Little Things Can Make a Difference - Or How I Learned to Love Organic Skincare

"If I were to say I have always been an eco-friendly or green person (or as my ‘funny friends’ call me a tree hugger), I’d be lying.

Sure I’ve always had a love of nature, I would spend hours watching documentaries on wildlife (especially rainforests and anything to do with aquatic life) with my dad as a kid; but that was about it.

So what changed? Well as a student I finally fulfilled a dream and visit a rainforest myself. It was breathtaking, and just what my imagination had always led me to believe… well at least it was at first.

It was after I was show the devastation that had been made due to deforestation, and the effects it had on the wildlife that began to change my life (just look at the picture above, it saddens the heart). Since then my lifestyle has swayed greatly over the years to living it in an ecologically friendly way. It’s a cliché I know, that one person can’t make a difference, so why bother? Well because if everyone did bother then it would make a difference, and every small step, even from one person, is a move in the right direction.

Of course it’s not been easy. Where I live recycling has only just become a mandatory thing in regards to weekly waste collection (before that it was a trip to the recycling centre once a week) and the selection of organics products has been pretty poor, with the exception of organic food, which most supermarkets stock a selection of.

However food and recycling is only a small part of it and as a woman I wanted to see if I could go green on one of our biggest failings, skincare, cosmetics and toiletries. These items in normal life are so full of toxins and unnatural ingredients it’s surprising us girls aren’t responsible for melting the icecaps on our own.

Where to start? I mean organic skin care and organic toiletries? Where the heck do you get these things? Yes we know there are places that don’t test these on animals, but that’s not the same thing (though something I do applaud). My search took me online, and it was there I found that you can get almost anything you need for day to day life, all wrapped up in an organic, natural and eco-friendly little package (figuratively and literally).

The ranges of organic skincare on offer are huge with brands such as Eselle, Spieza, Miessence and much more beyond all doing facial skincare products such as moisturiser to facial cleanser and face wash to lip balm (yep something as simple as that has an eco alternative).Then there is body skin care, such as hand creams and lotions, body moisturisers and soaps and body washes all of which have “green” counterparts.

Toiletries and cosmetics are another must for us girls and we aren’t failed here either. Organics lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara and even foundation are readily available online. Organic toiletries are taken care of with organic deodorants, body powders, organic perfumes and more; the even have organic panty liners, towels and tampons in case you’re not sure.

Now the point is that these aren’t just good for the environment though. These things are all good for YOU. Many of the skincare and toiletry products we use, as well as cosmetics and make-up we apply are so full of chemicals and toxins you’d not be surprised about my statement that a women getting ready for a night out could kill half a rainforest on her own, and if it does that much damage to the environment, then what bout the toll it takes on you.

So come one girls, give it a try. It is true one person won’t make a difference, but if we all try to help the planet (and help ourselves and our bodies as well) even with just a few things where we can such as an organic skincare alternative, or some organic deodorant, or even organic cosmetics… then that is a start to making a difference."

Article by Kim Walsh
Self confessed 'Tree Hugger' and proud of it!

Visit our other blog at http://buyorganics.vox.com

The buyOrganics Guide to Safe, Organic Beauty on a Budget

Twelve natural, healthy budget buys to beat the credit crunch!

Products such as organic skincare, organic bodycare, food and organic clothing are often unfortunate casualties of the lessening of our disposable incomes, but in fact, natural, healthy beauty can still be achieved on a budget!

Leading on-line organic lifestyle store buyOrganics (www.buyorganics.co.uk) offers their pick of the best quality, low budget organic skincare products to keep you beautiful and healthy through these tight times….

Facial cleansers which are not only organic and natural but cleanse the skin deeply without the use of synthetic chemicals and preservatives, include:

Essential Care Lemon & Tea Tree Organic Face Wash Cleanser £12
Includes balancing organic essential oils of lavender and tea tree together with extra virgin olive oil and aloe juice for clean, fresh skin. This vegan product is also Soil Association certified.

Raw Gaia Living Facial Cleanser £12.50
Made with cold-pressed oils of jojoba and wheatgerm, organic essential oils of sweet orange, eucalyptus and lemon plus organic floral waters of witch hazel, tea tree and juniper, this is a refreshing, purifying cleanser made with the purest ingredients.

Earthbound Organics Face Cleanser Cream £7.54
Combining rosewater, calendula, sunflower oil, carrot oil and beeswax.

Moisturising the skin after cleansing is essential for maintaining healthy skin:

The Earthbound Organics skincare range of five different face creams for different skin types are a real beauty bargain – just £8.89 and all beautifully formulated from organic ingredients and essential oils. A little really does go a long way, making your precious pounds last longer. Try from the range according to your skin: Nutritive Cream, Rejuvenating Cream, Jojoba & Vitamin E Cream, Carrot Cream as well as their ultra-moisturising Avocado Night Cream.

Other fantastic bargain moisturisers include the fantastic:

Raw Gaia’s For Her Daughters Moisturiser £10.80
Weirdly named but highly nutritive, this special female formulation contains 100% organic rosehip, evening primrose, Palma Rosa and fair trade cocoa butter.

Raw Gaia MSM Beauty Cream £10.80
Containing nutritive sulphur especially for mature and damaged skin, this is an incredible healing skin care preparation perfect for daily moisturising.

For a special pamper, a face mask and a scrub can provide the perfect pick-me-up:

Raw Gaia Chocolate Face Mask £8.20
Probably the most perfect face mask ever invented – great for skin and smells amazing. This living food for the skin contains detoxifying raw chocolate powder, sundried red clay, organic turmeric and organic amia fruit powder to nourish the pores.

