My skin journey - Acne to Healing
Thursday, August 23, 2018
From my early teens and even all the way back to childhood, I've had very problematic skin.
I distinctly remember in primary school, I had some pretty aggressive acne. I couldn't find any photo's to document this but just picture a younger me with raised, red and irritated skin and a mouth full of metal. You can only imagine what that did to my self-esteem. Fitting in with kids was hard enough let alone having something on my face I wanted to hide, so my skin really affected my mental-wellbeing and made me so self-conscious.
Growing into my teens my skin hadn’t changed much so I consulted my GP and I did what any other insecure, naive teenage girl does – I went on the pill. Over the next few months my skin had calmed down and it started to clear.
Now a fully grown women, I am still experiencing hormonal breakouts, oily, dry and congested skin. I also have the scaring from my teens now too. In November 2017, after years of being on and several contraceptive pills, I decided to ditch it for good. I took my health in my own hands and decided I want to implement holistic and natural practices only. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions! And it’s been really frustrating not having all the answers.
In 2016-2017 I was visiting a skin clinic that was a chain of franchises in Australia. The first thing you need to understand about clinics which are apart of large franchises, is that all of the beauticians are trained the same way to perform the same treatments. That is no means a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind as their treatments are only limited to what their practice offers and therefore not necessarily specialised to the needs of your skin type or skin issues.
I had more than a dozen treatments of facial peels and microdermabrasion. I found facial peels worked well for my skin but after a few weeks my skin was congested and breaking out again. That is not to say that these treatments don’t work but with the severity of my skin issues, it didn’t personally work for me.
It felt like it was never ending cycle. My skin wasn’t improving. I gave up on doing anything to my skin for a couple of months and decided it was time to do my research and find a skin specialist who could examine my skin and identify the root cause of my issues.
So now I’ve given you a bit of background about the history of my skin I will let you know that this article is apart of a series dedicated to oral skin treatments I am trying; I’ll delve into my diet in another blog post if it’s something of interest to you.
A few months back and I caught up with my friend for lunch - I couldn’t help but notice the glow and beautiful texture of my friend’s skin. She suggested I see her skin specialist – The Skin Manifesto.
I spent my first visit with Andrea discussing all of my skin concerns, my lifestyle and diet. Andrea was very thorough with my skin assessment; she took her time to explain everything to me. She also took a very holistic approach so that she could assist me to heal my skin from the inside out.
For the most part of my life, up until that very day, I had believed that I had oily, acne prone skin. I had been using foaming cleansers and I exfoliated every second day. Andrea had informed me that my skin type was in fact THE EXACT OPPOSITE. No wonder my skin was in a bad way. I had been treating it for everything it was not. Although I felt a yank of frustration, I was so relieved to finally get some answers.
My skin was dehydrated. The foaming cleanser I had been using was stripping away all the oils in my skin and therefore my skin was producing excess oils to combat the dehydration!
Andrea then examined my skin and tested a few products to see how my skin reacted. This is something that I had never experienced in any other clinic. Part of the reason why Andrea has such advanced knowledge in her profession is because she comes from a background of nursing... to put it simply – she knows her stuff!
Andrea put together a plan of treatments for my next few visits. These first few treatments are aimed at reducing my breakouts and improving the texture of my skin. Here is a thorough breakdown of each treatment performed on my skin.
Bio-Sonic Revitalising Facial Treatment
Helps with;
Congestion
Improve skin texture
Reduce Breakouts / Acne
Reduce inflammation
Speed up healing
Increase hydration of skin
Bio-Sonic revitalising facial treatments uses revolutionary ultrasonic technology, exclusive to The Skin Manifesto, to effectively combat pigmentation, dull complexion, skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, dryness and congestion.
This advanced treatment deeply cleans your skin, increasing the absorption of skincare products applied to the skin, by effectively removing dead skin cells and cleaning out pores.
My results were instant after just one treatment. It left my skin visibly refreshed, clear, and hydrated. The treatment stimulates new skin cell renewal and repair, encouraging the production of elastin and collagen in your skin, making the skin feel firmer and look younger.
It can be used on all skin types, even the most red and sensitive. Due to the non-abrasive approach, there is no downtime and you can return to your day without any embarrassing redness.
