We thought it would be fun to share with you our top 10 best reviews to give you the lowdown on how Collagen Beauty™ has changed the lives of these beautiful people.

Why is Collagen Beauty the Best Collagen Powder

It took an entire day to go back through what we believe are the best collagen powder reviews out there, so here’s a quick summary of the most common things our glowing ladies have raved about:

• Skin: People noted a significant and positive improvement in skin, saying their skin is much clearer with a healthy glow. Also commenting on improvement of skin moisture or less dryness. People noticed a visible reduction in wrinkles and fine lines and said their skin was more “plump.”
• Hair: People experienced positive changes to hair, with men and women noticing their hair is growing faster and experiencing less hair loss.
• Nails: People mentioned their nails grow faster and stronger since taking Collagen Beauty.
• Gut: People experienced a positive difference with their gut, digestion or bloating.
• Versatility: People mentioned how easy and versatile the collagen flavours and unflavoured collagen powders were.

After scrolling through thousands of reviews, it’s not hard to see why Aussies think Nutra Organics has the best collagen powder and best marine collagen, we agree, we also agree that results and reviews speak for themselves. So without further adieu...

Top 10 Nutra Organics Collagen Reviews

“This is unlike any Collagen I have had before!!! Nutraorganics! You have outdone yourself! I have been on all sorts of Collagens for around the past 3-4 years and none of them have worked nearly as well as this one. Suffering from some skin conditions my skin has never felt so pump, smooth and hydrated in my adult life! Not only that, my nails are growing like crazy, and not just growing longer but stronger as well! My hair feels thicker and I am constantly having to go to the hairdresser to get it cut! Not only this... the last few collagens I have tried leave a funny taste in your mouth and a lumpy texture... I can put this in my coffee and not taste a thing! It dissolves like a charm, like it was never in there in the first place! I put it in smoothies, slices, coffee… anything I can really! haha I am a Nutaorganics fan now - I ain't going anywhere else and I can't wait to try more products just like this one!” - Bella A

"Life Changing I've suffered from adult acne since my early 20's and it hit fever pitch after the birth of my son at 30. I have tried everything. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. All skincare, all vitamins, all lifestyle changes and all doctor's prescriptions bar roaccutane. I've recently been exploring gut health which led me here, to Nutraorganics and to Collagen Beauty. What did I have to lose war bought a big tub as I researched results will be obvious within 8 weeks. I've had the large spoonful everyday in my shake for 4 weeks now. Firstly it doesn't taste like anything which is perfect for shakes. I found it a bit harder to dissolve in coffee. Honestly my skin has NEVER LOOKED BETTER. I have probably 2 pimples that are still healing but everything else has cleared completely. My skin looks better hydrated and more plump now. I don't get a lot of sleep with a 1 year old but I don't look "sickly" anymore. I still have 1/4 of the tub to go and I have already ordered 4 more tubs. I will never be with out this miracle powder. I've not focused on my hair or nails as they're usually pretty good, my gut l've not noticed a huge improvement but I know that's related to another health issue I have to tackle. The skin thing is just phenomenal!!"

“The best product I have ever bought This product is truly the best product I have ever bought. It does what it says it will and to a standard you will not expect. From someone that had frizzy brittle hair, weak nails, and hormonal skin this product has changed all that. My hair is strong and so healthy, my nails are strong and growing rapidly and my skin has never long so clear and bright. This product doesn't just make your physical appearance look great it has given me the confidence to be happy in my own skin.” - Maddi

“Everyone notices that my skin has improved a lot, my hair is becoming thick and my nails look better than before. I love this product and will definitely use it with my favourite drinks every day. You can also add it with your food and this powder is pregnancy and breastfeeding friendly which is so so good.” - Ghia M

"I have recently started taking this supplement. What a simple addition to the daily morning routine, adding it to my coffee. I've seen my hair grow faster which was a real struggle previously! So happy with this product that I've even subscribed for a monthly supply!” - Grace Y

“Collagen Beauty has become a part of my daily healthy lifestyle. It works, is easy to add to my morning smoothie, I love this product! Since using Collagen Beauty, I have noticed an improvement in my overall skin complexion and tone, particularly the dark circles under my eyes which has improved significantly! Thank you Nutraorganics! I LOVE your products and recommend them to all who are looking for quality, wholesome and holistic supplements that support their body naturally!” - Felicity E

“I’ve been using collagen beauty before during & post pregnancy, I love this collagen because it’s tasteless & I can easily mix it with anything. I feel it has greatly supported me during a very physically taxing time, my skin is smooth & vibrant, my hair is shiny & strong. The verisol is a game changer highly recommended” - Jen B

“I first bought this product postnatally as my hairless seemed to be way more dramatic than expected, so I was hoping this collagen might help with hair re-growth! But what I have noticed even more is how much better my skin looks! As someone who has always dreamt of having better skin, this product has me hooked! Skin tone and texture are notably better, skin looks and feels more moisturized, from the inside out. Acne is now just the odd spot. I am amazed by the results! I think my nails are also stronger and hair regrowth seems to be going well, so, I just wanted to let anyone who was on the fence about trying it know, it's definitely worth a try!” - Lena

“I am loving this product! My skin looks so good for a woman in her mid 50’s. I take it everyday. It is delicious - all flavours! I don’t have a favourite - I love them all. It’s so easy to get my daily dose of collagen with this product. I drink a glass full every morning when I take my vitamins.” - Deb

“I love this collagen powder. After only a couple of weeks I can see a difference in my hair, skin and nails. After finishing chemo 12 months ago my hair had grown back quite fine and thin but is already look much healthier.” - Lindsey

Shop Collagen Beauty

We are truly grateful to be able to help so many women in such a powerful way. Not just with their external appearance, but helping them feel better inside and giving them more confidence with their natural beauty with our very best collagen powder for an inside-out glow.

