The past few weeks have been hectic with everything coming at once. As most executives take their leave over Christmas my usually busy world of account management turns into total life take over as I try and get all of the contracts sorted prior to calm of Christmas holidays. Add to that Christmas shopping, social engagements and a few birthdays for good measure and life is pretty busy! So when you are feeling exhausted and looks as much it’s good to have a few go to products. So I thought this week I would share a few of my favourite things. I don't like to break the budget on beauty care so most are fairly affordable but work wonders. Dermaveen Daily Nourish - Soap free wash I use Dermaveen to wash my face day and night. As I have battled with Rosacea I have to be very careful of what I can use on my skin. A lot of products although natural or organic, do not have a neutral pH and will cause irritation. Dermaveen feels beautiful and silky when applied and leaves my skin feeling super clean. It comes in a handy pump bottle and lasts a good 3-4 months, so it's a pretty good buy at only $17.95 Original Source Bodywash Made from natural plant extracts and authentic fragrances the Original Source range is a fantastic everyday product. They have a wide variety of combinations from Pineapple and coconut oil, mint and Teatree (my favourite, it brings back the best memories of holidays in Inverloch where the tea trees are everywhere) to Zesty lime (my DH's favourite for the early morning zing). They have just released a limited edition, Hibiscus and pomegranate which is definitely on the shopping list. Available at Coles for only $7. C Lab & Co - Coffee scrub with coconut Women for years have been using ground coffee as a homemade body scrub to work out imperfections in skin tone and help erase stretchmarks and cellulite. This natural remedy has been packaged along with the addition of coconut by C Lab & Co to take away the hassle of DIY. This product is messy! You are literally taking handfuls of ground coffee and coconut and applying it in a circular motion to the skin. Application is done post shower (but while still in the shower, when the skin is wet). You leave it on for a couple of minutes to allow all the goodness to sink into the skin and then rinse. Afterwards your skin feels thicker, smooth and slightly oily. Almost like you would post moisturising but not quite as sticky. The thing I love most is they do a travel sachet size so I buy these for when I travel for work. This product is 100% natural and available at Priceline for only $9.95 for the travel pack. Gernetic Synchro Cream For a long while I really struggled with moisturises as I found a lot of creams irritated my rosacea. A friend of mine suggested I try this Synchro cream and it is by far the best I have tried. I used this just as a flare up was on the way to recovery as I do avoid putting creams on when things are at their worst but since then I haven't had it come back. It is an extra thick cream which I like because it means I apply once and I feel it holds for the whole day, plus my skin can feel very dry and needs the hydration. Because of its consistency it does leave the skin dewy. I don't ware foundation so I like the appearance it gives my skin, a natural glow but Synchro can be applied day or night so if you are concerned about the shine factor it still may work for you. Some great things to note about Synchro is that it is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal and was originally designed for skin burns. You can pick up a 50ml jar from Amazon for $89 + shipping MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream MooGoo are an all Australian company that makes natural and gentle products. It’s all started from cream that farmers use to put on cows udders for milking (how very Aussie). It has been adapted for human skin as it was all a bit too thick to begin with and the results are fantastic. I have a tube of this in my handbag if I am feeling I need a little something extra and in my travel bag. It’s great for people who suffer from Eczema or have irritated skin. It’s a bit more economic too in comparison to Synchro at only $11.90 a tube. The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask So this product has about every buzz word on the planet in it. Himalayan. Tick. Charcoal. Tick. Purifying. Tick. Glow. Tick. I think this product is fun. I wouldn't use it when your skin is highly irritated but when everything is going well it's worth adding to your regular routine. My job takes me out to some pretty awful places, a lot of dirt, dust, fumes, and god knows what. I come home and feel like I really need to detox what’s gone into my skin and this product makes you feel like your skin has been cleansed deeply inside and out. Charcoal & clay are in a lot masks at the moment to remove pollutants from your skin. Sounds good right? The thing I like most about The Body Shops product is in the clay you can feel and see little particles of what I can only guess is the bamboo charcoal and are it really works away at your skin. You apply in a circular motion to exfoliate and then leave to let it work deep into your pores. Again a little messier than other clay mask products but worth trying if you need a skin detox. Only $39.95 for a 75ml tub Hopefully this post inspires you to try a few new products and change things up. Even if you have some staples that you enjoy using, it can be really good for the skin to mix things up once and a while as it has been shown that over time the skin can become lazy to ingredients that are used frequently. If you have any questions about your own skin conditions or products I have mentioned please use the comment section below.
