Bad habits we need to kick when it comes to our skin

We are all guilty of poking and picking our face every now and then, but there are also several other bad habits we put our skin through, some without even being conscious of them. Here are our top 10 bad habits to break, to ensure we are taking good care of our skin each day.

1. Picking and touching your face often

2. Sleeping with make-up on

3. Popping pimples and squeezing blackheads

4. Boiling hot showers

5. Skipping the sunscreen

6. Ignoring your neck and décolletage in your skincare routine

7. Using dirty brushes and applicators

8. Not drinking enough water throughout the day

9. Using the wrong products for your skin type

10. Using harsh chemicals that are damaging your skin

Recycle & Reuse This Christmas

Are you looking for ways to enjoy the festive season and continue to be environmentally friendly? We have put together 4 great ideas to help you out this Christmas.

1. Make your own Christmas bonbons with a toilet roll cardboard centre, some hand-painted paper, or children’s drawings as wrapping. And for the gift, pop in some of your favourite recipes, some great dad jokes, or even some home-made treats. Put a Windella Farm spin on it by adding a lip balm or a piece of soap cut in half (check out our recent reel for how-to!)

2. Use recycled gift wrapping from previous years to wrap gifts. You can also use newspapers, fabric or even some of the children’s drawings. Grandma & Grandad are going to love getting gifts wrapped in beautiful art.

3. Try giving handmade gifts. Anything from a beautiful, recycled tin with your most famous and favourite recipes, to some lovely cuttings from your garden in a up-cycled planter. It is a great feeling to give a gift that has thought, sentiment and is filled with love.

4. Shop local, with eco-friendly brands. Ensure when Christmas shopping you are buying gifts that are good for the environment. Steer clear of all the plastic and single-use toys and bits and bobs that get added to landfill each year & opt for practical gifts, experiences, op shop finds or craft supplies that have multiple uses.

Self Care Is Not Only Skincare

We know that having a great skincare routine will help your skin look and feel smooth, subtle, and refreshed. But did you know that introducing other self-care routines can also help you feel refreshed, happier, more relaxed, and have your skin glowing?

Try some of these simple and easy selfcare ideas today.

Take a walk – a nice brisk walk before you start your day can clear your mind and get you ready to tackle the day.

Write it down – journaling is a great way to clear the mind of the clutter that accumulates from each day. Writing your thoughts and ideas down releases it from your mind and can help to destress.

Turn off devices – set a time to turn off social media. Turning the phone off and spending time offline can help you focus on the current moment.

Try yoga or meditation – practicing a discipline will help to slow the mind and create awareness of your thoughts and body; slowing your breathing and focusing on the discipline will bring relief from overthinking, stress, and the busy mind.

Summer Skincare Must-Haves

With Summer fast approaching, we want you to put your best face forward, and glow. Summer, while great to have the sunshine and warmer weather, is the time of year where our skin can have many issues with oil, sweat and sunburn. We have put together a list of must-have items for your beauty bag as we move into the hotter months of the year.

Must-haves:

1. A great SPF – must be SPF 30 or higher. I love Trinny London's BFF SPF Skin Perfecter.

2. A lip gloss – keep your lips moisturised and manage any windburn.

3. A natural face oil – to keep your skin nourished and moisturised all summer long. Apply before your sunscreen in the morning & before bed in the evening.

4. A clay mask – to help rid impurities and detoxify the skin regularly. A couple of times per month is all you need.

5. The Healer Salve - to soothe & promote healing after sun exposure.

Repurposing to help the environment

Humans dispose of an unimaginable amount of ‘things & stuff’ every year, so to help reduce wastage, we have some helpful tips below for what we can do to minimise our share and keep on the good side of mother nature.

Old furniture – Can you fix the item? Could you repurpose it? Maybe an old chair that is not needed could become a funky bedside table with a coat of fresh paint and a little styling.

Clothes – Again, could they be repurposed? You may be handy on the sewing machine and can transform an old dress that you don’t wear into a skirt or a cute top? If the item is too far gone, maybe you could cut it up and use it for some reusable cleaning rags? Op shops are always another great alternative to give new life to old pieces.

Jars – Instead of throwing away the pasta jars, you could use them in the shed to tidy up the nuts and bolts, or you could give them a paint and create a cute pencil holder, or use them to store your make-up remover pads or cotton balls in the bathroom.

Food Scraps – Start a compost bin or offer the food scraps to friends/family or neighbours who may have chickens. You can also freeze them & make a stock / broth once you have enough.