Earthbound Organics Facial Scrub £6.54
With organic lavender, oatmeal and aduki beans for a natural, healthy organic skincare scrub.

Must-have items for skin repair and probably the most cost-effective anti-cellulite remedy on earth!:

Essential Care Baby Repair Lotion Natural Eczema Cream £8.94
Not just for babies but good for adults too – soothes and protects skin complaints such as eczema and dermatitis.

Earthbound Organics Anti Cellulite Oil £7.95
What a bargain – not only a snip price-wise but this skin care product full of organic essential oils such as geranium, rosemary, fennel and juniper, plus organic sunflower oil, ivy and vitamin E, to help stimulate the circulatory system, balance hormones and detoxify the skin.

Keep your body clean and fresh the natural way too:

Essential Care Aloe Vera Bodywash £7.99
Using corn sugar to mildly cleanse, this body wash is fragrance-free for extra care but amazingly moisturising and containing 100% natural ingredients.

Essential Care Deodorant Stone £5.95
With the health risks of aluminium chlorohydrate still proving controversial, this purse-friendly alternative contains naturally formed crystals of non-toxic potassium alum ensures no pore blockage or staining. Simply moisten the stone and apply to anywhere on the body – the stone lasts for up to 9 months making it true value for money.

All organic skincare products available at www.buyOrganics.co.uk

buyOrganics also stocks the Green People range of organic, parabens and synthetic preservative-free skin care products, with prices ranging from £3.24 to £14.99 including facial skin care, suncare, babies, men’s and bodycare products.

Performance quality makeup from Nvey Eco is also organic, paraben-free, cruelty-free with foundations, blushers, lipsticks, glosses, mascaras and eyeshadows in a wide range of shades and colours from £13 to £28 – the perfect healthy addition to any make up bag.

So splash it all on without splashing out, keep yourself healthy, beautiful and in the money with buyOrganics’ beauty budget know-how!

Organic Fortnight, Living the High Life despite the Credit Crunch

Here we are, half-way through organic fortnight and most people are thinking about their pockets instead of their health. During the credit crunch our pockets will be squeezed, our minds will be wrangled and our nerves may be shot, but it is the ideal time for creativity to flow.

The past shows us that during the hardest times, people become highly creative, which can mean cutting corners in all sorts of ways, but it doesn’t necessarily mean losing site of quality.

Food is the main expenditure. But this is where creativity is really needed. By being clever we can create several meals from a few bare essentials. For example buying an organic chicken will cost you £8 and can be roasted with the leftovers being curried, put in a sandwich, or a risotto and made into a soup too. Veggies can make several meals from one bag of lentils (about £1) – and with organic lentils only about 15 to 20 pence more than regular lentils, it’s worth paying that bit extra to ensure you and the planet is healthy. Lentils can be used in place of meat in Bolognese sauces, curries, soup, shepherd’s pie and mashed with potato and cheese and baked in the oven for a loaf which is delicious hot or cold.

The main thing is to avoid heavily packaged food, go for more seasonal local vegetables which are cheaper as they have done less travelling. Integrate more pulses and grains and vegetables into your diet, which is not only better on your health but also on your pocket too. Be creative with salads and as Jamie Oliver is campaigning – get Britain cooking again. Too much of our money goes into quick, easy, over processed and heavily packaged food. By going back to basics, we help ourselves, farmers, animals and wildlife. Clear a small space in your garden or even a window box for fresh salad leaves and herbs, tomatoes can be grown in windowsill pots and all these home grown foods are pure and healthy as you won’t be adding nasty pesticides yourself of course! Buying fruit and veg in the supermarket is cheaper if you go seasonal – Swedes are just appearing on the shelves and root vegetables such as parsnips and celeriac are delicious roasted, mashed or grated in salads and a little goes a long way, as well as upping your five-a-day of fruit & veg. Winter is the perfect time for making homemade soups out of just about any vegetables you can get your hands on – top tips for increasing the thickness and nutritional value at little cost is to add a tin of organic butter or kidney beans or chickpeas.

Following food is our household expenditure. By being economical on the energy we use, we can drastically reduce our energy bills. Simple measures are good for your pocket and the environment. Start with turning off all appliances at the plug when they are not in use, switch off lights in rooms when you leave them and switch to energy saving bulbs. Make sure you have thick curtains for the winter and seal up drafts. Walking around at home without the need for a sweater in the cooler months is a good indication that your heating is too high!

Buying natural and organic goods for the home is not always the expensive alternative we might think it is. Bio-D cleaning products are very economically priced so that you can get your home clean and still be chemical free. The products range from between about £1.50 and £4 and include laundry products, polish, cleaning sprays and window cleaner. When we think of all the allergies and illnesses that are triggered by household chemicals this switch is a simple cost effective one, and is particularly good for adults and children suffering from eczema and asthma.

Organic Bedding is obviously a high quality luxury bedding option, and you may be tempted to go for something cheaper in the sale to get you through the difficult times. But if you stop and think, the difficult times may only last 6 months or so and your mattress or bedding may be with you for years to come. If you have had to put off the purchase of a much needed quality mattress then last a bit longer with an organic mattress topper, buy one or two bamboo sheets instead of a whole set, that way you can build up your purchases slowly without compromising on quality.

Now life doesn’t stop just because of the credit crunch and one of the things that doesn’t get returned is the new baby. Babies are still born whether it’s convenient or not and they still need caring for with the safest products. Their health does not warrant being compromised. You still need to use reasonably priced quality skincare but it is possible to have healthy, organic skincare and beauty products on a budget such as Green People products which are concentrated and effective. We’ve got loads more tips coming your way on skincare and cosmetics in our beauty on a budget blog next week. Until then, remember that attitude is the key to whether you live in abundance or poverty.