Tesalate towel: PRODUCT REVIEW

Jacky Lam and Volkan Ozbek are the founder of Tesalate, and they say about their clever invention:

 

"We put a lot of love and passion into making every product great. But we always want to strive to make it better. So we would very much love to hear your feedback (especially criticisms)."

 

Nothing to criticise here at all!!

The Australian duo started the company less than two years ago, and have resonated with countless customers... including me! (See above for the design I have - yep, a towel for two which I've used as a picnic rug! See HERE for my TikTok video on that).

Tesalate is proudly Australian designed, and the founders add:

"The idea for Tesalate came to us when we were taking a hike to a secluded beach at the Royal National Park in Sydney. When it was time to head back, our towel was wet, heavy, and worst of all sandy. We started questioning if we could make a towel that not only performed much better but looked amazing too."

After 18 solid months of their idea germinating - "researching, designing, stressing, crying and laughing" - they launched Tesalate at Bondi Beach Markets.

The success was immediate and HUGE!

"From those humble beginnings, Tesalate has grown faster than we could have imagined and has sold to over 70 countries in its first 12 months."

You can't wish anything but good luck and good vibes always to these incredible self starters!

Tesalate is so versatile: I keep mine in my car always as they are perfect for picnics, my coverall to keep things in my car cool, my blanket when I am transporting something and I want my car leather seats protected (told you it's versatile@!), even as a blanket for back seat car riders who get cold, and of course... for random beach trips!

Order yours HERE.

And get excited with these inspo pics below:

 

More benefits of the Tesalate towel, taken straight from their website:

  

It's actually antimicrobial

When you expose a moist towel to bacteria, for example from your sweat or a yoga mat, it provides an excellent breeding ground for mould, mildew, and bacteria. Tesalate workout towels have a safe antimicrobial additive built into the very core of the fabric. Antimicrobial means they are effective against not just bacteria but also the growth of fungi including mould, mildew and algae.

 

No more smelly towel

 

Tesalate have learnt from years of developing their beach towels how to make a fast drying fabric. When you combine this with their new antibacterial features, Tesalate workout towels will remain smelling fresh. Say goodbye to smelly towels in your bag.

 

Holds up to 1 litre of water

Tesalate beach towels are capable of holding up to 1 litre of water without dripping. How? 200 times thinner than a single human hair, our Absorblite™ fabric can absorb much larger quantities of water than the regular beach towel. It’s the superior choice for your next swim, surf or dip.

 

Dries in half the time of a regular beach towel

Rapid-dry was a feature high in Tesalate's priorities when it came to revolutionising the beach towel. The functional innovation of their Absorblite™ fabric means that Tesalate beach towels dry in half the time of a regular beach towel.

 

No more heavy, bulky towels

The Absorblite™ fabric is purpose-built to be compact and lightweight (even when wet) for ultimate convenience. 

Whether you’re opting for the standard or oversized, the Tesalate beach towel can fit easily in your tote, backpack or travel bag. Just roll it up and go!

Love that for you. Love that for me.

 

Order yours HERE.

 

Dyson Flyaway Attachment: REVIEW

You know a NEW Dyson attachment is BIG news in the hair world... especially when you consider that every single Dyson hair tool ever invented has essentially revolutionised the hair industry... forever.

As a long-time reviewer of hair tools, for traditional print media (magazines and newspapers), and of course for this portal site here Josie's Juice for the past 11 years, I know an 'aha moment' in beauty when I see it.

I've been across many new hair tool launches, and love using my hair as a quasi follicular 'guinea pig', and while I am no professional hair stylist, I certainly know my way around hair curlers and curling wands, and yes a straightener... I prefer my hair with a side of kink than dead straight, FYI.  

For the Dyson global research and development team, it's much more than working on just a whim when uncovering what's going to work on hair of ALL types. As you can imagine, it takes years and years, and teams and teams of experimental trials until they, well, nail it!

And positively nail it they have.

So... introducing: the Dyson Flyaway Attachment - for salon standard smooth finish.

