicality boxes, that is will sink in to damp skin in record time so I am not left with frostbite while waiting for it to sink in. 

Kora Luxurious Rosehip Body OIl 

Overall I've been disappointed in general with Kora Organic products - I think Miranda Kerr could have pimped them out a bit with some essential oils to make them a bit oomphier BUT in saying that there is no denying the Kora Luxurious Rosehip Body OIl works. Stat. 

Not unlike a rosehip oil for your face, its smells blah and is no fuss but my goshing gumboots does skin feel unbelievable a few hours later. It also contains Jojoba oils and Noni extract (shudder)

Bloom Organics Nourishing BodyOil. Uplifting Blend
Then there is sunshine/valium/ecstasy/lithium/opium in a bottle. Suddenly downtown wind chill Hobart is Sicilian Orange Grove balmy evening breeze. Amazing scent and full of the good stuffs like organic Jojoba, Macadamia and Sweet Almond Oil to ensure soft, scale free skin. Did I tell you this smelled good? My gosh does this smell good.

So winter-proofing? Where you at?
If you are currently summer-proofing I don't want to hear of it- kay.

*Products supplied for consideration. 
Germ-filled test-control office provided by my colleagues. 
Lanolin supplied by the gracious sheepies. 
Nasty puffa jacket supplied by Childrens department in Myer. The shame.

Thirty One Days of Beauty-May

Happy May Peeps and here is something a little fun to bring out a little gay, may spirit in you all

#31daysofbeautymay, Miss Chew’s baby feeding off the success of wait for it… #30days ofbeautyapril!

A challenge to post a pic of something beauty related in May via Twitter/Instagram

Easy Squeezy? Yes.

Fun? Extremely.

Feeds my manifesting Instagram and Pinterest addictions? Most definitely.

What could be more fun than taking photos of beauty related things and posting on social media I ask?

Not much my friends, not much.

So snap to it – join the game.

And if you are not pinning on Pinterest or grammin on Instagram (gasp!) then you really need to have a long and hard look at yourself and where you are heading in life. For realz. You are missing out, your life cannot simply be fulfilled without either or both.

Sound like a drug pusher? Well maybe I do, but this shiz is more addictive than baselining crack cocaine, be warned pretties but the imagery highs make it oh so worthwhile.

Follow on Instagram W@memybestandi, http://followgram.me/memybestandi- for mostly piccies about food and post-wine!

And on Pinterest - for a long list of things I love but may  never own. WAH :(

See ya in there J


Hello there fabulous! Seen my Bloom Organics Skincare Pack Giveaway? There are three packs up for grabs. Enter over here, smofty soft skin guaranteed.

Get your filthy paws on some clean Bloom Organics prods

Now listen up y 'all, if you like it straight up, clean and green and organic and Australian made for good measure like Me, my best and I then you will love this.

Starting today until May 27th Bloom Organics are offering some rather spiffy and frankly generous 30% off discounts on their beautiful Organics range.

Check this:

So all you need to do is click on the piccie above and follow the link to print your voucher and take it to your nearest DJs or Myer.

Sorted.

Really I ask you - What better time of year to stock up on Rosehip Oil, here on the cusp of Autumn?

In fact if I was to be asked what is one product every gal should have in their beauty arsenal, RHO as she is affectionately known by her throngs of adoring fans is it.

ACO certified organic is an added bonus.

$10 off makeS her a steal at $15 and a no-brainer.

Now all this battling against the elements doesn't end at Rosehip Oil for me right now with the Hobart wind working her chilly charms on my daily walk to work. I'm calling in oil reinforcements all over my body.

Hair treatments, cuticle oils, facial oils, cleansing oil once or twice a week and I've recently added body oil twice a week too to the mix too.

It really makes a difference at helping to seal in moisture and protect me from these Tasman conditions here in Hobrrrrrrrt.

Bloom Organics Nourishing Body Oils are super concentrated and blended with organic Jojoba, Macadamia and Sweet Almond Oils so you just need a few drops per limb and the nice bit is they are light enough to sink into the skin which lets face it is mighty convenient when your are standing near nudey in a freezing bedroom waiting to get dressed into your jammies!

The Calming Blend is a mix of lavender, sweet orange and ylang ylang. It is not the sleepy lavendar scent I expected, this is serious and heady with Ylang Ylang which makes it verging on racy and sensuous, not sure how calming that is ;)

But it is stil all good in the calming blend hood , don't get me wrong.

