Tag: cosmetics
Sarah Heenan, natural beauty therapist and founder of online organic beauty boutique, www.lucyrose.biz, takes a look at the issues around skin sensitivities.
The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in sensitised skin and allergic reactions. This is mainly due to pollution, environmental factors and altered immunity. Most skin responses to cosmetics are a result of skin sensitisation. This happens when the ingredients penetrate the skin too quickly and the skin’s natural barrier function is impaired. Once the product is removed from the skin the reaction will subside.
In most instances of skin allergy, the skin can become itchy, inflamed, red and sore. Many main stream products made with harsh chemical ingredients and synthetic compounds will exaggerate these symptoms, so it is good to search for products with organic and natural ingredients which will help the skin function correctly and not just provide a short term fix.
Quite often you can be happily using a high street product and then, out of the blue, will start to have skin sensitivity. This could be down to a change in ingredients in the product or it could be a result of the body reacting to a combination of products being used.
Three Reasons to go Natural
- We find one of the biggest reasons people turn to organic and natural products is because they have sensitive skin and are finding high street products over-fragranced and too harsh. With organic and natural products there are no harsh chemicals, no artificial fragrances, quite simply the ingredients are all chosen to be effective, gentle and help the skin work naturally.
- Organic and natural brands are very transparent in their communications and include a comprehensive list of ingredients on the product, so that you can see clearly what it is made of. If you do have allergies to a certain ingredient, it is very easy to check this.
- It is also the case that an individual can be allergic to a completely organic ingredient (for example, people can be sensitive to some of the Essential Oils) so it is important to be able to see at a glance what is in the product you are using.
The Ingredients Minefield
Where there is sensitivity to Essential Oils it is important, when checking ingredients, to check out the source, especially with fragrances. For example, Limonene is the term used for the synthetic fragrance, Lemon, but is also the name for Lemon Essential Oil. In order to differentiate, there is usually an asterisk or a comment next to the ingredient, stating ‘from natural essential oils’.
However, there are now many ranges which are free from fragrances and herbal flower extracts. These include the Lavera Neutral and Green People’s Organic Base No Scent collection.
Everybody is Different
It is also important to remember that each of us are individual and hence our skin requirements are also very specific. Just because the product is natural and organic and has worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you, so it is important to try and test the product first and find the best product for you. At Lucy Rose you can receive one-to-one advice either over the ‘phone or via email, and just to be on the safe side, there is a free sample service so that you can try first.
Be Prepared for a Skin Detox
A few people find that when switching to more natural ingredients they experience a detox period of maybe a week, where the body adjusts and the skin may feel uncomfortable or may ‘break out’. This usually lasts no longer than a week and once the skin has adjusted it will feel better than ever.
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July 22, 2010
I have a confession to make. For the last couple of years I’ve been having an affair. Yes, that’s right, a love affair. Don’t blame me – you would, too. I felt in love with Green People – they are green, but they don’t come from Mars! Green People only do and sell the best natural and organic skincare products ever!
My new discovery is their SPF cosmetics range – ideal for the surprisingly hot UK summer this year! For the last month I’ve been testing three of their products with SPF 15, giving me additional sun care natural protection. My daily skincare routine now starts with applying the Day Solution SPF15 – a daily moisturiser with UVA & UVB protection with 85.10% organic ingredients. This gentle skin defence cream, rich in essential fatty acids, is formulated using UV Filters derived from Edelweiss extract, Titanium Dioxide and Cinnamon to achieve a sun protector factor of 15, protecting from both UVA and UVB rays.
Containing Aloe Vera, green tea, rosemary and chamomile extracts, as well as hemp, rose geranium and jojoba oil, this moisturiser nourishes the skin and prevents from premature ageing. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive like mine. I love the pump bottle, too, as it’s far more hygienic and comfortable to use. After just a few appliances my skin is left moisturised and re-balanced all day long.
I then move to applying the Green People No Scent Soft Lips SPF8, which is designed to protect and soften dry, chapped lips. I find it ideal for the hot summer weather, when the delicate skin of my lips needs some extra care to keep them soft and appealing. It’s a great nourishing lip balm with UV protection and 70% organic ingredients. My lips get natural sheen from berry wax and fairly traded Cupuaca butter. This mild no-scent formulation (no essential oils) is just perfect for dry, sore and chapped lips and looks fab over my lipstick for a subtle gloss effect! The Green People No Scent Soft Lips balm contains an SPF to provide effective UV protection from the suns harsh rays, while 100% pure plant oils offer long-lasting hydration for soft, supple lips skin.
What I find most exciting is adding some extra sun protection via my powder. The Green People’s Pressed Mineral Powder SPF15 is a 3-in-1 foundation, powder and SPF15 Sun Protection – effective and cost-saving, love it! Mine is honey-tinted, but it’s also available in Caramel or Maple. The 3-in-1 foundation, powder and sunscreen SPF15 gave my skin a natural complexion with a matte finish and no tide mark! Minerals reflect the light to minimise fine lines and wrinkles (I’m just over 30 now, so this is important for me).
Traditional makeup is made with a lot of unnatural, chemical ingredients, which resulted in skin problems. Green People’s Pressed Mineral Powder is 100% natural and gentle to the skin and don’t clog pores, allowing the skin to breathe. The added jojoba and sunflower oil beautifies the skin even more, making this powder my best friend from now on.
A little tip on how to apply it: Swirl, Buff, Tap! Swirl brush head twice around outer edge of the powder, buffing up the minerals, and tap off any excess powder. Apply in downward strokes moving inwards (the way your hairs go) starting with the left cheek, reapply powder and move to the right cheek, reapply, add to T-zone, reapply and cover under the nose and chin. As your skin tone changes between winter and summer, try blending Caramel or Maple with Honey for the perfect match!