Improve skin texture
Reduce appearance of acne scarring by stimulation new skin cell growth and collagen production
Even out skin tone
Reduce to appearance of sun spots and pigmentation associated with acne
Speed up skin healing
Reduce occurrence if breakouts, acne, and congestion
Herbal Phyto Peel is a natural peeling procedure for skin regeneration based on a mixture of natural herbs. It provides immediate glowing plumped skin with no down time or visible peeling. It’s is completely free from chemicals, synthetic binders and abrasives and therefore there are no toxic side effects.
Encourages skin healing and renewal
Reduces redness and inflammation
Heals acne by stimulating new skin cell growth and collagen production
LED Infrared Light therapy is a very effective and an extremely relaxing skin treatment that rejuvenates and repairs your skin by actively stimulating your skin cells with medical grade light. It is especially effective when used in conjunction with other treatments, so it’s a great way to end your facial.
Andre covers your face with the LED machine for around 20 minutes. There is no visible light, just a very subtle warming feeling on your face. It was very a really therapeutic experience and I dozed off as It worked its magic.
The light encourages natural skin cell renewal and healing. It is perfect for those wanting a fast and effective treatment for skin rejuvenation and repair, reducing acne and acne scarring, improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet and dark circles, accelerating wound and skin healing, reducing pore size, brightening and smoothing skin texture, reducing inflammation, and tightening and firming your skin.
I’ll be following these three treatments over the next couple of months and then Andrea will examine my skin once again, address my skin concerns and introduce new treatments.
I will share with you the progress of my skin and the next consultations. If you’re having your own skin concerns I’d highly recommend contacting Andrea at The Skin Manifesto so she can give you some guidance and support around the next steps for you to take.
Rochelle x
I distinctly remember in primary school, I had some pretty aggressive acne. I couldn't find any photo's to document this but just picture a younger me with raised, red and irritated skin and a mouth full of metal. You can only imagine what that did to my self-esteem. Fitting in with kids was hard enough let alone having something on my face I wanted to hide, so my skin really affected my mental-wellbeing and made me so self-conscious.
Growing into my teens my skin hadn’t changed much so I consulted my GP and I did what any other insecure, naive teenage girl does – I went on the pill. Over the next few months my skin had calmed down and it started to clear.
Now a fully grown women, I am still experiencing hormonal breakouts, oily, dry and congested skin. I also have the scaring from my teens now too. In November 2017, after years of being on and several contraceptive pills, I decided to ditch it for good. I took my health in my own hands and decided I want to implement holistic and natural practices only. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions! And it’s been really frustrating not having all the answers.
In 2016-2017 I was visiting a skin clinic that was a chain of franchises in Australia. The first thing you need to understand about clinics which are apart of large franchises, is that all of the beauticians are trained the same way to perform the same treatments. That is no means a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind as their treatments are only limited to what their practice offers and therefore not necessarily specialised to the needs of your skin type or skin issues.
I had more than a dozen treatments of facial peels and microdermabrasion. I found facial peels worked well for my skin but after a few weeks my skin was congested and breaking out again. That is not to say that these treatments don’t work but with the severity of my skin issues, it didn’t personally work for me.
It felt like it was never ending cycle. My skin wasn’t improving. I gave up on doing anything to my skin for a couple of months and decided it was time to do my research and find a skin specialist who could examine my skin and identify the root cause of my issues.
So now I’ve given you a bit of background about the history of my skin I will let you know that this article is apart of a series dedicated to oral skin treatments I am trying; I’ll delve into my diet in another blog post if it’s something of interest to you.
A few months back and I caught up with my friend for lunch - I couldn’t help but notice the glow and beautiful texture of my friend’s skin. She suggested I see her skin specialist – The Skin Manifesto.
Stage one – Skin Consultation with Andrea
I spent my first visit with Andrea discussing all of my skin concerns, my lifestyle and diet. Andrea was very thorough with my skin assessment; she took her time to explain everything to me. She also took a very holistic approach so that she could assist me to heal my skin from the inside out.
For the most part of my life, up until that very day, I had believed that I had oily, acne prone skin. I had been using foaming cleansers and I exfoliated every second day. Andrea had informed me that my skin type was in fact THE EXACT OPPOSITE. No wonder my skin was in a bad way. I had been treating it for everything it was not. Although I felt a yank of frustration, I was so relieved to finally get some answers.