However the Uplifting Blend is by far my favourite - I could have put good money on the description that I would love it before even sniffing it. Neroli, Sweet Mandariin and Geranium essential oils is what Bloom uplifts us with. And they do just that.

For this is such a sunny, happy smell, like a big warm hug.

It is citrusy but not astringent. Just mellow and sweet and slightly delicate and orangey blossomy and smiley. I would happily smell like that forever. A great scent for helping to shake any winter induced blues. This is lithium in a body oil.

Of course these body oils are humble multi-taskers. You could use as cuticle oil, hair treatment or a bath oil if it took your fancy.

You could even use as a deep cleansing facial oil once a week by massaging on, then hot compressing off a few times.

You get two for $35 as part of the offer so you can try both blends or buy one for yourself , one for a loved one and smile smugly when they say ' you shouldn't have!

Now if you liked all that you will love this even more.

I have not one.

Not two.

But three Bloom Organics packs to giveaway which will include

• Bloom Organics Hand & Body Wash
• Bloom Organics Refreshing Facial Mist
• Bloom Organics Rosehip Oil
• Bloom Organics Nourishing Body Oil

Seriously, how awesome is that?

An amazearama, clean, green natural start to your winter skincare regime.

You will be the sweetest smelling, softest little ski-bunny this side of Jindabyne!

All you have to do is simply leave a comment below telling me what your favourite natural product is (to humor my own curiosity) and you can go in the draw to win.

I will draw the winners on May 15th. (Australia only-soz)

PS my pretties; you can also tweet something like this if you are that way inclined for an extra entry:

"Get winter ready with @memybestandi whos giving away 3xOrganic @BloomCosmetics packs.Sweet smelling softness guaranteed http://bit.ly/Ju9xaN "

What are you waiting for? You are not getting any softer!

Hop blooming to it!

“What’s The Best Beauty Advice You’ve Ever Received?”

This was the question I needed to explore for my first Primped Posse article.

What an arduous question. How can a gal pluck just one pearl of beauty wisdom from her valued life-long collection?

A dilly of a pickle that had me procrastinating for days.

Surely eyebrow grooming must warrant a mention. And using bronzer to contour not colour must rank up there, too. But my gut kept reminding me of one old adage and lucky for Lindt I always listen to my gut!

Find out why over here on Primped. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!

BFF Tight-ass Beauty Steals That Give Your Buck a Bang

Sometimes tight = shite. Am I right?

Like plastic shoes or handbags, faux labels or recycling tea bags.

But sometimes, just sometimes there are some unassuming treasures to be found in the thrifty aisles of your local discount chemist store.

Here are five nuggets I'm loving  that won't make you pinch more than twenty beans from your tightly strung purse.

1. Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Hula
Could this be the new generation perfect nude lippie?

I spent decades (yes really) searching for the perfect blue-toned pink nude lippie. I had a short but passionate affair with a MAC Limited edition Tea Rose something or other that was taken away from me far too soon.

These days I think the perfect nude is warmer and more coral based and I have found my heart's desire in Hula. It goes with anything and is strong enough in colour to lift and brighten your face but not loud enough to feel like a tranny in work on Monday at 8am.

OK it smells a tad granny but the formula is a perfect combo of dry and creamy that holds well. It makes me wanna swing a hoop in joy around my hips and shake my maracas when I load this on my lips!

It contains Kakadu plum which is the world’s highest known source of vitamin C for a nutritional injection while you dazzle. Now that is value at $12.95 a punchy pop!

 2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
Screw you Touché Éclat - we used to think you were all that and would fork out for you, nah hah, not anymores!! This cheapo concealer works just as well if not better for me.

Firstly I love the screw up, round sponge applicator, you can gently blot on a perfectly administered amount and the sponge-dab action aids longevity. I use the Light to neutralize shadows then the Brightener to lift and illuminate.

What really tickles my pinky is how the colors blend with my skin, Touché Éclat & co sometimes made me feel a little reverse panda eyes. These melt, melt I tell you. Melt right in and melt my heart at $18.95 a squeeze.

  3. Face of Australia Eyeliner Mechanical Pencils
Eye-lining has never come so easy to me before. I am on number three of these.

The accolades are never ending - slimline, so you can make the neatest most natural line or layer on for accurate flicks, thicks or tapers.

A nifty wind up tip that needs no sharpening for lining on the fly, waxy, not too soft but smudgeable if that's your thing but never smudges, melts or drags where you don't want it. Plus it lasts all the live long day.

