Winter Solstice & New Beginnings

Photo of me taken in London by Candice Lake

I have been trying to ignore the fact that Winter hit Sydney, but with today being the shortest day of the year, I have come to terms with it. The heater is pumping, I am wrapped in socks and scarf while sitting in my office and sipping herbal teas. Actually, I am having two cups going at the same time.

Today is supposed to be a powerful Winter Solstice paired with a full moon, which I learned this morning in my yoga class. It's a time for new beginnings, a time to reflect and do a little less.

Inspired by this short cold day, I decided to really embrace Winter this year.
I would love to hear of your rituals, too.
 

My Winter Beauty & Health Rituals And Resolutions

TEA
I have stocked up on organic teas like Dandelion Chai, Rooibos, Rosehip & Ginger and Spicy Yogi Tea. During our recent Byron trip, I really got hooked on healthy coffee alternatives that are just as comforting. My resoIution:
I am reducing my caffeine intake at the same time and will only have the occasional coffee.

WARDROBE
I am planning on getting a nice Winter wardrobe. (The last few years I only had nice Summer clothes and tried to get through the Winter with some old leggings and old jumpers)

BATH TIME
Taking Baths! It's quite an act of self-love and indulgence. I love using Magnesium bath salts, which are extra relaxing and soothing on sore muscles. I am aiming to schedule in more time for baths during this cold season.

NUTRITION
Winter is the perfect time for Soups! We are mixing it up over here and trying out all sorts of combinations. Pumkin, Cauliflower, Mushroom... We love warming spices like Ginger and Chili, which are warming.

YOGA
Morning runs were skipped lately, not only because it's fresh outside, but mainly because it's too dark in the early morning. So we are doing some Kundalini Yoga over here in our loungeroom every morning. We put the heater on and cosy lighting. It's just the best way to start the day.

What do you like to do in Winter?
This might develop into a little Winter Series with more concrete recommendations & tips.

Until then: Stay warm and cosy. x

Natural Beauty Expert Advice for Brides

Photo by Justin Aaron
It's been a buzzing little month this one, packed with great collaborations and opportunities.

One of them was being asked to be part ofthe bridal beauty expert panel for HUM Nutrition.
I am so happy to see that more and more beauty advice follows a holistic approach, considering diet, exercise and natural skin care together as the path to natural beauty.

Read my tips below and make sure to check out the whole article.

“Start a good skin care regime as early before the wedding as possible. Incorporate a gentle exfoliant into your routine in the month leading up to your wedding to get a really lovely glow. Look for natural toxin-free products with some lactic acid or natural fruit enzymes.”

Exfoliating is important to remove dead skin cells that can clog pores leading to breakouts. Introducing the right face mask for your skin type into your bridal beauty routine is also a great way to keep skin hydrated. According to Lundelius, “oily skin can get balanced with a clay mask, while dry skin needs to be nourished with a rich mask containing deeply restoring oils like macadamia, almond or avocado oil.”

Get glamorous bridal hair

Again, pre-wedding hair care begins well in advance of the big date. “It is important to use a sulfate-free shampoo,” says Lundelius. “Conventional shampoos are too harsh on the scalp and hair and will make it dry and brittle over time. My favorite hair treatment is pure organic coconut oil. You can apply it as a deep hair conditioning treatment. Do this on your day off and sit in the sun, which will activate and heat up the oil. The trick to washing out oil treatments? Apply shampoo before wetting your hair, rinse with water, and then use a second shampoo. Lather and rinse well. Then use your regular conditioner.”

Pop the question: Up or down?

When it comes to hair, the big question is whether to wear it up or down, and we got a big consensus on this point: “Wear it in the way that makes you feel the most beautiful and confident!” Lundelius says. “It’s your call. Never (!) let anyone tell you how to wear your hair. Sales assistants in wedding dress shops often want to advise a hairstyle to go with the dress, but remember: Your wedding day is not an advertisement for the dress designer. A good stylist will ask you many questions about your style, the wedding and your personal preferences to help you find the perfect hairstyle for your wedding.”

Robinson agrees. “It’s such a personal thing. At White Rose, we want every bride to feel like the best version of herself. Do you wear your hair up often? If you don’t, why wear it up on your wedding day? Pumping up your hair down looks amazing. But at the end of the day, whatever you want to do and how you feel comfortable is key.”