My skin was dehydrated. The foaming cleanser I had been using was stripping away all the oils in my skin and therefore my skin was producing excess oils to combat the dehydration!
Andrea then examined my skin and tested a few products to see how my skin reacted. This is something that I had never experienced in any other clinic. Part of the reason why Andrea has such advanced knowledge in her profession is because she comes from a background of nursing... to put it simply – she knows her stuff!
Stage 2 – Treatments
Andrea put together a plan of treatments for my next few visits. These first few treatments are aimed at reducing my breakouts and improving the texture of my skin. Here is a thorough breakdown of each treatment performed on my skin.
Bio-Sonic Revitalising Facial Treatment
Helps with;
Congestion
Improve skin texture
Reduce Breakouts / Acne
Reduce inflammation
Speed up healing
Increase hydration of skin
Bio-Sonic revitalising facial treatments uses revolutionary ultrasonic technology, exclusive to The Skin Manifesto, to effectively combat pigmentation, dull complexion, skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, dryness and congestion.
This advanced treatment deeply cleans your skin, increasing the absorption of skincare products applied to the skin, by effectively removing dead skin cells and cleaning out pores.
My results were instant after just one treatment. It left my skin visibly refreshed, clear, and hydrated. The treatment stimulates new skin cell renewal and repair, encouraging the production of elastin and collagen in your skin, making the skin feel firmer and look younger.
It can be used on all skin types, even the most red and sensitive. Due to the non-abrasive approach, there is no downtime and you can return to your day without any embarrassing redness.
Herbal Phyto Peel
Improve skin texture
Reduce appearance of acne scarring by stimulation new skin cell growth and collagen production
Even out skin tone
Reduce to appearance of sun spots and pigmentation associated with acne
Speed up skin healing
Reduce occurrence if breakouts, acne, and congestion
Herbal Phyto Peel is a natural peeling procedure for skin regeneration based on a mixture of natural herbs. It provides immediate glowing plumped skin with no down time or visible peeling. It’s is completely free from chemicals, synthetic binders and abrasives and therefore there are no toxic side effects.
LED Infrared Light Therapy
Encourages skin healing and renewal
Reduces redness and inflammation
Heals acne by stimulating new skin cell growth and collagen production
LED Infrared Light therapy is a very effective and an extremely relaxing skin treatment that rejuvenates and repairs your skin by actively stimulating your skin cells with medical grade light. It is especially effective when used in conjunction with other treatments, so it’s a great way to end your facial.
Andre covers your face with the LED machine for around 20 minutes. There is no visible light, just a very subtle warming feeling on your face. It was very a really therapeutic experience and I dozed off as It worked its magic.
The light encourages natural skin cell renewal and healing. It is perfect for those wanting a fast and effective treatment for skin rejuvenation and repair, reducing acne and acne scarring, improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet and dark circles, accelerating wound and skin healing, reducing pore size, brightening and smoothing skin texture, reducing inflammation, and tightening and firming your skin.
I’ll be following these three treatments over the next couple of months and then Andrea will examine my skin once again, address my skin concerns and introduce new treatments.
I will share with you the progress of my skin and the next consultations. If you’re having your own skin concerns I’d highly recommend contacting Andrea at The Skin Manifesto so she can give you some guidance and support around the next steps for you to take.
Rochelle x
Why are you posting?
That is the question I started to ask myself before I chose to take an Instagram Hiatus.
Before I begin, I will note that I realize this is quite a sensitive topic and I do not want to inflict negative emotions upon anyone reading this. This is merely my observations from emotions I’ve experienced and it’s something I feel compelled to share…
About a month and a half ago things felt really stale for me. And because this is my blog and I’m going to be fully transparent… honestly, I felt really fucking depressed. I struggled to get out of bed. There was no spring in my step. I drudged around, day to day, feeling like I had no real purpose. If you’ve personally experienced depression, you’ll know it comes and goes. Depression is like a demon, he hangs around in the background and at random, he chooses when he rears his ugly head again.
For me personally, in this instance, I felt it was a build up of some emotional healing and the cold weather we had in Sydney for two long weeks certainly did not improve my mood. It's in those darker times, that we are often consumed by emotions and it makes it hard for us to rationally pin point where they are stemming from. But in this case, I felt particularly strong emotions towards Instagram.
