Winter 2009 New Bamboo Clothing Collection In Store Now

The Winter 2009 Collection of BAM Bamboo Clothing is now available online at buyOrganics.co.uk.

This seasons naturally organic clothing collection, consists of earthy dark tones of brown combined with lavender and turquoise to co-ordinate, making the womens look cheerful, appealing and elegant. BAM have also added skirts and wrap tops to the collection, making a change from the previous plain t shirt look. The men have comfy blues, greys and browns that are warm and vibrant. Not forgetting the really popular reversible tops which are back in new colours for this season.

As usual, the bamboo clothes are soft, luxurious to wear and perfect for giving as a Christmas or holiday gifts or simply buying for oneself. BAM clothes make excellent staples for any wardrobe, the true beauty and elegance of the collection is that the items can be mixed and matched with anything, kept simple and slouchy for casual days or dressed up for absolutely any occasion. This element of basic mix and matching means the collection is sustainable in more ways than one. The fabrics themselves are eco-friendly, but the designs are also classic meaning that they will not age or go out of fashion and hence are re-usable time and again. Prices are really reasonable, nothing more than you would pay for a decent top in the highstreet, but with so much more added value, that there really is no excuse not to add a bit of ‘green’ style to your wardrobe.

Stock is selling out fast, so if you want to get yourself or a loved one something really luxurious but cost effective, sustainable and value for money, then have a look at the complete BAM collection online at buyOrganics today, it really is worth it.

Gross Therapies and Organic Skincare!!

I still remember when I was 13 and saw the movie “threads” at school about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. The images from that movie are still engrained in my mind decades later as being horrific and not something I want to experience in real life.One of the most shocking things for me as a 13 year old was seeing a young girl giving birth to a baby and then ....what did she just do? Did she actually eat her Placenta?!! Yuk..err! oh my god!

I can’t remember for sure, maybe she did or maybe she didn’t, or maybe I picked it up from anthropological studies at University. But since then the idea that women can and do eat their placenta after birth in some cultures is not so shocking. And why not, its supposedly very nutritious as it’s full of protein, iron and other nutrients. In the animal world, nothing goes to waste, so why should this.

Nutritionist Susannah Lawson explains that 'The high iron content is useful for women who have had a traumatic birth and lost a lot of blood. Zinc is also important, partly because a woman transfers a large amount of zinc to the baby just before birth to prime its immune system.'

Other by products from our bodies are also considered beneficial for us. For instance, some cultures also follow rituals such as Urine therapy, for healing. It is considered each individuals own blueprint for healing themself. Ranging from soaking your feet in it, bathing in it to even drinking it. Believers will tell you that it is the cure you have been looking for. I have come across people who swear by it, and have actually used the therapy successfully. For everything from curing Cancer to less sever complaints, it’s meant to help.

I myself have to draw the line at ingestion. I don’t think I could eat or drink Urine or Placenta, but maybe rubbing it on my skin wouldn’t be so bad, unless of course I had a life threatening illness, when I guess I’d try anything! After all, we use products that contain petrochemicals, animal by products and toxins, so why should by products from our own body be less appealing?

On Channel 4 chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall fried, flambeed and pureed the placenta of a new mother and served it up to celebrate the birth of her young daughter, it sounds so wrong, but maybe we are becoming too removed from what is actually good for us.

The latest craze is skin cream that contains extracts of Placenta. The glitzy Hollywood set who would gladly use Botox would not flinch at this latest addition, on the contrary it adds that little bit of extreme style to their skin care routine. Urine extracts already exist in some creams, roll on Placenta.

Not for the faint hearted, Arsenal striker Robin van Persie showed us how its done recently when he flew out to Belgrade yesterday to meet a Serbian housewife who rubbed his leg with fluid from a horse's placenta to treat his ruptured ankle ligaments. Mariana Kovacevic has apparently already treated two of Van Persie's former Dutch teammates, one of whom recovered in just a week from an injury doctors assured him would keep him off the pitch for at least a month

So, is this organic? Technically yes. But I’m not sure if the Soil Association could certify a cream as organic if it contained Placenta! And all the ethical guru’s would surely have something to say about its use. Do they use animal placenta in these creams? In which case they could be depriving animals from vital nutrients that they would consume themselves, or would they use human placenta donated by willing new mums? Maybe the later would be more ethical and acceptable.

In the meantime I can’t claim to be selling anything with Placenta or Urine in it, but I’m sure you would be able to get some at Harrods or Selfridges. I’d certainly give it a try to see how it worked!!

Recession Hurts More Than Just Your Pocket

So you maybe thinking you haven’t got much to be happy about, Christmas is looming, with more bills, children’s demands, and impending relatives. The weather is so awful that it feels like nighttime at 11 in the morning! You suspect at this stage you may have SAD. And you really just want to go back to bed instead of having another argument on the phone with your husband / wife about money or the kids when you are at work and everyone is listening!!

Sound familiar? Well, the current economic climate is not surprisingly affecting alot of people. Individuals reporting financial worries are increasing and this is having an adverse affect on health, relationships and wellbeing.

Chris Tapp, director of the national money education charity has wisely said that money concerns cause damage to more than just people's bank accounts, stating that: "It affects people's emotional wellbeing, it affects people's relationships, it affects people's health."
Money worries can lead to marriage break down and stress. Stress itself affects the body very negatively. Overall performance and wellbeing diminishes and disease can result if continued stress goes unchecked. Cancer, Asthma, Psoriasis and other diseases can set in when the body is battling stress due to deficiencies created in the immune system.

So more than ever, it’s really important to put things into perspective and do what Brian told us about so many years ago ‘try and look on the bright side of life’. I know, it’s really hard to do when you are feeling grim, but a little lesson from The Secret by Rhonda Byrne tells us that the more we just keep thinking about the crap we are in the worse its going to get, I know I’ve been there. Try and find something to turn it around, like a song that makes you happy or a place or a dream/wish, concentrate on what you want and try and turn the negative thoughts into positive ones, if not, the price you pay maybe more than just an empty pocket - your health and wellbeing maybe at stake and after that’s gone not much else matters.

