We know foods impact on the body is huge – inside and out. Since the beginning of the whole food for the whole body journey, we have proven the brilliance of the avocado, discovered why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is referred to as liquid gold. We’ve explored natures very own multivitamin – the egg, we’ve found out how to cure-all with chamomile and have benefited from ‘the fruit of the Angels’ – papaya. This week I found out how nature’s ultimate energy snack can do more for you than you might think.

Nourish from within:

Beat depression with bananas high levels of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid which converts to serotonin; serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for balancing mood.

Sleep better with the combination of serotonin production and the magnesium contained in this fruit. It is the perfect before bed snack.

Recover quicker with the high levels of B-vitamins, potassium and magnesium bananas contain. This vitamin and mineral combo speeds up recovery from illness and exercise.

How to: 

Banana Bread – this convenient comfort food has endless variations. Don’t be fooled by the shop brought banana breads that are likely to be laden with refined sugar, give this recipe a go instead: http://trainerluke.com/recipes

Banana Brekkie – who doesn’t love pancakes for brekkie? Excite your taste buds and nourish your body with this brilliant recipe:

Easy-Peasy Protein Pancakes:

Ingredients

• 1 Banana (the larger sugar bananas work best, or 2 small lady fingers)
• 2 eggs
• Pinch of nutmeg and a teaspoon of cinnamon
• A little organic butter, or coconut oil (for frying)
• Toppings of choice. BUF loves frozen berries and CoYo coconut yoghurt. We’re also partial to a little almond butter, or a drizzle of organic maple syrup.

Method:

• Pop bananas, eggs, a pinch of nutmeg and generous serve of cinnamon in your blender and mix well.
• Pour your batter into a slightly oiled or buttered pan and cook as you would regular pancakes. Recipe makes one large, or two small cakes.
• Serve with your topping/s of choice.

Top Tip: Best eaten on a sunny balcony, with the Jack Johnson song, ‘Banana Pancakes’ playing in the background. Sigh…

Banana Break – of course, a simple banana alone is a great and easy snack. Try freezing one for instant healthy ice cream – perfect!

Treating the outside:

Packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy, glowing skin. The benefits of a banana don’t stop at eating them. Available all year round the banana is the perfect addition to anyone’s beauty regime.

How to:

Face mask

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• 2 Table spoons honey

Method:

Mash all the ingredients together in a clean bowl, apply to the face and neck avoiding the eye area. Lay back and relax for 15-20 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Follow with your favourite moisturiser.

Tips:

• If your skin is on the oily side add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
• For a dryer skin add a couple of drops of almond oil.
• If you are looking to reduce those wrinkles, replace the yogurt with ½ an avocado.

As we know, foods impact on the body is huge – inside and out. So far we have proven the brilliance of the avocado, discovered why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is referred to as liquid gold and explored natures very own multivitamin – the egg. This week I will be finding out why people around the world turn to chamomile tea as a cure-all.

Nourish from within:

Relieve stress, anxiety and get a good, nightmare-free sleep with chamomiles mild sedative effects.

Relieve menstrual cramps by reducing muscle spasms with the increase in glycine chamomile produces.

Recover more quickly from a cold with the antioxidants contained in chamomile.

How to:

Simply – Purchase chamomile tea bags and make tea! There are plenty of choices out there. Make sure you choose either German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and a good quality brand. My favourite is pukka tea golden chamomile http://www.pukkaherbs.com.au/golden-chamomile-tea-bags/

Creatively – Mix it up. If chamomile on its own isn’t to your taste, you can still benefit from this incredible herb by mixing it with others teas, herbs, fruits and much more. Check out some of these options, below:

• Chamomile + mint (fresh mint or mint tea) is a great, refreshing blend. Simply place both ingredients in to a tea pot with boiling water and brew to taste.
• Chamomile + honey is a sweet, comforting treat. Simply add a teaspoon of honey to your freshly brewed tea.
• Chamomile + hibiscus gives you a delicious fruity tea. Make in the same way as chamomile and mint.
• Chamomile + fresh apple pieces are a calming, tasty combination. Pour boiling water into your teapot to warm it and then add fresh apple slices using a wooden spoon to mash them in the pot. Add the chamomile and leave to brew to your liking, strain and serve. Add honey for extra sweetness or rooibos to ramp up the calming flavours.

