COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES Make-up Bath Time Skin Care Hands and Nails Hair Deodorants Sun Care Healthy Teeth Babies Men Supplements - Hair, Skin and Nails

There is a noticeable increase in chemical free organic and natural beauty products becoming available. Many women are diligent about eating healthy food and using chemical-free products in the home so it only makes sense to use make-up and other cosmetics which are natural as well.

The Health and Beauty section is packed with products that we recommend that are (as far as we know) free from some of the chemicals that most people would want to avoid – if they knew they were there.  And what's more they aren't that expensive either!

People with allergies benefit from switching to natural products

There are now so many people who are suffering from allergies which often result in eczema or asthma, skin rashes, sneezing and other reactions. People who are prone to allergies would be well advised to minimise their use of chemicals so that the body isn't bombarded with substances that are alien to it. Just switching to natural cosmetics can make a considerable difference to their quality of life.

No need for the plastic surgeon!

Forget the cosmetic surgery and the designer brands and spend much less on organic and natural make up, cosmetics made with herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals and supplements that combine a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and herbs to keep you looking young and beautiful.

What's in most beauty products?

Every year Britons spend £5 billion a year on cosmetics and toiletries, with 93 per cent of women using them. Do you ever think about what you put on your face every day as you do your make up to look your best and face the world? Here are a few facts:

• Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream
• The majority of cosmetics contain chemicals that can be harmful to health
• These include ‘parfum’ which is a very vague term but incorporate a number of chemicals that can accumulate in body tissue
• Ninety-three per cent of women use lipstick BUT in their lifetimes they consume about 2lb of it
• Lipstick colouring is often made from cochineal - crushed beetle-like insects

If we used these cosmetics occasionally they wouldn’t cause many problems but the cumulative use of them over years of our lives means that the chemicals are embedded in our bodies and may be weakening our defence systems.

According to the Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) the net result is that instead of making ourselves look more beautiful and sexy we are using products that can:

• Age us more quickly
• Disrupt our hormones and lead to infertility
• Cause allergies
• Be linked to cancer, particularly breast cancer
• Affect our nervous and immune systems
• Cause birth defects in babies

COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES:

The products below to the best of our knowledge do not contain Parabens, artificial fragrances or colours, and other chemicals listed above. They use organic and natural ingredients from herbs and plants and are not tested on animals but are not always suitable for vegans – for instance they may use beeswax.

You can buy them from So Organic by clicking the logo, or where stated you can purchase from Nutricentre by clicking the box or the ad on the left of this page.

Healthy Soul does not accept responsibility for the ingredients of these products. Make sure you read the list of ingredients carefully before purchasing.

MAKE-UP

Dr Haushka:

All products are free from animal testing, parabens, mineral oil and synthetic fragrances:

Eyeshadow Solo: (9 colours) £11.98

Mascara: black, brown and blue, rose scented, £15.98

Kajal Eyeline (3 colours): £11.98

Lip Gloss: (2 colours) £13.98
Lipstick (8 colours) £17.98

Cleansing lotion

Almond Cleansing Lotion, 75ml, Weleda almond and plum oils, £6.95
New Oy Cleanse and Moisturise (50ml), Green People
Essential Care, Creamy Coconut Cleanser, coconut and olive oils, 150ml, £14.00

SKIN CARE

Lavera Face Protection Cream, 50ml, £8.30 night cream: jojoba oil and shea butter

Lavera Dry & Mature Moisturising Cream with organic rose (30ml), £10.60, rose, ginkgo leaves, orange bud

Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisturiser, 100ml, £19.80, “hundred petalled” rose extract and damask rose

HANDS AND NAILS

Neal's Yard Remedies, Geranium & Orange Hand Lotion, 200ml, £10.80

Barefoot Botanicals, Satin Gloves Rosa Fina Anti-Ageing Hand and Nail Cream, 50ml, £17.95 - rosa mosqueta, jojoba and argon oils

Lavera, Basis Sensitive Hand Cream, Mini Handbag Size, 30ml, £1.45

Green People, Dry Zone, 50ml, £10.50 for very dry or troubled skin - calendula, sunflower oil, lavender and more

BATH TIME

Weleda Citrus Creamy Body Wash, 200ml, £6.95

Neal's Yard Remedies, Seaweed & Arnica Foaming Bath, 1 litre, £35.00

Neal's Yard Remedies, Geranium & Orange Bath Oil, 100ml, £12.60

Weleda Wild Rose Soap, 100g, £8.95

Organic Blue, Bath Soak for Men, 250ml, £3.99

HAIR CARE

There is a shampoo and conditioner in each of the Faith in Nature, which are free from artificial perfumes, petrochemical ingredients, synthetic preservatives. They last for ages, are great value and make your hair look well conditioned and shiny, and are available from Nutricentre: www.nutricentre.com

Chocolate Shampoo, 400ml for all hair types, £4.49

Lavender and Geranium Shampoo for normal to dry hair, £3.90

Aloe Vera Shampoo, 400ml, with organic aloe vera for normal to dry hair, £3.90

Tea Tree Conditioner, 400ml, with tea tree, orange and lime oils for all hair types, £4.49

Rosemary Shampoo, 400ml, for normal to oily hair, £3.90

Being in the sun is good for us but too much exposure leads to burnt skin and can eventually result in cancer. Read about safe suntanning in the Feature - Watch that Sun and try some of the products below. These natural sun products use pure minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect skin.

Badger SPF15 Sun Block tube, 82g, £14.50

Green People SPF 25, Sun Lotion for Kids, 150ml, £14.75

Lavera SPF 20, Baby & Child Sun Spray, 200ml, £18.50

Lavera SPF 20, Sun Cream, 50ml, £10.50

Natural moisturising organic products that are very gentle and kind to the skin:

Green People After Sun Lotion, 200ml, £10.99

Spiezia Soothing After Sun Oil, 50ml, £13.95

Lavera Organic Silky Shimmer Lotion and AfterSun, 150ml, £10.50

BABIES

Most baby food is organic nowadays and mothers are particularly concerned about babies not being overloaded with chemicals as soon as they are born. Some of the best known brands of baby products contain strong chemicals which are harsh for such tender skin. But there are plenty of alternatives.

Disposable nappies may be convenient, effective and available but according to the Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) nearly three billion are thrown away every year. Some 90 per cent of these end up in landfill – eight million a day!! And they could take hundreds of years to decompose. So here are some eco-friendly alternatives:

Bambo Nature, Eco Nappies, from £6.09

Tushies Gel Free Disposable Nappies, from £10.50

SUPPLEMENTS FOR HAIR, SKIN AND NAILS

What we eat affects our hair, skin, and nails and nutrients such as antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phytonutirents and essential fatty acids protect against the effects of free radicals – the substance that the body produces which attack healthy cells. Several of the main minerals are good for the skin – zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper, while Vitamins D and E are particularly good. Silica contained in many supplements because it is a major component of collagen and connective tissues and strengthens hair, skin and nails.