I went through two blacks and now have the lovely espresso,treacley brown and I will replace the black again. Perhaps even the gold, silver and navy which is pretty much the whole collection!But what the hay.

I don't see the point in buying any other liner, this works so ruddy well for me. I could have all five for $47.95. That is right a measly $9.95 for eye lining gold.

L to R: Mango Diamonds, Cherry Candy, Juicy Pink, Juicy Bubblegum

4. Maybelline Color Sensation High Shine Lipcolor
Yes there it sits on the fence between colour and shine that enables me to wear strong lip colours without the freakout. I love that I can go a low committment poppy red, coral or plum withouht having the anxiety attack I get with a full pigment bright lippie. (Pathé, non?) Shiny and bright but not too shiny and bright if ya get me. No grit or glitter just me in bright colours, comfortably and importantly affordabley at $16.95.

5. Australis Papparazzi Perfect HD Blush in Flash It.
And flash it I do. A flashy pop of dolly pink. I can not get over the pigment of this blush. It is serious. Two small sweeps and you have pink and girly rosy cheeks to flaunt. Formulated photo-chromatic pigments and a high Mica content however it is in no way sparkly, just smooth and bright but really blendable and wearable. Lasts all day too, amazing value and quality for it's $12.95 little buckaroos. Winaroo.

Any penny pinchers you are loving right now?

Tried any of this tight-arse winners?

Recycling tea bags, do people really? Really?

Want more Best Favourite Five lists see my BFF page here

Tangled Tresses Tongue Teezer

Try saying this fast:

Taming tangled tresses 

Tended to turn to tears

Til this terrific Tangle Teezers’s teeth

Terminated the teasing torment

Not half as much fun as a Tongue Twister but still the most unassuming , effective and practical hair tool I've ever tried (well a close second behind the Sock Bun)

I would NEVER have bought myself one of these babies. I would have pooh-poohed and labelled it a gimmick.

Worse fool me. I can't be without my 'Purple Disco' hair buddy any more.

A simplistic but nifty invention with teeth that somehow glide through knots and tangles without any tugging or catching or that spine chilling hair breakage sound. 

Really tough tangles may take an extra stroke or two but they are coaxed out with ease.

Knowin I'm armed with ma Teezer, means I tread lighter on the conditioner and don't need or miss the slip a silicone based conditioner gives. Same goes for silicone serums.

The sight of it's sleek purple sparkly glitzyness fills me with more elation than a disco bikkie and it is shaped so your grip is solid and you won't have any hair brushing accidents that ends with hair tool in loo bowl (true story).

So hair tamers don't overlook the simplicity of the Tangle Teezer, yes its looks a little like a plastic roach but it performs like a dream.

I will not be without mine.

(PS Thanks to the lovely Emmie from Emmie's Darlings who included my Teezer in our fabulous Transcontinental blogswap. Very cool. Lucky old me.)

Have you tried a Tangle Teezer yet/?

Taming Tresses - how do you manage yours?

Any talented Tongue Twister out there??

A public apology - Mia. I'm Sorry.

Source - We Heart It

Dearest Mia,

My Clarisonic Mia. 

My beautiful, blue Clarisonic Mia.

My hardworking little soldier that overtime gave me such amazingly soft skin with as little congestion and as tighty, teeny pores that I'd ever experienced. 

But I didn't appreciate you, did I?

Not fully, no.

That was until you were taken away from me all too soon.

Perhaps you worked yourself too hard, maybe wore yourself out, rotating and sonic pulsing and buffing my skin so terrifically.

Maybe it was because you weren't welcomed into the bathroom fold so well at the start. You came at a trying time of turbulent skin and were cast aside too easily with your initial purge.  Even when we managed to get to a happier skin place I never really managed to stop and see your true worth. 

Merely annoyed by having to recharge you weekly and the fact that you needed an adapter for your US charger that my husband would constantly steal for his Bose speakers and I would have to hunt down every time your battery waned. But really on reflection a week of battery life should have been commended. My iPhone dies after less than 24hrs and I love him dearly.

 I could even bring you into the shower with ease - you would never complain and stayed watertight and rock-solid, you were so dependable in that way.

You never got smelly and the way you sat on the shelf with your elevated bristles in your ventilated lid made sure of that - but I would never trust you to stay stink free and would sniff you suspiciously and douse your in tea tree oil often. I should have trusted you, you did so well all on your own regardless.

