Queenstown! Most beautiful place on earth...

This is a late post, we have been back home for two weeks now but I wanted to share how beautiful (under-statement) Queenstown is! It is by far, the most stunning city I've been to, every morning I would wake up in awe of the mountains! It is truly breathtaking - see for yourself!

We stayed for 5 days and my highlights were:

1) Kayaking in Milford Sound
Pretty much lived in the water when I was a kid and I absolutely love adventure and nature so this was the best experience for me! We went with Rosco's Milford Kayaking and paddled the Afternoon Delight.  It was a long 17km paddle back from Tasman Sea through Milford Sound but was well worth it for the views! It felt so surreal!

2) Hiking up Queenstown Hill
I love to hike and was keen on walking Queenstown Hill since it was easily accessible from town.  Seriously, as soon as you start walking towards the Hill (more like Mountain), it is a very steep ascent! And it doesn't stop until you reach the summit! The good news is that it's a descent on the way back (maybe not good news for stubborn knees). It is WORTH the climb because the view is spectacular! Took us around 3 hours from town and back to our apartment.

We also got up to some cycling around the lake, enjoyed the sunset by the lake in town, and took in the majestic views as we did our day trips to Milford Sound and Lake Wanaka! I loved how it was away from all the malls, big concrete jungles and you can just enjoy the scenary and take all the nature in. It was a perfect break! :)

If you have yet to check out Queenstown, we highly highly recommend it!! :)

Review: Schick Hydro Silk Shaver for women :)

Happy Wednesday :) I hope you are enjoying your week! I'm very lucky and only have one more day of work and then heading off for a full day of pampering with a girlfriend of mine. Living it up! :P

Today's post is a review on the Schick Hydro Silk shaver for women.  This was provided by beautyheaven.com.au to trial.

Some background on my hair removal habits...I am pretty lazy when it comes to shaving my legs. During winter, I may not even bother shaving my legs seeing how they will be covered up all winter long anyway (and its really only my hubs that has to deal with the hairyness haha). But now that spring is here and summer is literally less than a month away, time to take those legs out from hiding and strut around in those denim cutoffs all summer long. Which means hair removal must take place.

As part of this trial I shaved one leg using the Schick Hydro Silk and the other leg using my current "no frills" shaver.  My "no frills" shaver does have a strip of Vitamin E above the blades (as most shavers do these days).

Packaging
The box comes comes with two shaver heads and also a shaver holder which you can attach to your bathroom wall using suction. This is a very nifty gadget and even the hubs was impressed. I was also provided with a box of shaver heads!

First impression
The shaver itself is very sturdy and has lots of grip so you are in full control. As I shaved my leg, it felt amazingly silky and smooth. It was really easy to shave my legs and felt really good to use on my skin. The moisturising serum is activated by water and it allows the shaver to glide over your skin while shaving off the hairs. It definitely felt quite luxurious compared to my current "no frills" razor.

After the shave
My legs felt smooth (as did my other leg) but I definitely notice that my leg shaved by the Schick Hydro Silk was more moisturised than my other leg shaved by the "no frills". That night I didn’t apply any moisturiser to either of my legs. The next day, both my legs felt both dry lol. The regrowth on my legs appear to be the same on both – there is no significant difference from what I can see.

Overall thoughts - 5 stars!
If you are looking for a razor that is easy to use, glides over your skin and gives you moisturised legs straight afterwards, I recommend this product. It is a notch above your standard razor and will leave your legs feeling hydrated and moisturised after the shave.

My Pescatarian Lifestyle

I've recently turned Pescatarian and its become something I'm really passionate about so I thought I would devote a whole post and video on my new lifestyle!  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic! :)

What is a pescatarian?

A pescatarian is a person that eats a plant-based diet but also includes seafood in their diet.

Personally, I eat vegetables, fruit, grains, eggs, seafood, and on occasion, some dairy. I also don’t buy any leather goods.

Why did you become pescatarian?

I have changed my eating lifestyle for the wellbeing and ethical treatment of animals, for the conservation of our environment and for my general overall health. 

