Thursday, 3 September 2015
Monday, 27 July 2015
Because, you know, I'm all about the face.
It's not often that I listen to pop music but "All about the bass" is so ubiquitous that even I couldn't miss it and it did make me smile, because, of course we are all beautiful "from the bottom to the top"; she's quite right about that, of course, it's just that with the incessant bombardment of photo-shopped perfection, it is sometimes hard for anyone to feel happy with their shape, size and skin. I think that feeling of satisfaction with one's own inherent beauty can be nurtured though, by treating oneself with kindness, rather than constantly thinking of the features that we aren't happy with.
One of the many things I love about Dr Hauschka is the gentleness of the approach and the possibility that emerges of loving oneself and one's skin; being kind to your skin is being kind to your "self". It constantly amazes me how roughly people treat their skin, not just with aesthetic procedures, but during everyday "care". Exfoliating with granules of anything from nut shell to plastic beads (which I hope have now been banned, because they are hell for the environment) but in the way they touch it. Gentle pressing and rolling is really all that is needed. Your skin is only about four weeks old; think how you would treat a baby of that age! Would you really scrub so roughly or would you stroke gently and with love and care? That is how your face should be cared for!
A warm compress to open the pores and increase circulation and lymphatic flow is not only a beneficial start to your cleansing, but can be pleasurable, particularly if you add some drops of Dr Hauschka Bath Oil to the water, and enjoy both the warmth and the glorious aroma.
(For a full description of why this is so great, visit fellow Dr Hauschka esthetician Kathleen Daunhauer's post: http://bit.ly/1JKH1Nw)
Some of my clients say that they don't have time to faff about with cloths and warm water, but once they try it, they are hooked, as it is a moment of comfort and peacefulness in otherwise busy lives which can become quite addictive! After using a warm compress, mix a small amount of Cleansing cream with some warm water and very gently press and roll this into your face, remembering that it is a baby! If you try this for a month, you will be amazed at how your skin improves, and you might even find that you are happier in your own skin.
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| Dr Hauschka skincare: for beautiful skin at any age |
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| Warm compress with organic muslin |
(For a full description of why this is so great, visit fellow Dr Hauschka esthetician Kathleen Daunhauer's post: http://bit.ly/1JKH1Nw)
Some of my clients say that they don't have time to faff about with cloths and warm water, but once they try it, they are hooked, as it is a moment of comfort and peacefulness in otherwise busy lives which can become quite addictive! After using a warm compress, mix a small amount of Cleansing cream with some warm water and very gently press and roll this into your face, remembering that it is a baby! If you try this for a month, you will be amazed at how your skin improves, and you might even find that you are happier in your own skin.
If you would like to talk about your skin concerns, please contact me: http://www.theorganicbeautician.com/organic-beautician-contact
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Bless you!
It’s
that time of year again-
“Summertime, and the living is sneezy,
Fish are jumping and the pollen count is high”
to paraphrase the Gershwins. Such a bore, if you happen
to be a hay fever sufferer! I was, for many years, although a series of
measures have helped to alleviate it to the extent that I haven’t yet sneezed
this year. It is now far too late to take preventative action, like eating a daily spoonful of local honey from February onwards. (Tried this, didn’t work for me!)
However, if you are suffering now, you need instant relief. My hay-fever
survival prescription includes the following:
Eye Solace is the most soothing eye treatment I
know! It is best applied on two cool damp cotton wool pads, half an ampoule
for each eye, and then having a little lie down, which enables the Euphrasia (Eyebright)
extract to calm and heal sore, itchy eyes. Refreshing for tired or sore eyes, its soothing herbal formula also reduces puffiness. As well as euphrasia, it contains chamomile, fennel and black tea extract, all of which help calm and revive. In fact, don't just keep it for the hay fever season, as it is handy all year round, for reducing eye bags and relieving itchy eyes! 
If you have time, a facial steam
with the Dr Hauschka Steam Bath added to it, will help clear the nasal
passages, calming inflamed tissue with witch hazel and nasturtium as well as
helping soothe sore eyes with the steam and the herbal extracts. Of course, it is great for your skin, too, so you are giving your pores a deep cleanse at the same time! Multitasking at its best, ladies!
