Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Win a Glamping Getaway at Paperbark Camp with Nourished Life!


I have aaaaalways wanted to stay at the exclusive Paperbark Camp in beautiful Jervis Bay. This month Nourished Life has teamed up with Paperbark Camp to give you and your Valentine a chance to WIN a 2-night weekend escape in a deluxe safari tent, worth $1320. Includes flights! 

To win this ultimate glamping experience, simply make sure you're a Nourished Life club member (it's FREE and enables you to earn points to redeem on future purchases), place an order of $50+, and add the comment "GLAMPING" to the order.


Competition commences January 31st 11.00am and ends February 28th 11.59pm 2017

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Organic All the Way as a New Year’s Resolution


New year is here and so we are enthusiastic about turning a fresh page in our lives. We decide to turn things around this time and so we make tons of resolutions: from being kinder and more present when it comes to our loved ones to taking better care of ourselves by losing weight, drinking less, eating more mindfully, and in general - committing to a healthier lifestyle.


But what about your skincare? Many people forget to detox their beauty routines as they are completely used to conventional products on the market. These formulas might ensure instant results but are packed with harmful chemicals. Checking the product’s label should be one of your new year’s resolutions as well as developing a more holistic approach to beauty and health.



Beware of harmful chemicals 
When people decide to start the detox process, they usually focus on cleaning their diets. But what about the ingredients your body consumes from the outside? Your skin is your largest organ and it soaks everything in. This is why you should take precautionary measures when choosing your products: from body lotions and shower gels to moisturisers and face creams - you need to check the label. 

Avoid parabens (they are linked to breast cancer), artificial fragrances and synthetic colours (might be cancerous, cause allergies, skin irritation, or even lung problems), and especially Sodium lauryl sulphates (might cause respiratory and kidney dysfunction).



Look for ingredients your skin needs 
As we grow older, the fibres of collagen get weaker and so you need to incorporate ingredients that will defer the aging process. From early twenties, you need to start using products with retinol. This magical ingredient can be found in all natural formulas (e.g. carrots and honey) and it provides you with radiant skin. Check out toxin-free formulas such as the organic products by dr Hauschka: they are committed to manufacturing 100% organic products right from the very start - while harvesting the ingredients in their own non-chemical gardens.


Try products that provide you with optimal care: for example, vanilla and honey face mask will make your skin deeply hydrated and you can even leave it overnight. Late twenties are the time when you should really focus on formulas with vitamin C and high-quality exfoliators. In thirties (and years to come), you should focus on formulas packed with antioxidants and vitamin E, such as camellia oil or pomegranate. Coffee beans help your skin revitalise.



Eat your way to healthy skin 
While you might have switched to a healthier diet, you can make the most of it by eating certain foods to complement your external skincare. For an additional dose of vitamin C, turn to kiwi, broccoli, oranges, or sweet potatoes. These will support the production of collagen and rejuvenate your skin.


Selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C will ensure your skin stays dewy: turn to fish, tomatoes, and eggs. Healthy fats (e.g. found in avocados) can help you battle free radicals. In order to keep your hormones in balance, eat more phytoestrogens: turn to whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and soya. Omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory prospects and linseeds and walnuts make the greatest sources of it.



Make smarter choices and detox 
Your skin reveals your lifestyle habits: from the amount of sleep you get, to your nutrition. You have certainly noticed that one night of bad sleep leaves its mark on your skin: dark circles or puffy eyes can be a nightmare. However, if you commit to a holistic approach - your skin will reward you with a glowing look. Try increasing your water intake and embrace the benefits of green tea. Drinking enough fluids ensures all the toxins are flushed from your body.



Avoid sugary drinks (sodas or soft drinks) and stick with all-natural beverages that provide your body great hydration: it is the key to preventing dry and ashy-looking skin.

Going all organic means being more mindful about the internal and external care of your body. Remember these things the next time you go grocery shopping, or hunting for beauty products: committing to a healthier regime is definitely a new year’s resolution worth making.




Author BIO: 


Sophia Smith is Australian based fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger. She is very passionate about yoga, organic skincare and healthy food choices. Sophia writes mostly in beauty related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is a style editor at High Style Life, but over the years she wrote pieces for many other beauty and lifestyle blogs and magazines. 

You can find out more about her writing following her on: Facebook Twitter Google +

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Have Baby Will Travel : Byron Bay


Recently we had a little family road trip up to gorgeous Byron Bay. My sister was having her hens (bachelorette) party up there so we decided to have a little family vacate at the same time. Why not, eh? 

Here are our top picks from our stay...


Eat




This family friendly corner store / cafe has a focus on local & organic produce and also serves up fab coffee. We enjoyed some tropical acai bowls and coffee while our wild thing ran around on the front lawn with everyone else's tiny tots and dogs. 

Passed this cute tropical wall on our way there & back too!






All about nourishing foods, you'll find an organic, ethical, plant based menu at Folk Byron Bay. I indulged in a coconut latte and some poached eggs & smashed avo on sourdough. Lots of furry friends for our little guy to play with again. 




Mmmmm, turmeric lattes, gluten free breakfast tacos, and an organic kombucha for the road. So glad we stopped in here before our big drive home. Pretty sure this was my favourite cafe meal of our entire trip.




We surprised my sister with a decadent lunch at Rae's with all of her best girls. The food was lovely and the service was great. Side note: no, I didn't bring hubby and bub with me. They spent this rainy day at the Circus Arts School whilst us ladies wined and dined away.











