peppermint magazine

Documentary filmmaker Natalie McComas is currently in the process of filming a brave and beautifully eye-opening series about people who have lived their lives with dramatic, visible birthmarks. Inspired by the gorgeous Patience Hodgson (from Aussie band The Grates), Natalie will be exploring the effects of these birthmarks on people’s lives and psyches. And she is on the hunt for more candidates to share their stories! So no matter whether you are young or old, male or female, if have a significant upper-body birthmark and want be part of this positive and timely venture, please contact Natalie via her website.

I don’t know about you, but when we are talking about our lady bits I’d like to think – due to the sensitive nature of the region – we’d be extra careful about what goes in to our bodies. I’m talking about tampons. Ever heard of Toxic Shock Syndrome? Look it up – it’s a nasty little thing that happens due to the toxic ingredients found in most tampons, such as bleach, pesticides, herbicides and other nasties. TOM are Australia’s only 100% certified organic and biodegradable tampons, and are as prettily designed as they are good for you. Find them in nifty little packs (as well as cute trios for travelling) at Chemist Warehouse, selected stockists and online, and help keep your nether regions au natural!

BB Creams (or Blemish Balms) are huge in Asia right now, so I was pretty excited when this particular, certified organic one by Alex Cosmetics landed on my desk. BB Creams were initially developed to heal wounds, so they’re a perfect cover up for those with sensitive, blemished, acne-prone and rosacea skin types. The formulation is quite thick, like a balm, but you only need a few daubs to cover your entire face – making it a healthy solution for anyone who doesn’t want to cake on the foundation, plus it works to heal and soothe agitated skin at the same time. Don’t let yourself be put off by the zinc (potential white-cast) – even on my olive/Asian complexion, the cream quickly disappeared, leaving it smooth and even-toned. Tried BB Cream yourself? We’d love to know how it worked for you!

Here’s another reason why you should never go by the claims printed on packaging or in advertising… Lenan, the Australian distributor of Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy products, between March and August 2011 falsely advertised their products as “formaldehyde-free”, “sulphate-free” and “sodium-free”, when in actual fact they most certainly were not! Thankfully Lenan has been caught out by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, and the penalty has been high. Read the rest of this entry »

I think I’ve been pretty good this year, and I just want to make it clear to you and your eleven sidekicks that it’s all about making me feel super-duper this season. I am totes in love with AROMANTIKS Strangers In Blood artisan perfume and a top-up of my favorite lippy by Jasmin Organics in Violet Veil would be most welcome. There’s also the question of creamy, dreamy skin, and what better buffer than Inika‘s Kabuki Brush? Domo arigato, Santa-san! (PS – throw me a bottle of Korbel‘s Organic Champers and I’ll share it with you, I promise!)

If you are anything like me (a total skin care fa-reeek), or even if you are just a completely normal person, you will love what Perfect Potion has whipped up – a range of limited edition, cruelty-free, natural skin care kits! Packaged in gorgeous printed cartons, these nifty kits are perfect for travelling, or for sampling the Perfect Potion range to best suit you. Each kit contains a generous travel-sized cleanser, fine-tuning solution (similar to a toner only a lot snazzier) and moisturiser. Read the rest of this entry »

I do love winter and its beautiful blue skies and crisp, brisk days, but what I don’t like is what it does to my skin. Dry. Itchy. Chapped. Me no likey. Thankfully, the beauty brainiacs from Antipodes have created Saviour Skin Balm and, oh my, it really is a saviour!

This rich balm is a serious multitasker. It can be used for chapped lips, for irritated skin such as eczema and psoriasis, for sunburn, cuts and grazes, cuticles, reducing stretchmarks (yeah, you heard me) and a whole lotta other stuff. It is naturally antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and can be used safely on babies.

Amongst a host of super ingredients, Saviour Skin Balm also contains tea tree and Vinanza Grape antioxidants… and it has been scientifically proven to stimulate synthesis of Type III collagen by more than 95%! What does that mean? It means, my pretties, that it does a wonderful job of softening, healing and repairing damaged skin… and is a potent anti-ager. So if you leave the house with only one great product in your handbag, make sure it’s this one! (Did I mention it’s also great for flyways? I’m just sayin…)