Organic skincare lovers will be thrilled to hear that Harry Potter’s Emma Watson is also a massive fan of Organic Skincare, her favourite being a £5 Figs and Rouge Balm. She proves that organic skincare has got a special kind of magic that is wooing the young and style conscious in their quest to have good skin.
Our latest range of SAVE organic skincare and organic hair care is excellent for younger teen skins and, is very easy on the pocket whilst also giving users fab results without any rubbish ingredients that may clog pores or cause rashes.
Who said organic skincare had to be expensive!!
Showing posts with label organic skin care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organic skin care. Show all posts
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Friday, 22 October 2010
Top Tips to Winter Proof Your Skin
As Briton braces itself against Arctic winds hitting our shores this week, we have some top tips for natural skincare lovers who want to keep their skin in peak condition despite the environmental onslaught.
On Monday, scientists from Bath University revealed that aqueous creams used by eczema sufferers may do more harm than good so switching to alternative products that re-balance and protect your skin naturally may be the best answer.
Showering Reduces the body’s natural oils
The tendency during the winter months is to have hot showers; however this strips the skin of essential natural oils. It’s better during these harsher months to shower every other day unless you are very sweaty. You can always spot wash important areas daily. Use a mild shower wash such as SAVE Body wash as it has no Sodium Lauryl Sulphates and is therefore gentler on skin.
Always Use a Body Moisturiser
After your shower make sure you put essential moisture back into your skin with a natural organic body moisturiser that uses natures finest oils rather than synthetic ingredients to seal your skin and block pores. We love La Claree Body Moisturiser which instantly transforms your bathroom into a Spa!
Turn down the Thermostat
Keeping the heating high isn’t just bad news for the environment, its also bad news for your skin. It strips the moisture from the air leaving your skin dry, scaly and itchy. Wear natural cotton layers with socks to keep your toes warm. Try organic bedtime clothing without the fire retardants in (yes they are secretly in there!!), that will help your skin too.
Drink Lots of Water
Just because its not hot, doesn’t mean you still don’t need essential hydration. Switch hot caffeinated drinks to a mug of warm water, taken first thing in the morning it will help detox your body, and it will counteract the diuretic effects of Coffee and Tea.
Protect yourself from the sun
It maybe cold but a bright sun can still damage your skin. Make sure you use a natural moisture cream such as Trevarno with spf15. Not only will It feed your skin with essential organic nutrients, but it will also protect you from sun damage. Try something stronger like gamarde spf50 if you are going skiing.
Don’t Forget Your Hands
Hands take a beating during the winter months, already subjected to a punishing routine through cleaning and cooking, the weather can further damage the skin. Make sure your hands stay young looking by using rubber gloves, latex free are also available in some stores for those with allergies. Use a natural hand cream after all chores and washing and before you go out and go to bed. Protect your hands from the cold with gloves.
Do Test different Products
If you find that you or a family member has particularly bad eczema or psoriasis, try changing the products your use one at a time. For instance I recently recommended an organic shampoo to a mum whose 6 year old was suffering terribly from eczema all over her face and upper body, she had never considered her shampoo and found an immediate difference when she switched.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
La Claree Oliv Organic Skincare – French Style and Luxury!
La Claree Oliv Organic Skincare range is a luxurious range of organic skincare inspired by the flowing La Claree River, with its crystal clear waters, inspiring surroundings, purity and breathtaking valley. The range reflects a deep appreciation of nature, a commitment to ethical living and purity that reflects these principles.
The range of products is stunning; the packaging is recyclable and looks amazing. Very classy indeed! Add to this the performance of the products and you have a great value for money, luxury product range that is simple and easy to use whilst delivering beautiful skin. It is also beautifully scented with totally natural fragrance.
Whilst many organic skincare lines will leave you disappointed, La Claree formulations are easily absorbed into the skin surface, your skin feels hydrated, refreshed and revitalized.
Certified organic by Ecocert and with the Organic Cosmetic Cosmetique Bio certificate, the range is not Tested On Animals and many items are Vegan. Until now it has only been available in top European Spa’s…now available in store at buyOrganics.co.uk
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Try Logona Age Protection for Free
New In Store! fantastic new organic Anti Aging skin care range by Logona. ‘Age Protection by Logona’ is an elegant value for money high performance skincare line that ticks all the boxes when it comes to keeping you looking young looking and beautiful naturally. Tried and Tested by buyOrganics Founder Sonia Kalia-Sagoo, watch out for the full review coming soon. For free samples and product info contact mail@buyorganics.co.uk today!
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Can Makeup be dangerous during pregnancy?
A recent article posted by DANIELLE ROSE in northjersey.com points out the difficulties that pregnant women face in trying to avoid toxins, eat healthy and take care of their developing baby.
A firm follower of using natural products, Danielle often makes up her own blends and potions to ensure that she stays well and healthy. What’s wonderful is that the type of things that she blends herself, are mostly made of products you would use to cook with. That is the true beauty of using natural products. However creating safe makeup is not something that can easily be created from home.
Danielle points out that although most women will switch to organic foods, quit drinking and leave toxic jobs such as painting the nursery to their husband, they often don’t realise that what they put on their skin can be just as important to baby's health. So natural skincare products should be picked carefully. Daily moisturizers, makeup, foundation all sit on the skin for hours.
Danielle points out that the skin is a porous organ and it absorbs lotions and makeup into the body, along with the chemicals they are comprised of, which is the whole basis of nicorette patches and contraception patches.
According to Dr. Alan Greene, author of "Raising Baby Green," many cosmetics and sunscreens contain what are called nanoparticles, particles so tiny that they permeate the skin and body tissues quickly and deeply.
A regular issue of concern that Danielle raises is the difficulty of really knowing what is in the product you are buying, coupled with the fact that the list of ingredients that are safe during pregnancy varies from source to source. In addition, manufacturers are not required to list all the ingredients on the product label and chemicals can get hidden under generic terms such as ‘fragrance’. I recently had a customer who was buying organic shampoo and I pointed out to her that it contained Rosemary (Which is not considered by general aromatherapy circles to be suitable for pregnant women in the first two trimesters) I suggested that she switch to another shampoo which contained gentler ingredients such as lavender, the smell of which is also less likely to turn a pregnant woman’s stomach. Lavender naturally helps ease nausea. Some other natural herbs and essential oils - basil, birch, cinnamon bark, sage and tarragon should not be used during pregnancy.
Also a beauty product listed as "organic," may not always be organic. Many high street brands and less scrupulous brands may only add a few organic ingredients to a concoction of other less favorable ingredients. One of Danielle’s favorite sites and mine too for determining the safety of skin care products is cosmeticsdatabase.com. It rates thousands of cosmetics on a scale of zero to 10 with 10 being a high hazard and zero being low.
Another good resource Danielle uses is Greene's book. In his chapter "The Bathroom," he lists and explains the types of ingredients to be wary of and many safer alternatives to the common cosmetic.
Danielle recommends making your own moisturizer , body scrubs, and facial masks using simple ingredients such as olive, grapeseed, safflower and walnut oils. For instance you can add oil to Epsom salts to create a safe and effective scrub. Blending with Essential oils should be done more carefully, however. Essential oils are concentrated plant matter and should always be purchased pure (not blended with other ingredients) and used diluted in the proper proportion with a base oil (never used directly on the skin).
