5 beauty savvy ways to use Coconut Oil

My favourite coconut oil  Dr Bronners Coconut Oil $16.95 available from www.lateralfood.com

1. Cuticle oil & Hand Cream
Coconut oil is the most amazing cuticle oil and hand cream treatment if your hands are cracking and dry during winter, I like to massage it into my cuticles and work outwards to the rest of my hand whilst watching an episode of any Real Housewives of any city.

2. Hair Oil & Treatment
Melt the coconut into a liquid form and let cool down to a safe warm temperature, massage through your hair and scalp coating every strand and leave in for a couple of hours whilst you browse tumblr or skype your best friend. Shampoo and Condition as normal to remove and your locks will be super luscious.

3. Body Scrub with raw sugar
Mix coconut oil into a paste by mashing it up in a bowl, add 3 tablespoons of raw granulated sugar and mix well. Rub into your legs first, massaging in circles to remove any dead skin and then wash off in the shower. It leaves skin smooth and hydrated.

4. Cleansing oil balm to remove makeup
Warm a small amount of coconut oil in your palms and massage in to your face, makeup will lift away. Then using a damp warm face washer wipe the coconut oil and makeup off your face. It is especially good for removing eye makeup.

5. To heal scars and stretch marks
Coconut oil rubbed into stretch marks on a pregnant belly is fantastic. Also if you have a scab or graze rubbing coconut oil over it will help it heal without leaving too much of a scar.

xx Nella

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MAKE UP FREE ME with Kosmea. Dare to go make up free with me? August 29th, 2014

Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil $24.95 & Purifying Cream Cleanser $34.95 available from www.kosmea.com.au

What is Makeup Free Me?

Makeup Free Me is a cause-related charity movement set-up to shine a light on negative self-image, which 90% of Australian women believe is an issue in today’s society.

In 2014 Makeup Free Me is focusing on negative body image, which can lead to eating disorders. Approximately 9% (2 million) of Australians experience an eating disorder that will require clinical intervention at some point in their lives. We recognise the importance of addressing body image issues in helping women and girls to ultimately develop a positive self-image.

How can YOU get involved?

- Kosmea has teamed up with Make Up Free Me this year with 5% of Rose Hip Oil sales throughout August being donated to Make Up Free me. So simply picking up a bottle of Rose Hip Oil has never been so enticing, you wont regret it as it is a wonder oil which will leave your skin hydrated and glowing. 

- Go make up free and post a selfie of your beautiful naked face on instagram using the hashtag #LiftTheMask and follow and tag @makeupfreeme while you're at it.

- Check out www.makeupfreeme.com.au register and find out heaps of fun ways you can get involved with combating negative body image.

Now I am off to apply plenty of Kosmea Rose Hip Oil to make sure my skin will be positively fresh and glowing for that make up free selfie on August 29th follow Beauté Gazette on instagram @beautegazette to keep up with all my beauty adventures.

xx Nella

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Beauté Gazette LOVES Jurlique Super Serums!

Firstly here is a little bit of Serum 101 for dummies:

What is a serum? Serums are a higher potency gel or liquid which contain strong active ingredients like peptides, antioxidants and vitamins than your regular moisturiser. They are designed to deposit these high potency ingredients on skin which penetrate deeper into the skins layers.

What is the difference between a Moisturiser and a Serum? A moisturiser in the most simple sense is a lubricator for the skin to prevent dryness, often times indigents are added to give more benefits to the skin like SPF and vitamins. Moisturiser sits on the surface of the skin and hydrates any dryness accruing on the top 3 layers of skin which are visible to the eye and touch. Serums don't give slip and moisture to the skin, they often are absorbed into this skin within seconds to penetrate into the deeper layers, so they do not give that nice slippery moisturised feel to the skin.

Jurlique serums are intensely gorgeous to use, I have been pure serum heaven trialling these products to review. Like I explained above the serums are absorbed into this skin within seconds and they are undetectable under moisturiser and makeup which makes them perfect for morning and nightly application. Jurlique's serums are free from artificial colours, fragrances, Parabens, PEGs, and sulphates. 

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Firming and Tightening Serum $95.00

Part of Jurlique's newest 'Purely Age-Defying' line which is targeted at skin over the age of 25 which needs some help in retaining tightness and firming. The ingredients include a potent blend of botanicals including Oat Kernel extract, Beech Tree Bud extract and Tapioca starch. This is great anti-aging booster step to your skin care routine by adding this serum under your favourite moisturiser morning and night as an extra step to skin age gracefully.

