Get Your Glow On as if you do #YogaEveryDamnDay

My gorgeous friend and yoga instructor, Kristian, commented on my glow in class last week. "I've gotta get some of that retinol!" he cried. My skincare must-have. Pure, hardcore vitamin A, baby. It works. Totally recommend it.

However!
If you are looking for a short, sharp fix to get your glow on and not willing to wait a few months for the retinol to show results, you MUST lay your pretty fingers upon a fantastic illuminator and blush. You will be contouring, glowing and looking like you do #yogaeveryday.

I swear by benefit high beam - a makeup artist's secret weapon in getting cheekbones to glisten. You also want to tap this pearlised pink just under the arch of the eyebrow to "open" and brighten the eyes. Available at Myer



Since you're there, pick up the lolli-tint, which will leave your lips stained with a jelly bean sweet pink that outlasts your pre-yoga coffee and post-yoga green juice.
And just to emphasise your sun salutation worthy inner goddess glow? Dallas, an illuminating, rosy powder you will use now and forever.

Check out wellness and beauty brand Sorme for a kickass, lesser known illuminator that is just as covetable. Do the Sorme Shimmer Wand (my shade is 'Rosy') ...
and while you're on the Dynamic Skin Solutions site, get yourself the Lychee Delicious Massage Oil. The fragrance is subtle but it lasts and lasts. The Fruitilicious range is from Thailand, the land of yoga resorts and retreats, natural abundance and sunshine. You'll be breathing it in all day.
If you need some glow-spiration, check out the backstage makeup and nails from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week this month. This is OPI Chiffon My Mind - used at Toni Maticevski's catwalk show - a gorgeous nude that won't overpower your glowy, gorgeous look.



Beauty Goes Pop! Yazbukey Collaboration


How do you top a makeup collaboration with the most fashionable cat on the planet, Choupette Lagerfeld?
You team up with pop art, French fashionista Yazbukey to stamp her signature pop art lips all over your fabulous makeup and skin products. If you're Shu Uemura.

I love my makeup. I love my pop art and I love my limited edition so this is ticking every box for me. I got my hands on the fabulous Yazbukey for shu uemura lipstick in Yaz Red. Are you jealous? You can get your own as of May 2015.
Follow shu uemura on Facebook and shop it at David Jones

nu'trir natural skincare

nu'trir (v:/to feed/to nourish)

If you judge a book by it's cover, which I quite often do, then you will look at the nu'trir range that has JUST hit the shelves and go, YES. Slather me up in THAT!
Which is just what I did.
Find it on Instagram and tag #nourishedbynature
Dark burgundy boxing and clean, fresh typography and labelling.
It makes sense really, because the range itself is all about:

    nutrir face masque
  • natural ingredients
  • no nasties, no parabens, no sulphates, no silicons, no petrochemicals
  • no artificial fragrances or colours
  • ingredients that are proven to work
  • simply nourishing the skin and body
My favourite picks are the 
  1. detoxifying enzymatic radiance masque that uses cranberry, manuka honey and papaya to dissolve the dull, dead skin and allow new cells to flourish while you guzzle your green juice.
  2. collagen boosting peptide serum that harnesses grapeseed, olive and rosemary oils to stimulate new cell production and leave you radiant and fresh
  3. nourishing cleansing oil with rosehip oil, sacha inchi oil and camu camu. This is fabulous if you find your skin gets red and tight after cleansing. It's super gentle AND really does remove the nasty dust and dirt from urban living.
Available at Chemist Warehouse, My Chemist, Priceline and other leading pharmacies.

Fifth Element Yoga Wear - From Melbourne With Love


My new obsession! Melbourne made, designed for yoga by a yoga lover. Fifth Element is the design brand of the gorgeous Alissa, who has taken the time to answer my questions about her yoga wear and her yoga practice. Get into these leggings - they are amazing. My personal faves? The purple Lalitha full leggings!

Alissa from Fifth Element
Why did you name your brand Fifth Element?

The idea for the name is based around the theory of five elements. It is said that we are an embodiment of 4 major elements of nature - fire, water, air and earth. And we are striving to balance these elements when practicing asanas. The fifth element is known to be space. Which I understand as being everything that we get in contact with physically and/or intangibly. 
Fifth Element is a collection of items that aims to fill space of a yogi with colour, comfort and harmony! Each item is designed individually and hand-crafted in Melbourne with love and care, and charged with positive energy. 

What is your favourite yoga style and how long have you been practicing yoga?