For many of these reasons sighted by Danielle and other beauty experts in the field I’m really particular that buyOrganics check ingredients, only take on reputable brands and help customers one to one as much as possible make the right choice. We have special herb blended teas by Earth Mama to sooth many pregnancy ailments such as morning sickness, postpartum blues and even a blend to help your milk increase naturally when breastfeeding baby. Coupled with pure natural skincare and makeup products that do not contain nanoparticles, parabens or phthlates, and that we have vetted ourselves for purity, you no longer need to blend away yourself!! And can just purchase and apply with confidence.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
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!!
Monday, 13 July 2009
10 Reasons to Choose Organic Beauty Products10 Reasons to Choose Organic Beauty Products
The beauty and skincare industry is a billion dollar force to be reckoned with. Many companies get away with putting all concoctions of chemicals together that may have been tested individually but may not have been tested in combination or tested to see what they turn into when they breakdown in the bottle. Slap on a smart label and a big or very small price tag and you have something – not sure what – in a bottle.
The natural and organic skincare and beauty industry is now a growing market for those who want purer products that do not carry all the growing hazards presented by high street brands. Instead of buying a bottle of chemical preservative with a few essential oils thrown in, consumers are getting savvy to what they are buying, and would rather buy a bottle packed full of pure nutrients for their skin with a little bit of preservative to keep it fresh!
So if you’re not on the band wagon yet, here are 10 reasons why you should give it a go!
1. High street brands contain 0.5 – 6% of active ingredients, the rest are made up of cheap ingredients that have no value for your skin or body, including mineral oil derived from petrochemicals, formaldehydes, synthetic preservatives ( parabens) and emulsifiers, colorants and fragrances that contain phthalates
2. Organic Brands contain on average approximately 80 – 90% active ingredients, ingredients include more expensive nutritionally based oils that are good for your skin such as Apricot oil, sea buckthorn oil, plant emulsifiers instead of synthetic ones, and essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance
3. Unlike the early brands of organic skin care and other and natural beauty products up and coming new brands are sophisticated and luxurious to use and yes, they do work!
4. The Soil Association has announced a new EU-wide, harmonised standard for organic health and beauty products. This is brilliant news for the growing organic health and beauty industry and also for the consumer as this is the first common standard in the world that will ensure clarity and transparency, so that everyone can understand what ‘organic’ means.
5. The ingredients in organic skincare products have been grown or produced without the use of pesticides, or chemical solvents, they are either wild harvested, grown from organic farms or handmade with care and attention
6. Organic skin care products are produced in a socially responsible way without harm to wildlife, the environment, people or animals.
7. Organic products tend to be Vegetarian or Vegan meaning you won’t be smearing animal fat on your face
8. Organic beauty products feed your skin rather than coating it with plasticizers or thinning it or chemically destroying it as other products can do
9. The saying you get what you pay for is very true of organic products. Sure they are more expensive than a non-organic equivalent, but at the same time you can be assured you are keeping your skin safe, are helping the environment and are pampering yourself with real luxury.
10. Organic products are non – toxic and do not cause the side effects associated with chemicals in high street products such as hormone disruption, depression, skin allergies and cancer.
Unfortunately as the Soil Association's standard has only recently been agreed, it means there are still some unscrupulous manufacturers out there that will label their products as “natural” or “organic”, yet they are no better for you than many non-organic products. The best advice is to look out for reputable brands such as Green People, Eselle Organics, Earthbound Organics and Miessence.
So what are you waiting for?
The natural and organic skincare and beauty industry is now a growing market for those who want purer products that do not carry all the growing hazards presented by high street brands. Instead of buying a bottle of chemical preservative with a few essential oils thrown in, consumers are getting savvy to what they are buying, and would rather buy a bottle packed full of pure nutrients for their skin with a little bit of preservative to keep it fresh!
So if you’re not on the band wagon yet, here are 10 reasons why you should give it a go!
1. High street brands contain 0.5 – 6% of active ingredients, the rest are made up of cheap ingredients that have no value for your skin or body, including mineral oil derived from petrochemicals, formaldehydes, synthetic preservatives ( parabens) and emulsifiers, colorants and fragrances that contain phthalates
2. Organic Brands contain on average approximately 80 – 90% active ingredients, ingredients include more expensive nutritionally based oils that are good for your skin such as Apricot oil, sea buckthorn oil, plant emulsifiers instead of synthetic ones, and essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance
3. Unlike the early brands of organic skin care and other and natural beauty products up and coming new brands are sophisticated and luxurious to use and yes, they do work!
4. The Soil Association has announced a new EU-wide, harmonised standard for organic health and beauty products. This is brilliant news for the growing organic health and beauty industry and also for the consumer as this is the first common standard in the world that will ensure clarity and transparency, so that everyone can understand what ‘organic’ means.
5. The ingredients in organic skincare products have been grown or produced without the use of pesticides, or chemical solvents, they are either wild harvested, grown from organic farms or handmade with care and attention
6. Organic skin care products are produced in a socially responsible way without harm to wildlife, the environment, people or animals.
7. Organic products tend to be Vegetarian or Vegan meaning you won’t be smearing animal fat on your face
8. Organic beauty products feed your skin rather than coating it with plasticizers or thinning it or chemically destroying it as other products can do
9. The saying you get what you pay for is very true of organic products. Sure they are more expensive than a non-organic equivalent, but at the same time you can be assured you are keeping your skin safe, are helping the environment and are pampering yourself with real luxury.
10. Organic products are non – toxic and do not cause the side effects associated with chemicals in high street products such as hormone disruption, depression, skin allergies and cancer.
Unfortunately as the Soil Association's standard has only recently been agreed, it means there are still some unscrupulous manufacturers out there that will label their products as “natural” or “organic”, yet they are no better for you than many non-organic products. The best advice is to look out for reputable brands such as Green People, Eselle Organics, Earthbound Organics and Miessence.
So what are you waiting for?
Friday, 26 June 2009
New Organic Skin Care Products from Earthbound Organics!
Oh I love this job, it’s so yummy!The latest on the buyOrganics shelves are these gorgeous light offerings from Earthbound Organics.
Jasmin and Honey Body Cream is just as luscious as it sounds, and the Sea buckthorn and Neroli organic skin care is also yummy for the skin. Both will leave your skin in amazing condition, smelling gorgeous, and totally nourished. Packed with goodness, the ingredients are totally pure without compromise and have anti-aging benefits too!
Well done Jo!
Sonia
Friday, 12 June 2009
Trevarno Organic Skincare - New at buyOrganics
New to our shelves is the wonderfully natural, pure and certified range of organic skincare by Trevarno. Hand made in Cornwall, these luscious products will have your skin looking amazing, protected from the sun and all naturally!! Their special formulations are designed with the most sensitive skin in mind to retain the skins natural beauty but also to help cleanse tone and replenish skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Trevarno’s first organic soaps were launched in 1998, followed by their skincare range in 2000. Their organic skincare is a high performance and sustainably produced range, which is competitively, priced which means that you no longer need to sacrifice or compromise luxury, style or affordability in choosing the natural skin care option.