The Nutra Organics range of Collagen Beauty powders range from unflavoured, flavoured (Watermelon Strawberry, Wildflower, Tropical and Lemon Lime), flavours for coffee (Vanilla and Caramel) and Marine Collagen Beauty. This versatile range allows for the easiest addition to your day, whether you take your daily glow dose in a smoothie, with water, in coffee, hidden in soups with unflavoured collagen, or in treats, there’s an option just for you and an option for whenever you feel the need to mix it up.

Collagen Beauty is our holistic beauty lover’s best collagen powder for a reason, it is the most effective ingestible product for targeting collagen regeneration specifically in skin, hair and nails. It is the only collagen available containing scientifically researched Verisol® Collagen Peptides, which has been shown in multiple studies to reduce skin wrinkles, improve skin hydration and elasticity, and smooth fine lines and texture, together with bioavailable wholefood sources of Vitamin C, Zinc and Silica. This provides everything your body needs to stimulate skin collagen production and support healthy hair, nails and gut function, in one potent, unparalleled and powerful formula.

Not sure what the right collagen for you is? We have loads of information to help you, we also have a super duper cool trial we ran on Collagen Beauty with a whopping 96% of people noticing a difference thanks to Collagen Beauty. Try the best collagen powder for yourself and join thousands of Australians who are glowing and raving about the benefits of Collagen Beauty.

Please note: everyone's experience with Collagen Beauty can be entirely different. Although some women notice a difference almost immediately, for others it can take the full 8 weeks of daily use, and not everyone experiences the same results. We recommend taking before and after photos of your skin, hair and nails to best assess your results over 8 weeks of daily use.

Adult acne is acne that occurs after the age of 25. The same factors and foods that cause acne (for the most part) in younger years play a big part in adult acne. These main contributors can be put into four main categories: excess oil production (hormones and stress), clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation (mostly from diet and genetics).

We’ve put together a handy little guide for acne prevention, the best foods for acne, the best foods for skin health and foods to avoid or minimise if you struggle with breakouts. So, if you’re ready to discover the best foods for acne prevention, keep reading!

What Foods Cause Acne?

The correlation between diet and acne, and foods for skin health have been studied in depth by many researchers over many different corporate and independent studies. A study by French researchers found foods that cause acne in teens, such as milk, chocolate, fatty/oily foods or sugary drinks can still trigger acne in adults too. The reasons behind such foods causing acne has to do with the hormones, insulin levels and sebum they produce, in other words, they increase your chances of acne breakouts. So if you struggle with breakouts, take notes, these are some foods to avoid with acne.

Foods To Avoid with Acne

While there are a fair few foods to avoid for acne, we put together the top 5 culprits:

1. Sugar - limit sugary foods and drinks to limit chances of breakouts.

2. Dairy - limit milk and cheese intake or substitute with non-dairy alternatives. Dairy is a known culprit for causing those pesky pimples.

3. Refined grains - pasta, white flour and cereal are the main culprits to reduce in your diet.

4. Fast food - fast foods are often deep fried (not the good kinds of oils or fats) limit these foods or choose a more nutritional option where you can.

5. Alcohol - we’re all for a glass of red here and there, but excessive amounts of alcohol is one to avoid for acne prevention.

The Best Foods for Skin Health

1. Omega 3s - Omega 3s have wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. Foods such as salmon, fish, oysters, flax seeds and chia seeds will all help to decrease inflammation which can cause acne. Omega 3s are known to be great food sources for skin health and acne prevention.

2. Fruits & Vegetables - Fill your plate with colourful vegetables and fruits, the larger variety of colours means a larger range of nutrients and acne-fighting antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables are also high in fibre which improves gut microbiota, this is the bacteria in our gut that assists the digestive system in eliminating toxins. Can’t find enough time to get those greens and reds in? Try Acai Berry Blend and Super Greens + Reds for a boost of acne-fighting nutrients from a wholefood blend of 23 nourishing greens & reds to support gut wellbeing, acid-alkaline balance and antioxidant protection.

3. Zinc, Vitamin C + silica - Foods high in these nutrients will assist in skin repair. It’s actually the reason why we put non-synthetic zinc, silica and vitamin C in Collagen Beauty powders for specific skin, hair and nail benefits.

4. Collagen - Speaking of collagen, upping your intake of collagen will assist in skin repair and gut wellbeing. As you age, the collagen content in your skin decreases each year, so taking a collagen supplement like Collagen Beauty with collagen peptides, non-synthetic sources of zinc + vitamin C will promote that precious skin healing. There’s a reason the likes of Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Anniston swear by collagen, it’s a great supplement for healthy glowing skin.

5. Beta carotene - foods high in beta carotene (yellow, orange and green leafy fruits and vegetables) will help in reducing inflammation and encourage cell turnover. Foods that promote cell turnover are the best foods to eat for acne prevention and healthy skin.

6. Selenium - foods with selenium (garlic, eggs, brown rice, tuna, salmon). Selenium helps the body produce a special enzyme that combats inflammation. It also works to protect other skin-supporting antioxidants.

7. Water - Drinking at least 2L of water a day reduces toxins and aids in acne prevention due to the extra hydration water provides. Staying hydrated is essential for great skin as it’s our biggest organ, so why not give it the respect it deserves!

