Vitamin A (or as I like to call it.. Vitamin Yay!) has quickly become the show-stopping red carpet superstar of cosmeceutical actives.  And with good reason!  Also known as retinol, this multi-tasking vitamin dangles the dual promise of treating acne while anti-ageing skin by smoothing wrinkles, brightening tone and refining texture.  You’ve got it, versatile, good ...

What are you doing this weekend? I hope whatever you have planned, it involves time for self-care, love and compassion, whatever that looks like for you.  As for me, I've spent weekends walking, spending cherished time with friends and family (social distancing of course) and listening, reading and thinking about many things. I've curated a list of them below, in case ...

A closer look at our hero active - Niacinamide! Intensity is the secret to any active formulation. A carefully curated selection of nutrient rich botanicals boosted with clinical doses of active cosmeceuticals. No room for fillers or benign synthetics to pad out the product. For me, it’s just value driven hard working ingredients that are compatible with our skin. ...

Salute to Summer!  A seasonal approach to skincare is the foundation of the slow skincare movement.  Honouring your skin the way you would any other organ ensures optimum health by harnessing nutrients that align with seasonal demands to nourish, protect and defend from inflammation and ageing indications to age-proof skin for intense results. Summer months are ...

The word is out… There’s a new power couple in town! A stylish duo taking luxury eye treatments by storm.  That’s right, this month celebrates the launch of two brand new innovative eye products by SPACEUTICALS.  The latest in clinical research harnessing cutting edge cosmeceutical actives in nourishing botanical plant nutrients to reverse the signs of ...

Nurturing skin into great health is at the heart of our passion.  No time is there more demand for loving care than when it comes to winter skin. Naturopathic ingredients and omega rich fatty acids that promote barrier function and strengthen skin resilience is what Waterlily does best.  Here we reveal expert help to show you how we work with beauty professionals to ...

Great summer skin demands hard working actives dispensed in clinical concentrations to target pigmentation, dehydration and congestion.  Photo damage from UVA + UVB along with oxidative stress from environmental pollutants speed up the ageing process.  So embrace summer with a blend of potent antioxidants and vitamins essential for cellular protection and repair.  The ...

Summer skin is luminous clear and refined.  The warmer months mean an increase in sebum. Skin is prone to the clashing conditions of both dehydration and excess oil which can lead to congestion and break outs.  Outdoor living is a chance to show off beautiful bare skin, so a healthy, clear glowing complexion is the perfect accessory for every event this holiday season.  ...

Skin works hard.  Putting aesthetics aside for a moment, our health relies on our skin to protect us from our environment, make Vitamin D, regulate body temperature, boost immune function.  It allows us to interact with our environment and senses the world around us.  We expose it to so much stress through lifestyle, sun damage, oxidation and lack of ...

“Small-batch production, with its overtones of freshness, potency and artisanal craftsmanship, has been big news in the food sector for the past five years. Now, the philosophy is being embraced by the beauty industry as the next stage in the evolution of natural and organic.”  THE FUTURE LABORATORY In an age where instant gratification, automation and ...

Embracing a seasonal approach to living is not only kind to the planet, it’s good for our health.  One of the many reasons I love travelling to Rome is that the Italians sure know how to eat.  I’m not talking about the culinary alchemy you see on Master Chef.  I mean the two resolute aspects of any Roman kitchen.  Eating local produce and eating it in season.  ...

Ciao da Italia Ragazzi! I’m here at Cosmoprof Bologna, the world’s leading international professional beauty exhibition. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary and has grown to house over 2,500 exhibitors from 69 different countries attracting melting pot of over a quarter of a million international visitors in just three days. The global showcase highlights ...

When we think about skincare we often compare active against natural, right? Let's consider for a moment that the skin is your largest and most visible organ. It responds in exactly the same manner as every other part of your body to nutrients, toxins, care and nurturing. Yet it’s interesting that you are more likely to subject it first to the criteria of aesthetics ...

Every year one strong underlying theme prevails in our list of New Year resolutions... the enduring quest to lose weight.  I agree that it is great to be healthier, but what I notice happens in our attempt to shed kilos is that our poor friend "Fat" becomes tarnished Enemy Number One. In the pursuit of good health, it appears we have condemned the wrong culprit. For it's ...

I am spending Christmas in Rome this year, and when I’m not complaining about the cold (while still eating gelato!) I spend my spare time walking through the gardens of Villa Borghese, the ‘Central Park’ of Rome. These gardens are a haven in the middle of a bustling city. Apart from the sheer size and beauty of the landscape, Borghese is laden with an allegory ...

I've just left Hong Kong, and one of the leading trends to come out of this year's Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference was the concept of mindfulness and how it directly impacts on Wellness. Mindfulness... it really is a head on tackle as to how we approach our own health. Doctors are great at curtailing death and acute trauma.  I mean, if you were hit by a bus I'm not ...

I’m going to give you an insight into the intricate process behind the Waterlily formulations, a back of house sneak-peak into the mysterious world of artisan blending. Follow me… shhhhhh I’m hoping by now your appreciation for Aromatherapy has grown. As essential oil aficionados, you know that these precious plant concentrates are valued because they are ...

Australians are sturdy. And lucky for that! Harsh climatic conditions are the theme of an Australian lifestyle. Our ongoing challenge with bush fires and floods show us how confronting the intensity of our environment continues to be. As climate change merges with our outdoor lifestyle the quest to maintain good skin health intensifies. The annual rise of melanoma ...

We live next door to the ancient Pleasure Gardens of Rome (uh huh, no complaints here!). "Horti Sallustiani,” a lavish landscape dedicated by the Ancient Romans to abandoned luxuriating. Nearly 2000 years ago, the gardens covered most of North West Rome and spanned a series of Emperors starting with Julius Caesar. It was an epicurean theme park brimming with ...

Fat free? Oil free? Lite? Low fat? Fat reduced? Consider a life without oil; a fat free diet and oil free skincare. I struggle to understand how not using oil became popular? I don't know when exactly oil received its terrifying reputation, but this fat phobic scenario has only one mortifying outcome… Premature Ageing! Not exactly the Holy Grail of youth we are all ...

It’s autumn in Europe. In Rome “autunno”!  The seasons here run to the timing of a well oiled calendar.  The first of September brings fallen leaves ruby and bronze, the air is chilly against pale skies and the long balmy evenings are cut short. But that’s not all, the plump array of fruit and vegetables laden in markets and grocery stores are about to ...