It’s been a busy week for buyOrganics in the press department – we have had a great response from journalists rising to the turn you or your man organic challenge, with several requesting the organic men’s grooming products we talked about in our blog recently, plus lots of off-the-cuff requests for samples as our reputation in organic skincare, beauty and lifestyle excellence continues to rise. But in amongst all the success, thrills and excitement, I’ve had a stonking cold, and, not feeling up to my usual organic skincare routine and care with my makeup, started to feel very skanky and slummy indeed. So this morning I finally decided, enough is enough!!!
But what to do? How do you go about perking yourself up when you feel like, well, to put it mildy, just plain ugly!
Of course, the answer is organic makeup. Yes, a rendezvous with your cosmetic bag really is the answer. When you look good, you feel good, and putting on a new, fresh face using organic cosmetic products can have a huge influence on the way you feel inside. But of course, there’s a flip side to this. What you put onto your skin can also affect your body in a different way – and now of course I’m talking about toxins in beauty products.
Regular, non-organic cosmetics, as with skincare products, usually contain a host of synthetic ingredients, mainly preservatives, which quite frankly aren’t all that wholesome when you consider how much of it gets slapped onto skin and gets sucked into all manner of pores and orifices. For example, the average woman will actually consume several kilos (yes, kilos!) of lipstick and lipgloss during her lifetime, and considering the fact that most lip products contain parabens and phlalates as important preservatives, makes you wonder what the accumulative effect of all these chemical nasties could actually be?
Toxic overload has been implicated in several unwelcome conditions – not only cancers, but quite interestingly in ME sufferers, who sadly often find their only respite from their debilitating conditions is a complete swap to organic and natural foods, clothing, personal care products and household cleaning products. Already down in the dumps thanks to their illness, putting on makeup can be a welcome solution to cheer sufferers up, but with symptoms exacerbated by the hormones and manmade ingredients in skincare products and cosmetics, such a treat often falls by the wayside.
Choosing organic, natural cosmetics and makeup can really be the answer, not only safer and gentler, but usually not tested on animals and often mainly vegan, ie. containing no animal products whatsoever (did you know that mascara and lipsticks for example, often contain ingredients derived from the byproducts of slaughtered animals), and with just as stunning results.
My favourite organic makeup brands are Nvey Eco and Inika. Inika in particular does a spectacular range of eyeshadows and gorgeous lip glosses, and having been a Clinique girl for many years until I finally saw the light, can honestly say the quality of the two are easily comparable. Organic makeup is also perfect for teenage girls and pregnant women, as well as chemotherapy and ME sufferers, due to the lack of toxins which may have more effect on these groups of people, organic makeup can not only make you look good on the outside but keep your entire body and immune system healthy as well.
So now although I’m still sneezing and coughing, I feel so much better inside, with my lips healthily and gorgeously glossed and my skin flawless and glowing.... ready to face the world safely and beautifully!
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Friday, 13 March 2009
Spring Offers on Natural Organic Mattresses!!
Is your mattress all worn out? Is it saggy, stained or ripped? Or is it a brand new toxic smelling beauty that you really aren’t sure about? Then read on..
Our bed is the one bit of essential respite we get everyday. It’s the place where kids crawl in to join us in the night, where we can rest our days worries away, let passionate sparks fly or treat ourselves to Sunday morning breakfast. Either way our bed is an essential part of our daily lifestyle! Not only that it has to contend with looking after our back, supporting our spine and making us feel just right, just the right temperature, just the right firmness, just the right amount of blissful sleep!
If your bed is more than 10 years old then it really is time to seriously consider changing it. Not only will it have sagged, the covering may have ripped exposing the fabrics underneath, dips from lack of turning won’t be providing your back the support it should have to keep your spine in optimal health at night, and lets face it, the amount of dust mites it will have picked up from sitting there so long could probably house a mites zoo! Also old mattresses have a lot more chemicals in. Antimony, flame retardants and petrochemicals are common place in many mattresses sitting in homes for many years, even new mattresses have them in, so investing in the best available mattress can only lead to an organic choice. These harmful chemicals contain heavy metals and other toxins that can be absorbed as we sleep affecting our health in many negative ways.