At buyOrganics I am particularly pleased that, with increasing awareness of the benefits of choosing Natural and Organic products, and the escalating health concerns over the inclusion of synthetic ingredients found in the majority of high street beauty products, Trevarno’s organic skin care range is a tribute to their philosophy of producing chemical free, truly organic skin care. Trevarno’s ethical focus is on taking beauty back to its natural roots using long established, traditional ingredients and sustainable, production methods.
What’s even more delightful is that Trevarno’s skin enriching creams are blended with fully certified organic flower waters and deliciously scented essential oils to produce light and easily absorbed beauty essentials that you will not be able to do without. As well as these daily facial products, the organic sun care range from Trevarno has been developed to provide essential daily protection without the need for all the chemicals that go along with sun creams providing any shelter from the sun. With Trevarno’s Day and Rose & Jojoba moisturising creams both being available with SPF15, you will be able to easily nourish as well as defend your skin against the sun and its aging effects. These two products are highly effective in any natural anti aging organic skin care routine.
Certified by The Organic Farmers & Growers, Britain’s longest established organic certifier, Trevarno have met strict standards to gain formal organic certification which guarantees the range as pure, ethical and sustainable.
Trevarno is committed to sourcing ingredients of the highest quality, from, socially just and ecologically responsible suppliers for their skin care range. Just a few examples of these practices includes buying locally grown West country herbs and obtaining sustainable Palm Oil from a producer who works closely with the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
“Trevarno’s creams are actually creams not balms! Their cleansers are effective and remove all of the daily grind you expect them to and your skin is left feeling completely amazing in the morning after having used the night cream. Trevarno definitely gets the thumbs up from me; otherwise I certainly wouldn’t sell it!”
Sonia Kalia-Sagoo
Founder of buyOrganics
Trevarno’s first organic soaps were launched in 1998, followed by their skincare range in 2000. Their organic skincare is a high performance and sustainably produced range, which is competitively, priced which means that you no longer need to sacrifice or compromise luxury, style or affordability in choosing the natural skin care option.
At buyOrganics I am particularly pleased that, with increasing awareness of the benefits of choosing Natural and Organic products, and the escalating health concerns over the inclusion of synthetic ingredients found in the majority of high street beauty products, Trevarno’s organic skin care range is a tribute to their philosophy of producing chemical free, truly organic skin care. Trevarno’s ethical focus is on taking beauty back to its natural roots using long established, traditional ingredients and sustainable, production methods.
What’s even more delightful is that Trevarno’s skin enriching creams are blended with fully certified organic flower waters and deliciously scented essential oils to produce light and easily absorbed beauty essentials that you will not be able to do without. As well as these daily facial products, the organic sun care range from Trevarno has been developed to provide essential daily protection without the need for all the chemicals that go along with sun creams providing any shelter from the sun. With Trevarno’s Day and Rose & Jojoba moisturising creams both being available with SPF15, you will be able to easily nourish as well as defend your skin against the sun and its aging effects. These two products are highly effective in any natural anti aging organic skin care routine.
Certified by The Organic Farmers & Growers, Britain’s longest established organic certifier, Trevarno have met strict standards to gain formal organic certification which guarantees the range as pure, ethical and sustainable.
Trevarno is committed to sourcing ingredients of the highest quality, from, socially just and ecologically responsible suppliers for their skin care range. Just a few examples of these practices includes buying locally grown West country herbs and obtaining sustainable Palm Oil from a producer who works closely with the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
“Trevarno’s creams are actually creams not balms! Their cleansers are effective and remove all of the daily grind you expect them to and your skin is left feeling completely amazing in the morning after having used the night cream. Trevarno definitely gets the thumbs up from me; otherwise I certainly wouldn’t sell it!”
Sonia Kalia-Sagoo
Founder of buyOrganics
Monday, 20 April 2009
Organic Cosmetics Vs Natural Cosmetics
Many people think that organic and natural means the same thing and to some extents and in many instances it does. If something is billed as organic, then it is also natural; it uses natural organically grown ingredients, now the problem is that if something claims it is natural, it does not mean it is automatically organic in nature, or organically made; this is most apparent on cosmetics.
Currently cosmetic companies are not required to meet any formal standards when it comes to using the term “natural” on their products. This has led to many companies touting their cosmetics as natural to cash in on peoples desire to use healthier, chemical free organic makeup.
Marketing your products as organic cosmetics, along with other organic products such as organic skincare or organic mattresses for example, is regulated by organisations such as the National Organic Program in the USA but regulations in other parts of the world are only just coming into fruition.
So how do you avoid all the scam products and only choose the real deal when it comes to organic makeup or organic skin care? Well there are organisations that have their own standards that many companies in the organic products industry consider to be the benchmark for organic guidelines.
The Soil Association (UK), BDiH (Germany), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), ICEA (Italy) and Ecogarantie (Belgium) have developed common standards for natural and organic cosmetics. So a stamp of certification from these on a product is a good guideline. However not all organic cosmetic manufacturers will have signed on with one of these, and that does not mean they are doing anything wrong.
So if you can’t find one of these standards on your product then see if it comes from one of the very reputable and recommended organic product producers. Some of the most respected, trusted and known brands include:
Inika – Providers of quality organic cosmetics such as blusher, eyeliner and foundation.
John Masters – Specialists in organic shampoo, organic conditioners and organic haircare.
Zoya – THE brand for toxin free, safe and natural nail polish.
Organic Apoteke – Leaders in organic cleansers and toners and other organic skincare.
Nvey Eco – Some of the best organic makeup and cosmetics on the market today.
Earthbound Organics – Organic skin care including facial scrubs and creams which are kind to your body.
Eselle Organics – One of the best known brands of organic skincare for the face and body as well as other great organic products.
Raw Gaia – Amazing organic beauty products to pamper yourself with.
Essential Care – Pure organic washes, tonics, lotions and more as well as eczema treatments.
Spiezia Organics – Unique organic creams, ointments and soaps.
Green People – Cleansers, washes and organic toiletries along with Green People organic shampoo and conditioners.
One Group/Miessence – The One Group manufactures the Miessence range and is one of the most trusted brands of organic skin care, organic shampoo and hair care and many other organic products for your body.
Sticking to these brands will ensure you are not being duped into buying products which are not as organic or natural as they claim to be. There are of course many other reputable organic brands out there, and it can be trial and error, but these are a great place to start as you know you are in good hands.
Finally you could always drop an email to us at buyOrganics (mail@buyorganics.co.uk) and we will try to advise you as best we can and make sure you are getting what you deserve; true organic products.
Currently cosmetic companies are not required to meet any formal standards when it comes to using the term “natural” on their products. This has led to many companies touting their cosmetics as natural to cash in on peoples desire to use healthier, chemical free organic makeup.
Marketing your products as organic cosmetics, along with other organic products such as organic skincare or organic mattresses for example, is regulated by organisations such as the National Organic Program in the USA but regulations in other parts of the world are only just coming into fruition.
So how do you avoid all the scam products and only choose the real deal when it comes to organic makeup or organic skin care? Well there are organisations that have their own standards that many companies in the organic products industry consider to be the benchmark for organic guidelines.
