One of the purest soaps you'll ever find. Made with organic, cold-pressed cocoa butter, coconut oil, red palm oil and sunflower oil with essential oil of rose geranium through a low temperature process. This soap comes wrapped in biodegradable plastic.

One of the purest soaps you'll ever find. Made with organic, cold-pressed cocoa butter, coconut oil, red palm oil and sunflower oil with essential oil of lavender through a low temperature process. This soap comes wrapped in biodegradable plastic.

I know that some people consider it a bit of a cheek that I have named a product ‘Mature Skin Moisturiser’, as after all, no one likes to think of themselves as getting old. Others however, consider that it does ‘exactly what it says on the tin’, in other words it is a superb moisturiser for anyone over the age of 25 (give or take a few years in either direction) and no amount of fancy naming or labelling would make any difference to that. One customer (who shall remain nameless) refers to it, affectionately I think, as Old Hag Oil which personally I find a bit harsh albeit quite amusing, and despite its rather controversial title the Mature Skin Moisturiser remains one of the best selling items in my own range.

I started using oils instead of creams on my skin many years ago after reading a book entitled Vital Oils by Liz Earle. She put up such a convincing argument as to why cold-pressed vegetable oils moisturised the skin better than any cream could ever do that I felt compelled to test out the concept. I haven’t looked back since. In my own products I not only insist that the oils are cold-pressed but also that they are organic and I produce products from them in small quantities to ensure that I always have a fast turnover of stock and that the oils are kept as fresh as possible.

Vegetable oils nourish the skin and replenish it from within whereas creams with a water-base simply plump at the cells temporarily and leave the skin dry after the water has evaporated. The most frequently asked question I get on using oils is ‘don’t they make your skin feel and look greasy’ and the simple answer is that they don’t. The oil absorbs completely and can even be applied before make-up to good effect.

The Mature Skin Moisturiser contains just four ingredients — organic rosehip seed and avocado oils, organic Lavender essential oil and wild-crafted Frankincense (an organic version is not currently available). Rosehip seed oil predominates and was chosen for its high components of Omega 3 and Omega 6. These essential fatty acids are as important in skin care as they are in the diet and attract oxygen from red blood cells through the capillary walls, thereby giving the skin a natural healthy glow. It is also rich in vitamins A and C and studies have shown it to be useful for reducing scars and wrinkles and for restoring lost natural skin colour and tone. A small amount of avocado oil is added for its soothing and softening properties and lavender and frankincense essential oils for their beautiful aromas and preservative effects. The essential oils in their own right are prized for their skin rejuvenating properties.

The only way to find out if you prefer using an oil over a cream is to try for yourself. The Mature Skin Moisturiser is primarily formulated for use on the face and hands as it would be too expensive to use as an all-over moisturiser. You can complement it with the Lavender and Frankincense Face and Body Balm if you chose which contains the same essential oils in a coconut oil base. Many vegetable oils (and especially avocado, rosehip seed and coconut) are natural sunscreens, which doesn’t mean you can sunbathe for hours on a beach in Italy without getting burnt, but does mean that you don’t need a chemical-laden cream to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays on a daily basis whilst going about your normal life in the UK.

I don’t know about you but personally I feel in need of a boost at this time of the year. I have had more to eat and drink in the last few weeks than is good for me and I’m now ready to leave the festivities behind and embark on a new year with enthusiasm. In effect, I know what I want to do but could do with some help to achieve it. The central heating, lack of exercise and extra food have all played havoc with my skin which is looking tired and lifeless and the short daylight hours don’t do much to engender any great sense of get up and go.

This is where rosewater comes in. It has been used by various cultures for thousands of years as a beauty aid, tonic and reviver of the spirits and there is no better time to acquaint yourself with its beneficial properties than the depths of winter. Produced as a by-product of the distillation of rose petals into essential oil, rosewater is to my mind a more versatile product than the oil itself. In effect it offers many of the same therapeutic benefits but at a fraction of the cost.

I always endeavour to source ingredients from as near to my home as possible and for years have had high hopes of finding a UK produced rosewater which is organic, therapeutically active, available in the quantities I require and has a fresh, soothing aroma. So far however my quest has failed and for quality and continuity of supply purposes I stock Bulgarian rosewater which is renowned to be one of the best in the world. A word of warning here, there are myriad different rosewaters available many of which are adulterated and therefore have little (if any) therapeutic value. If a product is cheap then it is likely to fall into this category. Always buy rosewater from a known and trusted supplier — you really do get what you pay for.

