What are your absolute skincare essentials to take with you on holidays?

My skin likes to play up when I travel, so I try to stick to products that I know my skin will react well to. One thing I always pack is facial cleansing wipes, as I’m often really wiped out from doing things all day and just want to rid my face of makeup without having to work too hard! My current favourite wipes are the Nivea Daily Essentials Fragrance Free Facial Cleansing Wipes.

What rituals did you keep up without fail in Bali?

I cleansed my face every single night before bed. I do this at home too, but made a conscious effort to do it while in Bali because I had packed on so much sunscreen throughout the day and I didn’t like the thought of that sitting on my skin all night!

Did you try anything new while you were there (treatment or product)?

It’s not very exciting, but I used a different body lotion while I was there. The Bath + Body Works Aruba Coconut Lotion, which will now give me wonderful memories every time I smell it. I try and use a different fragrance or lotion every time I go on a trip so that I can associate that particular smell with the memories of the holiday.

How did your skin/hair behave?

Surprisingly well! I thought that my skin would react horribly to the humidity but somehow it managed to survive without breaking out. I also embraced the frizzy hair and worked with it rather than trying to work against it. I feel like I care a lot less about how I look when I’m on holiday and I definitely take the less-is-more approach while overseas, so this could have helped.

What will you do differently next time you’re off to a tropical location?

This is quite a fitting question, as I have another ‘tropical’ holiday planned for the end of this year. Honestly I don’t think I would do too much differently, except that I would probably pack some dry shampoo (which for some reason I didn’t think to do last time around!) just in case of a hair emergency. I’ll be travelling for a friend’s wedding so I might have to ramp things up a bit, and the less is more approach might have to be tossed out of the window.

Thanks so much Jessica!

And a quick reminder while we’re here: Jessica is currently hosting a giveaway for a Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick – read all about it and enter if you haven’t already!

Jessica is the fair-skinned beauty behind the Belle Lumière. She cannot live without Kosmea Organic Rose Hip Oil and her deep-seated love and interest in skin care started with sound moisturising advice from her great-grandmother. A favourite of ours, the Belle Lumière is full of informative, witty and honest product reviews and other thoroughly enjoyable snippets from Jessica’s life. You can also follow Jessica on Twitter.

(Image from here)

Semi mask recipe

Lab Muffin is a recent discovery of ours and we have spent more hours than we care to admit browsing through Michelle’s archives. This clay scrub / semi mask recipe caught our eye – it harnesses all the detoxifying powers of clay and adds a bit of gentle scrubbiness courtesy of oats. We can’t wait to try it!

Coconut and essential oils hair treatment

Coconut oil is a popular hair treatment – and Jade and Michelle’s mermaid hair speak volumes about the results wouldn’t you say? Think of this recipe from Gorgeously Green as intensive care for your hair when it’s in dire need of moisture and oomph. With the cooler weather upon us, now is the perfect time to treat your hair to some coconut TLC!

Home-made almond milk

Whether you’re trying to avoid dairy or just looking for a bit of variety, you should give almond milk a try. Our long-life pick of choice is Unsweetened Almond Breeze, but making your own is easy and very tasty, not to mention customisable (think spices, honey, even cocoa!). This recipe from Annette gives step by step instructions – and a delicious tip on what to do with your left-over almond meal!

A spin on our beloved green smoothie

A different take on a versatile classic – with just two ingredients. Try this coconut-spinach smoothie for a change: it makes a filling lunch and would also be great for breakfast.

Foods that pack an antibiotic punch

Now that cold and flu season is upon us, every little bit helps when it comes to boosting your immunity. Including these super-hero foods into your diet regularly can be an extra insurance policy against the miscellaneous viruses and bugs you’ll be coming across.

How about a night in with a clay and oatmeal semi mask and coconut hair treatment, sipping warm home-made almond milk? Doesn’t that sound wholesome?

(Image from here)

The Kuvings is a pretty clever patented slow juicer that preserves more of your fruit and veg’s wholesome nutrients – we have one in our Echolife kitchen and we love it. We’re willing to bet you will too – and we’re sure you’ll love a gift, so when you buy a Kuvings Silent Juicer we’ll post you a $50 gift voucher! You will be able to use the voucher on anything that takes your fancy in the Echolife webstore.

Any questions?

• The May special ends on May 31st.
• We’ve written about the Kuvings here in a bit more depth.
• The $50 gift vouchers expire on December 31st 2012.
• See here to refresh your memory on why you should be juicing!
• If you want more healthful juicing ideas and recipes we recommend this book.

More questions?

Comment below, send us an email or call us on 1300 60 11 22!

Read on to find out what Michelle likes and does at the moment, but brace yourselves first – this is a fun-filled post!