Using Eye Balm much thicker than usual will help
to trap pollen before it enters the delicate eyes, thus avoiding some of the
problem. Containing carrot, soothing calnedula and apricot oil as well as the signature herb Anthyllis, not only does this soften fine lines, but also protects the delicate skin around the eyes. Warm it gently, before applying it.
Dr Hauschka Moor Lavender Bath essence can be
really helpful for bathing your face, once you come in from outside, as the
Lavender soothes skin and airways, and the application of warm water, then cool splashing
afterwards, can help one feel calmer and better. Lavender helps calm the mind and soul as well as being physically soothing so it is worth taking a few minutes to use it.
Dietary measures can help to some extent: increase your vitamin C intake, via fresh fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, leafy
greens and even nettles, which are also supposed to be good for reducing the
histamine reaction which gives rise to so much misery. Vitamin A foods like
carrots, apricots, sweet potatoes, watercress and spinach help to maintain
healthy mucus membranes. Obviously, cutting back on alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and
dairy products can also help, as many hay-fever sufferers also have a
sensitivity to some or all of these. (You can also up your vitamin intake by
supplementing with extra vitamin C tablets.) It is always worth experimenting with what you eat to see if your diet ameliorates or exacerbates your symptoms. The internet is awash with articles, so do some research if this interests you.
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| Look here for an interesting article on gluten and hayfever: http://tonywrighton.com/wp-content/uploads/20_Hayfever.jpg |
Obviously, avoiding pollen is the answer, though this is
generally not practical, but simple measures such as changing clothes when you
come in from outside, and getting undressed in the bathroom, rather than your
bedroom can help reduce your exposure to a lower level.
All of these products are available from me and really do help allay the misery, but for total relaxation, try booking a Dr Hauschka treatment, which will relax and de-stress you, thus also helping to alleviate your hay fever!
All of these products are available from me and really do help allay the misery, but for total relaxation, try booking a Dr Hauschka treatment, which will relax and de-stress you, thus also helping to alleviate your hay fever!
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Visit to WALA, HQ of Dr Hauschka Skincare.
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| Bio-dynamic gardens at WALA |
Having
heard and read so much about the amazing Bio-dynamically cultivated gardens, where the WALA factory is situated, in Eckwälden,
near Stuttgart, I have long wanted to visit them, and that was made possible
this May, when I went with eight other Estheticians and our trainer, Elaine Robinson from Wala UK, to the 2015 Wala Open House
for Estheticians and retailers. There were visitors from other countries there,
as well, from Denmark, Yugoslavia and some other Eastern European countries, so
the lectures were given in English, although I did have some opportunities to
practice my schoolgirl Deutsch.
The theory
part took place in the Maja Mewes Saal, the hall of the original building. All
of the architecture had a particular look, both inside and out, partly because
of the anthroposophical style of poured concrete, organic forms and cut off
corners, but also the roofs, which were often planted or made of copper.
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| The grave of Elisabeth Sigmund |
The
Maja Mewes Hall is just opposite the small, beautifully tended, graveyard where
Elisabeth Sigmund and Dr Rudolf Hauschka are buried, alongside many others who
were part of the Anthroposophical medical movement in its earlier years.
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| Mucilaginous Marshmallow roots. Don't try this at home! |
We were
given talks on many aspects of Wala and the Dr Hauschka products, from CSR
projects overseas, to the labelling of natural cosmetics and the sourcing of
high quality raw materials, because, although over 100 different plants are
grown at Wala, not everything would flourish on German soil, even if it is
Bio-Dynamic! Plant signatures, with particular emphasis on Anthyllis, a key
note ingredient of much of the Dr Hauschka skin care was another fascinating
subject, as was the talk given by Elisabeth Sigmund’s biographer. We were also given hands-on experience of processing plants, when we had roots of marshmallow to chop and chew and could experience at first hand just how mucilaginous it is!
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| Buy your own raw milk at WALA |
Although we
covered many subjects in two days, as well as visiting the gardens and the
Bio-dynamic farm - where they even had a machine dispensing raw BD milk! - there still
seemed to be time for Wala to feed us sumptuously throughout; there were two
wonderfully delicious and healthy lunches at the Evangelische Kirche down the
road, as well as a picturesque evening meal at the
peak of the Hohenstaufen mountain, which we later descended, bearing flaming
torches through the moonlit woods!
