Extras Cover and Alternative Therapies
05 Oct 2015 Leave a Comment
in Beautiful Bodies, Healthy Habits
Medicare offers very little in terms of alternative therapies, other than acupuncture as part of a GP consultation. This means that you’ll need to have health insurance Extras cover to avoid out-of-pocket costs if alternative/natural therapies are important to you. Here’s what you need to know about using Extras cover for accessing alternative therapies services. This post is brought to you by Health Insurance Comparison.
What Kind of Alternative Therapies Are Available on Extras Cover?
A lot will depend on your health fund. Some policies are more generous than others in terms of what they will cover and depending on the health fund, you may be able to claim on things like acupuncture, aromatherapy, remedial massage, reflexology, shiatsu and Chinese herbalism. If you want to access a range of treatments, it’s definitely worth shopping around to see what different health funds are prepared to cover.
Who Can I See For Treatments?
Most health funds will require you to see practitioners that are approved by them to be eligible to make a claim. In some cases, this may just mean that they need to be licensed with the relevant professional body but it can be more complicated than this.
Seeing a practitioner that is not recognised by your health fund can mean that your claim is not valid so it’s important to know whether you can see a particular provider through your Extras cover. If you have already chosen a particular practitioner, it’s definitely worth checking to see if they will be recognised by your preferred health fund(s) before you commit yourself to a particular policy.
What Level of Cover Should You Have?
Alternative/Natural/Complementary Therapies will sometimes be available on basic Extras policies but this will not always be the case. Where it is available on basic Extras cover, you can expect to be limited in terms of the annual limits (and therefore, the amount that you can claim for Alternative Therapies per calendar year before you’ll start to incur out-of-pocket costs for future appointments). This is something to think about if you want to have treatments on a fairly regular basis but don’t want to pay out of your own pocket beyond a certain point.
Be aware that some health funds combine alternative therapies with other Extras such as physio, chiro and osteo when it comes to annual limits. This is something to stay away from if you know that you’ll get a lot of use from alternative therapies and may also want to access other services within the same annual limits bracket.
Mid to top level Extras cover is usually more generous in terms of annual limits but this can still be limited to hundreds (rather than thousands) of dollars per year.
Waiting Periods for Extras Services
For the most part, Extras services have waiting periods that you’ll need to serve before you are able to make a claim. This refers to the length of time that you’ll need to have had a particular Extras treatment on your policy before you are eligible to claim. Technically, health funds are able to set their own waiting periods for this but many of them have around a 2 month wait time for alternative therapies.
If you know that you’ll access this type of treatment fairly regularly, it’s therefore best to buy Extras cover or adapt an existing Extras policy to include alternative therapies at least a couple of months before you expect to make a claim to be sure that you won’t have to pay out of your own pocket.
If you’re switching to a different health fund and have already served a waiting period with them for alternative therapies, you shouldn’t have to do this again with your new insurer.
Getting Value for Money
Some health funds offer money back on Extras claims, which is a great way to get the most out of your health insurance if you are confident that the policy on offer will work well for you in terms of the therapies available and the annual limits. At HealthInsuranceComparison.com.au, we compare quotes from some of Australia’s major health funds to help consumers to find the right health insurance policy for their needs and budget.
What is your favourite alternative therapy you would like to claim for?
Holy Moly…I am turning yellow!
02 Oct 2015 22 Comments
I have officially decided that this getting old stuff is simply crappy!
I do not want to be sick.
I certainly had NO intentions of adding a syndrome to my repertoire of life achievements.
For quite sometime I have been feeling not so spectacular.
The pain I often felt in my back, I always put down to work, from all the lifting, pulling, pushing etc.
My energy levels were dropping and by the afternoon I was finding it quite hard to do anything.
I thought I was just suffering from burnout and could probably do with a holiday.
Two weeks ago I had a very uncomfortable night and woke up itchy all over but no sign of a bite or rash of any form.
Much to my own surprise, I actually took myself off to the doctor to have it checked out.
Of course I do this on a Friday, so results are actually not in until Tuesday.
