The website is in the process of a revamp to make online shopping easier and should be completed by the end of November in time for the Open House Weekend on Saturday 28th (11am - 6pm) & Sunday 29th (10am - 4pm). I have so many new and wonderful products for this event including locally produced hand-turned wooden bracelets from reclaimed wood, local and rare breed sheepskins, candles, teas, jewellery and of course lots of natural skin care products that I have decided not to pick out any one in particular. You need to come along to see them for yourselves. There is a raffle too to raise funds for Hannah's World Challenge to Ecuador in 2010. The prizes are fabulous and there's not a bubble bath in sight. Please do come along if you can and if you think you may like to purchase handmade cakes or biscuits on the day then feel free to bring your own containers and save on unnecessary packaging. Organic teas and mulled wine will also be available if you have time to stop for a while and browse. For more details contact me.

Before the heating goes back on, or if like me you are endeavouring to conserve energy, before you find yourself totally submerged under a pile of jumpers, it is a really good idea to have your skin very well moisturised to avoid dryness and flaking during the winter months. There are several steps required to achieve this — 1) make sure your water intake is adequate, 2) ensure you are including enough cold pressed vegetable oils in your diet, 3) eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg every day and 4) use an oil rather than water-based moisturiser.
From a moisturising point of view it is better to keep the skin well-oiled before any signs of dryness appear and the two naturally scented body balms in my range are perfect to help you achieve this. Personally I also use them as underarm deodorants and although I don't suppose this will work for everyone, if you have them in your cupboard anyway it is well worth a try. Don't forget that it takes time to adjust from a regular deodorant to a more natural one so you will need to wean yourself off the old one and gradually on to the balms before you can make a real assessment as to their efficacy. As moisturisers though both the ylang ylang, mandarin and neroli shop and the lavender and frankincense shop balms are excellent. They consist of only two ingredients, pure coconut oil and organic essential oils (I now have organic frankincense although the lables still appear as wild-crafted) and being natural fragrances they will not linger on your clothes. Don't forget too that they are excellent for shaving. Simply apply them to dry skin, no water required.
Both balms are available at the special price of £7.50 until the end of October 2008, representing a saving of over 15%.
Also, while stocks last, I have a selection of close dated and end of line products including moisturisers and cleansers available at exceptional prices. It's best to call in on a Saturday Open Morning to see these as stock is changing on a daily basis.

Following on from the Garden Supper earlier in June where we discussed the benefits as well as the negative aspects of sun exposure, I have chosen a selection of products to set everyone up for a hopefully pleasantly hot summer.

Mineral sunblocks are by far the products of choice for anyone wanting a healthy-looking tan without the underlying damage to the skin caused by chemical sunscreens.
At present I have in stock two products from which to choose — Essential Care’s SPF8 Moisturising Sun Cream and Soleo Organics SPF30 All Natural Sunscreen. Shop.
My preference is the Essential Care product which is made in the UK but at only SPF8 I can see why some people would prefer the Soleo with its SPF30 rating. Soleo is made in Australia but apart from the unfortunate air miles its credentials are very good.
It is important that we do get some sunlight because it allows our bodies to create beneficial vitamin D which is essential for healthy bones and nervous systems and appears to play an important part in assisting the body’s immune function. Too much exposure however ages the skin and many people are aware of the pain and misery caused by sun burn. For more information on this topic take a look at the Sun Exposure article in Healthy Advice.
With the warmer weather we often find ourselves under threat from various gnats and other biting insects. People who eat garlic regularly and have a diet rich in B vitamins appear less troubled by such creatures but there are times when even they may need a little extra help. Lavender water (now available in mister spray bottles) seems particularly effective as a deterrent and is also soothing on the bites themselves and Mosquit mosquito repellent cream shop should even suit those people who tend to get eaten alive.
All of the floral waters are beneficial for soothing insect bites and stings and each has other beneficial uses during the summer months — rosewater shop is cooling, hydrating and a beautiful summer perfume; witch hazel shop is an effective after-sun for minor burns and good for holiday mishaps including cuts, grazes and bruises; and lavender water shop is useful for treating sunburn and (as mentioned above) for warding off many biting and stinging insects.
Throughout June and July I am offering a free 30ml mister spray bottle (worth £1.30) with any size purchase of floral water. These bottles are great for use when travelling and a useful size for carrying around in your handbag.

Natural mosquito and insect repellent cream formulated with neem extract, wood oil, rare herbs and mint extract. Apply on all exposed areas of the body.

This gorgeous face pack helps promote a smooth and well-toned complexion and is the perfect start to glowing summer skin.

Made with just four ingredients carefully chosen for their nourishing and beautifying properties, this rich and exotic product will cleanse all skin types and gently draw out toxins and at only £8.25 for a 50g jar it truly is a bargain. You only need 1 teaspoon of the powder to make up each face pack so a jar will last for ages and it makes an excellent and unsual gift.

Raw Gaia state that there are over 25,000 antioxidants in a single spoonful of raw chocolate powder and that raw chocolate powder contains 367% more antioxidants than chocolate in its cooked state. Antioxidants are wonderful for your skin because they absorb free-radicals which cause cell and tissue damage as well as leading to premature aging.

The other three ingredientas are sun-dried red clay which is great for toning and cleansing and for leaving the skin looking radiant: turmeric which has been used for centuries to bring a healthy glow to the skin and to make it soft and smooth: and amla fruit powder, an ayuvedic herb rich in vitamin C which is highly nourishing to the skin and promotes a fresh, bright, complexion.

I really can't recommend this product too highly.

Shop - Raw Gaia Chocolate Face Pack