All about Seaweed

Okay, so I'm a little obsessed with seaweed. Huh? Like sushi? Well yes, I LOVE sushi, but I'm also talking about beauty products...

Reasons to get into seaweed:

* It's a great natural product, full of minerals, vitamins and amino acids essential for good health.

* Seaweed has anti-oxidants too, which can help protect skin from free radicals, which accelerates ageing.

* Seaweed is a natural anti-inflammatory.

* Seaweed (food) is a great source of iodine (which most people don't get enough of in their diet), which helps promote thyroid health.

* Seaweed has proven to help stimulate hair growth and thickness.

* Seaweed aids in skin renewal.

* Seaweed aids in skin suppleness.

These are my fave seaweed products that I just adore, and highly recommend:




The Body Shop Seaweed face cleanser
Ugh. I love everything about this. The smell, the way it lathers up, the way it makes my skin feel. This ticks all of the boxes that a cleanser should. I've tried many cleansers, but I always come back to this. It cleans without making your skin feel too tight or oily afterwards.
Available: The Body Shop stores and online
RRP: $17.95










Mario Badescu Seaweed night cream
I love the texture of this. It also absorbs really fast and my skin feels so fresh after using it. It keeps my skin well hydrated overnight and I don't look "tired" in the morning.
Available: Mecca Cosmetica, mecca.com.au and beautybay.com
RRP: $29




Bumble and Bumble Seaweed shampoo and conditioner
These 2 both contain Marine Extracts which help promote scalp health, which is essential for healthy hair. They are gentle enough to be used everyday (not that you should...). It's quite mild but cleanses nicely without feeling like you're stripping natural oils in your hair. It leaves my hair feeling soft and light and doesn't weigh down my roots, which I like in my shampoo/ conditioner. It smells fresh too.
Available: Mecca Cosmetica and mecca.com.au
RRP: Shampoo $33, Conditioner $35






Other products that look great and worth a shot:

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner
This contains no alcohol so it's not drying like other toners can be. Purifies and refreshes the skin. Those with redness and acne prone skin would really benefit from using this as seaweed helps reduce redness.
Available: The Body Shop stores and online
RRP: $17.95

Makeup Store Seaweed eye dust
Ok, not technically a seaweed product, but this is such a pretty shade and perfect for those who love green and olive shades. Makeup Store eye dusts are pigments which are versatile, depending on how creative you want to be. Apply with some fix+ on a brush for more intense pigmentation.
Available: Makeup Store stores and online, beautybay.com
RRP: $35 (Makeup Store), $27AUD (Beauty Bay)

Review: Kelapa Organics SPF15 Moisturiser

The Kelapa Organics SPF15 Moisturiser is the newest product in their skincare line. It fits in nicely amongst their line of basic necessities of good and essential skincare.

All Kelapa Organic Skincare is:

~ Not tested on animals

~ Vegan

~ Organic

~ Australian made and owned

This is what Kelapa Organics have to say about the SPF15 Face Moisturiser:

Kelapa’s SPF15 Face Moisturiser is a light yet protective lotion that’s ideal for everyday use. It’s non greasy, quickly absorbing and perfect on its own or under make up. This Natural SPF Face Moisturiser Contains Certified Organic Coconut Oil for its exceptional moisturising and protective qualities.

All Kelapa products are organic, natural and contain "the holy grail", Coconut Oil. They also do not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, synthetic fragrances, parabens, artificial colours or preservatives.

It's 75ml and is encased in a white plastic bottle with a matte paper wrapping. It's very simple but looks clean and fresh. It comes in a pump bottle which is great for hygiene and being able to disperse as much as you need.

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First Impressions:
The Kelapa SPF15 moisturiser was quite thick, but easy to apply and rub in. I did find that it clung to the dry patches on my face, but were rubbed in with a little more effort. It smells like coconut and is pleasant, and there is also an underlying smell that's really nice. I'm not sure what it is, maybe vanilla as I do know some of their other products are vanilla scented, but it went away so quickly I couldn't put my finger on it.


After a month:
I've been using this every day and feel like it does a good job at moisturising, the biggest thing, and most important for myself, is the fact that as an SPF product, The Kelapa moisturiser is thick. Most moisturisers (with and without an SPF) are very thin, which you need a good teaspoon of sunscreen (SPF) for the face to ensure you are properly protected. I imagine a thinner moisturiser wouldn't provide as much coverage as you're using less product to begin with. I used a pump and a half each application. It did cling to the area around my smile lines by my mouth, but absorbed with more rubbing in.

This didn't break me out at all and made my skin feel well moisturised. It didn't interfere or affect my makeup products at all. Not with primer, foundation, illuminiser or any other products I might use as a base. It doesn't affect longevity in my makeup or make me look oily so I have to re-powder (I don't think I ever re-powder tbh). If i didn't use any makeup on my face (weekends), I could still feel the moisture on my face so it doesn't completely sink in, which I actually prefer. It makes me feels as though my skin is consistently being moisturised (I could be wrong about that haha). I guess thats also a sign that my skin isn't dry and it doesn't suck it all up. Importantly, it doesn't make my skin look oily at this point either.

I did find the more you rub it in, the stickier it does get and I definitely had to wash my hands before applying anything else to my skin afterwards. The only thing that would make this even better, is making this an SPF30.

I also haven't discovered what that "hidden" scent is yet either...
I would love to know what it smells like, but this is a great thing for those who don't particularly like scented skincare. It smells pleasant, then evaporates quickly.


