A Year of Suki

31 December 2018 2 Ocean St, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia

This year I started my journey from drab to fab, with my hair. I Switched to Suki and the girls there took me under their wing and started whipping my hair into shape. Now I didn't come to them with damaged hair or zero clues about it. I have some idea, though they've really opened my eyes to good hair products and shampoo.

I'm very lucky to get the chance to visit them so often and have my hair maintained every month by Hannah and the rest of the crew. I'm always so indecisive about my hair. I want it to be nice and interesting but still match my aesthetic. So not too out there, but a little different. Which is why I have my blunt bangs and undercut. It adds a little bit of interest, and I love having the blonde ends. 

It allows me to play with blonde in my hair without really any of the upkeep, as I have my natural roots.


A little flashback to my first visit and my most recent. Making myself at home! I kept cutting my hair shorter and shorter but now I'm thinking maybe I would like a length rather in between these two lengths. I'm just not one for looking after long hair. I'm busy with two jobs and going to the gym every morning makes my hair a bit greasy which doesn't help as it just means I have to wash it more often! Even though this dry shampoo does help a lot.

I would really like to mix it up a bit more though! I think that is what 2019 will be bringing for me and my Suki journey! So stay tuned! You can also follow my thought process via my Pinterest Hair Board to see what looks I'm vibing currently. As well as my Instagram, you know for constant hair updates!

I still have a guide up on my story highlights, with some of my favourite Suki products and how I use them to give myself overnight curls! So have a peek at that!

Have a happy new year! I can't wait to see more of you in 2019!

 
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Cya 2018! - Resolution Results

29 December 2018

Twenty Eighteen is coming to a close, in what has been another very eventful but fast-paced year. As my 26th year of life, I feel I've again learnt a lot and have finally enacted some positive changes that do appear to be sticking. 

So without further ado, I will be sharing with you how I fared at my 2018 Resolutions. With a glance back at my 2017 goals at the end, as sometimes it can take longer than a year to really get your life in order. 

Go to the Gym at Least 3 Times a Week ✓

Two weeks before my 26th birthday, which falls in November. I joined a local women's CrossFit gym called Lissome. If you follow me on Instagram, you will surely see me talk about it all the time on stories, often sharing pictures and videos from my classes. There are various reasons why it took me so long to finally sign up to Lissome, effort and cost are two but in the end, it has been the best decision I have made all year. 

I have been going at least 4 or 5 times each week, and enjoying every bit! In a way that I never did when I was attending BodyPump classes on my own of a morning. The motivation is not even comparable, and I wake up every morning (rather early) excited to go and exercise! 

Read More (12 Books) ✓

I'm unsure if I've read 12 books, but the overall goal was to read more and to hopefully start reading in my lunch breaks which I have! I'm currently rereading the Harry Potter series, and I have read a few bits and pieces throughout the year as well. 

So while I am unsure of the number, I know that I'm on track and sure to continue. 


Start a Skincare Regimen + Stick to it ✓

I think what makes a Skincare Regimen good and one that you will stick to is one that is not too difficult or much effort. I always remove my makeup before bed, a great first step. Then I alternate between using this amazing resurfacing toner after cleansing with my Avene Cleanance gel which I love! I also have a few products from The Ordinary that I use. This is of a night time. In the morning after the gym, I use a cleanser and then I always moisturise. Simple but effective. 


Shop Smarter (Especially with Clothes) ✓

I'm definitely shopping smarter than I used to. I am focusing on having one style aesthetic, which the book "The Curated Closet" definitely helped me with. Creating a Pinterest board that matches that style to give you inspiration and then trying to only shop items that match that style. 

It's actually harder than you would think, but it does stop you from doing as much unnecessary shopping. So that is definitely a plus.


Spend Less Time on My Phone ✓

My phone is a big part of my downtime and two jobs, which makes this a bit tough. But overall my phone usage time is down! The new built-in app on iPhone "Screen Time" has been telling me every week that my usage is down from the week before. Reading during my lunch breaks instead of browsing social media, definitely contributes to that. In fact, every time I choose to read, I'm likely reading during a time I would have generally used to be on my phone. 


Start Planning & Book A Holiday 𐄂

Probably the most disappointing of all of these goals to have failed but there you have it. This is still ultimately one of my main plans but life just didn't have this in the cards for me this year. I do have a small getaway in Melbourne coming up shortly, but that is all. In the meantime, I guess I will just keep saving!

- - -

Special Mention - Some Goals from 2017

In the past, I haven't been as successful at the goals I've set for myself as I was this year. But here are two goals from last year that I'm nailing!