Cardboard boxes – Donate your cardboard boxes to charities to pack care packages in, offer them to friends who might need them for storage or moving. You can also cut them up and keep them for winter as kindling.

If we all do a little bit to help, a little bit can turn in to a lot as we share our ideas. What is your number one tip or idea for repurposing items around your house?

Everything you need to know about Dry Brushing

Everything you need to know about Dry Brushing

Benefits:

🤩 Removes dead skin cells

🤩 Boosts circulation

🤩 Promotes Lymph drainage

🤩 Boosts the immune system

🤩 Unclogs pores

🤩 Can help to break down cellulite

How to: Start at your feet and work your way up the body

🥰 Use wide, circular motions

🥰 Use light pressure where the skin is thin and harder pressure where the skin is thicker

🥰 Always pay attention to areas with lymph nodes

🥰 Don’t forget the neck and decolletage but be extra gentle!

🥰 Then, take a warm (not hot!) shower to wash away the dead skin

🥰 As a MUST, use a high-quality natural body oil on damp skin

Reminder: Dry brushing may not be for everyone, if you have sensitive skin or have skin inflammation like psoriasis or eczema, please consult a health professional before dry brushing,

Foods to promote healthy, glowing skin

We know that quality natural ingredients in our skincare are important for radiant and glowing skin. But did you know you can double down on the good stuff by eating nourishing and healthy food to add that extra glow!

Here are 6 top foods we recommend for glowing skin.

1. Oranges – Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which can aid in collagen production and helps to support the immune system.

2. Cashews – Zinc is a great mineral praised for its healing properties. It can protect our skin from acne, fungal infections, irritated skin, and sores.

3. Water – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is an everyday essential to keep the skin nourished, hydrated, plump and vibrant.

4. Avocado – Good quality fatty acids are essential for a radiant glow. Bring on the smashed avo for your morning breakfast routine.

5. Salmon or Tuna - Oily fish contain coenzyme Q10 which helps with cell growth and can minimise fine lines and wrinkles and smooth overall skin texture.

6. Yogurt – Yogurt is loaded with probiotics, helping to plump & lift the skin. Probiotics help fight inflammation that can inflame skin conditions like psoriasis and acne.

Create a Spa Day at home

Self-care is an important component to a healthy mindset and mental wellbeing. Stepping away from the ever increasing need to be busy and taking some time to slow down, even if only for a few minutes a day, can make a significant improvement and be a vital element to creating balance in your life. Self-care can be anything that works to create pleasure, happiness, relaxation, and peace in your life.

One way to practice self-care at home can be to slow down, unwind and relax with your own day spa treatment. Here are some top tips to create that luxurious and relaxing atmosphere of a day spa, right in your home.

1. Create atmosphere – find a low-lit area with no outside disturbance or loud noises and put some soft, and relaxing music or white noise on in the background.

2. Keep cosy - use fresh clean towels and robes to wrap yourself in. The softer and fluffier, the better!

3. Drink up – make a healthy and nutritious smoothie or juice to sip on during your pamper session.

4. Relax – use a warm footbath with a few drops of your favourite oil to relax and soak your feet.

5. Nourish your skin - choose your favourite clay face mask pamper your skin.

6. Quiet the mind – take 10 mins (or longer if you need it) to quiet the mind and relax in your new at home day spa.

Eczema Relief

Eczema affects 10 to 15% of the Australian population and can be debilitating for those people suffering from it. It can leave the skin, dry, red, itchy, and irritated, and often cracked. While it can be found anywhere on the body, it’s mostly found on the face, neck, hands, inner elbow, back of the knees and the ankles.

If you suffer from eczema and struggle to find effective products to ease your symptoms, look for products that are chemical free and all natural. 

Goats milk soap is an excellent starting point. Goats milk has a PH level that is very close to that of our own skin which means it a gentle & nourishing addition to our soaps. It contains lactic acid which helps to rejuvenate the skin & remove dead skin cells. Goats milk is also packed full of essential vitamins & nutrients which aid in repairing damaged skin tissue & provide anti-aging benefits.

Another favourite ingredient to relieve eczema symptoms is Hemp Seed Oil. This oil is high in fatty acids and is known for its moisturising and nourishing properties.

If you are looking for some natural products to help ease your symptoms, try our Milk & Honey Goats Milk Soap, The Healer salve and our Worship Body Oil.