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Daily Moisture Serum with Antioxidant Complex $70.00 

If you suffer from extremely dry skin then this is the serum for you, rich in Rose hip Fruit Oil which is lightweight rich in essential fatty acids. It also contains linoleic and linolenic acids which are known for their powers to restore skins hydration and balance any over oily or dry areas. My favourite ingredient is Evening Primrose Oil is rich in Omega 6 essential fatty acids and antioxidants to rebalance dryness. Green Tea Extract helps maintain a smooth, balanced and radiant skin complexion by protecting the skin from environmental damage. It also smells like a field full of delicate french roses, I applied this to my friend before her makeup on her wedding day, the smell was so calming and the ingredients helped neutralised her skin from the happy tears throughout the day.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Eye Serum $58.00

If a potent antioxidant eye treatment serum is what you are in need of this will penetrate deeper then your average eye cream. Enriched with Jurlique's exclusive Naturevive PB18+ complex which is a blend of powerful antioxidants and fatty acids to help reduce the signs of fatigue, minimise the appearance of fine lines and dehydration. I like to apply this sparingly as it is a teeny weeny bottle, around the eye area at night under my nightly slathering of Argan oil before bed.

Please comment below on any burning questions about serums or skin questions, and I can try to answer them or google an answer which might help.

xx Nella

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** I was kindly gifted these products for blog consideration. This did not, in any way, influence my opinion on the product. Please refer to my policy and disclaimer for more information.

Organic Oils for Oily Skin with La Mav

La Mav Pure Argan Oil $24.95 and La Mav Ultra Hydration Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar $49.95 available from www.lamav.com

There is a common misconception that if you have oily skin then you should steer clear of all makeup and skin care containing oils, this becomes even more misleading with the amount of products slapping an 'Oil Free' slogan onto their bottles and targeting them to oil skin. Yes some oils can be too heavy for skin and cause break outs but what if I told you hand on my heart as a fellow oily-skinned woman that using oils on my face my skin has actually started producing less natural oils which cause makeup to slip slide away before lunch.
I started trialling products from La Mav about 2 years ago, the brand offers a variety of facial oils which are all 100% organic and targeted to specific concerns like anti-aging and hyper pigmentation. Over that time I have tried a various oils from all the lines, the Vitamin-C line has too many active ingredients for my skin and my skin was very sensitive too it. Having a reaction like this is very common when you are trailing natural products. But try not to worry about it, your skin is just telling you to try something else and ittakes time to find the right oil match for your skin. Once you find the right oil for your skin, you will know because the signs are easy to spot : Glowing! Radiating with health! and constant compliments! Are just a few of the effects that are quickly noticed.
The La Mav Organic Pure Argan Oil for day wear under makeup and the Ultra-Hydration Nightly Nectar for night time application are my current favourite day and night oils. Using them both combined on a daily basis my skin has dramatically changed my skin, it is less oily in my t-zone and has a more even hydrated feel and look. If you have combination skin, I would recommend experimenting with using natural organic oils to try and control your oily areas, it has worked for me and my skin feels amazing for it.

xxx Nella

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** I was kindly gifted these products for blog consideration. This did not, in any way, influence my opinion on the product. Please refer to my policy and disclaimer for more information.

Sensory overload for Mother's Day at Lush....

Lush Bath Bomb in Secret Garden $5.95 available from www.lush.com.au

This Mother's Day I decided to treat my very spunky Mum to a sensory overload of colour, smell and relaxation at Lush with  an arm and hand soak, exfoliation and massage. It was the perfect Mother's day activity which was filled with discovering amazing new Lush products and an amazing treatment.

Like mother like daughter, she definitely passed down her love of very bright and colourful fashion, don't you think?

After Mum had almost bought one of everything in the shop, we sat down for our treatments with the lovely and super gorgeous Alicia (Hi Alicia if you are reading this!) who talked us through the treatment and asked our favourite scents to make a customised hand soak. We both said : Rose and Geranium - SNAP!

This is a full list of products that went into our crazy colourful and wonderfully colourful and scented hand soak:

-1 x Secret Garden Bath Bomb

-Honey I washed the kids Shower Gel

-Turkish delight shower smoothie

-Ro's argan body conditioner

-Let the good times roll scrub

Alicia was very detailed at explaining the ingredients of all the products she used whilst giving our arms a very relaxing arm massage at the same time. Did you know that over 20,000 rose petals go into every tub of Ro's Argan Body conditioner, no wonder it smells so beautifully rosey!