 - Manage a Sleeping Routine & Wake Up Earlier ✓
After joining Lissome, this has become a breeze! For probably the first time in my life. I've generally got a 10pm bedtime and 5.25am wakeup, or 7am when I'm not headed to the gym. 

- Stop Eating Meat ✓
I continued to nail this goal for another year, eating vegetarian is a breeze. 

- - - 

How have you gone with the goals you have set for yourself in 2018? I'd love to hear!
I better start brainstorming some goals for 2019, so stay tuned for that blog post as well!

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Wake Up & Support Cruelty Free Makeup

12 December 2018



We’ve all agreed that animals suffering for us to look good is wrong, right? Few people now willingly buy makeup animals have died for. Makeup is a privilege, not a necessity, after all. Putting a living creature through that level of suffering for it is immoral at best. The trouble is, when you start digging, you may find that most of the makeup brands you use right now are involved with animal testing in some way.

Many of the brands we know put at least some of their budget towards this. So many brands are guilty that you may feel like a rabbit in headlights when you first decide to shop more ethically. All of a sudden, every high-street brand you thought you could trust is off-limits. You’ll be left staring at those shelves without a clue what you can actually buy.

It can be so frustrating that you may just pick up those tested products and promise to do better next time. But, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. In reality, getting on top of a vegan makeup bag is easy if you do these things.

Research a few brand names

The thing that’s going to help you the most here is knowing a few brand names before you go. While you once had the pick of any makeup stand, that isn’t the case now. As such, this is going to be a lot easier for you if you know which brands to reach for.

In high street makeup, options like Barry M are an excellent go-to. Companies like Gloss & Co. are the perfect option for your vegan nail polish needs. Brands like Lush even have whole shops full of cruelty-free skincare goodies for you to get your hands on. Once you know these names, shopping sustainably should be as easy as ever.

Download an App

If you still like the idea of finding new brands while you’re out, get an app to give you a hand.
The increased awareness of animal cruelty means there are now plenty to choose from.

The Leaping Rabbit is probably the most well-known out of these options. It allows you to scan any barcode to check against approved cruelty-free lists. PETA themselves have even released a similar app called Bunny Free. With these in hand, you can check anything at the click of a button.

Know the tell-tale signs

At the very least, you can look out for tell-tale signs and they should be enough to guide you. As mentioned, most beauty shoppers are now aware of animal cruelty in the beauty industry.

As such, the beauty brands which are tackling this often do what they can to make that fact apparent. Some will advertise themselves as vegan.

Others will display the PETA rabbit symbol on all their packaging. By looking out for these, you can rest easy that you’re shopping right without having to do a single bit of planning. That way, you can remain cruelty-free, even when you have to do some last minute shopping.

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Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo

22 November 2018 2 Ocean St, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia

The wonderful team at Suki are always giving me new products to trial, which I love doing! I also love trying new Dry Shampoo products as my hair gets so greasy! That's what you get for having healthy and natural roots like I do.
The latest product I've been trialling is this Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo. It's very different to any other dry shampoos I've tested as it is not an aerosol. It's from the same collection as a shampoo and conditioner that I have tried and loved, so I was keen to give this a go. 
It smells amazing, just like the matching shampoo, as it contains 25 pure flower and plant essences.
That always gives me a good feeling after using it and being surrounded by the aroma.
It's funny, the product makes me think of a squeaky toy filled with talcum powder puffing out when you squeeze it. Which kind of describes the design perfectly to be honest. 
To use, just give it a shake and then twist the lid open. Sometimes a little puff of dry shampoo comes out immediately, so try not to be looking directly into it. I've done this more than once! 
Then lift up your roots and squeeze the product wherever you need a bit of lift and oil absorption. Massage it into your scalp and you're good to go!
It's a non-aerosol powder mist that absorbs excess oil between shampoos. I love that it's travel-friendly and easy to throw in your bag. Just make sure you close the lid! 
Grab yourself one from Suki Hairdressing


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Au Natural Skinfood

13 November 2018

I'm so excited to share with you, a gorgeous new skincare range that I've been trialling. I've been in talks with this company since the beginning of the year and it's finally come to fruition. Made with natural ingredients from New Zealand, in reusable packaging. This is a skincare collection you're going to want to check out.
Au Natural Skinfood’s journey began back in 2016 when co-founders Tony and Tracy Ahern conceived the idea of a true end-to-end sustainable skincare solution – one that would challenge the norm of the cosmetics industry and care for the health of the environment as well as the body.
Skincare and beauty packaging contributes to the devastating plastic pollution threatening our planet; the carbon footprint linked to its production is high. Whereas other skincare companies have largely ignored the packaging challenge, Tony and Tracy saw this as an opportunity for innovation with the chance to make a difference.

