Three of the best superfood soups

23 May 2013 16:47 PM | Posted by GuestBlogger

Soup is pretty much the superman of super foods. It warms us up, beats hunger, is easy to make AND it’s healthy. There’s no better way to fight the winter sniffles than digging into a steaming bowl of nutrient-packed soup. Filled to the brim with vegetables and other goodness, these recipes are a sure fire way to keep your tummy happy.

Purple carrot & apple soup

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
5 medium purple carrots, peeled and chopped
2 medium sweet apples (such as Gala), peeled, cored and chopped
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 tsp ground ginger
500ml vegetable stock

Method:
1. Heat olive oil in a medium pot and set to medium heat.  Add the carrots, apples, honey and ginger and stir to combine. Add vegetable stock and simmer over medium heat.  Leave for 30 to 40 minutes or until the carrots and apples are tender. Take off the heat and set aside.
2. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. You can add more vegetable stock if it’s too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Put back on the heat for a further 10-15 minutes. Serve with a dollop of greek yoghurt.

Very veggie soup

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1 brown onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 (600g) cauliflower, cut into small florets
400g can of diced tomatoes
1 litre vegetable stock

Method:
1.    Heat some olive oil in a large pot and add the garlic and onion. Stir until onion is golden brown. Add zucchini, carrot, celery and cauliflower. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables start to brown.
2.    Add diced tomatoes, vegetable stock and 2 cups of water. Cover. Bring to the boil and then reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Red kale and butter bean soup

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large potato, diced
1 can of butter beans ( or lima beans), drained
2 large handfuls of kale, chopped
750ml of vegetable stock
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot and add the garlic and onion. Stir until onion is golden brown. Add potato & stock. Simmer for approx. 20 minutes or until the potato is soft.
2. Add the beans and kale, simmering for another 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This recipe is versatile, so you can blend if you prefer a smooth soup or leave as is for a heartier version.

Do you have a favourite soup recipe? What are your tips for healthy eating in winter?

How-to: channel a little Gatsby-inspired glamour

22 May 2013 15:47 PM | Posted by bh'sOlivia

Right now, there wouldn’t be a dame around town that does 1920s glamour as well as Isla Fisher and Carey Mulligan.

They’ve got the silky, flawless skin down pat, the jet-black, fluttery eyelashes perfected – and their red lipstick deserves an A+. The reason they’ve got it so right? They’ve been riding The Great Gatsby wave for the last year – and as a result are well versed in what it takes to pull off a 1920s-inspired make-up look that’ll have jaws dropping. But do you?

You can! It’s easy. It’s all to do with having the right tools and the perfect inspiration in which to draw from. Why don’t we take a peek at some of Carey and Isla’s best beauty looks from the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival?

CAREY’S FIRST LOOK: SOPHISTICATED SWEET

Miss Mulligan sure knows how to work her best features, doesn’t she? She’s well aware that all she needs to dress up a black frock is a hint of colour in all the right places. She’s obviously well versed on her winter make-up trends, and knows that a wash of colour is all you need for a supremely sweet set of kissers and subtle definition near your cheekbones.

Our top picks to achieve this look? MeMeMe Cheek & Lip Tint in Pussycat Tint, Clinique Almost Bronzer SPF 15 and Mirenesse 24 Hr Brow Lift and Shape Mascara.

CAREY’S SECOND LOOK: MUTED MINX

In a look that couldn’t be more polar opposite to the previous photo, Carey Mulligan chose to rock a standout pout and a muted complexion, as if to provide a picture perfect backdrop for that lip colour. She complements the jaw-dropping warm red hue with a hint of blush to contour her cheeks. Her brows are left bare and her eyes are framed with black liquid eyeliner and lengthening black mascara.

Our top picks to achieve this look? Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser, Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose and Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in #106.

ISLA’S FIRST LOOK: SMOKY SEXY

Isla Fisher is one lucky lady. Not only because she’s married to one of Hollywood’s funniest fellas, but because her luscious head of red locks means she looks good with almost any make-up look. Here on the red carpet in Cannes, she opted for a smoky eye teamed with radiant skin, contoured cheeks and a slick of luscious berry lipstick to bring it all together.

Our top picks to achieve this look? COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast Eyeshadow in Onyx Smoke, Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette in Berry and Clarins Rouge Prodige in Raspberry Sorbet.

ISLA’S SECOND LOOK: PRETTY AND PUNCHY

Va va voom! Isla! You have definitely managed to channel the glamour of a woman from the 1920s. The red lips, the flowing locks and the fierce, jet-black flutter – the whole look just screams sophistication, and I for one just can’t copy it quick enough.

