How-To

As the air warms by degrees and morning walks are brightened by the scent of blooming jasmine, naturally our attention turns to the skin on our body. Limbs that have been safely encased all winter need that extra dose of TLC – and fast. Here are five easy ways to breathe new life into your body.    1. Brisk, dry body brushing   A sure fire way to kick start your circulation and dial up the glow is to start every second shower with a vigorous dry brushing with a firm bristle brush. Start from your feet and work in...

The use of Australian green clay is revolutionising the skincare industry. This natural ingredient has incredible benefits for individuals with oily, combination or acne-prone skin.  Australian green clay is all about restoring and improving in order to leave skin fresh and glowing. However, it should be noted that the benefits that come from using Australian green clay are truly endless.    What is Australian green clay? The power of green clay comes from its make up. This organic material is comprised of a host of essential minerals, iron oxides and decomposed plant materials such as kelp and seaweed. These ingredients...

First it was coffee scrubs, then coconut oil, followed by tattooed beauty. What’s next for cult beauty trends? Clay face masks. Though clay has been around for centuries, clay masks have currently skyrocketed in popularity due to their potent effects on detoxifying and healing the skin. When Cheryl Ross (the fabulous skincare formulator) collaborated with new skincare brand, Minenssey, to exclusively formulate a line of clay masks, she chose Australian clay, botanicals and native extracts as the main ingredients. Australian clays are considered to be pure as our pollution levels are relatively low, so their popularity over the world has...

Sigourney's edit   In the interests of full transparency, I’ll confess that I rarely bother with masks. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of them: a fast fix; a dermal do-over; a panacea for all your skin woes. But I treat them like a luxury; nice-to-do IF there’s time. And, naturally, there’s rarely time. I still write about them and love trying new formulations once or twice but beyond that they tend to fall later down my to-do list, somewhere between reorganising my shoe collection and de-pilling my cashmere jumpers. However, my prejudice is somewhat challenged when I’m...

Sigourney's edit   As our skincare routines become more lengthy and complicated it’s no longer just about what you use, but when you use it. You might already have your head around the cleanser and toner part, but throw essences, serums, emulsions, ampoules and sheet masks into the mix and things get kind of foggy. In an effort to defog things a bit, I chatted to cosmetics formulator for Minenssey, Cheryl Ross. “I have always been a great fan of layering, it makes sense to me particularly for the harsh Australian climate,” explains Cheryl. “Such as liquids, light gels and...