I've been practicing yoga for the last 10 years and started with Ashtanga which taught me a great deal on discipline and helped me to build basis for further exploration. I still do Vinyasa Flows when I feel that I need to build up strength. But I much prefer yoga classes that are not routine-based, but more of a free flow sequences with focus on various types of poses each class. I'm trying different styles of yoga and enjoy learning new things. I mostly practice Hatha & Iyengar on day-to-day basis. But also amongst my favourites are - Anusara, Arial Yoga (yoga in suspended hammocks), Acro Yoga. I'm hoping to soon try the new Ballet Sculpt classes I've heard so much about!!! Excited!

What makes a pattern or colour a definite must for your collection?

I've always been fond of colours, textures and patterns. I collect and draw patterns all the time! For this range of Fifth Element leggings I focused on patterns that are complex and encourage observation, and yet flattering to body curves. I've tried to make this collection versatile with some patterns that are more graphic, some more folk, some more delicate, some on classic black background or tonal, some bright and patchy. In other words - there is a legging for any yogi! I've also got a lot of help on choosing patterns and feedback on testing the prototypes from my yogi friends. So it is true to say that Fifth Element leggings is designed, tried and tested by real yogis :)

How often do you add or vary your range?

I've only had one range so far, as Fifth Element is literally only 2-month old. I'm going to add new things/garments as I get inspiration. I don't want to tie myself with strict deadlines and range plans, as Fifth Element endeavours to bring joy and positive energy and thus designing has to be approached with creativity and passion.
At the moment I'm prototyping simple crop tops/bras and tanks to complement leggings and complete outfits. I'm also planning to work on trans-seasonal cover-ups and autumn/winter type of yoga pants. 
Like us on Facebook to stay in to date with the releases of new products! 

Where do you do yoga in Melbourne?

Oh heaps and heaps of great studios Melbourne has to offer! Some of them are - The Yoga Social, Breathe, Bridge Yoga, Yoga Corner, Union Yoga, The Yoga Lab, Body Flow Yoga, Vibes Yoga in Fitzroy - these are just a few of my favourites to mention!

Favourite post-yoga cafés or juice bars?

This is a hard question...Frankly, I tend to forget names of the places. The only one that comes to mind is a small Cafe Bambino in Docklands. This is not what you'd call healthy yoga food...but it is run by passionate Italian guy and offers the freshest and tastiest food I've even tried! Not to mention plenty of Italian speech on the background to make you feel like you are magically transferred to sunny coasts of Italy! 

Where is Fifth Element available?

Fifth Element leggings are sold at The Yoga Social studio on King street. And the full range (which also include canvas totes and meditation pillows) can be viewed and purchased from www.fifth-element.com.au 

Bear in mind that we can also create custom-made leggings to suit your body perfectly - special size, body length, curve, crotch-rise, or any other speciality - enquire via Facebook or alissa@fifth-element.com.au 


Yoga for Beautiful Skin, Great Digestion and Controlling Anxiety

Yoga alone won't give you glowing, unblemished skin but it definitely helps. A smooth, strong digestive system that is essential to your immune system and hormones working harmoniously is going to improve your overall energy, mood, health AND your skin, hair and nails.
Lastly, a healthy body and a body that is working to process nutrients, fight inflammation and infection, battle everyday environmental stress and enable great sleep and circulation is going to increase your ability to deal with psychological and emotional anxiety.

Here's what to do.


  • Eat moderately. Eat what you like, but also consider that you need a balance of healthy fats (avocado, salmon, walnuts, seeds, sardines), protein (lean meat, tofu, soy, fish) and carbohydrates (fruit, vegetables, wholegrain oats, breads, brown rice, gummy bears).
  • Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. This not only allows you to break down your food more thoroughly so that it can pass through the digestive system easily, but it also tells your brain that you are satisfying your appetite and gives you time to enjoy your food.
  • Wait half an hour to an hour prior and before eating to gulp water, tea or coffee. It interferes with digestion and the absorption of vitamins and minerals from your food.
  • Take a probiotic capsule daily. I prefer Naturopathica GastroHealth.
Yoga for Digestion
Yoga Twist for Digestion
Your yoga move for great digestion is any twisting move. This stimulates the gut, massaging the internal organs, and relieves some of the tension in your lower and mid-back, allowing you to breathe easier. Remember to extend up through the spine and don't slump while you twist!

Beautiful Skin needs cleansing, moisture, and most of all, exercise. This increases and improves circulation so that blood flows to the skin, renewing it with fresh blood flow, nutrients and increasing cell turnover so that dull skin can shed and refreshed, new skin cells can flourish.