After arms were soaked and scrubbed it was time for a massage with Therapy massage bar, this felt incredible! I'd hadn't used the Lush Massage bars before but after that arm massage I am a 100% devoted fan, it was so buttery smooth and left our arms completely moisturised. So as we didn't walk around all day with very slippery arms Alicia powdered us with Vanilla Puff, another new Lush product which I fell in love with, it is a vanilla scented dusting powder which takes away stickiness of moisturisers. No more wrestling my freshly moisturised legs into tight skinny jeans ever again!

This was the perfect Mother's day treat for Mum and I to do together, it was informal fun and we totally zenned-out with our treatments. 

If you like the sound of our Mother-Daughter pamper fest then you totally need to know that Lush is available for parties, how cool is that! You and your friends can book a face mask party where you learn how to make your favourite  fresh face mask together, byo a bottle of bubbles and have a blast whipping up your own batch of Cupcake, Cosmetic Warrior, Love Lettuce or Oatifix. I would highly recommend the in store Lush treatment experience, it is a whole lotta fun.

For more information on Lush or to book a Lush party go to www.lush.com.au

xxx Nella

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How to clean your make up brushes like a BOSS! Featuring Dr Bronner's Magic Soap.

Dr Bronner's Almond Organic Liquid Soap $7.95 / 237ml

For more information on Dr Bronner's go to www.drbronner.com.au

To buy Dr Bronner's online go to www.lateralfood.com

One of my top tips to keeping your skin clear is to make sure your brushes are cleaned regularly, otherwise they start to become cesspools of bacteria spreading germs and spots all over your face. Not to mention that a clean brush applies makeup a whole lot better than dirty brush.

My Favourite brush cleaner is DR BRONNER'S MAGIC SOAP! It is sooooooo magic....

It cleans brushes without any hassle at all, getting the most waterproof off makeup out of synthetic and natural haired brushes. So here is my full proof brush cleaning method:

Firstly I like to leave my brushes to soak for a couple of minutes in tepid water and a tablespoon of the magic soap. Then after the makeup starts loosening up and the water starts to change colour, give the brushes a bit of a swirl around to make sure all the hairs are covered in the soap. Next move the brushes over to a sink and rinse under running water, I massage the hairs to make sure the brush is extra clean and free of all the magic soap. If the brush is a natural hair brush, this process might need to be repeated once more if your brush is still dirty.

Squeeze out excess water and allow your brushes to dry in a safe place overnight. Depending on the weather brushes should take 1-2days to dry. Brush laundry has become a simple and easy process since I started using Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, rather than a very annoying weekly chore.

Dr Bronner's Almond Organic Liquid Soap $7.95 / 237ml

For more information on Dr Bronner's go to www.drbronner.com.au

To buy Dr Bronner's online go to www.lateralfood.com

xxx Nella

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Beauté Gazette LOVES Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil

Kosema Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil $24.95 available from www.kosmea.com.au

Ever since Miranda Kerr blurted out her love for Rose Hip Oil it seems as if everyone has gone gaga over it, with women applying it overnight expecting to wake up with that Victoria Secrets glow. But with all skin care it does take time for your skin to adjust to using it and to really see the benefits of using a product. 

Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil is my absolute favourite, the story behind the brand and the quality of the product is why I would pick it over other brands on the market. The standard way to use Rose Hip Oil is to apply 2 - 3 drops at night as a treatment and 2 - 3 drops in the morning as a moisturiser BUT I have been using it in a few new ways:

- Mixing a few drops in with my foundation, it sheers out the coverage beautifully and makes the foundation glide onto the skin with fingers. Skip the highlighter babes, you will be naturally glowing.

- Adding a few drops to my body moisturiser to help any scars or abrasions heal.

- I am pretty much certain that Rose Hip Oil cleared up ingrown hairs on my bikini line.

- It is an amazing cuticle oil!

- Adding a few drops to a face mask, to boost hydration.

- To remove your eye makeup, especially liquid liners and waterproof mascaras. A few drops on your finger tips and gently massage your eyelids and makeup will lift away so easily.

I love a multi-purpose product and Rose Hip Oil it does everything and more! 

xxx Nella

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Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion $12.99 available from www.priceline.com

This review could be done in one sentence : This moisturiser doesn't make your legs sticky and you can put on the tightest jeans known to man within seconds of applying! 