So if there’s one really special thing you can do for yourself or your children this March its treat yourself to a new pure, natural, organic mattress and restore amazing, restful, supportive, healthy sleep back into your life.
As it’s National Bed Month again. How time flies! It’s time for our annual organic mattress offer again. So if you want a really pure, really exquisite Soil Association Certified Organic Pocket Sprung Mattress, or a pure Natural Latex Mattress at an amazing price then pick up the phone and ring us now to find out about our unbeatable offers, or email us with your requirements and we’ll get straight back to you to help you through making this essential purchase.
Email us at mail@buyorganics.co.uk or call on 0208 952 1424 Monday- Friday 10am to 2pm, to find out what fantastic offers we have in store with no obligation to purchase what so ever!!! Offers only on until end of March so email us now!
Our bed is the one bit of essential respite we get everyday. It’s the place where kids crawl in to join us in the night, where we can rest our days worries away, let passionate sparks fly or treat ourselves to Sunday morning breakfast. Either way our bed is an essential part of our daily lifestyle! Not only that it has to contend with looking after our back, supporting our spine and making us feel just right, just the right temperature, just the right firmness, just the right amount of blissful sleep!
If your bed is more than 10 years old then it really is time to seriously consider changing it. Not only will it have sagged, the covering may have ripped exposing the fabrics underneath, dips from lack of turning won’t be providing your back the support it should have to keep your spine in optimal health at night, and lets face it, the amount of dust mites it will have picked up from sitting there so long could probably house a mites zoo! Also old mattresses have a lot more chemicals in. Antimony, flame retardants and petrochemicals are common place in many mattresses sitting in homes for many years, even new mattresses have them in, so investing in the best available mattress can only lead to an organic choice. These harmful chemicals contain heavy metals and other toxins that can be absorbed as we sleep affecting our health in many negative ways.
So if there’s one really special thing you can do for yourself or your children this March its treat yourself to a new pure, natural, organic mattress and restore amazing, restful, supportive, healthy sleep back into your life.
As it’s National Bed Month again. How time flies! It’s time for our annual organic mattress offer again. So if you want a really pure, really exquisite Soil Association Certified Organic Pocket Sprung Mattress, or a pure Natural Latex Mattress at an amazing price then pick up the phone and ring us now to find out about our unbeatable offers, or email us with your requirements and we’ll get straight back to you to help you through making this essential purchase.
Email us at mail@buyorganics.co.uk or call on 0208 952 1424 Monday- Friday 10am to 2pm, to find out what fantastic offers we have in store with no obligation to purchase what so ever!!! Offers only on until end of March so email us now!
Friday, 6 March 2009
Natural ways to beat Cancer – Learning from Jade Goody
With all eyes on Jade Goody, many will not associate themselves at all with her experience, whilst others may find the idea of a young mother desperately trying to live up her last few days and sort out her children’s future a fearful prospect and one that, let’s face it, could happen to anyone of us.
As I look around I am finding increasing numbers of people being plagued by Cancers in various shapes or forms; it used to be people I didn’t know, now it’s friends and family, and as I have just prevented my daughter from taking the latest cervical cancer vaccine, I hope I’ve done the right thing by her.
Cancer is alarmingly common, with an estimated quarter of a million people being diagnosed with cancer each year - the figures are earth shattering. Now I’m not a doctor but part of me cannot help but think that this is a disease caused by our modern lifestyle. Stress, obesity, poor diet, poor lifestyle choices, age and alcohol all can be factors in the development of cancer. Evidence shows that the biggest problem people face is changing habits. Even if they know they have to change, or want to change, 8 out of 10 people would rather die than change their habits! With over 10,000 new synthetic chemicals in the Earth’s system in the last 10 years can we really be surprised that Cancers are not growing; with our stressful 21st Century lifestyles; with our food and air polluted, is it really that surprising that something’s come back to bite us!!
