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.

Does it really work? That’s probably the most frequently asked question about organic deodorant, and the short answer is yes. If you choose the right one (we can help with that!) and know what to expect then organic deodorant is great and has a lot to recommend it over its high street alternative.

If you don’t want to bother with the explanation and just want our top recommendations for organic deodorant that works then scroll down  the page, for those interested in why they work, read on…

Sweating & Smelling Are Not The Same:

Deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same thing. Deodorants help to stop us smelling while antiperspirants aim to stop us sweating. The super dry effect that we so often seek is the work of an antiperspirant.

Modern antiperspirants suppress the body’s vital function of perspiration by using aluminium salts like aluminium chlorohydrate to block the pores and prevent the perspiration coming out. Although we like the feeling of dryness under our arms this is actually a signal that we have prevented our bodies doing what they are supposed to. Sweating is one of the key ways our bodies get rid of toxins and blocking up our pores we are hampering this process.  

So perspiration is not necessarily a bad thing, but how to avoid being a smelly billy no-mates?

In fact perspiration does not smell bad; it’s the bacteria that feed on the dampness that cause the unpleasant smell. The way to avoid this is to use ingredients that will not allow the bacteria to thrive. Organic deodorant that works uses ingredients such as potassium alum, or ammonium alum, otherwise known as crystal deodorant to inhibit bacterial growth and prevent smelliness.

Organic deodorants won’t clog your pores or inhibit your body’s natural functions, but they will keep you smelling sweet! We test deodorants thoroughly before adding them to our range, because if it doesn’t stop you smelling then it’s not a deodorant is it?

Our Pick of Organic Deodorant That Works:

Our favourite and the first roll on deodorant that worked well enough to gain our seal of approval was the Gentle Control range by Green People. Rosemary has a warm herbal scent, Aloe vera is sweeter and fresh and No Scent is completely free from fragrance for those with extremely sensitive skin. There are also 2 versions for men, Stay Cool with mint, lavender and eucalyptus or Stay Fresh with thyme, lemon and clove It uses potassium alum to limit the growth of bacteria and essential oils to give a pleasant scent.

Our most recent addition to our deodorant range is the Madara Herbal Deodorant. It has a large and comfortable roller ball and pleasant herbal fragrance and is fast becoming a best seller. 

If you prefer a spray then Weleda’s deodorants are our top recommendation. They contain alcohol which limits bacterial growth and therefore stinkiness and they are great to keep in your bag for a refreshing spritz of the lovely natural scents throughout the day. Consumer trials found that the rose fragrance lasts up to 9 hours.

Why choose an organic deodorant?

• Conventional deodorants contain paraben preservatives which can accumulate in the body. None of our deodorants contain parabens

• Our deodorants are fragranced with essential oils which have skin care benefits rather than synthetic fragrance which can be irritating

• Modern antiperspirants suppress the body’s vital function of perspiration by using aluminium salts like aluminium chlorohydrate to block the pores, our natural deodorants do not.

What are you waiting for? UK delivery is Free on orders over £30 so why not order an organic deodorant that works today?

If the changing seasons have left your skin feeling out of sorts, it could be time to add a little extra pampering to your routine.

When the temperature changes, skin can be left feeling parched. The featherweight serums of summer just don't have enough oomph to leave your skin comfortable once the colder weather arrives. One simple solution could be to boost to your skincare routine with the addition of organic facial oil.

Packed with essential fatty acids, which help to nourish the skin and protect the skin’s natural acid mantle, facial oils deliver an intense moisture hit to your skin. Applied to freshly cleansed damp skin they absorb beautifully, and will not leave your skin greasy. Go sparingly just 1 or 2 drops massaged in until absorbed, is usually enough.

Facial Oil can often be the perfect solution if you find your foundation is not sitting well on your skin too. Particularly if you find it absorbs too quickly and feels like its dragging as you try to blend it. Simply apply a couple of drops of facial oil and then put your foundation on top. it will help the foundation spread smoothly over the skin and then as the oil absorbs it will leave your foundation beautifully blended with a dewy finish.

Seed & kernel oils such as jojoba, rose hip, argan and borage, have a fine texture which make them absorb rapidly in to the skin without leaving feelings of greasiness, even on skin prone to oiliness.

Our organic face oils are packed with pure organic seed oils with amazing skincare benefits rather than highly refined and processed oils that contain additives and petroleum based by products. They really are a treat for your skin and are a sure fire way to give your summer skincare routine an upgrade. 

Now’s the time to give your skin the boost it needs to cope with the heating being turned on and the arrival of the autumn chill in the air. Here are my top picks of new season skin care at its best. 

 Protect…
One of the pioneers of natural beauty, Dr Hauschka makes highly effective skincare whilst sticking to the strictest biodynamic principles, so I never need question the integrity of their ingredients. When confronted with cold weather reach for their Rose Day Cream £29.50 for immediate relief. This super rich moisturiser is excellent for protecting cheeks and noses from cold, wind and harsh weather. Don’t go on autumn walks without it. It’s made with organic Avocado and Shea Butter, rich moisturisers provided by nature to give intensive protection from the elements.