The Soil Association (UK), BDiH (Germany), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), ICEA (Italy) and Ecogarantie (Belgium) have developed common standards for natural and organic cosmetics. So a stamp of certification from these on a product is a good guideline. However not all organic cosmetic manufacturers will have signed on with one of these, and that does not mean they are doing anything wrong.
So if you can’t find one of these standards on your product then see if it comes from one of the very reputable and recommended organic product producers. Some of the most respected, trusted and known brands include:
Inika – Providers of quality organic cosmetics such as blusher, eyeliner and foundation.
John Masters – Specialists in organic shampoo, organic conditioners and organic haircare.
Zoya – THE brand for toxin free, safe and natural nail polish.
Organic Apoteke – Leaders in organic cleansers and toners and other organic skincare.
Nvey Eco – Some of the best organic makeup and cosmetics on the market today.
Earthbound Organics – Organic skin care including facial scrubs and creams which are kind to your body.
Eselle Organics – One of the best known brands of organic skincare for the face and body as well as other great organic products.
Raw Gaia – Amazing organic beauty products to pamper yourself with.
Essential Care – Pure organic washes, tonics, lotions and more as well as eczema treatments.
Spiezia Organics – Unique organic creams, ointments and soaps.
Green People – Cleansers, washes and organic toiletries along with Green People organic shampoo and conditioners.
One Group/Miessence – The One Group manufactures the Miessence range and is one of the most trusted brands of organic skin care, organic shampoo and hair care and many other organic products for your body.
Sticking to these brands will ensure you are not being duped into buying products which are not as organic or natural as they claim to be. There are of course many other reputable organic brands out there, and it can be trial and error, but these are a great place to start as you know you are in good hands.
Finally you could always drop an email to us at buyOrganics (mail@buyorganics.co.uk) and we will try to advise you as best we can and make sure you are getting what you deserve; true organic products.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
buyOrganics Relocation Mega Sale!
Many stock lines reduced up to 50%. All excess stock must go in-order to make way for new lines.
Many of our women’s and men’s organic skin care lines are reduced, along with organic cosmetics and makeup, baby clothing, and maternity wear. The offer is only on current stock, so when it’s gone, it’s gone!
For the last few years we’ve been operating from home with the assistance of a pick and pack service to deliver your goods to you, but now all’s changing at buyOrganics in order to make things more efficient, provide better quality service and make some positive steps to provide you with more all round benefits. To begin with, we’ve moved into offices and are reclaiming the picking and packing, and lots more is planned to follow.
The move hasn’t been easy, we’ve been loading and unloading boxes, setting, up desks, shelves, computers, new systems, and trying to run the business with as little disruption as possible! Of course we haven’t managed to keep everyone happy, but we are working on making things better for you in the long run.
Orders are getting back to normal now and hopefully over the next few weeks you’ll see your orders being turned around a lot quicker than before. We will also be re-developing the website, bringing in new product lines, and bringing back the newsletters and competitions, all of which have suffered due to space and software issues!
So if you have any suggestions about changes you wish to see, and products you would like us to stock, or services you think we should offer, now is the time to tell us so that we can plan them in this year. Without your suggestions we cannot tailor our business to suit your needs and provide you with the service you expect, so your help is invaluable in making BuyOrganics a store where you want to shop. Every suggestion will be read personally by me and written into our action plan where feasible.
In the next few weeks we will be sending you all a little questionnaire as we try to get to know your needs better. I hope you will help us help you by sending this back to us.
In the meantime, please contact us at mail@buyorganics.co.uk with suggestions and improvements, or use the feedback feature on our site (top right hand corner).
Sonia x
Many of our women’s and men’s organic skin care lines are reduced, along with organic cosmetics and makeup, baby clothing, and maternity wear. The offer is only on current stock, so when it’s gone, it’s gone!
For the last few years we’ve been operating from home with the assistance of a pick and pack service to deliver your goods to you, but now all’s changing at buyOrganics in order to make things more efficient, provide better quality service and make some positive steps to provide you with more all round benefits. To begin with, we’ve moved into offices and are reclaiming the picking and packing, and lots more is planned to follow.
The move hasn’t been easy, we’ve been loading and unloading boxes, setting, up desks, shelves, computers, new systems, and trying to run the business with as little disruption as possible! Of course we haven’t managed to keep everyone happy, but we are working on making things better for you in the long run.
Orders are getting back to normal now and hopefully over the next few weeks you’ll see your orders being turned around a lot quicker than before. We will also be re-developing the website, bringing in new product lines, and bringing back the newsletters and competitions, all of which have suffered due to space and software issues!
So if you have any suggestions about changes you wish to see, and products you would like us to stock, or services you think we should offer, now is the time to tell us so that we can plan them in this year. Without your suggestions we cannot tailor our business to suit your needs and provide you with the service you expect, so your help is invaluable in making BuyOrganics a store where you want to shop. Every suggestion will be read personally by me and written into our action plan where feasible.
In the next few weeks we will be sending you all a little questionnaire as we try to get to know your needs better. I hope you will help us help you by sending this back to us.
In the meantime, please contact us at mail@buyorganics.co.uk with suggestions and improvements, or use the feedback feature on our site (top right hand corner).
Sonia x
Monday, 16 February 2009
Natural Skincare where do you stop?
When you’re worrying about the ingredients in your organic skincare it can be confusing when you don’t where to stop. How far do you go with cutting out stuff in natural skincare that might be bad for you?
That’s exactly the question that many people get confused about when they’re trying to figure out what is safe and what isn’t.
And although you will be well versed in reading the backs of bottles and pots, you may wonder who to trust and who to believe. I remember when I was pregnant and first started buying organic and natural skin care products. I was checking the ingredients of everything to the point that I became paranoid about using anything. It was very stressful and scary. I had what felt like pre-exam nerves every time I went shopping! I was ordering stuff from across the ocean in USA just because the natural skincare products here didn’t seem pure enough. It was killing my bank balance and my confidence.
An interesting conversation I had with a supplier at this time is something I’d like to share with you. I was buying something to stock on my site and wasn’t sure if the ingredients were pure enough. The answer I got back was like a gush of cool air on a hot day!! He said
“The fact that you are checking the ingredients and are avoiding the nastiest chemicals is good enough. If you cut out the major nasty groups such as Parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals and fragrances then you’ll be doing yourself and your customers a huge favour. Some preservatives for instance just can’t be avoided, but most of your customers will know that you are doing the best you can for them.”
Looking into things further I have found that its near impossible to avoid everything, even in natural skincare, because everyone is allergic to different things; any substance - natural or chemical can trigger a reaction. In addition, you will read about some substances within natural skincare products that are claimed to be unsafe or carcinogenic. There is nothing more carcinogenic than the cocktail of chemicals that currently grace high street skincare. A step towards natural skincare that lessens this burden is a step in the right direction. The main thing to watch out for is a complex array of chemicals gracing your natural skincare products that don’t look like they should belong there. That’s what I make sure I avoid when I’m picking products for the site. I’ve seen some other natural skincare sites that aren’t as scrupulous which is worrying.
