Why you can't you use Essential oil in the water

If only I had a fiver for every time I've been asked "Can I use Essential oil in the water"  No.You can't. And if you are reluctant to spend more hard-earned moolah on a bath oil, then I'll ask one in return. . . Have you ever made salad dressing?  When you make salad dressing, you add oil and a water based liquid like vinegar or lemon juice. Or Bergamot juice if you're feeling flush and adventurous. You add a few other things and then you shake it, shake it baby. (Twisting and shouting is optional, unless you have Gordon Ramsay there?)  You shake it, then leave it for a bit and come back and it has separated. Because Oil and water don't mix. And, as you might have guessed from the name, Essential oils are oily They are also incredibly intense and concentrated medicinal products. Some of them can even burn you. Dropping essential oil on top of water, even if you use a portable liquidisery thingy will not mix the oil in the water; it will remain distinctly separate. An 'oil in water' emulsion will not spontaneously and magically occur. Chemistry and physics don't work like that. Shame, and annoying, but so much is, I find. To mix oil and water you need an emulsifier of some sort This is because water molecules are polar. This means that one end has a negative charge, and the other has a positive one. Just like a battery. Except without the helpful little markings. Those charges let the molecules form hydrogen bonds and attach to any other molecules that are polar, like other water molecules. So you get H2O. Two lots of hydrogen to one lot of Oxygen. Easy peasy. Who said chemistry was hard? But, oil molecules are not polar, so they can't form hydrogen bonds. Even if they wanted to. Which they don't seem to. When you put oil and water together, the water molecules stick together like glue, and the oil molecules all squish up together in a distinctly separate clump. Like teenagers of opposite sexes at a disco. What you see is two distinct layers. Floating oil on water To get them to mix, or to make an emulsion, you need an emulsifier. That's alcohol, in the case of the shy teenagers, but to go back to our now-separated salad dressing, you can use something like mustard, mayonnaise or egg yolk. These will bind the two disparate substances together. If you are absolutely insistent that you want to use your essential oil for your compresses, then you can try mixing it with full-fat milk. Too much faffing about for my liking, so I use a bath essence, which contains Sulphated castor oil (Organic, natch) which is an oil treated to mix with water. This is also known as Red Turkey oil, and is the only oil which will mix with water. Using this means that your water is softened, scented and medicinally useful, as you can tailor the oil you choose for your compress to the time of day, your mood, and your current skin condition. Sage is great for oilier skin, for calming down those pesky female hormones Moor Lavender is fab at night, having soporific properties, is generally calming on both mood and skin redness and softening the water for sensitive skin Lemon is good for summer time, as it's cooling, but also lovely and awakening of a dull dreary morning, when you'd really rather not bother Rose is the queen of Flowers, smells divine, and is suitable at all and any times. A bit like champagne. . . But don't put champagne in your compress water. That would be wasteful. So the short answer to "can I use essential oils instead, because I've got those and it's cheaper?"  It's still no. Not because essential oils aren't wonderful - they are - but because it's wasteful.

What's your 20/20 vision?

Happy 2020

Do you have a 20/20 vision? 

Does it include a New You?

If so why?

What's wrong with the current 'you'? 

Is it really something that entails an entirely changed person? 

Or is all the novelty just a jolly good way to sell newspapers and their ilk?

The latter, probably.

There's nothing wrong with

• dry January
• Starting to exercise
• cleaning up your diet
• stopping smoking
• Juicing celery
• drinking lemon water. . . 

...and all the rest of the changes we feel we should make. 

If needed. 

But is January really a good time to do that?

February, once the days are visibly longer, is probably better, as it might be slightly more tempting to leave a warm (or tepid in our case) house to walk/run/jog/hop in the fresh air. The air in January can be a little too fresh, which might put you off for good.

The problem is that most New Year Resolutions are broken. Usually before February.

They probably should be renamed "New Month's Resolutions".

Which is why joining a gym in January is generally a waste of money for 11/12ths of the year.