Our top picks to achieve this look? TRESemme Ultimate Lacquer Hairspray (to be used once your hair has been tightly curled and then brushed out to a relaxed wave), Benefit They’re Real Mascara and Australis Go Long Longwear Lipstick in Diva.

Stockists:
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser, $59, 02 9663 4277
Clarins Rouge Prodige in Raspberry Sorbet, $38, 02 9663 4277

Which look do you like the best? How would you incorporate a little 1920s glamour into your look?

Best non-greasy hand creams

22 May 2013 17:43 PM | Posted by GuestBlogger

Ever use a hand cream that leaves your hands feeling super greasy? I know I have. And I’m sure you all have too. But, greasy or not, we need our hands to be moisturised. So, we’ve come up with a list of the seven best hand creams that will leave your hands feeling moisturised and NOT greasy. How perfect!   

One tip to keep in mind: Make sure you apply hand cream lightly and don’t over do it. Remember, less is usually more.

HAND CREAM #1:

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey and Coriander Rejuvenating Hand Remedy

This Crabtree & Evelyn hand remedy is made with a quick-absorb formula, which means that the cream will leave your hands wonderfully soft but not greasy or sticky. This sugar and pea extract enriched cream leaves hands feeling moisturised and youthful. Another perk? It has an invigorating citrus scent.

HAND CREAM #2:

SAX Multi-Vitamin Hand Cream

What’s so great about this multi-vitamin hand cream is that it almost immediately melts into your hands without leaving any greasy residue. What could be better? The light cream is formulated with vitamins A, C, E and papaya extract that helps to promote soft, smooth and protected skin.

HAND CREAM #3:

NIVEA Hand Anti Age Q10 plus

NIVEA’s inexpensive anti-ageing hand cream helps protect hands from visible signs of ageing, while also leaving skin feeling velvety soft. It is formulated with co-enzyme Q10 and natural AHAs and UVA/B filters. The light formula absorbs very quickly, leaving hands the perfect combination of soft, smooth and moisturised.

HAND CREAM #4:

Vaseline Intensive Care Intensive Rescue Soothing Hand Cream

Vaseline’s Intensive Rescue Soothing Hand Cream really will rescue your hands. The formula infuses the skin with moisture and effectively works to repair dry skin so the moisture will really last. The best part? It won’t leave you feeling greasy. The recipe is also hypoallergenic so it’s really great for sensitive skin and will help to reduce skin redness and eczema.

HAND CREAM #5:

Trilogy Body Care Rose Hand Cream

Trilogy has impressed us again with a nutrient rich, thick hand cream. Don’t be fooled by the words rich and thick though, with just a small amount the formula will quickly absorb into the skin, leaving the hands feeling nourished and soft. I promise a small dollop will effectively cover both hands. Another bonus? The rich formula helps to guard against moisture loss and leaves hands moisturised for hours.

HAND CREAM #6:

L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream

This beautiful lavender scented cream provides moisturising and nourishing shea butter benefits for the hands, while also containing soothing, lightweight A.O.C. lavender essential oil. The formula is lightweight and easily absorbs into skin, which means no grease left behind. The subtle lavender scent is also relaxing so it’s perfect to use before bed.

HAND CREAM #7:

Bioderma Atoderm Hand Cream

This hypoallergenic, subtly fragranced cream is just the thing for sensitive, dry skin. It’s formulated for dry and damaged hands to guarantee instant and lasting nourishment. The cream leaves hands moisturised and smooth for hours without feeling tacky or greasy.

What are your favourite hand creams? Do you have to use more hand cream in winter?

Six of the best beauty products powered by oil

22 May 2013 14:51 PM | Posted by bh'sOlivia

Before you run and hide after reading the word ‘oil’ and picturing greasy roots, combination skin or the oils that simmer in your fry pan, it’s important to realise that different oils carry different benefits, especially in beauty. And while oily hair and skin are not ideal, oil itself is actually a pretty amazing ingredient for your skin, your body and especially your hair when it’s found in beauty products.

So check out some of the awesome beauty buys powered by oil that should be high up on your hit list…

Garnier Olia

This nourishing at-home hair colour effectively replaces ammonia with an Oil Delivery System that consists of a blend of flower oils that work to propel hair colour deep into the hair fibre without damaging your hair. The best bit? This pampering, permanent at-home hair colour allows you to achieve rich, vibrant, long-lasting colour that won’t damage your hair shaft or produce strong, chemically smells. Plus it also effectively covers grey hairs, too! It’s set to become the at-home hair colour you (and your hair) can well and truly depend on.

