FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS: For Rest and Recuperation

By Mark Reed

As you may have read in my previous review on BodyScience products, I recently gave myself an ‘owie’ (as Ralph Wiggum might put it) at the gym. BSc’s line helped get me back on the running road.

But the soreness persisted.

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It’s a busy life right now. I work 6 days a week most weeks, and my brain is nearly always gaming things through, going over and over work stuff. I’m not complaining; I love my line of work, it’s just… Sometimes you need to take your foot off the pedal. Pay attention to you. Relieve the soreness, yes, but ease the mental soreness too.

‘The Beauty Night’ and why you must schedule one

By Tammi Ireland

Ladies, you have to agree with me there is nothing better than feeling sexy, confident and beautiful – just for you.  But how do you get that way if you’ve worked three different deadlines in a row, felt sick from lunch and been told some horrible news?  You schedule it!  Just like your dentist appointment or meeting your superiors, this is important, too.  Once a week is all I ask, and I’ll explain why it’s so great right now…

Tonight was my ‘Beauty Night’.  I try to schedule one a week or – failing that – one a fortnight.  On ‘Beauty Night’ everything gets done. And I mean everything.  Here’s my ‘To Do’ list…

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Obviously there’s no way I could (nor should) do all these on a daily basis, so scheduling one night a week to check everything off the list is not only a great idea, but also something to look forward to.  Because you feel AMAZING afterwards.

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It’s all in the products you use – ‘Beauty Night’ is not the night to skimp on products. On ‘Beauty Night’ it’s the best of the best.  Here are my must haves, working down the ‘To Do’ list:

OM: How I Found my Zen in a Shower Gel

By Tammi Ireland

 

It’s not often one can say they found their zen in a shower gel, but I like to believe I have.  ’Meditate’ is the new range from Natio, one of my family’s tried and tested favourites.  Since moving out of home – and into a significantly smaller shower – I’ve not enjoyed the regular, at-home spa sessions I used to in the larger family bathroom.  That was until I discovered the slim Natio Meditate Shower Gel, which fits perfectly into my tiny shower caddy.

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Now it’s a joy to lather up with Meditate ‘Narcissus’ shower gel (RRP$12.95), breathing in the musk scent that reminds me of my childhood (Saturday netball games were always followed by 50c worth of those pink sticks).  The natural scents are actually, truly calming and have been used for centuries to calm the mind, arouse the sense and awaken meditation energy.  One shower with this gel, followed by Meditate ‘Rose’ body butter (RRP$18.95) and I was ready to get my Yogi on.

Serenity – How to Get It.

How’s your week been, CC‘s?  Mine’s been pretty busy (not unusual) and very exciting (usual).  There have been business ideas in the works, plus some great feedback about my work as a beauty editor and as a friend.  It’s enough to make one warm and fuzzy inside.

Which is why I was sad to discover a very sore throat half-way through the week from a little too many late nights and changing my diet (for the better!?)

This is what I felt like with my sore throat.

By the time today rolled around, I was tiiiired and quite spaced out.  So, I put my yoga how to video on and lit my Be Genki Serenity candle.  Moving my way through the poses and smelling the pure essential oils of Neroli, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Palmarosa and Bergamot from the candle, my worries melted away and I was left free to enjoy my day of (usually) stressful Christmas shopping – without stress!

This Candle Changed My Life!

Every so often in this beauty biz, I come across a product that changes me.  Sometimes I expect it, like the Laura Mercier product that completely changed my skin.  Other times – out of the blue – a product that’s sent to me makes the world of difference to my every day, completely without warning.  The latter of which is a candle.

Refreshing.

A candle!?  How can a candle change your life?  I hear you asking.  Well, ABAHNA design their candles to your mood.  Work has seen many late nights come creeping up lately and I was struggling to coast through them at all, let alone happily.  Then I was sent two ABAHNA candles – White Grapefruit & May Chang, and Lilac Rose & Geranium.

First, I burned the White Grapefruit & May Chang.  It was about 6pm and I’d just gotten back from the (work) office and headed straight to the (home) office for what we used to call an ‘all-nighter’.

Salon at Home – How to get Cashmere Hair

I’m sitting on my bed writing this post, wearing what looks like a cloth shower cap.  It’s a little tight on my head, warmed up and outside it’s hot, hot, hot. Thus, I’m wearing minimal clothing and enjoying the feeling of heat on my head.

The reasoning behind my new look is that I’m trialling the Wondercap.  This New Zealand-designed product is a padded cap that you put on to condition your hair.  I’ve shampooed my hair, run through the Wondercap-supplied Closer to Heaven conditioning treatment, put on a plastic cap (a real shower cap!) and then put on the heated Wondercap as the finale.  The heat allows my hair cuticles to open and fully take advantage of the conditioning treatment – just like when you’re at the salon and they stick you under those scary heaters/steamers.

Not me.

Now to take it off …

Take Time.

Christmas season is intense, no? It’s all about shopping and planning and organising and cooking… it can be stressful for even the most calm of us.  So, on the weekend I took some time for myself, slapped a mask on my face, and read a magazine.  It was the perfect 20 minute break to a whirlwind weekend, and it reinvigorated my inspiration.  If you have time or are feeling stressed, I suggest you do the same.

Ahhhhhh...

Seeing as this is a beauty website, you’d love to know which mask I chose, right?  Well, since you asked, it was the Alaskan Glacial Mud Co. Glacial Facial from Bathing Beauty.  

Get Her Look: MIRANDA | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

On Coveted Canvas over the past week we’ve been looking at the makeup looks of Sex and the City 2 with Charlotte, Samantha and Carrie‘s how to’s. Now we’re rounding up the four fabulous friends with Miranda, the lawyer, mother and good friend.

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Miranda’s makeup is a little more playful in the second part of the movie when she has more time for her.  Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in Pink Shimmer (RRP $9.95) is not a likely choice for a red head but works well because of its shiny qualities.  Other colours great for those with fair skin and flaming hair include red, bronze and nude.

Get Her Look: CHARLOTTE | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

So we’ve moved through Carrie and Samantha‘s looks from the Sex and the City 2 movie and now it’s time to take a relaxed look at Charlotte.  Her look didn’t change so much from the series or the first movie.  All that really changed was a little bit of added pink, inspired from her two girls.

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A little pink tinge to your beauty routine adds a touch of romanticism, exactly what Charlotte is all about.  If you’re not into putting it onto your face, try a slick of pink or cream on your nails.  I love Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Slip (RRP $13.95) for its transparency.  It’s a lovely cream-based pink colour that would be perfect for a wedding or a garden party.

A Little Sniff of Luxury

Following on from my post about the importance of relaxation, I’d like to introduce you to two things.  The first is the lovely Yaz Turker’s blog, aptly called The Happiness Cocktail where Yaz sporadically posts about the importance of taking time.  It’s a great read!

Second is MOR‘s Black Cherry Plum candle, yet another great scent for relaxation.  Everything about this candle is sexy!  It’s packaging is seductive, it’s black, shiny glass and black wax is sophisticated and the scent itself is luxurious.  Plus, the MOR logo is stamped on in 24 carat gold.

Luxury in a candle.