Organic Skincare for New Mums

Bringing a child into the world is meant to be one of the most special things in the world. When people speak of the beauty of childbirth, women who have had a particularly traumatic experience whilst giving birth may be inclined to disagree! Whether the birth of your child was routine or the single worst experience of your life, your body is still ravaged by pregnancy and childbirth.

Your skin will be stretched to capacity, you’ll be unbelievably tired and ‘intimate areas’ will be sore at best... unspeakable at worst. Everything will be starting to improve when you bring baby home but your body will be on the road to recovery but there is still a long way to go.

Mother is often ignored in favour of baby by well-meaning and excited relatives. Many women feel as though they have lost their identity and the constant pressure and scrutiny is often too hard to bear. It’s too early for exercise but you’re keen to start working on getting your body back. Breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories a day so dieting isn’t the best of ideas as baby needs all the nutrients it can get. What you CAN do however, is take good care of your skin. Too many new mothers cannot find time to even wash their hair. Natural grease is good for the condition of your hair but your skin needs a bit more attention. Not only can the right skincare moisturise your skin, the action of massaging your skin can drain excess fluid and make it appear firmer. This will clearly take time but once you incorporate it into your daily routine, the benefits will soon become apparent.

buyOrganics has released a small range of gift sets especially for mum and baby. Whether you have just had your first or fifth baby, you will appreciate the richness and luxury of these products. Every pregnancy is different and every baby is different. Some cry uncontrollably and need lots of attention whereas others are delightfully quiet and sleep blissfully throughout the night.

One of the most popular products in the gift sets in the Calendula olive nipple butter. Meant for women who suffer from chapped and sore nipples during breastfeeding, this treatment is thick, glossy and gives an immensely cooling relief.

Organic products are not just available for mummy, if you truly believe in the benefits of organic skincare, and wish to encourage your children to always choose organic over products laced with potentially dangerous chemicals, we have organic baby wipes, cotton wool as well as organic baby sun cream.

Miessence Organic Underarm Deodorant: Product Review

First Impressions
The Miessence Deodorants don’t differ in packaging, style and performance to any other deodorant on the market, they are however certified organic and completely free of any nasty parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances and most importantly the dreaded Aluminum Oxide which has been linked to Breast Cancer. The packaging is not flash or sophisticated- more functional. And it’s all recyclable (plastic though) but safe to use in the bathroom. It won’t break if it slips out of your hand. The lid removes easily to reveal an easy to use roll on which works without sticking, jamming or clogging. I’ve used these for about 2 years now, and haven’t had a problem to date.

Performance
The Aroma free deodorant is just as it says, Aroma free. It literally smells of nothing and feedback from many customers is positive with no reported irritation. The Tahitian Breeze Miessence Deodorant, smells slightly sweet and spicy, and I love it, again no irritation although I’m using it regularly. The Ancient Spice deodorant smells a lot spicier like warm cloves. I have had a few reports, not many, but still have had a few that the Ancient Spice one can cause irritation in some people. So if you are particularly sensitive, I would stick to the Aroma free or Tahitian. My husband uses the Tahitian and is happy with the scent, so I would recommend them all for either sex.

Purity
The ingredients in all the Miessence Deodorants are really simple, consisting of a base of Aloe Vera, Sodium Bicarbonate, non gmo xantham gum and bitter orange fruit extract. The Scented versions contain essential oil extracts to give them their scent, such as Patchouli, Geranium and Ylang Ylang in the Tahitian.

How to Use
When you roll them on, they do leave a wet residue, which for best results you need to flap your arms around to help dry. When dry, all of these organic deodorants are particularly effective at destroying and preventing odour, but need to be used regularly to be effective (at least once a day, especially after showering). They will not stop you sweating if you do sweat a lot as they are not anti-perspirants. Antiperspirants are actually not good for the body as it is important for our body to sweat out the toxins within our system.

The Good
A good reliable deodorant, nicely scented with aroma free versions for the extremely sensitive, totally pure. Customers normally order this item in bulk from me and continue to order it once they’ve tried it once. Excellent shelf life, the sell by date is about a year ahead, so its not going off in a hurry, unless you leave it in the heat/sunlight. Keeps you smelling good all day, unless you’re doing very strenuous work, then you may need to apply again in the day.

The Not So Good
Pricier obviously than cheap high street versions, but that’s understandable given the purity and organic certification of the ingredients. But still cheaper than Green People, and its come all the way from Australia (they do carbon offset the shipping). Won’t stop the sweaty wet patch developing under your arms if you normally suffer from that, but no organic deodorant will. Not the longest lasting bottle of roll on, but not the shortest either - about average in relation to other deodorants really.

In Summary
A good solid entry into the organic underarm deodorant market; the Miessence underarm deodorant slots perfectly into the not-too-cheap, nor-too-expensive area but provides great resultsa and keeps you feeling (and smelling) fresh!

Organic Beauty Salons on the Up!!

You may wonder why I am blogging about an organic beauty salon that’s just opened in Newmarket USA when it’s a million miles from my home in London UK. The reason is because its one of a growing trend of salons that are deciding to go green.

The beauty industry professionals are the ones who are at the delivering end of beauty to people on an everyday basis. They’re the ones, who pluck and wax and tong and curl and straighten. For so many years now, they have been limited by the performance of regular products being superior over organic products which were unsophisticated and not performance orientated. Or maybe its just been ignorance about health and concern for glamour that has put organic on the back shelves until now. Now we see a change beginning to happen, the market is being flooded by organic and natural beauty products that are glamorous, science based and have superiority over their predecessors by far, and hence the slow infiltration into salons is beginning.

I for one am desperate for a facial. Not because my skins terrible but because I love being pampered, and it is really good for your skin and complexion to have the attention. But I feel so guilty. Every salon I go to has products that I would never use at home. Actually more than guilt it’s a feeling of it being not good enough. Having said that I wouldn’t want to pay £100 pounds for a facial. I tried that with a natural beauty salon not so long ago and although I loved the facial, lets get real, I’m a mum, with growing kids and bills to pay, supported by my ever forgiving husband who tolerates my need for green and lack of cash!