Feast your eyes, then watch the video on how it works, and how to attach it to your existing Dyson tool:

The new Dyson Supersonic™ Flyaway attachment harnesses the Coanda effect – the phenomenon first engineered for styling within the Dyson Airwrap styler – to attract and lift longer hairs to the front, while pushing flyaways through the tress, and out of sight. 

In hiding flyaways it increases strand alignment and enhances natural shine.

The best part of all? It happens without the extreme heat. In fact, their credo is: "healthy, salon style at home."

New Dyson Supersonic Flyaway attachment works to 'mechanise' professional stylists’ techniques to smooth flyaways, without the extreme heat. Plus, it's engineered for different hair types: the Flyaway tool adds to the Dyson Supersonic attachments designed to style different types of hair, including the wide tooth comb for afro and textured hair and a re-engineered diffuser and styling concentrator.

Okay, so it's time to give a shout out to this actual engineers who I know wear lab coats to get things right just for us...

“Our engineers are driven to rethink convention and our obsession with airflow led us to push the potential of Coanda after observing how stylists use a ‘brush and blow dryer’ technique to smooth flyaway," says Emma Sheldon, Dyson Hair Care Category Director.

"Traditionally, this skilled technique involves the stylist using a round brush to section and manage the hair, whilst directing airflow from the dryer to push the flyaways into the style and out of sight. We set out to find a way to innovate a way to mechanise this method for the everyday styler. The new Dyson Supersonic™ Flyaway attachment harnesses the phenomenon of Coanda to smooth flyaways out of sight, without exposing the hair to extreme heat damage.”

More about my fave engineering peeps behind it all:

Dyson engineers gathered in excess of 1.14 billion (BILLION!) individual pieces of professional styling data, captured from over 10,000 hours of professional stylist trials, observing more than 420 stylists across 80 salons around the world.

Look, just look at them in action:

While stylists were observed using a round brush and blow dryer to smooth stray hairs, self-stylers seeking that same salon standard sleek finish were found to turn to high heat solutions after styling, such as straighteners with fixed plates. This final pass exposes the hair to unnecessary additional heat, increasing the risk of preventable damage – damaged hair is weaker and more prone to breakage, thus perpetuating the prevalence of further flyaways.

 

Adds Jen Atkin, Dyson Global Styling Ambassador: “I think we can all agree that flyaway frustration is real! Nothing feels as good as that salon blow dry finish. The trick to tame annoying flyaways is a core skill for a stylist. However, we want our clients to now be able to get that same glossy finish at home. Dyson’s latest attachment does exactly that – it allows smooth seekers to get a super sleek finish, on their own, not just from the salon.”

 

Engineers tested a range of angles before reaching the optimum semi-circular curve that gives the Flyaway Attachment its distinct shape. Early prototypes feature a closed circular loop, yet through further testing, engineers identified the bottom of the circle to be superfluous. Dyson’s lean engineering philosophy fuelled further iterations to remove surplus material, without impacting performance.  

 

The Dyson Supersonic Flyaway Attachment is a unique form.

Dyson has a heritage of changing the shape of convention, spearheaded by the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, a tool engineered to deliver a spectrum of styles across different hair types, without extreme heat. 

 

Enter hair stalwart and superstar Renya Xydis, Dyson Styling Ambassador in Australia:

“The Dyson Supersonic Flyaway attachment is my new secret weapon to tame those annoying flyaways. Unlike some conventional attachments, you control the tool, it doesn’t control you! The engineering behind the Coanda effect makes it so much easier to achieve salon standard smoothness. You’ll look like you’ve stepped out of the salon from the ease of your bathroom – yet another game changer from Dyson.”

 

More about the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer:

It dries hair... FAST.

It's powered by the small, yet powerful Dyson digital motor V9, which spins at up to 110,000rpm – up to SIX times faster than other hair dryer motors.

The size of the Dyson digital motor V9 allowed engineers to reposition the motor to the handle for optimum balance in the hand.

'Intelligent Heat Control' measures air temperature over 40 times a second and regulates the heat. This prevents extreme heat damage, to help protect your hair’s shine. Air Multiplier technology amplifies air by three times to produce a high-pressure, high-velocity jet of controlled air, for fast drying and precision styling. 