All my results came back perfect with one small exception.
My liver numbers were in the red…..next stop ultrasound.
Whilst my doctor made it clear that this ultrasound had to be done, I failed to detect a sense of urgency and booked myself in for one a week later as that was the only spot they had available.
Fast forward 24 hours, Wednesday afternoon rocks around and I am exhausted.
Miss WW then decides to inform me that over the last couple of days my eyes had been turning an unattractive shade of yellow, but did not want to alarm me and she knew I had been to the GP for blood tests.
Fast forward to Wednesday night and I decide to have a meltdown and at 9pm decide to go to the emergency department.
Yellow is not normal and very unattractive!
They starved me for almost 3 days, they pumped me full of anti-biotics and did just about every test known to modern medicine.
They were on the hunt for a tumor.
Just about everyone that presents in the way I did has a nasty tumor causing the liver to function at such a decreased level.
I am one of the VERY lucky ones, instead of a tumor I get a syndrome!
Mirizzi Syndrome basically means I have a very naughty gallbladder complete with a collection of stones that is a distorted shape capable of completely leaning on and blocking my bile duct.
Thankfully their treatment has been working and my liver function is returning to normal with out the need of surgery to place a stent in the duct to hold it open.
Next stop is a date with the operating table to get this gallbladder out of my tummy and that is booked in for next month.
I feel like I have completely lost a week of my life, but the universe threw me a sign I just could not ignore, and very soon I will be feeling so much better for it.
How many body parts have you said goodbye too?
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess.com
Why are Pure Essential Oils so expensive?
20 Jul 2015 7 Comments
in Beautiful Bodies, Harmonious Home, Healthy Habits, JoyFULL
Why are these tiny bottles of pure essential oils so incredibly expensive?
I have been addicted to Aromatherapy for such a long time. I love these little gifts from nature that can make healing smell so delicious, but some sure do come with a hefty price tag.
If you have never experimented with essential oils, it can be so tempting to run into the discount store and score a little brown bottle for $2.00 and you are good to go.
Please do me and your family a HUGE favour and leave them exactly where you found them. They are created synthetically, so they are simply chemical cocktails that pretend to smell good, and they don’t even do that well.
Pure Essential oils on the other hand are produced from plants. Flowers, fruit, stems and even some barks are used to create these delicious aromatics that can be incredibly effective for helping the body heal, uplift your emotions or are a viable alternative from chemical based cleaning products.
Just to put a little perspective on what is required to create the real thing, have a look at some of these figures…
* It takes approximately 100 kg of lavender plants to yield 1.5 litres of pure essential oil.
* It takes 8 million flowers, all hand picked before the sun rises to extract jus 1kg of jasmine oil.
* You need 100 kg of rose petals to yield only 20ml of oil.
* Essential oils are usually sold in 12ml bottles and these contain 240 drops – for direct massage you use 3 drops, in a burner you use 6 drops and in a bath you use 9 drops. So each bottle has a lot of applications in it.
As you can see, it takes a lot of natural resources to create these precious oils.
It is imperative that you use quality essential oils if you wish to enjoy better health. Many people are put off from trying aromatherapy because of the cost.
Young Living and Doterra are a major reason that the costs appear to be so high. I have used both, and their quality is superb, but their prices are heavily loaded to ensure that their consultants earn good income. Not just the person that introduced them to you, but well up the line also receive monetary reward. I have no issue with MLM companies that offer a good product, but I am a bargain queen and I always want the best for less.
Thankfully I have found some great alternatives that supply awesome product without all the commissions loaded in.
Perfect Potion stores are one of my fav places to wander around. Beautiful scents and beautifully designed stores make shopping a pleasure. The quality is excellent and they also have lot’s of other products such skin care and detox teas.
When it’s time to do a restock, I can’t go past New Directions for quality and value. They have a huge range of essential oils that you can buy in a variety of bottle sizes which is handy. Essential oils that I use a lot I buy in bigger bottles and just get tiny ones for the oils that I only use occasionally. They also have fabulous fragrance oils that I do occasionally use and even goodies you can use to make your own skin care etc.