You may not agree with me and I’d understand entirely, but my advice is not to get too hung up on every ingredient having to be purely organic and every ingredient having to be clear of all known allergenic reactions (unless you are allergic to that particular ingredient of course) otherwise you may find it very tough indeed to find anything to use in the bathroom everyday. You’ll find the majority of natural skincare products (even the ones we stock) to be as safe as can possibly be. Although it is the ideal standard that every ingredient should be certified organic, it is not always practical. If you demand a organic hair care product with no preservative you may be disappointed. Preservatives are necessary to stop the growth of dangerous bacteria that could make you ill, most natural skincare companies try and find preservatives that are as natural as possible.
I love natural skincare that has very little in it, just a few necessary ingredients that you can read in one sentence. That’s why Earthbound organic skincare tops high on my list of favourite natural skincare It may not have an organic seal of approval, but I just can’t see how a pot of cream made of four really simple things is going to harm me. I know Jo gets her beeswax from her local farm, it’s not certified organic, but I believe her when she says that it’s pure. She’s even started keeping her own bees and mashes the carrots for the carrot cream in her kitchen…..so my advice is to let common sense prevail and live a natural life, but not an obsessive one. Moderation is best.
That’s exactly the question that many people get confused about when they’re trying to figure out what is safe and what isn’t.
And although you will be well versed in reading the backs of bottles and pots, you may wonder who to trust and who to believe. I remember when I was pregnant and first started buying organic and natural skin care products. I was checking the ingredients of everything to the point that I became paranoid about using anything. It was very stressful and scary. I had what felt like pre-exam nerves every time I went shopping! I was ordering stuff from across the ocean in USA just because the natural skincare products here didn’t seem pure enough. It was killing my bank balance and my confidence.
An interesting conversation I had with a supplier at this time is something I’d like to share with you. I was buying something to stock on my site and wasn’t sure if the ingredients were pure enough. The answer I got back was like a gush of cool air on a hot day!! He said
“The fact that you are checking the ingredients and are avoiding the nastiest chemicals is good enough. If you cut out the major nasty groups such as Parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals and fragrances then you’ll be doing yourself and your customers a huge favour. Some preservatives for instance just can’t be avoided, but most of your customers will know that you are doing the best you can for them.”
Looking into things further I have found that its near impossible to avoid everything, even in natural skincare, because everyone is allergic to different things; any substance - natural or chemical can trigger a reaction. In addition, you will read about some substances within natural skincare products that are claimed to be unsafe or carcinogenic. There is nothing more carcinogenic than the cocktail of chemicals that currently grace high street skincare. A step towards natural skincare that lessens this burden is a step in the right direction. The main thing to watch out for is a complex array of chemicals gracing your natural skincare products that don’t look like they should belong there. That’s what I make sure I avoid when I’m picking products for the site. I’ve seen some other natural skincare sites that aren’t as scrupulous which is worrying.
You may not agree with me and I’d understand entirely, but my advice is not to get too hung up on every ingredient having to be purely organic and every ingredient having to be clear of all known allergenic reactions (unless you are allergic to that particular ingredient of course) otherwise you may find it very tough indeed to find anything to use in the bathroom everyday. You’ll find the majority of natural skincare products (even the ones we stock) to be as safe as can possibly be. Although it is the ideal standard that every ingredient should be certified organic, it is not always practical. If you demand a organic hair care product with no preservative you may be disappointed. Preservatives are necessary to stop the growth of dangerous bacteria that could make you ill, most natural skincare companies try and find preservatives that are as natural as possible.
I love natural skincare that has very little in it, just a few necessary ingredients that you can read in one sentence. That’s why Earthbound organic skincare tops high on my list of favourite natural skincare It may not have an organic seal of approval, but I just can’t see how a pot of cream made of four really simple things is going to harm me. I know Jo gets her beeswax from her local farm, it’s not certified organic, but I believe her when she says that it’s pure. She’s even started keeping her own bees and mashes the carrots for the carrot cream in her kitchen…..so my advice is to let common sense prevail and live a natural life, but not an obsessive one. Moderation is best.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Put Spring back into your skin the natural way with buyOrganics’ expert advice
Despite months of slathering on creams, protective serums, blocks and foundations to shield our skin from the harsh winter elements, all of us are no doubt desperate to get back to the fresh, sun-kissed glow that is now just a memory from last year’s summer holiday….
It’s not always about what you put onto your skin however – as we are all aware, most skincare products contain mind-bogglingly long lists of ingredients, many of which are synthetic and quite possibly harmful when absorbed into the skin and bloodstream, building up to cause allergies, irritancy and even disease.
Organic skincare is the perfect solution – and buyOrganics' range of carefully selected skincare products will set you up for the spring – sloughing off the winter and protecting new skin so you’re ready to face the world again! Two of buyOrganics’ ranges are perfect to ease this transformation – and expert advisors from both Essential Care and Organic Apoteke have some great tips and advice as well.
Margaret Weeds of quality, affordable organic range Essential Care says, “The skin is the largest elimination organ of the body, so using chemical-free skincare products all year round will reduce toxic load, but in order to slough off the winter from our skins, improving sluggish circulations, focusing on exfoliation and extra moisturisation with vitamin-rich plant oil products will pay dividends.”
Margaret suggests using the Essential Care Tea Tree & Green Clay organic soap or their Honey & Oatmeal facial bar to gentle exfoliate the face, and to use a fine scrub mitt, brush or loofah with any of their soaps, for the rest of the body. Splash on cold water to boost circulation and close pores the natural way.
Cleanse with an Essential Care organic cleanser, followed by Rose Petal or Citrus Tonic to gently tone the skin without stripping or irritation. Says Margaret, “For a fantastic glow and vitamin boost I strongly recommend finishing with a couple of drops of Organic Superfruit Concentrate.”
Left with dry, flaky or chapped skin from the cold, wind and central heating? Essential Care’s Ultra Rich Balm is economical and multitasking, suitable for use anywhere on the body. For particularly badly cracked hands or heels, and even according to customer feedback, psoriasis, use their Calendula Balm.
If you aren’t fussed about the pennies, then luxury organic skin care range Organic Apoteke offers several products which are pure pampering heaven – indulge in one or two special organic skincare treats from the range in addition to your everyday cheaper products for perfect skin which won’t cost the earth.
Dr Nitasha Buldeo, creator of the Organic Apoteke range, also offers a simple and fun weekend detox plan to get the whole body, inside and out, ready to face the world again. As well as drinking plenty of water, avoiding dairy, fried foods, preservatives and carbonated drinks, she particularly recommends the following Organic Apoteke products for glowing, toxin-free skin: for the face, Active Face Cleanse Gel and Active Herbal Toner, moisturise with their Active Face Hydrating Gel and even have a go with the super cleansing Detox Face Mask. Use the Organic Apoteke Body Cleanse Gel and Body Hydrate Oil both in Sicilian Orange & Mandarin to cleanse and moisturise the body.
Put the Spring back into your skin now!
It’s not always about what you put onto your skin however – as we are all aware, most skincare products contain mind-bogglingly long lists of ingredients, many of which are synthetic and quite possibly harmful when absorbed into the skin and bloodstream, building up to cause allergies, irritancy and even disease.
Organic skincare is the perfect solution – and buyOrganics' range of carefully selected skincare products will set you up for the spring – sloughing off the winter and protecting new skin so you’re ready to face the world again! Two of buyOrganics’ ranges are perfect to ease this transformation – and expert advisors from both Essential Care and Organic Apoteke have some great tips and advice as well.