 It was only in the final weeks I started to see your true worth. My skin clearer than it had ever been, no congestion in areas that had always been plagued with blackheads and open pores. How well you got on with my gel cleansing friends and brought out the best in them. 

And then they took you away from me.

A terrible slow and painful decline that saw you losing your will to charge and turning yourself on randomly and not being able to be turned off.

Perhaps your way of looking for attention in our final days. I'm sorry I got so angry in the middle of the night when that happened and chucked you in the linen basket. I'll never forget that awful lethargic choking, buzzing sound you made, perhaps your final cry for help.  It still echoes in my mind.

And Mia something I may never be able to forgive myself for is how I left you in that linen basket and for days after would choose to ignore your final on/off calls instead waiting until they came no more and you we forced to share your last moments with my sweaty gym gear and dirty towels.

No place for such an unsung hero.

Had I known then how my skin would miss you perhaps things may have been different. Only now I can see your true effects. The clarity, the softness, the glow they all went with you into that linen basket that night.

I only thank my stars  that you come from a good home. I should have known. Your friends at Apothica were so amazing to me. One little email , that is all it took. Before I even had a chance to respond, they had sent me a new you, no questions asked no need to send you back. In under a week and a half, here you were again all the way from the US, so shiny and new of full of promise.

I won't underestimate you this time though will I ? No way we just are too perfect for each other and you bring out the best in me. You truly do. For that my skin will always be truly grateful.

And Mia I just want you to know that I'm sorry and I'm so glad we are together again.  Let's never part again.

Yours Porefully,
Always,

Me, my best & I 
X

Monochromania

I know I once said I wouldn't wear black polish but I also once said I would never be a brunette, shit happens, things change, we have the right to change our minds on things.

I have sort of put on my onyx tinted spectacles and am seeing black polish in a whole new light. No longer for the Emos or a young pop diva trying to come over all grown up and reinvent themselves by going all rock chic and trampy with chipped black pinkies.

The change of heart came about when I painted my digits on a Sunday wit Australis Creme Polish in Blackmail*.

It came with a holographic glitter topcoat to try- but blow that i think that would take away from it's moodiness and make it all too whimsical  (I'll save that for over a pale candy pink me thinks)

But all on it's own,  I liked it!– all shiny and dark and deep and mysterious, but it wasn’t until I was too lazy to take it off and ended up wearing it to work that I loved it.

No longer gothy or wannabe rock chicky but suddenly chic and sophisticated with corporate attire. I think it looks great in the work place. OK it has to be on very short, squared off nail to work and no chips (emo, emo alert) and glossed up to the maximus, but holy hole punchers does it look chic and polished.

All week (and yes I did get until Friday out of it – with a helping hand from Orly Bonder basecoat and Glosser topcoat) I chose matching monochromatic outfits with maybe a sneaky pop of colour in a belt or bracelet or I went all black and white and geek chic with it.

I was the talk of the water fountain – well actually nobody really noticed and or cared but in my head I was peeps and that is what matters!! Nail narcissism to the max!

Black polish- where do you sit? Emo, wannabe rock chick or chic?

*Polish supplied for consideration, nail narcissism issues and my opinions are my own

Chilled & Easy Breezy- More Natural Deos

That's right smelly cats, the natural deodorant pong fight continues........

After disappointing performances of various natural deodorants during Natural November and a gripping fear of being a stinkrat I am on a BO-fighting mission to uncover the golden ticket to stench-free and dry pits sans aluminium compounds and other nasties.

 

Dr Organic, Organic Vitamin E Deodorant
Whats up doc? Wet pits – thats what. Yes, at times clammy, moist, damp and other unsavoury wet synonyms.

However a silver lining amongst the stickiness perhaps in the fabulous, fabulous, fabulous naturally scent of this deodorant. Aloe Vera, Sunflower oil and Icelandic and Irish Moss are the good stuffs but that doesn't quite describe the smell.

Average pong-resistance, definitely no more than 12 hrs. I will forgive the heavy glass bottle because of the sunny yumballs fragrance.

Can’t describe it for peanuts but its sunny, a little woody, yet fresh, slightly sweet and moreish. I would absolutely wear a perfume of this. I have the body lotion as well thanks to Annabelle from Skin Scrubs – yes I go into self-sniff overload and can’t stop telling everyone how good I smell (just don’t get too near those pits now ya hear)

On a side note am loving this brand and it's huge range of prodz and different lines, I want more, more I tells ya.

