Monday, December 6, 2010

Soul Revival - Be Genki

When it comes to truly being 'beautiful', lithe limbs, illuminated cheekbones and the perfect pout will only get you so far. To reach your true beauty potential, you need to have a happy soul. It's something that can be difficult to attain because, unlike glossy hair or a clear complexion, it can't be bought.

No mistaking it though, when you've got it, you shine.

For me, a lot of happiness it tied up with living in the moment. While I'm not pollyanna-esque enough to believe that every moment is going to be perfectly happy, by focusing on the here and now and not letting myself fall prey to the all-too-common mistake of being 'happy when', I find I experience a lot more joy.

Someone who's philosophy on happiness and wellbeing that is very close to my heart is Sam Sample, founder of the delicious Be Genki. According to the website, "the Japanese word ‘genki’ means to be happy, healthy, and in harmony with oneself on all levels" - sounds like a prescription for a happy soul to me! Be Genki is a truly beautiful range of products that are all based on pure essential oils and designed to provide a holistic approach to self-care and wellbeing.

My all-time favourite from the range is the Body Oil, which is available in the four signature ranges; Vitality, Tranquility, Serenity and Sensuality. The formula is ultra-nourishing and perfect for restoring lost hydration (something I experience a lot as a result of the long hot baths I love to take). The unique blends in each also make them a treat to use!

To check out the entire range and be inspired by Sam's approach to holistic happiness, visit the website and Be Genki blog. Incorporate the suggested rituals into your daily routines and you'll find your soul is happier for it.

x


Monday, November 29, 2010

Heaven Scent

My best friend returned home to Sydney this week after two years spent living in India for work and brought with her the latest object of my affection. It wasn't an exotic new boyfriend, but something better! The scent that she wore on her skin...

Kilian perfumes are exotic, rare and luxe. Developed by the grandson of the founder of the LVMH group, the range is exquisite and designed to delight the senses of the wearer and all those who come in contact with her.

Amidst the current line up of mass-produced and often copied fragrances that are flooding the market, I am head over heels for this foreign treasure. My friend wears 'Liaisons Dangerueses' (a name equally delicious as the scent), but assures me that each is as special as the next.



Sadly not yet available in Australia, Kilian perfumes can be shopped and shipped from the website. I am now planning my next pilgrimage overseas to bring one home that I can call my own.

x

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Mane Event

With so much beauty-focus often placed on body and face care during summer, it's important not to neglect your tresses! Hair often suffers during the warmer months as we spend long days in the sun, in chlorinated pools and at the beach. I find my own thick hair often becomes unmanageable, which results in me wanting to throw it up in a loose mess and forget about it!


In an effort to banish this hair-neglect cycle, I've recently been trialling different products designed to give my hair back some love....here are my top three.

While textured 'beach hair' is in, a dry and brittle mane is not! Counteract any damage with a weekly at-home deep conditioning hair mask. My all-time favourite is the Davines Nourishing Repairing Mask with Olive Butter. This delicious green butter from Italian Hair and Spa brand Davines (who couldn't love a brand who's mantra is 'Beauty Will Save The World'?) is an absolute treat to slather on. Fortified with not just Olive butter (nourishing and restorative), but Cherry Oil, Jojoba Oil and Rhizobian Gum to prevent flyaways and add volume....your hair will love you for it!



Go one step further and apply your sun-savvy to prevent damage occurring in the first place by using quality SPF-for-hair! I'm currently loving Revlon's Equave 2 Phase Instant Conditioner for Sun-exposed hair. A quick spritz before you head out and hair is protected from solar radiation, sea salt and chlorine. The product contains wide-spectrum UVA and UVB filters and is enriched with natural grape and green tea extracts, meaning it's a triple threat against any potential damage-inducers!



Last but certainly not least is the final object of my affection, Morrocan Oil. This has become somewhat of a cult beauty product in recent times, attracting fans far and wide as we all search for a treatment that will not only smooth & nourish hair, but protect, restore shine and softness and moisture. Put simply, I now wouldn't point a blowdryer at my hair without it.





Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Loving....Shellac

I'm a huge fan of the mani/ pedi and often find it's the perfect (non-chocolate) pick me up when my days are more stressful than I'd like! I find the scrub-massage-file-buff-polish ritual calming and love the fact that I walk away with pretty, polished shots of colour at my finger tips. Catching sight of them during the day as I tap away on my laptop always makes me feel polished and pretty (even on the days of looming deadlines when I'm more frazzled than fresh!).

Frustrated by my tendency to chip and smudge polish however (no matter how many times I tell myself, I just lack the patience to sit still while they dry), I decided to try Shellac after hearing people rave about this '2-week manicure'.

The deal with Shellac (by nail geniuses CND) is that it is a half polish-half gel product. It applies like a polish but has the strength, flexibility and durability to last like a gel, the general lifespan of a Shellac mani is said to be approximately 2 weeks. After painting the nail, each layer is 'cured' or set with brief exposure to UV light. Once this process is completed for all layers (base, two colour coats and top coat), you're good to go and are left with nails that are immediately 100% dry!

Shellac is available in a limited range of colours (although my manicurist assures me a broader range is on the way!) that all finish with a beautiful shine similar to what you would expect from a gel and best of all, lasts up to 2 weeks.




Looking at my un-chipped, shiny soft baby-pink nails as I type this, I think I'm a convert!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Monday musing...

"I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she had a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny"

- Coco Chanel




Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pesky Pigmentation

The beauty and cosmetics industry has been all a-flutter in recent times following the results from numerous studies that show pigmentation plays a huge role in our perception of age. After years of developing lotions, potions and treatments designed to combat lines and wrinkles (originally perceived the be the factor responsible for ageing us in terms of appearance), things were turned on their head when researchers discovered that is also the appearance of uneven tone and dark spots on our complexion that is closely linked with others perception of our youth (or lack of!).

After reading this, it's amazing how hyper-aware I have become of my own developing pigmentation, which is largely concentrated on the tops of my cheek bones, right up near my eyes and also on my chin. The most common causes of pigmentation or dark spots are sun damage, hormonal changes (hello pregnancy and the pill!) and post-inflammatory scarring from things like acne or breakout. So what's a girl to do?!

First and foremost, prevention is always better than cure. Use a quality SPF, i.e. one that protects from UVA and UVB rays, daily to keep UV damage at bay. I'm currently loving Hissy Fit 'Saving Face' in Sand rrp $39.95. Not only can I pat myself on the back for being so proactive about my skin, but I love the scent so it's a pleasure to use.

For pigmentation that has already surfaced, you will need to treat it with product specifically designed to sort out such issues. I'm loving Priori Coffeeberry Brightening Complex rrp $160 which addresses sun damage and pigmentation and also includes the potent Coffeeberry antioxidant to fight free radicals and prevent further damage from occuring - double duty at it's best.



Regular professional peels will also help in the treatment of pigmentation and promote a luminous, glowy complexion. Look for peels based on AHA lactic acid, as they will not only brighten skin, but induce a rush of hyaluronic acid, the bodies own skin moisturiser. The result? Skin that is bright, glowing, plump and smooth - skin beauty at it's best.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

"Zest is the secret of all beauty,
there is no beauty that is attractive without zest"
- Christain Dior

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