  • Use a sunscreen. If you exercise outdoors, a hat and sunscreen are non-negotiable if you want beautiful skin. It will also protect you from the majority of skin cancers. 
  • Cleanse with gentle, targeted products. There are so many cruelty free, natural and gentle products on the market. I love Sanctum Organics - you'll find the details in the previous blog post!
  • Avoid touching your face too much. Your fingers will distribute oil and dirt so if you can avoid resting your chin in your palms, do.
Yoga move for great skin
Downward Dog for Great Skin
Your yoga move for fabulous skin AND battling anxiety is downward dog. Strongly pushing your heels down, your palms and the pads of your fingers gives you a powerful foundation. Allowing the blood flow to circulate to your head increases your energy and stamina. Remember to keep your abs braced, your shoulders broad and drawn back to your hips and away from your earlobes. 
Breathe deeply through your nose right down your spinal column.
Exhale slowly.
Hold as long as you can then gently bend your knees, pull your bum back to your heels and stretch forward along the ground.



Organic Skin, Body, Haircare from Byron Bay Australia

If I could afford to, I could easily find myself living by the beach, in the holistic health heartland of Australia, Byron Bay. It's telling that anything written about Byron Bay commonly uses the terms "healing" or "art" in the first sentence! Or, since we've just hit April, "music" because Byron Bay is home to Bluesfest. A blues and roots juggernaut that has featured the masterful Ben Harper many, many years in a row.He's back for 2015 with the Innocent Criminals. Check out the lineup and more at the Bluesfest site.

However, I don't live in a shack off the beach, meditating, doing yoga and getting Balinese massages...unfortunately. In the spirit of Byron Bay though, I am embracing a Byron-based spa and wellbeing range that is

  • organic, 
  • vegan, 
  • no nasties, 
  • no animal testing and 
  • absolutely divine to look at, use and gift. 

Sanctum started up in 1992 with the aim of producing skin, hair and bodycare products that really work, without the use of commonly used, easy-to-manufacture chemicals. Instead, Sanctum is based on plant extracts, essential oils and vitamins with natural and active chemistry proven to get results.
Sanctum is Certified Organic, which means their products contain over 70% Certified Organic ingredients and many of them are 95% Certified Organic through Organic Food Chain Australia and USDA certification.
You can find them via local stockists or order online (free delivery for orders over $50).
I'm loving the Gentle Face Exfoliant, Energising Eye Gel (sooo fab, need a lifetime supply!) and Hy C Intensive Repair Cream. In the Australian sun, vitamin C and antioxidants are a must.

Earth Day 2015

Come April 22nd this year, it's the 45th annual Earth Day worldwide.
Sure, another Day of Something I hear you mumble. Perhaps. But maybe you'll think about what you can do in your own home, workplace or community to be part of a more sustainable Australia. You can find all the info about Earth Day 2015 and look for events, or even register your own event on the Earth Day 2015 site.

I am celebrating Earth Day care of a low-impact, online shopping trip to Kiehl's for their celebratory Limited Edition Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque. White Amazonian Clay is going to zap any nasties and tighten up my skin. Clean skin is happy skin! Kiehl's is well reputed for its support of recycling, fair trade, natural and sustainable ingredients and ethical production and manufacturing. Plus, as a design obsessive, the packaging is care of amazing studio Neighbourhood Studio in Austin. Follow Kiehl's Instagram for beauty and Eco Inspo @Kiehls.Au

For more inspiration on Earth Day and to stay informed of events, worldwide initiatives and online tools to measure your green footprint, follow @EarthDayNetwork
If you're in Melbourne, read about the Sustainability initiatives of City of Melbourne including rebates for solar, greener buildings, recycling and  more.


Best Ballet Sculpt Moves For Thighs and Bum

Not just to gain that sculpted muscle that looks fab, but to ensure you are strong from every angle and really challenging the biggest muscles in your body to be fired up, able to endure and support great alignment, posture and balance.


Thigh Stretch: Kneeling with knees directly under your hips. Shoulders back and chest open. Without tilting your hips, maintain a straight line from top of the head to the knees as you lean back to 45 degrees. Keep your chin parallel to the floor and eyes ahead! Hold 2 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Plie in 2nd: Whether you use a barre, or a chair, or a desk for support, make sure you are only holding lightly. You want your body to do all the work! Bend at the knees and make sure your knees are in line with your middle toes. At the lowest point, your hips are in line with your knees and your knees are directly above your ankles (don't stand too narrow!). Avoid hunching forward. Raise and lower in a straight line for 20, holding at the bottom for 2 seconds. Extra challenge? Raise your heels the whole set.

Frog Press: Lying on the mat, bend your knees and take them wide. Keep your heels locked together and toes pointing outwards. Press your legs out straight at 45 degrees then return. Make sure your lower back doesn't raise off the mat! Repeat for 10, rest for 30 seconds and do another 10!