All sound like too much effort? You can find many good, blended teas around these days. My all time favourite is serenity by Mayde tea – chamomile, lavender and rose is a perfect blend that never fails to make me feel serene, get it here: http://www.maydetea.com/products/serenity

Dress –Tea can make a pretty delicious salad dressing, don’t believe me? Give this recipe from Art of Tea a go: http://www.artoftea.com/wordpress/2007/10/08/dress-your-salads-with-tea-2/

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Treating the outside:

Chamomile has amazing healing properties that can accelerate the healing of minor skin irritations and wounds; it also has a natural bleaching effect on the skin. These properties make it an essential for evening skin tone and reducing the appearance of skin imperfections.

How to:

Eye treatment – reduce the appearance of dark circles and soothe tired eyes.

Ingredients:

2 organic chamomile tea bags.

Method:

Steep the tea bags in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove from the boiling water and gently squeeze out the excess liquid. Pop the teabags in to the fridge for a few minutes to allow them to cool. Remove the teabags from the fridge, lay back, place a teabag on each closed eye and enjoy. This is a great relaxing treat for tired eyes and will naturally reduce dark circles and puffiness.

There is a good reason people in the Mediterranean refer to Olive oil as liquid gold. Here are just a few:

Nourish from within:

• Improve circulation with the proven effects of good quality extra virgin olive oil.
• Strengthen your immune system with the antioxidants it contains.
• Keep your cholesterol levels in check with the role olive oil plays in lowering total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.

How to:

• Dress – A simple drizzle of olive oil brings any meal to life. Infuse with any number of fresh herbs (I love rosemary) or team with vinegar’s for yummy combos.

• Cook – Roasting a big batch of veggies in extra virgin olive oil and a few dried herbs is quick, easy and super tasty.

• Dip – My favourite is pesto. Check out this awesome recipe from the I Quit Sugar website – IQS kale pesto

Treating the outside:

Extra virgin olive oil is full of anti-aging antioxidants, is naturally a low allergen and has a silky smooth texture making it perfect for dry sensitive skin.

How to:

Scrub – reveal beautiful radiant skin with this DIY alternative.

This scrub can be made based on your skin type and personal preference. Finer salt crystals will result in a finer scrub. My rule: make the crystals larger as you work down the body i.e. finer crystals should be used for the face, neck and décolleté. Whereas larger crystals can be used for areas such as elbow, knees and feet.

Combine the chosen salt (rock salt, Epsom salt, even table salt will do) and oil in a jar, mix thoroughly to ensure all crystals have been distributed. The amounts will depend on the salt type and area you are treating, aim for a fairly runny consistency. Using a small amount of the scrub in the palm of the hand, apply in a gentle circular motion concentrating on dry/rough areas. Rinse thoroughly and follow with moisturiser. If you don’t have allergy issues you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture, my faves:

• Rose – great for any mature skins, adds to the anti-aging properties of the olive oil.
• Lavender – great for relaxation and a scrub before bed.
• Tea-tree – anti-bacterial and great for acne prone skins.

Stay tuned for more wholefoods for the whole body.

Who doesn’t love the humble avocado? It’s versatile, affordable and oh so good for you.

Nourish from within:

• Improve heart health with avocados healthy fats and abundance of vitamins.

• Support weight loss and help regulate blood sugar with their slow release of energy.

• Help prevent arthritis, osteoporosis and other inflammatory issues by benefiting from their anti-inflammatory properties.

• Reduce the signs of aging with the antioxidants contained in avocados.

How to:

• Salad – Avocado makes for a welcome addition to any salad, it’s easy to incorporate and goes with just about any style. Winner!

• Smoothie – Not only does avocado add a thick, creamy texture to smoothies it also adds some serious vitamins and minerals. Yum!

• Spread – Avocado used in placed of butter and other spreads is a tasty, healthier alternative.