Ahhhhhhhhhhh it's a miracle! Some genius moisturising inventor over at the Aveeno factory has listened to my prayers and made the perfect moisturiser....It is so gentle and doesn't effect my psoriasis, the oatmeal calms any red patches I may have at the time, and it is fragrance free. I have been using the Daily Moisturising Lotion everyday for the past month on my entire body after getting out of the shower and I think I am only a quarter into the bottle because it spreads out so evenly when you you rub it in. 

If you have sensetive skin or you find body moisturisers too sticky the I highly reccomend trying the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion and compared to alot of the 'derma' type moisturisers it is relatively inexpenssive. 

Yay for non sticky summer legs!

xxx Nella

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Grown Alchemist : Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream + Hydra-Mist Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides

Grown Alchemist Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream $24.99 & Hydra-Mist + Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides $29.95

www.grownalchemist.com

Grown Alchemist is a brand which I am only new to and they certainly tick the first impressions box with their packaging - so shoot me I am a sucker for minimalist-organicy hipster packaging!

The Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream travels with me everywhere in my handbag at the moment, the consistency not too thick and not too greasy perfect for on the go hand moisturising. The scent is clean and fresh not too overpowering or lingering, it is everything you could want in a hand cream.

Peptides are a massive beauty 'buzz-word' at the moment (I am planning a post later in the week explaining everything you need to know about them!) with companies listing peptides on just about anything and everything. Grown Alchemist's Hydra-Mist+ list of ingredients reads like a hydration super cocktail for your skin containing Hydraluric Acid, Antioxidants, Vitamin C and that 'buzzy' Protein Peptide. I have been spraying my face with the Hydra-Mist+ after cleansing morning and night before applying moisturiser or night serum, and have noticed a dramatic difference in how hydrated my skin looks and feels especially since we are in the depths of winter which usually leaves me with dry patches. 

As a brand which is marketed at an organic and natural savvy customer the pricing of Grown products  is extremely reasonable compared to similar brands on the market with nothing over the $69.95 price point. Grown Alchemist is a brand which I will definitely continue to explore with their Cleansers and Masks next on my list to try.

Grown Alchemist is available on www.grownalchemist.com

& also available from www.priceline.com.au

xxx Nella

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Beauté Gazette LOVES Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Water Mist Deluxe Edition

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Deluxe Edition 100ml $69.00 available from July 15th

Jurlique's iconic Rosewater Balancing Mist is filled with magic powers, it sat on my desk for 3 years when I was working in a very high-stress environment. At times it all got too much and I was loosing my mind in stressful spreadsheets so I would spritz my face with the magic Rosewater Mist and let the calming roses refresh my face and take a deep breath knowing everything would be just fine. It has also become a travel essential for me, I cannot take a long haul flight without it  - a couple of spritzes every hour so keeps my skin plump and hydrated throughout the flight.

The unique formula contains the extract of over 1000 rose petals in every bottle, Marshmallow and Gylcerin to prevent moisture loss, Aloe Vera to sooth and calm the skin & Grapefruit Seed a powerful topical antioxidant.

This month Jurlique releases a Deluxe Edition of the Rosewater Balancing Mist, it is all pretty in pink and will look divine on your desk, vanity or bedside table. With every bottle of the Rosewater Balancing Mist Deluxe Edition sold Jurlique will generously help fund Indigenous Schooling in Australia, not that you need another excuse to treat yourself to this little bottle of pink heaven.

For more information visit www.jurlique.com.au

xxxx Nella

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LUSH Beauty Blogger Event

Just hanging out behind a table of soaps!

Last week Lush held a super amazing beauty blogger event at the Lush Sydney QVB store, there was lots of playing with products and we were overloaded with information but the one thing that I took away from the event was : Lush gives a shit, and I have fallen back in love with them for it.

In all area's it is a 'Full Circle' brand:

-All packaging is made from 90% recycled materials and all packaging can be recycled when you are finished with it.

-Lush sources ingredients from suppliers who are certified non animal testing companies and Lush does not test any of their products on animals.

-'Slush Fund' is an initiative Lush set up to support smaller suppliers to boost their businesses, to drive local business.

-All products are made from fresh organic fruit, vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics.

- It is a transparent brand, the amount of money a consumer is paying for a product is for the product, not a marketing campaign or fancy packaging. It is for the high quality ethically sourced natural ingredients that Lush uses to create beautiful creams, lotions, bath bombs, massage bars and cleansers.

ANGELS ON BARE SKIN $16.95

Lush's #1 worldwide cleanser, containing ground almonds, clay and lavender. Mix paste with water and massage into the skin for a soft exfoliation to the face. 