This beauty salon in Newmarket, Organic Bonita is led by ever inspiring people -Tammy Pierce to be precise, who realises that natural and organic beauty products are more healthy, she wants the looks, and the performance but she wants to be healthy and green.

“The entire well-being approach to life doesn't have to end with going to the grocery store and buying organic food” said Pierce. “That approach can be applied to everything that goes into your hair and onto your skin.”

“My goal is to get the word out there that organic products are so good for you and yet so cost-effective and, in this time of our economy, we all want something that's good for us, long-lasting and most importantly cost-effective.”

“It's not all about making money” said Pierce. “It's a business and I have to make a living and I'm happy with that and I want to be successful, but I also want to be a part of the community by giving something back.”

Now why can’t I find more salons and beauty therapists like that in North West London? The woman is an inspiration. I’m sure that my wait won’t last very long and bit by bit more salons are going to catch on. What do I love about this Newmarket salon – they don’t see healthy as an excuse to rip people off!!

A Hair Colouring Lesson For Us All

It was reported today that a young lady from Greater Manchester has endured horrific burns due to using a home hair colouring product. The young lady involved is just 22 and is now recovering at home after three days in hospital. There has been no indication of whether her injuries have rendered her scarred for life.

This poor woman is unfortunately serving as a grave warning to all women who wish to change the colour of their hair. She claims to have done a patch test although general opinion appears to be split. Either she DID do a patch test and it was insufficient or she did not do a patch test as she claimed.

The lady who works in a call centre became increasingly blistered over a matter of days. In my opinion, she should have sought medical advice immediately, I do wonder if her lovely face could have been saved if she had been more assertive. Mothers across the world want to keep their children safe and out of pain, I can imagine this story will prompt many women to warn their younger daughters about the perils of home hair colouring.

At buyOrganics, we will soon be stocking organic hair dye. However, this does not mean that people who choose to use this product will not have to do a patch test. People can be allergic to odd things or develop an allergy over time. When it comes to hair dye, whether it is organic or not I would always advise someone to test a product out on their skin beforehand. It may be inconvenient but it could be the difference between a slight inconvenience or a shocking allergic reaction.

Natural Health & Beauty Awards 2009

2,008 readers and a panel of dermatologists helped select the 25 winners of the 5th Annual Beauty Awards.

Votes were cast at www.naturalhealthmag.com for their favorite products. Out of the mass of nominations and submissions, 25 of the year’s best beauty products were chosen.

Some of the submissions and winners may seem suspect to those who appreciate products that are organic and natural from start to finish.

I’m not sure what the deciding factors were but I think they could have done with some help from Stacey and Jo Fairley and their Green Beauty Bible!

Here are the winners -

FACIAL CLEANSER
Olay Definity Penetrating Mousse Cleanser

FACIAL EXFOLIATOR
Skin 2 Skin Oatmeal & Pomegranate Scrub

EYE CREAM
Yes to Cucumbers Eye Love Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel

FACIAL MOISTURIZER
AVEENO Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

FACIAL NIGHT CREAM
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Night Health Bedtime Face Cream

ANTI-AGING FACIAL TREATMENT
Aveda Green Science Firming Face Creme

LIP BALM
Burt’s Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF 8 with Passionfruit

HAND CREAM
The Healing Seed Virgin Organic Hempseed Oil Hand Cream

BODY MOISTURIZER
Avalon Organics Grapefruit & Geranium Hand & Body Lotion

BODY SCRUB
Aura Cacia Nourishing Body Polishes Fair Trade Certified

SELF-TANNER
Pur Minerals Get a Little

BAR SOAP
Dove Go Fresh Burst Beauty Bar

BODY WASH
Nature’s Gate Pomegranate Sunflower Velvet Moisture Body Wash

SUN CARE
John Masters Organics SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen

SHAMPOO
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo

CONDITIONER
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care Moisture Conditioner

HAIR COLOR
Natural Instincts Champagne Indulgence Collection

HAIR STYLING PRODUCT
Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Smoothing Crème

BLUSH
The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Cheek Color

CONCEALER
Jane Iredale Zap & Hide

EYE SHADOW
Almay Pure Blends Eyeshadow

FOUNDATION
Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Liquid Foundation SPF 15

LIP COLOR
Aubrey Organics Natural Lips Sheer Tint

MASCARA
Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara

NAIL POLISH
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color

Worried About Customer Deliveries Through the Postal Strike?

We realise that the postal strike may be making you worry about whether or not your order will get to you or not. That’s why we are sending all packages of #40 or more through DHL by 48 hour delivery. That way we can ensure that goods get to you regardless. So if you want to be guaranteed of getting your parcel quickly, please make sure over the next week that your order is over 40 and we can beat this strike together.

Orders under 40 sent through Royal mail may take a bit longer to get to you but are still important to us, so if you have not received your parcel within 28 days then please let us know!

Regards,

Sonia

Sarah Stacey & Jo Fairley Fight the Skincare Green Wash

Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey, editors of the Green Beauty Bible showed the Ecologist today that they are not adverse to the mammoth task of having to wade through 'ethical' cosmetics, sorting the good from the bad, and have done just that in their new revised addition of their book the Green Beauty Bible.

Whereas only 4 years ago it was easy to track the main green brands, an explosion in the market has resulted in hundreds of green, eco, ethical and natural brands hitting the market causing confusion to many trying to check the ingredients labels. Some are professionally made whilst others are handmade balms made in cottage industry type settings with little or no testing.

This explosion is echoed when we look at the figures. According to Organic Monitor, the UK market is worth £110m and global sales of natural and organic cosmetics are increasing by over US $1 billion a year.

The time has now come when we need a bible to shop by, that goes through the brands and rates them in an easy to understand daisy rating format. The Green Beauty Bible has covered over 1850 products for you to inspect!

‘There are now an extraordinary number of products,’ says Sarah. ‘But just because a product has a tomato on the label it doesn’t mean it’s natural.’

Looking at the label is fine if you have a ‘list of ingredients to avoid’ list or a search engine on hand. But for most people it’s a complicated and confusing experience.

