We’re so excited about these new miniature bottles of nail polish from Orly. There are loads of great colours that are bang on trend and at only £5 a pop it’s really hard to exercise restraint when picking a favourite.

We use Orly nail polish in our organic beauty salon to complement our range of certified organic manicure and pedicure products. Unfortunately, there’s currently no such thing as an organic nail polish. The ingredients needed to make the nail varnish stay on the nail just aren’t available from organic sources, and the water based nail polishes we’ve tried are to put it bluntly, absolutely useless!

A product must first and foremost do what it’s supposed to, so nail polish that gives poor coverage or chips off in moments is not worth buying.

No such problems with Orly nail polish. The brand excludes the main undesirable ingredients usually found in nail polish, namely formaldehyde, DBP and toluene and it works beautifully. Coverage is excellent and applied properly with a suitable base and top coat we’ve found that Orly nail polish really lasts.

Although for professional use the large bottles offer the best value, we think that Orly minis are definitely the way to go for use at home. They are really great value so there’s no need to restrict yourself to just one colour and there’s plenty in these small bottles for the average home user. After all when did you ever get to the end of a bottle of nail varnish?

Take a look at the full range and “like” or “share” your favourites so we can see your favourites.

So it's time we must accept summer is truly over and the frosty morns of winter are within weary sight, but that's no excuse to jump into hibernation just yet.

In fact, now's the best time to give your skin a quick lift, to shed the dry cells of those fading summer tans and re-boost and re-energise with some much needed beauty treatments and tender care.

Here are a few quick tips to do just that:

 • Mist It: Toner sprays are terrific to revive the face with a spray of fresh nutrients. Toners containing rose are particularly nourishing as they offer the added boost of antioxidants and moisturising properties.

• Scrub It: Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Using body scrubs helps the body to shed dry and dead skin cells - which after a summer of intense UV rays (well for those who holidayed in the Mediterranean at least) and drying out will be just what the skin doctor ordered. Using broad strokes towards the heart will help boost circulation, pumping blood faster around your body to keep you a little warmer as those chilly days start to creep in.

• Eat more berries: Increase your intake of foods that are loaded with antioxidants like raspberries and blueberries. Mexican and red kidney beans are also very high sources of antioxidants, as is green tea. These will not only strengthen your immune system they help to brighten and lift even the dullest of skin. For more healthy nutrition tips, why not come and see Matthew Reay our Nutritonal Therapist?

October 17th-23rd is Back Care Awareness week.

This year,  the focus is on the potential ill effects of children carrying heavy school bags each day.

Heavy bags put pressure on the discs between the spinal vertebrae, which can cause long term back pain in small and still-developing bodies.

Potential long-term effects may include: strains to the neck and shoulders resulting in headaches and early development of poor posture.

To try and keep your child pain-free, a few useful pointers to remember are:

- It is best to use a backpack rather than other types of bags, as it will avoid straining one shoulder alone, but even a backpack should not be overloaded.

- Buy a sturdy bag with wide and adjustable shoulder straps for your child.

- Check your child’s posture with the bag on. Make sure the child is not slouching or leaning forward.

- Make sure only necessary items are in the bag.

- Encourage your child to use their locker to its full capacity for any items they do not need to carry to and fro between school and home.

If you have any back care concerns why not book a consultation with Muniba Malik our Osteopath? Read more about Osteopathy...

If you’re generally happy with your skin care regime but if you feel that your skin needs a little extra boost then a facial serum could be the answer.  

Serums come in two forms, either a light water based gel consistency, which are great for hydrating the skin, or oil based serums which are good for counteracting dryness.  Skin that lacks water is described as being dehydrated whereas skin lacking oil is described as dry.

Both dehydration and dryness tend to affect skin as it ages, which is why serums tend to feature heavily in anti ageing skin care ranges. However, virtually everyone’s skin is dehydrated so a hydrating serum is an addition to the skin care routine that almost everyone will see a benefit from regardless of age.

You apply your serum after cleaning and toning and before applying your moisturiser or night cream so that this extra moisturising or hydrating layer is locked in. You only need to use a tiny bit so even though serums can sometimes seem quite expensive they are really good value.

Our skin changes throughout the year, the seasons, central heating and our general health and well being can all affect the way our skin looks and feels. Serums are a brilliant way to help your skin through these challenges whilst being able to stick with your favourite products for your core regime.

Browse our facial serums >>

So Organic shows us how to update our look for the coming season with spring with make up tips to leave you feeling in the pink.

Step 1. Create the perfect base.

Getting flawless looking skin doesn’t always mean piling on tonnes of heavy products. A tinted moisturiser to even out skin tone and give you a glow will create a natural fresh faced look just right for spring, without looking caked.

Step2. Enhance what you have.

If you have beautiful almond shaped eyes or a perfectly shaped lips, work with that feature and choose products to accentuate it. Allow either your eyes or your lips to lead the look, if you go for both you’re in danger of looking far too heavily made up.

Step 3. Try something different.

It’s all too easy to get stuck in a make up rut, using the same products day after day, year after year. But seasons change, and so do we. As we age we need to update our make up to ensure it still flatters our skin tone and style. Change one small thing and feel like a new woman. A gorgeous shade of eye shadow or a fabulous new lip gloss will give you a huge confidence boost without breaking the bank.

Step 4. Nurture your nails.

Taking a little extra care of your hands, by remembering to use a good hand cream and perhaps having the occasional manicure will pay dividends. Well groomed hands and nails complete your look and now the weathers warming up and it’s time for the gloves to come off, if you’ve been neglecting yours now’s the time to put things right.

If you need any help in choosing products, or have any questions on concerns about any aspect of beauty and skin care, drop me an email. I’d love to help.