If you have never experienced aromatherapy, keep your eye out as I am going to be doing some introductory posts on how to set up a basic kit for home and the myriad of ways they can be used.
Do you use pure essential oils at home?
What are your favourites?
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess
Dry Shampoo Do’s and Don’ts!
07 Jul 2015 Leave a Comment
in Beautiful Bodies Tags: bastite, clean hair, dry shampoo, get ready quickly, healthy hair, how to make your hair look fresh without washing, save time by using dry shampoo
Dry shampoo is one of my favourite beauty tools.
Up until a year ago, I was washing my hair every day as I still have a really oily scalp.
I know that washing it every day was not helping the situation, but I refuse to walk out of the house in the morning looking like I spent the night dunked in an oil well.
Determined to break this daily routine, I decided to try dry shampoo in an attempt to at least only shampoo every second day.
I would be lying if I said that on day two, dry shampoo made it look as fresh as washed hair, but it is very acceptable.
I have discovered a few interesting things about dry shampoo since I have started using it and thought this information might be helpful to you too.
Don’t hold the can too close to your scalp – It feels logical to get that nozzle in nice and close to the scalp, but by doing that you risk your hair looking stiff and leaving a powdery residue behind. Hold the can about 20cm from your hair when applying.
Do use it once or twice between shampoos, but not more – Excessive use of any product is not good for your hair, but dry shampoo can lead to a very dry and flaky scalp if relied on replace actually washing your hair.
Don’t panic if you run out – If you get to the bottom of your can and you have not bought a replacement, sprinkle a little baby powder on your roots, tussle your hair and give it a brush. It will help to absorb excess oil and save the day.
Do use dry shampoo to give your hair more volume – If you have fine hair like me, you will understand how hard it is to get your hair to do anything but cling to your head. If you want to add some volume, after you have washed and towel dried your hair, apply dry shampoo to the roots and blow-dry.
Do not use on sensitive skin without testing first – If you scalp suffers from any irritation such as psoriasis, test the dry shampoo on a small patch before you apply to your whole head and totally aggravating your scalp.
Bastite is by far my most favourite brand of dry shampoo, but if you are really watching your pennies, Target have smaller cans that are often on special at 2 for $5.00 and it does work quite well.
How often do you wash your hair?
Are you a dry shampoo fan girl?
Simple Solutions For Tummy Troubles
08 Jun 2015 14 Comments
in Beautiful Bodies, Fabulous Food
From belly-aches to bloating, tummy troubles can cause great discomfort.
There are so many reasons your stomach might be unsettled, such as simply eaten too much, had something a bit too spicy for you or caught a tummy ‘bug’, these easy solutions could help you feel much more comfortable.
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FRESH CORIANDER – Easy to grow and often found in Thai dishes, eating fresh coriander will aid digestion of food and can improve appetite. It is very helpful in preventing gas building up in the intestines, and helps expel wind from the bowels. Very helpful in relieving stomach aches.
CORIANDER SEEDS – Chew on a couple of coriander seeds after a meal to help prevent heartburn and indigestion.
CHAMOMILE TEA – Make a cup of chamomile tea to get relief from colic, gas, diarrhoea, cramps, indigestion and irritable bowl syndrome.
FLAT LEMONADE – Getting over a bout of tummy bugs or food poisoning can leave you struggling to keep anything down. Flat lemonade gives you some sugar to help boost your lagging energy levels and will often stay down.
PROBIOTICS – When the levels of bacteria in your gut are in short supply, you will often experience bloating and gas. This will often occur if you have taken a dose of anti-biotics or your diet is full of processed foods. Eating fresh natural yoghurt or taking a supplement will help to replenish supply and will also give your immune system a welcome boost.
GREEN PAPAYA – In South America this fruit is the go-to natural solution that they swear by. This unripened fruit if full of powerful enzymes that are very beneficial for bloating, nausea, flatulence and stomach cramping. Unfortunately the ripened fruit has lost the enzymes in the process.