Intelligently, both of them point out the necessity to avoid scare mongering but concentrate instead on doing the best you can for your health, and that diet and sleep are still the cornerstones of beauty and wellbeing. No amount of cream can buy you that making a natural lifestyle hugely important.

The revised paperback edition of The Green Beauty Bible by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley is out now (£14.99, Kyle Cathie)

For more information on natural beauty from The Beauty Bible website click here

John Masters Rose Foaming Facial Wash: Product Review

At a Glance
When I received this product, straight off, I was really impressed that someone had finally done a luxury foaming face wash without harsh chemicals in it. When I checked the ingredients list, this was substantiated as the ingredients are pure and simple; there are no SLS’s, no parabens or phthalates. The foaming element of this organic face wash comes from Lauryl glucoside and Sodium lauroyl glutamate, on closer inspection both of these surfactants are extremely low hazard with the Environmental Working Group classing them as 1 and 0 toxicity respectively, which is excellent. The other main ingredient is Certified Organic Aloe Vera, (unlike luxury high street brands that despite the high price still use water as the main ingredient). Other ingredients include organic plant botanicals and extracts that have excellent herbal properties and benefit for the skin such as ylang ylang, aspen bark extract, plantain, rose damascena, glycerin and citric acid (vit c).

The packaging is really nice, natural high quality recyclable box, nicely printed, very classy and not at all tacky or cheap. The actual foaming face wash inside is in a brown glass bottle which looks really pretty in the bathroom, something you can definitely put on display. It’s not too big and bulky either so, easy to handle and it has a pump top which makes it easy to use last thing at night when you just want to go to bed!

The price is not bad, quite reasonable, at £22 it’s not the cheapest on the market but for what’s in the bottle it’s definitely not overpriced. Other organic skin care lines of this caliber would be charging £50 or more for this sized bottle.

So; what’s it like?
The fragrance is absolutely divine, not nasty yukky or overpowering, just divine. I felt really good after I had used the product, and have had this backed up by other testers who have also said the same thing. You only need a little bit as it lathers up really well, so it’s easy to see that the product is going to last for a while. It leaves your face feeling clean, not stripped bare but moisturized and soft. One of our testers has extremely sensitive skin and eyes, and found that it didn’t irritate her at all.

Leaves you feeling really pampered and like you’ve done something really good for your skin.

A week on, people have commented on how my skin looks good, skin clearer, pores are more refined and black heads reduced.

Good Points
Packaging, look, performance, quality, fragrance and wellbeing factor

Bad Points
Not suitable for people who like more traditional wipe off facial cleansers. Doesn’t say anything on the packaging about removing eye makeup, although it did take all my make up off and having checked with the manufacturers they have said that it is safe for use around the eye area also.

In Summary
A top performing luxury product you can use every day; very pure and worth every penny.

For more information on John Masters products and organic skin care in general visit www.buyorganics.co.uk

Amber Gel - Hair Removal Without the Legwork!!

New in store, we are really excited about this 100% natural hair removal gel. Previously only available to therapists this amazing gel is now available to us at buyOrganics and to you, our customers.

Amber Gel, is made in the UK and contains only the purest natural ingredients; in total it contains Sugar, Water, Apple, Honey, Grape, Pineapple, Raspberry and Fruit Acids (Citrus Limonum). Amber Gel is also delightfully easy to use; we had a go in the office!! It needs no heat to put it on, and the spatulas, instructions and strips come with it.

Available in 3 sizes 15ml, 50ml and 100ml

To get your hands on some just click here, or visit www.buyorganics.co.uk

Sonia xx

Re-launch of Eselle Organics Due in the Next Couple of Weeks

Eselle Organics products have been a bit hard to come by over the last month or so, as they have been busy rebranding and packaging their line. Not that there was anything wrong with the old packaging, I loved the bright orange, but I’m sure Sarah McIntyre will have created something equally exciting.

Even though August is traditionally the quiet time of year, die hard Eselle Organics fans will have found the dirth of products hard to swallow, but good news is here at last as Eselle have informed us that their new products will be available in the next 10 days or so.

One product we will surely welcome back with open arms will be the Men’s sensitive skin moisturiser; all those men out there must have really rough faces without it. Not good news for the girls either!

Extra good news, all the old branded stock is reduced from now to make way for the new products, not much left in stock, so it’s only until stock lasts!

We’ll let you know when we have an exact date and a sneak preview if possible.

TTFN!

Sonia

A Mothers view of the Cervical Cancer Vaccine

I’m aware of the dangers, cervical cancer killed 941 women in the UK last year, but for me, this just isn’t the same as the other vaccinations that I have agreed for my children to have, it’s not a pandemic.

Even now in hindsight, my youngest daughter was slow in her speech development I wonder if the MMR vaccine was a good idea, but it’s done now, I can’t undo it. She also mildly had swine flu last month and survived it, so I don’t see the point of any of my family having the swine flu vaccination either, but maybe I’ll change my mind on the latter if things get more severe in London.

The cervical cancer vaccine however to me sounds totally unnecessary and I just don’t trust it. The vaccinations were dished out at my daughter’s school last year and I refused for her to have it. My daughter was initially alarmed but I promised her that when she got older if nothing had gone wrong with the vaccine programme, then I might consider it. Things like the Thalidomide drug come to mind! Sorry but they are using our kids as guinea pigs!

Cancer in general is on the up, it could be bowel cancer, or lung cancer or pancreatic cancer, are we going to vaccinate against all of these, how much mercury, and DNA and foreign bodies do we pump into ourselves in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable. It’s not natural. I love my daughters I don’t want anything to happen to them, but I do want that their years on this earth will be healthy, happy and unhindered by unwanted side-effects of the drugs pumped into them.

Instead the real issues should be addressed, such as cleanliness in farming in poorer countries; emphasis on organic farming opposed to increased use of pesticides and herbicides; removal of unhealthy additives in our foods; removal of harmful chemicals in our toiletries, cleaning products and home furnishings; reduction in the pollution of our environment which in turn pollutes our bodies; emphasis on education of our teenagers about sex, relationships, babies, diseases and loving themselves more!!! All these things are the roots causes of the illnesses and problems we are facing. Why are we not concerned with addressing the causes but instead insistent on masking the consequences?