 

After rigorously testing different hair types in our laboratories, Dyson has engineered different attachments for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer to style different types of hair. In addition to the new Flyaway Attachment, Dyson engineered attachments include the Gentle Air Attachment, Wide Tooth Comb, Diffuser and Styling Concentrator.

 

Gentle air dryer: Engineered for fast yet gentle styling for fine hair and sensitive scalps, while also helping prevent colour fade.

 

The gentle air dryer provides a softer, more diffused airflow whilst still allowing fast drying.  Much like the Dyson Airwrap™ styler, this attachment takes advantage of the Coanda effect. The attachment manipulates the machine’s airflow to widen its path, delivering a gentle, cooler airflow to the scalp.  It does this by maintaining the same amount of energy as bare product through diffusing the air over a larger area. This allows users to have the benefit of using the product in the high flow and high heat settings.

 

By maintaining lower temperatures, the Gentle air attachment can help prevent against colour fade, keeping your colour brighter for longer. THIS I LOVE!

 

Wide-tooth comb: engineered for curly and coily hair, the new Wide tooth comb helps shape, lengthen and create volume. Conventional combs can lack styling ability, cause pain and damage hair. They also lack in robustness.

Dyson’s new Wide-tooth comb’s teeth have a large soft radius. This facilitates a balance of evenness of flow distribution across the attachment. This is more comfortable and gentle on the scalp while enabling even drying. The teeth are held together by a flexible torsion bar. This enables effective detangling whilst allowing the teeth to naturally conform to the shape of the scalp in-use. 

Dyson’s diffuser has been engineered for even diffusion to help define curls and reduce frizz. Dyson’s second-generation diffuser possesses a two-tiered mesh system, creating its own pressure environment within the head of the attachment. The mesh acts as a porous barrier dissipating the airflow. This results in an even distribution of low velocity airflow – enhancing and defining curls. 

 

This attachment also has longer prongs. These are designed to channel uninterrupted airflow to the roots of the hair. The prongs also scoop back on themselves. This directs hot airflow away from the scalp but still allows the airflow to dry the hair. 

 

Styling concentrator: Fast, precise airflow for controlled styling, one section at a time. This is engineered for different hair types whether you’re looking to create a smooth, straight finish or a bouncy blow dry. To enable a thinner, more precise airflow, it is now wider and thinner. 

 

The new Dyson SupersonicFlyaway attachment is fully compatible with existing models of the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and will be available both individually, priced at AU$99, and within the box of new machines purchased from 5 August, with an RRP of AU$599.

 

The new Dyson Supersonic Flyaway Attachment is available when purchasing the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer iron/fuchsia, black/nickel and bright nickel/bright copper on Dyson.com.au. 

The new Flyaway Attachment is also available when purchasing the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer iron/fuchsia and black/nickel at David Jones, Myer, The Iconic, AdoreBeauty.com.au, HairHouse, Sephora, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and selected Bing Lee stores.

 

To buy, learn more and experience the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer, visit Dyson.com.au.

All Dyson machines come with a two year warranty covering parts and labour, and when purchased directly from Dyson, they have a 45 day money back guarantee.

It's advisable to buy direct from the people who made it at Dyson.com.au for exclusive models, flexible delivery options, best price policy and auto-warranty registration.

A bit more about Dyson because I am so fascinated:

Dyson is a global research and technology company with engineering, research, development, manufacturing and testing operations in Singapore, the UK, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Having started in a coach house in the UK, Dyson has consistently grown since it was established in 1993. Today, it has two technology campuses in the UK spanning over 800 acres in Malmesbury and Hullavington and a global headquarters in Singapore. Dyson remains family-owned and employs over 14,000 people globally including 6,000 engineers and scientists. It sells products in 83 markets internationally.  

 

Dyson is investing £2.75bn in the business to conceive revolutionary products and technologies. 

Dyson has global teams of engineers, scientists and software developers focused on the development of solid-state battery cells, high-speed electric digital motors, sensing and vision systems, robotics, machine learning technologies and A.I. investment.

Since inventing the first cyclonic bagless vacuum cleaner - the DC01 - in 1993, Dyson has created problem solving technologies for haircare, air purification, robotics, lighting and hand drying.

