Well Women Guide to Natural and Organic Beauty Products

You can also make your own products. I have, however, included one or two “recipes” that I have come across just in case the mood takes you and presuming you have the ingredients in the cupboard.

To avoid as many as 200 chemicals in fragrances we buy in the shops, you can make your own using essential oils

We really do put a load of rubbish on our faces and I have been clearing out my drawers of years of rubbish and was horrified at the ingredients on a foundation product, one that I had been using for years, had loved and trusted. There was also a brand of face wipes that claimed to be free of everything and without colours, fragrance etc. I then discovered it contained SLS and other horrors. Not quite so simple as I thought. Face creams too. The list on the back of those is pretty worrying and I don’t even recognise some of the chemicals in them.

In view of my own ethos, The natural products can sometimes, ironically, make your skin worse to start off with as it has to adjust to no chemicals, being able to breathe and eliminate toxins.

Some of the best chemical free beauty products out there at the moment are being sold by websites and companies such as: Raw Gaia, Victoria Health Organics, Flowersense, Beyond skincare, All green organics, Essential Care, Green People, Faith in Nature, Eco Cosmetics, Buy Organics, Barefoot Botanicals, Aubrey Organics, Purenuffstuff, So Organic, The Natural Skincare Company, Organic Beautystore, About Organics, Face Boutique, How on earth, Beauty Naturals, The Natural Store, Love Lula, Spiezia, Dr Hauschka, Handmade Naturals and The Organic Pharmacy, so you are spoilt for choice but there are many others too, just waiting to be found.

Two great face masks are: Burts Bees Pore refining mask and Raw Gaia Raw Chocolate Face Pack

I like to use the same brands and for some time I have used Handmade Naturals, Raw Gaia and Essential Care face creams flower waters and cleansers, but, for this website, I am trying many others too and all products that have taken my interest will be listed.

For cosmetics, I really rate Miessence, Organic Pharmacy and Nvey. You know for a fact that there are no chemicals in them, only natural ingredients that are organic and if you are eating cleaning and using organic skincare, then organic cosmetics are important too. It needs to be all or nothing really.

I also use Miracle 11 Soap in the bath and the Miracle 11 gel on my face under my skincream. It is good as an eye gel too and seems to smooth wrinkles and eyebags. Not sure how!!

Mountain Rose Herbs (based in U.S) do the most fantastic range of chemical free, paraben free 100 per cent organic skincare, haircare, body and bath range as well as soaps and essential oils, floral waters and armo sprays. They will not harm you in any way shape or form and I most highly recommend them and their purity. Lots of "must have" items like washcloths, pure soaps, facial steaming products, skin oils and facial washes.

Please Click on each category to see their Face care range, Haircare Range, Bodycare, and Bath products

Dr Hauschka Dr Hauschka do a good range of wonderful beauty products. Below are the ones I am currently trying for the benefit of the website, plus the ones I use regularly, and of course, I have not tried them all. I expect there are other ones that are just as brilliant. Please contact me if you know of any others that you find particulalry good.

Face Care

Cleansing Cream (deep cleansing gentle exfoliant)Trying at the moment.

It Claims: This cleanser suits all skin types. It is made from carefully selected plants such as Chamomile, Calendula and Anthyllis, a deep cleansing cream refreshes and strengthens your skin, maintaining the PH balance and skin’s natural moisture levels are maintained.

My thoughts: I did feel that it did not remove make up too well and was best used in the morning rather than at night. They do however recommend removing with muslin cloths soaked in warm water which would do a better job than plain water alone. Smells divine. Annoying application using a "rolling" on and off method which I can't get the hang of. Face felt very refreshed though when I used it in the morning. (At night I felt I needed to apply it several times to get make up off)

Cleansing Milk

It Claims: This cleanser suits normal, dry and sensitive skin conditions and is extremely gentle. Maintains skin’s balance, working with the skin rather than against it like most other cleansers! Removes make up too. It is applied to the face and then removed with warm water.

Face feels really refreshed after use. For really deep cleansing, use the above cleansing cream after the cleansing milk, together with the hot muslin cloths.Still did not feel that make up had been removed enough.

Facial Toner (all skin types)

This was lovely. Misting your face with this toner is truly wonderful and this completes the cleansing process allowing for added moisture. It is revitalising and improves the skin and it’s elasticity.Some products seemed too "oily" for me. Would suit a drier skin very well.

Rose Day Cream (sensitive, dry and mature skin)

I truly love this cream which contains rose oil and wild rose hip extract and has a heavenly Rose scent which portrays the very essence of beauty! It strengthens the skin and helps soothe redness encouraging the skin to repair and restore itself. Skin feels calm and soothed.It is quite heavy so is good for dry skin. They also do a lighter version which suited me better.

Normalising Day Oil

Claims: This light oil helps to refine pores and regulate the production of oil. It also improves elasticity and reduces inflammation.

My thoughts:Seems very oily on application, but does sink in.

Rejuvenating Mask

This mask returns vitality to the skin. Soothing plant oils help to heal and calm sensitivity.

I sparingly use night cream on occasions if skin feels a bit tight, as I feel that your skin needs to breathe and have time off from products. If I need it I use Essential Care Avocado Replenishing Cream

I don't use a lot of products on my face any more. I cleanse it, spray a flower water on and apply Essential Care Rose moisturiser in the morning. At night, I cleanse and spray flower water only (also by either Essential Care, Handmade Naturals or Pukka organic rosewater). I also use Raw Gaia Living Cleanser and MSM beauty Spray.

Cosmetics wise, I only use foundation (Nvey at the moment) if I am going somewhere special, so once every few weeks. I don't seem to need it anymore since using natural skincare and nutrition. I used to use loads of things in my Clarins and Estee Lauder years, but my skin never looked right, so had to load on the foundation and powder to cover it up. This resulted in more blocked pores and more oil being pumped out.

