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Firstly cleanse your face in your normal cleaner to ensure it is as clean as possible.

Prepare your mask by mixing 1 teaspoon of the mask powder with 1 teaspoon of water in to a small bowl and mix until a smooth paste is formed. If you wish you can also add a facial toner for extra help in revitalising the skin (I used Dr Hauschka's Facial Toner).

Before you add the mask it's highly beneficial to steam the skin. To do this fill a medium sized bowl with hot water and add an essential oil or similar (as I was on a role with the good doctor I used Dr Hauschka's Facial Steam Bath). Lean over with your face just above the water line, place a towel over your head and bowl and breath in deeply for anywhere between 3 and 15 minutes, depending on your skin type (3 min for sensitive skin, 8 for normal to dry skin and up to 15 for oil skin).

Immediately afterwards pat dry and apply your already prepared clay mask. Leave on as above for the steam bath (ie 3 min for sensitive skin, 8 for normal to dry skin and up to 15 for oil skin).

Remove with muslin cloth and rinse thoroughly. If in the evening apply your normal toner. If daytime apply toner and moisturiser.

Dr Hauschka Cleansing Clay Mask

10 Nov 2008 14:40:03

My first run in with Dr Hauschka's Cleansing Clay Mask was in SoOrganic's Greenwich store when I was looking for a new face mask to try. To my surprise when I lifted the lid of the in-store tester (albeit a little clumsily and slightly tilted) a puff of brown powder misted before my face. Don't worry, this doesn't happen like some magic fairy dust each time you open a pot of Dr Hauschka's Cleansing Clay Mask unless of course you are as ungainly as I am.

This unique little mask (as I found out later that night) does wonders for the skin and is quite fun to use. I felt a bit like I imagine a tribal woman of the Amazonia might upon brewing her skin soothing remedies. You might understand why by reading the method of application or if you ever get the chance to use it yourself.
0 Comments | Posted in Beauty General Product Reviews By Nicki

The Collagen Boost

22 Oct 2008 18:20:47

Collagen is the protein in our bodies that is responsible for the skin's elasticity. It also functions as a skin strengthener. It's a protein we want to pay attention to as it makes up roughly 75 per cent of the skin, nail, hair and joint tissue in our body.

According to Spa experts The Sanctuary, collagen breaks down in our skin at a rate of 1.5 per cent each year from the age of 25. Wrinkles and sagging are a direct result of collagen and elastin fibres breaking down in the dermis, the deepest layer of our skin. As they break down there is less support from underneath for the upper layers of skin, hence the saggy look. This is why if you are after a more youthful, plump complexion you should use moisturisers and treatments containing ingredients that promote the production of collagen.

Seaweed is one ingredient many spa products contain as it is packed with amino acids, which is essentially what collagen is made up of. If we uptake the amount of amino acids in our body by way of products applied to the outside of our skin, and ingesting food rich in these we will help stimulate our bodies collagen production.
0 Comments | Posted in Beauty General By Nicki

Care Tips for Mature Skin

30 Sep 2008 14:38:07

The condition of skin varies with age from person to person but generally speaking the natural response to aging is similar. At forty, collagen in the skin starts to break down. The skin looses some of its elasticity and vibrancy. Fine lines start to become more prominent around the eyes and mouth. As menopause passes oestrogen levels drop and with it so does the skin. By sixty wrinkles are deeper and discolouring more evident. In essence as time goes by the epidermis, or outer layer of the skin, becomes more fragile and we need to take better care of it.

To counteract the maturing process, it's helpful to use skin lifting and firming moisturisers. Facial oils are great for aging skin as they replenish the dryer areas and often include rose hips which contain antioxidants and essential fatty acids - well known for their anti-aging, line reducing properties.

Vitamin A has been proven to decrease the effects of sun damaged skin. As it naturally decreases in our bodies with age, using products high in this vitamin A, in addition to using SPF for UV protection, will at least slow damage caused by the sun.

Exfoliate with a brush or scrub regularly to remove dead cells and improve skin texture. Take care to make broad strokes towards the heart to help remove toxins from the upper layers of the skin by increasing circulation in your lymphatic system. The same goes when applying cellulite and moisturising crèmes.

And a final tip many women forget to apply moisturiser to the neck and décolletage. This area, along with the hands, is often one of the first areas to show the clocks ticking so try not to forget these areas in your daily routine.

Three of our favourite products for mature skin are:

Energy Sensation Moisturiser by Lavere

Pure Organic Rose Hip Oil by Trilogy

Rosa Fina Radiance Anti-Ageing Day Cream by Barefoot Botanicals

Tips to Green Your Beauty Regime

27 Sep 2008 18:39:48

The organic health and beauty industry naturally (pardon the pun) contributes to the protection of our environment by virtue of safer, more eco conscious practices and standards. As consumers we also have the power to help create a more eco-savvy society by refining our beauty routine and choosing our products wisely.Here's a couple of tips to set you on your beautiful greeny way:

The obvious one from our point of view is to choose products with organic ingredients. Organic farming practices are less intensive on the land. Plus chemical free is better for you, better for the earth.

Use a little less of everything. I'm one to talk in this area. I adore how my cleanser leaves my skin - so clean particularly on a grimy day, say if I've been out for a night with more eye makeup on than usual or cycled in heavy traffic. I wash my face once in the morning and twice in the evening on these days. I figure it's ok every now and then especially if for general use you're not overly lavish.

Divide your cotton pads in half - that way you can cleanse your pores with four clean sides of material rather than two. Even better use a muslin cloth instead. Their washable so you can be reused many times.

All-in-one products are great. Lavera offer a 2 in 1 cleanser / eye makeup remover that is certified by BDIH. Trilogy have a moisturiser which is aptly titled Everything Balm and is great for all skin types including baby skin. It can be used as a massage oil, body moisturiser, lip balm and nail cuticle softener. Balm Balm is another multipurpose product that can be used all over the body (a famous songstress apparently uses it to shine her hair).