8. Beauty sleep - Last but not least, get those beauty sleep hours in. While this may not seem like a food tip, it is, let us explain. The foods you eat directly impact how you sleep, processed foods can often lead to broken sleep. By eating a balanced diet with great nutrition, you are giving yourself a far better chance of getting a good night's beauty sleep and increasing the chance of acne prevention!

Get more skin-supporting foods and nutrients into your diet with Nutra Organics

Super Greens + Reds & Acai Berry Blend Include the Best Foods for Acne

Super Greens + Reds is great for bolstering your body with acne-fighting nutrients, with a wholefood blend of 23 nourishing greens & reds to support immunity, gut wellbeing, energy, acid-alkaline balance and antioxidant protection. The larger variety of colours in fruits and vegetables means a larger range of nutrients and acne-fighting antioxidants. As well as fruits and vegetables being high fibre foods that improve gut microbiota; the bacteria in our gut that assists the digestive system in eliminating toxins.

Acai Berry Blend is high in antioxidants and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which have been proven to help keep acne at bay. Our blend combines 6 super berries plus sweet mango and beetroot to bring you a delicious and potent nutritional burst, which can be easily and deliciously added to your daily routine. Acai Berry Blend is great for contributing to immunity, collagen formation and glowing skin.

Beauty Collagen to Aid Acne Fighting Foods

Collagen Beauty is a natural formulation with VERISOL® Bioactive Collagen Peptides (NATICOL® in Marine Collagen Beauty) to support the structural integrity of skin and decrease skin aging factors after 8 weeks of use, supporting skin quality of the entire body and smoothing skin wrinkles from within. Collagen plus the addition of wholefood vitamin C, zinc and silica promotes skin healing, antioxidant protection and gut wellbeing.

Trying to decide which collagen is right for you? Our original unflavoured Collagen Beauty is versatile and can be added to anything from coffee, tea, smoothies, soups, baking and more. Alternatively, you can add our collagen flavours into water or into your coffee, you’ll never miss your daily dose again with so many versatile options.

If you’re lacking any ideas on how to incorporate some of these foods and products into your diet, check out our recipes online. Remember, there are no quick fixes when it comes to skin health, it’s helpful to see your skin as a lifelong friend, treat her with care, respect and allow it time to rest and heal as you feed that close friend nutrition that can support an acne free face in time.

~This blog is for informational purposes only, regardless of the advice of holistic health practitioners.This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. Please obtain medical advice relevant to your particular circumstances from your health professional.

That’s why we’ve put together some easy-to-follow tips for maintaining silky skin during Winter.

1. Wear sunscreen every day - Whether it’s rain, hail or Winter shine, sunscreen is a must. But what if I’m not leaving the house, you might ask. Well, believe it or not sunscreen is still a great addition to your skincare routine. Sunscreen protects us from UV rays, which may be old news for you, but it can also help to protect our skin from the blue light that’s generated by our computers and phone screens.

2. Eat a healthy and varied diet - A golden oldie for us here at Nutra Organics, but you just can’t argue with science. The fact is, a healthy and varied diet will give your skin all the nutrients it needs to build, repair and glow all on its own. There’s always going to be outliers to this rule, such as hormonal changes or environmental factors. But if you get the basics right with your diet, you’re giving your skin a great foundation to be the silkiest it can be. Super Greens + Reds is a great option to help fill any nutritional gaps in your diet.

3. Hydrate inside and out - Another fundamental, and we’re sorry to reinforce the basics. But every drop counts when it comes to healthy skin. As we age, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to retain water, ultimately impacting the visible signs of aging in our skin. Keeping up your water intake will help to naturally increase skin elasticity and hydration.

4. Manage stress - Easier said than done, we get it. However, stress gone unmanaged can absolutely change the condition of your skin and also trigger breakouts. Our recommendations here are learning some mindfulness or grounding exercises. Some easy online guided meditations are also a great option. By managing your stress levels, you should be able to better control your skincare.

5. Exfoliate weekly - Nothing says ‘dry skin’ like a build up of dead skin cells. An exfoliant will help you to naturally shed the old skin and support your body to easily turnover new skin cells. If you don’t have a good scrub already, there are loads of DIY options you can google. Post exfoliation, your skin will be a fresher version of itself and more sensitive than usual. Make sure you go the extra mile to protect your skin after you exfoliate so you don’t damage the fresh layer you’ve just unearthed.

6. More is not always best - There is a point of no return when it comes to topical skin care, and that point is probably around product number six. If you have a normal skin type, the basics are all you really need, which include;

• Cleanser
• Toner (optional)
• Skin treat (serum, spray, oil, balm - these are also optional and should be alternated)
• Moisturiser
• Sunscreen

Aside from your weekly exfoliation and maybe the occasional mask, if you are adding in anything extra, you may be running the risk of clogging up your pores - and no one wants congested skin. If you do want to add extra products to your routine, we recommend doing some research first or consulting a skin specialist.

7. The other product we would suggest taking in parallel to your topical skin care regime morning and night is an ingestible product - like our award winning Collagen Beauty™. This will help to hydrate your skin from the inside out.

8. Change your skincare routine seasonally - As we are approaching the end of Winter, it may be best to think about how your skin reacts to temperature changes. A hydration spray, may be exactly what your skin needs in Winter, but perhaps a restorative serum to protect against the harsh Summer heat is in order during the warmer months. Rotating between skin treats can be really beneficial when considering the effects of your environmental changes.

9. Not having hot showers - We know it’s still cold, and when you feel it deep in your bones nothing is more soothing than a hot, steamy shower (or bath if that’s your thang). However, hot showers have been proven to dry out and irritate skin. Try to keep the temperature warm-to-cool so the balance in your skin isn’t interrupted.