Frog Press Reverse: Lying on your tummy, take your legs out wide and bend your knees. Keeping your knees wide, lock your heels together and flex your feet. Without raising your head, squeeze your bum to lift your thighs off the mat and hold for 2 seconds before returning. Repeat 10 times, rest for 30 seconds and repeat again.

Warrior 3 or Arabesque: Pushing into every edge of the foot, make sure you are standing firmly then reach forward with the arms as you raise one leg to hip height behind you. Hold for 10 seconds then return. Swap sides. Repeat on each leg 3 times.

BODY BEAUTY TIP! Bare your legs and arms with pride. After a shower, generously spray Vaseline Intensive Care Spray (Fragrance Free) all over. No dry elbows and heels happening here! Buy it at Priceline.

French Chic - Red Nails

I have been told I look French and Italian in the past and I love it. It gives me a warm, Gallic glow. In honour of my first trip to Paris and Barcelona in a month, I am studying up on how to be at my most Euro-chic. Out with the neon nails, in with the classic red. Tick!
I have the topknot hair mastered. Tick!
I am the master of gracefully gliding rather than stomping so that adds major bonus points. I intend on picking up more tips and tricks over the coming weeks. I'll be doing a movie marathon of Deneuve, Anouk Aimee, Marion Cotillard and Audrey Tatou. I'll also be reading (or looking at) Paris Vogue. It's research.
Featured: Orly Ruby & Orly Red Flare; OPI Bastille My Heart

Supplements. Women, Food & Desire


How are these relevant and interlinked? 

Think about what you eat and drink daily and how much of that is dictated by what you think you should be eating, should be drinking...the pills or herbs or blended green mulch you should guzzle according to magazines, your Chinese Medicine practitioner, your naturopath!

There's a whole website I could devote to desire and women's food and choices around their bodies, but thankfully, someone much more expert has dedicated a book to it and it is new to my bookshelf. It's called Women, Food and Desire by Alexandra Jamieson.
Admittedly, I'm yet to really delve in and read it thoroughly, but I fully intend to! The book encourages us to "Embrace your cravings, make peace with food, reclaim your body' - a message that I need and that many women do. It certainly doesn't mean go and eat a block of family sized chocolate and feel empowered. It means look at why you so want to eat chocolate, whether you can stop at 2 squares of it, and why you might feel bad about wanting it, let alone eating it. Awareness of your body makes you stronger, more attuned to it. More peaceful in your own skin. You can follow author Alexandra Jamieson on Twitter.
The book is available through Hachette Australia.

Anita Bean is a well-known and much respected nutritionist from the UK. Her latest book out is Sports Supplements 2nd edition: Which Supplements Really Work. I have a sometimes-I-do...sometimes-I-don't approach to vitamin and mineral tablets, but I know what works for me and I know where my diet falls short of giving me what I need, or how my body responds to particular stimulants, and I choose when and how much is necessary when it comes to taking tablets or capsules. Her website is a thorough introduction to her work.
The book is available at Bloomsbury Australia.

Have you considered that your barista is actually your supplement dealer? Well, that bearded beacon of hope every morning is in fact also your ticket to a more powerful Power Yoga! Anita's book not only looks at your run of the mill multivitamins and protein bars, but also coffee, herbal supplements, antioxidants, common "fat burners" and performance enhancers such as creatine and
DHEA. What the effects are, what the side effects are, and what the studies show in terms of effectiveness. My drug of choice is caffeine and Anita informs: "Caffeine is a stimulant...It works by increasing levels of endorphins (hormone-like substances) in the brain. These endorphins affect mood state, reduce the perception of fatigue and pain, and create a sense of well-being. Thus caffeine helps increase alertness, concentration and performance; and reduces fatigue. It can also help increase muscle fibre recruitment..."
Studies have proven that taken 30 minutes to 3 hours prior to performance, caffeine can improve sprint times, increase endurance ability and reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue.