ALOE VERA JUICE – Is soothing on the skin and soothing to an upset tummy. It is very helpful for constipation, bloating, gas and cramping.
PEPPERMINT TEA – Is another helpful tea for tummies. Excellent for easing constipation, gas and bloating. It is the perfect choice of tea to drink after a large meal that leaves you feeling uncomfortable.
FRESH GINGER – Grated fresh ginger stir-fried with fresh greens is a great light meal to help ease stomach upsets. You can also use grated ginger to make a tea. It has fabulous anti-inflammatory properties that help sooth discomfort.
GINGER TEA – This tea is a favourite to help ease travel sickness and queasy stomach’s from being out on the water or whilst flying.
BURNT TOAST – A dose of charcoal will help a tummy that might be feeling a little queasy following just a few too many cocktails. Charcoal absorbs alcohol and will help it clear your system. You can also try all of the above!
How do you settle a funny tummy?
Sharing for #IBOTwith Essentially Jess.com
Budget Beauty Hacks That Work
03 Jun 2015 5 Comments
With so many beauty products on the market promising amazing results, you could spend a fortune.
Many of them do not deliver outstanding results either.
Most of these clever items you might already have at home, if not they are super cheap to buy.
1. TOOTHPASTE – Plain white toothpaste (not the gel variety) does a wonderful job drying out pimples fast. Apply a small amount on to a pimple before going to sleep. Toothpaste is also a quick and easy helper in getting your jewellery to sparkle. If your bling is looking a little dull, dab a small amount onto an old toothbrush and gently scrub each piece. Rinse well and pat dry.
2. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE – Soak a cotton wool ball and apply to finger nails that have yellowed or stained to get them looking white again. Bottle blondes that have got a tinge of blue to their hair after toning can apply a little to their hair by mixing a little in to your shampoo to banish the blue. Mix a little with Bi-carb Soda in a small dish and use this to brush your teeth to help whiten them.
3. BI-CARB SODA – Is a great scrub to help remove the left over blotches of a fake tan and easily removes dry and scaly skin cells.
4. OLIVE OIL – Makes a fabulous deep conditioning treatment for dry or over-processed hair. Simply apply to hair and wrap in cling wrap and leave for 30 minutes then wash as usual. It also is a very effective make-up remover. For really dry skin, add 1/2 cup to a warm bath and enjoy a soak.
5. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR – Hair that is lacking shine or suffering from the frizzies, apple cider vinegar is an easy solution to remove excess product build up. Instead of washing your hair in the normal way. Use a cup of vinegar instead. Try this once a week.
6. CHAMOMILE TEA – Is a natural anti-inflammatory and provides great relief for irritated skin. Dampened tea bags are very helpful in reducing puffy eyes.
7. SALT – Mix with a little oil to make a very effective body scrub. Dissolve a little in boiling water and when it has cooled bath eye’s that have a stye.
8. VASELINE – Is often a go to product for dry and cracked lips, but it is also a fabulous helper for heels that need a little TLC.
What is your favourite bargain beauty helper?
Sharing for #FYBF at With Some Grace.com
Simple Solutions For Puffy Eyes
24 May 2015 Leave a Comment
Puffy eyes can be caused by a myriad of things, but lack of sleep or dehydration are often the two most common reasons.
No amount of makeup can hide puffiness.
A while ago I did a post on natural solutions for puffy eyes and I have found a few more that really work.
Simple Solutions For Puffy Eyes
– Soak cotton pads in cold milk and place over your eyes for a few minutes will quickly reduce puffiness.
– A slice of potato on each eye will do the same.
– Make a mini eye mask with a stiffly beaten egg white and apply to your eye area. When it has hardened rinse it off.
– With your eyes open, plunge your face into a bowl of cold distilled water.
– Chamomile tea bags that have been moistened and stored in the fridge work a treat and are also great to use if you have a stye.
– As I am not getting younger and my skin is not as firm as it used to be, I have added capsules of flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil to my collection of supplements as these are great for collagen creation and both are powerful anti-inflammatories….just what I need!