How it Works

Au Natural Skinfood is a skincare subscription service that contains four high-quality daily use products that are refilled for you every month. Once you join, you're able to easily control your subscription online and cancel at any time. 
The purpose of the subscription is the refills you receive in plant-based eco-pouches. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and the amount of waste that you generate at home. It's often hard to avoid the waste that comes with beauty and skincare products. The reusable aluminium bottles that you fill each month, are also recyclable when their time comes. 
Every year, you could be using at least 24 single-use plastic containers for your skincare routine – that’s 1,400 plastic containers over a lifetime. Au only uses four aluminium containers that you refill over and over again.


The Skincare Products

The AU Natural Skinfood products are formulated from high quality, natural ingredients that are ethically-sourced from New Zealand. The skincare product's concentrated levels of high-grade active manuka honey, bee venom, and kiwifruit extract help to firm, plump and restore your skin to health using nature’s dependability. You can trust that every skincare product from AU Natural Skinfood is of premium quality, honest and chemical free.

The skincare products from Au Natural Skinfood work by naturally strengthening and improving the skin and helping to increase its resistance to environmental damage, instead of just using targeted ingredients to treat specific skin conditions like acne and aging.


The Cleanser

Every good skincare collection has a great cleanser behind it and the Au Natural Skinfood cleanser is no exception. This powerful yet gentle facial cleanser easily removes makeup and bad bacteria from your skin while promoting good bacteria growth in its place. The cleanser unclogs pores and helps to stimulate cell turnover, nourishing your skin and maintaining a low pH balance. The product is light and creamy and you only require a small amount for each cleanse of your face.


The Brightening Lotion & Toner

The second step in your Au Natural Skinfood skincare treatment is the brightening toner & lotion. This invigorating and pH balancing skin lotion gently removes every last trace of cleanser and any surface debris. It hydrates your skin and reduces pore size. Filled with ingredients that are rich in natural antioxidants, its calming and antibacterial properties assist in strengthening and protecting your skin, lightening and tightening, as well as improving your skin’s health and overall appearance.


The Day Serum

The Au Natural Skinfood Day Serum is a fast-acting all-day moisturiser that uses a combination of Active 16+ Manuka honey and powerful antioxidants to nourish, strengthen and protect your skin. The serum aids in maintaining your skin's natural pH balance and helps in improving its overall health. It works on improving your skin’s appearance by lifting, tightening, firming and smoothing.
I wore this product directly underneath my daily foundation with absolutely no dramas or negative effects. The product is thick and creamy but dries nice and firm on the skin.



The Night Creme

The final step in the skincare routine, the Night Creme. It should be applied after cleansing and toning in the evening. This deeply moisturising and hydrating night crème contains Active 16+ Manuka honey and pure bee venom working to nourish your skin and support skin cell regeneration as you sleep. It lifts, plumps, tightens and firms the skin, evening out skin tone and brightening dull skin.

Scoop a pea-sized amount of the night creme out of the container and dot it across your face before massaging it in. After you gently massage it into your skin you will probably feel a bit tingly and numb which would be due to the bee venom. There was a possibility of some redness due to this but I didn't experience any, and my skin was left feeling smooth and tight.


How to Get Started!

Joining Au Natural is easy – simply visit the Shop, select the Essential Monthly Plan, and choose a membership that suits your budget.

 If you select the Trial option, you'll receive your Discovery Kit, with a 14-day supply of product for you to try, risk-free for only $14.95. By subscribing to Au you’re also taking an active part in an industry-leading sustainability initiative to reduce waste and help care for the environment.



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Pound Paws x The Merrier

8 November 2018


I’ve teamed up with The Merrier and Pound Paws to raise much-needed funds to help the rehoming of abandoned pets around Australia. This is a cause that's very close to my heart, as my own cat (a ragdoll named Coco) is a rescue herself. 

A few years ago my partner and I decided it was time to adopt. Our very first pet! I was set on having a cat, as I had never had one but had always been an animal lover. My partner Josh, not so much. But wanted to make me happy so he was keen to grant my wishes with a kitten. 

I knew I wanted to adopt a rescue. There are so many cats and dogs out there that need saving and people are still going to breeders and pet shops (often filled with animals from puppy farms). With all the false information out there, people think that they won't be able to get a worthwhile pet from a rescue. Which couldn't be further from the truth! 

I found it hard to know where to start when wanting to adopt a rescue cat. Eventually after a lot of searching, (I was very determined) I found some rescues via facebook and just waited for the perfect cat to come along and there she was! My little Coco! Or "Bunnykins" as her rescue mum had named her. She was the sweetest little thing, abandoned in a gutter with her little brother when they were only a few weeks old. Both of them had gotten sick with cat flu, and Coco's eyes were both terribly infected.