Margaret Weeds of quality, affordable organic range Essential Care says, “The skin is the largest elimination organ of the body, so using chemical-free skincare products all year round will reduce toxic load, but in order to slough off the winter from our skins, improving sluggish circulations, focusing on exfoliation and extra moisturisation with vitamin-rich plant oil products will pay dividends.” Margaret suggests using the Essential Care Tea Tree & Green Clay organic soap or their Honey & Oatmeal facial bar to gentle exfoliate the face, and to use a fine scrub mitt, brush or loofah with any of their soaps, for the rest of the body. Splash on cold water to boost circulation and close pores the natural way.
Cleanse with an Essential Care organic cleanser, followed by Rose Petal or Citrus Tonic to gently tone the skin without stripping or irritation. Says Margaret, “For a fantastic glow and vitamin boost I strongly recommend finishing with a couple of drops of Organic Superfruit Concentrate.”
Left with dry, flaky or chapped skin from the cold, wind and central heating? Essential Care’s Ultra Rich Balm is economical and multitasking, suitable for use anywhere on the body. For particularly badly cracked hands or heels, and even according to customer feedback, psoriasis, use their Calendula Balm.
If you aren’t fussed about the pennies, then luxury organic skin care range Organic Apoteke offers several products which are pure pampering heaven – indulge in one or two special organic skincare treats from the range in addition to your everyday cheaper products for perfect skin which won’t cost the earth. Dr Nitasha Buldeo, creator of the Organic Apoteke range, also offers a simple and fun weekend detox plan to get the whole body, inside and out, ready to face the world again. As well as drinking plenty of water, avoiding dairy, fried foods, preservatives and carbonated drinks, she particularly recommends the following Organic Apoteke products for glowing, toxin-free skin: for the face, Active Face Cleanse Gel and Active Herbal Toner, moisturise with their Active Face Hydrating Gel and even have a go with the super cleansing Detox Face Mask. Use the Organic Apoteke Body Cleanse Gel and Body Hydrate Oil both in Sicilian Orange & Mandarin to cleanse and moisturise the body.
Put the Spring back into your skin now!
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Organic mineral makeup - stunning results without the toxic overload
Mineral makeup is THE biggest thing in cosmetics right now, and for once, the concept behind these flawless foundations, eyeshadows, lipsticks and even mascaras, seems to be going in the right direction, away from artificially produced chemicals and towards more naturally derived ingredients. Lowering our toxic overload from personal care products must be high on everyone’s beauty agenda right now, as we aim to create a flawless finish without clogging our pores, ingesting carcinogenic ingredients and polluting the environment with manmade chemicals. And what’s the point of spending all that time and effort using organic, toxin-free soaps, shampoos, deodorants and bubble baths when the moment we step out of the shower and get to the mirror, we start loading regular cosmetics onto our faces and nails?
But, don’t just grab your purse in panic and rush down the road to the nearest chemist to buy up stocks of the latest mineral makeup from the shelves! Despite claims of natural, healthy and pure ingredients, even the most cursory of scans of the packaging will prove that even in the so-called pure world of mineral makeup – once again, organic cosmetics stand out on their own not only for safety and consideration for the environment, but for purity and importantly, performance!
Organic mineral makeup products are made from a pure mixture of mica, iron oxide and titanium dioxide as well as a range of different organically extracted essential oils. Many high street brands are loaded with synthetic fillers and preservatives, such as talc, bismuth oxychloride, parabens and phlalates, which as well as being toxic, can irritate the skin and block pores.
Top luxury organic online beauty store buyOrganics tried and tested a number of products before settling on their new makeup range, which we are now delighted to introduce to you. We now stock the organic, vegan makeup range by Inika, which includes a range of twelve different shades of organic mineral foundation which acts as a foundation, concealer and powder, all in one.
We have found that even the most sensitive skins and those with visible facial skin complaints such as redness and rosacea not only benefit from the superior coverage of the Inika organic makeup, to name but one, but also the benefits of leaving pores able to breathe and the natural sun protection factor of the ingredients (iron oxide and titanium oxide are also used in organic sunscreens to provide excellent protection from both UVA and UVB rays). This means that as well as being safe internally, your foundation also has anti-ageing properties. They are so safe for use that they can even be used straight after facial cosmetic surgery.
What we particularly like about using mineral foundations is the ease of application and the fact that one pot will last a very long time, meaning a sharp decrease in packaging and necessity to keep buying the product – making it a true investment! Only the smallest amount is required and once you get the hang of controlling the brush to apply the powder, we guarantee this method of facial coverage will knock minutes off the usual time it would take to use a liquid or pressed foundation.
The real secret with mineral makeup, from foundation to eyeshadows and even lip colours is in the brushwork – you will become an artist in no time! The knack is to use either a flat foundation brush (buyOrganics stock the Inika vegan brushes) or a blusher brush, take up a small amount of the powder knocking it against the pot to rid the brush of any excess, then apply in bold, rounded movements to the face. You can either cover the entire facial area or simply pay attention to areas which need more coverage (which is where a concealer brush, again using the foundation powder under the eye area comes in useful), so one product goes a very long way, making your cosmetic bag light and simple, and less packaging too. Covering blemishes but allowing your natural beauty to shine through to give a healthy, glowing complexion can’t be bad!
Eyeshadows can be applied simply as powder with an eyeshadow brush or for more definition close to the lashes, or for a dramatic evening or party look, wet the brush, take off the excess water and dip into the eyeshadow powder for an effect similar to watercolours, you can build up the colour as you wish. Use a base colour such as Inika’s Bling Bling over the eye lid up to just below the brow line, then fill in the eye socket area with another colour – we love the depth of Inika’s Purple Haze. You can even use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner by dampening an angled brush and using the eyeshadow wet to create perfect lines of any colour you like. If you’re a stickler for your eyeliners though, Inika’s eyeliner pencils come in a range of shades – try Sage with your Purple Haze eyeshadow for a fantastic festive party look – and they come with a handy sharpener on the pencil lid – again cutting down on makeup bag bulge!
You mustn’t forget blusher, giving depth, definition and a healthy glow day or night. The Inika kabuki brush together with their blusher powder (four sensational shades) will complete your healthy look. With such gorgeous products giving fantastic effects and also vegan and organic, why would you choose anything else? It’s a no-brainer really! See the entire range of organic makeup from buyOrganics, including Inika, Miessence, Nvey Eco and just in – non-toxic nail polishes from Zoya – from buyOrganics and get the safest, purest beauty looks around!
But, don’t just grab your purse in panic and rush down the road to the nearest chemist to buy up stocks of the latest mineral makeup from the shelves! Despite claims of natural, healthy and pure ingredients, even the most cursory of scans of the packaging will prove that even in the so-called pure world of mineral makeup – once again, organic cosmetics stand out on their own not only for safety and consideration for the environment, but for purity and importantly, performance!
Organic mineral makeup products are made from a pure mixture of mica, iron oxide and titanium dioxide as well as a range of different organically extracted essential oils. Many high street brands are loaded with synthetic fillers and preservatives, such as talc, bismuth oxychloride, parabens and phlalates, which as well as being toxic, can irritate the skin and block pores.