Maintain your beauty look all day long

If you are applying your own makeup, try these lasting beauty hacks from Lundelius: “It’s all about the correct prepping, priming & setting. First, hydrate the skin according to your skin type and then use a good primer for the longevity of your makeup. If you have oily or combination skin, use a mattifying primer in the t-zone. If you have dry skin, make sure to really hydrate and smooth any dry patches with a rich primer. Always remember less is more, if you use good quality products, you will only need a very small amount. Use a setting spray to hold everything in place afterwards will make sure your makeup will last beautifully through the day.

Magic Potion: Probiotic Skin Refiner by The Beauty Chef

It does feel magical when you find a potion that really stands out from the crowd and delivers instant and long term results. My new love is the Probiotic Skin Refiner. It is an exfoliator, skin hydrator and collagen booster all in one! r. Rich in probiotics and lactic acid it helps to improve cellular turnover as it refines the skin and reveals an improved texture. Lactic acid naturally moisturises the skin and stimulates collagen production, promoting a more hydrated, moisturised and plump complexion. The gentle exfoliation keeps my skin glowing and prevents any congestion or breakouts for me. As my skin is sensitive I personally stay away from scrubs. You can read my whole guide/post about exfoliation here.

HOW TO I use it twice a day after cleansing my face. I just need to pour a few drops onto a cotton pad and apply the solution all over my face. I follow with moisturizer and voila: Done and glowing! It doesn't have any particular scent or smell to it and is completely liquid, like water. As all The Beauty Chef's products this little miracle worker gains it's magical powers from the unique fermentation process that founder Carla Oates developed. She is a very inspirational woman that knows a thing or two about natural beauty.

Have you tried the A-mazing supplements by The Beauty Chef yet? I am a little addicted. I used them as part of my pre-wedding beauty regime and have just kept using them. My Mum got hooked too and I just had to send her a whole box over to Germany.

AS FEATURED IN I have recently been asked by THE LANE what my magic potions recommendations are. Check out the whole post for even more luxury clean beauty tips. (Of course you will find my beloved Probiotic Skin Refiner in there as well!)

Look Good Feel Better- Cruelty Free Brushes

Earlier this week I had the chance to attend the breakfast launch of a new makeup brush ranges, which benefits the Look Good Feel Better.
Those of you that follow me on snapchat might have seen snippets of it already, as I featured the event live that day.
It was a lovely morning connecting with others in the industry and learning about the importance of makeup when undergoing cancer therapy.

The Brushes
The brushes are from amazing quality, especially for the price point. I am using mine already in my professional makeup kit and really love how extremely soft they feel.
they also look really nice and sleek. I definitely recommend them for everyone looking for affordable makeup brushes or for pro artists that want to add to their collection.
They are synthetic brushes, free from any protein component, which makes them hypoallergenic and cruelty-free. The handles are weighted and feature chrome ferrules,
which really makes them look professional.
The shapes and sizes are very usable too, it’s a full collection covering anything you would need at home, including a great sponge (similar to the Beauty Blender)
I am super happy with them so far, so if you are in Australia, go and check them out. You will find them within Priceline Pharmacy.

About The Charity
15% of the sale goes to the charity to help raise money to provide support for women with cancer.
Look Good Feel Better is a global cancer support charity, they host makeup workshops to help women feel more confident and better when undergoing their treatments and coping with hair loss and skin problems.
It was really interesting learning more about their work.
Besides the lovely volunteers, there was also a beautiful young woman, Alex. She shared her story about her personal journey with cancer. Listening to her made it obvious, how such a small thing like skincare and makeup can make such a big difference for everyone that is ill. Alex said she lost more than her hair. She felt as if she was losing her identity and feminity. Getting the chance to learn how to apply makeup, gave her back some confidence and joy. She was able to see herself again and created a new identity with confidence.
Look Good Feel Better was founded by the cosmetic industry in Australia and unfortunately uses conventional makeup brands, containing many questionable ingredients.
The work of the volunteer makeup artists is nonetheless remarkable, they make a big difference in the patients confidence. I would really love to see them focussing on toxin-free makeup brands. Giving out higher quality products to the patients in the makeup kits they provide would be a huge improvement. Avoiding synthetic fragrance and other unnecessary harsh chemical ingredients is certainly important to promoting health.
My own humble opinion:
Keep up the great and important work, but do your research and partner with brands that are healthy and safe to use. The brushes are a great start and an amazing product to help raise funds.