When the petals of the wild roses fall in the lush mountain valleys of South America the berry-like hips of the flowers seedpods are collected. The rose hips of the Rosa Affinis Rubiginosa are used to make a myriad of healing and beauty products such as oil, tea, moisturiser, face masks, toners and spot treatment creams.
The finely ground powder of rosehip seeds can be also used as a natural exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. Rosehip oil has a list of healing benefits as long as a thorny stem. It's packed with essential fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic and oleic), anti-oxidants (tocopherols or Vitamin E is a naturally occurring preservative), retinoic acid (a derivative of Retonol or Vitamin A), Omegas 3 and 6 and Vitamin C.
The therapeutic rosehip oil aids the regeneration process of our skins cellular membranes and the repair of damaged tissues. Some studies have found that when applied twice daily to scars (recent or not) they have become less visible and the skin more elastic. It has also been reported to return burn tissue to its natural colour.

Rosehip can be used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and acne scars by massaging into the skin. It can help the skin heal sunburn, inflammation, dermatitis and eczema by restoring the skin's moisture balance. When applied to coloured, permed and sun damaged hair it has been noted to have similar effects.

This skin healing gem can also lend a hand to those of us trying to slow the aging process by aiding the repair of tissue to reduce fine lines and pigmentation. Rosehip oil makes for an excellent ingredient in moisturizers as it is ultra-fine, enabling the skin to absorb it very quickly. It also loosens the tension in the skin leaving it softer, smoother and more vibrant looking. A rose by any other name... would not be so handy.

The word ‘multi-purpose' is bliss to a busy woman's ears, particularly when it comes to the potential contents of her handbag.
Be it mums with wet wipes, spare nappy and snacks or the business exec with her Blackberry, mascara and water, all women could do with lightening the load a little when travelling from A to B... school to football practice... the office to that meeting on the other side of town.
Beyond the mobile phone, what's the most common item found in our handbags ladies? Balms, moisturisers, hand creams - stuff that revives our skin from the demands of leading a full life in the 21st century. But rather than carrying around a cosmetic counter full of lotions and potions to keep you beautiful perhaps you consider just the one.
Some of the best natural and organic multi-purpose balms these days can be used for ... well just about everything. Make up remover, lip balm, hand cream, heel-softener, body lotion, moisturiser and... lubricant? (well the new YES natural oil-based lubricant does double as a body moisturiser!).
Four of the best all-in-one balms are:
Everything Balm by Trilogy - with certified organic rose hip oil as its active ingredient is rich in Omega 3 and 6, natural super-emollients, vitamins and antioxidants. A little goes a long way. Can be used to soothe dry skin, as a massage oil, lip conditioner, and moisturising baby. The rose hip helps to minimise scarring, improve skin elasticity and reduce the signs of premature ageing.
Fragrance Free Baby Balm by Balm Balm - suitable for all skin types (particularly sensitive, hence the baby feature) this shea butter based balm is good to apply to cheeks, lips, neck, hands, arms, legs and feet - anywhere that's feeling a little dry on you or your little one.
Calendula Balm by Essential Care - the Green Beauty Bible says this balm is a "100% organic pot of wonder". Ideal for cracked cuticles, chapped skin and psoriasis this balm utilizes the medicinal healing properties of, you guessed it, the marigold flower. A great balm to use in the dryer winter months and on the kids scraps and grazes.
Facial Cleanser by Spiezia - though techinically not a balm this award-winning-beauty-buy is a make up remover, moisturizer and cleanser in one. You could also apply to lips for a little glossy moisture if need be.

We've just added a new article about parabens to our beauty pages. Visit our knowledge base to find out what's wrong with parabens and why many people these days are avoiding them in their cosmetics. Read more... 

So Organic is a small but growing company, run by a friendly team of people who all feel passionate about the environment and natural products.
We love the sense of community we feel when talking to our customers and sharing our knowledge and you tell us that you love it too.
So we've been working on a new extension to our website and called it our "Community Pages". We'll be updating regularly with hints and tips on green living and advice from our panel of organic experts.
We’d love your input too, so please email us with questions, suggestions and your own hints and tips, an ddo check back regularly for the latest news. 
Visit our community pages now.

Welcome to our new weekly natural beauty blog.  To start my first weekly blog I was asked to write about my favourite natural beauty product...what a question....my cupboards are groaning with fantastic products!

For me an amazing beauty product has to combine the holy grail; great scent, a texture I love and most important it has to count...by that I mean it has to fight for its place in my bathroom cupboard so it has to make a difference to my skin quickly.

Spring is the time we all, with luck, start blinking in to the sunlight...for the first time we see our skin looking a little bit jaded and the word brightening seems to apply.

My skin has the typical look, slightly dry, dehydrated and a bit sallow...I need help!

Enter the John Masters Organic facial skin care range.   I have used the hair products for ages and adore them, but the skin care fell under my radar.   A customer started raving about the Vitamin C Face Serum and I decided to give it a go.  This brilliant blend has been designed to tackle the first signs of ageing but it is the brightening qualities that I wanted.

Vitamin C is known to help with hyper pigmentation and a well known antioxidant, but it is the high level of sea algae extract that John Masters highlight as their hero ingredient. I use this lime blossom scented serum at night in place of my night cream and under my moisturiser to lock in the potent ingredients.  Combine that with the nettle tea I have been drinking to boost my digestion and everyone has been commenting how well I look and asking whether I have been on holiday...a great result, and a product that really counts. 

It has prompted me to look in to sea algea and seaweed to see which other of our products use this magic ingredients...I will keep you posted as to what I find out in the weeks to come.

Emma

Head of Beauty