The main catalyst for this change was the documentary Earthlings. It really frightened me and I truly empathised for the animals. It’s true, if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would become vegetarian.  It was a very powerful and moving documentary and my key takeaway was animals are not treated ethically, “mass produced” to meet consumption demands, and slaughtered in a horrific way.  I could never look at a beef hamburger patty, a pork springroll or a chicken schnitzel in the same light ever again.  Animals do not exist to live and die in these horrific conditions, it scares me to think how these magnificent animals can be raised and slaughtered with just no respect at all.

In addition, there are also health and environmental benefits of making the switch to a type of vegetarianism.  Animal protein is considered acidic after metabolised (rather than alkalising), promotes calcium loss, and is generally high in saturated fats. 

How long have you been pescatarian for?

I have been enjoying this lifestyle for a month now and have not craved animal protein a single bit. There is so much variety for vegetarians, including protein options and because I am still consuming seafood I have not felt that I am restricted in any way.

Was it hard to give up meat?

Personally, no. I went cold turkey and I have not looked back since.  Generally I have not been a big meat-eater anyway so it was not hard for me to take out animal proteins. I did like chicken though, so this would probably be the most difficult animal protein to give up! Also, while I enjoy eating out, I do prefer to eat at home so I can cook my own food and know what I am putting in it. When I do eat out, I opt for the vegetarian option and I’m keen on trying new organic / wholefood cafes and restaurants. I’m lucky to have a hubby that supports this!

What do you eat in a typical day?

In a "good" typical day, I would eat:

Breakfast: green smoothie

Snack: organic apple/orange and/or tea

Lunch: Sauteed organic kale, celery, tofu and capsicum (with brown rice if I feel like grains)

Snack: organic carrots and  homemade hummus and/or tea

Dinner: Thai Green curry with vegetables and brown rice

Dessert: dark chocolate and/or tea

How do you keep your iron and protein up?

When I stopped drinking cows milk, the first question that people asked me was how do I ensure I consume the recommended calcium intake? Now I have questions on maintaining iron and protein levels up once making the switch to vegetarian. I have been doing research on vegan lifestyles and the key takeaway for me is that iron, calcium and protein can be sourced from vegetables, beans/legumes and grains. Eating a wide variety of vegetables – dark leafy greens, cruciferous, and different coloured vegetables can provide all the nutrients we need.

Can you recommend any documentaries or books on a plant-based diet?

Call me a dweeb, but I really enjoy watching these type of documentaries! My favourite documentaries are:

• Earthlings
• Hungry for Change
• Forks over Knives
• Food Matters
• Food Inc
• Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.

I have only recently started reading books on the matter and am currently reading Vegetarian Diet for Athletes. While I’m not an athlete, if athletes thrive on a plant-based diet, then its good enough for me! There are also a multitude of articles on the net to read about this topic.

I hope you found this useful! Please leave any comments below! :)

Get Ready with Me! Natural night time look feat Naked Palette!

So glad the weekend is here!! Sydneysiders are blessed with lots of sunshine today :) I have another get ready with me type of video! I was getting ready for my besties birthday night out and I wanted to go for a natural, casual look. Hope you enjoy watching the video!

Products used:
- Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer
- Makeup Forever Face and Body Foundation #34
- Garnier Roll-on Eye Concealer
- Inglot face powder #66
- Jemma Kidd Bronzer
- Illamasqua blush in Hussy
- Rimmel eyebrow pencil in Dark Brown
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- Naked Palette e/s Naked and Buck
- Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Black Ink
- Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

Review! Maybelline Mega Plush mascara

I’ve been wanting to write and talk about the Maybelline Mega Plus mascara because I am so impressed with its performance! So today’s review, is really a RAVE about how awesome the Maybelline Mega Plush mascara is! 

What to know:

• I have fairly short, sparse lashes but they are naturally curly. It’s quite hard to find a mascara that works on my lashes!
• I have been using Maybelline Mega Plush mascara for approximately 3-4 weeks 
• Purchased at Priceline on sale for $10!

Why do I think it was awesome?