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There are lots of things I love about Christmas, the excitement, the build up, the community buzz, the food and family coming all together. I do love to give gifts, I think the part I most enjoy is the wrapping and placing them under the tree, the mystery of what could they be, and the participation of seeing joy on the faces of those that I love. Because this part of Christmas is something I dearly love the stress of picking the perfect gift does get to me and for many 'the hunt' can cause a lot of anxiety. To help I put together a quick list of gifts that I have seen that would appeal to many. This is particularity focus on the ladies, I will put up another list on things to get for the men in our life. Fashion+Wearable AccessoriesIt is always fun to receive new jarmies and I love the sleepwear range from Gingerlilly. This slinky chemise is chic and feminine. A flattering cut and on trend fabrics with navy and floral. Any lucky lady in your life will love!. Buy online from Gingerlilly for $59.90 I am obsessed with these sandals. Metallics are still big this season and these gorgeous slip ons will go with just about everything in your wardrobe. Match them with shorts and a tee for a casual lunch at the local cafe or on a hot summers night dress they dress up any maxi. Buy in store or online from Witchery for $99.95 For the modern Boho chic, this Mimco scraf pairs geometric, tassels and metallics. Available in black + gold, White + gun metal grey or my favorite, pastel pink 'pancake'. Scarfs are great gifts for women of all ages so wether its your wife, sister, aunt or mother-in-law she will love the Mimco Muse scarf. Available in store or online from Mimco for $79.95 If you are looking for something small, a stocking stuffer, or working to a tight budget how about these on point drop earrings from Forever New. A filagree gold disc with white and tan bead tassels will accentuate any healthy summer tan. I love that these are really light so you can wear them all day and are made to be hypo-allergenic so suitable for the most sensative of skins. Feminine with a touch of boho, perfect! Available in store or online from Forever New for $12.99 HomeI love adding to my home and expressing my style, interests and personality. I especially love it when I receive gifts from those special to me that I can display and have as reminders of cherished friendships and moments in my life. Artwork is something personnel and can be overlooked in a home. This poster also brings in my love of peonies. The combination of simplicity and femininity makes me want to share this photo with all of my loved ones. Add a frame in either black, gold or white and really see these Peonies pop! Available online from Immy+Indi for $29.50 A2 size (plus frame) I think candles are fairly universal. When I am giving a gift and a bit stuck on what to get someone I usually buy candles for this reason. They can fit in to any budget and a range of designs to work well with any persons style. A lantern really ups the anti and brings an additional layer of luxury for any candle addict. I have been coveting this paneled glass lantern for quite some time, with the art deco style pattern it is definitely on Santa's list! Available in store or online from West Elm for $139.00 (Medium) I am totally addicted to throws. I think they are a fun way with the help of a few cushions and accent items to totally change the feel of a living room. I can change my living room from Scandi to coastal and over to Romantic Lux with a quick swap around of textiles. Give your loved one this faux fur chevron throw to transform their living from lazy Sunday to opulent evening in. Available in store or online from West Elm for $99.00 I find Mums are the hardest to buy for. They do so much for us through out the year and they never want anything in return! My mother and mother-in-law are complete godsends they do however have everything they need and want so you really have to give it a lot of thought. I wanted something of a high quality, would fit in with the flow of the home as it has many decades of memories within it and was a bit over the top they would never buy for them self. Made from natural agate and brass this simple but elegant tray is perfect. Hopefully my Mums aren't reading today, because this is what I have under the tree for one of my life saving Mums. Available in store and online from Pottery Barn for $199 AccessoriesBeauty accessories are great stocking stuffers for girls and women of all ages. I travel a lot for work and don't like taking my good brushes with me as I have a tendency to be a bit forgetful so I loved this set. With quality brushes, the mint green and laser cut pattern add an extra something special for a great Christmas buy. Available from Forever New for $39.95 When I moved to Australia I lived in Queensland, in the picturesque town of Mooloolaba. I became a beach towel junky and love my whole collection. I believe everyone needs a really decent beach towel, and love buying them for my friends and family. The Epoch collective have a beautiful range with a unique edge of being round. My favorite is definitely the Aquatic Lotus with is Mandala style print. Lux in Velour perfect for the hard to buy for! Available online from Epoch Collective for $99.00 And finally, for those that you love and have already blessed them with a luxe beach towel why not turn the dial up with the gorgeous Jute Majorelle 'The Beach People' bag. Again the Mandala print adds a hint of boho across the hessian style bag. A good beach bag should be large enough to house all of the essentials, sturdy to handle the sometimes harsh environment and a mixture of fun meets glamour. Tick, Tick, Tick. Available online from Revolve for $30.31 Hopefully this list has helped inspire you with your Christmas lists this summer. Why not share what your favorite gifts to buy in the comments below!
