A Travel Date To New Zealand

After sharing some of our holiday photos online my girlfriend Jayne & I have gotten a few messages asking where we stayed, and some of the places we went to experience the breath taking scenery that we did.

I'm going to compile a lot of your questions right now and hope it can be of some use to you if you are wanting to check out New Zealand. 

New Zealand, Queenstown in particular is definitely underrated and somewhere Jayne and I would passionately recommend to our family and friends. 

If you are new here and don't follow social media posts I have linked a video I made of our stay below to give you some idea of Queenstown if you aren't familiar.

 We certainly weren't aware of just how beautiful it is until we got there. Our videos and pictures really don't do it justice.. I guess it's one of those places that consumes you with beauty you've really got to be there to soak it all in.

Now to answer your important questions! 

What Part of New Zealand did we stay in? 

We stayed in Queenstown. 

Queenstown was more touristy then we had expected it to be however it was a perfect base to explore near by areas such as Glenorchy and Arrowtown. When we got there we were told we were in the busiest time of year for them due to it being the Chinese New Year. This definitely didn't effect us or out enjoyment of our time there so i'd still recommend it to those who aren't good with crowds like myself. Later on in the week the busy rush seemed to calm down to what I can imagine it is like in it's normal state and it was very peaceful. 

What was our accommodation called? 

Oaks Club Resort - Spa room and we stayed in room number 904 

Our room had our own private spa on the balcony which faced the most beautiful scenic view & the rooms where just as beautiful themselves. 

Was Milford Sound worth going to? 

Yes!! 

The day itself getting to Milford sound was massive! Four hours there and four hours back on a bus full of people we didn't know with a talkative driver and his speaker was a lot.

 However putting  all of that aside once we got to Milford sound itself it was something else, and I think everyone can agree its a once in a life time experience to see a part of the world so untouched and so engulfing. 

What was the weather like? 

We went in February and the weather was very similar to hear in Melbourne, In the 20's throughout most days. We didn't find we needed a jumper until later on at night if we were having some wine outside.  

Was it expensive? 

The prices were again very similar to Melbourne pricing. I wouldn't say it was cheap but it wasn't a rip off for most things either.  

If you wanted to go out for a nice diner at a standard restaurant ordering a main meal and drink for 2 you would be looking at roughly around $60 

Our favourite restaurant there unquestionably became The World Bar. If you go there don't forget to check out there Teapot Cocktails and seafood menu. 

Accommodation came down to where you were staying and how luxurious you want to spend your time there. We found booking ahead always helps with getting reasonable deals on accommodation so always keep your eye out. 

Is it worth hiring a car? 

YES! 

We wouldn't of been able to explore half the things we did without having a car. It made getting to Glenorchy and Arrowtown a breeze. These drives were stunning & we personally wouldn't do it without a car. 

I hope our short film and photos has given you some inspiration to explore this gorgeous place. 

If you have any more questions you think I could help answer please leave them in the comment sections and I will meet you down there. 

Until then choose to have a great day! 

:) 

Happy Halloween

“So when you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, heading for the places in your past where the screaming is unbearable, remember there's always madness. 

Madness is the emergency exit.”

Current Favourite Spot Treatments

Like a lot of you, Iv'e had my fair share of uncomfortable breakouts (usually before a special event) Because of this, Iv'e experimented with lots of different skin care, diets etc, which I will expand on at a later date! So keep checking back! 

In this post I want to focus solely on sharing with you my two current favourite spot treatments' that minimise and or diminishing pimples and do it quickly.

Keep reading to find out my two personal favourites that always work for me! 

Mario Badescu

"Drying Lotion"

Purchased from: Mecca 

Cost: $24.00 

How I use it:

This is used by dipping a clean cotton swab in the solution and then applying to any whiteheads you may currently have. 

My personal outcome:

I tend to apply it before bed, leaving it on for at least 8 hours. 

The next morning when I remove it, more often then not, my whitehead has either completely disappeared or shrunk and settled significantly. 

Main Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid, Sulfur, Calamine 

____________________________________________________________________

GlamGlow

"SuperMud"

Purchased From: Mecca 

Cost: $27.00

How I use it: 

I use this more for when my skin is looking textured and my breakout is more then one or two little pimples. 

If I am after a quick treatment and my skin isn't feeling dry, I will apply it over my whole entire face and leave it on as a mud mask for 20mins. 

I also use this mask as a spot treatment, leaving it on needed areas for the whole night whilst I am sleeping. 

My personal outcome: 

After using this for a few nights in the week I always see a difference in my skin giving it an overall smoother appearance. This also helps in healing up and imperfections and calms aggravated pimples/heals them up completely. 

Main Ingredients: 

Salicylic Acid, Glycol Acid, Cucumber 

The Therapeutic Value Of Your Beauty Routine

Lately Iv'e realised just how important self care is for everybody. Although, yes some may require it more then others it is something we all deserve and should all take the time to give ourselves. After all, a soul doesn't run on empty right? 