• The mascara’s formula is said to be like a mousse. This formula is perfect for those who are looking for more volume and length in their lashes but want to avoid the clumpy, spider-y look. 
• The formula is buildable. You can wear one coat during the day and apply 2-3 coats (or more) at night for a more dramatic look. Again, when you build on the formula, the lashes do not get clumpy. Yay!
  
• When you apply 2-3 coats, the result is super soft, natural looking lashes. I adore how soft my lashes instead of stiff and clumpy.
• The brush is quite large and bendy, this helps with grabbing each lash and applying the formula on it while at the same time, separating your lashes. 

A word of warning…

• As with any mascara, I would trial for at least a week or two before passing judgment. With the Maybelline Mega Plush mascara, I found that the first couple of days I used it, I saw some flakes under my eyes. But this only happened at the start, it does not flake on me anymore. I think the formula has settled within a week.
• While the large brush is great for the upper lashes, applying mascara on the bottom lashes can be quite tricky! It is difficult applying ample mascara without getting mascara on your under eyes…On an everyday basis this does not bother me as I typically do not apply mascara on my lower lashes.

Overall, this is definitely one of my favourite drug store mascaras! It will be on my repurchase list!

The photos below show my RIGHT EYE with the mascara with nothing on my left eye.  My right eye has no eyeliner, only Maybelline Mega Plush mascara!

Have you tried this eyeliner? What do you think?

Get ready with me! Casual dinner date :)

Happy Saturday everyone! Here is a look I wore on a casual dinner date the other week.  I love this bright warm red lipstick! Adds a bit of glam to any look :)

Products used
Laura Mercier hydrating face primer
Makeup forever face and body foundation
Inglot face powder
Jemma Kidd bronzing powder
Sleek blush in Coral
Rimmel eyebrow pencil in dark brown
Urban Decay Eyeshadow primer potion in original
Mac e/s woodwinked, vanilla, carbon
Naked palette e/s in Naked, Buck
Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Black Ink
Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara in Extreme Black
Makeup Store Lipstick in Redelicious

Makeup for a 21st birthday: Anna

I recently did my cousin's makeup for a birthday she was attending. We went for was a natural, smokey eye look! I really loved how gorgeous and fresh faced she looked!

Products used:
- Makeup forever HD primer
- Makeup forever HD foundation
- Bobbi brown concealer
- Laura Mercier loose powder
- Makeup forever contour powder
- Illamasqua blush
- Laura Mercier highlighter
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow primer potion
- Mac e/s in woodwinked, carbon
- Naked Palette
- Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner
- Ardell lashes
- Inglot lip pencil in #27
- Gorgeous Cosmetics lipstick in velvet rose

My updated skincare routine and review of MooGoo, Clinique, Sukin and Ella Bache!

Hi lovelies! Hope you have had an enjoyable weekend! Even though the sun is out and shining in Sydney, it is still sooo cold!!  The hubs and I came back from a 40km cycle and it did not keep me warm at all!

So recently, I have been on the lookout for natural skincare products. While I absolutely adore MD Formulations and what it has done for my skin, I wanted to try some products that were natural, non-toxic, no parabens, or chemicals.  Below is my updated skincare routine that I have been following for a couple of months now featuring some Australian brands!

Step 1 - Cleanse
Clinique "Take the Day Off" makeup remover.
I have been using this makeup remover for a while now and I love it. I haven't found anything that does an equal or better job so I'm definitely sticking with it! It removes my gel eyeliner, mascara (I typically use non-waterproof) and eyeshadow with ease.  All I do is apply some to a cotton pad, massage and wipe off. Too easy.

MooGoo Milky Wash
I. Love. This. Cleanser. sooo much! A colleague of mine began using MooGoo and raved about how good it was so I had to try it! I bought this at my local Go Vita store (healthfood and vitamin store) and it is affordable and does the job! The cleanser is glucose and coconut based, it is quite thick and you only need a pea-size amount for your whole face.  I use warm water to emulsify in my hands and then apply to my face. While it is a gentle cleanser, I find that it is very effective at removing makeup, in particular foundation, without leaving your skin dry or tight. This is perfect for winter, especially when my skin tends to feel quite dry. I also love that it does not have a strong fragrance (none at all, really). MooGoo is environmentally friendly and has pure and simple ingredients.  It's also an Australian company, and has an awesome website that explains each of its ingredients in laymans terms.