By the time she came to live with me, at four months old she was well on the way to recovery. The benefits of finally being in her furever home did her wonders! Coco became stronger every day and we both loved her with all of our hearts! Our little rescue became a true part of our family. 


About Pound Paws

Programs like Pound Paws make it so much easier for people like me to find and adopt rescue animals. There tends to be a lot of online resources when it comes to adopting from a breeder, which just adds to the notion that purebred is the "easy way out" when it comes to adopting. 

Pound Paws was started in April 2014 and towards the end of 2015, they became an incorporated association and registered as a charity. Pound Paws believes that rescues and pounds are often not visible enough to the public eye, and there is a need to increase awareness about animals available from rescues and pounds. The foundation was formed as a desperate attempt to help re-home animals that find themselves on death row each year. It is believed that a devastating 250,000 healthy and treatable dogs and cats are put down each year. 

Their aim is to use modern technology and social media to help rehome abandoned pets in Australia.
Pound Paws has mainly been focused on finding furever homes for cats and dogs; however, its services also extend to other animals including rabbits, horses, pigs, and goats. Since it was formed, Pound Paws has posted the details of thousands of animals available for adoption from different rescues and pounds and helped these animals find homes. They currently have over 20,000 followers on social media, most of whom would probably not otherwise have been introduced to these animals who need homes.

How Can You Help?

 Pound Paws need to raise $7,000 to develop a brand new website that will allow its network of 150 pounds to upload beautiful photos and stories about the pets that need rehoming. The ease of access when it comes to technology nowadays is crucial when it comes to getting consumers to actually want to use, and continue to use your product. Having a database that is easy to update and to search through would be a game changer for all those pets in pounds.

To help raise funds The Merrier have partnered with 5 amazing and sustainable pet brands to help support the Pound Paws campaign through the sale of their products. These include: WAG Dog Treats, East Coast Collective dog toys, Frontier Pets dog food, Pawfect Earth dog accessories and Essential Dog grooming products.

Grab your doggo some sustainable treats and 100% of the proceeds will go straight to Pound Paws.
There are so many great products available like the EcoWeave dog leads made from post-consumer recycled materials and the Deer Antler dog chew, rich with the good stuff like calcium and phosphorous, they help scrape away tartar build-up in your pup's mouth. The antlers are shed by deer and just left in the wild, making it such a good resource to take advantage of.

So get into the store and pick your pet some goodies! You'll be contributing to a great cause at the same time!

Head to the Pound Paws x Merrier Store







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Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion

12 October 2018


My love affair with Avene started over a year ago now. After reading an article online about skincare that the French swear by, I knew I had to try Avene. I always do my research before I invest in a new skincare label, as you should. So after poring over the Avene website and various reviews I had a shopping list in hand and headed to my local stockist (Priceline in this case) and started collecting items from their famed Cleanance range. I've been hooked ever since!

When Avene reached out and asked if I wanted to try their new Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion, of course I jumped at the chance.

I've never had much trouble with acne. Not compared to some other people. I would say that I have had the typical teenage and hormonal acne. Pimples that flare up on occasion, like after having my period or a bout of sickness. Other times when I've just not been looking after myself and my skin and it has shown. I'm also a bit of a picker. I just can't look at a pimple on my face and not touch it! Something that I'm still working on today. 

I think it's impossible to feel your best during an acne flare up. Especially if you're unsure on how you should be treating it, and if that treatment has even been working.

I have been using the Avene products that I was sent for about 6-8 weeks now. It goes so quick! I still use my Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel every night. The first Avene product that I ever bought!
My skin is currently the clearest it has ever been, and I can definitely say that Avene and the products from their Cleanance range are to thank for helping to maintain that!



I started using the Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion instead of foundation in the morning. 
Many moisturisers and cosmetic products can worsen or cause acne. Products labelled ‘oil free’ and ‘suitable for acne-prone skin’ are a good start, but even some of these can make acne worse for some people. 

The Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion is a creamy tinted emulsion that spreads easily and is quickly absorbed. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and mattified, and it helps to even out my skin tone and provide a healthy glow. Its unique formula prevents and controls blemishes and blackheads thanks to advanced ingredients.

Diolényl® helps limit the proliferation of skin bacteria, reduce redness and eliminate spots and blackheads
X-PressinTM smooths the skin's texture
Monolaurin helps regulate the hyperproduction of sebum
Avène Thermal Spring Water provides all its soothing and anti-irritating benefits

A little peek at my Avene collection...
Now on days where I want to wear foundation, I know that it's not to hide anything, it's only to feel a bit glam with the added makeup. I still wear my Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion underneath my foundation as well so that I know my skin is still being looked after underneath all that makeup. The lotion doesn't affect foundation in any way either, I can safely say it doesn't make your makeup patchy or anything!