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| Photo by the beautiful and talented Debra Donnelly, who never forgot her camera! |
The highlight
of the trip had to be the gardens, which are still worked by hand, according to
the phases of the moon and treated with BD preparations as well as the all-important
dung from the cows at the Sonnenhof farm which forms part of the estate; this
is crucial in BD farming as it is a closed system and so no imported fertiliser
is permitted.
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| Tatjana Pregler demo |
On the last
day we were treated to a viewing of the new Night Serum film, which can also be
seen here: http://bit.ly/1AzMGrD and a practical demonstration from the
lovely Tatjana Pregler, Wala’s in-house Esthetician or Naturkosmetikerin, which
we all enjoyed. We were given a goodie bag which contained the new Night Serum,
as well as a copy of the book about Elisabeth Sigmund, which we had heard so much about earlier in the week, published in memory of what would
have been her 100th year; she died in 2013, still wearing her
favourite lipstick - 07 - to the end.
It was a hectic couple of
days, catching up with other Estheticians, meeting some I didn’t know previously, as well
as chatting to the lovely Wala employees who joined us and all spoke impeccable
English (I must brush up my German!), but I learned so much, and would love to
do it again. I’m now hoping that an international Esthetician gathering might
be arranged at some point soon!
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| With my fellow estheticians at the Seminaris hotel WALA trip 2015 |
Monday, 11 May 2015
Slow Beauty
We live in a culture of speed and hurry; there is often such a feeling of pressure and haste during the day, that we and our skin can find it hard to unwind in the evening, making it difficult to relax and drift off to sleep. This can lead to premature ageing of the skin, which is deprived of the necessary time for recuperation which it needs during the hours in which we slumber. The idea is that, while we rest our busy bodies and brains, our skin has the time to cleanse internally, regenerate, create cells, and generally become active. To do this optimally, it needs to be clean and free to breathe; it is difficult to do this when there is a thick layer of heavy cream or dirt and make-up on the face, which is why thorough cleansing before bed is so vital.
Gently removing any make-up
with Dr Hauschka’s Soothing Cleansing Milk is a good start, then compressing
with a warm muslin cloth wrung out in Moor Lavender Bath opens the pores and enables
deep cleansing to take place with the delicious Almond meal-based Cleansing
Cream. By using a very gentle “press and roll” action, the skin is able to be cleansed
without rubbing and scratching; generally even very delicate skin can tolerate
a gentle cleanse with this amazing product. Any dirt or left over make-up binds
with the almond meal and is removed when the cleanser is splashed off. The oil
in the product means that the skin is not stripped of its own oil, so that oily
skin does not get a rebound production of oil, and dry skin feels comfortable. (This
is truly the best cleanser I have ever tried!) A cool compress after rinsing
might seem as though it would be too awakening for the evening, but although it
is for the skin, it doesn’t really feel it for the soul, just gently refreshing.
Follow this with a little of the wonderful new Night Serum, for skin that looks
gorgeous even first thing in the morning!
This gentle cleansing routine
is not only good for the skin, but also very helpful for us, as a calming
process, enhanced by the use of Moor Lavender bath, which helps us to relax; its
soporific scent prepares our busy brains for rest. Ideally we should try to
make a habit of going to bed at a similar time each evening, and our bodies
will become accustomed to this, and naturally start winding down.
Insomnia is a modern day
curse, and we can help to avoid it with our slow beauty care, as well as by
taking simple measures such as not watching television just before bed, and not
having any screens in the bedroom; checking emails on our phones before bed is guaranteed
to wake us up and get the brain chuntering away again, which is not what we
want to encourage. Why not make some time for your own slow beauty routine? I am happy to give advice and can be contacted via my website: www.theorganicbeautician.com
For further information you can also sign up to my newsletter for regular special offers on Dr Hauschka products: http://bit.ly/1bJHQft
Monday, 20 April 2015
Age shall not wither her...
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| Kohl - the Eye-liner of the Ancient Egyptians. |
The legendary beauty Cleopatra
took an interesting approach to her skin care and beauty routine. From bathing
in donkeys' milk to Dead Sea salt and clay masks, lipsticks made of tallow and
ochre, and, of course Kohl - the ubiquitous eye-liner of Egypt, she tried most things. She was even said to sleep in a mask made of
gold as well as using a clay one regularly, to deep cleanse her skin. Of course, she had little time for age to bother her, as she committed suicide at the age of 39. Other cultures have used stranger things than gold, such as the
nightingale dropping and snail slime favoured by the Japanese. But are any as
strange as our current ideas of injecting toxins and fillers and cutting the
skin to tighten it? It seems that many women – and growing numbers of men –
will try almost anything to retain their youthful looks.