Step 2 - Apply Eyecream
Sukin Antioxidant Eye Serum
I would say it's quite hard to find a good eyecream, it explains why I've been using MD Formulations for years...I bought Sukin from Priceline and I didn't really read any reviews online so I wasn't sure what to expect.  My first impressions of the product, I didn't enjoy it at all. I felt that the lines under my eyes were beginning to show (it could also just have to do with my age :P). But I became more diligent in applying the eye serum, I would spend more time dabbing and applying it on my eye and use more of the serum as well. After changing my approach, the results of the eye serum were just as good as MD Formulations. The skin under my eyes is nicely hydrated. What I also love about Sukin is that it's an Australian brand, affordable and contains no parabens or the nasty stuff!

Step 3 - Moisturise
MooGoo Soothing MSM Cream
This is one of the best value and effective moisturisers. As you can see, it is a pretty massive tub of moisturising goodness. It's very gentle on the skin and has no strong fragrance.  In terms of consistency, the closest I can compare it to is Sorbolene. I am really enjoying the moisturiser, it leaves my skin very supple and soft.  My only complaint is that during Winter, my skin around my mouth tends to get quite dry, and I will need to apply more of the moisturiser on that area.  This did not happen with MD Formulations so I would say, you will need less of MD Formulations to get the same level of moisture. But regardless, I do love this MooGoo moisturiser! It's like a never-ending tub of udder cream! hehe

Step 4 - Apply sunscreen
Ella Bache SFP 30+ Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Cream
I wear sunscreen in one form or another everyday before I leave the house. I typically use tinted moisturiser on an everyday basis but where I want more protection against the suns rays, I use this lovely sunscreen here.  I bought this from David Jones and it was interesting because the sales lady from another brand really recommended I buy the Ella Bache one! And I like the formula, it is lightweight, and not super greasy (still is a teeny bit greasy but i can live with that). It also has a sunscreen smell but not an overpowering one.  It applies clear on your skin and the best thing about it is that when I sweat during exercise, my beads of sweat are not milky because of the sunscreen! I definitely recommend this sunscreen if you are looking for some serious protection :)

Silverlining and my Winter outfit!

Hey lovelies, it's been what feels like ages since I've updated my blog.  Working lots, busy weekends and horrible rainy weather has stopped me from making YT videos (I use natural lighting) or even simply being outside and enjoying the sunshine. I've been taking for granted the beautiful weather we typically get in Sydney!

Today happened to be the first day in a (long) while where the sun decided to poke its head out from behind the rain clouds (even for a few minutes!).  So the hubby and I decided to go for a walk and I managed to squeeze in some OOTD photos! We had also just come from my cousin's 21st - we would usually just throw on a comfy grey-marle ensemble if going for a stroll.

I hope you all have a fabulous and sunny week ahead! :)

Jeans - Topshop, Jumper - Bardot, Boots - Zara, Necklace - Diva,Watch - Michael Kors

Get Ready with Me! Makeup for an evening wedding

Hello lovelies :) Hope you are all having a nice weekend!

I have another get ready with me video, this time for an evening wedding.  It is officially the first day of Winter and the days are getting shorter in Sydney so the lighting could have been better!

While I love applying makeup for nights out, weddings and work, I am trying to give my skin and face a break from makeup on the weekends. So on days where I am just chilling at home or running errands, I don't apply any makeup! I used to not be able to feel comfortable wearing a bare face in public but now I feel very comfortable in my skin.

Let me know what you guys think!

Get Ready With Me! Makeup for a daytime wedding

It's been awhile since I've done a "get ready with me" video so here is one for you today! We attended a wedding yesterday and I wanted to share what makeup look I wore ;)  The ceremony was in the morning so I opted for natural makeup with some colour on the lips.  This is probably one of my go-to looks!

Let me know what you think of the video!

Healthfood Haul!

