Oh Sweet Almond!

Today the God of Sweetness delivered me philosophy Almond Glazed shampoo/shower gel. Every Christmas philosophy release a covetable Christmas range. I totally recommend you lather up with Cinnamon Buns and then soothe the skin with Snow Angel ('tis the season...)
If you're looking for a present for me, can I just point you towards
David Jones to pick me up a Christmas Cookie? Thanks!

philosophy at David Jones online

Movie Madness, Fashion Fest and...Portrait of a Ballerina

A Christmas break calls for a time-out from the world in general. I find this in my workouts, in my reading, but most of all in watching movies, documentaries and series that totally absorb me. I tried...I tested, I did the hard yards for you.

If you are...a Fashion Lover:

You’ve most likely seen The September Issue (9 times or so...), but it is a beautiful tribute to the relationship between Vogue editor Anna Wintour and her long-time eccentric sidekick, Grace Coddington.

Love your Vogue editors? Don’t go past ex-Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld in Mademoiselle C, which documents the making of The CR Book – Carine’s ultimate tribute to fashion in her signature rock chic/eyeliner and glitter style. Karl lovers keep an eye out for The Kaiser.

The Tents – big breath, calm down. It’s the New York Fashion Week film. That is all.

One of the the original street photographers, and a true valentine to New York fashionistas, Bill

Cunningham: New York is Richard Press’ once-in-a-lifetime insight into Vogue favourite, Bill Cunningham’s unique existence. He lives for photographing fantastic clothes and has no interest in going beyond the sidewalks of New York from his trusty bicycle. Will revive your passion for street fashion even though everyone seems to be a street style specialist.

If you are...an Art House Mouse:

Tom Hardy in Locke. A one-man powerhouse, this is a movie just made for the theatre. Despite being in the car with Locke for the entire movie, multiple curious and dramatic characters are introduced via phone calls and the tension is palpable the entire time. I loved it.

Only Lovers Left Alive. Tilda Swinton, anyone? Killer soundtrack to accompany a couple of vampires in Jim Jarmusch’s highly rated poetic follow up to Dead Man.

Doll & Em: a reality-cum-fiction series from writer/actress Emily Mortimer who plays herself as an actress who hires her best friend Doll to LA to take on the role of personal assistant. Exploring the catastrophic potential of paying your best friend to DO STUFF for you. We all know friends are free slave labour...come on Em.

The Lunchbox: So many of my class participants said this was heartlifting, entertaining and totally fun. So drop your beret and thick black glasses into the second drawer down and enjoy having a laugh at a film that doesn’t have serious arthouse credentials, but a whole lotta love.

If you are...a Ballet Sculpt Belle:

Come with me aboard Ballerina. This promises to be “an intimate portrait of five ballerinas from The Kirov”. Consider the insane political environment these dancers are working in, the hours of practice, the tensions of a whole lot of extraordinary talent in one small room and add a camera. I can’t wait.

All titles available from Madman Entertainment - NO POSTAGE FEES for all spends over $30.

Vitamin C and the Natural Look Unmasked

One skin and makeup look that will never go out of fashion is the “natural” look. What it says is “Me... But Better”. So, no dramatic contouring or bold, neon colours. Just an effortless glow with shadows and highlights in the most flattering shades and shapes.
The best asset you can have for achieving a perfect natural look is great skin. That means clear, even tone without swelling, heavy lines, dark circles or acne.

The two key ingredients to look out for in their most potent form are Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Both are powerful antioxidants with the ability to renew skin cells and boost the “plumpness” of skin over time. A 2002 study published in Dermatalogic Surgery proved that vitamin C applied directly to the skin significantly improves the appearance of skin after environmental and sun-damage. It was shown to boost collagen levels, hydration and reduced appearance of wrinkles.
I recently had Laser Genesis at Natural Look Medical Aesthetics (as you know, because you read my blog every day) which leaves the skin renewed but also sensitive. Megan, my awesome laser therapist, recommended vitamin C as the best ingredient for maintaining the skin-renewing effects and speeding up healing/redness.
Fortunately, you don’t need to go to the dermatologist for a prescription. There are high-quality, high-tech vitamin C products on shelf. These are my tried and tested top of the C-Class:

Direct Delivery Vitamin C Serum is a gel that applies easily and weightlessly. Danne Montague-King products are developed in the lab by dermatological wizards so don’t expect to see them at the chemist. Your best bet is to buy direct from a clinic. Locate one here!

