There are so many incredible women and men blogging about living a beautiful life in tune with nature. Annette Gohl is just one who is making a difference with her blog, Wellness WA, which highlights all of the amazing eco beauty and wellness must-knows in Western Australia.
Annette started blogging about eco beauty to help others make better choices when buying cosmetics and skincare. Influenced largely by her vegetarian, “be-kind-to-animals” lifestyle, she says she was also inspired by Western Australian range Sodashi. “I was getting fantastic results from their skincare line and was thrilled that they were incredibly natural, so that fueled the passion,” she says.
Annette shared some fabulous eco beauty insights as well as her popular antioxidant feast juice…
What is organic and natural beauty important to you?
It’s refreshing to see a shift towards true natural and organic products that use the power of nature to create the same results as the synthetic chemicals do. The importance of using only the purest beauty products lies in the equal importance of treating our bodies and the earth in the gentlest way possible.
What surprises your readers most about traditional beauty products?
I think the biggest surprise comes from the Lucas Papaw Balm product. That little red tube that we see so many women pulling out of their handbags to pop on their lips. This stuff is petroleum based, and because it’s registered with the Therapeutic Goods Association, they don’t have to state that on the packaging, so people think they’re putting pure paw paw on their lips, and many women use it on their babies, but they’re putting pure petroleum on them. That shocks a lot of people. Luckily there are some great natural alternatives!
How did you become so interested in eco beauty?
Because I’m a vegetarian I started avoiding beauty products that had animal ingredients, or were tested on animals, and slowly became more aware of the different chemicals that were being included in products.
Do you think more people are becoming eco conscious when it comes to what they put on their skin?
Definitely. Over the past few years particularly I’ve seen a huge shift. Many readers of my blog email me asking for natural solutions to different skincare issues, and even alternatives like holistic skin naturopathy have been becoming more popular, instead of treatments such as Roaccutane and Botox. It’s fantastic to see.
Are there any products you make from scratch in the kitchen? Can you share a recipe?
I’m a big lover of internal skincare, so eating and drinking to improve the state of the skin, and have had fantastic results from it! One of my recent concoctions is the Antioxidant Feast Juice, which floods the body with skin loving antioxidants! If I drink this at night, my skin is always more glowing in the morning.
Antioxidant Feast Juice
Ingredients
1 cup of frozen blueberries (organic if possible)
1 cup of decaffeinated green tea – cooled
1 cup of water
Blend all ingredients together for one minute and then drink up! Blueberries are fantastic for the skin, as is green tea. If you drink this every day your skin will be well on it’s way to being a beacon of good health!
What questions do you get asked most often on Wellness WA?
I get asked about green smoothies a lot. Green smoothies are great for the skin too, and lots of people want to know how to make them, what blender to use, different recipes. I love sharing my love for them with our readers!
What are your top tips when it comes to seeking out authentic eco beauty?
If you are unsure, get in touch with the manufacturer. It’s a minefield out there with so many different sources of information, but the manufacturer has the responsibility to give you the facts.
What are your favourite eco beauty products and why do you like them?
Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash. This little superstar is packed with oranges and grapefruits and is sunshine in a bottle; Organic rosehip oil: pressed into the face after cleansing at night; Sodashi Rejuvenating Concentrate: an exfoliating liquid blend, just put 10 drops into a bowl of warm water, soak a face washer with the mixture, squeeze it out, compress on face three times.
What can people expect when they visit your Wellness WA?
Everything to do with beauty, health and wellbeing in Western Australia. Reviews of the best products, yummiest vegetarian restaurants, dreamiest spas, wellbeing interviews with inspirational people. Plus lots of competitions and so much more!
Visit Wellness WA here