 Perfect…
For Autumn Organic Surge has a selection of products in their Extra Care range that is ideal for sorting out cold weather skincare woes. These truly are deeply luxurious products at a great value price.

The full range is in stock now and has been specially formulated to reveal a renewed, revived and radiant complexion.  Organic Surge’s clean skin care policy means that you can be sure that whilst being packed with bio actives and skin boosting ingredients; these products contain no parabens, synthetic fragrance or petrochemicals.  I absolutely love their Intensive Soothing Serum £23.50, for giving my skin a moisture boost and healthy, plumped glow. Team it with their Replenishing Facial Oil £23.50, and you have a powerful partnership of product to tackle both dryness and dehydration of the skin, the two main autumnal skin complaints.  Both are great boosts to your existing skin care regime; just apply under your usual day or night cream.

 Repair…
One last tip! Don’t wait for your lips to crack before you grab your new season lip balm. Choose a pure organic salve now and slick on regularly to keep your lips soft and kissably smooth whatever the weather. My must-have balm is by Dr Hauschka and comes in a pot (£10.25) or a stick (£9.25). Yes it’s pricey, but oh so worth it, your lips will thank you! Enjoy.

To make things easier, we've put lots of products ideal for the colder weather into one easy to shop department. 

If you have any questions on concerns about any aspect of natural skin care, drop me an email to help@SoOrganic.com. I’d love to help.

The formulations are a delight to use with fine textured oils and silky serums that feel like they should cost a whole lot more. The entire range is suitable for sensitive skin but caters to all other skin types too with an Ultra Light oil control lotion for combination and oily types, and a feather light Facial Oil that dry skin will adore.

Here are our recommendations for how to incorporate the range into your day and night time routines and really give your skin care an Extra Care boost.

Day:

1)      Cleanse – Even if you cleansed before you went to bed, skin secretes toxins overnight so a morning cleanse will help to remove these. Take your cleanser into the shower if you’re short on time.

2)      Serum- Use in place of a traditional toner to leave skin soft and velvety. Extra Care Serum restores radiance and relaxes skin to give a visible improvement in lines and wrinkles.

3)      Facial Oil or Oil Control Lotion – to help bring the skin into balance adding extra moisture to dry skin and counteracting oil in greasier skin types. Oil control lotion gives a perfect matte base for make up too.

4)      Eye Cream – To protect the areas prone to first wrinkles.

5)      Moisturise – The final step to ensure skin has the moisture and hydration it needs and provide a good base for makeup.

Night:

1)      Cleanse – the night-time cleanse is crucial, removing all traces of makeup and pollutants allows skin to breathe and prepares it to receive extra moisture.

2)       Serum – Aloe vera and hyaluronic acid provide skin with intense hydration which helps to minimise the appearance of fine lines as skin feels plumped and firmed.

3)      Eye cream – Pat on gently with your ring finger to minimise drag

4)      Night cream – Take advantage of being able to use a rich cream without your make up sliding off. Extra Care night cream is rich but not heavy. Enriched with Argan oil renowned for its anti ageing properties.

Without the summer sun to give us a glow, many of us find that blotches and uneven skin tone are more of a problem in colder weather.  To even things out and restore radiance a foundation is a better bet than a tinted moisturiser and mineral foundations allow you to build up coverage as much as you like without ever feeling heavy or caked.  Lily Lolo Mineral foundation is a real find. The finish is as good, if not better, and the application is as easy as any other mineral powder foundation we’ve tried (and we’ve tried a lot!) and the price is just a tiny £14.99 a pot.

You really need a kabuki brush to apply mineral foundation. The super kabuki from Lily Lolo is £15.99 and works really well, the silky bristles feel wonderful on the skin and are vegan friendly too.

Blend together eye shadow shades of gold, brown, bronze and taupe to set the autumnal tone for your look. Lavera eyeshadow quattro's in either Indian Dream or Cappuccino Cream are ideal and from only £12.50 for 4 beautiful shades are ultra affordable too.

Choose eyeliner to complement your eye shadow shades; Lavera for soft and smudgy, and Dr Hauschka for something slightly firmer (but certainly not hard) to enable you to draw a more precise line.  Finish off your masterpiece and frame your eyes with good mascara. Our top picks are Dr Hauschka Volume Mascara in black for maximum definition and build, and Lavera Volume mascara in black or brown to lengthen and separate lashes with silky sheen.

In colder weather, a good lipstick can help protect your lips from the elements whilst finishing off your look perfectly. Organic Lipsticks are a real treat to use; they glide on silkily to leave lips soft and smooth with colour that really stays. For a glossier finish the Lavera Brilliant Care lipsticks are heaven, they feel just like wearing lip balm and come in 4 gorgeous shades all of which complement the autumn colour palette beautifully.

Revive your make up bag for autumn and get a Free Make Up bag worth £14.99 when you spend over £30 on make up while stocks last.