I am a firm believer that we should try and make things as natural as possible in our current synthetic lifestyles and help prevent illness in the future. I recently read a book called the Tao of Detox, fascinating book and in it the author points out that a grown man can carry something like 2lbs of sludge like residue in his bowels that resembles nothing organic at all. This is echoed by a friend’s experience who went for a colon cleanse treatment and found (sorry to be gross!) kernels of popcorn being cleansed from her system. She had not eaten popcorn in 3 years. So the amount of rubbish that lines our stomachs is not good for us, and it originates from poor eating and diet.
So here’s a plan to do your utmost to prevent Cancer naturally:-
Don’t forget to enjoy life. Laughter and joy, low levels of stress, and plenty of love are what the doctor ordered. Make time for rest and relaxation such as Yoga, walking and also finding and keeping your faith in a higher being.
As I look around I am finding increasing numbers of people being plagued by Cancers in various shapes or forms; it used to be people I didn’t know, now it’s friends and family, and as I have just prevented my daughter from taking the latest cervical cancer vaccine, I hope I’ve done the right thing by her.
Cancer is alarmingly common, with an estimated quarter of a million people being diagnosed with cancer each year - the figures are earth shattering. Now I’m not a doctor but part of me cannot help but think that this is a disease caused by our modern lifestyle. Stress, obesity, poor diet, poor lifestyle choices, age and alcohol all can be factors in the development of cancer. Evidence shows that the biggest problem people face is changing habits. Even if they know they have to change, or want to change, 8 out of 10 people would rather die than change their habits! With over 10,000 new synthetic chemicals in the Earth’s system in the last 10 years can we really be surprised that Cancers are not growing; with our stressful 21st Century lifestyles; with our food and air polluted, is it really that surprising that something’s come back to bite us!!
I am a firm believer that we should try and make things as natural as possible in our current synthetic lifestyles and help prevent illness in the future. I recently read a book called the Tao of Detox, fascinating book and in it the author points out that a grown man can carry something like 2lbs of sludge like residue in his bowels that resembles nothing organic at all. This is echoed by a friend’s experience who went for a colon cleanse treatment and found (sorry to be gross!) kernels of popcorn being cleansed from her system. She had not eaten popcorn in 3 years. So the amount of rubbish that lines our stomachs is not good for us, and it originates from poor eating and diet.
So here’s a plan to do your utmost to prevent Cancer naturally:-
- Turn towards a healthier diet of home cooked organic foods, raw foods, vegetables, fruit, organic staples, and as little artificial rubbish as possible. Make sure you’re only having organic dairy products, cut down on meats and eat as little processed food as possible.
- Regularly detox your body with a proper programme and ensure you are nutritionally armed with the right nutrients, probiotics and factors that lead to good health. Visit a nutritionist for the best advice. Just because you’re not ill, it doesn’t mean you’re healthy!
- Get rid of the multitude of chemicals that fill your house such as formaldehydes, triclosan, heavy duty detergents and bactericides. Ridding our environment of all germs is not healthy; it’s not good for us. The obsession with eradicating germs (good and bad) is the reason for MRSA and other super bugs! We need healthy bacteria in our environment to fight our daily fight for us. Switch to eco friendly cleaning products such as Bio-D.
- Throw your chemical laden toiletries and cosmetics in the bin. The multitude of chemicals we use in our daily routines lowers our immunity and creates more for a liver to detox. Switch to natural organic skincare products and cosmetics and makeup wherever possible.
- Respect your body clock and ensure that you are not overburdening your body.
Don’t forget to enjoy life. Laughter and joy, low levels of stress, and plenty of love are what the doctor ordered. Make time for rest and relaxation such as Yoga, walking and also finding and keeping your faith in a higher being.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Turn Your Man Organic
When Sonia and I were discussing how to publicise the great ranges of men’s organic grooming products available on the buyOrganics website, we quickly realized that this was going to be one area where we couldn’t actually try and test the products ourselves! And we certainly didn’t want to simply quote the blurb off the back of the bottles and jars, as we always test and trial things ourselves to make sure they do exactly what they say on the tin! So… what to do!
