Every now and then something arrives at my desk and reminds me what a kind and caring world we live in. Yesterday it was Support Scent, a range of products that has been developed by Kit Cosmetics in association with Guide Dogs Australia to raise money and awareness for guide dogs and the visually impaired. The unique campaign features a fragrance ($5), body wash ($22.95), body lotion ($29.95) and fragranced soy candle ($44.95), all of which appeal to the visually impaired's heightened sense of smell. All products are simply gorgeous.
Support Scent will be available at Kit Cosmetics from Monday, March 8, with all proceeds from the fragrance going to Guide Dogs Australia and $2 from the sale of each auxiliary product being donated to the cause, too.
I'm a big H&M fan. As is Kylie, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Madonna and my mum. I would DIE if it opened here. Especially when I heard this little nugget of information: H&M is launching an organic skincare line in March. Uh huh. In keeping with the brand's simple style, the range features everyday essentials like shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm in raspberry and melon or lavender and mint. Yum. The range features organic ingredients such as organic apple juice, jojoba and beeswax that have been certified by ECOCERT. Prices start at €3.90 which is the equivalent to $5.90 so, Mr. H&M, if you're reading this, please, please, please, please, please open a store in Australia. Preferably Sydney.
Vaseline has just launched two amazing cocoa butter products that you simply must try: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion (from $7.29) and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($10.99). The Body Butter is obviously the richer of the two and features pure shea butter, as well as cocoa butter so it's great for dry hotspots like the knees, elbows and feet. The fragrance is actually a bit more delicate than other cocoa butter products on the market so it's less sickly and in-your-face. Plus, even though it's fragranced, it's fine for people with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Now, I still can't believe that less than a third of Australians use a moisturiser daily—crazy! Without a daily hit of moisture, your skin becomes rough and uneven, meaning less light is reflected, hence you get that dull, lacklustre appearance. Please, please, please make sure you moisturise. Otherwise we can't be friends scaly lady. And you know I don't want that.
So remember a little while back, we were talking about neem, the "Divine Tree" of India? Well as well as treating inflammations and infections, it's being hailed as the new buzz ingredient to combat skin dimples and wrinkles. And there's a New Delhi-based company, Advantage Organic, getting in on the act, with plans to create a range of sexy underwear that is laced with neem oil, basil leaves and pure silver to smooth (and soothe) skin. According to the owner, Rajiv Rai Sachdev, these "healthy and practical" garments will "prevent wrinkling and clear all infections." While I'm not thrilled at infections and underwear making it into the same sentence, I would be interested in trying them to see if they actually work, you?
This traditional Tahitian coconut oil is the signature ingredient in several products and its divine scent alone merits it a definition.
Monoi gets its gorgeous fragrance from Tahitian gardenias, which are submerged in the pure oil and left to soak. It's also known for its skin-friendliness, because it doesn't contain any emulsifiers. This means that it gets a big "green" thumbs up. It also solidifies at temperatures under about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), so it's sometimes necessary to warm up with your hands or under warm water to return it to its original oil state.
As soon as I opened NAT Sea Salt Body Smoother ($56) I knew I was in love. You get hit with an almighty burst of peppermint that is super refreshing and wakes you up in an instant—something I definitely need in the morning. When I first used it, I was impressed by how easy it was to apply. The consistency was just right. Sometimes the scrubs that come in tubes are too sloppy and you end up losing them to the shower floor, and others in tubs, I've had to battle with for hours just to get a measly amount out. This, on the other hand, feel almost like a cream so it's easy enough to scoop out but solid enough to stay put, if that makes sense.
Australia Day may be over but here at Bella, we're still in the thick of our Australian week-long special so be sure to stick around all week to hear about your favourite Aussie stars and home-grown brands. Up now: Toni Collette and that gorgeous golden glow that she rocked at the SAGs. Wanna know how she got it? Then read on my friend . . .
STEP 1: Begin with clean, dry, exfoliated skin that has been waxed or shaven at least 24 hours prior. Exfoliation is key to a flawless self-tan; it ensures the colour goes on as smooth and evenly as possible. Next up, apply moisturiser to dry areas like your wrists, elbows, knees and feet, to stop the self-tan collecting there. Also, you'll want to protect the palms of your hands so wear gloves or a mitt like Ella Baché Great Tanningmitt ($12). Keep reading . . .
I'm a big H&M fan. As is Kylie, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Madonna and my mum. I would DIE if it opened here. Especially when I heard this little nugget of information: 
Vaseline has just launched two amazing cocoa butter products that you simply must try: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion (from $7.29) and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($10.99). The Body Butter is obviously the richer of the two and features pure shea butter, as well as cocoa butter so it's great for dry hotspots like the knees, elbows and feet. The fragrance is actually a bit more delicate than other cocoa butter products on the market so it's less sickly and in-your-face. Plus, even though it's fragranced, it's fine for people with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
This traditional Tahitian coconut oil is the signature ingredient in several products and its divine scent alone merits it a definition.
Australia Day may be over but here at Bella, we're still in the thick of our Australian week-long special so be sure to stick around all week to hear about your favourite Aussie stars and home-grown brands. Up now: Toni Collette and that gorgeous golden glow that she rocked at the SAGs. Wanna know how she got it? Then read on my friend . . .