Alpha-H is currently 25% off Alpha-H orders with code AH25 at Skincare Store (free delivery too) so if you needed an extra reason to entrust your precious face to a high-end skincare range, this is it.  Their Vital C with Grape Seed gives instant glow. I have been using it at night which seems like such a shame because I look dewier, more radiant and years younger. You’ll just have to trust me on it!

Now that you’ve mastered the skincare, here’s the makeup must haves to make sure you play up your amazing skin. Try to go for shades that are not too far off your natural skin tones. Any colours with a beige, honey, tan, yellow-pink base are going to suit.
I swear by Clinique High Impact Lip in Honey Blush ($36 @ David Jones)
Diorskin Star Foundation has licorice extract and doesn’t make me break out while giving great coverage. Worth the extra dollars for everyday use!
Illamasqua Nymph is coral-hued and so flattering on pale and olive skin tones. Not half as bright as it appears – a light sweep picks up your cheekbones and brightens your eyes. Apply with a big domed brush – I love ecoTools Domed Bronzer  ($17.95 @ The Beauty Office) made of bamboo and recycled materials. It comes with a little pouch for easy handbag storage. I also have real Techniques retractable bronzer brush  ($24.95 @ The Beauty Office) that has a heavier handle and a nice “feel” to it! Gives great coverage too.

Saturday Supercharged Food Session

I have the best of intentions around eating super-healthily, working out in a way that serves my body and meditating regularly and without boredom....

Sure, some days! What I've discovered is that if you make it easier to make those choices then it doesn't feel like such an effort. To that end, I collect recipe books that are beautiful, inspiring and most importantly, SIMPLE things I actually know I'll cook.

This weekend, I'm opening up Lee Holmes' Supercharged Food (Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian). There's over 120 recipes with vegetables as the main ingredient and they are simple, beautiful and appealing to both vegetarians AND non-veggies!

Lee Holmes is a certified holistic health coach, yoga teacher, wholefoods chef and I've also mentioned her previous
books, Supercharged Food and Supercharged Food: Eat Yourself Beautiful. Lee writes for Wellbeing Magazine, The Huffington Post, Lifestyle Food and also won the BUPA Health Influencer Blog Awards in 2013 for www.superchargedfood.com

Because no epic retreat to the kitchen is really complete without a soundtrack, I'll be jazzing around to Chillout Sessions XVII. Because I make it my endless mission to have you feeling loved and prized here, I have a 3-CD Set to giveaway.

You must be in Melbourne. All you need to do is Like Ministry of Sound on Facebook and then post "Chillout Giveaway" on my Facebook page.

Saving Face - laser genesis and IPL for collagen renewal

It used to be a social faux pas to admit to anything so extravagant as Botox or hair removal to anyone other than the professional wielding the laser, but in an age of Kardashians with ever-changing faces, it’s inevitable that women (and men, to a lesser extent) are coming clean on how they retain their youthful appearance.

In the case of Kylie and Danni Minogue, fronting the latest Harper’s Bazaar, they look even better now in their 40s than in their teenage years (Google Neighbours, kids.)

A study from JAMA Dermatology found that in less than 1 percent of cases, injectables and lasers have minor side effects such as bruising, skin discolouration or lumpiness. In a review of 20,399 cases carried out by 23 dermatologists, Dr Murad Alam determined that only one procedure had resulted in unwanted side effects. Researchers warned that experienced practitioners were preferable in avoiding negative side effects.

In the interests of saving you time, angst and money, here’s what you need to know.

Do your research – that means ask around. If someone has eyebrows frozen in a permanent state of shock, find out where they get their anti-wrinkle injections and DO NOT GO THERE.
The point of procedures, from a simple facial through to anti-wrinkle and filler injections, is ultimately to look like you, enhanced. That means natural, not fish-lipped and frozen-browed. And whatever Nicole Kidman might say about not doing anything since a once-off with Botox many years ago, none of us are fooled. I suspect Keith is in on the appointments also... just saying.

Find out from the start what the costs are, the length of appointment and what qualifications and experience your practitioner has. Did they just complete a short course in using Laser? Can you see examples of their work? Many practitioners have portfolios of clients they’ve seen and the work they’ve done. Make sure you are talking about the same thing as far as what a procedure entails in the clinic and what the results will be.

Also, how long will the results last? I have frown lines that I don’t want to deepen so I justify a few hundred dollars as a procedure I only need to get done every 9 months. It also prevents headaches and I find I feel less anxious when I’m not frowning at everything!
I don’t want to look like someone else and that’s not what I set out to achieve. I just feel that in my early 30s, with an active lifestyle and a propensity to sleep badly and get highly stressed, I’m not doing my skin or my face much good with high quality skincare alone.

