Leading New Zealand organic beauty brand, Trilogy, has just released their AGE PROOF skin care range. The Trilogy team have created a three product combo to combat the signs of aging and follow the simple philosophy of protect, revive and nourish.

To protect the skin Trilogy have created the Daily Defence Moisturiser with SPF15. This a light, non-whitening cream containing pure plant oils that absorb readily. The SPF15 formulation reflects and disperses UV rays to protect the skin from the suns harsh rays. Make no mistake this is a daily moisturiser, not a sun cream and it will hydrate and soften the skin beautifully.

To revive the skin the rose hip experts deliver us their Nutrient Plus Firming Serum. This product is packed with a ton of natural active ingredients that will lift and restore tired, aging skin. Serums are an excellent way to make your face look instantly more vibrant and the Trilogy is one is one your complexion is likely to love. Green Tea, Licorice and Mulberry extracts are natural skin brighteners and Hyaluronic Acid to plump up the skin.

The final product in the AGE PROOF trio is the Replenishing Night Cream. This is the deep nourisher of the three, regenerating the skin’s elasticity and suppleness whilst smoothing out those fine lines. The essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6) contained in the avocado, rosehip and marula oils found in this product helps the skin to repair and renew itself.

To read more about each of the products in the AGE PROOF skin care range click on the links below:
• Daily Defence Moisturiser with SPF15
• Nutrient Plus Firming Serum
• Replenishing Night Cream

Whether you’re a weekend happy snapper, serious amateur type or fully-fledged professional photographer for the National Geographic, you could be in the running to win up to £5,000 for your wildlife portrait.

British Wildlife Photography Awards are for all those people who love taking pictures of British wildlife - insects, sea life, birds, mammals - natural or urban. The awards will highlight the diversity of the country’s wildlife at a time when conservation and habitat protection are becoming ever so important.

The Natural History Museum has a similar competition that they showcased at the beginning of the year. Like the BWPA, there were categories for younger photographers - images from the likes of 7 and 10 year old kids that were quite inspiring.

Anyone can enter so if you fancy yourself as a promising wildlife photographer why not enter some of your best shots? You have until the 31st of July to enter.

The BWPA website has more information on categories and how to enter as well as some good shooting tips.

Selected photographs will feature in the launch at Hoopers Gallery in September as well as a nationwide touring exhibition.

It’s no surprise (if you’ve ever smelt this essential oil) that Neroli oil comes from the bitter orange tree. To create the oil flowers are picked in Spring and early Autumn then water distilled. The result is a powerful yet still light sweet floral aroma. The orange tree is native to China but many Mediterranean countries have been growing this tree for centuries, cultivating it for its highly used perfume purposes.

A well-known toner for the skin, orange flower water helps to revitalise dry and mature skin. Often used as an ingredient in facial oils, body washes, scrubs and hair products it’s not too difficult to find a natural, organic skin care product containing the uplifting essence of Neroli. It is also good for smoothing wrinkles, minimising broken capillaries and preventing stretch marks. Orange Blossom and Neroli Soap by Simply Soaps is Sam’s favourite; in her words ‘wonderful’.

Massage and aroma therapists use Neroli to calm and uplift - the dual affect seems paradoxical but it does actually work like this. As one of the most effective anti-depressant oil Neroli relieves anxieties by calming the nervous system. If you suffer from digestive cramps try taking a bath with a few drops of the oil - Neroli has antispasmodic properties, which help to alleviate pain.

Botox, chemical peels, laser therapies. The choice of chemicalized beautification methods used to keep away the crow’s feet and droopy eye bags is becoming more of the norm than ever as women of all ages rush out for the quick fix youthful skin. You can look like an ageless goddess at 20, 30, even 50 these days but it does take somewhat of an all-angles-covered approach. Madonna, for example has a strict fitness regime, she practices meditation, follows a macrobiotic diet and has a little Botox on the side.

Chemicals are an unavoidable atmospheric nuisance in the modern day of globalised everything - you could be in Timbuktu or on Everest’s piste and still be exposed to some atom of chemical air pollution. So is it a question of balance? Avoid chemicals in your food by buying brands and growing fresh produce that is organic; beautify with all-natural cosmetics; no alcohol, plenty of pilates; no smoking, plenty of yoga. And the balance? A run in the morning traffic, a jab in the cheek with a little Restylane to smooth out those wrinkles perhaps?