I am not sure how healthy
this obsession our culture has with youth really is, but it seems that beauty is linked with youth, especially for women. One woman told me that she became
invisible once she was 50, but her husband remained distinguished looking and
attractive! It seems that our culture, for all the forward strides that have
been made in the area of women’s rights, still only recognises the value of
women’s looks when they are below a certain age. I’m not so sure that the
French think this way; older women there have always been chic, often more so
than their gauche juniors. This seems to be something else we have acquired
from America, so it becomes easy for advertisers and Beauty sellers to trade on
the insecurity of ageing women and offer them the Elixir of Youth in
the form of various potions and unguents which promise the earth and take
your money, generally with limited results. It seems unlikely that there
is a true Elixir of Youth, or there would be no-one having plastic surgery in
Hollywood and elsewhere. I also wonder how healthy it is to worrying about our
“ageing” faces to the degree that we would put almost anything on them, or in
them, though I’m pretty sure that the Nightingale droppings and Snail slime
would be safer than some of the products on offer.
GENTLE
CLEANSING
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| Rhythmic Night Conditioner |
There is really no need to wither, though! I
think that the best way forward is to relax a little about ageing, and look at
the rôle models appearing: I don’t think Dame Helen Mirren
suddenly became invisible at 50! If you
haven’t already done so, it is time to develop a really good and gentle skin care routine –
ideally the Dr Hauschka cleansing method, as that actually supports your skin
rather than stressing it by exfoliating aggressively.* Using a water-based
product like Rhythmic Night Conditioner to support the skin at night will allow the skin to regenerate and
cleanse itself far more efficiently than using a heavy night cream, as the skin
is free to respire and detoxify. This will help to slow ageing of the skin.
CLEAN
EATING
Keeping
your diet clean and healthy and choosing your vices (as few as possible!) with
care, will do more to keep your skin and your body looking good. Ask me for my
Radiant skin eating plan, for a week of attention to foods which feed your
skin. (Most people lose a little weight as well, which can be a bonus!) Foods
which feed your skin tend to be great for the rest of you as well, particularly
the brain.
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| Facial exercises slow signs of ageing |
EXPERT CARE
It always
pays to get advice from an expert. A Dr Hauschka Esthetician will treat your
skin, show you how to get the best results at home and advise you on which
products are best for you currently. You shouldn’t still be using the products
you started with at 16, yet many women are. Many of them can also teach you the brilliant Dr Hauschka
facial exercises, which keep your skin nicely plumped, soften lines and tone
drooping contours. This is a brilliant way of ageing slowly, rather than
freezing your face into a taut Botox parody of youth.
FACIAL
EXERCISE
The true
Elixir of Youth is probably a potent cocktail of good skin care practice, clean eating
and exercise, particularly facial exercise. For a truly rejuvenating effect
that even husbands notice (!) a focussed regime of Dr Hauschka Facial Firming
treatments and Facial exercise sessions is quite unbeatable. Add a course of
RNC and you’ll be looking as great as Dame Helen!
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| Dame Helen - agelessly beautiful |
*All these
people who tell us to exfoliate, do you think they consider the telomeres+ shortening?
It is a distinct possibility that over-stimulation via cell removal leads more
rapidly to the “Hayflick limit” where the telomeres have reached their limit and
the skin becomes sluggish and less able to regenerate.
+The spell checker thinks that I should change "telomere" to "omelette"! Intriguing.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Are you more "Kate Middleton" or "Katie Price"?
vitality.
Healthy skin is gorgeous skin and luckily, many women
are happy to step off the beauty bandwagon and think for themselves: the Dr
Hauschka treatment is ideal for them. Relaxing, reparatory and revitalising, it
allows one to relax fully into peacefulness, and reawaken feeling rejuvenated.
Of course, the radiant complexion that is a side-effect of it is a wonderful
bonus!
This may not be for you if you prefer your face resurfaced with a diamond-tipped drill bit, or you like to have
collagen injected into your dermis, but if you would like to enjoy a little
pampering and have gorgeous skin, with a positive impact on the planet, the Dr
Hauschka treatment should suit you to a T!
#WhyILoveDrHauschka
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