Do it in February instead, and try it for one month.
If you think you'll continue, then go for it. If not, you can thank me later. (And spend the money saved on a nice, relaxing facial?)

The last resolution I made, about 15 years ago, was not to resolve ever again. That one was dead easy to keep.

Our brains are funny things, especially the primitive part. They like to take things literally and they are not programmed well for negativity.

So, saying things like "I'm giving up alcohol" or "I'm going on a diet" upset it and you'll sabotage yourself. Or your brain will.

(I won't go on for ages about this, although it's fascinating stuff, because Google can tell you more than I.)

Maddening, isn't it? But, to succeed, you have to put a positive spin on things. Be your own Spin Doctor!

Instead of "going on a diet", which is a depressing thought, try telling yourself that you're going to eat a delicious salad for lunch every day. That you're going to enjoy drinking more water as your skin will look so great. That sort of thing.

There are some handy hints in my book, if you need motivation.

If you haven't a copy, go HERE to get one, or message me and I'll post one, with some goodies.

Obviously, I'm not resolving anything, but I am doing Dry January, despite my birthday being bang in the middle of it - I'll drink Purdey's rather than champagne, I suppose.

Also, I'm going to do Facial Gym exercises EVERY day.

That'll be made a little easier by that fact that I won't be alone. If you want to join in, the "Chin & Necks" course will be starting in Mid January. There are still two spaces left...

Have a radiant YEAR!

What to wear to vote?

People ask lots of questions about makeup but something I rarely get asked, in fact, almost never, is "which lipstick should I wear to vote?" 

In an attempt to lighten the mood a little, here is the answer to that question, which is undoubtedly one of today's least important issues, but should you be terribly excited about the election, you can at least make sure that your makeup is in keeping with your political choices. 

Green Goddesses should be totally happy with the entire Dr Hauschka makeup range, as it is undoubtedly 'green', being biodynamic/organic and produced in a factory that recycles its water and uses green electricity, amongst many other environmentally-friendly policies. 
Should you wish to wear your colours on your face, a good choice might be Eye Definer 04, a soft green eyeliner, and eyeshadow Verdelite 04, a darker green with added sparkle. (All politicians can do with a little more sparkle, in my view.) A nice addition might be the Limited Edition Green Mascara, for lashes as green as your politics.

Eyeshadow Trio 01

Azalea Lipstick

Conservatives and 'True Blue' types have plenty of choice with eye colours: there is the Blue Mascara, an Eye Definer 03 in a bright blue, and a lovely soft blue shade in the new palette called Sapphire. Plenty of choice there.

For lipsticks, it might be best to avoid a red, unless it really is a really blue-toned one, but the bluish-pink lipstick Azalea might be just tick all the right boxes. . .

Rubellite for eyes

Labour lovers will want to avoid any blues, of course, but can plump for really red lips, so something like Dahlia topped with Goji lipgloss would be fab. 

On the eyes, the closest thing to red is the Rubellite eyeshadow, which comes in a just left-of-centre soft pink. Brown mascara goes well with this. 

Amber Eyeshadow

The poor LibDems seem to be slightly confused about which colour represents them, them having meandered from yellow to orange then back again. So how about the lovely Amber eyeshadow which is particularly flattering for both blue and green eyes and those who aren't quite sure? If that's a little bit too out there, a soft vanilla shade - Alabaster might be more subtle.  Brown Mascara might be a good choice with either of these. 

For lips, there is a fab orange called Fire Lily, which looks as it sounds, but is surprisingly flattering, whatever your political persuasion. 

Ametrine Trio

Along with Voltaire, (and the writer who actually wrote that this was his attitude, a woman called Beatrice Hall)  ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" describes pretty well many people's thoughts about the last party. 

Chessflower

UKippers seem to go for purple, so there is plenty of choice for them with Plum volume mascara and Eye Definer and a lovely palette of mixed purples called Ametrine. The purplest lipsticks are Hollyhock, a deep plum with a hint of pink, and deep purple Chessflower. 