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

Olive and jojoba oils found in this soothing cleansing oil work to dissolve make-up and gently rid your skin of impurities, without you having to pull or tug at your delicate skin. The nourishing oils act as a lubricant to help glide the grime away and leave you with soft, pampered skin, while maintaining your skin’s natural moisture levels.

La Biosthetique Belavance True Colour Lipstick

No one likes the look or feel of dry, chapped lips, and luckily, no one has to experience it - as long as they use this wonderfully nourishing lipstick from La Biosthetique. Featuring apricot kernel oil and rice germ oil, this silky, lustrous lipstick delivers maximum colour in just the first swipe. This is largely due to the smooth, totally hydrating oils, which assist in delivering the pigment to your lips seamlessly.

Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Eyeshadows

You know how sometimes your eyeshadow creases on your eyelids and the powder is seen to seep into the fine lines and make them look really pronounced? Yeah, it’s pretty much the pits – and I’ll have you know that it’s due to your eyelids not being a smooth, hydrated canvas for your eyeshadow. Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Eyeshadows are enriched with jojoba and grape seed oil, making eyeshadow application silky smooth and totally hydrating for your eyelids, too.

MOR Little Luxuries Belladonna Perfume Oil

Enriched with an impressive line-up of oils (think grape seed, sunflower, avocado and rosehip oil – just to name a few), this light version of the original fragrance is also paraben and sulphate-free. The silky fluid glides over your skin with ease, leaving a nourishing, deliciously scented perfume trail behind.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse OR®

This multi-use dry oil features a combination of six plant oils, including macadamia, St. John’s Wort, and hazelnut oils to effectively hydrate your skin. It also comes complete with a shimmering element to impart a radiant glow (bonus!) Formulated to nourish, repair and soften your face, body and hair, NUXE Huile Prodigieuse OR® is the perfect multi-tasking, oil-powered product to carry around in your handbag.

What's your favourite oil-powered product? Which one would you most like to try from the six listed above?

Beauty mistakes men make

22 May 2013 11:00 AM | Posted by GuestBlogger

Hey, you with the testicles. Over here. How good are you at being a guy? Pretty good? I mean, it’s not like it’s hard, right – chuck on a t-shirt and you’re halfway there. Being a dude is super easy, but sometimes we’re reeeeally good at douching it up. Are you (or is your man) guilty of making one of these grooming faux pas?

1.    Shaping/Plucking Your Eyebrows

A little tidy-up can’t hurt, right? Wrong, hotshot. Dead wrong. Because, you see, people notice. You think they don’t, but they do. It’s impossible not to, and it makes you look weird and kind of surprised all the time. The only men allowed to shape their eyebrows are A) transvestites, B) magicians and C) Frida Kahlo.

2.    Guyliner

Are you Johnny Depp, a pirate, or Johnny Depp playing a pirate? No? Then quit it.  

3.    Flavour Saver AKA Soul Patch

I am eminently qualified to comment on this one because I sported one of these bad boys for almost a decade. It was long, stringy, and I loved it like a puppy. And nobody told me how ridiculous it was until I got rid of it. Looking at photos from my 20s makes my spleen ache. [Embarrassing evidence below]

4.    Straightening Your Hair

I did this one too. In fact, I’ve still got the GHD floating around in the bathroom somewhere. Somehow I convinced myself that a feathered fringe and a plunging V-neck made me hell on wheels, when really I looked like an androgynous man-child off for a cucumber facial. You know how many girls want to sleep with that kind of guy? One. And she was drunk, cross-eyed and emotionally vulnerable.

5.    The Douche Beard

Don’t pretend like you don’t know what this one is. You know.  It’s that pencil-thin line of facial hair that runs from ear to ear and looks like a licorice chin-strap. This is never acceptable, not even on men who wear berets and play the saxophone. Not even Craig David can pull the douche beard off. Think Turtle from Entourage. Yeah.

6.    Waxing

Men were not put on this earth to look like baby seals. Body hair is a sign of virility and gives women something to grab onto during heady bouts of afternoon lovemaking. Grow it thick and glossy and coarse as a lumberjack – there’s no defence whatsoever for popping down the salon for a manzilian or a back, crack & sack wax. Oh, what’s that? You’re a cyclist and/or a swimmer? Ugh, you’re the worst of all. Sack up you big pansies, go play a real sport and leave your body hair alone.

7.    Nail Polish

Thanks, Jared Leto. No, really – thanks. Not just for your music (which is crotch-stabbingly awful) but for trying to show dudes that it’s okay to rock nail polish when it blatantly isn’t. If rock stars can’t pull it off, why does anyone else think they can?

Does your man do any of the above? Do you agree with these male grooming no nos?