• Dessert – Not the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of avocado, but trust me, avocado makes a perfect base for chocolate mousse. To prove it’s true, try one of my all-time favourites from the foodfixup app, here’s the recipe:

Cacao & Ginger Mousse

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 avocados
• 1 inch of ginger, peeled
• 4 tbsp cacao powder
• 4 tbsp maple syrup (I use rice malt syrup)
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

Method: Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, roughly 40 seconds. Add toppings of your choice and serve.

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Treating the outside: 

Avocado contains nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fibre, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and a natural fatty rich texture, making it perfect for nourishing any skin type.

How to:

Facemask – Kick back, relax and treat yourself with these homemade alternatives.

Ingredients:

• ½ a ripe avocado
• 1 tablespoon of natural yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of raw honey

Method:

Combine the avocado, yogurt and honey in a clean mixing bowl and mix well. Immediately apply the mixture to a cleansed face and neck. Relax for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly, tone and moisturise to complete.

Hair Mask:

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 Cup olive oil

Method:

Mix the ingredients in a clean mixing bowl until they form a paste like consistency. Apply the mixture to damp hair and leave for 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition hair as usual to remove and reveal super glossy locks!

 

 

• Fingers and toes – it is better if you have nail polish on before your tan, even if it is just a clear coat. Your fingernails and toenails will be wiped down at the end of your spray tan, and it prevents your nails from staining the nails.  A spray tan will not have any negative impact on Acrylic or gel nails.

• Brows – Threading and waxing of eyebrows and lips should be done prior to your tan.  And any tinting is best done a couple of days before, too. The tint in eyebrow tint works by opening up the hair, allowing colour to stain it. If you have your spray tan while the hair is open in this way you are guaranteed orange brows!

• Lashes – Eyelash extensions are best done in advance of your tan.  They can be applied the same day, as long as it is before your spray tan. The tape that is used in the application process of lashes will remove the tan if it is done following.

• Boobs – DO NOT put your bra back on immediately after your tan and avoid sports bras in particular. If you do need to wear a bra before your initial shower, hook your bra to the loosest setting.

• Skin – try not to touch your skin after your tan has been applied. Touching your skin will see the insides of your hands turn that icky orange colour. Palms of hands are not supposed to come in contact with the spray tan solution.

• Pee’ing – when washing your hands post pee, wash only the insides of your hands while the spray tan is developing. The best way to do it is with hand sanitizer or a cleansing wipe.

• Water – be careful around water while your spray tan is developing, this includes doing the dishes, cleaning your teeth, doing laundry. Water can splash on to the tan and remove it from your skin so if you can – steer clear.

• Sleeping – if you are sleeping in your tan, cover your hands with cotton gloves or socks while you sleep.  This will prevent the spray tan from transferring to your hands while you’re sleeping.

Does it sometimes feel like your therapist is speaking a different language when it comes to bronzing your bod?

Sunless spray tanning is the way those in the know show off their ‘summer glow’ all year round. Be gone Bondi burnt and hello St Tropez beautifully bronzed.

Your glow needs to reflect your lifestyle, but what’s the best tan for you? And how do you achieve a luxe look every time?  

With sunless spray tanning rapidly becoming the choice over harmful UV rays, we have seen major advances in the options and products available. Unless you’re a pro, tanning terminology can be a minefield of confusion. And that is why we have your (perfectly bronzed) back.

Having evolved far beyond the basics of light, medium and dark it can be hard to understand what your therapist or the latest tanning product line is talking about. So, how do you know what you are looking and listening for when it comes to choosing the right tan for you? From choosing the right therapist to understanding application techniques, expanding your knowledge is a sure fire way to avoid major disasters and achieve the perfect luxe glow for you!

These key terms are a must in your vocabulary if you want to go from bare to bronzed with style:

DHA is a term commonly thrown around in tan talk. DHA, or dihydroxyacetone is the most commonly used tanning agent in all tan solutions today. It is a natural derivative of sugar and reacts with the amino acids in the outer layers of our skin to produce a temporary bronzing effect. The higher the percentage of DHA in the tan solution, the deeper the tan it creates. Therefore if you want to create a classic sun-kissed glow you will benefit from a product with lesser DHA content than if you want to achieve a deep dark bronze.

