We normally associate H&M with high street fashion inspired by the catwalks. But H&M have made an interesting, surprising foray into organic skincare launching it’s first-ever line of organic skincare products.
H&M’s organic skincare range which has been approved by one of the world’s leading organic certification organisations, Ecocert – will be sold alongside its 80 piece spring collection called Garden. H&M have focussed on new bodycare products — which include shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm. The products are based on apple juice, sunflower seed oil, almond seeds, jojoba and beeswax, and sold in recyclable packaging.
Even more consumers are getting savvy about environmental imaging and advertising and are wisening up to what’s organic and more importantly look at the facts behind a company’s green credentials.
Supermarkets are really going green with Tesco bringing out its bnatural 95% organic skincare range (Soil Association approved). At last we have organic skincare at an affordable price living up to the Tesco promise of honest, natural skincare with no nasty artificial colours and no testing on animals.
The organic skincare market is currently worth more than £2 million pounds. At the moment however, we seem to paying over the odds for very natural, eco-friendly products which are simply yet beautifully packaged. Tesco has shown though that organic skincare really doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. The only other organic skincare range that seems to be reasonably priced is Weleda and perhaps Green People too but it’s nice to know that we can now pop to the supermarket when we run out of our organic cleanser and find a real organic product.
Let’s face it when you’re on a budget, you’re like a hawk when it comes to spending on organic skincare, which can’t really be classed as essentials. I suppose we can do without them when it comes to crunch and turn to making our own blissful creams based on Ayurvedic recipes, which are centuries old.
However, unless we are ladies of leisure most of the time, the thought of turning your kitchen into a laboratory for a few times may not be so appealing.
It’s always a delight when an email lands in your inbox, in my case, Spieza, offering 25% off all organic products until 8pm today. Talk about prompting you to fish out your credit card at the ready. I’ve had a look at the Spieza website and there are some good deals on there.
I need a new cleanser as I’m getting rather tired of the Neal’s Yard calendula cleanser, which is a lovely product, but I feel has run its course with me. I’ve chosen the Facial Cleanser from Spieza because it comes with a free toner. Yes I know, a further reason to spend. How often do you get something free? There are plenty of other products for those of you on a budget so do check out their website. Remember, 8pm today is the cut off time.
I was really happy to get a new pot of the Organic Pharmacy’s Carrot Butter Cleanser. It’s probably one of the best organic cleansers I’ve had the fortune to buy and I don’t mind paying the £30 or more for this gorgeous product.
It may not work as well on combination but on my normal verging on dry skin, this is perfect. I usually apply it at night for a special treat and feel the goodness working into my pores overnight. In the morning my skin looks radiant and feels so smooth.
Celebrities like Demi Moore, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Sara Jessica Parker love this cleanser. The Carrot Butter Cleanser contains no artificial preservatives, fragrances, colourants or petrochemicals; no animal ingredients and was never tested on animals so all the better for me as I’m one for raving about all skincare natural and organic.
I was excited when I finally received my Amazon order of Anjum Anand’s Eat Right for your Body Type.
I’ve read various books hailing the virtues of Ayurveda, which is centuries old ancient science. I’ve seen various Ayurvedic doctors about minor ailments but the one that still concerns me, dare I harp on about it, is dark circles. Now contrary to what the professionals say – it’s hereditary, you don’t get enough sleep – I don’t think these apply as none of my family suffer from dark circles and I’ve never had them until last year. I also make a concerted effort to get at least more than 7 hours sleep every night.
I am encouraged by Anjum’s book. I’ve read various books on Ayurveda and learned the general principles of identifying my own body type, I’m still none the wiser as to what foods I should avoid.
Ayurveda is not straight forward; it is an intricate science after all. I read Bharti Vyas’s book on Ayurveda which was helpful but you know what it’s like when you read a book, you heed any advice, see results and then return to your normal ways of eating.
I’m really committed to learning to eat the Ayurvedic way to clear my dark circles. I know they’re only dark circles but hey, everyone has some form of complaint about themselves.
I used to be loyal to an organic skincare brand. However, since my skin has become a lot drier over the years, I’ve been switching between various organic skin products; some are good and work for a while but my skin still remains dry for the most part. It is winter after all, I can’t really expect my skin to be in pristine condition with the biting winds lashing around me.
Over the weekend, I popped into Neals Yard pharmacy at the Westfield Shopping Centre and was pleasantly surprised to find an attractive young man zipping around the store excitedly asking the assistant about various skin care products for men.
When I approached the till to purchase my items, Neal’s Yard’s orange flower oil for dry skin and the almond moisturiser for sensitive skin which I can also use for dry skin, the young attractive man was there paying for his new skincare regime. He started showing what other organic products he’d bought, a green champa, completely natural incense sticks and showed them to me too. It was nice to see a young man so keen to embrace organic skincare.
When I finally arrived at the counter to pay for my purchases, the assistant starting talking about the number of men she had helped that day, buying organic skincare products for themselves – not their wives or girlfriends – but for their own use. I felt heartened by this. Organic skincare, already popular amongst women is now becoming a firm favourite with men too.
You’ll often read much about how the sun damages your skin and all the UV moisturisers we should be using and skin block we should apply regularly to protect our skin.
The same is true of winter. We need to protect our skin from the bitter, harsh winds and as the days and nights become colder, we should both eat and treat our skin to winter skincare.
Rose is a brilliant skin protector and nourisher. Make sure you use a sunblock every day, silly as this may sound, the UV nourishers in sunblock will create a nourishing sealant mask over the skin and leave your skin feeling soft.
I’ve had dark circles for the past nine months now. I eat healthily, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables form part of my diet. Sleep is a problem. Perhaps that where the problems lie. I’ve been to see countless nutritionists, kinesiologists and doctors. None have given me a solution.
I’ve tried Ren’s eye cream which seems to work marginally. However, the ugly dark circles still remain. I’m going to try and drink hot lemon water in the mornings now to see how that works. I’ve tried Organic Pharmacy’s Kidney and Liver detox as I’ve heard that dark circles are due to congested kidneys. I’m trying to avoid using any chemically induced creams but that’s what I may have to resort to.
The search for the perfect organic eye product continues.
Your organic skin care routine wouldn’t be complete without a good moisturiser. There are two schools of thought; some beauty experts advocate applying a light moisturiser at night, whilst others strongly suggest using oils, serums or gels so that your skin can breathe at night.
The key is to find out how your skin feels. Choose a light creamy moisturiser for day wear and select a night oil moisturiser for night time. Organic skin moisturisers have come a long way from heavy creams; most are now light and blend perfectly in the skin. Most of the moisturisers will have some essential oils or will be packed with antioxidants like rosa moschata, pomegranate, calendula, cranberry and bilberry.
Work towards getting a bikini body by treating your body to the range of organic body products.
Dry skin brush, exfoliate, scrub, lounge in luxurious fragrant baths; such body rituals will leave the skin on your body gleaming and youthful.
Many organic body care products smell sumptuous and you can revel in the knowledge that you are caring for your body in the best way possible and being kind to your environment.