All types of politicos will benefit from the Colour Correcting powder, which unlike many politicians, actually does what it says on the tin and also looks pretty and smells delicious. (Possibly unlike most of them...)

Colour Correcting Powder: only works on faces,  not policies.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to vote! 

If you would like a totally non-political, personal colour assessment and makeup session do get in touch. I am the only Dr Hauschka Certified Makeup artist in the UK and I absolutely promise not to mention politics! jane@theorganicbeautician.com

The Changing Face (and Body) of Beauty

Faces and bodies are subject to fashion as much as hair, clothing and makeup.

You might be aware of the scary light blue eyeshadow trend? 

Popular in both the 1950s and again in the 1970s, this is not generally a good look, although of course, the gorgeous Agnetha looked fantastic in anything.

Abba's Agnetha in blue eyeshadow

Even baby-blue eyeshadow. 

Despite that, it's a trend best forgotten swiftly, so let us move on rapidly.

Visiting Malta recently and the ancient Hypogeum, I realised how much beauty is in the eye of the beholder

The Sleeping Lady

Despite her girth The Sleeping Lady is tiny. Her rest was disturbed when she was removed from the Hypogeum. (Well worth a visit, but book many months in advance!)
She is now slumbering in a museum, but is easily missed as she is so little. 

She is very far removed from our current idea of beauty, though. We're not over keen on hips like that nowadays, and prefer a more athletic form, although this is a very modern trend.

Take Rubens, and his pneumatic ladies 

Dawn French once said: 

‘If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.’

Wealth is always attractive

Or it's thought to be. Rubens did paint some smaller women, but on the whole his subjects were anything but thin, in line with society. 

The people who could afford his paintings were rich, and larger ladies were on trend, as a status symbol - their generous size meant that their husbands could afford to feed them really well, so he must have lots of money. Poor women worked hard and had less to eat, so they were probably a lot thinner than their wealthy sisters. 

Being large was a status symbol

Also the people buying the pictures and painting were almost 100% men. And men generally like child bearing hips, even if their owners don't.

This trend was wiped out in the 1960s, when waif-like women became trendy.

Suddenly, everyone wanted to look like Twiggy. 

All eye lashes and no hips

This actually was a recap on the 1920s androgynous look when women bound their breasts to flatten them in an attempt to look more boyish. 

Dying to be thin

During the Renaissance, and in many other eras, thin women were not considered beautiful, but nowadays, wealthy people tend to be skinny. 

Despite most of us being lucky enough to have plenty of food, some girls are starving themselves in pursuit of a mythical ideal of thinness. But there's no point in being skinny, if you are anorexic and your hair starts falling out. Or you get so ill that you have to be force fed and hospitalised.

Although it must be said that not all thin girls have anorexia and will resent it, if you assume they do. Some people just really prefer salad to crisps. (I like both. But, crisps in moderation, salad not.) 

Naturally thin girls can have a hard time too (I know - I was one for decades!) 

People comment on your size and say things like 

"Ooh you're so thin. We must feed you up." 

Can you imagine if I'd said the same thing to them, but opposite - 

"Oh you're so chunky. We must put you on a diet!" 

It would have been unspeakably rude, so I never did. But I often felt like it...

Equally, if you're a curvy beauty, don't long to be skinny, but enjoy having your luscious curves. 

The Venus of Willendorf.
Possibly not a healthy eating role model.
More of a fertility goddess

If you're interested, most men prefer curves

The brain of the male of the species is programmed to notice fertility of prospective mates (that would ideally be most women) and what their brain looks for is curves:

Breasts that can nurture a baby, hips to store fat to feed that eventual baby, and a waist in between, so that they can see that the woman is not already pregnant. 

That might sound sexist, but Nature is pretty sexist, I've found.

The sanest way to look at body size and shape is probably to be happy in your own

It's the only one we'll get after all. At least this time round.

I really hope we are approaching an era of common sense where anyone, regardless of their size can feel and look beautiful. 