Of course, this is where I had the absolutely brilliant brainwave of dragging my poor unwitting husband into the equation. Not only skeptical about organic skincare products themselves, his usual grooming routine consists of a quick shower in the morning using all manner of cheap and nasty shower gels (bottles collected from hotel business trips or bought three for a pound in the super savers discount basket), an electric shave using talcum powder of all things! and a spray of supermarket deodorant (if I’m lucky).
Love him to bits as I do, all my pleas about using organic skincare and natural grooming products are met with raised eyebrows and shakes of his head, so over time I’ve just got used to having to wait at least half an hour before going upstairs after he’s used the cheap deodorant filled with pungent, eye-watering chemicals, in order to avoid being suffocated with noxious fumes! And vacuuming up the mess from the talcum powder can get annoying – “it helps smooth the skin before I shave”, he reasons, despite me telling him about the gender-bending chemicals and pore-clogging filling and caking agents which make up the talc!
So, I threw down the gauntlet – swap all his regular high street cheap grooming products for a week with the same items but from the buyOrganics range of organic, natural products, to see if he preferred them or not!
Well of course, he was very happy to help me with my work, and being a typical alpha male, always likes a challenge, mainly the opportunity to prove me wrong! So he accepted the challenge with gusto and two weeks on, the Lynx has be relegated to the back of the bathroom cabinet and the words “Esselle” and “Green People” are tripping off his tongue like a pro!
So what did he use? Well not a lover of too many products anyway, I picked the bare essentials for him to start with – he usually likes to use a face wash and shower gel in the mornings and evenings, so I picked the Green People’s Organic Homme pre shaveface wash, which claims to prevent breakouts, lifts the beard (whatever that means!) and cleanses without drying, as well as preventing spots. Well hubby’s a little old for acne but he certainly loves the facewash as it is gentle, as well as not having a scent, which he normally dislikes in a facewash.
He was also really amazed that a little goes a long way with this product – of course I had to explain that most organic grooming products are naturally more concentrated, unlike high street cheaper brands which create a lot of froth and foam and need palm sized amounts to get the same clean, fresh feeling as a small blob of organic product. This pleased him, as despite loving the products, he was rather gobsmacked at the price compared with his usual pound shop varieties… however with them lasting several weeks rather than one or two, not only are the organic products still great value for money but dramatically cut down on packaging and therefore, waste.
He tried out the Ecosoapia hand and shower gels in the shower – this caused quite a bit of drama initially as the first one he used was the Peppermint flavoured one – still not used to the potency and efficacy of organic products, he used far too much and ended up yelling in shock as the zinginess of too much peppermint came into contact with his precious crown jewels… top tip for men, don’t use the peppermint one as a body wash! He also tried the lavender but again found the strength of the fragrance quite overpowering, and settled for the unfragranced version. We are using the peppermint and lavender to great effect as handwashes, antibacterial and smelling divine, they’re lovely for any cloakroom, kitchen sink or hand basin.
His absolute favourite product and “I will use this until the day I die” item was the Eselle Organic Aftershave ‘Razzamatazz’ – a discreetly fragranced rich oil, suitable as a pre- and post-shave oil to soften the beard before a visit from the razor, and afterwards to smooth and seal the skin. The small 30ml bottle is a great size for travelling too (and small enough for aircraft hand luggage!), and in two weeks just over a quarter of this tiny bottle has been used, making it extremely good value as well.
And the best find for me, was the Green People Organic Homme ‘stay fresh’ deodorant – quickly learning the organic less is more mantra, just a couple of sprays under each arm not only keeps my man smelling fresh and the house free from clouds of toxic fumes, but the important omission of aluminium in natural and organic deodorants, including this one, mean that his risk of contracting breast cancer is greatly reduced – men can also suffer from this disease, and aluminium has been identified as a very likely link between breast cancer, particularly of the nodes in the armpit and the side of the chest.
So ladies, if you want to convert your man and turn him organic, give it a try – if I can do it, anyone can! Not only will you be happier, but you will have a healthy, fragrant and eco-friendly fella to be proud of!
by Lisa Jackson
Of course, this is where I had the absolutely brilliant brainwave of dragging my poor unwitting husband into the equation. Not only skeptical about organic skincare products themselves, his usual grooming routine consists of a quick shower in the morning using all manner of cheap and nasty shower gels (bottles collected from hotel business trips or bought three for a pound in the super savers discount basket), an electric shave using talcum powder of all things! and a spray of supermarket deodorant (if I’m lucky).