 

I LOVE healthy food and learning all about nutrition! I believe that we are definitely what we eat and it is so important to put an emphasis on eating healthy, wholesome and nutritious food so we nourish our bodies and ensure we are functioning at our optimal best.  That's not to say that you can't have days where you eat take-out or indulge in your guilty pleasures (egg tarts!!)...but I do favour a balanced lifestyle of eating healthy, moving everyday and also enjoying an occasional indulgence :)

Anyway, this post is about a healthfood store haul and what I bought! I love buying my snacks from this store as well as supplements.  This is the list of my purchases, or if you prefer, watch my video below.  I really do apologise for the yellow lighting - it is horrible but I filmed after work (no makeup touchups either so excuse my face) and it gets pretty dark really early now :(

1) Vitalgreens - a vitamins, minerals and all-that-good-stuff supplement I add to my green smoothies every morning (yes I'm incomplete without my smoothie)

2) Pukka tea in Revitalise - a DELICIOUS tea made of organic cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. I also love their three tulsi tea.

3) Loving Earth chocolates - the best organic raw chocolate ever. Seriously.  And I was a chocaholic! I especially love their dark chocolate mint sweetened with evaporated coconut nectar (no agave!).

4) Loving earth kale chips - amazing tasting chippies! They are also really filling and great for an afternoon (or morning) snack :)

5) Maca Powder - I add Maca powder to my green smoothies.  Maca is highly nutritious with minerals, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements.  It also helps with hormonal balance!

6) Pitted dates - I never bought dates before but I wanted to try these in my smoothie as a natural sweetener, for making raw desserts and also as a topping on oats

7) Quinoa - giving this grain a second chance hehe

8) Almond Brazil Cashew nut butter - ALL TIME FAV! This does not last long in my house. I love eating it with raw cacao and honey. Too good.

9) Raw Organic Cacao Powder - my substitute for cocoa.  I use this in smoothies and raw desserts. It tastes amazing.

What are things you like to pick up at your local healthfood / vitamin store?

Review time! Lancome's Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

I was super excited to trial this product (thank you beautyheaven) as I have seen the product in nearly every magazine I was picking up!

Lancome's Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate says it will make your skin look more smoother and luminous from the first drops, younger and rejuvenated after seven days.

First off, my skin type is normal combination which means my T-Zone gets oily by the end of the day (particularly my forehead and nose) but I don't have any major problems with other areas of my face in terms of oiliness.

I have been using Genifique now for about a week and a half, every morning and night time, after cleaning and before I apply my moisturiser. Here are my thoughts:

* Once applied, the serum is absorb instantaneously into my skin. My skin feels very soft upon application.

* After a few days, my skin begins to feel softer and my skin tone looks more even.

* After a week and a half, my skin feels much softer, has more elasticity and the texture is smoother. I also noticed that my skin felt like it was luminous and glowy :)

* My skin did not feel any oilier after applying the serum, it did feel hydrated.

* The serum has no scent - thank goodness!

* Very easy to apply - the pump ensures the serum remains hygenic.

Overall I would give this serum 5 out of 5, I could defintely see a difference in my skin tone and texture :) I especially recommend this during winter when skin can typically look dull, this product could help rejuvenate and provide a dewy look to your skin!

Chanel Le Vernis Nailpolish in Accessoire!

I have always wanted to try Chanel nailpolish so I decided to purchase a bottle during my overseas trip (HKD 190). I chose “Accessoire” - a classic deep red wine/aubergine colour that would be perfect for Autumn and Winter! I absolutely love this polish, my only regret is only stopping at one bottle. Application was amazing, one coat was opaque yet not gluggy, very very easy to apply! Two coats of the polish rendered a perfect finish :)

As for staying power I saw chips after 3-4 days. I definitely plan on growing my Chanel nailpolish collection and hope to buy on my next overseas trip…lol!

Hope you all have a lovely ANZAC day and enjoy what you have planned for the rest of the week!

Holiday Snaps! Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong

Here are some of my favourite holiday moments and places when I was in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.  It's an awesome feeling to immerse yourself in a different culture and experience what life has to offer. The world is a beautiful place :)