My morning routine before applying any makeup has been applying Cleanance Micellar Water to the face, eyelids and neck using a cotton pad. It has been good at removing my makeup of a night as well. It leaves the skin clear, cool and clean afterwards. 

Then I have been following with a light mist of Avène Thermal Spring Water. This product has been tested by dermatologists, it provides soothing and anti-irritating benefits for sensitive, hypersensitive and allergic skin. My skin is generally pretty good overall, but a spritz of this still feels lovely. 



Finally, I apply the Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion. Which I either leave for the whole day or I go ahead with my regular makeup. My night time skincare routine contains a few more steps, but I'll leave that for another time. 

You can find pretty much all of the Avene products at My Chemist Warehouse, and the  Avene Cleanance Expert Tinted Lotion is even on sale right now!



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Liquid Gold by Alpha H

4 October 2018 66 Glebe Rd, The Junction NSW 2291, Australia


Over the past few months, I had been having regular visits to Urban Skin and Beauty in the Junction, as I had documented here. My skin is still looking amazing from all the regular visits that I've had. But now that they have ended I need to keep my skin in top shape all on my own!

Nicole's treatments involve the use of a brand she loves and believes in, "Alpha H". Throughout my visits, I would always see the wide variety of Skincare that she stocked in the salon and I knew I had to get on board!

I finally took the plunge and purchased the "Alpha H Liquid Gold". But it wasn't much of a leap since this one of these products is sold each minute around the world! So it's already well renowned. 
Liquid Gold is a resurfacing treatment. It uses a state of the art, low pH delivery system to effectively diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage. 
The product works like an ‘overnight facial’ to brighten and revitalise tired, ageing skin, and radically improve the appearance of the complexion. Clinical studies show that in just 20 minutes, Liquid Gold decreases wrinkle depth, improves texture and increases moisture within the skin.

With a description like that and a reputation to back it up, it's no wonder I had to give it a go!

The way to use the product is on alternating nights after you've cleansed your skin. Moisten a cotton pad with the product (just think of it as applying toner) then wipe the product all over your face, neck and decolletage. You can follow it with a moisturiser or serum once your skin is touch dry, but for it to work at full strength don't put anything else on top.

I've been using it like this for almost two weeks now and my skin is still looking radiant. I have maybe one pimple, and it's likely due to that time of the month and all those hormones. Love a period breakout. 

On the alternate nights, I've just been going ahead with a lowkey skincare routine. Including eye cream, a serum and moisturiser. Trying not to touch my face during the day is also key.

Some Facts About Liquid Gold
  • It's owned and manufactured in Queensland, Australia!
  • When you apply it to your skin at night it tingles momentarily… The reason is the low pH… and by dropping the pH of your skin we make it work harder to reset itself. That’s why your skin feels firmer in the morning because it’s literally had “a workout”! So while you sleep, your skin works out!
  • Alpha H doesn't test on Animals! But Liquid Gold isn't technically vegan as it contains Crossillk (Silk Amino Acids)

My skin feels and looks amazing anyway! This review is all my own opinion, mixed in with some product facts I found via the Alpha H website. 

Newcastle Babes, if you're ready to give Liquid Gold a go, send Nicole a DM via her Instagram page
(You know to see if it's in stock first) or just straight up pop into the Salon in the Junction. 



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Aveda's Beautifying Radiance Polish

28 September 2018


I'm here to give you a quick review of a new product that I've picked up at Suki Hairdressing and have been trialling. Suki now stocks a range of products from Aveda, including this delicious body scrub.

The Beautifying Radiance Polish is the most moisturising body scrub I've probably ever tried. My skin, especially my legs tend to get extra dry during the winter months. As they're hidden beneath jeans every day. They get super itchy! This is because they're so dry, and I'm often too lazy to do a full body moisturise like my poor body probably needs me to.

The packaging is easy to use whilst in the shower, with a flip up cap and not a screw top. Though last time I used it, I totally forgot and just unscrewed the entire lid anyway. Because well you can if you really want to.

The scrub is in a beautiful moisture-rich plant oil blend, so even though you're doing a scrub it doesn't feel rough on your skin. Flip the lid and start scooping it out and rubbing it on your skin. 

I love to focus on the extra rough areas like knees and elbows. Then go nuts all over my legs, because that's generally the area I have on display and wish to be super soft and sleek.

Once you've given your entire bod a scrub a dub, make sure you rinse it all off before getting out of the shower. The scrub moisturises with a nourishing blend of certified organic sunflower, safflower and olive oils. 

It also smells amazing, containing certified organic rosemary, lavender, bergamot and other pure flower and plant essences. This scrub is certified cruelty free, with testing only on humans. 