Love him to bits as I do, all my pleas about using organic skincare and natural grooming products are met with raised eyebrows and shakes of his head, so over time I’ve just got used to having to wait at least half an hour before going upstairs after he’s used the cheap deodorant filled with pungent, eye-watering chemicals, in order to avoid being suffocated with noxious fumes! And vacuuming up the mess from the talcum powder can get annoying – “it helps smooth the skin before I shave”, he reasons, despite me telling him about the gender-bending chemicals and pore-clogging filling and caking agents which make up the talc!
So, I threw down the gauntlet – swap all his regular high street cheap grooming products for a week with the same items but from the buyOrganics range of organic, natural products, to see if he preferred them or not!
Well of course, he was very happy to help me with my work, and being a typical alpha male, always likes a challenge, mainly the opportunity to prove me wrong! So he accepted the challenge with gusto and two weeks on, the Lynx has be relegated to the back of the bathroom cabinet and the words “Esselle” and “Green People” are tripping off his tongue like a pro!
So what did he use? Well not a lover of too many products anyway, I picked the bare essentials for him to start with – he usually likes to use a face wash and shower gel in the mornings and evenings, so I picked the Green People’s Organic Homme pre shaveface wash, which claims to prevent breakouts, lifts the beard (whatever that means!) and cleanses without drying, as well as preventing spots. Well hubby’s a little old for acne but he certainly loves the facewash as it is gentle, as well as not having a scent, which he normally dislikes in a facewash.
He was also really amazed that a little goes a long way with this product – of course I had to explain that most organic grooming products are naturally more concentrated, unlike high street cheaper brands which create a lot of froth and foam and need palm sized amounts to get the same clean, fresh feeling as a small blob of organic product. This pleased him, as despite loving the products, he was rather gobsmacked at the price compared with his usual pound shop varieties… however with them lasting several weeks rather than one or two, not only are the organic products still great value for money but dramatically cut down on packaging and therefore, waste.
He tried out the Ecosoapia hand and shower gels in the shower – this caused quite a bit of drama initially as the first one he used was the Peppermint flavoured one – still not used to the potency and efficacy of organic products, he used far too much and ended up yelling in shock as the zinginess of too much peppermint came into contact with his precious crown jewels… top tip for men, don’t use the peppermint one as a body wash! He also tried the lavender but again found the strength of the fragrance quite overpowering, and settled for the unfragranced version. We are using the peppermint and lavender to great effect as handwashes, antibacterial and smelling divine, they’re lovely for any cloakroom, kitchen sink or hand basin.
His absolute favourite product and “I will use this until the day I die” item was the Eselle Organic Aftershave ‘Razzamatazz’ – a discreetly fragranced rich oil, suitable as a pre- and post-shave oil to soften the beard before a visit from the razor, and afterwards to smooth and seal the skin. The small 30ml bottle is a great size for travelling too (and small enough for aircraft hand luggage!), and in two weeks just over a quarter of this tiny bottle has been used, making it extremely good value as well.
And the best find for me, was the Green People Organic Homme ‘stay fresh’ deodorant – quickly learning the organic less is more mantra, just a couple of sprays under each arm not only keeps my man smelling fresh and the house free from clouds of toxic fumes, but the important omission of aluminium in natural and organic deodorants, including this one, mean that his risk of contracting breast cancer is greatly reduced – men can also suffer from this disease, and aluminium has been identified as a very likely link between breast cancer, particularly of the nodes in the armpit and the side of the chest.
So ladies, if you want to convert your man and turn him organic, give it a try – if I can do it, anyone can! Not only will you be happier, but you will have a healthy, fragrant and eco-friendly fella to be proud of!
by Lisa Jackson
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.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Why organic shampoo can sometimes leave you wondering what the fuss is about! Hang in there and you’ll see why!