About 7 years ago I was battling through the highs and lows of my 20's. I had split from my long term boyfriend a few months before and had just had my heart broken by a very stereotypical rebound. I woke up one morning and discovered my chin was a very angry shade of red, with little lumps that were dry and scaly. My skin looked like it was peeling off. Horrified, as any woman would be, with my years of inexperience with skin conditions (I was pretty lucky as a teen despite my naturally oily skin complexion) I painted on as much foundation as I could. Determined that if I could just build up enough layers you wouldn't be able to see the murder scene underneath. Of course this didn't work, within an hour the condition had escalated and my face looked like an archaeological dig. The foundation highlighting every line of the peeling skin beneath. In my particularly fragile state of mind I burst into tears. My boss at the time, a very blokey bloke had no idea how to deal with a crying young woman, kindly let me head on home. I went straight to a girlfriends house who was home from university. She took one look at me and took be to the bathroom. She got rid of all the make-up and applied some soothing moisturizer. Instantly there was an improvement, but it was still a major issue. I was young and couldn't cope so I ended up going to my local GP. In all my time Dr. King at the Sunny Coast medical clinic was by far the best. She was always kind but firm. Thorough but in a gentle way. She diagnosed me with Rosacea and provided me with a cream call Rosex. A firm warning was also given that this is may not be the final time I come up against Rosacea. Six years pass with no repeat. I sort out where I am going in life and move to Melbourne. I meet an amazing guy, do a bit a of travelling and get a pretty good job. Post travelling life got pretty overwhelming. My father unexpectedly passed away, Tim and I decide to by our first home at the same time as I got promoted at work. Eight weeks in two my new jobs and my Rosacea has returned but morphed into a much scarier beast. The tiny red bumps swell over my chin, around my nose, my smile lines, creeping up my cheeks and a couple heading down my neck. I am put onto antibiotics for a month and again prescribed Rosex which sadly didn't work.. A year has now passed and my skin is no where near as bad as it was 12 months ago but I'll admit its still present on a daily basis. Just one spot here or there. Its nothing that stops me from enjoying my life but did hit my confidence pretty hard early on. It's important to understand that there is no 'cure' for Rosacea and there is no definitive answer on what causes it. So each case is unique to that individual. Certain things have shown an improvement in the majority of cases but no guarantees I am afraid. Below are a few things I've changed that I believe have made a noticeable difference. 1. Reduced my stress levels - I believe stress if my biggest trigger. Knowing that to begin made me stress out about stressing so I had to take a few measures early on to overcome it. I tried a number of different styles of meditation and incorporated what worked for me into my daily life. I make sure I get regular exercise, even if its just walking the dog and I put balance first. Learning how to switch off and making up for travelling more by being present in the moment when I am with my loved ones. 2. Soap-free, pH neutral face wash. - I have binned all my previous facial cleansers. Before I knew too much about Rosacea I tried a number of acne washes, masks, corrector's, the lot. If you was to continue to use a face wash which going through an episode of Rosacea it is important to ensure the product is pH neutral and soap free. Most acne washes have a high level of acid based ingredients that will only aggravate the symptoms. I use Dermaveen on a daily basis. It's $17 a bottle but lasts a good 3 months. it leaves my skin clean and reduced the redness. 3. Avoid overheating - This one was really hard for me. I love being cosy. I like to have 2 doona's on the bed and my showers are always extra hot. The problem here is this does make your skin flush which increases the redness and will have long lasting affects across the day. Try stick to a warm water temperature, particularly when washing you face and try get the bedroom nice and cool while resting. 4. Sunscreen - Connected to my point above the sun and it's powerful UV rays are like cryptonite to Rosacea. I am a complete summer bunny, when the sun's shinning and I am outside I am at my happiest, so obviously I didn't want to eliminate something from my life that gives me such joy. So now i use an light SPF 30 sunscreen everyday and where a hat if I am planning to get extensive exposure. I chose to use a standalone sunscreen over a moisturiser with sunscreen in it for two reasons. I found most day creams irritate my skin and the SPF max was typically only SPF 15 which isn't really enough for the Australian Sun. 5. Moisturise at night - Following on from the above I moisturise my face at night. I found night creams to not irritate my skin like day creams have. I currently use Garnier Miracle night cream and only put this on my skin where the Rosacea is not present. 6. Diet & Alocohol - This was one of the harder steps. As I mentioned Rosacea is unique to each person but there are some common foods that can cause a flare up. Because of this I choose not to eat/drink the following. On saying that this is not written in stone. I will occassionally cheat this but on a regular basis I make a choice to avoid: Yogurt, Chili, Coffee (decaf seems okay in moderation), Wine (red and white) and dried fruits. I used to have a glass of red wine every day when I cooked. I have now changed this to a 3 times a week habit and swap wine for Gin & Tonic. Its actually a nice refreshing change although I suspect when winter comes around again I will be craving the red wine again. 7. Water - Last but not least water is so important. Keeping hydrated keeps your skin soft and healthy, able to repair itself quicker and keeps your body temperature down. Don't underestimate the difference hydration can make to your Rosacea. There are some pretty expensive products on the market attesting to cure the symptoms of Rosacea. Through my experience if you are more mindful about what you expose and put on your skin as well as in your body you will see the best outcome. At the end of the day if everything persists talk to a Dermatologist. But also remember this could be a life lesson in resilience and loving yourself. Beauty is so much more then your skin. LH X |
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December 2016
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