And then comes a triumph, not perfect but the leader of the pack all the same to date.

An offering from The Body Shop of all people, notorious greenwashers.

 

DeoDry™ Deodorant Roll-On Chilled & Breezy
Now first off a gripe I need to get off my chest. Has anyone noticed what the Body Shop are doing with their ingredients labels? It verges on censorship. 


After rotating this deo bottle round and round and round for far too long like a dumb ass dog chasing it’s tail not quite getting the stupidity of it’s actions I realise there is no obvious ingredients list.Instead a teeny tiny peel here symbol on the corner of the label. After another painful dog chasing its tail type attempt I finally scratch a lip of label large enough to pull apart the flimsy label to reveal the ingredients listing on the underside.

Next obstacle……read the small print, the teeny, tiniest list of ingredients.

My microscope reveals that this baby is almost natural except for some PEG-40 (good explanation over here). OK not quite censorship with the ingredients available on the web but geez why put us through all the hoops with the packaging?

But bravo Body Shop for keeping the fragrance all natural -lemon, thyme, eucalyptus, lemongrass and mandarin essential oils.

The cherry on the crumpet is in the form of Perlite - a volcanic mineral that absorbs moisture to help keep you dry.Something most natural deos fail at.

It's not cheap at $16.95 but you can get a refill ($12.95) for the roll-on version. Which by the way is alcohol based so some minor stingage post-shave.

There is however a stick version too (but that contains Propylene Glycol)

The blue one "Chilled & Breezy" fragrance is an "aquatic inspired wood scent" nice and fresh and cottony but I also quite fancied "Fresh & Floral"  that smelt quite powdery and had rose, chamomile, mandarin and geranium oils. May give that a whirl next time.

"Cool & Zesty" was a bit citrus/minty but actually caused my hand to itch when testing them out-eeeerrr  weird.....

Next on my stink-fighting mission au naturale - this Etsy buy from Soapwalla Kitchen, its been getting write ups in the New York Times & No More Dirt Looks rate it as most effective.

I quite like the look of this Clean one too over at KIT- a little exy at $23 but sounds the biz formulated with CottonVantage – naturally-derived technology based on cotton extracts and proteins – that helps absorb wetness to keep you dry all day. Even better, this aluminium-free formula is safe to use and protects clothes from the yellow staining that other underarm products can cause.

Will let em loose on my pits and report back xx 

Label peeling- painful right?

Any more natural deos that WORK to report?

Do you get embarrassed when you are caught self-sniffing your pits- I HATE that, happens me all the time!!

Irish Beauty Bug

March 17th - the worldwide day of green! St Patricks Day.

No self-respecting Irish woman could be seen without some festive cheer, some mighty craic and a glass of guinness in hand. It's the law.

Every year myself and my husband have the same debate;

Him: You have to wear green on St Patricks day, that's just what you do

Me: Flags should be worn by flagpoles and flagpoles only. You will never catch me in any clothes with any flag on it ( except for that time I forgot to bring my things to the pedi place and bought a pair of $2 bogan Southern Cross flip-flops to prevent smudgeage. Needs must and I avoided eye contact the whole 2 minute run home)

Him: That's so unIrish and quite frankly Fashionist again (his word for when I am prejudice based on someone else's clothes)

Me: But I'm wearing my green slinky pants AND a green & orange print top, what could be more Irish than that?

Him: Hmmm not quite ( followed by the silence of a defeated man who knows he will not win a clothes based argument with his wife)

Me: And I painted my nails orange, Essie- Meet Me At Sunset* in fact- what could be more Irish than that? For the love of Guinness I even spandangled them with Sportsgirl- All That Glitters. Now that just screams festive.

 

Him: More silence ( no possible come back for that one - Touche, wifey scores again! )

Me: And I dip-dyed the ends of my hair with an orangey hue thanks to Kevin Murphy's Colour Bug Hair Shadow*

Him: Oh yeah..... I didn't notice that

Me: See, I can be festive for St Patricks Day

Him: Can we go , I'm thirsty?

