A Sensitive Subject

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.

Leave a Comment July 22, 2010

Don’t be Shy! Come and Visit our Brand New eStore!

GreenKiddie launches an online eco-store powered by Amazon. The brand new section will recommend carefully selected natural, organic and eco-friendly products for babies & children as well as for the whole family. The products are split by categories from nursing and feeding equipment to “green” cribs and highchairs.

Promoting the eco-friendly and toxic-free products we love is a great way to continue being helpful source of information for parents who consider natural living and the best care for their children. We believe that providing a “green”, natural care for your baby or toddler is best for your child, and it’s also great for the environment.

The “green” eStore will mainly promote products which are oxic-free, completely safe for babies and children, and have already proved their eco-friendly efforts. There will be a special space for mums and mums-to-be, where everything as pregnancy music for relaxation, books on natural and stress-free birth, organic clothing and fabulous organic cosmetics and beauty products will be featured.

GreenKiddie’s online store is a one-stop space for green products, where parents could find everything they need to raise their children naturally and eco-friendly. The same way GreenKiddie is a trustful online media for parenting advice, the hope is for the eStore to become a number one choice for parents to purchase “green” and toxic-free products for their families.

The payment process is trustful and secure and it’s powered by Amazon.

Leave a Comment June 17, 2010

Test Gorgeous Kosmea Products for Free

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: 30^th May 2010. The selected mums will be announced on 1st June, and all reviews should be with us by 25^th 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!

2 Comments May 17, 2010