Top luxury organic online beauty store buyOrganics tried and tested a number of products before settling on their new makeup range, which we are now delighted to introduce to you. We now stock the organic, vegan makeup range by Inika, which includes a range of twelve different shades of organic mineral foundation which acts as a foundation, concealer and powder, all in one.
We have found that even the most sensitive skins and those with visible facial skin complaints such as redness and rosacea not only benefit from the superior coverage of the Inika organic makeup, to name but one, but also the benefits of leaving pores able to breathe and the natural sun protection factor of the ingredients (iron oxide and titanium oxide are also used in organic sunscreens to provide excellent protection from both UVA and UVB rays). This means that as well as being safe internally, your foundation also has anti-ageing properties. They are so safe for use that they can even be used straight after facial cosmetic surgery.
What we particularly like about using mineral foundations is the ease of application and the fact that one pot will last a very long time, meaning a sharp decrease in packaging and necessity to keep buying the product – making it a true investment! Only the smallest amount is required and once you get the hang of controlling the brush to apply the powder, we guarantee this method of facial coverage will knock minutes off the usual time it would take to use a liquid or pressed foundation.
The real secret with mineral makeup, from foundation to eyeshadows and even lip colours is in the brushwork – you will become an artist in no time! The knack is to use either a flat foundation brush (buyOrganics stock the Inika vegan brushes) or a blusher brush, take up a small amount of the powder knocking it against the pot to rid the brush of any excess, then apply in bold, rounded movements to the face. You can either cover the entire facial area or simply pay attention to areas which need more coverage (which is where a concealer brush, again using the foundation powder under the eye area comes in useful), so one product goes a very long way, making your cosmetic bag light and simple, and less packaging too. Covering blemishes but allowing your natural beauty to shine through to give a healthy, glowing complexion can’t be bad!
Eyeshadows can be applied simply as powder with an eyeshadow brush or for more definition close to the lashes, or for a dramatic evening or party look, wet the brush, take off the excess water and dip into the eyeshadow powder for an effect similar to watercolours, you can build up the colour as you wish. Use a base colour such as Inika’s Bling Bling over the eye lid up to just below the brow line, then fill in the eye socket area with another colour – we love the depth of Inika’s Purple Haze. You can even use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner by dampening an angled brush and using the eyeshadow wet to create perfect lines of any colour you like. If you’re a stickler for your eyeliners though, Inika’s eyeliner pencils come in a range of shades – try Sage with your Purple Haze eyeshadow for a fantastic festive party look – and they come with a handy sharpener on the pencil lid – again cutting down on makeup bag bulge!
You mustn’t forget blusher, giving depth, definition and a healthy glow day or night. The Inika kabuki brush together with their blusher powder (four sensational shades) will complete your healthy look. With such gorgeous products giving fantastic effects and also vegan and organic, why would you choose anything else? It’s a no-brainer really! See the entire range of organic makeup from buyOrganics, including Inika, Miessence, Nvey Eco and just in – non-toxic nail polishes from Zoya – from buyOrganics and get the safest, purest beauty looks around!
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Organic Cosmetics & Makeup – The Intelligent Way to look Beautiful! What’s in your makeup – The Facts!
Makeup is important. Pouty lips and luscious eyes make us feel good but - trust me! There’s nothing glamorous about absorbing up to 5lbs of synthetic chemicals into your body every year – formaldehyde, phthalates, synthetic polymers, parabens, chemicals solvents, VOC’s amongst a few. Yet the makeup you buy over the counter that makes you look ‘oh so gorgeous’ is feeding you just that according to a leading biochemist. Each day women apply several different cosmetics to their skin, during which they are exposed to lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which are also incidentally found in shampoo’s deodorants and perfumes.
Whilst you quibble over whether Chanel, L’Oreal or Estee Lauder is best, we’ll take a deeper look into the ingredients of those beloved lipsticks, blushers, mascaras and foundations that grace your cosmetic bag and your skin. It feels good when you open your bag and it’s full of beautifully packaged luxury makeup, don’t get me wrong, I’m not particularly singling out the above brands, just pointing out that when we choose our cosmetics, we are often choosing a brand that says more about our lifestyle than even our clothes - they are expressions of who we want to be and what our priorities are. We choose a brand that represents us.
We buy from places that we feel familiar and comfortable with, where we fit in. This can unfortunately play on our sense of ego and then bypasses our basic rights to being provided with products that are not polluting us. Often the primary factors that govern women’s choice is image, packaging, and price but If you’re going to eat about 6lbs of lipstick in your lifetime, I would say ingredients needs to figure as top of the list -make it sure it’s safe!
Although off the shelf products meet federal and government safety tests, because they tell you the toxin quantities are so small as not to harm you, imagine that you are ingesting this stuff over a whole lifetime, and not just through one product, but all the products you use. There is no evidence to suggest that when combined with other makeup and toiletries, the chemical concoction will not cause you harm. Also the chemicals that are ingested and absorbed through the skin can build up in our body and be stored in our fat cells only to be released later in life. No wonder certain cancers are on the increase!!
Here’s a quick heads-up on the chemicals that plague your cosmetics and what you need to avoid:
Phthalates:
Some side effects reported of exposure to phthalates are damage to various organs such as the kidneys, liver and lungs. These are used as plastic softeners in nail polish, hair sprays and many other toiletries. They also help the fragrance in your product last longer. Research has found that phthalates may have a disruptive effect on human hormones, possibly causing birth defects and liver damage. Both DEHP and DBP (the later is often present in nail varnish) are classified as class 2 compounds, toxic to reproduction, but are still present in many cosmetics
Parabens:
In a nutshell, parabens are used as preservatives in most cosmetics and skincare products, including foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and hairspray. There are several types of parabens that exist in common formulations; Methylparaben, propylparaben, butyleparaben and ethylparaben. As well as being linked to hormone disruption and various cancers, they can irritate the skin. They have been detected in human breast tissue as they can even act as oestrogen mimics -increased oestrogen levels are linked to cancer.
One, propyl paraben, has been shown to adversely affect male reproductive functions; at the “daily intake level” currently acceptable under EC law, it decreased daily sperm production. (Oishi, S., ‘Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system’; Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40: 1807-1813 (2002))
VOC’s
A lot of makeup contains VOC’s, such as formaldehyde and ethanol. These have be shown to cause eye, nose and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, allergy symptoms and headaches. Formaldehyde is considered a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the formaldehyde in your lipstick gets ingested. We probably eat about 6lbs of lipstick in our lifetimes – not so yummy!
Chemical Solvents
Amongst this nasty bunch of chemicals is acetone, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and alcohol. They have been linked to many different health problems from headaches to liver damage whilst also causing harm to the environment.
Synthetic Polymers
Synthtic Polymers are ingredients such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). These synthetic substances are derived from petrochemicals and used in mascaras, eyeliners and hairsprays to ‘fix’ the product to your skin or lashes. Watch out for them in natural and eco-friendly hairsprays too; they have been linked to headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.
buyOrganics founder Sonia recommends some Natural alternatives in Organic Cosmetics and Makeup to keep you looking a million dollars!
