Pure beauty
In addition to making your skin better, organic products can work on a deeper level
One of the newest beauty buzz words for 2006 is organic, or chemical free, skin-care, which consists of products that use 100 per cent natural blends of organically-grown essential oils, distillates and plant extracts or natural ingredients without petrochemical fillers or synthetic and chemical additives or preservatives. Advocates of organic products believe that chemicals can cause allergies or even long-term skin damage. Indeed, some chemicals can, apparently, affect health and well being on a deeper level when applied to the skin.
The idea of organic or natural skincare available on a commercial scale is not that new. Brands like Aveda and Origins, both owned by the Est?e Lauder, and Jurlique have been around for many years. In more recent years, brands like Avalon Organics and Surya, Ren, Spiezia and Rosveda have also made their mark.
There is definitely something virtuous and satisfying, while performing one’s ablutions, in knowing that the beautifully-scented bath water one is lounging in and the resulting fragrant and conditioned skin is due to beneficial plant extracts or essential oils, and that one’s facial products and newly discovered wonder hair mask for damaged or coloured hair, which give superb results, are at the same time fortifying or boosting ones general wellbeing and equilibrium rather than compromising or even damaging it!
Do these products work as well as the better-known, chemically loaded ones? You bet they do! In fact, they usually have better long-term effects and work synergistically with the skin and body rather than against it. What more could we ask of our lotions and potions? As with any product, it is ensuring that your products are correctly chosen to suit your particular skin type and needs that will guarantee excellent results.
Ren: www.renskincare.com
Spiezia: www.spieziaorganics.com.
Rosveda and Avalon Organics: 99548338
Jurlique: 99468480 or 99548338 for Nicosia.
Feet first
What could be classier than feet and toenails that look clean, smooth and polished in those open shoes that are now inevitable? And that goes for the guys too, minus the varnish of course. Even if you don’t wear varnish, feet and toenails can and should look smooth and tidy, not dried out or flaky with tatty looking cuticles. There’s not much point in looking cool and sophisticated in your hot weather clothes or posing in the latest designer sunglasses if an observer looks down at your tootsies and sees grungy heels or toenails.
Here’s an easy list of tricks to keep them touchable
1. Get a pedicure about once a month. That includes men too!
2. Keep cuticles and heels smooth by applying a good body lotion or foot cream every day after showering. Try Peggy Sage Foot Cream or foot soak tablets for a therapeutic, zingy treat (See Take 7 on page 90).
3. Every few days use a foot scrubber/scraper or pumice type sponge on heels and soles after showering to remove excess dead skin.
4. No polish is better than chipped polish. If yours is chipped, remove it! As long as you keep cuticles moisturised daily with your body lotion then toes will still look nice even without polish.
