Trend: Charcoal cleansers
Charcoal has a clever ability to attract and absorb pollutants and impurities on the skin. It acts as a highly effective cleanser and also helps to clear pores. We especially love the black-winged pore strips.luxe
Luxe to less
Try these...
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions
Charcoal Mask, $52.
Frank Body Creamy Face Cleanser, $20.
Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips, $7.40.
Road test
This week I try ... a Barre Body class
The lowdown I am in a light-filled studio with floor-to-ceiling art deco windows, honey-toned parquetry flooring and many unforgiving mirrors, about to start a Barre Body class with Emma. Barre fuses yoga with Pilates for alignment and core strength and ballet exercises for conditioning, grace and strength. The format is low-intensity and interval-based, with a series of stretches following each strength set. The strength work tones the muscles, while the stretching lengthens and shapes them. Emma leads me in a flowing yoga warm-up, followed by upper-body and arm-toning exercises with one-kilo weights, thigh and glute work at the barre using small isometric movements (killer!), Pilates-based core work on the mat, and a cool-down stretch that ends with savasana (guided relaxation). We worked it.
Pain factor: Keeping the minute pulsing movements going was extreme and by the end of each set my muscles were yelling.
Downtime: 45 minutes.
Results: Even though the movements were minute, I felt as though I'd gone through an intensive workout.
Where to get it: There are seven studios in Sydney and Melbourne: see barrebody.com.au.
Cost: $25 per casual class, or $200 for a 10-class pass.
At home: Try Clarins Body Shaping Cream, $82, (02) 9662 2668.
Follow Stephanie Darling on instagram @mrssdarling
Cult following
Flowerbomb is the creation of Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf, famed for their edgy, free-flowing fashion. The top-selling fragrance at Sephora - and singer
Lucy Hale's favourite - it fuses jasmine, orange tree, orchid, freesia and rose with a hint of patchouli. Flowerbomb EDP $110 (30ml), 1300 651 991.
We ask an expert
Gwinganna Health Retreat's Organic Gardener Shelley Pryor
What is a natural way to make dark hair shine?
"Make a strong tea from rosemary, then cool and strain the tea. After you shampoo and condition your hair, pour the tea through. There is no need to rinse it out, and it smells great. This tea also helps with dandruff."