Developing time refers to the time it takes for the final colour of your tan to develop following its initial application. This can vary from tan to tan and person to person, depending on the individuals skin. DHA can continue to work with the skin for up to 24 hours after application. Therefore if you choose to have a 2-hour tan, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the way the tan looks after the 2 hours is going to be the final shade.

Guide colour is the built in bronzer that you can see on your skin as the tan is sprayed. This guide is to ensure the therapist achieves an even coverage. The colour will continue to develop on the skin and the guide colour will wash off when you shower.

Tan extender is a specifically designed skin moisturiser. They are formulated to replenish skin with nutrients, vitamins and moisture to extend the life of your spray tan. Our skin naturally sheds constantly; keeping your skin supple with an exclusively designed tan extender will reduce this shedding and prolong your tan.

Exfoliation is an absolute must before spray tanning; exfoliating removes dead cells, dirt and impurities to leave behind perfectly polished fresh skin and the perfect tan canvas.

Read more about achieving the perfect tan for you, with us!

This week is a super exciting one for me as I introduce a new treatment to the range of beauty treatments I offer.

Each time I return from a holiday I am more inspired and bursting with ideas, this occasion is no different. Having just returned from an incredible European adventure I have been influenced once again to make some shifts in both my professional and personal life. Last week I talked about the personal insights (read more on that, here). This week I let you in on a little treasure I discovered while I was overseas and how I am now bringing that to you! 

Being originally from the UK it was obligatory to spend a week there at the beginning of our trip. Although it was English summer, a jacket, boots and scarf were still essential items of the daily wardrobe – no surprises there. How then did all of my UK girl friends look so incredibly, naturally tanned and so god darn hot?? When I asked the question it was met with one universal answer – a new treatment that combines natural tanning with slimming, firming and cellulite reduction.

With the 2 most popular treatments I currently offer being a slimming, firming, cellulite busting body treatment (decleor perfect slim effect) and spray tanning treatments, I had to give this thing a go!

It wasn’t long before I was standing in a paper G-string ready to receive this revolutionary treatment. Emerging from my family home bathroom just over 2 hours later, I couldn’t deny the tan was brilliant! And I did feel just a lil’ tighter all over.

Still glowing as we boarded our flight to Rome just a few days later, I felt so confident in my new tanned, toned skin that I made the decision to get my hands on this product as soon as I could.

A magical 2 weeks later we hit the tarmac in Sydney and put the order in! I wanted to get straight in to testing this treatment a little more.

Hand delivered to me by the knowledgeable team I was able to learn all about the product, how it works and what makes it so special:

Aptly named, Skinny Tan is the first bio-organic spray tan designed to add contour while reducing the visible appearance of cellulite, by using natural tanning and smoothing actives.

Skinny Tan has been formulated to create beautiful bronzing whilst also helping fight against cellulite. The more it is used the more effective it becomes.

The winning formula:

• Skinny Tan uses a natural tanning active derived from the seeds of the Brassica napus plant. This makes it a bio-organic form of DHA that works naturally with the amino acids in the skin to produce the darkening reaction; resulting in a custom, natural glow for all skin tones. The bio-organic DHA in the product also means it is wonderfully gentle on sensitive skin. 

• Alongside this, Skinny Tan uses guarana to accelerate the slimming, firming, and cellulite busting properties of the tan. Guarana is a caffeine derivative and it is the high caffeine content in guarana that gives the formula its cellulite fighting super-powers. 

• Sweet almond oil is the third key ingredient. Sweet almond oil has been used for centuries due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hyper-moisturising properties. This means the tan keeps your skin feeling nourished, soft and supple, naturally. The almond oil also helps prolong the tan.

With all of this new education and my gun in hand I went forth and I tanned. I tanned friends, colleagues, Her Master Plan ambassadors; I tanned anyone who would stand still long enough! The results speak for themselves. Each and every test subject was thrilled with his or her new, toned, tight tan.

It is after this testing and these phenomenal results that I now proudly bring the treatment to you.

As of today, Skinny Tan joins St Tropez as one of the spray tanning solutions offered by Her Master Plan. And to celebrate we will be offering a 20% price reduction on your first treatment, for the entire month of August! With Sydney winter rapidly disappearing and skin being back on show, it is the perfect time to tan and tone! Find out more about tanning with Her Master Plan and Book now!