11. Keep an eye on your room temperature - overheating (which we are all guilty of in Winter) can dry out your skin, not to mention drain your energy bill. Keeping your heater at a neutral temp means more hydrated and younger feeling skin.

There you have it! Eleven handy tips to prevent dry Winter skin and have your face feeling smoother than a baby’s bum.

A quiet sip of calming tea in the early morning hours, a platter blossoming with colour and flavour shared among friends, a sneaky square of chocolate enjoyed with a lover before bed… food creates mood, it gives life, and it is the key to enjoying every day with happiness and health. Food is the greatest form of self-love and care.

Self-care can mean so many different things to everyone. For some, it might be buying that $7.99 avocado even if it means breaking the weekly food budget to satisfy the avo toast cravings (don't worry, we’ve all been there). For others it might just mean yoga, diving into the ocean as the sun is rising, or even just taking 10 to have a cuppa in the afternoon before getting started on dinner. Either way, there are so many different forms of self-care out there and ultimately it’s all about what makes you feel good - mentally, physically and emotionally. But there is one manner of self-care that is unquestionably the most important for every individual and is of utmost importance to us here at Nutra Organics - and that is good nutrition.

You might be wondering, how does nutrition actually reflect self-care? And vice versa? Aside from the obvious that if you do not eat food and therefore get nutrition, well, you don't live. But there is so much more to nutrition than meets the eye. For starters, it’s a given that you’re probably only going to physically feel as good as the food you eat - but it has an impact on your mental and emotional health too.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has preached this for thousands of years, with practitioners touting the energetics of food and their implications for health and ailments since its establishment. When you think about it, it makes sense that if your food is heavy and greasy, once consumed, it will also pass this feeling of greasiness on into your system making you feel a bit sluggish. Another example, if you bite into a chilli, which by energetics is defined as hot and dry, you will probably immediately feel hot and sweaty, losing hydration in the process, and becoming more hot and dry by nature.

But regardless of energetics, what about how food directly influences our mood? It is becoming undeniable that good nutrition and self-care begins and ends in our headspace. The latest research on neurotransmitters (the little chemicals that essentially create your mood) suggests that roughly 85-95% of our serotonin (the happy hormone/neurotransmitter) is actually created in our gut. Therefore if our gut isn’t right, we’re probably not going to feel the best mentally and emotionally. There is a plethora of confounding factors that influence how well our gut is doing and some of those big ones are undiagnosed food intolerances and leaky gut causing chronic inflammation, poor nutrient absorption and dysbiosis, or an imbalance of good gut bacteria.

The good news is that all of these implications, as much as they can be caused by poor food choices can also be easily addressed by better food choices. You can change your health for the better and improve your wellbeing in all areas by improving your nutrition, which is why we believe it is the greatest form of self-care.

A quick and easy way to set the restart button on your digestive system and help clear your headspace to make these better choices is by doing a brief 3-day juice and broth cleanse. This allows our digestive system to rest from the job of processing all the hard stuff we consume and in turn, tampers down any underlying inflammation, whilst helping to identify food intolerances and giving our brains a bit of a break from constantly thinking about what we can quickly eat on the go or cook. Instead, this time can be better spent reflecting on how we feel when we’re not including certain foods in our diet and what we would like to change moving forward from the cleanse to better look after ourselves.

Bear in mind though that a cleanse isn’t a prerequisite to making better food choices and we don’t always need to cut out all of the things in life we love, sometimes self-care does mean buying that block of chocolate just because you really feel like it. However, it may just mean adding a few more foods into our diets on a regular basis that we know make us feel good and excluding the ones that we know don’t sit well with us more often. For example, if you know you’re lactose intolerant, choosing to drink full-cream milk in your coffee every day anyway for the taste might make you feel worse than what it’s worth. Instead, you might like to swap out for non-dairy milk on a regular basis and keep the full cream only for special occasions. Or, if you know you struggle to make time to cook a lot of fresh vegetables it might be worthwhile investing in a good greens powder like our Super Greens + Reds to help fill in any nutritional gaps that are inevitable in a fast-paced western diet.

Likewise, if you know how good bone broth is for you and you'd love to get on top of some gut issues but don’t know when you’ll have 48 hours to prepare a homemade broth, our dehydrated Bone Broths might be the answer which can easily be incorporated into any and all savoury cooking as a stock.

Self-care requires complete mindfulness of your body and the totality of it's physical, emotional and mental needs to be truly effective. So unsurprisingly, in order to demonstrate self-care through nutrition, mindfulness comes into play in a big way.

Mindfulness is another buzzword at the moment that goes hand in hand with good nutrition and self-care. Consider it the bridge in between the two:

GOOD NUTRITION + MINDFULNESS = SELF CARE

Mindfulness requires introspection and basically is a single word description of knowing oneself wholly and using this knowledge to guide decision-making processes. Sometimes life gets so busy we forget to sit back, reflect and assess what it is that we really need, particularly, what nutrition does this body of mine really need to feel and perform at its best.

It’s important to eat what you feel like eating when you feel like eating it, but of course, this pertains to nutrients and not to midnight McDonalds runs every other night. Mindfulness enters to save the day when you think you’re craving midnight fries, but with a little more thought you realise you don’t really want fries, you just really want something salty. Next, a little self-care, an idea and a little effort enter to satisfy this craving with a nutritious alternative such as fry-pan popcorn made with a little bit of organic grass-fed butter and pink crystal Himalayan salt. Yum. This is the essence of self-care. Going that little bit further to give your body exactly what it wants and needs, without compromising on nutrition, so that you are looking after your body both short and long term and ensuring you make better food choices to feel your best.

