So you've heard the hype and read all the literature but you're still contemplating which beauty products to spend your organic pocket money on. Here are a few tips to start you on your organic journey.

Start with leave on products. The skin is the biggest organ of the body and can absorb up to 60% of all substances applied to it so a leave on product like moisturiser can have a big impact our internal health. Parabens, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance or propylene glycol have more opportunity to be harmful the longer they are left on your body so ensure you choose a moisturiser that does not contain any of these nasties.

The skin of your armpit is more sensitive than most other areas of skin on the body. The ingredients to avoid in deodorants are parabens and aluminium salts. These are not found in natural deodorants.

The skin on the inside of the mouth is very thin and thus highly absorbent making toothpaste a top member of our first-switch products. The potential harm of swallowing the nasty chemicals found in conventional products makes the idea of a natural alternative all the more appealing.

Soap and shower gels are next up. Although these are wash away products most people do use them at least once every day, sometimes two. That's a daily dose of harmful substances for the skin to lap up unless you are using a natural alternative.

In addition to dead hair follicles, shampoos and conditioners touch the scalp and run over the body whilst being washed out. Though totally organic versions are hard to come by switching to a more natural version would again make for a lower dowsing of chemicals for the body.

Our Go Organic Kit has six essentials to start you off on the journey of switching your toiletry and beauty products to organic.

There has been a big push from our government this week to reduce the amount of food we throw away. Gordon Brown, on his way to the G8 Summit in Japan to work on alleviating the very real problem of global food scarcity, pointed out that food waste ‘is costing the average household in Britain around £8 per week.' That equates to 4.1m tonnes of perfectly good food thrown away every year. This is all unnecessary waste (and doesn't even include what we over eat which can waste both our health and world supplies).

So it's now time to reduce, reuse and recycle our food! Reduce consumption, reuse leftovers, and recycle into our composts.

Some of our food waste avoidance tips are:

• Work out what you want to cook for the week ahead before you buy your fresh food and bring home the right quantity to avoid floppy carrot syndrome


• Utilise bulk buys only if you are 100% sure you will use the whole of the product before its end date


• Shop on a full stomach... not only to avoid the strategically placed chocolate bars at the checkout but also to ensure your brain is on full alert to keep you on target for a list-only shop


• If leftovers don't appeal two days in a row; either make less, freeze it or get creative - roast beef pie filling, thai chicken soup or, my father's favourite Chilli Mistake'a (just add chilli!)


• Eat only what you need. Make only what you need. Appreciation and enjoyment of food tends to increase as the regularity of indulgences decrease.

Send us in your tips to minimize food waste and we'll add them to our list!

How often have you seen a friend's vintage dress or one-off stone necklace and said to them ‘I love that top hon, where did you get it from?' at the same time thinking ‘I wish I'd found it first.' There's a place you can go to swap gorgeous one-off clothes and accessories without the background sound of a till bell popping or a harrying store member on your heels.

Swishing is a clothes exchange party where invitees bring along at least one item of clothing or accessory that they think someone else may be delighted to purchase. Clean, quality garments a must; vintage designer frocks and rare gemstones preferable.

Topshop have adopted the concept, running workshops at its flagship Oxford Circus store. Enthusiasts are asked to bring in three items of unwanted clothing to swap for someone else's and are also shown how to turn their junk into chic accessories.

If you're the kind of shopper who especially likes unique, bespoke pieces without a hefty price tag or you just need a good excuse to get the girls together for a natter, Swishing is ideal. It's definitely one to do with the girlfriends not the kids. For the penny saving eco-chic it's a guilty-free way to refresh your wardrobe. The party aspect of Swishing gives it an Avon / trendy-Soho-op-shop / cocktails-with-the-girls feel. The only possible downfall is you may find yourself in the very likely situation of adoring the same one off piece as your girlfriend.

For details on upcoming Swishing dates or for a guide on how to throw your own Swishing party visit www.swishing.org