The Power of Nature

There's no denying it, nature has the power to heal us physically, emotionally, and some would say, spiritually. So why have we turned our backs on it? It gives so much and all it asks is that we preserve it for future generations. Why do we think that synthetic chemicals and drugs are the only answer? Why is there a lack of connection between conventional medicine and natural remedies? Why are doctors only interested in prescribing drugs with possible side effects when there are safe, if not harmless natural remedies readily available? Is it cultural differences, or corporate control that prevents us from healing naturally?

Dr. Hauschka, 28 days later

When I was growing up, my mum used natural skin care. I remember she would smell like roses. Probably from the Rose Day Cream from Hauschka. Cleansing was this complete ritual with a wash basin full of lemon water and a wash cloth. I tried it when I was old enough to use skin care, but never understood the point of it, and never stuck with it. When I was old enough to decide how to spend my own money, I bought skin care from The Body Shop, and whatever you would find over the counter. I had acne through out my teenage years up until the present day.

When I started working at DHS, I started using Dr. Hauschka. I got the trial set that comes in a tin box full of glass vials and mini tubes.

After a week, I could see that my skin was feeling the difference. Conventional skin care for oily skin is formulated to strip away all the oils from your skin, and to moisturise minimally. Prior to using Hauschka, I used a spot cream from the department store counter that promised great results. What I got was a very dried out index finger from the application of the product. Imagine what it must have been doing to my face, if it was that drying!

With Hauschka, the skin care range is based on homeopathic theory. This means treating like with like. Oily skin needs more oil, which is why the body will naturally produce more oil, resulting in over-producing. Another thing is, that with Hauschka, you do not use a night cream, you only cleanse and tone. That's all. This is because the skin repairs itself at night. Putting on rich creams at night will disrupt the skin natural metabolism. The skin has a natural cycle of 28 days, and when you will truly see the start of skin improvement.

The products I use are: Cleansing Cream, Clarifying Toner, Rejuvenating Mask, Normalising Day Oil, and Moisturising Day Cream. I recently started using the Sage and Lavender Bath Oils as well. Sage is excellent for drawing out impurities and toxins, and Lavender is a natural antiseptic, as well as relaxing and soothing irritated skin. The products are a pleasure to use, which makes sticking to the skin care routine, very easy.

So 28 days later? My skin feels drastically different. The inflammation and irritation is gone. The spots seem to be lessened and sorting itself out. My pores are starting to clear up. I am excited because I know it is actually working. I used to think that nothing will ever work.

Do you use Dr. Hauschka? What;s your experience?

Talc (Magnesium Silicate)

There is currently an article from Mail on Sunday reporting on the findings of a link between the usage of talcum powder and ovarian cancer. While the study is limited in that they only studied the use of talcum powder used on woman's private parts and its risk for cancer, it proves just how much the skin can absorb in the body and accumulate. I used to think that the skin was a barrier between myself and the outside world, but that is not the case.

Talc is a general term used in ingredient lists, it is usually made from magnesium silicate, otherwise known as soapstone. Talc is used in products such as lipstick, baby powder, deodorants, and soap.

Read more about it at Mail on Sunday and Cancer Prevention Coalition.

We are living in a Chemical World

One day, while shifting the cupboards around at the shop, I came across a copy of the report on cosmetics and personal care items done by The Guardian in 2004, titled Chemical World. I found the full text on their website here. Though the online version is without its captivating photos, it is worth reading through it. I learned a lot about conventional cosmetics from these articles. I feel the facts speak for themselves whether we should reconsider what we use on our skin.

The most useful read is Chemistry Lesson, it outlines the synthetic ingredients found in commonly used personal care products, and why you should be concerned.

Part 1: the make up bag
Part 2: the bathroom cabinet

Rose (Rosa)

If you shop around for genuine natural products, you will notice that many skin care ranges feature rose as the main active ingredients. Rose is used as a natural preservative for its anti-oxidant properties. This means the products will preserve itself with its main ingredients, taking away the need for synthetic preservatives, such as parabens.

Not only does rose smell incredible, but its precious oils contain essential fatty acids and and anti-oxidizing vitamins. Rose has harmonizing properties that strengthen the skin, and stimulating the skin's natural protective function. The use of rose can help prevent the signs of premature aging. It is toning and soothing to skin, highly nourishing and hydrating for skin needing extra tender loving care. Ideal for dry or mature skin.