– Always, always, always, always (get the drift) take your makeup off before going to bed.
– Use an eye cream that is gel based in the cooler months as this formulation is best absorbed into the delicate eye area that can really be prone to the drying effects of cold weather.
Next time you go past a health food shop, grab some eyebright tea, make a little bath in a small bowl and when it has cooled enough bathe your eyes with it you suffer from redness to help clear it away.
Enjoy! xx N
ExfoliKate Your Way To Super Smooth Skin
12 May 2015 Leave a Comment
in Beautiful Bodies, JoyFULL Tags: dead skin cells, exfoliation, exfoliKate, facial, facial treatment, happy skin, removing dead skin cells, skincare, skincare products, smooth skin, soft skin
I am a super big fan of exfoliation.
Getting rid of all those dead skin cells on a regular basis helps your skin to feel smooth and allows the products you apply to actually be absorbed.
Sunday is scrub day for me as I have time to play around in the shower and often I will make up my own scrubs with simple kitchen ingredients that are cheap and effective.
Facial exfoliators are a different story, as delicate facial skin needs to be treated with kindness.
For a long time now I have heard many people sing the praises of ExfoliKate but at around $100.00 for a full size tube that is not exactly enormous, that is quite an investment for a product that you might not fall in love with.
Now there is nothing like a wander around Mecca Cosmetica (which one HAS to do if one is in close proximity to a store and ones daughter is with you who is addicted to all things makeup and skin care) to help you discover new things. Such as a trial size (15ml) for $28.00.
That makes it much more tempting to give it a try. Instead of investing $100.00 for a tube that might sit in the bathroom cupboard if it does not perform.
ExfoliKate is quick and easy to use.
Simply cleanse your skin as normal with a wash off style cleanser.
Do not dry your skin after cleansing.
Take about 2 pea sized dollops of the exfoliator and massage gently into your skin for 30 seconds. Then leave it on your skin for up to two minutes. Tingling is normal.
Rinse off well and pat our face dry.
You are only supposed to use this once or twice per week, so even the small tube will last for quite a while and the result is just amazing. Your skin is left ridiculously soft and moisturisers are literally disappear when applied straight after use.
Miss WW is in love with Biore blackhead strips and uses them all the time.
After using ExfoliKate she applied a strip to her nose, and the amount of gunk that was released was so much more than ever before.
Obviously the exfoliation did such a good job at removing the dead skin cells that sealed the blackheads in, that when they were removed the strips could work so much more effectively.
This little tube is now on our favourites list and is definitely worth the investment.
What is your favourite facial exfoliating product?
How To Find Your Perfect Foundation Colour
02 May 2015 Leave a Comment
If you are anything like me you have wasted plenty of money on foundations that are simply not the right colour.
Foundation is supposed to provide a flawless finish to your skin and to do this effectively you need the perfect shade.
Not too light and not too dark, but as little bear said ‘just right’.
Two of these are perfect, 3 of them not even close, and there is more hiding in my makeup drawer!
Venturing into a store all lit up with unnatural light does not make it easy to choose foundation. What seems like a good match at the time, fails miserably when you apply it in natural light.
One of the easiest ways to find your perfect fit, it to get some expert advice.
Head in to your local Myer or David Jones and go to any of the big make-up companies and get the staff to help you select your ideal colour.
You don’t need to buy if you are worried about your budget, but the important part is to walk away with the shade/number code they suggest. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample that you can try at home.
Once you are in possession of this vital piece of information you can us Temptalia’s Foundation Matrix to discover the perfect substitute for practically any brand. This site is worth it’s weight in gold as you will never buy the wrong colour again.
One of the things I really dislike about the cosmetics industry is their need to discontinue your favourite product just as you have fallen in love with it.
The Foundation Matrix has stored in it’s files lots of foundations that are no longer in production. So as long as you know the name and colour you used to love, use this wicked tool to find replacement options.