RO'S ARGAN BODY CONDITIONER $32.50

Lush's #1 Australian selling product, contains 6 conditioning butters including Morrocan Argan Oil. Used like a hair conditioner but on your body, when rinsed off the soft rose scent lingers on your skin.

ULTRA BLAND FACIAL CLEANSER

An oil emulsion cleanser, fantastic at removing makeup. Massage into your face gently loosening makeup and then wipe off with a flannel cloth that has been soaked in warm water. Oils will remain penetrating the skin leaving it plump and softened.

BUBBLE GUM LIP SCRUB

For all you Snow Fairy Lovers, the Bubble Gum Lip Scrub has the same scent. The sugar scrub exfoliates flakey skin off your lips leaving them sweet and kissable.

DREAM CREAM

Another world wide best seller, Dream Cream containing Oat Milk, Chamomile, Rose, Tea Tree and Lavender is incredibly soothing and calming. A-OK for those of us who suffer from skin irritations like exhzma and dermatitis.

HONEY I WASHED THE KIDS SOAP

Topped with a layer of solid bees wax made by some incredibly happy bees, this iconic soap packed with creamy honey soothes dry skin.

Have you ever fallen back in love with a brand? 

What's your favourite Lush product, that I should try next? 

Let me know in the comments or on Twitter or on the Beauté Gazette Facebook page all links are down below.

xxx Nella

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Removing staining from your nails....Naturally!

With my glitter polish obsession hitting fever pitch my nails have been been paying a price, yellowy-brown staining from darker polishes was getting really bad. I had a look around for some remedies online most contained bleach and other harsh chemicals, which is never good. Then I came across this little home remedy which worked a treat and left my nails looking amazing (see below!)

3 Tablespoons of Bi-Carb Soda

30ml of Tempid Water

The juice of one lemon

Rub and massage the mixture onto nails for 5 minutes per hand, the mixture is a thick paste and when rubbed into the nail bed exfoliates any clingy cuticles off the nail leaving nails smooth and very clean.

The lemon and Bi-Carb are natural cleaning and lightening agents which remove the staining.

My nails have never looked So Fresh 'N So Clean......Best of all no buffing away any much needed layers of my already thin nails.

Try it at home and tell me if it works for you?

@beautegazette

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Beauté Gazette on Facebook HERE!

xxx Nella

Neutrogena Naturals : Launch and Review

I was invited to attend the bloggers launch of the new line from Neutrogena, Neutrogena Naturals this week. It was a really lovely set-up at Twig Cafe with lots of beautiful blooms and of course lots of products to play with. At my table were Lucy from Luv-Luc, Theresa from The Ladida and Bianca from  Sporte Luxe  its always great to meet fellow beauty blog babes. 

Then there was a presentation highlighting the benefits of Neutrogena Naturals ingredients free from Sulfates, Parabens, Dyes and Phthalates BUT more excitingly a sneak peak of the TVC featuring Sloth Lovin' - Problem Solvin' - Veronica Mars herself Kristen Bell. I love her!

Oh la la I feel like a scientist! Curious about what goes into the all natural Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm? So good for you that, if you really wanted to you could eat it.

Beeswax, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter....mmmmmmmm! 

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

1. Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover $14.99

A pre-cleansing cleanser which loosens makeup from the skin, contains Coconut and Peruvian Tara Seed oils. Great if you wear heavy makeup and you find when you wash your face its not all coming off properly, also if makeup is removed first then a second cleanse will then help add nutrients into the skin.

2. Purifying Facial Cleanser $14.99

Yes! Finally an easily accessible brand using Willowbark as a main ingredient. Willowbark is a natural source of Salicylic Acid - which looses dead skin and is a non abrasive exfoliant. 

3. Purifying Pore Scrub $14.99

A granulated scrub which contains very fine Jojoba Seeds, which exfoliate without irritating the skin. 

Also containing Willowbark, this is a great natural scrub alternative for acne prone skin.

4. Face and Body Bar $4.99

Love a nice looking soap! Containing Avocado and Olive oils leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized after showering. Neutrogena soaps have always been good in the past I have suffered from Eczema and Neutrogena soaps are really gentle and sensitive on irritated skin.

5. Lip Balm $4.99

100% naturally derived ingredients - slight smell of Peppermint but not too over powering.

All Neutrogena Naturals products are available in Supermarkets and Pharmacies from March.

Let me know if you have any questions or just tweet me if you have tried any of the Neutrogena Naturals range yet? @beautegazette

Nella xxx

P.S Here is a little more of Kristen Bell....Girl Crush!