I’m not a doctor, or a cancer expert, so please be aware that my thoughts are purely personal and in regards to my own girls for whom I’ll be dishing out organic tampons and pads, healthy diets, healthy hygiene and a healthy dose of self esteem.

Take up of the vaccine does of course depend on your vulnerability to cervical cancer. If for instance you are genetically predisposed to it or lifestyle factors put you in a high risk group then it would of course make the argument for taking it up a really positive one, if I was in that situation I think it would not be so easy for me to reject it.

Sonia

Organic Clothing and Fashion

From concerns in our health to the environment, there are many reasons as to why we should use organic products. As more research is developing, it has been found that chemicals in many products we use can be dangerous to our health and put us at risk of developing diseases. Many people are beginning to switch over to using organic products because they are natural and better for the skin, and nothing spends more time against your skin than the clothes that you wear.

A product that is considered to be organic is made of materials that have been grown or raised without using chemicals, dyes, bleaches and is also allergy free. Natural compost, soil and fertilizers are used and natural pest controls have helped in growing the cotton. This has led to clothing which utilises this organically grown cotton; organic clothing.

Within recent years, new technologies have allowed bamboo fibres to be used in many fashion and textile applications. Bamboo clothing is typically made of a organic cotton yarn or a mixture 100% bamboo. Bamboo can also be combined with other textile fibres like spandex and hemp. Almost all types of clothing are available in bamboo fabric and organic cotton.

When people think of organic clothing they typically have visions of “eco-warriors” and “tree huggers” wearing dowdy long skirts, hemp jumpers and sandals etc. But these stereotypes are far from the actuality of it. Today organic clothing manufacturers are making stylish and fashionable clothing from these materials that rival many of the top fashion brands, and many are designer brands unto themselves. So you can be eco conscious and still look amazing.

Organic fashion has become more available in high street stores, but it is still something of a unique commodity and it is much easier to find online with websites such as www.buyorganics.co.uk stocking a large range of styles for all the family.

So why not give organic clothing a style and feel better about yourself and feel safer knowing your skin is being cared for as well!

How to naturally restore, rescue & treat sun damaged hair with natural hair care products

Normal healthy hair should be shiny, bouncy, full and vibrant, but ‘LIFE’ happens and we can end up with sun-damaged hair that can affect our image and self esteem.

Although we look forward to our summer holidays and the sun coming out, especially in the UK, the effect of the sun on our hair can be pretty strong, and heat coupled with UV, can leave you with sun damaged hair. Whilst your hair won’t be damaged forever and will eventually re-grow, it will in the meantime suffer breakages and lack of moisture, leaving it looking weak and unhealthy. If split ends and brittle hair are left unmanaged they could also affect your new hair growth, so read up below on what to do next!

How the sun damages your hair

When most people think of the effect of sun on hair, they generally think of it as lightening their hair colour. This happens because the hair contains melanin, just as your skin does. Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its colour but it also protects the hair from free radicals which would otherwise cause damage.

UV rays cause the melanin in your hair to oxidise and discolour. As the hair is dead and cannot react to the UV rays by increasing the level of melanin as the skin does, the lower melanin levels are characterized by a lightening of the hair. The lower levels, therefore, also cannot perform their free radical hunting duties so well.

Lemon juice is a commonly known natural method for bleaching hair when exposed to the sun and lots of people use it as a cheap way of getting highlights. Unfortunately, whilst it does have a slight lightening effect, it can also cause dryness as it upsets the PH balance of the hair.

Another damaging effect of the sun is that it depletes the hairs level of Keratin which is a vital protein that gives healthy hair its strength and vitality. When Keratin is undamaged, it lies along your strands of hair like tiles on a roof. However, when you weaken the keratin in your hair, some of those ‘tiles’ become broken and shift out of place, causing the hair shafts to weaken and become easily damaged. When this happens hair strands do not reflect light as well, causing your hair to appear dull.

Finally, the sun damages your hair by sucking the moisture and oils out of it. The moisture level should be around 8% but sun damage, bleaching and other hair treatments can cause this to fall to as low as 2%. When this happens, you’ll end up with split ends and brittle, broken strands of hair, hair that looks, weak, lack luster and dull.

How to protect your hair from sun damage

The best way to protect your hair from the sun is to wear a hat, and for those of you who don’t find a hat fashionable enough, try a bandana, they can look very stylish and be mixed and matched with your outfits, they’re great for men, women and kids!

Even though a hat or bandana may protect you for a while, they won’t be possible all the time. This is where John Masters Sea Mist Spray with lavender can help, this beautifully scented spray not only adds texture and volume to the hair, but actually protects your hair from drying. When it’s used in conjunction with their Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor after washing, then your hair will be kept in optimum condition and better able to cope with the harsh effects of the sun.

How to Treat Sun Damaged Hair

The best way to treat sun damaged hair is to immediately switch to natural hair care products that are going to nourish, restore, revitalize and rescue frizzy, dull, dry hair and revert it back to its natural shine and balance.

By using harsh chemically based shampoos, styling products and colourants, you will only further damage your hair.

We recommend using John Masters Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo. This organic shampoo is a must for sun damaged hair because it contains Linoleic & Hyluronic acids (which are normally found in abundance in young hair) combined with soy, rice and oat proteins to renew and reconstruct damaged hair. Each wash will fortify, strengthen and moisturise your hair as the honey and hibiscus extracts and 9 other certified organic extracts and plant oils penetrate the hair with nutrients. Also, it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, parabens or phthalates which would aggravate your hair further or damage your scalp.

Follow the natural shampoo with John Masters Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor which is a super intense conditioner that revitalizes and restores dry, damaged, colour treated, chemically treated, chlorine and sun damaged hair! Again, Linoleic & Hyluronic acids help to reconstruct the hair, whilst soy protein strengthens the hair follicles making your hair look thicker, fuller and shinier, wheat protein helps keep hair tangle free and easy to comb through along with adding shine. Finally, Bergamot treats and nourishes dry scalp and hair.

For a more intense treatment add 12 drops of dry hair nourishment to 1 ounce of conditioner, massage into hair and scalp. Wrap with hot towel and leave in 20-30 mins. And rinse.