If you don’t have a Myer or David Jones close by and have to rely on sampling foundations at a chemist or somewhere similar, do the testing on the underside of your forearm, this is usually the closest match to your face. Applying it to the back of your hand is often the go-to spot but our hands see so much sun they are usually darker than your face.
Have fun finding your perfect shade and don’t forget a makeup brush or beauty blender sponge will make your foundation go on sooo much better than your fingers!
What is your favourite foundation?
An Easy Way To Get Medical Help For Kids After Hours
25 Apr 2015 7 Comments
Why do kids always get sick at night or on the weekends or even better on a public holiday?
I have lost count the number of times we have had to go to the hospital at unreasonable o’clock as I was not comfortable waiting till a more respectable hour to get medical attention.
In the past there have been trips to the Holy Spirit Emergency which cost a few hundred dollars for a visit, there have been visits to the Prince Charles where you have to wait your turn.
Today we did things differently, we used a home doctor service for the first time!
Miss WW is no little kid anymore, at 19 she is past all those naughty little infections and nasties that can hit a young one in a flash.
But, she is still one of my babies and when either girl is not well I have to take action and get them on the path to wellness.
Miss WW has not been feeling well all week. She was at a party on Saturday night when a nasty bug bit her 4 times on the forearm and it grew into a huge welt. Spending the next few days with headaches and dizziness she took herself to the GP who thought she must be having an allergic reaction to the bite.
Yesterday at work she almost fainted which is so unlike her, but then came good.
We were out this morning and when we got home she was getting changed and she comes to me very disturbed as there is a red patch full of little blisters on her back.
I have had this magnet sitting on my fridge for months and the girls laughed at me when I put it up there.
Obviously her symptoms did not require emergency assistance, but as it was a Saturday and her GP would not be available until Monday, I was not happy about leaving her without seeing a doctor for 2 days.
I got on the phone and booked an appointment.
You join the que for the available doctors so the exact time of arrival is unknown.
It took about 1 1/2 hours to get a call that they were almost at our house.
The GP that came was absolutely lovely and it only took a quick glance to advise us that Miss WW has shingles.
We got a script for anti-viral’s that will have her non-infectious in 48 hours. Thankfully we have a chemist about 10 minutes away that is always open.
I know a few people that have had shingles and they have been very sick with it. So far Miss WW is doing well and has not yet had a massive breakout of spots. Fingers crossed she gets through this as well as she got through the Chicken Pox when she was a little girl.
This magnet is staying on the fridge, I was so impressed with their service and it is completely free, bulk billed to Medicare.
Winning!
Please do not rely on this service if your child is really unwell, call an ambulance, as the wait time could be an issue. It certainly is the perfect solution though for same day treatment and peace of mind. They operate after 4pm each weekday, on weekends and thankfully public holidays!
Pop their number in your phone, it might just be the perfect solution for your family one day.
The house does smell lovely at the moment as she is keeping the site dowsed in pure Lavender essential oil to help stop the itching and reduce the risk of scarring.
Have you used this service before?
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess
My Favourite Budget Beauty Buys
06 Apr 2015 9 Comments
in Beautiful Bodies Tags: bb cream, beauty, budget beauty buys, conditioner, dry shampoo, hair care, hairspray gel, nourishing skin oil, shampoo, supermarket skin care, value beauty products
Beauty on a budget? These are my favourite products straight from the supermarket shelves!
Before I had kids, my skincare and make-up was all high-end.
I used to love buying Estee Lauder and Clarins and always stocked up when they had their giveaways with purchase. Everything else was bought duty free. My job as a Corporate Travel Consultant sure had it’s benefits.
Over the years I have put less of my budget into beauty products and thankfully now the supermarkets have a great selection that have become my favourites.
1. Baby Wipes – There are no babies in this house anymore, just two teens addicted to makeup! Miss WW follows some awesome YouTube makeup masters and one of the best tips she has picked up is replacing expensive makeup remover wipes from the cosmetic companies to using baby wipes. They are larger, tougher and designed for super sensitive baby skin. They work like a charm removing makeup and are also great for giving your brushes a quick clean whilst you are at it.