It’s not always easy to put yourself first, particularly if you’re a parent or responsible for the welfare of others. However, mindfulness of your needs isn’t in any way selfish but merely means that you rightfully acknowledge that you can’t give your all to others when you’re not giving anything to yourself. Good nutrition is the most basic level of self-care that we really must fulfil but is so often the first compromise we make. So consider this your permission slip to stop the compromises. Be mindful, make food choices that you know will serve your body well because after all, this is the bare minimum your beautiful vessel needs and deserves.

Here at Nutra HQ, we’ve been talking about, thinking about and implementing acts of self-love. It’s an important conversation to have with yourself, what does self-love mean for you. One of the things that has been brought up time and time again, is the importance of having greenery all up in our face. Yes, we know that eating our greens is important, and keeping our bodies nourished with all the goodies that nutritional greens provide is a simple act of self-love that is so important for a long and healthy life. But what about the physical space that you surround yourself with? This has a direct impact on your well-being, and injecting that space with greenery can make an instant change! And here’s why:

Plants are pretty

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way. Plants are beautiful, and whether your thumb is a lovely shade of green or erring more on the side of black, we can assure you that you will be able to find a plant that will suit your taste and plant-parent skill level. There are so many low-maintenance options out there, some plants literally thrive on being left to their own devices, so don’t let the idea that you will be investing lots of time into your plants hold you back. Plants will instantly breathe fresh life into your space, which brings us to our next point.

Improved air quality

There have been a number of studies (including by NASA and they know their stuff) into plants and the effect they have on the quality of air. Certain plants help clear the air and remove volatile compounds such as ozone and carbon dioxide from your space, meaning you can breath easy.

Natural Scents

Speaking of breathing easier, who doesn’t love being enveloped in a beautiful scent? Some plants not only look absolutely gorgeous but also have a beautiful fragrance too, bringing delightful scents straight from nature to your nose. Better yet, if you have trouble sleeping, plants like jasmine and lavender have been found help you head off to the land of nod, so place some on your bedside table and enjoy a naturally soothing sleep-aid.

Becoming a plant parent fosters a sense of well-being

If you haven’t already heard about the crazy plant-lady (or gentleman), you have now. It’s a well-known fact in crazy plant person circles that once you get one plant, you literally won’t be able to stop. Your collection will slowly grow and you will soon have lots of little plant babies to tend (and they really are your babies). You watch them thrive all thanks to the love and care you show them. Caring for living things is not only rewarding, but many people find a sense of purpose through this.

You should eat more plants too

Plants contain so many nutrients that are essential to the delicate ecosystem that is your body, and we totally understand that the fast-paced lifestyles we live can make it difficult to nourish your body the way it deserves. That’s why we’ve spent years creating products that provided real, honest nutrition, that not only tastes good but it easy to incorporate in your everyday life. Self-love should come easy, and our Super Greens + Reds is packed full of organic fruits, vegetables, sprouts and herbs that are intended to provide the building blocks needed to support your immune system and provide nourishment for your whole body, so if nothing else, you can know that by adding it to your morning smoothie, juice, or glass of water, you are setting your body up for success!

So what are you waiting for? Incorporate more greenery into your life, whether that be through a new plant for your home, or by ensuring your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Show yourself some loving, treat yourself to that piece of lush greenery you’ve been eyeing off, or do your own research on what plants would work for you (there’s so much information out there). But we warn you, once you start, you won’t be able to stop. Your friends may get sick of you telling them how amazing you feel, your house may very well become a jungle, but it will be your jungle, and if they’re really your friends they’ll be begging you to let them in on your secret. There’s nothing better than making a space that brings you joy and is uniquely yours and creating an external and internal environment that is flourishing.

Image via @haarkon_

Meet Tess. A creative and self-described dabbling artist and aspiring-learner writer, this Mumma who is about to expand her tribe by two has a self-published book of poetry and prose on the way called The Apricot Memoirs, and is an inspiration for those who are curious as to what self-love can do for not only you, but those around you too! We are so blessed to have been able to step inside her mind and learn what it means to slow down, do what is right for you and the abundance this can create in your world.

Your life has been a crazy beautiful adventure. What is going on in your world right now?

It’s 9:43 pm on a casual Wednesday night, I eagerly jumped into bed about two hours ago and the excitement muse in all her playfulness wouldn’t let me sleep. So, here I am, I’m up with a brewed dandy chai, lit candles, the sound of late night jazz and I'm letting the pen lead as the muse would hope.

You see, I’m 9 days away from two really exciting and sentimental life events—it seems that this body of mine is so well rested in this slow season that what normally comes way too easy to me—sleep, feels almost like a chore. As the moon rises, I feel undeserving of more rest when my days are laced with slow breathing. As I'm writing this I’m 9 days away from my (hypothetical) due date—and would you believe I’m expecting identical twin girls. Ironically, and in perfect life-sync motions, I’m also 9 days away from pressing print on the very first run of my self-published book of prose—The Apricot Memoirs. I feel like life is raining golden flow and my heart feels childlike and expectant. So, I’m taking tonight and streamlining my love and late night momentos into this interview because what a wondrous place to let it all hang out. Thanks for this privilege Nutra Organics!

How did you transition from running a wildly successful design business to a one-year sabbatical, and what did it look like?

"Why am I so busy?