Eyebrow pencils, lipstick and lip pencils are natural as is mascara and a brown eye shadow on the bottom lid (various organic and natural brands). Thats it. I don't use blush or powder. In the summer I sometimes use bronzing liquid by Dr Hauschka.

Purenuffstuff and Green People do natural pure chemical free self tan for the summer and the colour is very natural and believable, so that a bonus.

So you see, you don't need to give up all the things you love to go natural and organic. It's simply a matter of finding alternatives and trying them until you find one's you love. This is also the same as the leading brands, you try them and then choose and stick to your favourites, so what's the difference except a healthier skin and body? You will only benefit.

When you change to natural and organic skincare, your skin simply does not need all the variety of moisturisers, creams, serums and anti ageing stuff you are made to think you need by all the big cosmetic houses, so you will save money too. Skin conditions such as acne, blackheads and whiteheads, dry patches and oiliness will also be much reduced as your skin does not have to struggle to breathe. Your pores will be free of chemicals and dangerous toxins.

Remember: 2Kg is the amount of make up absorbed by a woman's skin in an average year if she wears make up.

If your not convinced, you can still buy organic and natural anti ageing products too from the Organic Pharmacy and the companies and websites mentioned above, as well as Provenance Anti Ageing cream which contains only natural ingredients. £21 and Burts Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum

Don't forget to use organic cotton wool when removing cleanser or using a flower water. Pesticides are sprayed over cotton crops and half of them are considered hazardous by the World Health Organisation, according to the Pesticide Action Network UK.

Spiezia Facial Cleanser.

One of the best, but may not appeal to everyone. It is like an oil that dissolves make up but does not make you feel really fresh. Removes make up thoroughly. Can be rinsed off with warm water, tissued off, removed with cotton wool or hot muslin cloths or even a warm face towel. Has a cult following and is natural and organic. Made with herbs flowers and oils. Lasts for ages as a little goes a long way, so is worth every penny.Contains coconut oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, and other lovelies.

Also, try the Spiezia Floral skin toner to remove every last trace of cleanser and leave skin refreshed. Lavender, camomile and sage flower with essential oils.

Check out their whole range of Beauty products. I haven't tried the other products....yet!

Remember Beauty really does come from within. I have personally noticed that nutritional therapy benefits you from the inside out.

Oils like Flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil, food state vitamins, Organic silicon, Zell Oxygen, and many others than benefit your general health will show on the outside as well as in, making you look younger, fresher and glowing.

This applies to an organic diet too, and consuming at least a litre of pure water a day. Chamae Rose is another herbal supplement that beautifies skin. Mine has been glowing since using it as it seems to dispel blotchiness and sallowness for me. I will be 46 this year, but many people do not think I am any more than late 30's. This is a compliment as a few years ago, I certainly looked at least 5 years older than my age. This applies to all over body skin too, not just facial complexion.

Please see the Beauty Minerals page for information about minerals that have a particularly beneficial effect on our looks and complexion and have anti ageing benefits too.

Don't forget your Hair

Use natural and organic shampoo's and conditioners and notice how the condition improves. This goes for greasy hair too. My daughter, Clare had very oily hair and had to wash it daily when using big brand name products. She now uses organic natural shampoo and conditioner and can now get away with every other day. Her hair is exceptionally shiny. My once dried up hair is much improved in the same way. Additionally, I use hair colours by Naturtint and Tints of Nature, including their ammonia free and paraben free highlighting kit. They contain minimal amounts of chemicals compared to conventional brand name hair colours, and I do the roots about every 6 weeks rather than the whole head. My hair is going very grey (50 per cent), so the alternative is to leave it to do so, but I don't think I am quite ready to look more like an old witch than I already do.

Hair colour is the only "chemicals" I use at all, so that's not too bad. If they think of a 100 per cent natural product that completely covers grey, then I'll be first in the queue.

Drink around 2 litres of water just before colouring your hair and after to flush out the toxins and take extra antioxidants to counteract the free radicals that are sure to be raging.

What about deoderant?

I personally like two deoderants and both are 100 per cent natural to boot. One is Biosen Deo total Body which contains volcanic crystals that you add water to and shake. It really lasts a long time and mine usually lasts around 4 months, so is economical too. Costs around £3.99. it is available from supermarkets and chemists so is easy to get.

Then there is Weleda Citrus Deoderant, also acclaimed by a reader in Now magazine as being a good buy.

What about toothpaste?

With the chemicals in toothpaste being said to be dangerous, especially fluoride, what options do we have?

Green People do several nice toothpastes that are cheap too.

What about other products like body lotions, soaps, shower gels, cellulite treatments and self tanners?

All the products you buy in big brand names containing chemicals can mostly be purchased in a 100 per cent natural and/or organic and dangerous chemical free version.

Below is just a small selection of the very many products you can get just to show you that they are available. I have stated which are 100 per cent natural and or organic and guaranteed dangerous chemical free.

Body Lotions

Primavera Harmony Organic Body Lotion (100 per cent natural and organic)

Mother Earth Raindrops and Roses Body Butter (100 per cent natural and organic)

Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotion (100 per cent natural and organic)

Weleda Skin Food (100 per cent natural and organic)

Lavera Body Spa Tiare and Lily Body Lotion (100 per cent natural and organic)

Lavera Body Spa Milk and Honey Body Lotion (100 per cent natural and organic)

Beauty therapist Daniela Collins provides a guide to holistic anti-aging treatments along with advice on nutrition, health, beauty, and skin care. Please Click HERE to go to her site

Please Click HERE to see 34 Beauty Tips Tricks and Ideas

P{lease Click HERE to see books about natural beauty
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