Beauty starts on this inside

I love this saying for so many reasons.  Beauty isn't just about physical good looks.  You could be the most attractive person in the world but without glowing skin, shiny hair and a beautiful soul, you are an empty shell.  The majority of my blog posts have been about feeding the soul; well this week's blog post is about increasing your vitality and physical health by taking supplements.

There is a growing body of evidence to show that feeding the skin from within can dramatically improve its appearance.  This mounting body of evidence shows that feeding your skin from the inside, as well as applying nourishing products topically to the skin, achieves far superior results.

Do you supplement your diet?  Or do you believe you eat a healthy, balanced diet and therefore do not require additional nutrients?  Sadly, intensive farming methods means our soil is no longer as nutrient rich as it used to be.  DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) published a report outlining the nutritional profile of food and you can clearly see the decline over the past 20 years.

So how do you decide which supplements to buy?  The Organic Consumers Association state "90% or more vitamins and supplements on the market which are labelled 'natural' or 'food based' are spiked with synthetic chemicals."  Neal's Yard Inner Health supplements contain no synthetic binders, ie Up to 50% of a supplement tablet can be made up of glues, known as binders, which hold the tablet together.  For most people this is just an irritating fact, but for those who are hyper allergenic, it can be a real problem".

Why not try natural, nutritional supplements which are expertly formulated with natural and organic ingredients?  For further information, click the following link  https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/HeatherWinterton/area/shop-online/category/supplements/

As always, thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you below.

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At home facials

Treating yourself to an ‘at home facial’ is easy and you can often use products you already have at home.

Start by creating yourself a day spa atmosphere. You will need candles, relaxing music, slippers and something to keep your hair off your face.

Start by cleansing your skin. Using your usual cleanser, cleanse your eyes and lips first and then remove. Next cleanse the remainder of your face working from your neck upwards.

* TOP TIP * rather than using disposable cotton pads to remove cleanser, buy some muslin cloths. The grainy texture gently exfoliates and leaves your complexion soft and glowing.

Buff away dead skin cells using your exfoliater. If you haven’t got an exfoliater to hand, you can make your own using a mashed banana, oatmeal and honey. Work gently into your skin using circular motions but keep away from your eyes and lips. Rinse and remove using warm water.

Bill out your skin by massaging your facial oil into your face. Start at the neck and gently massage into your face using upward, stroking motions. Don’t use more than necessary and again keep away from the eyes. If you don’t have facial oil, organic sunflower or olive oil is an acceptable alternative. (Remember Sophia Loren claims the secret of her youthful looks is down to regular use of olive oil). Allow the oils to absorb into your skin whilst you spend 2 minutes concentrating on deep, relaxing breaths.

Now for the lovely mask. Apply to your skin following the instructions; again keep away from the eyes. For a home-made mask, mix half a ripe avocado with a couple of tablespoons of natural yogurt and blend together. You could always add a little honey. Leave on your face for approximately 10 minutes. Then rinse to remove.

Finally massage your usual moisturiser into your face using sweeping, upward motions.

Of course, if you prefer to have someone else give you a facial whilst you relax and enjoy yourself, arrange an appointment with me. I will complete a skin analysis prior to using only organic, aromatherapy products. These products smell divine and leave your skin feel soft, fresh and plump.

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Some thoughts about parabens

I’ve been reading with concern and interest the current articles on parabens and in particular the link to breast cancer tissue. For the past few years, not only am I careful about what food and additives I consume but also what chemicals or additives are in my environment.

I am of the opinion that these products may be safe, however until they are proved to be safe, I would prefer to keep everything ‘clean’. If you need to check any of your skin care products check the ingredient list and if you see ingredients such as Methyparaben, Butylparaben, EtyhlParaben, Propylparaben, then they are not Paraben Free. Parabens can be found in body products such as shampoo and can cause allergic reactions, skin drying etc and have been linked to oestrogen overproduction. I just don’t want that risk in my body.

Why not check out the original Journal here:- Barr L, Metaxas G, Harbach CAJ et al. Measurement of paraben concentrations in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast from axilla to sternum. Journal of Applied Toxicology, January 12 2012 (published online)

PS – all of the products sold by Heather Holistics are not only paraben free but certified by the Organic Soil Association.

Do you buy ‘safe’ products or are you prepared to take the risk? Let me know.