It took 33 years of journeying around the golden circle before I was ready to honestly climb this question. I knew that the answer, in its quick and quiet breath, would hold both my great unravelling, and the making of me.”—An excerpt from THE APRICOT MEMOIRS.

The best way to begin to describe the transition and it’s unfolding is to explain that for almost 6 months prior to my sabbatical I felt those little nudging whispers, you know the ones? They are ever so subtle and almost hard to hear, but like all tenacious go-getters, I ignored their prompts—all until this one specific night and in this one moment I dramatically changed it all.

"It happened in the darkness of a hotel room that was once called home. My romantic heart likens it to that moment, where you are laying low under the midnight fumes with not a sound in sight, and something riding on the breeze aligns with everything your words have never been able to write. Suddenly, the midnight sun rises—nothing is demanding your attention but simultaneously, all the urgency in the world is storming around you—calling you, prompting you to change it ALL. It’s as though your internal and external dialogues become one, while revelations wrapped in fearless change, beckon you towards an affectionate ultimatum—tomorrow I’m changing my life.

This will forever be, my life changing, 2am sentiment."

—An excerpt from THE APRICOT MEMOIRS.

It all happened upon the shores of South Africa, this place spurred me to take a huge leap—This quiet yet tenacious whisper challenged me to jump away from all that was comfy to pursue some dormant passions and see creativity bloom in ways beyond my imagination. It was basically inviting me to change life as I knew it.

Now let me be clear—I LOVED my current life, I LOVED what I was doing, I was passionate, I was successful, we were living in South Africa at the time and my husband landed his first big lead role as a stuntman in a feature film—The Maze Runner. We were in a prime life moment, all was well and abundant. But something in me knew deep down that I was creatively comfy and in amidst this comfort I had become accustomed and very familiar with the word “HUSTLE”. Something in me wanted to delete this word completely, I was sick of it leading, I was over its sentiment, it started to present as boring, unnatural, unhealthy and was nothing but strive evoked, it shouted: “me, me, me”. Something in the depth of my soul believed that you could still be creatively passionate - live a big beautiful colourful life, see flowers grow and do it all effortlessly without that constant feeling of “do do do”- “move, move, move”. I wanted to experience that true and soulful living, the artists way, the reward of slow creation, putting things in the right order, taking time, putting my spiritual life, family, and health on priority and taking time and care on things I cared about the most— seeing if maybe, just maybe—out of this place of living things could still grow at a beautiful and abundant speed, and maybe even be more productive and more BEAUTIFUL than the hustlers call! For those who like to kick goals (like me) this new way of living is actually really hard to navigate at first—It was like I was re-wiring my entire brain, reworking 33 years of habitual living. A massive surrender with a bucket full of gold at the end of it.

“Sometimes we get given the opportunity to make a brave choice. A choice, to surrender the things that have been great, in exchange for greater. It’s here a soulful, lively, boom-boom, heart out of chest, tears on cheeks, I’m alive, kind of passion lives—it lives, just around the corner from surrender’s bend.” —An excerpt from THE APRICOT MEMOIRS.

So, in the midst of it’s prime, I felt led to fold up my booming freelance design business (in its financial peak) to delve into a one-year sabbatical all in the name of creativity, spiritual growth and to basically scare the heck out of myself in a good and healthy way. I was thirsty for some messy, creative, soulful adventure in a territory that wasn’t cushy but more so uncomfy. My heart knew that growth happens best in the realm of risk.

The sabbatical led me into an unexpected season of creativity in the form of free-flowing words, paint, colour, improvisation, consuming books by my favourite authors and being present in ways I never knew to be so fulfilling. The words would find me in all sorts of moments, to the point I seemed to be constantly looking for scrap pieces of paper to contain them.

Playing with words and the new world it has opened up for me would not have happened without that blind jump, And, let me add—It has not been smooth sailing by any means, a lot of comfortable things were sacrificed without concrete promises or immediate outcomes. The decisions were made with no real sign of stability on the horizon—A leap of blind faith.

The intermission away from my business, that is now choosing to take me on an extended adventure, has gifted me The Apricot Memoirs: the absolute fruit (apricot) from my sabbatical along with some other sneaky surprises from heaven—conceiving twins, our double rainbow! And now, my desire is to share my journey with you in hope that it shakes up your world and prompts you to take some risks—I’m certainly grateful I chose to leave my comfy cave. Life has really opened up in ways I never knew possible.

Your favourite way to spend a day off with no plans?

Can I respond in prose? haha—I actually have the perfect piece from my book that describes my ultimate day with no plans—alone.

"When I say I need time alone, what I really mean is: I want to move all the furniture around and then move it all back. I want to paint something and leave the brushes to bristle all because I decided to go wash my hair. I’ll forget to take my multi-vs—I was busy trying on dresses. Suddenly, I’ll move every plant to the tiles in the sunroom, just to water them. The plants will make like a jungle at the front door because there was that book I once read, explaining the cycle of butterflies, so I’ll scavenge to find it, but in my hunt, I’ll find old photos—sleeping in nostalgia for what feels like ten minutes, suddenly it’s dusk. Dinner will be the last thing on my mind. I’ll likely throw a handful of vegetables into some batter and amidst the kitchen mess, I’ll pour some Spanish wine while closing my eyes at the same time. I’ll light some candles, open all the windows, change the sheets, and fall asleep early because nothing excites me more... When I say I need time alone, this is really what I mean."

—An excerpt from the pages of The Apricot Memoirs

Describe your morning ritual?

