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On popular request, here’s my super-honest review of Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Nectar, the first tulip-based skincare product in the world. Does it work? And are tulips the next big thing in beauty? Click on link in bio for the real deets. @bloomeffects @aussiegoesdutch #bloomeffects #skincare #crueltyfree #fieldtoface #cleanbeauty #beauty #naturalskincare #sustainableskincare #tulips #tulip #naturalbeauty #sustainablebeauty #botanicalbeauty #beautylaunch #sleepingmask #cleanskincare #consciousbeauty #greenskincare #greenbeautyblogger #botanicalskincare #naturalbeautyproducts #instaskincare #naturalskincareproducts #greenbeautyproducts #skincarelover #plantbasedskincare #healthyskincare #skincarereview #newbeauty
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I like my Christmas trees in the wild… much like my spirit 💙💚💚💙 Where does your tree stand? #bornfree #inthewild #untamed #freespirit #christmastree #ohchristmastree #merryandbright #christmasmagic #christmastreedecorating #christmassy #christmaslove #christmastraditions #christmasdecorating #christmastradition #christmasinspo #christmasfeelings #twinklelights #rusticchristmas #christmastimeishere #cozychristmas #itschristmas #christmastrees #countdowntochristmas #christmasideas #countrychristmas #lovethistimeofyear #freshsnow #winterlandscape #snowscape #ilovesnow
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Over the past 3 weeks, I have found myself using Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Oil for: – My crazy migraine headaches 🤯 – Sore muscles post a new workout (Pilates may just kill me!) – Backache from hunching over the laptop for 9 hours at a stretch one day – Period cramps – My husband’s frozen neck – A weird rash on my neck, probably from a perfume – And even though it doesn’t say it’s for your face, I used it on mine when I switched retinol creams, to take away the sting and redness And in every case, the thing has WORKED. It did not completely erase the migraine but it took the edge off and brought it to a manageable level. It takes away the post-workout aches, with the rollerball adding in an effective massage. Period cramps are levelled out and I am able to get out of bed. My husband’s neck opened up after I massaged it in for 6 days straight (I am such a good little wifey 😉). And that rash? It took ONE day. What’s in the bottle that makes it work across so many issues? 100 grams of broad spectrum, non-psychoactive CBD (so no, it won't get you high!), in a base of 5 botanical oils, including avocado, jojoba and safflower. 🥑🥑 Topical CBD works with skin receptors to bring down inflammation and give quick relief. This makes it great to cool down a sunburn or rash, heal acne, and treat aches, pains and cramps. Unfortunately, though, the industry is pretty unregulated and there are way too many unscrupulous brands that are using the term ‘CBD’ when there’s actually none in the product (cannabis sativa or hemp oil are NOT the same as CBD). 😡😡😡😡 Some, in fact, are outright conning the consumers. Industry insiders call it #weedwashing. 🤬🤬🤬🤬 I have written a whole blog post on this and other CBD matters (linked in Stories) but for now, suffice to say that it’s tough to find a CBD product that actually contains the real thing in amounts that are large enough to be potent. Lord Jones IS the real thing. Plus it’s clean and feels amazing on skin – non-sticky, non-greasy and fast absorbing. It also smells lovely, a bit like oranges. Now, is there way to simply pour it over my entire life 🤷🏻♀️
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Who’s ever bought a perfume for the utter gorgeousness of its bottle design? That’s me… always! But in the case of Lancome’s new Idole Eau de Parfum, this works pretty well as you are buying into the pinnacle of perfume bottle design for the 21st century: Namely, the world’s thinnest perfume bottle. Yup, at just 15mm thick, Lancome’s new perfume is housed in the world’s thinnest perfume bottle EVER. Created by architect and industrial designer Chafik Gasmi, the peach-and-rose-gold bottle is so slim that the outer packaging simply seems to disappear and what you see is the inner bubble holding the fragrance. In fact, the base is too slim to be freestanding – it’s to be laid flat on your vanity. Which does take up more space but then that’s the cost I am willing to pay for innovation. The bottles are also refillable – from gorgeous perfume fountains, no less – to minimise environmental impact. Which I think is an initiative more brands should emulate. The perfume itself has been created by three female perfumers – Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina, and Nadege le Garlantezec. It’s a bright floral with hints of chypre, calling upon four different roses as a base – including the sustainably sourced Isparta rose petal essence from Turkey that was made exclusively for Lancome, and the Centifolia rose from France. Added to this are notes of bergamot, Indian jasmine, pear, pink peppercorn, vanilla and white musks that make for a clean, sweet scent that’s neither overpowering, nor underwhelming. In short, it’s not the most innovative juice in the world but it's beautiful and I have found myself reaching for it almost every single day in the past weeks. And it’s got decent wear time – 5-6 hours on a hot afternoon, which is pretty good on my skin. Plus, it tucks easily into the smallest of handbags, making it great for on-the-go touchups. Though don't be like my friend, who tucked it into the pocket of her jeans – it's slim enough to fit unobtrusively but sitting on it accidentally was not the best move she made that night (*hello shattered glass*)!