For many people who have tried organic shampoo for the first time, it can sometimes be a disappointing experience. Your hair may feel knotted and tangled, dull and even lifeless.
My sister in law in fact, eagerly ordered a bottle of the most natural organic shampoo and when I asked her about how she liked it her answer was “nah! well, it’s not for me”! My response to her was the same, does your hair feel yuk? She was so surprised to hear me describe the exact condition of her hair.
What most people don’t know is that this is a natural detox process that your hair has to go through and will only last for a couple of hair washes. The reason It happens is that your previous high street branded shampoos are laden with chemicals and plasticizers which literally coat the hair with gunk and garbage in order to give your hair that shine you want – but it’s artificial. When you strip away this layer of trash to get to your natural locks, your hair will show its natural soft, shine and silkiness.
You may wonder if it’s necessary to use natural organic shampoo, after all we normally think of our crowning glories as just “dead” strands of protein, but shampoos and other hair care products get washed all over our bodies in the bath or shower, and often sit on our scalp until our next hair wash. The scalp has just as many pores as the rest of our skin – a close look (if you can get near enough!) to any man’s bald head is evidence enough of that!
So, it’s just as easy to absorb nasty chemicals through our hair care products as it is other personal care products, but surely, shampoo and conditioner don’t need synthetic substances in them just to clean and smooth our hair?You’d be surprised!! Unfortunately, many regular shampoos for example are petro-chemical based, and petro-chemicals are well-known to be implicated in causing cancer and other illnesses. The chemical 1.4-dioxane, for example, is used in many personal care products including shampoo, and has even been found in household named baby hair care products! 1.4-dioxane is a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethyoxylation which uses known breast carcinogen ethylene oxide to process other chemicals to make them less harsh – for example, this process turns the harsh substance sodium laurel sulfate – well-known for its skin irritating properties – into the (arguably!) more gentle sodium laureth sulfate.
The other thing that can put people off organic and natural shampoo is the lack of foaming agent in them compared to normal high street shampoos and haircare. We’re all so used to our head being a lathery bubble! It makes us feel clean! The truth is though that all that foam is not necessary. As the organic shampoo washes out through your hair it takes the grime with it anyway, so the foam is not necessary and just drying. The best way to use an organic shampoo is to wet your hair, rub a coin size amount of shampoo over your hands and then through your hair. It won’t lather at all at this stage, don’t worry, add a little water to mix the natural organic shampoo through your hair. Then add more shampoo. It will lather a bit at the second application stage. Rub all through your hair and leave for a minute before washing way. Your hair will be clean! Follow sparingly with natural organic conditioner (organic ones tend to be quite rich!)
Although even natural and organic shampoos can occasionally contain some questionable ingredients, I would recommend going for one that contains as few synthetically manufactured chemicals as possible and preferably organic ingredients for added safety and purity. The initial bad hair days will quickly pass to leave your hair naturally full of shine, bounce and vitality. Your hair will be clean without heavy disgusting residues on it.
Green People’s No Scent or Aloe Vera Organic Shampoos are great every day shampoos – cost-effective for everyday washing, and so gentle even newborn babies will be safe. Not only this but our customers tell us that they leave hair soft and silky, whilst rinsing out perfectly, and without the nasty gunky build-up you often get with regular products which seem to stick to the hair shafts rather than clean the dirt away. Essential Care Tea Tree & Herb shampoo is also one of my firm favorites for itchy, flaky scalps, again a budget buy but wonderfully effective, even on cradle cap and dandruff.
For the last year now, I’ve been using Green people shampoo at home on myself and the kids. And although it’s still a firm favorite, one day recently my 13 year old daughter told me she was bored and wanted a change for a bit. She wanted some luxury! Luckily for her The John Masters range had just come in and I gave her a few samples to try, to road test the product for me. I have never heard so many ecstatic mmms! from her before, she absolutely loved it (it’s hard sometimes getting her to buy into the organic thing, but not this time!). John Masters range of products are truly – sheer indulgence, even better than a trip to the salon, the whole range is pure heaven, leaving your hair beautifully clean, conditioned and styled totally naturally! I personally love John Masters Zinc & Sage shampoo which leaves your scalp zingily clean!