 

The eyes are the window to the soul, right? Make your eyes just as pretty as your soul with our guide to the perfect eye make-up.

Whether you are aiming for a natural ‘straight from the beach’ look or you’re going for that sultry, seductive, smokey eye follow our guide to create it perfectly….

Step 1: The first rule is to always apply eye make-up first. This allows for any stray shadow to be easily removed from underneath the eye, without it having attached itself to any concealer or foundation there. This means you will avoid giving yourself any unintentional dark circles.

Start by covering the lids with a primer. This doesn’t need to be a specific lid primer, we recommend using the same primer that you use for the entire face. Follow this with a small amount of foundation and you have created your canvas to build from.

Step 2: Cover the entire lid with a neutral eyeshadow shade. You can then further build on this with your colour choices.

As a rule, use lighter shades for the inner section of the lid (toward the nose), progressing to mid tones on the mid lid, darker shades on the outer lid and darker still toward, and along the lash line.

Use this light – dark progression rule regardless of your colour choices. The result can be subtle with natural tones, dramatic and striking with bright, daring shades, and will create the perfect smokey eye with darker shades. Apply this rule for the lid, the upper and lower lash line.

Step 3: To define the eyes and add more dimension to a look, add eyeliner. Keep the liner close to the lash line; apply along the entire lash line for a bold look (essential for a smokey eye), or stick to the outer lash line to create a more natural look. There is a huge choice of liners out there – find what works for you. We like to use a gel liner with a small brush. It gives great control for precise application on both the upper and lower lash lines. Depending on the desired outcome, blend the liner line with a smudge brush or cotton bud. This will blur harsh, heavy lines and is often the key to a smokey eye – play with it.

Step 4: To finish the shadow, add a highlighter or pale shadow to the inner corner of the eye (toward the nose) and just below the eyebrow. This will open up the eyes and really make the them sparkle. You can take this one step further by applying white eyeliner (we recommend a pencil liner for best results) to the inner, lower lid.

Step 5: False lashes aren’t essential but if you are choosing to add them, this is the time! We recommend using individual lashes over strip lashes. These can be applied to compliment any look and can be great for both subtle and dramatic results – you are in control. Individual lashes usually come in 3 sizes – short, medium and long. Most store purchased lashes will include a mixture of all 3. Apply the same rule with lashes as with shadow: lighter – heavier = shorter – longer. Start on the outer corner of the eye and work inward, decreasing lash length as you go. Be sparing with glue, you don’t need as much as you think and it can get messy! Use a pair of tweezers to remove the lashes one at a time, applying each as close to the natural lash line as possible.

Step 6: Mascara is our number 1 to bring that look to life. Confused about which to choose? With so many available, we’re not surprised! It is something that will be individual to you, and the occasion. If you have finer lashes – use a lash building mascara. Short lashes? Use a lengthening mascara. Attending a wedding? Waterproof is essential! We really are lovers of finding what works for you as an individual. Just don’t go cheap and nasty – life is too short for clumpy lashes.

With your chosen mascara, start with the lower lashes. This will avoid wet upper lashes ruining eye shadow when looking up to complete lower lashes. Apply 2-3 coats of mascara for a smokey eye or a striking finish, and 1 for a natural look. Or schedule an eyelash tint.

Step 7: It is true that brows frame a face. Unfortunately not everyone is blessed with luscious, perfectly shaped brows. To find out the ideal brow shape for you:

Hold a thin make-up brush (a lip line brush is ideal) to sit along the outer corner of the nose in a straight line up to the forehead. Where this brush sits at the brow line is the ideal beginning for the brow

Hold the same brush in a diagonal from the outer corner of the nose across to the outer corner of the eye. Where this brush meets the brow line is where the brow should end.

If your brows are longer or shorter than this, schedule in a shape with a professional. If they fall short, you want to go darker than your natural brow shade or you want to alter the shape of your brows with make up. We highly recommend consulting a professional for a lesson and an eyebrow tint as the best option.

Still confused? See us for a make-up lesson and learn how to perfect your individual look.