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Christmas Preparation, Part Two

So the planning part is complete, now we need to actually get things done.

First of all, even though you are going to be busy, don’t forget to put yourself first. Ensure, even if it’s only for 5 minutes per day, you spend sometime relaxing (see http://heatherholistics.blogspot.com/2011/09/starting-out-in-holistic-health.html for further advice). This doesn’t mean you can’t multi-task. Why not spend those 5 minutes relaxing in the shower whilst applying a body scrub? This will ensure you skin is party dress ready at the same time.

When purchasing gifts, try and support your local, smaller companies rather than the large, impersonal corporations. Visit your local salon, village shops or parent based websites. As a company, Heather Holistics purchases products locally wherever possible. Our range of organic, aromatherapy products are made here in the Midlands.

Heather Holistics has some very December special offers to tempt you http://www.heather-holistics.co.uk/Special_Offers.asp These make ideal Christmas presents for everyone in your family. There are some gorgeous crystal jewellery, fantastic skin, hair and body care products suitable for all (including sensitive skin) and crystal tea-light holders for those people you just don’t know what to buy. All at amazing value prices.

I’ve just gleaned another wonderful tip (one which I am going to put into action immediately but adding another column to my spreadsheet) . . . where I have hidden presents. Every year I think I’ll remember and then find them in January!

Don’t forget to also mark off your lists when you’ve bought the present.

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Has your family got nits? - That got your attention didn’t it!

Head lice or nits are tiny wing-less insects which cannot fly or jump. Therefore, they can only be spread by direct contact (ie having a cuddle with parents or head-to-head contact whilst at school). It is estimated that 10% of school age children are affected by head lice at any one time.

Old Wives Tales dictate that poor hygiene was part of the cause but this has not been found to be the case.

How will I know if my child has Head Lice? Bites from head lice can cause intense itching and irritation on the scalp, but these symptoms may not appear until at least two months after the lice move in. A rash at the nape of the neck may also develop. I suggest a weekly check and if you're lucky, your child's school will contact you if they have a Head Lice outbreak.

Don't forget to contact your childs school or child care provider if you do find evidence of Head Lice and treat the whole family on a 6 day cycle to break the Head Lice's life cycle.

The best way we have found to check for head lice is by purchasing a nit comb and carefully combing though wet hair. If possible, get your child to tip their head over a piece of card or light coloured paper and starting at the base of the neck work your way forwards. Take small sections of hair and placing the comb close to the base of the hair, comb from root to tip. Now check the comb. If you notice any lice, rinse the comb.

You will know from previous blogs that whilst chemical alternatives are usually available, I try to use natural products wherever possible. Therefore, along with the combing method I also use The Aromatherapy Company’s Nit Protect Kit. It is completely natural and organic and does not contain any harmful chemicals, synthetics, Parabens or SLS. The kit contains an organic shampoo, conditioner, preventive aromatic water spray and nit comb!! Priced at just £14.95 it comes in a handy clear plastic wallet and is really portable. If you would like further details, please contact me by writing your comment below.

Autumn skincare

So after last weeks glorious warm sunny weather (well here in England anyway) the time has come for me to re-evaluate my moisturisers. So what are my requirements for an Autumn/Winter moisturiser?

• I swap from lotion to a thicker cream
• I don’t need SPF’s
• Once applied, I immediately notice a difference with my skin
• Good value for money
• Suitable for my sensitive skin
• As few artificial ingredients as possible so no Sodium Laureth Sulfate (some studies claim these can be drying and harsh on sensitive skin)
• No parabens
• Preferably organic (Soil Association approved)
• Smells pleasant
• Has other benefits (ie I love using Aromatherapy products, not only do they smell divine but Frankincense for example also has regenerative properties)

I know some people don’t enjoy the Autumn but I love the idea of shutting the cold outside and spending some time pampering myself. I am aware that Central Heating can have a drying effect on my skin so spend a little extra time moisturising.

Don’t forget it’s not just moisturisers, why not change your whole skincare routine and use nourishing cleansers, toners and moisturisers will help your skin cope with the Autumn weather.

I have found my current favourite range of moisturisers (in fact I love them so much I also sell them on-line, use them in some of the treatments I give and sell them in the treatment room). Now my only decision is whether to go for Hydrating Rose range or the Regenerating Frankincense, hmm decisions, decisions. Which one do you think I should use?