Depression has a habit of dragging along his best mate anger wherever he goes. And anger wasn’t being much of mate at all, he was domineering and overpowering. Safe to say, I’d much prefer the company of depression on his own.
Anger isn’t an emotion we often like to talk and I think that’s because because anger usually accompanies feelings of guilt. And of course, guilt is one of the most negative emotions of all. Fortunately, I was able to work through these emotion in the past month and hence, I now feel comfortable sharing my learnings.
So I started to question why I felt such negativity towards Instagram. First and foremost, I knew what action I had to take. I knew I had to stop posting and stay off the app until this emotion had passed. Without a word or insty update, I deleted the app.
And like any addiction, I got withdrawals and I found myself re downloading the app the next day. I made an agreement with myself that I wasn’t in a healthy mindset to post but I allowed myself to scroll the gram and with that I also allowed a wave of emotions to flood in.
Usually I would take what inspiration I needed from a person’s post but this time I started to question it. I questioned every single persons motives. I questioned whether their words were coming from a genuine heart felt place. I questioned their perceptions and then I questioned my own.
Now I bet you’re already thinking “Why are you judging and questioning others?!”. Judgment is human. We all have judgmental thoughts from time to time, we either choose to ignore them or observe them. Once you start observing your judgment you can to react, behave or think otherwise. So I decided to question my thoughts and judgments and delve into my emotion towards our online world and why the heck we were posting in the first place.
It took me a few days to really go inward and feel through it. At first I felt so angry that I couldn’t make sense of it or begin to express these emotions to anyone, to which ironically physically manifested in my body as laryngitis. Yup - I was so mad that I couldn’t speak! So there I was bed ridden, voiceless and angry as a bull. In hindsight, I think this was a (slightly more aggressive) reminder from the universe to say “don’t speak, just listen!” and so I did as I was commanded. I mean, I didn’t really have any choice so I sat with the uncomfortable emotions and I listened to what it was trying to teach me.
Two things I need to identify before getting into my learnings…
Firstly, Instagram is an amazing portal that enables us to connect with each generation, educate and entertain, share our lives, communicate our thoughts, earn a living and grow a business. It is undeniably the best social platform yet.
And secondly, take it how you will but in my opinion Instagram can impact our mental health. I AM NOT SAYING Instagram is bad for your mental health. It is totally dependent on the mental state of each individual and how they are using the app. And in this particular case, my state of depression was not caused by Instagram. Instagram was simply a triggering factor contributing to my depression.
The feelings we have towards others or situations in our life are often a reflection of a neglected or suppressed emotion within ourselves. I have been on my own self-development and emotional healing journey for some years now and I feel i'm able to take ownership of my emotions. And for me this means I take full responsibility for how I feel. I always look inward and self-reflect to understand my emotions towards situations and others.
And upon reflecting, the following observations I have made about instagram are just as much an observation about myself.
After questioning and over analyzing, I realised that there were mainly 4 reasons why we post to Instagram. Keeping in mind that everyone has their account for different purposes (business, personal, hobbies etc)
We have every right to share what we love. The same way we share what we love and enjoy with our friends, we do the same online by posting things that demonstrate our interests and our personality.
Whether it’s inspiring people to workout, grow their business or travel, Instagram is commonly used to inspire others by simply sharing what inspires them. I’ve also noticed that the awareness of mental-health and spirituality is becoming more and more accepted and it’s online community is expanding. People are being more vulnerable and sharing what they’re really thinking and it’s really refreshing to see others let down their façade and be honest about their lives rather than glamourising a photo with a single worded caption or an emoji.
A few weeks back I posted my art work on instagram. I had almost completed my artwork and was really happy with how it looked, so I took a little video and posted it on my story. Not long after, I hadn't received much feedback about it and I began to feel really down on myself and I began to doubt my work. In that moment I had realised that I was looking outwardly for validation about my art-work and inturn my own worth as a creative. Instead of patting myself on the back and feeling a sense of accomplishment, I was upset my work hadn’t been acknowledged by someone else. Similar to the way a boss acknowledges what a good job you've done – that’s how instagram engagement on our posts (or the lack of) can make us feel about our work.
But it’s not right to let a number determine how we feel, especially towards our hard work! And this is often the case when it comes to likes on a photo.
More engagement = more self worth. WRONG! But can you honestly try and tell me that society feels otherwise?