More pics of the Dyson Flyaway Attachment in action here:

 

Sydney Seaplanes + Empire Lounge Restaurant: REVIEW

You know that whole 'be a tourist in your city' - well, there is no better city to bring this adage to life than in Sydney.

With the dreaded P word (you know, pandemic) still floating, going on a mini flight where no passport is required (your ID yes, of course), and you get the best seat in the plane, window seat or not, wherever you sit.

This is Sydney Seaplanes.

Everything about this experience is beautiful.

From arriving at Lyne Park at Rose Bay where you'll see the Rose Bay ferry stop, Catalina restaurant, and the adjoining park, you immediately feel a sense of ease.

The staff at Sydney Seaplanes are so welcoming - when you arrive, temperatures are taken as is customary now, and you are ushered to the room which doubles as a place to discover the history of smaller planes, and the people behind them, as well as the briefing room where you'll get instructions from your pilot, which I think is clever as you build that trust immediately.

Gus was our pilot for the day, and gave us said instructions even showing us how to don the non inflated safety jacket, and after the brief but thorough run through, we were taken through Empire Lounge restaurant across to the seaplane dock, awaiting our departure.

We are ushered onto the deck and and before we embark on the flight - you'll be on one of two of the Sydney Seaplanes in the fleet - the pilot takes a photo of you and your party, and it's a great way to know you've got your keepsake all done.

As I said, any seat is a good seat, and the three of us (my twin son and daughter, age 13) all set right behind pilot Gus and co-pilot Antony.

The plane has the usual hum you'd expect on a smaller plane flight, but completely bearable and not required headphones of any sort.

Plus, you'll want to listen as your pilot speaks about what you're seeing.

We went on the 'Sydney Secrets' flight path, which completes a glorious run over the renowned Sydney coastline, heading north to Palm Beach across the natural set of TV show ‘Home and Away’. 

Return via the meandering waterways of Pittwater for a final circuit over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, before landing at the Seaplane Terminal in Rose Bay.

This flight path - and the approximately 40 minutes from boarding to landing - was perfect for us, and ironically we'd visited the Barrenjoey Lighthouse the very day before, so I could point out what we'd seen from a whole new perspective.

In case you want to know, there is a generous amount of room on the flight, as much as you'd expect on a smaller plane, and you certainly have to room. You will be asked your weight at the time of booking, but don't worry you won't be weighed when you arrive at the terminal (but don't be cheeky and lie about it, eek. I did not do this of course...).

The flight itself is glorious.

Who doesn't want to soar across the clouds?

While you're on there of course take the liberty of taking as photos and videos.

Though do take your time to just... be.

Gus did advise that you may feel a little ill if you stay on your phone too much. I can attest that I took lots of photos and videos, and didn't feel ill, but it's of course just so lovely to just immerse yourself. Do that.

On our flight, we descended slowly (it's not a massive hurtle towards the water, so you don't have to brace yourself) to allow a couple to disembark at Palm Beach. Our plane waited briefly for the couple to be picked up by a pre arranged water taxi which continuously does the rounds at the stops, and Gus was happy to wait until the couple boarded their boat transportation.

We were off again, and that thrill with the ascent into the sky from the ocean is one of the main  reasons you'll want to experience Sydney Seaplanes.

You can do the scenic flight, or the 'fly 'n' dine', and we chose the latter, so off we went to Empire Lounge Restaurant, the very spot we embarked at the beginning of our flight.

A side note, the disembarking is equally easy. If you are a klutz like me don't worry, the pilot will give you a hand.

Back to our brunch!

We arrived back to base at 10.40am, so it was time for brunch - lunch starts at midday.

Our brunch options are delicious - called the 'graze and gaze', your plentiful, fresh lunch includes:

- toasted sourdough with jams, jellies and assorted pastries (the croissants were super fresh!)

- baked egg shakshuka (I have no words for this warm hug of a dish, with soft beans in the mix, and a lovely amount of spice)

- fried haloumi sticks (insanely GOOD!)