Name: Michelle
Blog & Age: 1 year, www.eatpaintsniffglue.com
Skin Type: Combination, sensitive, ravaged by hormonal acne (I have PCOS).
Hair Type: Thick, dry with a natural wave.
(Oh dear, this doesn’t paint a very attractive picture, does it?)

What products do you enjoy blogging about the most?
Lipstick. My preference for darker, matte colours means I spend a lot of time going about my life with post-swatch arm staining.

A couple of favourites you’re using on your skin at the moment?
After some trials, tribulations and eruptions of ugly, I have hit my skin-care stride. I’ve learned that ‘cult favourite’ status does not mean I have to perservere with a product my skin doesn’t like (here’s to you, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant).

Finding products to treat hormonal cystic acne without irritating non-problematic areas is extremely difficult. I’ve disovered Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and Drying Mask used in conjunction with Buffering Lotion can be used only on problem areas as my anti-acne A-Team.

Also, alternating my Clarisonic Mia with Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid has changed my skin dramatically.

And on your hair?
The inordinate amount of time spent on makeup and skincare means my hair is fairly neglected. I don’t use any heat styling or drying on my mop and am generally unfussed with what I shampoo it with. The only staples in tending to my locks are NAK Aroma Argan Oil, my recently acquired Tangle Teezer (awesome for thick, matted hair) and the occasional coconut oil treatment in which I slather my hair scalp to tip in coconut oil, wrap my head in a glad-wrap turban and sleep on it.

How do you help your skin / hair transition into the colder seasons?
Come Autumn, I am that terrifying cliche of a woman who goes to bed in a body butter cacoon (I am loving The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter) wearing Ecotools Moisture gloves and socks. When treating my hair with coconut oil, my boyfriend is treated to the sensual vision of my glad-wrapped head.

A good lip balm is a lifesaver when the weather turns cold, my picks have been my Korres Lip Butters in Quince and Mango.

Is there one product you absolutely can’t live without?
My Inglot 10-pan Eyeshadow Freedom System (which I’ve recently updated); I use it every single day and not a single eyeshadow I’ve tried since has come close to the quality.

What’s on your radar to try next?
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara and NARS Doucer blush.
Wow, this interview has given me plenty of ideas on future posts… (:

Thanks so much Michelle!

Michelle is the dark-haired beauty and lipstick-enthusiast behind Eat Paint Sniff Glue, a little gem of a blog that simply is a pleasure to read. Her posts are more like conversations where wit and personality meet informative and helpful tips. Michelle also takes beautiful photographs and is new mum to a sweet tuxedo kitten named Potato. You can also find her on Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter and Hellocotton.

(Images from here and here)

But that’s not the only option if you want to smell fresh – if you like pottering around your kitchen (whilst not actually cooking), you can make your own all natural deodorant too! We’ve even put together a few links to easy-peasy recipes below to get you started.

The beauty about homemade deodorant (or homemade anything really – face masque, moisturising blend,…) is that you know exactly what you put in, and you can customise it to suit you just right. The recipes below both call for one main ingredient: coconut oil – on top of being full of good fats coconut oil also happens to be anti-bacterial. If you don’t have any coconut oil around the house, reconsider the error of your ways because coconut oil is a multi-purpose all around amazing product: it is a wonderful body moisturiser (that will leave a lingering holiday/paradise scent on your skin), it’s great for your hair as a treatment or to tame frizz, and it also kills the stuff that makes you smell. And you should be cooking with it (did we mention the good fats?).

Take a look here for a simple, no frills natural deodorant recipe – the genius about this one is that you probably have all the ingredients already in your pantry (coconut oil, baking soda and cornstarch).

And if you’re feeling a bit more fancy, have a look at Crunchy Betty’s ‘Not a secret homemade deodorant’ – this recipe calls for a few more ingredients (clay – bentonite or other, beeswax, shea butter, and your favourite essential oils), but none that are too hard to find. You have to cure the end result in the freezer so make sure to label it properly – you wouldn’t want anyone mistaking it for a popsicle!

PS: Julie tried a few natural deodorants and shared her thoughts over at Me My Best and I – read what she had to say here and here! Even if you’re not shopping for natural deodorant, read anyway because she’s just a whole lot of fun.

Have you tried natural deodorant? Would you? Do you have a favourite? Share below!

(Image from here)

What is your current skin and hair care routine?

I’m trying to be a minimalist when it comes to my hair and skin care so currently I’m using:

• MooGoo Anti-aging moisturiser
• Antipodes Lime & Patchouli cleanser
• Antipodes Apostle serum
• Echolife Rosewater face mist

But that being said I switch it up a bit depending on how my skin is behaving, if it’s extra dry and cranky I’ll use Echolife Rosehip Oil or if it’s gross and greasy I’ll use Witch Hazel to freshen up.