And lastly and the reason I feel most uncomfortable writing about is...
Now personally, I don’t think I’ve ever posted to gloat about an achievement or anything for that matter. Atleast I hope it’s never come across that way. And I think there is a fine line between sharing accomplishments and gloating. Everyone wants to share when something great happens in our life though right!? And there is nothing wrong with that. For instance, imagine buying the car of your dreams or landing the job of a lifetime and wanting to scream it out at the top of your lungs (or more accurately on your instagram story).
Some of you may even go straight to insta to make a post before telling your mum or your bestie. And that’s cool. But why do you feel its necessary? I mean, it may also comes back to validation too. There is nothing wrong with sharing your achievements. Something I saw on Instagram recently really stuck with me... A girl I follow posed next to her hot new Mercedes and in her caption she explained that she held off from posting the photo because she didn’t want to show off. After reading that I felt it was a genuine reflection that you can share your achievements and be humble in doing so. It also wouldn’t hurt to ask yourself before posting, why are you sharing your achievement. Is it relevant to your business? Is it going to serve your audience? Or is this to impress and if you’re trying to impress will you feel okay if it isn’t received well?
These feelings I had towards Instagram fleeted when my mood improved so perhaps my observations might seem a little skewed or pessimistic but it's often our darkest times that can teach us the wisest things. I was able to see things in a different light that's for sure. And hopefully this will change your perspective the next time you're scrolling through or about to post.
It's okay to ask yourself why you are posting. It's integral for us to know what is really important in our lives VS what is important to share on the gram.
Before I begin, I will note that I realize this is quite a sensitive topic and I do not want to inflict negative emotions upon anyone reading this. This is merely my observations from emotions I’ve experienced and it’s something I feel compelled to share…
About a month and a half ago things felt really stale for me. And because this is my blog and I’m going to be fully transparent… honestly, I felt really fucking depressed. I struggled to get out of bed. There was no spring in my step. I drudged around, day to day, feeling like I had no real purpose. If you’ve personally experienced depression, you’ll know it comes and goes. Depression is like a demon, he hangs around in the background and at random, he chooses when he rears his ugly head again.
For me personally, in this instance, I felt it was a build up of some emotional healing and the cold weather we had in Sydney for two long weeks certainly did not improve my mood. It's in those darker times, that we are often consumed by emotions and it makes it hard for us to rationally pin point where they are stemming from. But in this case, I felt particularly strong emotions towards Instagram.
Depression has a habit of dragging along his best mate anger wherever he goes. And anger wasn’t being much of mate at all, he was domineering and overpowering. Safe to say, I’d much prefer the company of depression on his own.
Anger isn’t an emotion we often like to talk and I think that’s because because anger usually accompanies feelings of guilt. And of course, guilt is one of the most negative emotions of all. Fortunately, I was able to work through these emotion in the past month and hence, I now feel comfortable sharing my learnings.
So I started to question why I felt such negativity towards Instagram. First and foremost, I knew what action I had to take. I knew I had to stop posting and stay off the app until this emotion had passed. Without a word or insty update, I deleted the app.
And like any addiction, I got withdrawals and I found myself re downloading the app the next day. I made an agreement with myself that I wasn’t in a healthy mindset to post but I allowed myself to scroll the gram and with that I also allowed a wave of emotions to flood in.
Usually I would take what inspiration I needed from a person’s post but this time I started to question it. I questioned every single persons motives. I questioned whether their words were coming from a genuine heart felt place. I questioned their perceptions and then I questioned my own.
Now I bet you’re already thinking “Why are you judging and questioning others?!”. Judgment is human. We all have judgmental thoughts from time to time, we either choose to ignore them or observe them. Once you start observing your judgment you can to react, behave or think otherwise. So I decided to question my thoughts and judgments and delve into my emotion towards our online world and why the heck we were posting in the first place.
It took me a few days to really go inward and feel through it. At first I felt so angry that I couldn’t make sense of it or begin to express these emotions to anyone, to which ironically physically manifested in my body as laryngitis. Yup - I was so mad that I couldn’t speak! So there I was bed ridden, voiceless and angry as a bull. In hindsight, I think this was a (slightly more aggressive) reminder from the universe to say “don’t speak, just listen!” and so I did as I was commanded. I mean, I didn’t really have any choice so I sat with the uncomfortable emotions and I listened to what it was trying to teach me.