Healthy Hair, Head and Scalp


So - admission. For the past month or so I've had an itchy scalp and the dreaded D word: dandruff. I know I'm far from alone! In fact, it's pretty common for sporty or active types because sweating into your hair doesn't make for a healthy scalp and using dry shampoo instead of washing doesn't improve the situation.
So.
I tackled the issue on 3 fronts:

  1. Diet and lifestyle
  2. Hair Products
  3. Styling Habits and Utensils

DIET AND LIFESTYLE

A healthy scalp means the skin and hair follicles are not clogged with product, there is adequate protein in your diet and the vitamins and minerals required to nourish healthy skin in general. Biotin, silica, vitamin B and D are all Healthy Scalp and Hair elements. Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and essential for healthy skin, hair and nails. The typical mediterranean diet, rich in fish, fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains and healthy fats rather than heavy on white carbohydrates and convenience foods is your best option, but also consider a supplement like Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails 

As for other lifestyle factors? Stress and lack of sleep will impact every aspect of your body, from increasing the likelihood of injuries to sallow skin, moodiness and...bad hair. Rather than get even MORE stressed about it, look at what you can change. Could you reduce some of the activities you feel obliged to do? Could you ask colleagues for assistance? Could you do a yoga class instead of working through your lunchbreak? Could you swap your 3pm jelly bean frenzy for a power walk to the nearest juice bar and get a berry smoothie instead? (Or make a batch at home and take it to work!)

HAIR PRODUCTS

I have just discovered a new range of Australian Made products.
I wanted no nasties (formaldehyde, sulphates,parabens, etc) and salon-quality results. What is especially exciting is it's AUSTRALIAN! So, go local! bhave uses raw natural bioactive keratin extracted from New Zealand sheep wool that is rich in amino acids and proteins to nourish the scalp and hair. Essentially, this binds to damage and rebuilds strength and elasticity.
Here's what you need to know:

  • Australian Owned
  • Not Tested On Animals
  • No Parabens, Sulphates, Sodium Chloride
  • Certified Organic Ingredients
  • Proven Results

I'm using the damage control rescue shampoo and conditioner as well as the scalp shampoo and since the FIRST WASH, no dandruff and no itching! It's specifically designed to control irritation and the non-toxic formulation is rich in naturally active ingredients to rebalance the scalp environment.
I'm also using the macadamia-oil enriched leave-in creme, fresh ends and riot control oil. It's called "riot control" for frizzy hair. What more could you ask for?



Find your nearest salon and read more on their Website.

Also check them out on
BhaveHair
BhaveHair

HAIR STYLING


I was saying to my Carlton class just a few days ago, I used to idolise the sleek, straight, raven black bob of a newsreader on TV as a child. I was certain that I would grow up and no longer have wild, curly, coppery brown tresses but a sleek, chic bob with a fringe. A perfectly straight, no-nonsense fringe. That is still my dream. So, of course, I am a straightener addict.

When the dandruff and irritation really started impacting on my sleep, I looked hard at both the products I'm using and the fact I've got an ancient hairdryer that only blasts super-hot air and is well beyond it's use-by. So I found a kickass replacement that is SUPER AFFORDABLE! For under $30, I found the Remington Styling Pro 2150 that has:

  • Air Curler & Waver attachment
  • 2150 watt Hair Dryer
  • 6 switch combinations: 3 heat/2 speed
  • Cool Shot to set style when you're done!

You can buy it at Harvey Norman for $27 (AU).

As for my straightener, it's still good for action and I use the salon-approved ghd. My pick is the ghd IV Styler (free delivery if you order on the ghd site!)





Alexander McQueen and Dior & I Giveaway

Had he lived, Alexander McQueen would have celebrated his 46th year in the past fortnight. But the Brit fashion “wildchild” and master of both tailoring and fierce, warrior women garb suicided in February 2010. His fashion legacy has been continued authentically through the designs and vision of his assistant Sarah Burton, who took the reins soon after his death and has been embraced by his fans and  new league of followers.
Alexander “Lee” McQueen was not a provocateur of the “Now see THIS!” variety as witnessed with Jeremy Scott, bare-breasted models, safety pin dresses and rats on the runway. Rather, his clothes, his catwalks and his editorials were works of art. Referencing history – and imagined worlds and characters – he ruffled the feathers of editors and feminists especially with his Highland Rape (2004) and pants cut so deep in the hip they made “bumsters” a phenomenon.
A patron and great lover of the music, culture and arts world, McQueen designed David Bowie’s 1996 and 1997 tours, also dressing him for the album cover of 97s Earthling. His highly tailored and chic designs spoke of fierce strength and attitude – exemplified in wearers Bjork, Cate Blanchett, Penelope Kidman, Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
Amongst his most memorable catwalk events was the holographic Kate Moss – McQueen a great fan of technology and science; the glass box of moths that for an hour behaved as a mirror, reflecting the fashion crowd back to themselves (VOSS, 2001); the Spring 1999 Collection where robots sprayed the pure white dress of Shalom Harlow live on stage as she spun like a doll in a box; the gothic geishas with painted black mouths in 2009.
“There’s something . . . kind of Edgar Allan Poe, kind of deep and kind of melancholic about my collections,” McQueen once mused.
Indeed, from inscribing filthy words into the Savile Row coat of Prince Charles to the finest feathered details on his dresses, McQueen was a poet with a pen, fabric and a vast fashion house to create savage beauty.
Without a first class ticket to the Victoria & Albert Museum in Britain, I have settled in with the impeccably presented tome Alexander McQueen, edited by V&A Museum Senior Curator Claire Wilcox. The accompaniment to Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the V&A, it includes over 400 images of both photographs and sketches previously unseen, along with 28 essays from expert fashion commentators, scholars and McQueen collaborators.
More about the Exhibition at V&A in London
Alexander McQueen is available at Allen & Unwin
I have a fabulous fashion giveaway for you. The legacy of Alexander McQueen is deftly being carried on by Sarah Burton. At Dior, John Galliano's embarrassing exit meant the swift installation of Raf Simons as designer - and certainly, his assignment to prepare a womenswear show in a few weeks was a trial by fire. Would you want a roasting from Anna Wintour?
Thanks to Madman Entertainment I have four passes to giveaway to Melbourne readers of my blog. If you can pick up the tickets from me, please visit the Core Integrity With Cat Facebook site to enter.