Hair wise, I tend to wash my hair once a week, I was using Terax Miele but I’m trying to switch all of my hair and skincare to more natural alternatives so I purchased some MooGoo shampoo and conditioner the other day. I also love using raw, organic coconut oil as an overnight treatment, it makes your hair so soft and the nourishing effects are accumulative.

Any product you’ve recently discovered that you’re loving?

Shellac nail polish, my golly gosh it just keeps on keeping on!

What is one product you can’t do without?

Arghh tricky question, currently lip balm because it’s getting kind of windy here in Sydney and my poor lips are feeling it.

What products do you love for your little ones?

Weleda makes great stuff for babes, currently the nappy change cream is a saviour.

Is there anything on your radar you’re looking forward to trying?

At the moment I’m trying to focus on my nutrition so I’m somewhat intrigued by the superfoods, Super Sprout range.

How do you find time to keep in shape, and what’s your favourite fitness activity at the moment?

Ohh golly gosh it’s hard, currently I try to go for a 5-10km walk on week day mornings after I drop my eldest at school, keep the momentum of the day going and I like to run in the mornings on weekends. I try to get to the gym a few nights a week but really at the end of the day I just want to unwind and be with my family. I have to say running is my favourite thing to do, it makes me feel free, helps me de-stress and gives me time to let my mind wander.

Thanks so much Jade!

Jade is the gorgeous mermaid-hair blogger behind Jade Musing, and we highly recommend you visit and bookmark if you haven’t already. Her blog is fun and feisty and we especially love her vlogs, where we get to catch up with what she’s been buying, trying and loving, and how she’s keeping fit. She’s a fearless green smoothie drinker, runner and mum to four beautiful children (four!). And we are very jealous of her hair… You can also follow Jade on Twitter here.

(Image credits here and here)

We’ve put together a quick selection of our favourite natural hand creams to keep your paws and the tip of your nose soft and smooth through the colder weather. Read on if your hands are in need of some rescue!

Burt’s Bees Almond Milk and Beeswax Hand Crème

This rich and thick cream packs a generous punch of moisture courtesy of plant oils and beeswax. It replenishes and softens hard-working hands and will give you a nose-full of sweet almonds that add to the deliciousness!

Talinga Grove Workmans Hand Cream

Hand-made in small batches from the EVOO pressed at Talinga Grove, reach for this if your hands are in serious need of repairing moisture. The olive oil combines with plant butters, essential oils and beeswax to give skin concentrated nutrition and lasting softness.

Weleda Skin Food

We have a soft spot for the Skin Food – this is a hard-working skin moisturizer that multi-tasks very well. Every year it protects our hands and knuckles from painful dryness, our faces from the not-very-attractive winter blush, and keeps our noses a normal shade of pink even when we get a sniffly cold. It contains organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax and lanolin combined with extracts of pansy, calendula and chamomile. In other words, it’s rich, soothing and smells a treat.

Botáni Olive Hand Cream

The Olive Hand Cream is the answer to your ultra sensitive skin’s prayers with a blend of healing aloe vera, rich sweet almond oil and olive squalane. The formula also includes both German and Roman chamomile, calendula, jojoba and vitamin E. We recommend you make friends if your skin is chapped and very irritated.

Bonus tip: don’t forget your hands when you use body scrub! But be very gentle, especially if your hands are quite dry and sensitive. You should also invest in a pair or two of cotton gloves and once a week just before bed, give your hands a generous coating of cream, pop the gloves on and go to sleep. You’ll wake up to lovely soft mitts!

Have you tried any of our picks? Do you have any favourites we should know about?

(Feature image from here)

We’ve got the perfect Autumn hot drink recipe, 12 very good reasons to eat quinoa, handy rules on adding supplements to your diet, a S.A.D. story about wrinkles, and the perfect skin pick-me-up in the form of a fruity face masque.

Read on!

Almond latte recipe

There’s definitely a chill in the air! We’re moving into perfect weather for hot drinks (enjoyed under a warm blanket, how else?) and this Vegan Vanilla Latte is a great alternative to hot chocolate. It contains stevia and cinnamon which is a comforting, warming spice – and newfound favourite alternative to sugar (discovered during Natalie Carter’s NoSugarVember last year!). We’re giving this tasty-looking drink a go tonight.

Yet more reasons to love quinoa

It was love at first bite when we tried quinoa quite a few years back. For a humble little seed*, it has an impressive and broad nutritional profile – it’s also incredibly versatile and we’ve eaten it sweet and savoury (it stands up proudly to both versions). If you don’t eat quinoa yet, this article might change your mind: quinoa is gluten-free, contains antioxidants and complete protein as well as a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals!

*Surprising, but true! Quinoa is not a grain – and bonus trivia, it is related to spinach and tumbleweeds.