I guess it’s a question of how long you want to hold on to your youthful looks. There’s no right or wrong here. We age as gracefully as we choose to feel on the inside. If we feel old, we’re more likely to carry ourselves that way, regardless of what we spend at a skin clinic. If we feel happy within our bodies, healthy in our bones, it will show on the outside - if not with perfect skin, a loving and energetic glow.

Apple Cider Vinegar may be an unlikely ingredient for a beauty products but it has some splendid properties which makes it quite the natural healer.

Made by fermenting apples, this vinegar has been taken (diluted in water) for indigestion, pneumonia, scurvy, diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux and weight loss. But when it comes to the external healing benefits apple cider is very good at helping to regulate the pH of the skin.

Applied to the scalp it can do wonders for dandruff sufferers. Restoring the pH balance of the scalp it also discourages the overgrowth of yeast-like fungus known as malassezia furfur that sets off dandruff. For a home remedy mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water. Put onto hair and scalp, wrap head in towel and leave for up to an hour then rinse out. Do this a couple of times a week and it should help a dry flaky scalp. If that doesn’t take your fancy there are salon quality organic hair rinses that contain apple cider vinegars amongst hair nourishing ingredients.

The Herbal Cider Hair Rinse and Clarifier by John Masters is a good one. It also contains rosemary, nettles, yarrow and wild cherry bark to naturally soften hair and eliminate residue build up whilst neutralizing the scalps pH level.

Beauty queens have always advocated ‘world peace’ in the hope their words alone would wipe out global poverty, environmental catastrophe and hatred. But these words have likely been somewhat lost on the young wannabe princesses who aspire for Baywatch-style bikini bods. Well perhaps, and I do say perhaps lightly, the Miss Earth Beauty Pageant can refocus beauty ideals across the lands to highlight the necessity for clean beaches rather than bleach clean teeth. Perhaps.

Any ‘green, glam and gorgeous’ ladies out there who would like to represent the UK in this years 2009 Miss Earth pageant visit the website to register. Four country winners will be chosen. Judges will be looking for beauties who are ‘informed, goal-oriented and committed to playing a part in preserving and protecting the environment for future generations’.

The crowning ceremony for Miss Earth UK 2009 will be on Saturday 22 August. Judges for Miss Earth UK include the Sugababes, designer, Scott Henshall; Club4climate founder, Dr Earth; supermodel, Hofit Golan and Friday Night Project presenter, Aisleyne.

Any event that brings attention to keeping our natural world safe and anyone who wishes to promote mother earth is well worth a look in we think - especially if they go organic!

Less is more if you want the natural green goddess look that is for sure. But if you’ve woken with a slightly off feeling in your mind, stomach or spirit the natural in you might be looking a little grey in the face.

Blushers are the perfect way to brighten up dull skin. They highlight your bone structure as well as strengthen the other features of your face. It’s also one of the simplest ways to take your day make up to night without starting completely afresh. Choose a blusher that contains shimmer rather than glitter as they look more natural. Lavera, NVEY, Inika and Dr. Hauschka all do good blushers to lift those cheekbones.

A good bronzer can also be a great help for dreary skin. Shimmers will enhance a tan in summer and matte looks more natural in winter. You should apply in even strokes and only in the spots where you get sunkissed like the cheeks, chin and nose. Pressed varieties are probably the easiest to apply. NVEY’s Compact Bronzer is talc-free, organic and is formulated with Vitamins A,C & E, corn silk and jojoba oil to give an instant, healthy lift to the complexion.

Inika’s Illuminisor is a nice highlighter for the cheeks and brow bone and will give the skin somewhat of an light glow. It has a subtle pink sheen so will also perk up that grey skin and make you feel a little more angel than ghost.

Using a good natural brush like a kabuki brush (Inika have a great vegan one) to apply will ensure blusher and bronzer are applied evenly.

It really doesn’t take much to achieve perkier cheeks and a livelier complexion.

Today we interview Mercy Makukula, Our Zambian Customer Service Representative at So Organic

Three words to describe SoOrganic?
Organic, natural superstore

What do you love most about your job?
Learning about new products and what’s new on the market.