I had a good think about some of the activities Iv'e implemented into my life and I realised a lot of these things I started doing many, many years ago when I was badly battling with my mental health. As I still continue to do these self care activities now I believe it is a good testiment to just how great they work for me, so I wanted to share some with you in the hopes one or two may work for you. 

I guess you could say my self care comes in various complex and diverse ways, but I wanted to keep it simple and stick to sharing the very easy self care I get from my 'beauty' routine & hopefully share some things you may find beneficial to implement into your own life, or even simply change some thoughts you might have whilst doing the things you already do. 

Self Tanning / Moisturising 

Applying any kind of lotion wether it be your self tan or your favourite smelling moistizer, gives you the chance to get familiar with yourself. It's a great time to recognise any lumps, bumps and or any changes that may be happening with your body.

 I also like to use this time to disregard all of the imperfections that I feel I have on my body and just appreciate what it does for me. 

Its amazing what our bodies do for us and I think sometimes we forget to appreciate just how cool and facinating they are. On any other time of the day when I get a glimpse of scars I have on my skin I can catch myself feeling embarrassed. I make the conscious effort in this time to appreciate the fact that my mind is living inside this very amazing vessel that can heal itself. The very fact that our bodies can even scar is beautiful - Many times when we don't fight for our bodies, our bodies still continue to fight for us and we owe it to them to be thankful for that.

Spending Time Getting Ready For Your Day Ahead 

Often when we feel down we wear our emotions like an oversized jacket to be drowned in. Sometimes we get caught in a loop of thoughts that we can't escape, but I make sure I use the time that I'm getting ready and doing my makeup to escape it all. I get immersed in the innocence and playfulness of the pigments in front of me and allow my brain a break from everything else that is going on the world. I saw a quote the other day that read - "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." I couldn't agree more. If makeup isn't your thing this is definitely something you can consciously choose to do with any kind of art you find a distraction in. 

It is also a nice time to remind yourself in the morning that you are worth the extra time because I promise you - you are! 

Night Routine 

Having a good night routine and taking the time to have a shower, cleanse your skin and apply your skincare is another gentle reminder to your subconscious that you are worthy of looking after. Like I mentioned before our bodies do so much for us and our skin is our biggest organ, we deserve to take the time to look after it. 

Cleansing your skin and body is a good chance to take the time to process the day and visualise washing away any negativity that came with the day & that no longer serves you any purpose. 

Sleep is really important for our self care as well and having a night routine I've found really helps my brain know that I'm getting ready to wind down and its time to stop buzzing with thoughts. 

I'd like to leave the comment section open for you to share your favourite self care technique. - It doesn't need to be beauty related. We can all grow from each other and I really hope this post has been helpful to you in some way or another. 

I really look forward to hearing what you personally do for your own self care :) 

A City Date

“A city isn’t so unlike a person. They both have the marks to show they have many stories to tell. They see many faces. They tear things down and make new again.” 

― Rasmenia Massoud, Broken Abroad

Koh Samui

"For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven't tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience."

You know I had a lot of people telling me that when you go to a second-world country you come back feeling more grateful then ever before, but I don't know about that. 

I learnt things on this short adventure so very different to things that I thought I would learn & gained an understanding so very different to the one others told me I would gain from such a trip. 

Thank you again Koh Samui for the beautiful nature of your people & the love you so freely & equally provide to each & every visitor. Your hearts are so incredibly rich. 

Kab Kun Ka 

Location: Koh Samui, Thailand 

Resort: Baan Samui 

Cosmetic, Cosmeceutical & Cosmedical Skincare.

Through conversations and observations regarding skincare and skin health, Iv'e realised that some people are still unaware of the differences between a cosmetic skincare, a cosmeceutical skincare & a cosmedical Skincare or sometimes they are completely unaware of these important classifications altogether.

We are in a society of constantly being bombarded by products through social media and the media in general. I think sometimes we forget to look at the science behind the products we are buying or if there is even any at all. This is concerning especially for people suffering with the health of their skin.

I'm going to list a few key points below of the differences between cosmetic vs cosmeceutical vs cosmedical skincare and I hope it can give you some more insight to what you are actually putting on your skin & wether or not your product choice is ever going to deliver through with your personal skin goals & individual needs. 

Cosmetic Skincare 

(Your surface skincare) 

-Does not pass through the stratum corneum 

-Has no ability to change the skins structure

-Can not offer any dramatic skin changes or long term results for aggressive skin issues

This is why your cosmetic skincare is mostly found in supermarkets and not skin clinics. Cosmetics might make the top of your skin and your dead skin cells feel nice for a day or two but there isn't any great benefits. 

Cosmeceutical Skincare

(The blend between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) 

-Contains active ingredients 

-Penetrates beyond the surface of the skin

-Therefore offering lasting results and skin changes. 

Cosmedical Skincare

(Advanced Cosmeceuticals) 

-Contains medical grade active ingredients  

-Can penetrate into the deeper skin 

-The blend of medical grade ingredients and skin science. 

I hope this quick breakdown in the differences between skincare is helpful to some of you, or has even taught you something new & assisted you in making a more educated choice next time you stock up on your skincare!