Supplement your diet

If you’ve ever wondered if there are any specific do’s and don’ts when it comes to taking health supplements, this article is for you. It details 7 rules to maximise the efficiency and absorption of your supplement regimen, with the first and most important one being to optimise your diet first with plenty of fresh fruit and veg.

S.A.D. and wrinkly

This article offers different perspectives of understanding what ages our skin. We all know wrinkles are a natural part of ageing (unless you’re a shar-pei), but certain factors appear to greatly accelerate their onset (and we’re not just talking about sun exposure or smoking). Spoiler: the answer to plump, dewy skin also lies in what we eat!

Fruity masque

Speaking of dewy skin, we couldn’t resist including this ‘fruit on your face’ (yet again!) apple and honey masque recipe. You could make more and eat the left-overs while the masque is working its magic!

Any thoughts on this fresh edition of Wednesday links you’d like to share?

(Image from here)

Juicing is one of our favourite ways to get our daily dose of fresh fruit and veg – but goodness knows not all juicers are created equal. This applies to the resulting juice as well: a centrifugal juicer will give you ‘boundary’ juice that oxidises / loses nutrients and changes colour before your very eyes, whilst a cold-press masticating or slow juicer will give you a thicker juice, with plentiful nutrients intact.

The Kuvings is a proud member of the slow juicer family – and is so sturdy it is suitable for commercial use. And that’s only the beginning of what this amazing upright juicer can do.

What’s under the hood

The Kuvings has a patented juice extraction system which pairs an amazingly powerful motor with a sturdy bullet-shaped auger. The motor outputs 50% more horsepower than most juicers out there, which gives you more yield in fewer revolutions of the juicing screw.

And if you’re thinking the Kuvings makes a racket when it’s juicing up a nutritious storm, you’ll be pleased to know the opposite is true (it isn’t called the Kuvings Silent Juicer for nothing!). The Kuvings operates at 40 to 50 decibels – for reference, a high-speed juicer usually operates between 80 to 95 decibels (about as loud as the subway). Isn’t it nicer to enjoy a little peace and quiet in the kitchen?

Less prep, more juice

The Kuvings is powerful enough to juice whole carrots and other fibrous fruit and veg – you don’t need to spend time prepping and cutting your fresh ingredients into smaller pieces. The juicing screen is made of tough Ultem (a high strength food-grade resin) and prevents clogging or pulp back-up, so you can juice continuously without having to start and stop.

Because of the slow pressing and squeezing juicing action, you can expect up to double the yield from your Kuvings – and not only that, the resulting cold-pressed juice will be thick, with its phyto-nutrients intact and no layer separation. A far improvement from the trademark ‘boundary’ fast-oxidising juice produced by a high-speed centrifugal juicer (think band of foam at the top and watery juice below that browns in minutes).

Frozen fruit and nut milks

If you’ve got a sweet tooth you’ll be pleased to know you can prepare frozen soft-serve desserts with the Kuvings juicer. Pop frozen bananas and berries through the Kuvings and voilà: delicious fruit sorbet!

You can also make soy, almond and other nut/grain milk with the Kuvings. It comes with a recipe booklet where you will find many ideas to keep you inspired and healthy.

Is it right for me?

The Kuvings produces outstanding living juice, and makes beautiful frozen desserts. If you’re looking for a powerful cold-press slow juicer for your home kitchen, it is an excellent machine and is backed by a 20 Year Warranty on the motor and 5 Years on Labour and Parts. If you’re looking for a commercial juicer, we’d also recommend the Kuvings (the commercial warranty on the Motor is also 20 Years, but 12 months on Labour and Parts).

If you’re looking for a versatile juicer that can help you prep food (slice, mince, make noodles, nut butters,…), one of the Oscar juicers and its attachments might be better suited (we stock the Vital Max 900 and the Oscar Neo, as well as the Multi-Slicer and Mincemeat attachments). The Champion 2000 Juicer is also a good multi-tasker and can be fitted with a Grain Mill attachment so you can grind your own flour at home.

You can read more about the Kuvings juicer on our webstore, or feel free to email or call us on 1300 60 11 22 if you have any questions or need advice on what juicer is best for your requirements. We’ve also written about juicing here, so read on if you need a refresher on why juicing is so excellent for your health.

Happy juicing!

The Echolife webstore is open for business 24 hours a day as per usual – and orders will ship as normal on Tuesday 10th. During the long week-end, you can reach us through the contact form on our website or by email anytime or call our office on 1300 60 11 22 and leave us a message – we’ll call back first thing on Tuesday morning!

Hopefully as you’re reading this you are just a few hours away from the long week-end – enjoy it, be merry and we’ll see you next week!

(Image from here, with bonus tips on how to recycle easter eggs packaging)