Oil Cleansing; Everything you need to know!

Oil cleansing is the latest skincare trend, popular on the internet, but what is it and how can we try it?

Oil cleansing with high quality plant-based oils is a great natural method to deeply cleanse your skin of dirt, makeup and dry skin cells. Like attracts like, so the oil will gently remove all the oils from your makeup & sunscreen, environmental pollutants, dirt & grime. Unlike harsh foaming cleansers (which are basically detergents), oil cleansing removes all the stuff you want it to without stripping the skin of it's natural oils.

So how do we oil cleanse?

Use 1-2 full droppers of your favourite Windella Farm face oil and apply to a dry face. Gently massage the oil into your skin to remove impurities then remove the oil with a damp, warm washcloth. Pat dry with a towel and apply a couple of drops of face oil to hydrate the skin. Enjoy plump, glowing, clean skin... naturally.

How to clean your makeup applicators, naturally & easily

Did you know there is an easy, chemical free and affective way to clean your make-up brushes and skin care applicators?

Simply boil 1 cup of water, wait 3 minutes, and then pour two teaspoons of distilled white vinegar in. Stir the liquid and then dip your brushes and swirl them around gently. Rinse them under hot running water and then follow with a cold rinse. Ensure you reshape the bristles and then dry the brushes flat.

You should be washing your brushes and sponges thoroughly once a week, especially if you are using liquid concealers and foundations. For other brushes like powder and eyeshadow brushes, once every couple of weeks is ok.

5 Ways to reduce landfill & your environmental footprint

1. Shop local and request packaged free goods: This limits the amount of plastic and non-recyclable items being thrown into landfill.

2. Limit wastage by composting: Having a small compost bin and using this in your garden reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

3. Buy mindfully when clothes shopping: Keep a capsule wardrobe and buy items that match and can be worn with all other items in your wardrobe, limiting the need for excess clothing. Also, try to buy quality items that last longer.

4. Utilise technology to its full capacity: If you have a phone, tablet, or laptop, try to use online apps or programs to record data, journal, calendar activities, and for reading books, this will reduce the need for excess notebooks, pens, paper, plastics, and hard copy books.

5. Try minimalism: Having lots of clutter in the home creates clutter in the mind. Living more minimal will reduce landfill over time and ensure less of your time is spent dusting and cleaning and more of your time is spent doing things that make you happy.

EDC's In Your Skincare

Did you know that your skincare could be causing you hormone imbalance and many other health problems? Products that contain parabens, phthalates, coal tar and triclosan can often be found in Australian retailers. These chemicals and many others often found in skincare, haircare and make-up are known as hormone disrupters or Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

These EDCs have been linked to several health problems including infertility, adrenal imbalances, lowered sperm count, endometriosis, antibiotic resistance, obesity, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and certain types of cancers.

We advocate for switching to natural products and avoiding these harmful chemicals, but just looking for 'natural' on the label is sadly not enough. 'Natural' is an unregulated buzz word that can be used misleadingly by manufacturers. Always read the ingredients label & question ingredients which you don't understand or can't pronounce. 

What It Means To Be An Eco Friendly Business

Being an eco-friendly business isn’t just a sticker on our products. At Windella Farm we take this seriously. There are so many elements that go into being an eco-friendly business.

It starts with our packaging which is biodegradable (soap boxes), recyclable (aluminium & glass packaging) or sourced from recycled plastics (body oil bottles). We have additional waste collection bins to make sure that every possible carton, drum or container is recycled or reused.

We research ingredients and suppliers to ensure that we are sourcing raw materials as locally as possible and utilising ingredients from efficient, sustainable crops.

We don’t use harsh chemicals, we don’t test on animals, and we always practice ethical farming. The health and wellbeing of our heard is our top priority, always.

We also contribute financially via our Give Back Promise, which sees $1 from every order donated to a worthy NGO each month. Our Give Back Promise aims to make a positive contribution to communities and our planet with donations made to charities supporting vulnerable communities, environment and mental health.

Winter Skincare Tips

The cold dry air can leave our skin feeling dehydrated, itchy and inflamed. In these cooler months, it’s important to nourish our skin and take every opportunity to lock in moisture.

Here are 4 tips to help you this Winter.

1. Avoid steaming hot showers, the hot water can strip the natural oils and dry out your skin even more.

2. Pat your skin dry, rather than rubbing the skin with a towel. This will help retain some of the natural oils on your skin.

