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Our top 10 summer beach bag must-haves!

20/01/2012

Summer is in full swing and we’re enjoying every minute of it! Whether at the beach or pool take care of yourself while you keep the good times rolling. To help you make the most of those long lazy days, check out top 10 beach bag essentials. It all adds up to a beautiful summer!

1. Summer means fun in the sun, but at Garnier the only safe tan is a fake tan. If you’re about to hit the beach with pale pins, reach for Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tanning Spray for a fuss-free bronze in just 3 hrs.

2. Beach beauty is all about keeping it low-maintenance. For the ultimate multi-tasker, new Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream really does it all. It contains SPF 15 for UV protection, plus an illuminating, hydrating formula that also offers light mineral coverage!

3. Ever wanted to take your holiday snaps underwater? The Fuji QuickSnap Marine is a must for any summer holiday! Fun and clever, its protective outer casing protects the camera from water, humidity, dust, dirt and sand.

4. Taken a dip with mascara on? Banish those panda eyes and brighten dark circles with our clever eye fix! Garnier Youthful Radiance Anti-Dark Circles Roll-On is an innovative and immediate solution for dark circles, designed to instantly conceal and treat for a refreshing pick-me-up!

5. Keep your cool as the mercury rises with our range of Garnier Deodorants. Go Garnier Invisi Mineral Deodorant for breathable 48hr anti-white marks protection with caring formulas for all skin types.

6. Nothing says ‘holiday’ like healthy, bouncy waves! Control frizz and define curls with Fructis Style Curl Control Thermo-Active Spray – a light texturising spray that uses the natural strength of bamboo to create frizz-free waves. Just spray and go!

7. Shield your tasty summer treats from the heat with this super cute lunch cooler bag! Decorated with yummy ice-creams, fill it with water bottles and snacks and keep hunger pangs at bay!

8. Summer is synonymous with sweet tunes, so get the party started with the Sunnylife Beach Sounds radio. Bright and fun, this radio and speaker box is water and sand resistant and is suitable for your iPod or iPhone.

9. If you haven’t seen the screen adaptation yet starring Anne Hathaway, ‘One Day’ by David Nichols is a summer read that will keep the pages turning. Follow the lives of Emma and Dexter from their first fateful meeting in 1988 to 20 years down the track.

10. After a day at the beach, treat your sun-kissed skin to an indulgent moisture hit! Garnier Body Intensive 7 days Hydrating Lotion with Aloe Vera Extract offers long lasting hydration that is easily absorbed and non-greasy.

Christmas gifts that keep on giving

13/12/2011

This Christmas we're topping our shopping lists with gifts that put the focus on giving where it's needed most.

If you're thinking about sharing the love on behalf of friends and family, take inspiration from our list of worthy causes including Oxfam, the RSPCA and the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Oxfam Unwrapped Gifts
Ever given the gift of a goat? Or a chicken? Or a pile of seeds? Oxfam Unwrapped offers a range of over 40 unexpected gift ideas that help people living in poverty. Find out more

Simply Giving online toy drive
Simply Giving is a website that lets you donate toys online in the most beneficial way for both charities and kids in need. Choose from a variety of charities including The Smith Family, Barnardos and Missions Australia. Find out more

RSPCA 2012 Peter Alexander Calendar
Pajama king and pet lover Peter Alexander has joined forces with the RSPCA to produce a calendar with heart. Featuring cute boys and even cuter dogs, all profits go directly towards the RSPCA. Find out more

Fred Hollows Gift of Sight
Through the Fred Hollows foundation you can give a Gift of Sight card on behalf of your loved ones. You'll help restore eyesight in disadvantaged communities for only $25. Find out more

Guide Dogs Puppy Pals
The Guide Dogs Puppy Pal appeal helps raise funds to transform puppies into highly skilled, trained Guide Dogs. Donate to help get a puppy on their way to becoming an invaluable aid to the vision impaired. Find out more

Water Aid
The Water Aid Shop offers one of life's essentials to communities around the world who are without access to clean water or sanitation. Donate a gift of water pumps and tools, or give toilet and sanitation supplies to help communities get the basics right. Find out more

The new veggie patch - 5 tips to grow your greens

09/11/2011

Love the taste of fresh veggies, fruit and herbs? It doesn't get much fresher than growing your own and it’s easier than you think! If you’re tight on space, time, or experience use our 5 tips to get you started. 

1. Technicolour balcony planters

Featuring all the colours of the rainbow, the Greenbo railing planter opens up a world of options for planting on balconies, fences, stairwells, or windowsills. Designed to perch on railings, these fun planters are made from high quality UV protected Polypropylene with patented rail stability for growing herbs, flowers, and veggies. The unique design is great for DIY novices and does away with screws, nails and brackets. Available in 2 sizes, they even come with a built-in drainage solution - two removable, cleanable and replaceable trays. For a veggie patch with a view, we say yes to Greenbo! Shop online here

2. Surfing for seeds

Ever thought you’d be adding seeds to your online shopping cart? It’s all too easy at online store Seeds2freedom which sells organic, heirloom and open pollinated seeds at just $3.00 per packet with free postage. A family business lovingly built on generations-old planting expertise, Seeds2freedom is all about putting super nutritious produce back on the dinner table. Choose from traditional favourites like beans and carrots, go herbal with thyme and basil, fire up with chilies, or experiment with Asian veggie seeds like pak and bok choy. Plan your produce menu here