Megan @ Natural Look Medical Aesthetics

Though you must tread your own path, I highly recommend my practitioner in Port Melbourne, Megan. She is extraordinarily professional, and the amazing Sue works her butt off in the business she has founded and runs herself. I have so much respect for Sue and Megan's commitment to their clients and making sure every person is tailored to and receives the time and energy she’d be given as royalty.

Sue @ Natural Look Medical Aesthetics

Sue runs Natural Look Medical Aesthetics which has a really comprehensive website that hopefully answers your initial questions about what treatments are available, who they’re designed for and what they involve.

In my initial phone consult with Sue, I mentioned my concern over redness and dull-looking skin. She recommended Laser Genesis Skin Therapy, which reduces redness, evens out skin tone and leaves the skin looking plumper and dewier. This was a much better option for me than alternative treatments which had a few days’ downtime. This treatment is also recommended for rosacea, enlarged pores and treating acne scars.

The heated wand was akin to the feeling of the face getting a bit hot and flushed during Bikram yoga – certainly not painful but apparently some people do ask to take rests during the procedure when it gets a bit too hot. Depends how tolerant you are and how sensitive your facial skin is.

I had no redness 20 mins after and with a bit of tinted moisturiser, nobody was any the wiser!

The fabulous Megan (she really is!) then zapped some broken capillaries around my nostrils that were not majorly noticeable but they bothered me. My dad has the same issues that are made worse by sun exposure. I am really careful not to be in direct sunlight too much but hayfever can worsen the little collection of broken capillaries around my nostrils and the bridge of my nose. Thankfully, one zap “vanished” most of them instantly with the others to “coagulate” and be re-absorbed into the blood stream over the next day or so.

Painless. Friendly. Discreet. And there's a whole lot of fab shops and cafes in Bay St Port Melbourne you can investigate before and after your appointment - bonus!

Giveaway - Bronze Goddess

When the summer starts flirting with Melbourne, it's very tempting to be lured into the direct sun and especially if you are a natural tanner.

I don't tan.

So in the interests of looking summery, while protecting my skin and avoiding wrinkles (the price of bathing in sunlight!) I opt for self-tanning products and bronzer for subtle glow and definition around the cheekbones.

Thanks to the gods of summer, I have 10 Physicians Formula Bronze Boosters to give away. Wherever you are in Australia, you can enter the competition and you'll receive your booster in the post just like a Christmas present!

All you need to do is Like my Facebook page and send me a message with your name and postal address. First 10 entries are the winners!

http://www.facebook.com/coreintegritywithcat

The Kitchen Gardener and the Traveller

A symbol of love in Italy, the name “basil” is derived from the Greek “basilikohn” meaning “royal”. A noble, sacred, royal symbol of love.

Basil is also a good source of magnesium, which promotes cardiovascular health by prompting muscles and blood vessels to relax, thus improving blood flow and lessening the risk of irregular heart rhythms or a spasming of the heart muscle or a blood vessel.

In addition to the health benefits and nutrients described above, basil is also an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese, a very good source of copper and vitamin C, and a good source of calcium, iron, folate and omega-3 fatty acids.

Not only should you be liberally cooking with basil, but presenting it as a Christmas present – not just the plant, especially for our beloved with an ineptitude for gardening, but in the form of the beautifully packaged and presented Crabtree Avocado Olive & Basil Skin Replenshing Lotion.

Traditionally coriander has been used as a stomach tonic. Inhaling the aroma of freshly crushed seeds was said to help cure dizziness in the ancient time. 

In the past coriander has been used to treat migraines and indigestion to help purify the blood and to relieve nausea, pain in joints and rheumatism. It has been suggested by research that coriander assists in cleansing the body of lead, aluminium and mercury.

Less a cook and more a clean-freak? Citron Honey &Coriander hand wash and body lotion should be on your list for Santa this year.

Morocco and Hungary Bound!

While I’m recommending Crabtree & Evelyn must-haves for Christmas, my own personal picks are the Moroccan Myrrh and Hungary Water – spicy and fresh with mountain air and mystery, they are redolent of the chaotic and romantic bazaars and street fetes that my father is so enamoured of. He hasn’t stopped talking about Morocco and Istanbul since his first trip there last year and he is off to Hungary in 2015. I am usually at a total loss as to what to buy for my father, but I know I’ve nailed it this year. 

Crabtree & Evelyn Website or online at David Jones

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