3. Apply body oil immediately after your shower to damp skin. This will help lock in the moisture and provide all day hydration.

4. Keep yourself hydrated from within. You should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day.

Stress And The Effects On Your Skin

We all know that stress can cause several health problems, but did you know stress can also play havoc with your skin?

Studies have shown that stress can have an overall negative effect on our skin wellness, and worsen skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

It’s important to keep our stress levels to a minimum for both our physical and mental health, so here are a couple of ways we like to destress. Let us know in the comments your favourite ways to destress.

1. Go for a walk or get to the gym to get the endorphins flowing

2. Unwind and relax in a warm bath with a glass of wine

3. Dance around the house to your favourite tunes

4. Read a book in the sunshine

5. Get out into nature; feel the wind in your hair and the earth at your

feet.

6. (My personal favourite) Horse therapy. Cuddle, smell, ride... just being with them makes me feel better.

Did You Know You Can Purchase Your Soaps Naked?

Did you know that you can purchase your soaps naked??

No, we don’t mean that you should come to the markets naked, & your clothing preference when shopping online is not our business!

What we do mean is that at Windella Farm, even though the packaging for our soaps has been carefully thought out to ensure it is as eco-friendly as possible, when ordering online, you have the option to order without individual packaging.

We also encourage our customers to return empty boxes to us for re-use or leave them with your local stockist who will do the same.

Just one more way to help you reduce the environmental impact on this earth.

5 Tips Towards Zero Waste Grocery Shopping

Have you ever noticed the amount of waste there is when it comes to our groceries and shopping? Every week, not only do most of us throw away unused food, but the packaging also overflows our bins. Check out these east tips to minimise wastage

1. Opt for metal, tin, or glass. If you have the option or choice of packaging, always steer clear of plastic, and try for metal, tin or glass. You can repurpose these and reduce waste.

2. Repurpose your packaging. Repurposing those pasta sauce glass jars can make for a fun hobby, but it can also be very useful for other items around the house. Store your toothbrush and toothpaste, hold your reusable make-up cotton pads, or use them for a vase for garden picked flowers.

3. Try to buy your produce loose. If you are grocery shopping in your local shop, you can often purchase fruit and vegetable loosely without requiring plastic bags.

4. Try out your local farmers markets. Not only are the farmers markets great for getting a bargain & supporting local, but the produce is often better quality. Bonus – take your own jars and containers to reduce any packaging or wrapping.

5. Buy in bulk. If you have no alternative than purchasing a plastic container, try buying the largest one and then using your own glass jars to portion the product out. This uses less plastic than purchasing a small quantity more often.

8 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint... In the Bathroom

Are you wanting to reduce your carbon footprint, but unsure where to start? There are so many ways to reduce, reuse and recycle around the house, however, we’ve started in the bathroom. Try out these easy ideas to get you started.

1. Don’t leave the water running when washing your face or brushing your teeth

2. Try reusable cotton pads for removing your make-up

3. Consider using shampoo bars to reduce plastic packaging

4. Cut down on shower time by using multi-purpose body cleaning products

5. Recycle jars to hold beauty products in the bathroom

6. Air dry your hair instead of using the blow-dryer

7. Try a menstrual cup or period underwear instead of single-use feminine hygiene products

8. Use bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic

DIY Facial Massage At Home

Want to give yourself an at home Facial Massage to stimulate blood flow and help to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles? See below for a step-by-step guide on how to give yourself that pampering facial massage you deserve!

Step 1) Clean your face with your favourite Windella Farm soap.

Step 2) Ensure you wash your hands thoroughly before massaging as you don’t want to be rubbing dirt and grime into your skin.

Step 3) Use a few drops of your favourite face oil on damp skin, and use your fingers to gently massage in. Completing each movement 5 times, start by gently gliding your fingers down your nose, then sweep your fingers up under your eyes and outwards.

Step 4) Next, sweep your fingers over your cheekbones in an outward motion

Step 5) Use the same sweeping technique and start at the middle of the forehead and sweep upward to your hairline and work your way across the forehead.

Step 6) Using the sides of your pointer finger, sweep your finger from your bottom lip, down to your jawline moving from the centre of your chin, outward towards your ears.

Step 7) Then, use two fingers to sweep from the centre of your chin up towards your ears. Do this on both sides.

Step For your neck and decolletage, use gentle strokes with your fingers up the neck to your jawline and then use small circular motions from the centre of your decolletage outward.