3. What, when, where?

If you’re still learning your zucchinis from your cucumbers it might be a good idea to look to the professionals for help. A TV green thumb institution, the ABC Gardening Australia show has been setting newbie gardeners right for years. Use their super simple online veggie guide to find planting advice for your region. Get the low down on what to plant month by month, when to harvest, planting tips, and how to prevent common problems and pests. Grab your planting journal and visit http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/vegieguide/

4. Gadgets to make ‘em grow

AeroGarden may look like it’s out of a science fiction movie, but this smart planter unit is designed to get the job done in the comfort of your own home. Make that your kitchen bench! This space age gardening gadget creates the perfect conditions for growing herbs, veggies and fruit in doors, all year round. AeroGarden tells you when it’s time to add water and nutrients, and even switches grow lights on and off to simulate the sun. It may not be the sunny veggie patch we’d all love to call our own, but at under $200 a unit, this might just be ticket for keeping fresh herbs and salad veggies close at hand. Get the full story here

5. Green Thumbs App

New to gardening? Not sure what to with an unhappy plant? The helpful people at Yates, one of Australia’s oldest gardening businesses have put together a fantastic gardening App that’s sure to answer all your questions. The App covers a range of common garden problems such as pests, diseases and weeds, plus matches suitable solutions and products to get your veggies back on track. Download here!

Have you discovered Australia’s 1st BB Cream by Garnier?

09/11/2011

Flick through a mag, switch on the telly or hop online and you’re bound to come across beauty editors and bloggers talking up the Garnier BB Cream phenomenon! So just what is a BB Cream, and what does the BB actually stand for?

BB Cream’s story goes back to 1950’s Germany. Here, dermatologists developed a unique formula for a soothing cream that could calm and heal their laser surgery patients’ highly sensitised skin whilst providing coverage for post-surgery scars, redness and blemishes. Combining the best of skincare with the benefits of make-up, BB, or Blemish Balm technology was born! BB products were later introduced in Korea and adopted by actresses who happily shared their innovative, new beauty secret with local fans. It was an overnight success! Fast track to the late 2000’s and BB Creams were winning hearts right across Asia, where the term ‘BB’ has become a part of everyday beauty goss! Now, for the first time, BB Cream is on shelf in Australia with the launch of new Miracle Skin Perfector by Garnier.

Staying true to the BB formulas of the 1950’s, Miracle Skin Perfector provides an instant, flawless finish with just the one product. To do this, Garnier identified the 5 things which women want most from their facial skincare - which is to moisturise, even complexion, correct blemishes, brighten and boost glow and protect against UV damage. Garnier addresses these needs by offering a new kind of daily skincare that delivers 5 instant benefits thanks to BB Cream technology and key caring ingredients such as mineral pigments and vitamin C. In just one application, Garnier’s BB Cream hydrates for 24hrs, evens tone, conceals blemishes, boosts healthy glow and provides that all important SPF 15 UV Protection. The result is a natural, healthy glow that is simply beautiful. Easy on sensitive skin, and available in 2 shades to suit most complexions, the BB Cream by Garnier offers a daily skincare product that really can do it all!

Top 10 tips from our Facebook fans

09/11/2011

There are lots of ways we can all take care. Recently we asked our Facebook community for their tips on taking care of the world around them. Here, we take inspiration from the winning entries with 10 of our favourite tips.

Green thumbs Up

I manage a school canteen so instead of buying flavoured milk drinks in plastic bottles I make up the milk drinks myself in reusable cups. Simone Barnes, Nimbin NSW

Savings grand slam

I use 3 tennis balls in my dryer, it reduces the time the washing needs to dry by half, hence saving electricity. Jillian Clayton Footscray VIC

Wormy business

I've just created a worm farm and have gotten my whole family into composting! I also go to Cambodia every year and teach English at an orphanage. Alana Rose, Engadine NSW

Keep it simple

Take care of yourself! I drink plenty of water, moisturise daily, eat healthy foods and exercise every day. Christie Malcolm Prosperpine QLD

Life’s a picnic

I save all the extras I get with take-aways like serviettes, straws, sauces and cutlery and keep them in the picnic basket to use later. Jacinta Hay, Birkdale QLD

Take note

Dad’s printer prints one-sided, so at the end of the semester, I keep all my lecture notes and use the other side as scrap paper! Sarah Mozumder, Glen Iris VIC

Get smart

I am studying an environmental degree at university and hope at its completion I can educate others on the importance of environmental sustainability and fair-trade. Hayley Bermingham, Flora Hill Vic

Local is lovely

I volunteer at my local organic food co-op and shop locally at the farmers market. Less packaging and fewer food miles, plus the produce tastes better! Jenny Esots, Willunga SA

Voices combined

My residency complex does not offer recycling bins, only dumpsters. I’m gathering signatures for a petition to have that changed. Presently, all rubbish is combined, which helps no one! Jodie Vandermaal, Mermaid Waters QLD

Thirst quencher

Whenever I boil veggies or eggs, etc, I never throw the water down the drain, instead, I let the water cool and give my plants a healthy drink. Shannon Hudson, Emerton NSW