Just as most of us have got to grips with our cleanse, tone and moisturise routine everyone's talking about serums and face oils, if you're not sure what these brilliant products can do for you read on and we'll explain.

Both serums and face oils offer a great opportunity to improve your skin and protect it for the future in one easy step. But to help us understand how they work we need to understand a little bit about the skin.

The skin is primarily there to protect us from external influences and as such can take a real battering from the sun, heat, cold and pollution.

The skin has its own natural moisture system which contains water and oil. To keep skin in optimal condition skin’s natural protective barrier needs to be maintained.

External influences such as pollution, diet and the wrong type of products can upset the skin and cause it to become dry from lack of oils and or dehydrated from lack of water.

Skin can look grey, lacklustre and lack radiance; in the worst case it can become tight and inflamed. Many fine lines, wrinkles and the first signs of ageing are caused by dehydration and can become permanent if we do not tackle them early.

All skin types are subject to dehydration and it is not all about drinking more water. Increasing fruit and vegetables that hold lots of water like melons or cucumbers is just as important, as is reducing diuretics like coffee and alcohol.

On the product side, skin serums are the perfect combination of water and oil in a light emulsion, specifically designed to deliver a hit of concentrated nutrients and water to tackle all those dehydration symptoms. Many contain the super ingredient hyaluronic acid, which holds water on the skin and drip feeds the skin throughout the day, the perfect antidote to dehydration.

Because a serum is such a light texture we apply them to cleansed skin in a gentle pat and roll method then apply a moisturiser over the top to seal in the nutrients. They are suitable for all skin types and can be used every morning and evening (if using just once a day then ideally in the morning). Our best-selling Green People Hydrating Firming Serum has an amazing texture and proven anti ageing benefits.

Extreme dryness in the skin can be caused by sensitivity, over exposure to the sun or cold or simply that your skin naturally produces less oil, a common symptom of the ageing process. A moisturiser that combines lots of rich plant oils and water is perfect for the day to protect and nurture, at night we recommend a facial oil to provide deep nourishment.

The Barefoot SOS Intensive Treatment Oil smells amazing and really tackles dry patches and lack or tone in the skin with its antioxidant rosehip seed oil and just a few drops instantly de stresses skin. Apply to cleansed warm skin for a deeper penetration of the nutrients and spend a few minutes massaging it in with firm upward strokes.

Earth Friendly Shampoo & body wash comes in Soothing Chamomile, Calming Lavender and Happy Mandarin

Earth Friendly Baby bubble bath comes in Soothing Chamomile, Calming Lavender and Happy Mandarin

Earth Friendly Baby body lotion comes in Soothing Chamomile and Calming Lavender

Earth Friendly Baby Wipes are now known as Earth Friendly Baby Gentle Aloe Vera Wet Wipes. They are 100% biodegradable and come in a great value 72 pack.

They don’t contain parabens, SLS, synthetic colour or fragrance or petroleum based oils. None of the products are tested on animals, and all products are suitable for vegans. Try them out today and see the difference >>>

Nothing has the ability to put a smile on your face and feel like a brand new you as a fabulous new lipstick. For spring 2013 the choice simply has to be the new Dr Hauschka Lipstick range. Originally launched as a limited edition in 2012 these gorgeous glossy lipsticks proved so popular they're here to stay!

With a choice of 3 infinitely wearable shades and a silky texture that feels just like slicking on your favourite lip balm, these luscious new lipsticks are a real treat.

The base is packed with nourishing organic oils of Castor, Jojoba, Rosehip, Apricot and Sweet Almond combined with beeswax to give a waxy, creamy consistency which really moisturises your lips.

Easy to apply and wear all day long

The new Dr Hauschka Lipstick colours are sheer so you can either slick on single layer for the effect of a strong gloss, ideal for summer daytime wear, or apply to lined lips with your favourite brush, blot and reapply for a greater depth of colour and staying power.  

3 Beautiful Shades for Summer 2013

Dr Hauschka Lipstick 13 - Red Quartz - A glossy terracotta shade that is infinitely wearable and will suit most skin tones.

Dr Hauschka Lipstick 15 - Violet Marble - A soft and delicate plum shade, that's subtle not shouty so perfect to day long wear. Top with a juicy gloss to take it into the evening.

Dr Hauschka Lipstick 16 - Pink Topaz - Wears like a strong gloss rather than a bright pink. Build up the layers for more intense colour, or simply slick on a single coat for a gorgeous natural glossy pink.

When Madara first hit the UK several years ago; we were one of the first places to stock it. The lovely fresh fragrances derived from Baltic ingredients and pure Ecocert certified organic formulas made this little brand from Latvia a real treat for pure beauty fans. A few years on with the benefit of customer feedback to enable them to make tweaks and changes to perfect the formulations and Madara products are back and better than ever. Massively improved formulas and revamped packaging have brought this lovely brand right up the minute.

It’s re-launched at So Organic on 1^st March 2013 and you can get a Free Moisture Cream worth £18 when you spend over £30 on Madara while stocks last.