Anyway, so what are these great benefits of rosewater? Firstly it is suitable and beneficial for all skin types, young and old, dry and oily, and this makes it very useful to have around. It is a natural hydrator, smoothes out wrinkles and acts as an anti-aging and cell-rejuvenating agent (all of which are great in my book!) It also balances the skin’s pH and oil production and its natural antibacterial properties make it an effective treatment for acne and many types of dermatitis including eczema. There is some dispute amongst experts however on its use by those with highly sensitive skin. In my experience this is not a problem and I have used it effectively to help treat nappy rash, eczema and psoriasis. Just to be on the safe side though anyone who has severe sensitivities or allergies should always patch test new products before applying them more liberally. This is easily done by dabbing a small amount of rosewater onto the forearm just below the elbow. If any itching or redness occurs within 12 hours then the area should be rinsed thoroughly with warm water and that product avoided. If no reaction occurs then go ahead and use it as a general toner, hydrator or cleanser. In fact one of its best uses at this time of year is as a substitute to water in any kind of natural face pack. Make your own by combining one beaten egg white with a teaspoon of runny honey, 2 tablespoons of oats and enough rosewater to make a thick paste. Apply to skin and leave for 15 minutes before removing with a cotton cloth dunked in warm water, or alternatively take the easy option and try one of the marvelously cleansing Raw Gaia clay face packs instead (see shop.)

Skin benefits aside, rosewater has been used for centuries to treat a surprisingly long and diverse list of physical ailments including digestive, gynecological and breathing problems, bruising, cuts and grazes, insect bites and stings and sunburn. For me it is a ‘must have’ item in any first aid cabinet. It also has a beneficial influence on minor eye complaints such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes caused by long-haul air travel or spending too long in front of the computer and sore, gritty eyes affected by hay fever.

On an emotional level rosewater has a balancing effect on the psyche. It is good in helping to reduce PMS and menopausal symptoms but more generally is simply wonderfully uplifting and we could probably all benefit from some of that in the dreary, grey winter months. Just smelling from the bottle is enough to provide a temporary boost or the water can be used as a perfume spray either on the body or on laundry whilst ironing. A few spoonfuls added to a warm bath will have the same effect with the additional benefit of softening the skin.

Having sung the praises of the Aromastone last month, for December I thought I would give these superb candles a mention. There is something about the festive season which makes it almost essential to have some candles burning in the house. But it is a good idea to bear in mind the environmental and health impact of most commercially produced candles when choosing how we would like to fragrance our homes and make them welcoming. Also in November I wrote about fragrances in the Topic of the Month section so I won't go into further details regarding how they affect our health here. Instead I'd like to focus on some good reasons to choose these candles from Universal Essences. It took me a good while to source them and whilst doing my research I very quickly found out that many so-called 'natural' candles are anything but. Anyway, these I really feel I can recommend with confidence.
Universal Essences produce their candles under their Indigo Essences label and as a company are committed to 'tread as lightly as possible on the earth'. They are made from 100% pure palm wax, a renewable resource ethically sourced from an orangutan friendly plantation. They are beautifully scented with organic essential oils, have lead-free cotton wicks and come in fully recycled and recyclable packaging. As far as I'm concerned they tick all the boxes for the perfect gift. No petroleum-based wax, synthetic fragrances or sooty walls. There are two sizes and four varieties to choose from and not only do they smell fabulous, they also contain Indigo gem essences (think flower essences but from rocks instead) to promote peace and harmony.
Sleep Easy and Settle are both scented with organic lavender for its calming and soothing properties. The former is perfect for de-stressing at the end of the day whilst the latter can help soothe the most hyper of children and encourage them to calm down. Chill helps to clear the air and and allows us to refocus whilst freshening the atmosphere with beautiful oils of basil, green mandarin and lime and Mmm evokes the cosy feeling of being snuggled up in front of a warm fire. It is a delightful blend of orange, green mandarin, nutmeg, clove bud, cinnamon and silver fir organic essential oils with Happy Indigo combination gem essence for that all-round Christmas feeling.
All of the candles are available as votives (20 hour burn time) at £6.50 or in larger, chunkier recycled aroma pots (40 hour burn time) at £17. Check them out in the Sundries section of the shop.