A Week of #Beauty

Yep, I shrunk everything I do into a blog-sized graphic and I'm letting you in on the habits of my beauty junkie ways! My justification and explanation of everything is below! Do you use any of these? What is a staple of your beauty routine? Come and tell me on Facebook!

Jing Qi Shen Diamond Showered Mischief Youth Protection Elixir: the Haute Couture of Scientific Skincare indeed! Made up of elite antioxidants, collagen and skin renewing actives including botanicals and Willowbark Extract, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and results in super fresh, luminous skin. Can't skimp on the quality of your skincare - your face is forever!

Shu uemura Calligraph:ink is the ultimate in chic eyeliner pen. As with all shu uemura, the packaging is amazing. You get a little cartridge of ink to insert and then, with a shake, the brush tip fills with ink and you're ready to go. The fine tip means you can be super subtle, or build to a full cat's eye. Or you could get arty and make all sorts of shapes and patterns!

Shu uemura pressed eyeshadow: This precious green shadow is like the little forest of calm in
my morning routine. Yes, I can meditate on an eyeshadow! shu uemura do classy, minimal packaging with the focus on high-quality, high pigment colour and formula.

Orly nail lacquers: I'm digging neon bright Melt Your Popsicle for my toes and the subtle, pastel pink Cake Pop for fingers. Classic, pale tones for my  hands work best.

OPI nail lacquers: The new Hawaii range, aloha! It is awesome. Like I said, pale pastels for my nails work best and I am loving "Do You Take Lei Away?"

Kiehl's Multi Corrective Eye Opening Serum is the bomb! I feel my skin tighten gently immediately and wake up with fresh open peepers, even if my sleep has been crap. Kiehl's have long rocked my skincare world and this is just another new addition that proves they are the elite in targeted and effective skincare. Do it.

Kiehl's Vetiver & Black Tea Fragrance is spicy, peppery and exotic. I love it for the earthy essence and fresh citrusy smell of vetiver. It is gorgeous UNgirly. Worthy of daily use!

Lancome Renergie Mult-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Feels silky smooth and velvety and I swear my skin is smoother. As you'd expect of a prestige brand, it's not cheap but it's worth every cent.

Dior Blush in Vibrant Coral picks up on my passion for orange! Plus, there's a bit of a marine-life,
underwater couture vibe going on in the fashion world at the moment. Rodarte put out a collection of shipwrecked princesses and exotic mermaids recently and I loved it. As with anything Dior, this is bold and dramatic but entirely beautiful and flattering. Tres belle.

Maybelline Kohl Liner in Coralista is bold, dramatic (notice a pattern here?) and so easy to use for either dramatic looks or super subtle fine lines to enhance your eye colour. I have green eyes with a smattering of hazely/blue so the intense orange of Coralista really enhances their brightness!

Maybelline Color Drama Lip in Minimalist is perfect for subtly exaggerating your lip line and flattering paler and olive skin tones in particular.

Fashionably Fit on a Super Budget @ MRP

I discovered MRP through Instagram and I am addicted now. It has a great activewear range and it is AMAZINGLY budget friendly. Ain't no $99 yoga pants here.

I've got racerback tanks, capris, leggings (gold pineapple print, anyone?) and socks/undies for the price of a couple of coffees. You must check this out if you're into your workoutwear but you don't want to mortgage the house to keep your wardrobe full!

The Drop It Like A Squat tank and similar singlets are $9.60, capri pants $12.40, print leggings $17.80 and cheeky shorts either $5.60 or $6.80.