Would I repurchase?:
Yes. I'm really enjoying it. I do prefer the consistency of the Olay SPF15 moisturiser (my holy grail) whilst applying and rubbing in, but I feel like this is a great natural alternative, which is what I'm starting to get more into.

I also imagine that being a coconut oil product, eventually this could be helpful in keeping those wrinkles away like oils can do (olive oil anyone?). I do also wish that it was more easily accessible and not just available via the website.

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Day:
The Body Shop Seaweed cleanser
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Kelapa Organics SPF15 Face Moisturiser
Kate Somerville Cytocell eye cream

Night: 
The Body Shop Seaweed cleanser
Mario Badescu Seaweed night cream
Glamourflage Luscious Lucy face cream for neck and décolletage 
Kate Somerville Cytocell eye cream
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta extra strength peels (every monday)


Available: kelapa.com.au
RRP: $29.95


As with all skincare reviews, product has been tested for at least 30 days before reviewing. All opinions are genuine and this product was sent to me for consideration. 

Kiss and Tell: bright pink lipstick day!

Tomorrow, Friday the 25th, is Bright Pink Lipstick Day! 

Pink Hope is a charity for preventative health for breast cancer.
Now in its 4th year, Pink Hope aims to encourage Australians to have a conversation about their family's heriditary health, specifically their risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This is a big one, with many people having it in their family, many people who already have it, many who have survived it and unfortunately, many who will get it.

Statistics: (for Australia)
In 2015 there will be a projected:
15,740 people with new cases, of those, 
15,600 are women 
145 are men. Yes men do get breast cancer.

When/ what/ how to check:  * You should be checking your breasts once a month, ideally avoiding the week before and after your period for better detection. 
* Any type of "lump" should be investigated, no matter what it feels like. 
* Go to a doctor and get them to show you how it should be properly done if you're unsure. No need to feel ashamed, it's what they're there for! 
* Get your partner involved to "help check" as sometimes a partner has a good idea on how things feel and sometimes will be the first to know when something's up.
* Try to minimise the use of a bra, as the wires can block the lymph nodes. 
* Get a Pap smear every 2 years, (make it even or odd years 20, 22 etc, whatever works for you, so you don't forget).

It's all about preventative measure, rather than dealing with it, should it ever happen. 

Together with Pink Hope, Luma Cosmetics have come out with a Limited Edition Bright Pink lipstick for this cause and is available at lumacosmetics.com.au with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Pink Hope charity. 
RRP: $19.95

Other ways you can help (all help is appreciated, no matter how big, or small!):
~ Upload a pic on Instagram, on Friday the 25th of September making your promise to "kiss and tell" using the campaign hashtags #BrightPinkLipstickDay and #Lumacosmetics 

~ You can donate to Pink Hope at pinkhope.org.au (it's tax deductible for donations over $2)

~ Visit pinkhope.org.au and support the campaign


Statistics from canceraustralia.gov.au

How about those antioxidants?

I bet you don't really think about antioxidants much huh?

What are antioxidants? What do they do? Are they bad? What do they do to your body? Etc etc. Well good old trusty Google had this to say...

1. "Antioxidants are compounds found in foods that neutralise or 'mop up' molecules called free radicals that can harm our cells. Damage caused to cells by free radicals is linked to certain diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The best sources of antioxidants are fruits and vegetables."

So basically they are GOOD little things that can help you stay looking younger and help to combat things like sun damage (as an example, that's also beauty related) by helping to repair the cells in your body, these "free radicals" they're talking about.

The biggest source, as it says, is fruit and vegetables, so a healthy diet, lots of water and green tea and skincare with antioxidants, such as Rosehip Oil or Vitamin C, all benefit your skin (and body) and provide these antioxidants.

Anyway, this post isn't actually about skincare, it is about a few other products I love to use that are time efficient, easy to use and drink, to help you keep that fresh, younger looking skin with food aids, which can also really help for those who either can't afford, or "forget" to eat healthy. Hey, we're all human (I may or may not go on delicious food binges and forget about healthy stuff for a week few days...)


2 products I love and try to have on a daily basis, that are brimming with antioxidants are these:

Nutra Organics Acai Berry Blend (morning)
I like this in the morning due to being all fruit, it still has a lot of sugar, so is best to have ample time to burn away through daily activities. You can top this on your toasted muesli (or whatever you like for breakfast), mix it into some plain yogurt, smoothies etc. It's pretty unlimited in its use. It contains all of the *important* antioxidant berries with Acai being the main star. It also contains blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, beetroot and goji berries. It's freeze dried so it's a powdered form of berries, which means for a teaspoon, you're basically eating a punnet of berries... 1 tub lasts me for about 3 months and I usually just have roughly teaspoon in a glass of water. I've been having this stuff for probably 3-4 years now and I truly believe it has played a big part in me not getting sick as often as I used to.
Buy: Nutraorganics.com.au
RRP: $49.95 ($10 shipping)

Matcha Maiden Matcha Green Tea (night)
Matcha is a Japanese green tea (shade grown) that is a stone ground, powdered version with over 100x the antioxidants and 1 cup compares to the health benefits of 10 cups of regular green tea. I find it less bitter than bagged green tea can be, and some do find it also slightly sweeter. A bag usually lasts me 3 months as you only need the tiniest amount (I'm talking 1/4 of a teaspoon). Again, it's another product with many uses, like sprinkling it on your breakfast, bake with it (mmm cupcakes) etc. 
I like this at night as a hot tea when I'm relaxing and almost ready for bed.
Buy: Matchamaiden.com
RRP: $24.95 for 70g (free shipping)


As always, like anything, these supplements are always best accompanied with a good diet, water, exercise and a good skincare routine (preferably natural).