Two things I need to identify before getting into my learnings…
Firstly, Instagram is an amazing portal that enables us to connect with each generation, educate and entertain, share our lives, communicate our thoughts, earn a living and grow a business. It is undeniably the best social platform yet.
And secondly, take it how you will but in my opinion Instagram can impact our mental health. I AM NOT SAYING Instagram is bad for your mental health. It is totally dependent on the mental state of each individual and how they are using the app. And in this particular case, my state of depression was not caused by Instagram. Instagram was simply a triggering factor contributing to my depression.
The feelings we have towards others or situations in our life are often a reflection of a neglected or suppressed emotion within ourselves. I have been on my own self-development and emotional healing journey for some years now and I feel i'm able to take ownership of my emotions. And for me this means I take full responsibility for how I feel. I always look inward and self-reflect to understand my emotions towards situations and others.
And upon reflecting, the following observations I have made about instagram are just as much an observation about myself.
After questioning and over analyzing, I realised that there were mainly 4 reasons why we post to Instagram. Keeping in mind that everyone has their account for different purposes (business, personal, hobbies etc)
To share
We have every right to share what we love. The same way we share what we love and enjoy with our friends, we do the same online by posting things that demonstrate our interests and our personality.
To inspire & connect
Whether it’s inspiring people to workout, grow their business or travel, Instagram is commonly used to inspire others by simply sharing what inspires them. I’ve also noticed that the awareness of mental-health and spirituality is becoming more and more accepted and it’s online community is expanding. People are being more vulnerable and sharing what they’re really thinking and it’s really refreshing to see others let down their façade and be honest about their lives rather than glamourising a photo with a single worded caption or an emoji.
To seek validation
A few weeks back I posted my art work on instagram. I had almost completed my artwork and was really happy with how it looked, so I took a little video and posted it on my story. Not long after, I hadn't received much feedback about it and I began to feel really down on myself and I began to doubt my work. In that moment I had realised that I was looking outwardly for validation about my art-work and inturn my own worth as a creative. Instead of patting myself on the back and feeling a sense of accomplishment, I was upset my work hadn’t been acknowledged by someone else. Similar to the way a boss acknowledges what a good job you've done – that’s how instagram engagement on our posts (or the lack of) can make us feel about our work.
But it’s not right to let a number determine how we feel, especially towards our hard work! And this is often the case when it comes to likes on a photo.
More engagement = more self worth. WRONG! But can you honestly try and tell me that society feels otherwise?
“You should measure your success on the effort you put in not by what’s received back from it and if you feel like you’re putting out valuable, authentic and consistent content than you should be happy. Also, remember that you’re work is for a niche group. It’s not for everyone.”
— GRACE YORK
And lastly and the reason I feel most uncomfortable writing about is...
To gloat
Now personally, I don’t think I’ve ever posted to gloat about an achievement or anything for that matter. Atleast I hope it’s never come across that way. And I think there is a fine line between sharing accomplishments and gloating. Everyone wants to share when something great happens in our life though right!? And there is nothing wrong with that. For instance, imagine buying the car of your dreams or landing the job of a lifetime and wanting to scream it out at the top of your lungs (or more accurately on your instagram story).
Some of you may even go straight to insta to make a post before telling your mum or your bestie. And that’s cool. But why do you feel its necessary? I mean, it may also comes back to validation too. There is nothing wrong with sharing your achievements. Something I saw on Instagram recently really stuck with me... A girl I follow posed next to her hot new Mercedes and in her caption she explained that she held off from posting the photo because she didn’t want to show off. After reading that I felt it was a genuine reflection that you can share your achievements and be humble in doing so. It also wouldn’t hurt to ask yourself before posting, why are you sharing your achievement. Is it relevant to your business? Is it going to serve your audience? Or is this to impress and if you’re trying to impress will you feel okay if it isn’t received well?
“Accomplishments impress. Vulnerability connects”
These feelings I had towards Instagram fleeted when my mood improved so perhaps my observations might seem a little skewed or pessimistic but it's often our darkest times that can teach us the wisest things. I was able to see things in a different light that's for sure. And hopefully this will change your perspective the next time you're scrolling through or about to post.
It's okay to ask yourself why you are posting. It's integral for us to know what is really important in our lives VS what is important to share on the gram.