After exiting your shower, towel dry your skin gently so as not to rub off any of the moisturising residue. I would recommend hanging around for a little bit, allowing the oils to soak in before dressing or hopping into bed. As I felt a little bit greasy straight away. 

But it's all worth it in the end, as my skin was so super soft! Exfoliated and moisturised. 
I can definitely recommend!

Thanks for letting me give this a go Suki! 




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My Skin is GLOWING with Urban Skin and Beauty

5 September 2018


If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen from my stories that my skin is currently the clearest that it has been in a long time! I have barely a few little bumps under my jawline, which is usually riddled with acne.

 So I couldn't be happier with how my treatments have been going with Nicole at Urban Skin and Beauty.

I recently went and had my third visit there, so here is a summary of the treatments I received. Nicole is super thorough whenever I stop in, I never feel like she rushes any of the facials or anything.

The First & Second Cleanse: TRIPLE ACTION CLEANSER

A gel cleanser is used which is non-drying and it thoroughly removes all face and eye makeup. I was only wearing some pomade on my brows today but it removed this for me.
Key ingredients in this cleanser include:
Aloe vera - excellent healing and anti-inflammatory properties 
Cucumber - calms the skin and blemishes 
Thyme - antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

PRO X GEL PEEL 

This is a powerful treatment which combines 30% Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid and botanicals to deliver fresher, firmer, glowing skin. A progressive skin resurfacing treatment which dissolves dead skin cells whilst stimulating collagen production and cell repair. 

It's perfect for people concerned with uneven complexion, fine lines and wrinkles, ageing, problematic skin and sun damage.

This gel peel felt totally itchy on my face but Nicole fanned me with this big fan for the entire time and it made all the itching go away!

LED Light Therapy 

Today we did the Red light for 20 minutes.
Red LED stimulates collagen and elastin in the skin. Plumps the skin, brightens complexion and heals acne. I took a bunch of silly selfies while I was waiting.

VITAMIN B SERUM 

A Vitamin B Serum was applied to my face. This is a potent formula delivering a concentrated dose of the extraordinary, multi-tasking ingredient; Niacinamide,  also known as Vitamin B3. A combination of Ferulic Acid, Copper Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid blended in a silky serum to bring radiance to even the most devitalized skin. 

These ingredients work together to assist in providing daily support against the elements, rebuilds the skins barrier function increasing hydration, reduces pigment irregularities and energises skin cells into action.

HYDRO PLUS COMFORTING MASK 

This Hydro Plus mask was massaged into my face. It instantly hydrates and soothes irritated, dry, mature and sensitive skin.
 
It also;
▪ Anti-inflammatory properties assist in reducing inflammation and swelling
▪ Has a regenerating effect
▪ Improves water retention in the skin promoting soft, supple skin
▪ Skin cells are energised and boosted with oxygen to accelerate skin healing and renewal.
▪ Use after peels, surgery and microdermabrasion to instantly calm and soothe skin.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
- wheat germ oil
- sodium lactate 
- algae extract 
- marine collagen


 VITAMIN C CHERRY MASK

Finally, Nicole applied this Vitamin C Cherry Mask. It looked hilarious while it was on, and when you peel it off. This powerful antioxidant mask stimulates collagen synthesis to firm and tightens the skin. Helps fade pigmentation and even out the skin tone. 

Nicole was also nice enough to give me a good ole massage while my mask was on.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
- alginate
- Acerola (cherry extract) 
- vitamin C (powerful antioxidant)
- hibiscus extract 

LIQUID GOLD 24HR MOISTURE REPAIR CREAM 

The final step was applying this repair cream.
Harnessing the ‘Liquid Gold Effect’ this luxurious transitional day to night cream with handpicked ingredients of Glycolic Acid, Argan Stem Cells, Chia Seeds, Matrixyl 6 (peptide that triggers cell repair) and 24 Carat Gold Flakes to firm, brighten and enhance lifeless, dry, ageing and sun-damaged complexions restoring a radiant glow.

My skin was legit glowing when I left, and it has been ever since! Every morning I'm checking in the mirror to see if it's still looking like this! So far so good!


Put the code "TEEGLY" in the comments section when you're making a booking with Nicole and receive 10% off any treatment you want! 



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Start to Finish - My Day at Suki

31 August 2018 2 Ocean St, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia

I have been going to Suki Hairdressing for about two months now and I still love it! I've been raving about the products that I've been using there as well over multiple blog posts and there will be more to come!

But I thought it was time to give you some insight into what an entire visit is like at Suki! From start to finish, from me arriving like an absolute mess, to finishing as a more glamorous mess. 