Both the John Masters Honey and Hibiscus Reconstructing shampoo and conditioner when used in conjunction and regularly, will quickly and easily restore bounce, shine, volume and health. All in all, with rich nutrients, oils and conditioners specifically formulated by the best natural organic hair care expert on the planet, you can’t really do better for your hair.

Now if you’re on a budget, don’t worry as we have another great alternative for you that will keep the pennies in your pocket whilst also restoring the condition of your sun damaged hair naturally. Green People’s Moisturising shampoo and Moisturising conditioner are a little less pricey but will also do a fantastic job.

Green People’s Moisturising Conditioner contains several ingredients which are especially helpful to sun-damaged hair. The first is Jojoba oil, which has a very similar composition to the natural sebum and oils which lubricate and protect your hair from damage. These make an ideal replacement for the oils which are stripped away through sun and chlorine damage. It also contains Quinoa oil, an essential oil rich in antioxidants which help in protecting against UV-induced free radicals

In addition to the Jojoba oil and Quinoa oil, Green People Moisturising Conditioner also has soothing Chamomile extract and protective Marshmallow extract. These will help to bring the condition of your hair up, helping it to become shiny, tangle-free and rehydrated.

New Green People Shampoo Range in Store!

We have just finished unpacking the full range of Green People’s Organic Shampoo and have put it up on our shelves.

Previously we had a couple from their range, but having tested other shampoos on the market, we’ve found that Green People’s ranges of natural shampoo is amongst the best value Vs performance shampoo available.

So now you can pick from intensive repair, Rosemary, moisturising, vitamin or Aloe Vera Duo’s, according to your hairs needs and your pockets budget.

Why Go Organic for Skin Care?

We should always be looking for ways to take better care of our skin. With the help of organic skincare products this can be easier than you would think. There are many reasons to take care of our skin with possibly the most important reason is that our skin is the most noticeable part of our body; in order to have healthy skin, we must take care of it.

So what makes organic skincare and beauty products good for you? Well it is the fact that none of the harmful chemicals normally associated with makeup and skincare aren’t present in organic skin care and healthcare products, thus making them much more compatible with, and less allergenic to, the skin. This reduced exposure to toxins and chemicals will typically have much more positive effects on the skin, and tell tale signs of the overuse of skincare and beauty products will be unnoticeable as there is no accompanying skin damage.

Because there are many standard skincare products that contain toxins that can hurt our skin it is definitely worth seeking out an organic alternative? Of course the problem can be finding these organic products, be it organic skincare, body wash, deodorant or toothpaste, but thankfully there are a wealth of online stores dedicated to organic skincare and organic living and thus the search becomes easier.

The next task is to make sure the products in question are actually organic, and not just labelled as “natural”; using a reputable website and looking for things such as Soil Association certificates can make life easier here too.

In the long run those tat choose to use organic skincare over normal skincare products, as well as organic makeup and natural health and beauty products tend to have much younger, fresher and smoother skin, than those who abuse the typical skincare and cosmetics on the market.

By Jason Payne

For a great range of certified organic skin care and organic makeup products, visit www.buyorganics.co.uk

Luxuriously Natural Skincare by John Masters

New in store is the complete facial organic skincare range by John Masters. This luxurious range of cleansers, toners and face creams for all skin types including age prevention, smells absolutely divine. When you use it day and night, you actually look forward to pampering your skin as the aromas uplift you and the products leave your skin feeling and looking fabulous.

The facial skincare range is formulated with the same dedication as John Masters organic haircare range, it is a performance led brand that really concentrates on producing natural organic products that work. When you invest in buying the complete range for your skin then you really are making an investment towards your health and wellbeing. We are sending out free samples with any orders placed at the moment until stocks last. If you would like to try a sample then email us at mail@buyorganics.co.uk

Contact us also if you have your own blog and would like to review all our skin and make up products on a regular basis!

What’s In Your Toothpaste?

Toothpastes have a tough task to undertake, between cleaning and freshening, but all the ingredients aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking to have healthy gums and teeth without all the chemicals, it is possible to do so. Here’s an in-depth heads up, on what your teeth have to contend with and if the natural alternatives stand up to keeping your teeth in good health.

Having healthy teeth and gums is essential, and an unhealthy mouth, gums and teeth can be a sign of heart disease, but it is also important to remember how much can be absorbed through our mucous membranes, so is it really a good idea to use harsh chemicals in this delicate area?

Fluoride:
Scientific evidence shows that the presence of low levels of fluoride in water helps prevent dental cavities and keep our bones strong. When we talk about low levels this means only a few milligrams per day.

In the United States the recommended optimum range of fluoride concentration in drinking water is 0.7-1.2 mg/litre or parts per million (PPM), with the lower concentration recommended for warmer climates where water consumption is higher, and the higher concentration for colder climates.

However Fluoride taken in large quantities over time slowly poisons the human body; prolonged intake of treated water that contains more than 2 parts fluoride per million (PPM), can lead to discoloured, mottled or brownish enamel on the teeth. Extremely high concentrations, over 8 PPM can contribute to bone disorders, kidney, liver and adrenal failure as well as the heart, reproductive system and central nervous system. Other effects recorded include cancer. This is especially dangerous in young children and the elderly.

The issue therefore arises amongst young children who don’t always wash their mouth out properly after brushing teeth and whether or not they and other vulnerable people are being over exposed to fluoride levels from water combined with imperfectly used toothpaste and also possible food sources.

It may be worth checking the fluoride level in the water in your area and deciding whether toothpaste containing fluoride is a necessary addition. Natural Fluoride in Bottled water is not as strictly regulated as tap water, so this doesn’t make it better for you.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphates:
Detergents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphates, Ammonium Lauryl Sulpahtes and are used in toothpaste to clean your teeth, for some, the Lauryl Sulphates can cause irritation and allergy, and so sometimes a different version such as Lauryl Sarcocinate is used in more ‘gentle’ toothpastes. Alantoin is sometimes also used to lessen the effects of the detergents.