- a lovely selection of freshly cut fruit

- cheese with fresh honeycomb (we had gorgonzola - blue vein cheese - with real honeycomb, which my daughter gulped super quick!)

- crackers, house made dips, olives and pickles

PLUS, a choice of crispy pancetta (so good!), mushrooms, and smoked salmon.

This is $35 per person and SUCH good value - there was plenty leftover so you won't leave hungry. It is $54 per person if you are adding a glass of champagne, or $15 per person for kid's choices.

Weekend brunch starts at 9.30am.

Sit at the table on the deck, with ample seating for couples and groups, or sit inside and still enjoy the beautiful water view, which is what we did as we were a tad chilly.

There are several routes you can choose from for your flight.

- Sydney Secrets

- Sydney Highlights 

- Sydney Highlights and Shark Island

We experienced Sydney Secrets and it was the perfect amount of time to soar above the clouds, and kind of the perfect flight time for kids.

I came along with my 13 year old twins, my son and daughter, and they had the best time on the day. It's the kind of experience to talk about for years to come. It's experiential in every way: the sights and sounds and soaring above the clouds is such a buzz at almost any age.

Click HERE to read more on Sydney Secrets.

The cost per person for Sydney Secrets is: $400 per person, and it includes: a 30 minute scenic flight, three course a la carte meal (we came early and had the brunch to share, see below for menus), and share any entrée including the delicious appellation oysters. Plus, one main course per person and dessert of the day per person. Also: 1 glass of bubbles per person

HERE are the menus to choose from.

You can also add extras if you like: add pre-flight Champagne at Empire Lounge Restaurant - $20 per person.

And: add a water taxi from Sydney CBD to the Sydney Seaplanes Rose Bay Terminal - $140 per person.

You can also have the option to charter flights for events and work functions.

For all the info you need, go to:

https://www.seaplanes.com.au

Alisa and Lysandra al.ive body range: INTERVIEW

Can you count how many seasons of 'The Block' have been broadcast so far on Australian TV?

We've lost count, but even as a dip in 'n' out kind reno show watcher, I do recall some standout, familiar faces from the reality TV show, and at the forefront are these familiar faces who have continued to be a total tour de force in the design and development industries...

Alisa and Lysandra (do they even need a surname? It's Fraser, BTW) are the twin sister duo you're likely to remember the most of all from the hit Channel 9 TV show, and these ladies have been busy bees, launching a product they could not have dreamt to be more apt in these times of the global pandemic... you know the one: coronavirus or Covid-19 ("rona" if you're an Aussie).

They chatted with Josie's Juice about their new al.ive body range and what it means to get this love project - with a huge side of generosity - off the ground.

We kick off the a good natured laugh about the timing of a soap product in the midst of a global spotlight on keeping hands clean.

"Why has it taken a pandemic to wash hands!" they laugh.

YES! Please tell me you are washing hands ANYWAY: when you get home from an outing, after going to the toilet, before you prepare food, after you sneeze... c'mon folks, I know I am a bit (a lot) OCD, but don't be a grub when it comes to hygiene. So glad I can legit now say this without being offensive...

The famous twins reveal how al.ive kicked off, and like any good prod launch story, they fulfilled a need they had for themselves.

"How it all came about was that we were styling our house after having done a development a few years ago in Albert Park (VIC), and we were finishing our redevelopment, and we needed to style our bathrooms. And I reckon we went out looking for a day... we wanted something that was unique and a little bit different and we just couldn't find it," says Alisa.

"And that's where the idea was born," adds Lysandra, who reveals the line was actually 18 months in development.

"We knew we wanted to be able to give back in some way. We've always had a love for nature, it's where our hearts are."

"And we thought what a better way to do that than to plant trees, especially with all that has happened with the emissions and green house gases, and obviously the bushfires as well... but this was planned well before the bushfires, and obviously reforestation and planing trees is even more important now," says Alisa.

"We came up with the name 'al.ive' as a play on our our initials (the 'A' in Alisa and the 'L' in Lysandra) to help keep the planet alive.

"The consciousness behind the brand was really important to us, and we launched a month ago, and so far we are up to 1900 trees (at the time of this interview)."