I arrive at my 11am appointment and get settled in at my seat with my name written on the mirror. Not wearing any makeup in preparation for the facials I'll be getting afterwards in the late afternoon.
The Suki girls help me put on my little cape so I'm all protected from my clothes getting dirty or damaged during my appointment. 

I love trialling the different kinds of teas available at Suki, but today I'm in need of some caffeine so it's a soy flat white for me. It comes with a little cookie, but I ate it before I took the photo. Obviously. I always arrived at Suki looking dreary and drained but leave completely refreshed! That's what visiting at the end of a work week does to you. 


Poor Bella has to start brushing out my matted hair that I haven't washed in a week before she can add any of the colour to it. I check in with my main hairdresser Hannah and checks over and confirms any of the colour that we need to add and just overall what we're doing today. 

The top of my hair is all my natural colour so I don't require much upkeep with my hair. So we just brighten the blondes around the ends and bring it up a little bit higher. I try not to fidget too much while Bella adds it all in. I promise I'm pretty good! I tell Bella how my mother always told me if I fidgeted at the hairdresser when I was a child, the hairdresser would make a mistake and they would have to cut all my hair off. It did the trick though! I wasn't a child that would easily sit still!


While I sit and wait for the colour to soak in, I order some lunch because I'm starving! There are so many restaurants around and I get handed a binder full of local menus. I settle on Falcon, a restaurant that I've been meaning to check out. They do a sort of Southern American style of food and the Vegetarian Nachos I order are incredibly delicious! I would definitely order again, they were covered in an amazing cheese sauce that's only saved for American style nachos. 

Bella then takes me off to the basins to wash all of the dye out and then give my hair a good wash. I am there a long time, and a lot of things happen but I'm generally distracted by the really good head massage going on. My hair gets washed and toned, and a scalp mask gets applied to my head to soothe any dryness going on. 

Then it's back to the chair for a blow dry and to try and eat my nachos without getting cheese in my hair. It's incredibly offputting watching myself shovel nachos into my mouth in the mirror. But they're delicious so I do it anyway. 


Hannah comes back and trims my hair back to the perfect length. She then sticks the fringe shield to my face, which I still stand by as the greatest invention ever. No hair gets stuck to my face at all, and I can have my eyes open the entire time! Brilliant! She cuts my fringe perfectly and I don't even have to ask for it to be any shorter. 

Hannah gets me to peel off the fringe shield in case she hurts me, but I'm tough and it's like a really gentle bandaid.

I'm very laid back about what happens with my hair at the end, I love getting a few waves put in there and with the right products they will last me through the weekend which is handy for a lazy gal like myself. 

Before I leave I grab myself an Aveda Body Scrub and Hand Cream that I will show you in an upcoming post. These products are amazing though, as is every other product I've tried so far from Suki. 


So that's a day at Suki from start to finish! At the end, I walk out with my fresh cut fringe and bouncy curls and I feel rejuvenated! Ready to take on the weekend!




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Why I Deleted 2000 Followers From Instagram

26 August 2018

Okay, I'm here to bare all and reveal what I've been up to lately. If you've been following me on Instagram you might have already seen me talk a little about this on stories and in some of my photo captions. But I wanted to go a little more in-depth about why I did what I did.  

You used to only be able to remove followers if your account was on private. Private accounts were granted an extra little feature where you could tap the three dots next to a followers name and remove them. This was never something available on public or business accounts, and the only way you could remove someone was by blocking and then unblocking them.

This is no longer the case! As I was looking through my followers the other day I realised that the feature to remove them was now available for every account. Which means that removing followers you no longer want just got a whole lot easier. 

The Realisation

When you get to a certain amount of followers and are asking for $$$ to work with companies, they want to see your stats. There's a whole hidden area to the Instagram app that allows you to see stats about your followers that only gets revealed when you switch to a business account. 
If you're using Instagram to be a content creator and work with brands you should switch to a business account. Contrary to popular belief it does not affect your reach at all, and won't negatively affect you in any way. It will give you access to a lot of helpful statistics. Eventually brands will ask to see those stats and obviously it looks less professional if you can't provide them. 

I don't get to see other Instagrammers stats so I don't know what a regular one looks like. I also couldn't be sure if mine was a lot different than it should be. I have had my Instagram account since the very beginning. I've been building followers for a long time, so I've built up a lot of random and spammy followers over the years that I've never really taken much notice of. 

Recently companies started asking to see my stats. I sent them straight through but they weren't completely impressed. The main majority of my followers are from Australia, the US and the UK. But about 16% of the total were from Brazil and India. I got so stressed, I had no idea who all these followers were but I realised that wasn't ideal and it needed to change. 