We popped in up here a couple of times during our stay. The girls that is, sans baby. Delicious cocktails and some scrumptious share plates of food. We dined on oysters, soft shell crab tacos, duck fat chips, and prawns. 


Where we would stop for coffee on the fly. Their macadamia nut milk lattes were addictive! Plus they serve my favourite coffee, All Press. Yeehaa!



Shop




Spell & the Gypsy is a must for all bohemian goddesses.




For all your Australian-made, eco-friendly, clothing basics.




This store is like you've stepped into heaven on earth. The most amazing custom-made furniture. homewares and art with some fashion on the side ;-)



See


Byron has a number of gorgeous beaches to choose from. We stayed right on Main Beach and took advantage of the kids playground there. It was especially nice to walk along the beach and then watch our little guy play as the sun began to set and musicians started to play.









Home of the biggest and most beautiful crystals in the world, Shambhala Gardens, and rainforest. Crystal Castle has an enchantment that seems to cast a spell over you the moment you step inside. I felt like Alice in a Zen Wonderland. Very kid-friendly with a playground that also includes a giant dragon and there was even a face painter when we were there. 




Australia's most easterly lighthouse. If you're lucky you may catch dolphins, turtles, or humpback whales on their annual migration from up here. The ocean views are breathtaking.



Hoping for a longer stay next time so we can explore much more.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

How to Be Your Own Beauty Guru


Happy New Year, Soulful ones! How has the festive season been treating you? I've been taking it slow, spending time with my family, trying to be as present as possible. We've had some restorative beach-time as Sydney saw temps reach about 42 C for a couple of days - eek! I've had plenty of meditation time, done quite a bit of journaling, and have just been generally trying to ease my way into the new year, being as intuitive as possible instead of making a crazy list of resolutions that, let's be honest, may not even serve me whatsoever, and just waste my time and energy worrying about. 2017 will be all about letting go of that which does not serve me. I did my "year ahead spread" using my new gorgeous "Wild Unknown" tarot that my hubby gifted me for Christmas and the theme of this year was "stillness and mental power."

Anyway, moving along to today's post, How to Be Your Own Beauty Guru, brought to us by the lovely Sophia Smith.




Each woman has something unique which she should highlight in order to bring out her innate beauty. This brings us to the following question: Who is better for this job than you yourself? Absolutely no one, since you know best what you need and what you want.

So, in order to help you become your own beauty guru, we have prepared a list of practical suggestions you can apply.


Get to know your skin
The first step of skincare is to get to know your skin. Firstly, you must know whether it’s dry, oily, normal or sensitive, since this will help you realise what products and ingredients you should incorporate into your skincare routine.


For example, if your skin is oily, you should go for oil-free cleansers and moisturisers. On the other hand, women with dry skin should avoid foam based cleansers, which will additionally dry out their skin. Knowing your skin type and what it needs is also important when deciding how often you should go for a skin peel, since there isn’t a right answer you can blindly follow.



The importance of high-quality cosmetics
Choosing the best cosmetic products has become a demanding job, since there are thousands of different brands on the market. However, although they are present and probably quite affordable, that doesn’t mean they are all good.



For this reason, we strongly advise you to stick to the tested ones, like GERnetic and Alpha-H Skincare products. Don’t hesitate to spend money on this, since you deserve to have high-quality skincare, that will leave your face beautiful, balanced, and glowing. It’s worth the investment!



Adequate make-up
Analyse your face, its shape, features, skin texture, etc. Once you get to know it to the smallest detail, you will easily decide on the make-up which suits your skin type and the colours which accentuate your innate beauty.

 


You can go online and find some very useful make-up tutorials by top beauty gurus, who will show you practical tips and tricks that you can later incorporate in your routine. The most important thing is to be unique; so, feel free to experiment with different styles until you find the one that reflects who you really are.


Try DIY face masks and other products
Face masks should absolutely be part of your skincare. They are especially important in the winter time, when the skin is easily dried out because of the cold weather and harsh winds. The best thing is that you can easily make these masks on your own and adapt them to your skin type.

 
  

For example, a banana facial mask will leave your skin moisturised and soft. All you need to do is mash up a ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. After 10 to 20 minutes, you can rinse it off with cold water. The effects will leave you speechless. However, aside from face masks, you can also make other skincare products including natural sunscreen, green tea bath salts or a gentle hand wash.



Eat healthy
No matter how good and effective your products are, remember that beauty also comes from the inside. You have to feel well in order to be beautiful, and this is only possible if you have a healthy lifestyle, which primarily means having healthy eating habits.

 


Some of the essential beauty foods include: yoghurt, because it contains amino acids that help you get rid of dark circles under your eyes, oysters, which reduce acne since they control excess oil production, or red bell peppers, which have high antioxidant levels, and this is very important if you want your skin to be clean and look perfect.

As you can see, becoming your own beauty guru is not that hard after all. You only need to be creative and ready to experiment until you find what suits you perfectly.


Author BIO:

Sophia Smith is Australian based  fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger. She is very passionate about yoga, organic skincare and healthy food choices. Sophia writes mostly in beauty related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is a style editor at High Style Life, but over the years she wrote pieces for many other beauty and lifestyle blogs and magazines.

You can find out more about her writing following her on: Facebook  Twitter  Google +