The scalp really is the key to healthy hair because although hair itself is dead protein, from the hair follicle downwards into the scalp is alive and well and in need of some regular nutrition! This shampoo will satisfy the thirstiest follicles to give extra body and shine. Another of my personal favorites is the Miessence Desert Flower Shampoo. This shampoo left my hair with masses of volume and natural shine, everyone commented on my hair when I used it, as it smelt gorgeous too.
John Masters Honey & Hibiscus shampoo, is a good reconstructive shampoo for a once-a-week hair Detox – and smells luscious! Either that, or their Clarifying hair rinse will strip all the nasty build up from your hair to leave it really clean and soft. Follow with any one of their conditioners and you really will have hair that looks like you’ve come out of the Salon everyday. It’s not hard to see why so many top celebrities and stylists have turned to John Masters. Their clever Sea Salt Sea Mist Spray is like a daily reminder of the beach with a leave-in deep conditioning protective formula for daily use.
Styling can also leave a lot of gunky chemicals on your head that are no good for your scalp or your hair. We love Miessence styling gel, it’s our best seller, and flies off the shelves. It will style your hair naturally giving you hold and body. If you need something firmer like a wax, then back to John Masters to their Hair Pomade. Frizzy ends can be tamed with their own organic version of Defrizzer, so Their really is no excuse not to have natural hair anymore.
So take my advice, brave the hair detox, you won’t regret it!
My sister in law in fact, eagerly ordered a bottle of the most natural organic shampoo and when I asked her about how she liked it her answer was “nah! well, it’s not for me”! My response to her was the same, does your hair feel yuk? She was so surprised to hear me describe the exact condition of her hair.
What most people don’t know is that this is a natural detox process that your hair has to go through and will only last for a couple of hair washes. The reason It happens is that your previous high street branded shampoos are laden with chemicals and plasticizers which literally coat the hair with gunk and garbage in order to give your hair that shine you want – but it’s artificial. When you strip away this layer of trash to get to your natural locks, your hair will show its natural soft, shine and silkiness.
You may wonder if it’s necessary to use natural organic shampoo, after all we normally think of our crowning glories as just “dead” strands of protein, but shampoos and other hair care products get washed all over our bodies in the bath or shower, and often sit on our scalp until our next hair wash. The scalp has just as many pores as the rest of our skin – a close look (if you can get near enough!) to any man’s bald head is evidence enough of that!
So, it’s just as easy to absorb nasty chemicals through our hair care products as it is other personal care products, but surely, shampoo and conditioner don’t need synthetic substances in them just to clean and smooth our hair?You’d be surprised!! Unfortunately, many regular shampoos for example are petro-chemical based, and petro-chemicals are well-known to be implicated in causing cancer and other illnesses. The chemical 1.4-dioxane, for example, is used in many personal care products including shampoo, and has even been found in household named baby hair care products! 1.4-dioxane is a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethyoxylation which uses known breast carcinogen ethylene oxide to process other chemicals to make them less harsh – for example, this process turns the harsh substance sodium laurel sulfate – well-known for its skin irritating properties – into the (arguably!) more gentle sodium laureth sulfate.
The other thing that can put people off organic and natural shampoo is the lack of foaming agent in them compared to normal high street shampoos and haircare. We’re all so used to our head being a lathery bubble! It makes us feel clean! The truth is though that all that foam is not necessary. As the organic shampoo washes out through your hair it takes the grime with it anyway, so the foam is not necessary and just drying. The best way to use an organic shampoo is to wet your hair, rub a coin size amount of shampoo over your hands and then through your hair. It won’t lather at all at this stage, don’t worry, add a little water to mix the natural organic shampoo through your hair. Then add more shampoo. It will lather a bit at the second application stage. Rub all through your hair and leave for a minute before washing way. Your hair will be clean! Follow sparingly with natural organic conditioner (organic ones tend to be quite rich!)
Although even natural and organic shampoos can occasionally contain some questionable ingredients, I would recommend going for one that contains as few synthetically manufactured chemicals as possible and preferably organic ingredients for added safety and purity. The initial bad hair days will quickly pass to leave your hair naturally full of shine, bounce and vitality. Your hair will be clean without heavy disgusting residues on it.