Me: Rolls eyes bravely behind his back

And the moral of this Celtic yarn my friends - as with any good folklore, there are many

• As far as orangey polishes go- Essie's Meet Me At Sunset is as zesty and pithy as they go
• I may never tire of spandangling my mani with little platelets of metallic goodness
• Men can so easily distracted by the thought of food, drink or boobs it's ridonkulous
• Kevin Murphy's Colour Bugs are insanely easy to throw on - a quick rub of the chalky little pot of hair shadow over dry shampooed ends (sticks better on the grittiness), a smush in with your fingers and a coat of hair lacquer and you are dip-dyed and ready to party. 
• And yes it wipes off and washes out just as easily. Who's been bitten by the cleverbug Kevin???
• Hobart is quite tame at celebrating St Patrick's day despite it's Irish heritage
• One can be snuzzled up on the sofa at 7pm after a few Guinness's on March 17th and not arise on the 18th with a stinking hangover - who would have ever thunk it possible?

Sláinte !

*Kevin Murphy Colour Bug Hair Shadow supplied by Adore Beauty, official Colour Bug stockists, Colour Bugs are not affiliated with the Irish flag , they both just happen to be orange. 

*Essie supplied by the gorgeous wee lassies of  Glossybox 

*Guinness supplied by New Sydney Hotel, Hobart and bought by my husband but was drunk entirely by me

Lady Greys

Coincidentally while with an ever-sprouting, increasingly exasperating sprinkling of greys on my new brunette parting I read a Zoe 'Beauty Buff' Foster article on the unfortunate matter.

She recommended Clairol Nice N Easy, Root Touch Up as a sneaky way to tackle the problem between visits to your colourists chair. Now I'm not one for DIY hair jobbies, not since a brief and traumatic foray with Sun-In and a head full of nasty orange streaks aged 14.

 

But I needed something to get me through until I could once again be in the loving hands of my Sydney colourist (yes have hair trust issues)

10 bucks something at my local discount chemist and I'm armed with 'Light Brown'.

Off I go and mix the mini bottle of peroxide with the mini tube of colour in the mini tray, mixing with the mini brush provided trying not to loose grip in the maxi-sized plastic gloves.

Mixy, mixy all up, then a quick blob down your parting with the brush and count up to 10 mins. I'm a woosie and did 7 but rinsed it out to still see of my old silvery friends glistening at me. Another blob down the parting and 5 more mins on the clock before rinsing and I am all pepper, no salt once more.

Thank crap.

The best bit - it blended to my existing hair colour perfectly - it says this on the pack but I was sceptical.

Cue dandruff shampoo ad style photo shoot and no not a chance you can see the befores but trust me I'm talking 20%!

Note there is enough in the packet for two touch-ups so hold back on mixing half of each bottle as once mixed it oxides and you can't use it again, so all in all pretty bloody good value.

Laters lady greys!

Do you DIY root touch up?

Buh Buh Blondie

I finally did it!!

After 16 years of being a blondie – and about 10 years of procrastination I went back to my darker roots.

Well to be fair my “darker roots’ are in fact a non-descript bland mousey brown and nobody would really want to go there but that's just a side-note

This is what I envisaged, courtesy of Leighton, lively, multi-tonal, warm and earthy. On the fence between brown/blonde/red.

We (well my HD actually,  I just sat their sipping wine for my nerves needed to do a warm brown semi-permanent all over then painted on some blonder foils after the semi was washed out

This is where I ended up

Initially , on morning one, a little rain bedraggled!

After a few week's fade and in good light (excited by the prospect of a tandoori chicken burger obviously)

So close but not really at the same time!

How do I feel?  Why thanks for asking, you really are a sweetie……

My answer to be frank is I dunno..

Initially it was a HUGE change , I gave myself a fright every time I caught my reflection and I’d get a shock to see a brown me looking back in a photo.

The true semi-permanent colour without any blonde was quite dark- it looked mahogany to me  but professionals would have probably scoffed at me for my woosiness and confirmed it was light brown.

The “mahoganyness” has lightened now (or I have acclimatised or both) and it’s a warmer base which I prefer. The blonder ends are peeking through that bit more now too.

There are one or two blonde streaks that I’m not keen on the position of, they are on the top, front layers and I really think they should be sitting in the middle and underneath parts only so only to splice through with moving.  I have a healthy ”ginger-spice” fear of blonde streaks on brown or red base.

I've been amazed at how something as simple as hair colour has changed how I feel, my confidence levels and how I think people perceive me! Fascinating stuff.