I've done two orders now and both have arrived fast and fuss free - wrapped up and in perfect condition! Totally recommend you get shopping. You can see me rocking my MRP gear on my Instagram @cat13gram and follow MRP on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Back Strength 101

It is not uncommon for new participants of my class to say to me "I have some back issues", which is typically followed by, "but it's no big deal."

It is.

The old-fashioned and ineffective method of dealing with a sore lower back in particular was to say "rest up, Jane! Don't strain yourself." Let's crawl out of under that rock and embrace the healing powers of resistance training to actually STRENGTHEN and activate those back muscles so that they can support your weight whether static or moving.

Pilates is a great way to train for balance, alignment and body awareness. So is lifting weights. Here are my top moves. For technique, ask a trainer to show you! If this isn't an option, look up these moves on YouTube and seek credible guides to form. Women's Health magazine online is a great resource.

  1. Dead Lifts with either a bar or dumbbells
  2. Back Flyes with dumbbells
  3. Reverse plank 
  4. Superman lying
  5. Superman in kneeling position 
  6. Lateral Pulldowns
  7. Side Plank
  8. Goblet Squats

The Call of Summer : Australian Made Swimwear

Australian owned, designed and made, The Call of Summer is not your average mass-produced, all-things-to-all-people range of swimwear.



Their philosophy is that imperfection is to be embraced, not disguised. Authenticity in action , thought and fashion matters! And, as their website attests, “a pushup bra should not be worn to the beach. Ever.”

Call of Summer bikinis are designed for women with small cup-sizes, but most importantly women who EMBRACE their small boobs! A lot of bikinis, tanks and one-pieces on the market have extra padding built in. This is great if you intend to fall on your small boobs and want to bounce back up again, but your body is gorgeous, healthy and strong the way it is. There’s no need for padding at the beach.
I’ve just added the Lucy bra and Willow pants to my wardrobe. I’ll be wearing it to the pool, but also out and about when it gets steamy. The details on the Lucy top are gorgeous under a tank top!

I have a scar from the hip surgery in September that I’ve embraced. It is a reminder that my body is masterful at healing. It’s part of my body and my story.
The Call of Summer


 The Call of Summer


Having said that – you can be authentic and still prepare to be your BEST authentic self! When it comes to bikinis, I hit the self-tanner. Bondi Sands Foam in Dark does the trick overnight.

Do NOT accept dry heels and unpolished feet. You’ll see them on the beach and on the mat during your yoga and Ballet Sculpt classes and they will make you sad. I am freakin’ LOVING Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream. Smells like summer! 

If it rains, I highly recommend getting into your bikini and doing a crazy disco dance to Ministry of Sounds 80s Mix. Yes, Tainted Love and Garry Numan. Yes, "Don't You Want Me?" by Human League. There's 4 CDs of awesomeness. Get it at Ministry of Sound.

Pinkspiration




I'm a magazine junkie - fashion, design, fitness, lifestyle, music and art. You name it, I've probably read it and bookmarked half of it for later referral! So you think I'd be pretty good at flipping past the ads...but I couldn't ignore Kemp Muhl for Maybelline. She's a fashion and beauty inspiration for me - as a rock star/model/actress/beauty adventurist unafraid to wear the strangest colour combinations. Not averse to a feather headpiece and the odd fedora either. A woman who loves her wild makeup and headwear is my kind of icon! So, when I saw her rocking pink lips like nobody's business, I had to have what she's having. The Maybelline Color Drama lip crayons are total Pinkspiration. It's a bit like going back to kinder and having a treasure trove of crayolas and total freedom - I am loving all the crayon-style makeup at the moment. Because, really, the face and body are a canvas and makeup is a brilliant way to express your love of colour, contouring and mood.

If pink isn't your thing - yet - there's nudes, reds and corals to suit your fancy. I am getting my kicks with the velvet matte finish Love My Pink and Berry Much.
Get them at Priceline

Gut Health and How It Affects Your Body & Mind

I recently read an article by Holistic Women’s Psychiatrist, Kelly Brogan MD, on the mind-gut connection. Kelly was emphasising the link between taking pharmaceutical medication, like antibiotics and antidepressants, and a lack of variety of whole, nutritious foods in the diet, and how this directly affects the digestive system and also the production of “happy hormone” serotonin.
Kelly’s preference to the typical prescription is to recommend a wholefoods diet, supplements as necessary, breathwork, exercise and basically, a holistic approach to handling stress, infection, fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Kelly recommended probiotics to rebalance gut flora, ensuring the ideal environment for digestion to take place and hormones to function optimally. This means no bloating, fatigue and nausea. A stable appetite, energy and sense of wellbeing.
So, feeling inspired to improve my own digestive health (I eat lots of whole foods – veggies, fruit galore) but I’m guilty of going for convenience over organic and super-fresh most of the time. I buy canned fish (in my defence, WILD CAUGHT!) and canned tomato plus frozen vegetables. Again, in my defence, I eat plenty of fresh veggies too but frozen have been proven to retain a high level of nutrients in the snap-freezing process. ANYWAY!
I have started probiotic supplements – yes, you can get a fix with high-quality, natural yoghurt but I’m not a big dairy eater so a handy, measured dose is perfect.