2. Sunsilk Addictive Brilliant Shine Shampoo & Conditioner (gifted) – Bottle blonde and soft hair are two things that just don’t go together. Continual bleaching leaves my hair quite dry and porous. This is one budget shampoo and conditioner that leaves my hair super soft and easy to comb out after washing.
3. VO5 Mega Hold Gel Spray – My hair is very fine and I have wasted a lot of money on hairspray’s that do not hold a style for very long. This pump pack gel spray holds my hair in place all day, just love it.
4. Johnson’s Baby Powder – This is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to refresh hair that has not been washed. Much cheaper than the dry shampoo’s in a can and works just as well. I just sprinkle a little around the hair line, tousle it in and leave for a couple of minutes before brushing. Oil be gone!
5. Oatmeal Soap – A three pack of oatmeal soap is under $2.00 and it is a great exfoliator you can use all the time. Little bits of oatmeal help remove dead skin cells with ease leaving your skin much smoother and more absorbent for the body lotion you apply.
6. L’Oreal Skin Perfection Concentrated Correcting Serum – This is my favourite day moisturiser at the moment. Two pumps completely covers my face and absorbs super quickly without leaving any residual feel. It leaves me with a smooth and easy to work with base for adding foundation etc.
7. Swisse Bioactive Nature Oil – This blend of 100% naturally sourced oils is food for my skin. I don’t use it in the mornings as my skin is still very oily and this takes a little while to absorb. After cleansing at night I love this oil and it does absorb in and gives my skin a good dose of nutrients, just love it.
8. Garnier BB Cream – Tried a ton of other BB creams, but I still keep coming back to Garnier. Gives me nice coverage for everyday wear and the vital protection from the sun I need. Makes a great base for foundation if I am going out and putting on the full deal.
So often the supermarket chains have these goodies on sale, which makes them super buys. I always stock up when my fav’s are heavily reduced. This bargain queen just loves that!
What is your favourite budget beauty product?
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess
How To Make Scented Dusting Powder
05 Mar 2015 9 Comments
in Beautiful Bodies Tags: aroma, corn flour, diy, dusting powder, fragrance, fragrance layering, perfume, smelling gorgeous
Scented dusting powder is usually an expensive upsell from high end fragrance houses and not available at all from cheaper brands.
Fragrance layering is a great way to help your perfume retain it’s strength throughout the day.
Making your own dusting powder is easy and quick.
After your shower dust on the powder lightly before you dress. It is great to use on areas those chaffy zones and on a hot day will help absorb perspiration.
Ideally make this for your favourite perfume.
I have a few that I love but in summer and winter I tend to pick different perfumes to match the season. A light floral in the warmer months and a heavier fragrance for the cooler months. So I have made a couple of these.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1 glass jar with a tight fitting lid
1 cotton wool ball
Your favourite perfume
Corn flour
1 powder puff
INSTRUCTIONS
Make sure your container is clean and completely dry.
Take off the lid and hold the cotton ball over the opening. Spray the cotton ball 3 or 4 times with your perfume.
Place the cotton ball at the bottom of your container and fill it until it is about 3/4 full with corn flour.
Place the lid on securely and give the jar a good shake.
Leave the container sealed for at least 24 hours and give it a shake occasionally to allow the perfume to permeate right through the corn flour.
When you are ready to use it, simply remove the lid, place the powder puff over the opening and holding it securely in place, tip the jar upside down to coat the puff.
Give it a gentle tap to remove the excess and fluff on where ever you like.
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Corn flour contains no nasties so it is safe to use all over your body and it has a lovely silky feel.
If you like to use lot’s of different perfumes, you can make a whole collection of mini dusting powders by keeping empty shaker spice jars, giving them a good soak, drying them off and then filling them up as above. Add some pretty adhesive labels so you know which is which.
Add a little bi-carb soda to the mix for a little extra deodorant assistance.
Have you ever fragranced in layers?
P.S. Hottest day in Brisbane this summer today and the aircon has decided it does not want to play, will be slapping on bucket loads of this tonight!
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