A distant relation of the apple and pear, the golden yellow quince is a fascinating fruit that has been eaten by fabled greats like goddesses Aphrodite and Atlanta. It was written in ancient Greek texts that Greek brides would nibble a little of this quaint fruit to sweeten her kiss so that her first encounter with her groom would not be ‘disagreeable or unpleasant'.

An excellent source of Vitamin C quince cannot be eaten raw for it is too bitter. When cooked however it is becomes a deliciously sweet and aromatic flavour. From exotic Moroccan dishes to a buttery apple pie or tarty marmalade the quince is a versatile ingredient to add a quirky lift to almost any dish. However it has been said that ‘it is the only fruit that can be cooked simply and still result in a mouthful as complex as a great wine', so it is best to find a good, simple recipe for it. Quince is also use to make membrillo or quince paste which is a wonderful accompaniment to cheese.

From a health perspective, research has shown that quince is rich in potassium, dietary fibre and anti-viral properties. When regularly consumed it aids digestion and lowers cholesterol.

It is also a rich source of antioxidants, which help the body to fight free radicals thus lowering the risk of cancer. The high antioxidant content (and gorgeous sweet aroma) is why this golden fruit is found in some organic beauty products. The Dr.Hauschka Quince Day Cream for example protects the skin and acts as a kind of anti-stress layer against environmental pollutants your face is bombarded with daily. Their Quince Body Moisturiser is lovely to apply too.

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.

A little naturally occurring rose in the cheeks is healthy looking but when your entire complexion is fighting off the tulips it's time to red-down. Inflammed redness n the skin after a sleepless or boozy night is common so it's handy to have a few tricks in the pocket on those mornings you wake up looking more sunburnt than sunkissed.

First apply a serum that is specifically designed to calm sensitive skin (the Dr.Hauschka Regenerating Serum is excellent for this). If used daily this will help to reduce redness over a long period of time. Also excellent is the now famous Dr.Hauschka Rose Day Cream which really helps to tone down redness too.

To instantly reduce an overly rosie complexion use a colour calming make up base. One than is designed to neutralize redness is ideal. Inika's organic Pure Primer is very good. Ingredients like aloe vera, rose hip oil, and evening primrose oil calm and hydrate the skin in preparation for a foundation.

Follow this with a foundation that has a yellow base rather than red base. Blend well using a sponge or pad to avoid patchy areas to an already blotchy pink skin. If you're not keen on using a full on cream foundation but still want to reduce redness perhaps a tinted moisturiser or the lighter mineral foundation would be more suitable.

Waking with dark circles under the eyes and puffy pink skin is not the ideal way to start the day in cheery shape. But that can be turned around easy enough with a few quick tricks and a couple of handy beauty products. Over the next week we'll look at five? how you can comfort your bad face day - the organic way.

Quick tips for a bad face day 1 - Dark Circles
Lack of sleep, illness or plain old genetics can at times make dark circles under the eye unavoidable. When you wake start with the ol cucumber-on-the-eye trick. An instant refresher, cucumbers cool and rejuvenate puffy eyes. This might make you feel a little more wide eyed and awake but it hasn't yet done much for those scarry looking caves sitting either side of your nosal. What you need is a good concealer that is lightweight and is a quality texture as the skin around the eye is too delicate to use the same concealer you use to cover spots and blemishes on the rest of your face.

A peachy or pink toned concealer is best as it counteracts the blue tinge of your dark circles. Dot the concealer along the dark line area only and blend in.

Using it liberally only where needed has a far greater effect than applying it all over. An excellent under eye, dark circle concealer to try is the organic pastel concealer number 1 by Lavera Trend Sensitive. Dr.Hauschka also have three good vegan concealers you may wish to try.

The first stand out fact I read whilst researching the birch tree was that its fuel value is very good.

The second was that it is used in a lot of cellulite reducing products. It's fair to say that any woman (and let's be honest that's most of us) who suffers the orange peel backside syndrome would rather a live tree and smooth skin than more bio-fuel (any fuel) on the roads.

Birch oil that is used for cellulite products, soaps, shampoos and beauty products alike is extracted from the inner bark of the tree. It's a pale yellow colour and smells similar to wintergreen.

Studies have shown that if used regularly (i.e. everyday for a month) birch oil can have visible results. It tones and firms the skin, improving texture and softness. If used in conjunction with a scrub the birch oil is a natural way to combat body dimples and avoid all the chemical ingredients found in so many big brand anti-cellulite creams.

If you're one of the lucky few who only have one or two dimples - on the face, perhaps a glass of birch juice may take your fancy. Drunk in countries like Finland, Russia and Denmark it's a watery, pale green, slightly sweet bevvy. In China the sap is transformed into a refreshing light beer, which is believed to have tonic qualities.

While we're on the subject of how the birch benefits body, here's one more interesting item. The chaga mushroom that grows on white birch trees extracts components from the birch and has been used to remedy cancer. A cellulite tonic that cures cancer? Not quite but it's clearly a tree we want to keep around for a long while yet.