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Autumn is my favorite season of all. Misty mornings, the first chill, cozy blankets, fluffy sweaters, pumpkin patches, hot apple cider… and the tableau of utterly beautiful leaves that nature lays out for us. Those gorgeous orange, red and yellow leaves are what I love best about autumn. And many weekend mornings or evenings will see me walking around the neighborhood, trying to identify as many as I can. Sugar maple, ginko, beech, dogwood, elm, sassafras… how many can you spot in the world around you? Save this cheat sheet and go leaf peeping this weekend. Illustration by @ann.astro #autumnleaves #autumndays #autumntime #autumnday #fallcolor #redleaves #autumntrees #autumnlove #fallcolours #autumnlover #leafpeeping #autumnishere #autumnfoliage #colorfulleaves #colorsofautumn #autumnwalk #autumncolor #autumnwalks #colorsoffall #coloursofautumn #coloredleaves #thatautumnmagic #autumnseason #autumntree #autumnfeels #fallfeels #fallday #autumcolors #fallbeauty #falldays
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Happy, happy, happy Diwali to everyone. What is Diwali? Diwali marks the new year in India, especially for Hindus. It’s the biggest festival of all – think Christmas & New Year rolled into one! You dress up in your finest clothes, light oil lamps, sparkle with firecrackers and pray to Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) & Ganesha (who removes all obstacles). And eat lots & lots & lots of sweets. My mother makes these super-delicious coconut sweets that are DIVINE. I’ve had a tempestuous relationship with Diwali these past few years. In a way, it has been a journey of self-discovery. Growing up, Diwali was spent at my grandparents’ house in Lucknow, one of the most traditional cities in India. Except that my grandmother was as far from traditional & ritualistic as possible, so our Diwali was a simple, DIY affair. Then I got married & my husband’s family ran the full gamut, with hours-long prayers overseen by priests, days at the temple & 151 food items. As ritualistic as you can get… no DIY here. This was possibly the most difficult transition I made after marriage. That first year was TOUGH. But I had the most wonderful grandmother-in-law & she helped me adjust. 🌟✨⭐️ Then, stuff happened in the family, and my husband and I sort of gave up on Diwali. In fact, we gave up on our Indian roots. The whole idea simply brought up angst & depression & opened up emotional wounds. Christmas became our anchor as we were living largely in Europe. Christmas markets, mulled wine, friends & small village churches. Life was good. But I guess your roots always call you back, don’t they? The winds changed & for the past 2 years, we’ve been celebrating Diwali again. The oil lamps, the colorful, shimmery clothes, the sweets. But now we do it our way – having found our balance. A balance that cuts out the empty rhetoric & focusses on the essence of the festival. A balance that doesn’t involve people who don’t wish us well. A balance that melds traditions in the most beautiful way. A balance that brings us hope and peace and joy. 💫💫💫 Because isn’t that what life is all about? Finding the balance? Can you relate?