Green People’s No Scent or Aloe Vera Organic Shampoos are great every day shampoos – cost-effective for everyday washing, and so gentle even newborn babies will be safe. Not only this but our customers tell us that they leave hair soft and silky, whilst rinsing out perfectly, and without the nasty gunky build-up you often get with regular products which seem to stick to the hair shafts rather than clean the dirt away. Essential Care Tea Tree & Herb shampoo is also one of my firm favorites for itchy, flaky scalps, again a budget buy but wonderfully effective, even on cradle cap and dandruff.
For the last year now, I’ve been using Green people shampoo at home on myself and the kids. And although it’s still a firm favorite, one day recently my 13 year old daughter told me she was bored and wanted a change for a bit. She wanted some luxury! Luckily for her The John Masters range had just come in and I gave her a few samples to try, to road test the product for me. I have never heard so many ecstatic mmms! from her before, she absolutely loved it (it’s hard sometimes getting her to buy into the organic thing, but not this time!). John Masters range of products are truly – sheer indulgence, even better than a trip to the salon, the whole range is pure heaven, leaving your hair beautifully clean, conditioned and styled totally naturally! I personally love John Masters Zinc & Sage shampoo which leaves your scalp zingily clean!
The scalp really is the key to healthy hair because although hair itself is dead protein, from the hair follicle downwards into the scalp is alive and well and in need of some regular nutrition! This shampoo will satisfy the thirstiest follicles to give extra body and shine. Another of my personal favorites is the Miessence Desert Flower Shampoo. This shampoo left my hair with masses of volume and natural shine, everyone commented on my hair when I used it, as it smelt gorgeous too.
John Masters Honey & Hibiscus shampoo, is a good reconstructive shampoo for a once-a-week hair Detox – and smells luscious! Either that, or their Clarifying hair rinse will strip all the nasty build up from your hair to leave it really clean and soft. Follow with any one of their conditioners and you really will have hair that looks like you’ve come out of the Salon everyday. It’s not hard to see why so many top celebrities and stylists have turned to John Masters. Their clever Sea Salt Sea Mist Spray is like a daily reminder of the beach with a leave-in deep conditioning protective formula for daily use.
Styling can also leave a lot of gunky chemicals on your head that are no good for your scalp or your hair. We love Miessence styling gel, it’s our best seller, and flies off the shelves. It will style your hair naturally giving you hold and body. If you need something firmer like a wax, then back to John Masters to their Hair Pomade. Frizzy ends can be tamed with their own organic version of Defrizzer, so Their really is no excuse not to have natural hair anymore.
So take my advice, brave the hair detox, you won’t regret it!
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Barack Obama - The Power of Good Will
Sounds hooky, but doesn’t it seem like the whole world is changing?It feels like Barack Obama has entered the world stage just at a point when people wanted to hear his message. The false economy, the focus on all the wrong things, is life changing immeasurably for you? It may be good, or it may be bad, but one thing is for sure, if you have ever wished for change then consider it on its way for sure. I feel like we have to go through this enforced world detox, to make things better!
Many people, me included, have spent endless hours working and doing our bit to make a difference in this world, and for the most part it has always gone unnoticed. My last blog on Mamma Mia highlighted how the most prosperous individuals make massive change by putting power and money behind their cause, not everyone notices. This power and wealth is not something we can all lay claim to, but as a collective we make a massive difference, when we’re all moving in one direction the impetus is powerful, forceful and inclusive.
I’m inspired that Barack Obama is more willing to make choices and decisions to help protect our ecology and environment. His powerful words on the environment give me solace that for once, maybe this time, America has elected an intelligent man.
The video above is a great eye opener on his stance on the need for action to help the enviroment.
Instead of concentrating on all the problems, if we focus on the good will and good works being done by others, take time to celebrate them and take new inspired energy for them, get behind the causes and support them, pat ourselves on the back once in a while also for doing our best in the way we shop, live, recycle or do business, then I think the whole world will look Greener and brighter!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)