Some changes I've made

• Make-up - from day 1 brown, I automatically could tolerate more bronzer, and suddenly was reaching for more coral blushes and lipsticks and bronzier eyes. I now sort of unconsciously gravitate to warm tones as opposed to cooler ones. Evident in my lipstick choices , blue-based pinks and rosey blushes are now peachy and coral and even orangey (gasp) tones. Same with eyes. 
• Sock bun- my nude stockings cover has now been replaced with a chocolate brown stocking outer!
• Wardrobe colours - I'm definitely digging out all the jewel tones plus revamping and buying a lot more from the brown palette 
• Hair up - as a blonde hair-up used to freak me out as the roots and darker underlayers would muddy the colour. Now hair up makes me a stronger brunette which I enjoy and I find I at least pin my fringe up which gets rid of said annoying misplaced rogue blonde streak

• Using a colour saving shampoo - I am very much enjoying Burt's Bees Colour Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo & Conditioner* for this. Firstly they are sulfate free, step one at flighting the colour fade. Secondly the antioxidant-rich green tea extract apparently helps to neutralize free radicals and the fabulously named jewelweed extract helps maintain shine. Performance wise I can't really compare as have no brunette colour fade experience but shine wise, this ticks all the boxes plus gives my hair a fabulous fluffed up volume which i love for added volume. The shampoo consistency feels a bit runny and is off putting but a small bit lathers and performs well so I let it slide (go easy when pouring out the nozzle) I am dying to try their Very Volumizing Pomegranate Soy range, if I get this much oomph from the colour range.
• Noticeable grey rootage - this I was not prepared for. Firstly when did I get so f-ing grey? FAARRRRK! You notice it way more 6 weekly in brown rootage than blonde. Secondly how do I maintain this? Monthly visits to the salon? I used to get 2.5-3 months between blondie visits? Brunettes what do you do? Answers on a postcard below please? Old grey mare aint what she used to be!
  

The verdict? Am still undecided. My heart is blonde. My husband not so subtly asks "when blondie is coming back out to play". I've days I dislike it, days I love it and get put off when I see ashy, dull looking photos in some lights.

It took me so long to get there I think I will go for round 2, warm up the base a little, go a tad more red and just have the blonde bits underneath peeking out, then I'll see if Blondie is coming back.

What's your verdict? I've a 50/50 split opinion poll from friends!

Do you play with your hair colour much?

Brunette root tips? HELP?

* supplied for review by the  fabulous worker bees at echolife.com.au  after reading my wishlist- online natural beauty mecca with free delivery and stonking customer service. Greys, roots and opinions my own!

Lest I forget

You know that smug feeling when you rediscover something you loved and had forgotten about and now that you have found it again it feels like you have both something new but never even spent a cent.

Well I've had whole load of said smugness lately

Having to pack up all mu cosmetics. Chuck what was chuckable, give good homes to stuff I would never use and then decide what to pack to bring to Tassie, what to live in storage for later in the year.

Sometimes I think the glee in rediscovering something you loved is almost better than when you first discovered because you know also have nostalgia alongside your refound win.

I've rekindled my love for these bad boys and wonder why I stopped in the first place!!

Kiehl's Creme de Corp.
Reviewed Here
It is simple, nothing fancy but rich as heck and makes skin very schmoft indeedio. Am slathering like a good thing. Greased up yellow love.

Al'chemy Avacado & Calendula Conditioner
Reviewed Here
I found a mini-bottle filled with this so started bringing it to the gym and I just love how this makes my hair feel, smell and behave. It's got a fab sandalwoody/patchouli earthiness, hair is silky and I can't help but keep touching it and its silky and feels gaurded against summer humidity and the woes that brings. I even went and bought another Al'chemy shampoo today as I have this weird thing about using shampoo & conditioner from the same family. Found it for $7.95 in Hobart, winning!


Orly VaVaVoom
Reviewed Here
You know I am obsessed with a polish when it gets two consecutive outings on my pedicured tootsie. It may even stay around for a third. Hot neon pink toes are freakin hot. Stat.

Vani-T Mineral Powder Foundation SPF15 (shell)
Reviewed Here
I'm not sure why this got cast aside but my BareMinerals ran out (as they do all too quickly) and this was knocking about so decided to use it again and I love it. It lasts really well during that day and builds really nicely. Its very well designed too - the powder holes don't seem to release powder until you tap it upside down off the lid. I'm not sure why or how but it's quite clean to carry around. Plus the lid is this big deep space to swirl your brush in making life easier and cleaner. Plus it is huge (20g - 8g in BM by comparison) A good value, functional performer.


Rediscovered anything lately?

Do you only from the use shampoo & conditioner from the same family too?