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (TSPP):
is a slightly toxic, some studies have shown neaurotxicity effects on the brain and nervous system, it is also classed as mildly irritating crystalline chemical compound used in toothpaste to remove calcium and magnesium from Saliva, thus removing the agents causing Tarter on teeth, like a water softener stops scaling

Polymers and Acrylics:
PVM/MA copolymer prevent the pyrophosphate breaking down, polyethylene glycol (PEG) in various weights (i.e. PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-40, etc.), and polypropylene glycol (PPG). PEG for instance is toxic in large doses and is not recommended for use on damaged skin. PEG compounds are used in most toiletries, creams, and pharmaceuticals and are restricted to low dose usage only. Some research studies have shown laboratory cancer mutation of cells, endocrine and reproductive health effects and irritation. Research has also shown that contamination can occur making the PEG compounds impure causing additional cancer health concerns from compounds such 1-4 Dioxane

Sodium Carbonate Peroxide:
Is present in toothpastes in order to bleach the teeth white. Although it has lesser health concerns, it has still been found to have some neurotoxicity and respiratory effects in laboratory tests

Triclosan:
This is not a good ingredient for putting anywhere near your body let alone in it! Triclosan is limited for use in cosmetics, it is toxic and bioaccumulative. Research has shown the effects of low dosages to include endocrine disruption, mutation of cells such as cancer, and at high doses it also effects reproduction. Triclosan is so widely used in our cleaning products that our exposure to it is persistent and higher than should be acceptable. Triclosan is added to toothpaste to kill plaque forming microbes

Hydrated Silica:
Biaccumulative in humans and wildlife

Sodium Methylparaben:
Has been found unsafe for use in cosmetics by government bodies, research shows that it is strongly allergenic, and is a known as toxic to the human body, causes endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity and can interfere with the body at biocellular level,

Zinc Citrate:
Is Bioaccumulative, and may be toxic to the reproductive system.

Other Stuff:
Your toothpaste may also contain artificial additives such as Blue #1, Yellow #5 or other FD&C colorants, saccharine and artificial flavours. These are linked to allergies, and are anti-nutrients which are not good for health.

Alcohol:
Used in Mouthwashes, alcohol use has been linked to an increase in oral cancer

You don’t really need all these chemicals in your mouth, as natural alternatives will give you gum and dental health without the toxins

Switching to Natural Toothpaste and Dental Products

Making the switch can be equally worrying if you are concerned about your dental and mouth health. Most people don’t really understand what the differences are between the chemical and non chemical natural toothpaste brands. But rest assured, natural dental products are not the soft option, these products are still effective in cleaning and keeping your mouth healthy and teeth strong.

Natural and organic toothpaste will give you the same clean feeling and taste through ingredients such as baking powder, essential oils for natural flavour such as fennel, lemon, anise and mint.

Teeth can be cleaned with Non-SLS based cleaning agents such as coconut based low foaming cleansers present in natural toothpastes.

Natural antimicrobials, like Echinacea, goldenseal and grapefruit seed extract keep germs at bay. Many natural herbs and extracts eradicate germs and bacteria effectively such as Neem and Tea tree for instance whilst healing the mouth in place of harsh bioaccumulative Triclosan. Although it may not say Triclosan on the label, it may still be in the product due to poor labelling laws.

If you are concerned about fluoride, then there are alternatives whichever way you wish to go, there are natural toothpastes available with Fluoride and without. Although it’s important to remember that it’s already in your drinking water.

Non alcohol natural mouthwashes ensure that natural herbs and botanicals clean, get rid of germs and bacteria effectively, and leave your teeth healthy and strong.

The main points in keeping your teeth perfect are the commitment to everyday dental care, in conjunction with natural products will keep your mouth and teeth healthy and strong.

• Floss and brush your teeth twice a day, every day.

• Visit the dentist regularly every 6 months or more if you have problems that need seeing too address them and don’t leave them to fester.

• Make sure you get your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months and find out as much as you can about ways to keep your mouth healthy.

• Eat fruit and vegetables and high fibre foods, they naturally whiten teeth and exfoliate stains

• If you want whiter teeth avoid Tea, Coffee and red wine, which colour your teeth and leave them yellow.

• Minimize stress and get a dental guard made from you dentist that will help you prevent grinding your teeth at night. Grinding can cause gums to recede prematurely.

• Avoid harsh home remedies that could damage your teeth. A gentler whitening remedy we came across recently getting your gnashers sparkling – mix baking soda with strawberries and rub on teeth, then rinse.

Sonia’s Makeup and Skincare Safety Tips

As promised in my article last week here is a rundown of 10 useful skincare and makeup safety tips to keep yourself from allergies, rections and damage to your skin.

1. Be sure to clean your hands and face before applying make-up or other cosmetics. Use clean towels, fresh organic cotton wool, as even cotton wool is bleached and treated!

2. Never share your make-up. Clean cosmetic brushes and applicators frequently, with soap and water and dry thoroughly.

3. If you want to test a product in a store, ask for a new, unused applicator and ask the salesperson to wipe the opening of the tester with alcohol. If you are buying online, see if a sample is available first, if not, only buy one product at a time so that you don’t get stuck with large expensive items.

4. Keep cosmetic containers tightly closed, except when being used. Keep containers free of dust and dirt. Keep organic products in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, and do not let water contaminate the inner contents of the product.

5. Do not use eye make-up if you have an eye infection, discard those products and use new ones when your infection is gone.

6. Discard products if the color changes or they develop an odor. This may mean the preservatives in the products are no longer able to fight bacteria or that the essential oils have lost their goodness

7. Invest some money in seeing a nutritionist, and having an allergy test done. Check out the following info to help you keep toxins at bay and to assess your daily toiletries.

8. Use organic and natural products within 6- 9mths of opening, if you have kept them really cool they may last longer. Do not buy organic or natural products in bulk as they go off.

9. Try scent free products as scent is a common allergen

10. In order to heal from an allergic reaction, propolis ointment (from beehives) such as one by Trevarno can act as a good healing agent instead of non beneficial petroleum jelly.

I hope these tips and suggestions come in handy, and keep you safe and looking fab. We stock a great selection of organic skincare and organic makeup at www.buyorganics.co.uk, so please cme buy and have a look.