Skin and body care products that contain rose include:

Dr Hauschka- Rose Day Cream, Rose Day Cream Light, Rose Body Moisturiser, Rose Body Oil, Rose Body Wash

Weleda- Wild Rose Facial Care range, Wild Rose Deodorant, Wild Rose Shower Cream, Wild Rose Body Oil, Wild Rose Body Lotion, Wild Rose Soap

Lavera- Wild Rose face care range, Wild Rose Shower and Bath Gel, Wild Rose Body Lotion, Wild Rose Body Oil, Wild Rose Eau de Toilette, Wild Rose Spray Deodorant, Wild Rose Roll-On

Barefoot Botanicals- Rosa Fina skin care range

P/S If you like making your own soaps, you can add rose petals to preserve your soap! My dad likes to make his own soap. When he first started out, he did not know about preservatives, so the soap would go rancid. One day he added rose petals to the mixture and the soaps stay fresh!

About reading ingredient labels...

As I talk about ingredients used in personal care products, here are some things you should know about the ingredients lists on the labels:

1. By law, the ingredients must be written in Latin. Sometimes they will also add in parenthesis, the commonly known name of the ingredient. For example, you will see; Aqua (Water).

2. The order of the ingredients are placed according to how much of the ingredients is in the product.

3. Fragrance is usually listed as parfum, which can mean both natural or synthetic. Other chemical components could be unlisted, as it may fall under the parfum listing.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

There is a lot of concern about use of of Sodium Lauryl Suphate. It is a synthetic chemical that is used in nearly all the conventional personal care products that have foaming qualities, regardless of price point. These include toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath, washing up liquid, laundry detergent.

SLS is an industrial strength detergent. It is used in smaller quanties as a surfactant, which is what makes the product foam and bubble. However this foaming action does not contribute to the product's cleaning ability, it is used for its aesthetic appeal. SLS is a known skin irritant and can cause eczema in babies and children. This detergent has the tendency to strip away all oil from the skin, causing skin dryness, and irritation to eyes.

Within the same family of chemicals is Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), which has the same adverse effects. According to the Ecologist, "Laureth compounds can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane: a carcinogen linked to breast cancer."

Do you know what your cosmetics are made of?

I was raised in a family with an "organic mum". A mum that insisted on eating healthy and using natural alternatives to conventional products. Of course, I always felt a bit left out when I attended school and my school mates were given "fruit roll-ups" (an artificially fruit flavored candy) with their lunches. Funny enough, today, I feel lucky to have been brought up to eat well.

And now that I work in the natural products industry, I feel like the tables have turned, and I am checking on what mum is using in the bathroom. In the last five years, mum had developed psoriasis and eczema. She went to many doctors, both conventional and holistic, neither seemed to be effective.

I have been learning about natural remedies and came across many relating to treating eczema. I am going home to visit my parents next week and will be bringing natural products for them to use. So I had been shopping for products to help my mum cope with eczema. It eventually dawned on me that it was not enough to simply treat the eczema with a cream or ointment, but to also consider what other products she might have been using. I had been reading about sodium lauryl sulphate and Sodium laureth sulphate. They are known skin irritants that are known to cause eczema in children and babies.

I talked to mum and asked her to check for these ingredients in her shower gel and shampoo. It turned out that they did, and we realised that before she used these products, she did not have these skin irritations. She had been using shampoos that she bought at natural food stores before that. Suddenly, it seemed to make sense, despite all the natural remedies she had been taking, neither seemed to fully heal her skin condition. But just think logically, how could it have helped her if what she was using to wash her hair was causing it?

This is why I think it is so important for everyone to understand what they use on their skin, not just what they eat. The skin is the largest organ on the body, and it absorbs whatever we put on it. We need to be aware of the ingredients in the products we use.

In the following weeks, I will be posting about the synthetic chemical ingredients that you need to be aware of when choosing a body care product. It is going to seem hard to find safe alternatives to conventional products, and nearly all conventional products contain the same harmful ingredients, but I will also post my recommendations for safe personal care products. It is in genuine hope that the information will help everyone to make informed choices about skin and body care.

We Love Weleda! (and so does Kate Hudson!)

(From American Vogue. Source)

Since working at the shop, I've decided that I must replace all my conventional cosmetics with natural ones. I've chosen to try out Weleda's Wild Rose Deodorant, which was rated number one in the September issue of Marie Claire. And Kate Hudson is a fan too! This I have to agree, I love the fragrance of wild rose. Simply gorgeous!