Mornings sweet mornings, all early and eager risers in this household. We are all about an early night and the early rise! I awake at about 5:30 am, thanks to my little four-year-old girl Peaches—she jumps into bed with me for snuggles every morning. My husband Caleb un-intentionally wakes her when he gets up and does home yoga every morning (The most disciplined man I know). Peach and I normally snuggle for about 20/30 minutes then it’s all smoothies, breaky prep, multi-vs & morning love. We really work at creating a beautiful chill vibe in the mornings, soft music, salt lamps, food and cuddles, I think the way you start your day is so important especially when you are raising a family. After the breakfast festivities, Peach and I throw on some clothes and head to our local cafe via our beach lane and grab coffee and babycinos. We have done this since the day she was born. I call the mornings “ours"—Forever our thing. I'm looking forward to navigating how mornings will look as we await the arrival of our twin girls.

What does self-love look like to you?

Self-love is keeping your tank so full of love that you have enough to restore love on others. And for every individual, this will look different.

Self LOVE to me looks like listening to my intuition, trusting my gut and most importantly listening to that still, small voice. That whisper we give time to is never wrong. Self-love for me is prayer, it's reading my bible, letting my introvert nature have the space it needs to process, collect thoughts and run free in imaginative mindfulness without bounds. Self-love is watering my plants and moving furniture around because I enjoy it (any furniture movers here??). Self-love is having dignity and knowing your worth, not saying yes to EVERYTHING because not every good idea is always a good idea. It’s knowing your now! Knowing what your season is asking of you. It's asking yourself, ‘is it time to rest or is momentum circling me and prompting me into creation mode’. I think listening to our inclinations and prompts is key to self loving, and when we choose to live mindfully we can actually hear that still small voice. That voice of wisdom and reason has truly saved me a bucket load of tears, strife, exhaustion and expectation—granting me breath, freedom, clarity, time and joy! It enables me to make good decisions for my family and for my life because who wants to live life half full and drained, not me.

What are your tips for a healthy lifestyle, slowing down and living simply?

So, I’m only a fresh-ling to all this slowdown lifestyle talk haha. I’m a reformed hustler and it’s been one year since my last adrenal lead project haha. This past year would absolutely have to be my BIGGEST learning year yet, my most dramatic life turn around.

I’m actually so blooming proud of myself for listening to my intuition on this one because I feel the BEST I have ever felt in my entire life! I’m a new TESS!

1 year ago when I decided to take a sabbatical I felt like a rebel with a cause, I felt excited by the fact that I was laying down my hustle to rebel and swim in the opposite direction. I had many friends question my decisions (all in love and care) because I was giving up my successful business to pursue slow—which in honesty doesn’t look very impressive to the naked eye at first, even to me it was a very beige idea, a lot to risk. But like all good things, we reap what we sew—and sometimes the reaping can take a very long and slow time and us humans aren’t great at waiting things out, we want the world now. Not everything will make sense to others when it comes to personal convictions, but the main thing is to own your personal revelations and epiphany’s, to walk them out, believe in them and eventually, the questions will turn into “aha!” moments. Remember, the approval of others will take you off course. I questioned my decision so many times, especially as the bank account got low, I'd ask myself ‘is it worth it?’ and something in me couldn't not pursue my decision till the end.

Here I am 1 year later and let me share my absolute heart on this!

My decision to slow life down has blessed me to overflowing. I’m the healthiest I have ever been (minus the quirks that come with a twin pregnancy haha). I swear my decision to slow down granted me twins, my body was so rested and happy it was basically a breeding ground for a double portion of babes. I have clarity, time, articulation on where my time is best spent, boundaries, my marriage is blossoming, my daughter is thriving, my relationship with my Creator is alive, my nights are slow and the diary isn’t as full. Anxiety is not present, nor is stress, I’ve been more productive than I’ve ever been in my life (ironically) and somehow all amidst this slower lifestyle I’ve written a book and it’s being printed/published in 9 days. The craziest thing is this project has more traction and momentum on it than any other creative project I’ve ever put my hands to and has felt effortless and evoked so much passion in me. There has been not one ounce of stress in the creation process of this book and I actually believe once upon a time, that if there was no stress there was no value in what you were producing. I’ve spent the past year painting for fun and somehow in this time my art (without meaning to) has become a business of its own and now I have just looked into getting an art manager because of the abundance of orders I get weekly. I didn’t strive or work in stress mode for this but momentum spurred itself because passion is leading and haste is not present. Slow ironically produces more fruit, and this fruit has longevity.

It all seems backwards but there’s a take-home in this principle. The hardest part of choosing to slow down though is the sacrifices surrounding it. For me, there were some real sacrifices to consider—Mine being my pay packet, ego and my sense of worth at the time. My job made me feel important, worth something and I liked seeing my hard work rewarded with a comfy paycheck. I said goodbye to an income, a title and let myself all hang out for one whole year to pick up this slower lifestyle and re-wire the way I was operating. I didn’t land on a comfy cushion of provision in my sabbatical, I took this risk very well knowing that cash flow would slow because overnight we went from two incomes to one. And would you believe it, my husband and I landed home two months into my sabbatical and he was unemployed for four months of it. It was a HUGE financial sacrifice but I never let up, even when the bank account got scary low to the last dollar and both my husband and I wondered if I had made the wrong decision, I continued to hold onto that conviction, very well knowing somehow there was going to be gold at the end of this. Like all sacrifices we make, there is always a reward and I feel like I am living those days now. No regrets, No stress, only passion, life and colour!

The biggest piece of advice for all the dreamers out there?

This question excites me!

From a very young age I got called a dreamer, and my heart knew even back then that this was a word that would forever steer my entire life.