Sonia

Discover What’s Causing Your Makeup & Skincare Allergies

So many women have approached me after having suffered difficulty with their makeup. Some were fine for years and then suddenly developed swelling around their eyes or on their face, or illness where previous they never had a problem.

Makeup and cosmetics are part of most women’s daily routine. It’s a ritualistic thing that gets us ready to go out and face the world. It can be very alarming and really knock a woman’s self esteem if she suddenly has to go out with no makeup due to blotchy skin, rashes, and red eyes or in worst cases actually lead to depression!

So here’s a heads up on what symptoms you may be suffering from and what may be causing it along with advice on how to prevent yourself from developing problems in later life. Now I’m not a medical doctor, just a natural makeup and cosmetics enthusiast, so this article is based on my own research of what information is already out there, so consider it practical, useful but not gospel.

Manufacturers put chemical and synthetic ingredients in makeup, such as fragrances and preservatives, parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehydes and fillers that can act as allergens and trigger an allergic reaction. They don’t always cause a reaction in everyone, but it has been shown that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed, similar to the method by which nicotine patches work; therefore what we put on our skin does matter. (Please note it is worth mentioning that some people are also allergic to natural ingredients, but the numbers are much lower).

How do you know you are having a reaction?

Two types of allergic reaction are typical of makeup and cosmetics; irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis: This is more common than allergic contact dermatitis and develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis usually starts as patches of itchy, scaly skin or a red rash, but can develop into blisters that ooze, especially if the skin is irritated from scratching. It mostly occurs where the makeup has been in contact with your skin. Where your skin is thinner such as the eyelids, or where it is cracked and dry, irritant dermatitis will be more common. The skin actually breaks down when it comes into contact with the harsh chemicals substances in the makeup, most often these chemicals directly injure the outer layer of the skin, resulting in symptoms of a cosmetic allergy.

Allergic contact dermatitis: This is an allergy to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and hive-like breakouts. In some cases, the skin becomes red and raw. The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies, although reactions may appear anywhere on the body. The body's immune system is reacting against a specific substance (the allergen) that it considers foreign and harmful. This may be a specific ingredient that doesn’t agree with you, it could be a chemical ingredient or even a natural one. Everyone is different, and every ingredient is a possible allergen

Neurological Problems

It has also been reported that some of the chemicals in makeup can cause neurological damage, inducing depression. These and other reactions are so insidious that you wouldn’t know that they are because of an ingredient in your lipstick or eye shadow for instance. ME sufferers have reported relief from switching to organic cosmetics, however studies are ongoing.

It can take seconds or minutes for a reaction to occur to really strong triggers, or alternatively it may take weeks or years for low levels of exposure to toxins to finally create a level of sensitivity that will result in a reaction. Hence, prolonged use of makeup containing harsh chemicals is not a good idea for anyone. Your skin and body needs a break!

Studies show that up to 10% of the population will have some type of reaction to a cosmetic over the course of a lifetime. Reactions to cosmetics occur more often in women, most likely because women tend to use more cosmetic products than men, and where your skin has been damaged by prolonged use of makeup containing toxins, it will need to time to heal and recover.

Safe or not safe; who’s telling the Truth?

Although government agencies such as the FDA permit a lot of these chemicals in the makeup to be used, they do not directly test all the compounds, products and chemicals themselves. Instead they allow this multi million dollar cosmetic industry to regulate itself. Across the UK the situation is much the same with the multitude of chemicals within each of the toiletries and makeup products used everyday not being tested to see how they react in the cocktail we use them in.

What to do If you have an Allergy

Although it may sound drastic, the first step is to stop using all makeup. When your symptoms are gone and your skin has calmed down again, then start using them again, one product at a time. Give each product at least a few days trial, even a patch test will do. If you are allergic immediately then stop using it immediately, if you aren’t allergic, use it a couple of days more to check it’s really ok. This may help you determine which product or products are responsible for the reaction. If your skin flares up, you will have to give it a few days to calm down again before you start testing the other products.

If you cannot identify the source of the reaction or if your symptoms do not go away after you stop using the cosmetics, consult your Doctor/Nutritionist as it may be a nutritional problem or infection. Your doctor will assess your skin and could do a patch skin test to find out what is causing the problem. Although your Doctor may prescribe you a steroid cream, this will only temporarily relieve the symptoms, but it will not remove the cause of the allergy. The only way you can avoid further allergies is by avoiding the ingredients that you may be allergic to.

Preventing an allergy to makeup and skincare?

There are several steps you can take to try and avoid cosmetic allergies, including:
Read the list of ingredients on all cosmetic products. If you find an ingredient that has caused a reaction in the past, don't use that product. Keep track of ingredients that have caused reactions, and look for products that do not contain those ingredients.

When considering a new product, even a natural one, do a "mini-patch test" first to see if it causes a reaction. Put a sample of the product on your inner wrist or elbow and wait 24 hours to see if a reaction occurs.

Keep it simple. Choose natural organic cosmetics with simple formulas. More ingredients mean more potential allergens. With fewer ingredients, it's also easier to pinpoint the source if you do have a reaction. Even some organic and natural products have to have some preservatives in them to keep them safe to use.

As makeup stays in contact with the skin for a long time look for products that are natural or organic and that do not contain the harsh chemicals that may cause an allergy such as formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Propylene Glycol, AHA’s, phthalates, parabens, fragrances and BHT’s. Natural and organic makeup formulas use milder and naturally sourced preservatives and ingredients and are therefore much better for sensitive skin people. This doesn’t entirely remove the chance of having an allergy, as any of the one ingredients, however natural, may trigger a reaction.

Mineral makeup is all the rave because it doesn’t need preservatives and is so mild as to suit even the most sensitive of skin. But not all mineral makeup is equal. Inika for example is excellent from using it myself and from friends and customers who have given it positive feedback.

Being a little cautious and testing any cosmetics or makeup before use will in the long run provide benefits and help protect your skin from allergic reactions and discomfort.

I'll be following up this blog with some tips on how to prevent allergic reactions to cosmetics getting the better of you.

Sonia