"We want to get to the point where we can plant an entire 'al.ive forest'," they reveal. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!

In fact, a key part of the al.ive body business model is that for every purchase made, one tree will be planted in Australia - they spent a lot of time researching organisations that align with their values, and proudly partnered with One Tree Planted.

One Tree Planted is an environmental charity whose mission is to create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity and help reforestation efforts around the world. Most importantly, in response to the recent bushfire crisis in Australia, they have initiated plans for enhanced projects in Australia to aid reforestation, which was ultimately the reason the sisters chose to align with them. 

"It was really important to us that it was done in Australia as well. Our focus was always Australia, especially given the bushfires," they add.



The sisters are based in Adelaide, and the range is formulated in Melbourne, so it's completely an Australian love project.

Both ladies have kids, and I ask what they think of what their mums are up to?

"They just wish that we weren't so busy!" they add with a laugh. "My son tells me: "Mum, I'm not saying you shouldn't work... but does this mean you will be less busy now?"

Both roar with laugh knowingly, completely aware that is far from the truth.

The line is ripe for brand extensions, I suggest. So, what are they cooking up right now?

"We are definitely working on more products," they reveal, which is a bit of a scoop seeing as plans are certainly in the works, but they're firmly focusing on phase one right now.

So far, stockists of the new al.ive body range are in bespoke style stores around Australia, and the duo couldn't be happier.

"Yes, we've been really blown away by that actually, having only just launched... we have over 40 stockists, and really good quality ones too."

See the stockists RIGHT HERE.


You can buy al.ive products online on their site, or at the stores stocking them, and some of their stockists also have their online stores, so it's super easy.

Alisa and Lysandra finished up on 'The Block' SEVEN years ago. The identical twins won 'The Block: Sky High' in 2013, then made a successful return on 'The Block: Fans vs Faves' in 2014.

I ask what has lit them up the most since leaving the show.

"We actually have not stopped since leaving the show," they laugh.

"We feel like we have been put in the washing machine, and... well, we have't been spat out yet", says Alisa.

"Yeah, I feel like we have definitely found our calling [with the new al.live line] and we just ran with it, and we didn't even know we had a flair for it. We took the leap!" adds Lysandra.

"I think the biggest thing is I think people might think you go on a result TV show and it all kind of of falls in your lap. But I think what a lot of people don't realise is all the hard work that goes in behind the scenes.

"So many people get the opportunity to go on a reality TV show, but it's what you do with that when the cameras stop rolling, that's when the hard work really begins, and I think that's probably the difference between success and not fulfilling what you set out to do," says Alisa.

"Yep... we haven't stopped. It's [the show] is a platform... that's what it is.

"Now have something that we didn't realise we really wanted," adds Lysandra.

Yeah sure... you can revert back to a bar of soap... but if you're a constant hand washer (hello! And now you should be anyway) it's just so much neater and kids don't make that mess with soap shavings around the sink, ugh.

"We didn't reinvent the wheel, we just did it better!" says Alisa. I LOVE THIS STATEMENT!

"Yes, who would've thought that soap could be as important as it suddenly is now!" adds Lysandra.

"It's perfect for kids too, and our kids are washing their hands even more!"

The range includes naturally derived hand and body wash and a hand and body lotion, in a choice of three luxe scents: kaffir lime and green tea; fig, apricot and sage; and coconut and wild orange.



It's proudly Australian-made and developed, using the finest ingredients including essential oils and native botanical extracts,  and are 100 per cent vegan, palm-oil free and are not tested on animals.

The brand name was also inspired by the sisters’ passion for environmental causes and keeping the planet ‘alive'.

The range, which features stylish bottles custom-designed by Alisa and Lysandra in three on-trend colours - the terracotta coloured range are now firmly in my bathroom.

“al.ive body is therefore aimed at the style and sustainability conscious consumer who values design and seeks out high product integrity in a beautifully balanced way. In this era, purpose-led brands that help strengthen our sense of self and our contribution to the planet are in big demand," they say. The al.ive body collection: The Wash $38 The Lotion $42 The Duo with Tray (in gift box) $79 For more information visit www.alivebody.com.au