The mother of all detox baths

Image Source

I've posted before about my Saturday bath ritual. Even in summer I love it. It shakes of the week for me and cruises me gently towards Saturday evening. It's also my time in the week to do all the beauty duty- dry brush, exfoliate, coconut oil hair mask, face scrub, mask etc etc

I always make sure to throw some Epsom salts into  the bath mix- these salts help to draw out toxins and aid fluid retention (something Heidi Klum has cited in the past to use before shows - or perhaps she was just trying to get 30mins away from Seal as we now know!).

These salts add no smell, colour or texture to the water so don't get in the way of your chosen bath oil/bubble bath/rubber ducky.

But recently I've taken my bath to a whole new detoxing level.

Now I work on a credit system with my body. Detox to retox, that's how we roll. A backhanded deal exchanged deep down in some dark, bilious corner of m liver.

I giveth then I taketh away!!

So into my Epsom salts bath is now going the following for the mother of all detox baths

1. Echolife Australian Macrobiotic Sea Salt Bath Crystals*So I've raved about head under salt water being one of my secret hangover cures and there is some validation in that. Bathing in macrobiotic sea salt crystals helps you absorb some sea goodness minerals such as  magnesium chloride, potassium and calcium.

These salts are far superior to say just chucking in some Saxa - this pure, unprocessed, unbleached salt from the Great Barrier is made in covered pans, slowing down the evaporation process, protecting the precious minerals and trace elements contained in the natural sea salt.

It is then harvested by hand and allowed to drain (of excess sea water) in the sun before being packaged.

It is slightly salt pink in colour - testament to the high sea mineral content (just the same colour as the Himalyan salt I use on food/cooking for the same reason) and dissolved really easily in your warm running bath water- I chuck in half a cup.

 

2. Echolife Mojave Green Clay Powder
To my briney water i then add some green clay.

Initially I tracked down green clay on the Echolife website to use as an overnight spot treatment recommended by the knowledgeable lassies over at No More Dirty Looks. However on chatting with the  team at Echolife I learn that this clay makes an almighty bath too.

I mix 1/2 a cup of the green clay powder in a salad bowl with some warm water first and give it a swish with a balloon whisk. It blends perfectly. I them hurl it into the epsomy/salty running bath and it becomes murky and green and a little creamy on top.

Mojave Living Clay is a pure, non-gritty, calcium bentonite (green) clay also rich in trace minerals - making it uniquely effective at deep-cleansing the body of toxins and impurities and is sourced exclusively from the ancient calcium bentonite deposits of the Mojave Desert, South East California. Who would have thought anything Californian could be so pure!!

I love that this gives the bath an extra spa like feel.

There are some muddy clay remnants in the mixing bowl which I smear on my face and chest for a mini-mask.

3. Tisserand Detox Bath Oil*


This bath is all very good and well in terms of detoxing properties now but needs some pimping, some fragrance oomph. Enter Tisserand's Detox Oil-  a blend of organic juniper berry (supports elimination), organic lemon (astringent) and organic black pepper (stimulating). Also cypress, peppermint and rosemary (all bracing and beneficial to circulation) It smells spicy and darkly herbal and almost piney.

Tisserand reckon it helps to stimulates sluggish circulation, encouraging the elimination of toxins and toning of the skin.

Bring it!


It's quite pungent but uplifting and invigorating all the same. I bang in some extra drops of pure juniper oil because I'm hardcore and I am a sinner, my liver needs it.


A quick all-over body dry brush before I plunge in makes for a great all over tingly rush.

Now was in this deep clay abyss you can start to feel all the actives in your surrounds. I've said before the Epsom salts do cause a sensation almost like a very weak magnetic pull.

I can feel it. That or I've been passive smoking crack. Again.

The clay  brings a whole new intensity and why the peeps at Echolife advise to start with smaller volumes and build up gradually. I can feel my circulation going and my heart is thumping. I was worried it may start to give me a headache which I'm prone to but I was okay. I stayed in there about 20minutes , you wouldn't want to stay much longer.

Once back on dry land I feel invigorated and energized and squeaky clean and virtuous with serious soft skin.

Am clean and ready to spend my new clean living credits on a vino.  Tasmanian Pinot Noir anyone?

Detox bathing- do you believe?

Ever had one of those natural mud baths like that dirty fun pair above? - I've always wanted to!

*Were supplied for consideration by the fabulous folk at echolife.com.au . Detox sins and opinions were my own. I purchased the clay on Echolife. Free shipping, gotta love that!

Need more sleep, sorry can't help you but can make it look like you do!
Enter my Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Giveaway over yonder