The Audit

I used Social Audit Pro to audit my 18,000 followers on Instagram. While it did give me some insight, I wouldn't recommend using it. It cost me about $18 USD to audit the number of followers I had and while it showed me which accounts were dodgy it wasn't incredibly accurate. In a list of followers I received from them, a lot of accounts marked as definitely shady were actually people I knew. It also counted anyone following more than 1500 people as a poor follower too. But a lot of fellow bloggers I know, as well as myself follow at least that many and often more. 

In the end, this was probably a waste of money, even though it gave me a bit of insight. I was able to work out the majority of followers I needed to delete on my own. 

Scrolling Through + Deleting

This process was incredibly long. It took me days. You can only delete a certain amount of followers per hour until Instagram stops letting you as well. My process was simple. I opened my followers on my phone and scrolled through until I found a section of followers that looked fake af. 
They were often clustered together which made them easier to remove. I would go to the profile of a few and double check before I removed them but generally, it was pretty easy to tell that they were fake.

What to Look For

  • Following 7000+ People
  • Very small amount of followers
  • Indian Account
  • No pictures/Hasn't posted in a long time/Lots of really weird images or ads
  • Username is basically gibberish

The only issue with this though is that a lot of the time all of these didn't apply, or there was contradicting evidence. At the end of the day, I had to just make the call and delete accounts I thought were damaging my stats and engagement. 


Other Reasons to Delete Spam/Bot/Fake Followers

We're all trying to figure out the algorithm, but we never will. A common theme we keep hearing is that when you post a photo, Instagram shows your image to a sample of your followers and depending on how well that does in the first 10 minutes or so. Instagram will make sure more of your followers see your stuff. So if the algorithm showed eg. 500 people your post but 350 of them were fake then that's not going to do you any good is it. 

What I Learnt from Clearing Out My Followers

It can be really hard to tell whether accounts are fake or not. Some are very clearly fake and others are almost impossible to tell. I started to get bothered that my Brazil stats weren't really going down but I was also gaining legitimate followers from Brazil on the daily. After I'd just clear out a huge chunk of accounts, some that looked similar to ones I had deleted would follow me and like a bunch of my photos. 

I'm not saying that they refollowed after I removed them. But I am saying that it made it incredibly hard to tell if I had been deleting real people or shell accounts. 

Results

My stats changed! Not majorly but where I wanted to be. India is completely gone from the top 5 and has been replaced by Canada. My Brazil percentage jumped around quite a bit before I came to the conclusion that I have a bunch of legitimate followers from Brazil. The main country percentages have increased as well. 

My engagement has only gone up, it was 5% and now it's about 7.5%. I deleted 2000 followers but fewer people aren't liking and seeing my stuff. I may only have 16k followers now but I didn't lose any that were actually helping me out. This whole project was a major contributor to my stress of late as well. I didn't want companies thinking I was coming to them with fake followers if that's what my stats appeared to show.  Now I've just got to build up the real ones again.
I feel much better about it all now. 


So would you take the plunge and delete your spammy inactive followers?



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A Quick Review of "Shiva" Body Toning Gel

12 August 2018


Hey everyone! This is a quick review of a product I was sent to trial by the company Slimtum. 
The product is Shiva - a Body Toning Gel and cellulite cream. Here's a bit of information from the Slimtum website.
"Named after the Hindu god of transformation and yoga, Shiva is a powerful yet gentle aid for tightening and toning. Shiva uses a targeted formulation to help firm problem areas so you can look your best!"
Just a disclaimer from myself to my readers and followers, this product is to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. I don't want anyone thinking I'm talking about a magic product that they can put on their body and not do anything and achieve results. It's also not a weight loss tool, it is a product for toning.


Shiva smells amazing! When you squeeze out the gel, it honestly reminds me of liquified lollies and it looks and smells like it is. You're meant to rub it on any areas you're trying to tighten before you work out so that potentially those areas will work harder and more fat will burn there.
"Shiva's active fat-reducing & anti-cellulite properties encourage the body to release and oxidise fat, tightening and toning problem areas for a leaner look."
I have been trialling Shiva out by putting it on areas that I want to tone up, before I head to the gym. The product absorbs well and doesn't stay sticky. It also smells nice when you shower it off afterwards. 

I can't give a definitive response on whether or not I've seen results. I didn't just slather it on to try and tone up my butt without doing any exercise. I've been lifting weights, doing squats and trying to eat reasonably well. (Even though I had mostly cheese and crackers for dinner last night...)

I do like the product enough to keep using it for now. It also works as a cellulite treatment so I'd be happy to see some results there. My goal is to become a bit more toned for bikini season. So if Shiva can help me on this journey, I'm all for it!

Form your own opinion on the product, you can grab Shiva here!



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