Of course, if you expect to be in the sun for any length of time, it is still advised that you apply a traditional sunscreen product for maximum protection. Green People have a great range of sunscreens for both mums who love their skin and the give it the best possible (natural and toxic-free) care, but also for babies and children! Have a look at their full sunscreen products range here. There is free post during July!
See, I am sure you will now understand and won’t blame me for having an affair. My husband won’t even notice, as everything looks so natural on the skin, only making it look more healthy and beautiful!
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July 13, 2010
I love looking fresh and glowing. Well, we all love to feel pampered and indulge in a little luxury once in a while. But juggling in between my marketing career, my little girl (now 2 and very demanding) and then GreenKiddie.co.uk, is melting my “me-time”. I am currently looking for a new skin care line which doesn’t require much of my time and makes my skin look healthy and beautiful in days. Well I was, until I tried a few Kosmea products – all natural and organic.
I’ve been given Skin Clinic™ 100% Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil to test for a few weeks. So here we go – I started applying 3-4 drops to my skin morning and night after cleansing and before applying my daily moisturiser. The tip here is that when applying to slightly damp skin it will allow for the oil to absorb quicker and deeper into the skin.
This organic oil has no scent, making it ideal for sensitive skin. It’s very easy to apply from the bottle, only a few drops are needed to be tipped into the palms of the hands and massaged into the facial skin. It sinks into the skin straight away. Instantly loved the fact that it is 100% natural – it gives a sense of well-being. After the first few days I realised it has balanced my sensitive combination skin perfectly: my cheeks are soft and moist and my T-zone is smooth and non-greasy. I need to confess that I was a little bit concerned that my oily parts of the skin may not like the oil. Wrong! The organic Rose Hip Oil actually balanced my skin and made it look even and beautiful! It’s luxurious, gorgeous oil that moisturises and a little goes a long way.
I notices a few wrinkled around the eyes recently (which, by the way, made me scream in front of the mirror… and then made me think about all those moments of my early 20s when live was so much easier and “wrinkles” sounded like a never-will-happen-to-me abstract word). Applying the Organic Rose Hip Oil promises to help me reduce the appearance of these fine lines and wrinkles, so it will never go off my toiletry shelf.
After a few lovely sunny days (no complaining about that) you know how your skin becomes a bit dryer and skin tone looks uneven. I tried the organic Rose Hip Oil and felt the difference straight away – my skin felt so soft and nourished! It soothes and rejuvenates the skin when massaged in, and it leaves the skin feeling soft and renewed after use.
A very useful beauty tip: I also tried mixing the oil with my foundation (still looking for the perfect natural one, any suggestions here?), then applied onto my skin for a dewy, glowing look!
It’s a very worthwhile investment into your daily beauty regime. For more on Kosmea’s Skin Clinic™ Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil click here. You can purchase the products at www.mypure.co.uk but some more exclusive products like the 42ml RHO are only available from www.kosmea.com. It’s free delivery in the UK when you spend over £30 and it comes with a free figt of 20ml Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Serum valued at £30.
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May 31, 2010
Love natural and organic cosmetics, face and bodycare? Prove it! We are on a look out for trendy mums or mums-to-be bloggers to test fantastic natural cosmetic products from Kosmea.
If selected, you will be testing one on the following great products.
- 15ml Certified Organic Rosehip Oil: contains 80% EFA’s, antioxidants, lycopene, beta carotene, vitamin A (safe amount for pregnant mothers) – A remedy for dry, sensitive skin conditions such as ezcema, dermatitis, nappy Rash, Cradle Cap, Hormone Therapy. Reduces redness, wrinkles, scars and stretch marks, pigmentation. Can be used by both mother and baby, and is suitable to all skin types.
- 40ml Skin Clinic Rescue Balm: Contains Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, Certified Organic Rosehip Butter, Certified Organic Everlasting Oil – A natural soothing ointment. Helps to reduce the appearance of cracked, dry skin and burns.
- 125g Skin Clinic Rescue Cream : Contains Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, Certified Organic Rosehip Butter, Certified Organic Everlasting Oil, Helychrysm – Helps relieve dry itchy flaky skin, and helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks and increases the elasticity of the skin.
- 150ml Clarifying Facial Wash – SLS Free Foaming Cleanser that gently cleanses and removes makeup including waterproof mascara without overdrying the skin. Very mild formula for bathing babies if you want to share it.
- 50g Replenishing Moisture Cream – A rich and nourishing Moisturising Cream, rich in beta carotene(vitamin a) which helps to rejuvenate dry, sensitive and sun damaged skin. Green Tea Extract protects you from free radicals, and contains a high content of silica for the formation of collagen and healthy plump skin cells.
GreenKiddie has teamed with the Australian natural cosmetic brand Kosmea to give you a chance to test their products for free!
After a month you will need to give us your feedback for us to upload on GreenKiddie.co.uk. Your chances of being selected for the product testing will increase if you have a blog yourself where you’d review your experience as well.
If you are interested in taking part, please email info@greenkiddie.co.uk with your name and your blog address, if any. Also, please tell us about your product preferences, listing them from 1 to 5, 1 being your most desired one. We cannot guarantee you will be selected to test your first choice product, but we will do our best to match your choice. Besides, all Kosmea products are just fabulous!
Closing date: 30th May 2010. The selected mums will be announced on 1st June, and all reviews should be with us by 25th June 2010.
WINNERS: The five lucky mums selected to test the fab Kosmea products are: Miroslava Moore, Emma Sheppard, Claire Walsh, Josephine Middleton, and Lorraine Liyanage! Congratulations and happy testing!
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May 17, 2010