The Phthalate DBP and toluene, another toxic chemical is found in nail polish. This compound is flammable and can make the nails dry and brittle. Instead of using the chemical based polishes found on the market, you could use a natural water based polish, but these do not last long and have to be removed quickly otherwise they become impossible to remove!
I love Zoya Nail Polishes for totally natural nails because they are long lasting, don’t have to be removed quickly and come in over 300 shades, we stock around 80! Worn by the stars!
Choose mineral based eyeshadows such as Nvey Eco or Inika as eyeshadows traditionally contain a chemical called polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This compound has been shown to cause an allergic reaction in some people. It is important to read all product labels before purchasing any brand of eye shadow and avoid those that contain PVP. Both Inika Eyeshadow and Nvey Eco Eyeshadows are totally natural and don’t contain synthetic fillers such as Talc or Bismuth oxyclorane or PVP either.
Lipsticks traditionally contain petroleum, chemical fragrances or FD&C colours and can contain formaldehyde, lipsticks containing lead and heavy metals can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. Children exposed to lead have been shown to have impaired school performance and lower IQ compared to children un exposed. Always choose natural organic lipsticks that do not contain synthetic colours or preservatives. I love Nvey Eco and Inika natural organic lipsticks, which come in a great range of natural colours without synthetic colours and toxins. Miessence has been cited by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to be one of the purest ranges on the market.
When choosing a loose or powder foundation, its best to choose organic as the organic cosmetics do not contain talc which has been linked to cancer. No-talc powders instead use bentonite and/or kaolin as well as essential oils which have been extracted from plants that have not been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Organic foundations also do not contain paraben preservatives such as methyl parabens or propyl parabens. I love Miessence and Nvey Eco crème and liquid Foundations – the same mineral formulations in a cream format for people who like a cream rather than a powder. Inika Mineral foundations give such fantastic coverage that they can even cover skin problems such as acne, rosacea and scarring completely naturally.
Whilst you quibble over whether Chanel, L’Oreal or Estee Lauder is best, we’ll take a deeper look into the ingredients of those beloved lipsticks, blushers, mascaras and foundations that grace your cosmetic bag and your skin. It feels good when you open your bag and it’s full of beautifully packaged luxury makeup, don’t get me wrong, I’m not particularly singling out the above brands, just pointing out that when we choose our cosmetics, we are often choosing a brand that says more about our lifestyle than even our clothes - they are expressions of who we want to be and what our priorities are. We choose a brand that represents us.
We buy from places that we feel familiar and comfortable with, where we fit in. This can unfortunately play on our sense of ego and then bypasses our basic rights to being provided with products that are not polluting us. Often the primary factors that govern women’s choice is image, packaging, and price but If you’re going to eat about 6lbs of lipstick in your lifetime, I would say ingredients needs to figure as top of the list -make it sure it’s safe!
Although off the shelf products meet federal and government safety tests, because they tell you the toxin quantities are so small as not to harm you, imagine that you are ingesting this stuff over a whole lifetime, and not just through one product, but all the products you use. There is no evidence to suggest that when combined with other makeup and toiletries, the chemical concoction will not cause you harm. Also the chemicals that are ingested and absorbed through the skin can build up in our body and be stored in our fat cells only to be released later in life. No wonder certain cancers are on the increase!!
Here’s a quick heads-up on the chemicals that plague your cosmetics and what you need to avoid:
Phthalates:
Some side effects reported of exposure to phthalates are damage to various organs such as the kidneys, liver and lungs. These are used as plastic softeners in nail polish, hair sprays and many other toiletries. They also help the fragrance in your product last longer. Research has found that phthalates may have a disruptive effect on human hormones, possibly causing birth defects and liver damage. Both DEHP and DBP (the later is often present in nail varnish) are classified as class 2 compounds, toxic to reproduction, but are still present in many cosmetics
Parabens:
In a nutshell, parabens are used as preservatives in most cosmetics and skincare products, including foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and hairspray. There are several types of parabens that exist in common formulations; Methylparaben, propylparaben, butyleparaben and ethylparaben. As well as being linked to hormone disruption and various cancers, they can irritate the skin. They have been detected in human breast tissue as they can even act as oestrogen mimics -increased oestrogen levels are linked to cancer.
One, propyl paraben, has been shown to adversely affect male reproductive functions; at the “daily intake level” currently acceptable under EC law, it decreased daily sperm production. (Oishi, S., ‘Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system’; Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40: 1807-1813 (2002))
VOC’s
A lot of makeup contains VOC’s, such as formaldehyde and ethanol. These have be shown to cause eye, nose and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, allergy symptoms and headaches. Formaldehyde is considered a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the formaldehyde in your lipstick gets ingested. We probably eat about 6lbs of lipstick in our lifetimes – not so yummy!
Chemical Solvents
Amongst this nasty bunch of chemicals is acetone, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and alcohol. They have been linked to many different health problems from headaches to liver damage whilst also causing harm to the environment.
Synthetic Polymers
Synthtic Polymers are ingredients such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). These synthetic substances are derived from petrochemicals and used in mascaras, eyeliners and hairsprays to ‘fix’ the product to your skin or lashes. Watch out for them in natural and eco-friendly hairsprays too; they have been linked to headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.
buyOrganics founder Sonia recommends some Natural alternatives in Organic Cosmetics and Makeup to keep you looking a million dollars!
The Phthalate DBP and toluene, another toxic chemical is found in nail polish. This compound is flammable and can make the nails dry and brittle. Instead of using the chemical based polishes found on the market, you could use a natural water based polish, but these do not last long and have to be removed quickly otherwise they become impossible to remove!
I love Zoya Nail Polishes for totally natural nails because they are long lasting, don’t have to be removed quickly and come in over 300 shades, we stock around 80! Worn by the stars!
Choose mineral based eyeshadows such as Nvey Eco or Inika as eyeshadows traditionally contain a chemical called polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This compound has been shown to cause an allergic reaction in some people. It is important to read all product labels before purchasing any brand of eye shadow and avoid those that contain PVP. Both Inika Eyeshadow and Nvey Eco Eyeshadows are totally natural and don’t contain synthetic fillers such as Talc or Bismuth oxyclorane or PVP either.
Lipsticks traditionally contain petroleum, chemical fragrances or FD&C colours and can contain formaldehyde, lipsticks containing lead and heavy metals can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. Children exposed to lead have been shown to have impaired school performance and lower IQ compared to children un exposed. Always choose natural organic lipsticks that do not contain synthetic colours or preservatives. I love Nvey Eco and Inika natural organic lipsticks, which come in a great range of natural colours without synthetic colours and toxins. Miessence has been cited by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to be one of the purest ranges on the market.
When choosing a loose or powder foundation, its best to choose organic as the organic cosmetics do not contain talc which has been linked to cancer. No-talc powders instead use bentonite and/or kaolin as well as essential oils which have been extracted from plants that have not been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Organic foundations also do not contain paraben preservatives such as methyl parabens or propyl parabens. I love Miessence and Nvey Eco crème and liquid Foundations – the same mineral formulations in a cream format for people who like a cream rather than a powder. Inika Mineral foundations give such fantastic coverage that they can even cover skin problems such as acne, rosacea and scarring completely naturally.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
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!
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