Yo-ga girl!

(Image from tasterlab.com) 

It seems that everyone and their cat has been doing yoga lately. It seems to go along with the trend of drinking green juice and eating kale. If you're doing that, good for you! But I'm more of a chocolate for breakfast type of woman.

Anyway, yoga. It was recommended to me by my massage therapist and chiropractor. They basically told me, if I wanted less tight/tense/sore neck/shoulders/legs/body that I should give yoga a go, because not only is it stretching and strengthening everything (and I mean everything!), it also incorporates a meditation/relaxation component, which helps to de-stress.

I started by browsing on youtube for some beginner videos, to see if my uncoordinated self could actually do yoga, and I stumbled across the channel 'Yoga with Adriene.' Adriene has a yoga routine for every level of expertise, and every focus area, so if you don't have the time or the money to hit the mat at a proper yoga class, yoga in your bedroom can be just as good.

However, for me, going to an actual class has helped me a lot, because there's someone there to help you hit the poses correctly and safely, someone there to encourage and challenge you to push yourself that little bit further when things are getting slightly uncomfortable, and you have a whole hour to dedicate to your yoga practice, instead of a sequence or two at home.  I end up walking out of the class feeling very stretchy and very relaxed, which I have to admit, is a pretty good feeling. At the moment, yoga is the main type of exercise that I do, and I've never felt better.


When I get stressed, it tends to show up in my muscles. And since starting to properly attend yoga classes, I (and my health professionals) have noticed a big change in how my muscles are responding, which is brilliant for me!

And not only is yoga good for you in a relaxation/stretch way, it also helps to strengthen and tone your muscles! Another of the many reasons to jump on the bandwagon.

Are you on the yoga bandwagon?

Beth. x

Skincare for super sensitive skin.

I have had the biggest struggle finding skincare products... I have incredibly sensitive skin, to the point where I can't even use Simple Skincare or even targeted sensitive skin products without having really bad skin reactions. (I'll spare you the details).

So I went on a hunt for products that might save me some discomfort, and get my skin looking clean and fresh.

The make-up remover.

Make-up wipes are the worst offenders for me in the skin irritation stakes, and that really frustrated me because 1. I'm lazy and 2. I had no idea what the other options were.

Enter Bioderma Solution Micellaire! While it may just look like water, when a tiny bit is put on a cotton pad, caked on make-up doesn't stand a chance! It leaves my face feeling fresh and cleansed, and it doesn't dry it out. And it takes mere seconds to remove a full face of make-up, which is perfect for those time-poor or lazy ones among us. And as an added bonus, it's a cleanser too!

Price-wise, Bioderma does seem expensive at about $30 (depending on where you buy).  However, a 250mL bottle lasted me almost four months! (And that is with wearing make-up most days.)

The only downside of Bioderma, is that it's not the most efficient at removing waterproof mascara.  Which is where The Body Shop's 'Camomile Waterproof eye and lip make-up' remover comes in.  This product is a lot oilier than bioderma, but since you only need to concentrate it on your eye area, this isn't a problem.  Simply shake, put some onto a cotton pad, hold on the eye for 5-10 seconds and sweep off. Easy peasy. 

This product retails for about $17.95, but again, lasts a very, very long time.

The cleanser.

I've tried my fair share of cleansers.  Products with plant extracts, essential oils, chemicals... You name it.  But when I went back to basics, that's when I saw results.

I use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, and while it may not have the fancy packaging or the fancy ingredients, for me, it works. Its a mild, soap-free, and fragrance free cleanser that you can pick up at most supermarkets or pharmacies for $8+ (depending on the size you get).

The toner.

This is a relatively new addition to my routine, but a good one at that.  The La Clinica Sensitive Skin Soothing Facial Mist (or here). The best thing about this is, not only is it made in Australia, all La Clinica products are made with certified organic products, so no nasty chemicals involved! 

 It has a lovely floral scent, and has extracts of chamomile to sooth the skin.  How I use this product... I spray a few pumps all over my face, then dab in with a cotton pad.

It retails for about $23.

The eye cream.

This is the only product in my stash, that I'm not really sure if it actually does anything. It's the Sukin Antioxidant Eye Serum. It is quite cooling when you dab it under the eye, so I think that's the antioxidants at work.

 Again, its paraben and fragrance free, and made from certified vegan products.

It is on the cheaper end of the eye cream market at about $19.95.

The moisturiser. 

Last but not least, my favourite moisturiser for a long time the La Clinica Clear Skin Oil Control Day Cream (or here). The packaging is lovely, and this stuff smells like lemons.  It's not overly oily or sticky like some other moisturisers, it just sinks into the skin nicely. One pump does nicely for the whole face, so this stuff lasts for ages.

This product is usually about $20.

So hopefully this helps someone out. If you have any other products which are good for sensitive skin, let me know!

Beth. x