12 of the best Vegan Cafes in Bali
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
During my stay in Bali I ate at some of the most amazing plant-based and vegan friendly cafes. The eco-friendly cafes in Bali are booming and although there was so many to try, I think I got to experience some of the best of them.
I’ve put together a guide of my top 12 best cafes to eat at in Bali in Sanur, Canggu, Seminyak, Nusa Lembongnan & Ubud.
Sanur is a central location for boat transfers so logistically it was convenient for me to stay a night before catching a boat to Nusa Lembongan.
Before departing I had to check out a café which my friend highly recommended...
And as the name suggests, every mouthful of it nourished my soul.
I’ve put together a guide of my top 12 best cafes to eat at in Bali in Sanur, Canggu, Seminyak, Nusa Lembongnan & Ubud.
FIRST STOP SANUR...
Sanur is a central location for boat transfers so logistically it was convenient for me to stay a night before catching a boat to Nusa Lembongan.
Before departing I had to check out a café which my friend highly recommended...
Soul in a Bowl
And as the name suggests, every mouthful of it nourished my soul.
To drink – the girls ordered young coconuts (which I might add were bigger than the size of my head) and fresh watermelon juice. I ordered a fresh prebiotic coconut kombucha and coconut milk cappuccino.
Something you should probably know about me is that I'm a milk snob when it comes to coffee (especially almond milk). Coconut milk is really popular in Bali so I jumped on the bandwagon and I can honestly say it was hard to come by a bad coffee in Bali. The coconut milk from Soul in a Bowl was really creamy and smooth.
To eat – we ordered an assortment of corn fritters, potato & mushroom rosti and smoothie bowls.
The customer service at Soul in a Bowl was exceptional. They took quite a large order and everything came out in good time. Although, I don’t have any other cafes in Sanur to compare it to, I definitely think this should be at the top of your list to visit.
The following week I stayed on the beautifully secluded Island, Nusa Lembongan where I discovered some of the most gorgeous cafes.
Eco Deli
This was such an amazing little vegan friendly café. They offer a very simple yet extremely satisfying menu. I had the pleasure of dining here for lunch and breakfast.
For lunch I ordered a Nasi Goreng with tofu which was so tasty and filling. And for breakfast I had the toasted chocolate chip banana bread topped with cinnamon and a coconut milk coffee. One word – AhhhMAZING!
If you visit Eco Deli be sure to try at least one of their cakes or sweet treats. The girls really enjoyed their smoothie bowls too.
Green Garden Cafe
The Green Garden is a very cute eco friendly café. They make an epic satay tempe in there Gado Gado bowl and a really moorish peanut butter smoothie bowl for breakfast. They have a huge veggie and vegan menu to choose from as well. It’s a relaxing environment and the staff are very friendly.
Mola Mola
Mola Mola was our local breakfast spot during our stay in Nusa Lembongan. It’s right on the beach so you can dig your toes in the sand while you sip on their rich coconut milk coffee and eat out of a coconut bowl.
Sandy Bay Beach Club
If you’re looking for a romantic dinner or drinks by the pool with a stunning view – Sandy Bay Beach Club is your place. It’s a really flash place to eat, decked out with white furniture on white sand.
Their menu caters for non-vegans and vegans and if you enjoy a cocktail or three then I highly suggest their pinacolada’s.
NEXT STOP CANGGU...
Canggu is where I spent most of my stay and thankfully it is buzzing with vegan cafes at every corner. It’s a busy little place but if you want to café hop till breakfast, lunch and dinner than Canggu is the place to be!
As Canggu was my favourite place to eat, I'm going to list the following in order of preference. Here are my top picks...
No 1. The Shady Shack
The Shady Shack would have to be my favourite place to eat in Canggu. They have every vegan cuisine you’ve ever dreamed of.
It’s got a really cool, jungle-like atmosphere. There are a few cosey tables and couches to hang at out the front and shaded area to sit also.
They have everything from juices, coffee, desserts, bowls, salads... and if you enjoy a burger - Don’t leave without trying their tempe burger. The sweet potato fries are delicious too (I’m salivating at the thought).
No 2. Betelenut Café, Canggu
Time and time again I found myself escaping to the same little table upstairs of Betelenut Cafe, where I enjoyed the balmy Bali breeze and listened to the hum of the busy little streets below.