I'm taking Naturopathica GastroHealth Capsules (available at Chemist Warehouse), but I also like Bioglan Probiotics.
I am not doing a juice cleanse. There’s no way food is not existing, in solid form, in my life for any amount of time as long as I have a choice. BUT I am definitely adding the healing, delicious juices I discovered in Kara M L Rosen’s Plenish.

Plenish – Juices to boost, cleanse & heal is the book form resulting from Kara’s Juice Delivery business in the UK. The one-time media professional was flying New York to LA, subsisting on coffee and processed foods, and regularly getting prescribed antibiotics and medications to deal with her fatigue, stress and depression. It took the poster of Albert Einstein and his eternal words of wisdom to finally force Kara to act as her own GP: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
In the introduction to Plenish, Kara says “I wish I could have told my younger self then that 95 per cent of the happy hormone serotonin is produced in your gut, so looking after your second brain...is the first step to promoting your mental wellbeing.”
Plenish has a treasure trove of juice recipes designed for particular ailments but also for general wellbeing, skin, liver and mood boosters. Below is the Kale Mary juice to detoxify, heal and cleanse. A great substitute for a Bloody Mary!

This is a great virgin version of a Bloody Mary. Detoxifying and alkalizing greens aid in eliminating toxins, while fresh horseradish has a high level of glucosinolates, which help to detoxify the liver, as does apple cider vinegar. Kale Mary!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup kale
2 salad tomatoes
3 celery sticks
1 cucumber
1 slice fresh horseradish root (unpeeled), about 1cm thick (adjust according to how much kick you want)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Dash of tamari
1 tsp apple cider vinegar

#Flawless Skin: Retexture, Resurface, Rebuild

I am guilty of loving the feeling of scrubbing my skin clean with a handful of exfoliator. It feels like I'm really scraping off any "dirt" and renewing my skin.
Lancome Ambassador Elettra Rossellini

In FACT, scrubbing the skin with harsh microbeads (as most exfoliators are packed with) is both:

  1. terrible for my skin
  2. terrible for the environment


If you are prone to blemishes, skin discolouration, redness and also if your skin is exposed to sunlight and smog daily, then you're actually just damaging and weakening it by treating it with harsh scrubs.

As for the environment? Those microbeads wash into the ocean or the ground and because they're built to last - often from miniscule plastics - they remain solid. This has been shown to damage habitats and also choke or poison smaller wildlife.

But, back to your skin.

The skin naturally exfoliates itself through a process called "desquamation" where dead skin cells come to the surface of the skin, where they are shed and replaced by new skin cells. This process slows with age, and the dead skin cells cling to the surface of the skin, which can give the effect of dull, rougher texture. Harsh exfoliants are NOT the answer.

Rather, use high-quality, targeted treatments that will remove dead skin cells and increase cell turnover and renewal. You also want to use products that build collagen and infuse your skin with vitamins and cell nourishing minerals and hydration.

I have a longstanding love affair with Kiehl's. Their dermatologically tested and produced skincare is high-quality, smells divine and is packaged like old-style apocathery products. Try their Over-night Biological Peel. I also totally recommend blitzing any wrinkles and fatigued eye area with Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream with the ingredient du jour, copper. Also contains caffeine - tightens, nourishes and protects.Kiehl's Australia


If your skin is your prime investment, and it should be considering you're stuck with it for life and loving it is vital, then I also highly recommend getting your paws on Lancome Renergie Multi-Lift Night Creme. At just over $150, it's not cheap, but you'll notice clearer, fresher, firmer skin after the first night and it lasts for AGES.

If you're wondering who Elettra Rossellini is (pictured above), she's the model daughter of actress and Lancome model, Isabella Rosellini. Both have flawless skin. Just sayin'.
Lancome Australia

 Also luxe, if not as hugely well known, is Thalgo. Their range specifically for men is Thalgomen and has a targeted eye treatment to address puffiness and dark circles. Get it for your man so that he keeps his mitts off your products! Thalgomen Anti-Fatigue Serum For Eyes.
Thalgo Australia