It’s as though the word embedded itself into the very fibres of skin and now, I won’t get out of bed without its silhouette. That’s what I’d say to the fellow dreamers, take the word and sew it into who you are, own it. Dreaming isn’t all whimsical either, it takes discipline beyond vocalising crazy ideas, it takes surrender and sacrifice, implementation, dignity, integrity, commitment and a whole lot of faith—Dreaming is a lifestyle. I also believe there is great importance surrounding improvisation when it comes to being a dreamer. My mum is the most resourceful, creative improviser I know, me and my 4 siblings are all creative improvisers—and I’m thankful for this trait my Mumma poured into us from such a young age. Being a dreamer + improviser basically makes EVERYTHING in my world an opportunity, everything and anything could be something! Nothing is every broken, maybe a mistake is an opportunity for invention! Maybe it’s a chance to see something different. A lot of the time I don’t set concrete plans in place, I feel things out and make sure passion always leads—somehow this notion works and I see it on repeat in each and every one of my sisters and brothers lives too! They all live BIG BEAUTIFUL CREATIVE lives and are never locked into perfectionism or plans - and in living this way life just gets more beautiful and allows for amazing things to happen! So, get out, open your eyes, and rid yourself of planning EVERYTHING—there is so much adventure for the dreamers if you just let go and let God.

LOVE + CREATIVITY

Tess

x

Tess's Apricot Memoirs Kickstarter closes this Friday, 11th May so if you'd like to support the creative fruits of an incredible time in this inspiring woman's life, you can pledge or pre-order here. You can also find her Instagram @tessguinery and follow along with the rainbow world she's created around herself.

As much as we wish we could say our self-care honeymoon was on a child-free island far away, where the sun is always shining and the cocktails are always pouring, it certainly isn’t the case for us and most likely isn’t a possibility for you too.

We’re honeymooning right where we are. Amidst the whirlwind of crazy antics, endless to-do list, the madness & the mundane, we’re taking what time we have to listen to our bodies and give ourselves some much needed, healthy, tender loving care.

Self-love isn’t narcissistic, it’s not about being selfish, and doesn’t require an overseas holiday or expensive pampering. It’s less about running away from normality, and more about making the normal beautiful. It’s about slowing down. Breathing in. Learning. Growing. Adjusting. And using what moments you have to yourself in the day to make the normal wonderful again.

We’re all about taking care of yourself and looking after your health: physically, mentally and emotionally. Here are 5 ways we are taking the time to practice self-love this month, and why you should join us.

1. Gratitude

Don’t know about you, but when we have our cranky pants on, it’s super hard to be grateful, appreciate life, and feel content. And vice versa: when we’re feeling grounded with gratitude, it’s hard to rain on our parade and steal our joy.

They say happiest people in life are the most grateful, so this is the number one priority on our self-love agenda.

The only thing gratitude will cost you is a few moments in the morning when you wake to count your blessings and meditate on everything you have that you are thankful for. If you’re struggling with where to start, find a gratitude journal, trawl through Pinterest for some inspo, or on whatever scraps of paper you have lying around, just write 3 things each day that make you happy and that you are grateful for.

2. Slow down and simplify

“You don’t need all the things you think you need - to do all the things you feel called to do. You have all you need, right now, right here - now go make life beautiful” - Tess Guinery.

Accumulating stuff, being present at every single social event, yearning for more *insert thing you think you need*, filling every spare second ticking off errands… we all seem to be great at thinking we need more when really, we need less.

Less stuff. Less clutter. Less back-to-back calendar commitments and non-essential chores and errands. Choosing less of the unnecessary means more time to actually live and be more present in every moment.

Whatever is cluttering your home, your wardrobe, your emotions, and your time - learn to simplify, slow down, and say no to the things you think you need that are actually taking up too much space.

It’s incredibly freeing to simplify and slow down, and something we know we need in our busy lives so we can make room for some serious self-lovin’.

3. Do more of what you love

It’s amazing how much more time you will have on your hands if you really nail step 3 and learn to simplify, slow down and do less/have less of the unnecessary.

Use this extra time to do more of what you love, to chase your dreams, to learn, grow, and ultimately do whatever it is that makes your heart dance.

It could be as simple as a few quiet moments in the morning to sip on your Velvet Latte, going for a walk, reading a book, enjoying the art of slow cooking, or soaking up the warmth of a candle-lit, flower-adorned, oil-infused evening bath.

Or it could be a gruelling sweat sesh, learning a language, making origami… whatever floats your boat, do more of that!

4. Turn the mundane into magic

Just because we’re lapping up the practice of self-love doesn’t mean we’re skipping out on the chores and things we don’t particularly enjoy. But it doesn’t mean those things have to suck, either.

While you’re doing the laundry, crank up the Bieber tunes and sing your heart out. Make some damn good food and dance around the kitchen while it’s cooking. Transform your workspace, fill it with plants, and plaster your favourite things all over the walls.

5. Making healthier choices

You only have one body, take care of it and eat foods that nourish and support your health.

Remove the foods that make you feel like rubbish, and learn to make healthier choices. It doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the guilty pleasures that you love, just make healthy swaps and find ways to incorporate more organic foods and plants into your food. At the very least, cut out processed foods and artificial ingredients, and eat more organic whole foods. Check the ingredients list on the products you buy. Listen to your body, and nourish it with a healthy variety of whole foods. It’s one of the biggest forms of self-love and will help you feel your very best.

Now that we have unleashed our inner Gandhi on you, join with us this month on practising some more self-love, whatever that looks like for you! There’s plenty of recipes, tips, and golden nuggets of inspiration from people who own the art of self-love coming your way, so stay tuned.