Betelenut Cafe has a big variety of healthy options to choose from including juices, mexican dishes, salads and curries. The coffee is a hit and the food is wholesome, healthy and plentiful and really well priced.
No 3. Café Organic
Without a doubt, Café Organic is one of the trendiest cafes in Canggu. This little café has the coolest and laid back vibe.
If you really appreciate minimalistic décor then you will love this place! Even the wifi password is super cool ‘NO BAD DAYS’. The menu is slightly pricier but the food does not disappoint. It’s organic heaven that caters for vegetarians, gluten-free and vegans.
No 4. Crate Cafe
Crate Crafe Canggu is another trendy cafe. It's much larger than Cafe Organic but it has a very similar atmosphere, I almost didn't feel cool enough to eat there.
If you're a creative, you'll love all the artworks displayed on the back walls. Bring your laptop and perch yourself on one of their couches where you can work and eat off their crate tables.
The menu is huge and the food was awesome. It is definitely one of the coolest cafes in Canggu.
No 5. Warung Bu Mi
If you’re looking for a huge plate of traditional Indonesian food for less than $5, than look no further than Warung Bu Mi.
I ate here an uncountable amount of times. It was conveniently next door to my villa but also a really enjoyable and super affordable meal.
Below is a plate of caramelised tempe, assorted vege, tofu and a side of peanut sauce… I REPEAT DO NOT forget the peanut sauce!
Seminyak – Kynd Community
Lo and behold, the instgrammable pink paradise wall. Kynd Community is a cute little vegan friendly café tucked away in Seminyak. It’s pretty much a pink palace… pink walls, pink cups, pink seats, you name it!
The food is presented so beautifully (keep your camera handy) and each meal is so well thought out. Thecoffee is made with homemade mylks – almond, coconut etc.
This is the all time Instagrammers heaven!
Moksa Plant-based Restaurant, Ubud
On our first day in Ubud we spent our first few hours getting lost and happened to stumble across the most magical place of all. Moksa Plant Based restaurant is like no other. It’s tucked away in the bush or what I like to describe as a fairy garden. All the greenery you see around you are the crops of produce used in their food.
The owner is a very humble and generous man. He really puts his heart and soul into making it a personal and memorable experience for all.
The plant-based meals are exquisite. The menu has so much to offer so it’s very hard to make up your mind.
We perched underneath a little hut overlooking their beautiful little paradise and enjoyed some of the best hot cacao, pancakes, tempe bacon, purple sweet potato fries and so much more.
It’s a big call, but it would have to be my favourite restaurant in Bali.
Dharma Coffee & Juice
From the friendly barista’s to the carefully selected décor, Dharma Coffee & Juice Cafe Ubud really opened up my heart and soul.
Dharma Coffee & Juice Cafe is the perfect stop for coffee and a small meal. On each table they have personalised quote cards, which my friends and I loved flicking through.
The food is made with so much love and I enjoyed every bite and sip.
Banana Prebiotic Nice Cream
Monday, January 22, 2018
Lately my favourite sweet snack has been ice-cream. I won't lie, I have eaten lots of gelato over the Christmas break but I really don't digest dairy well, hence it's something I only treat myself to every once in a while.
With the new year ahead, I'm back into my #healthgoals #fitnessgoals but I'm not ready to give up my ice-cream obsession and so naturally, I've created a healthy version that I can enjoy without the guilt (and stomach cramps). Nice-cream - meaning nice for your tummy and your health!
The following recipe is promoted by Power Foods. Power Foods has sent me their health boost Digestion blend. The digestion blend contains plant-based ingredients including carob, yacon, kiwi and green banana powder which give the ice-cream a really creamy and caramel taste! These key ingredients are prebiotic soluble and insoluble fibres and digestion enzymes which help support digestion. So when using this powder, un-like a regular gelato ice-cream, i'll be able to digest this one without any issues.
Here's how to make it:
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 tbsp coconut cream
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 fresh pitted dates
- 1 tsp Super Food Digestion powder
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
- heaped scoop of ice
- splash of almond milk
Blend all together in a vitamix. This will take time. Keep stiring the nicecream until it’s blended smoothly. Serve into a bowl.
You can be creative as you like with your toppings! As pictured, I’ve topped mine with peanut butter, cinamon and cracked buckwheat. Coconut flakes, cocoa nibs and fresh fruit would also work well!
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