What is your favourite product in the range and why?
I have a lot of them. I love Dr.Houschka. I’ve just tried the Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Nourishing Cream. I just got myself the Trilogy Body Lotion is fantastic. I could spend my whole life in the bathroom - I’ve got lots of favourites! Also, Spiezia’s daytime Intensive Moisturiser. I love that as well - it’s so good for my skin… ooo and their cleanser!

What is your definition of organic?
Organic is a product that is natural, that has been manufactured with the strictest guidelines and has been certified organic, for example in the UK, by the Soil Association who’s inspectors go into the areas where products are manufactured and sourced and to ensure the conditions and ingredients come from an organic environment.

Are you involved in any ethical/charity/eco friendly sustainable projects or organizations outside of SoOrganic?
I do a lot of charity work. I’ve been a coordinator for organising social events for families. We organised two coach loads of people for a day trip to France. There are a lot of activities and groups for the youth and the elderly already so we sat down and created the ‘classic’ group to get families being active together.

We do a lot of fundraising too. We raised money for a congregation in Cape Town for those who do voluntary work, visiting people walking out into the farmlands to give them support, visiting people who are sick, that sort of thing. We raised enough money to buy them eight bicycles and the rest of the money went into our Kenya fund. We’ve also raised money from our friends in Zimbabwee who are going through very tough times now.

What environmental issues are of most concern to you?
Food waste. We waste so much food and this is why the credit crunch could be a good thing as people might think more about how much they buy in the supermarket, that is, what they actually need, rather than what they feel like.

What is your worst habit?
Trying on all the eco makeup in our organic store. Also recycling.

An Indian goddess sitting in meditation pose, a white lotus flower in full bloom… and a cute shaggy puppy dog resting on it’s two front paws - this was the flyer that caught my eye when I spotted the words ‘holistic therapy practice’ and ‘Greenwich’ in the title. I thought ‘great a new natural therapy centre within walking distance to home’. Unfortunately this little soul-healing hub is not for my humanoid limbs - it’s a dog hotel.

Not only can our doggy friends be eco friendly with their compostable doggy bags and hemp toys they can be pampered with aromatherapy canine massage and reiki. The Greenwich Dog Hotel, registered with the Complimentary Medicine Association, offers such services.

Undertaken by qualified dog behaviourist and trainer holistic therapies can relieve your pooch of stress, sensitivity, anxiety, rheumatic conditions and a whole range of other physical ailments. Alternative herbal remedies, nutritional advice and diet plans and home consultations are all on offer at this doggy paradise. They hotel are also available for dog walking, home visits and dog grooming.

The hotel’s brochure says that it will look after any breed of any age. So perhaps you might consider giving your best hairy friend a little vacation when you take your summer holiday this year?

For more information on the Greenwich Dog Hotel call 07954 285 058.

We know up to 60% of what is applied to the skin can be absorbed. But during pregnancy a woman’s skin is more sensitive to outside influences ie body lotions, perfume, synthetic pollutants like the chemicals found in household cleaning products etc. This is partly due to hormonal changes and partly due to the stretching and thinning of the skin as the baby grows. So what can you do for your (or your partners, sisters, friends) skin to ensure the pregnancy is as natural as possibly can be?

Firstly, you can start by scrumaging through your laundry and cleaning cupboards for items that are packed with toxic chemicals. Ecover, Alma Win and Bentley Organic are a couple of companies that make more natural options for mummy to be.

If there was ever a time for a woman to pamper herself with organic beauty products it is when she is expecting. A good massage (try using Mother’s Massage Oil by Neal’s Yard), a relaxing bath (the Prenatal Bath Soak by Natalia will soothe), and a good anti-stretch cream (like Bump Butter by Essential Care) are vital for help mum to be comfortable and as natural as can be during her pregnancy. If you’re buying for someone else Natalia’s Pregnancy Relaxation Box with an organic cotton flannel, Prenatal Bath Soak, Morning Sickness Ease and Prenatal Body & Bath Oil is a beautiful gift.

What else touches the skin? Bedding or clothing almost all day everyday (except whiles bathing of course!). It’s now very easy to find bedding made from organic cotton and thankfully (on behalf of all the eco chic yummy mummies out there) more designers than ever are using natural fibres for their fashion savvy creations. Liv Waffle Robe is a popular choice for mum’s hospital bag.