Because beauty should be a question of good health, not size

What we should all be aiming for, regardless of our size is a healthy diet, some pleasurable activity and exercise and acceptance of, and appreciation for, our own unique natural beauty. 

Picture by Shahab Yazdi from Unsplash

This time of year, as the seasons change and summer slides slowly, sullenly and soggily into autumn, your skin gets dehydrated like mad.

If you are dehydrated, your lips will let you know. They are an exceptionally efficient barometer of the rest of you.

The central heating, possibly, the coldness, then heat of the changeable weather, and the forgetting to drink enough water; all these take their toll.

Of your skin, of course, but your lips too, because lips, although they look like skin, are actually part of the digestive system: they're the nearest the internal bits get to the outside. (Except in horror films, obviously.)

Technically, the skin of the lips actually forms a border between the external skin on your face, and the interior (mucous membrane) of the mouth.

Lips are a transition layer between the outer and the inner, so they're a jolly good signal of what is going on with your health and hydration.

Now, the fullness of your lips is mainly controlled by the orbicularis oris muscle, the one which encircles the mouth, and enables you to smile, grimace and grin. Should you wish to do so. Keeping this muscle built up and strong will give fuller and firmer lips, so it's well worth getting stuck in to the old facial exercises. 

Obviously genetics play a part, as always, but you work with what you've got, don't you?

Lips, because they are lacking as many layers as the rest of the face, and contain no oil glands and considerably fewer melanocytes (that's the clever little chaps which produce melanin), tend to be dry. 

Photo by Luka Davitadze /Unsplash

Also, what you see as colour on lips - yours and other peoples is the blood vessels showing through that clear, thin skin. Less attractive, isn't it? (Except to vampires, probably.) 

So your lips really need your help to keep them moist and protected. 

Make sure you use an organic lip balm though, as some of it will inevitably get eaten!

Five a Day?

Did you know that the 'Five a Day' rule was a random easy number?

Yup. It was a decision made in the winter of 2002/3 to try to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables. 

Why five though? Isn't that a little on the low side, considering that people in nations like Japan eat seven to thirteen portions per day?

The reason is that the Department of Health didn't want to scare us with big numbers:

"There must be a balance between what is healthy for the British public and what is feasible," said a spokeswoman. 

Which is slightly scary.

Some of the Five a Day suggestions were
3 T baked beans
1 tinned peach
1 T of tomato ketchup
1 glass of fruit juice
3 T sweetcorn
3 T lentils
3 T marrowfat peas (?)

Meaning that you could get all of your five a day from tins and jars!

One of your five a day?

Yummy!

(And, healthy? Really?)

However, despite this, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 2014 showed, more than ten years later, that 70% of UK adults ate fewer than five portions of fruit and veg a day, let alone the seven now recommended last month by researchers at University College London. 

This is a lot more than slightly scary.

In my not-terribly-humble opinion, getting your vegetables from tins doesn't count.

Image from Harvard Health

You need fresh stuff, and considerably more vegetables than fruit which, though tasty, often causes tooth decay.  

A Radiant Skin Salad for lunch is a good place to start, and to make that easy on yourself prep some of it beforehand. 

I'm not giving you a specific recipe, but it's always nice to think about having every part of the plant on your plate, from root to seed, to sprouts to leaves.

If you prepare some grated roots at the beginning of the week, it'll last you a few days, and sprouted lentils are definitely better for you than boiled to death ones, so get some of those on the go. 

Washing your lettuce as soon as you pick it can make the difference between whipping up a quick lunch and resenting it. I always have some washed lettuce in the fridge for ease and speed. (Smug? Yes, probably...)

Radiant Skin Salad

Today I'm having grated raw beetroot and carrot, lettuce and welsh onions from the garden, watercress (not from the garden - sadly) avocado, sprouted lentils, sprouted alfalfa, tomatoes, raspberries and cucumber (yes they are really nice in salad, as they are slightly sour) topped with some feta and salad sprinkles for fats, minerals and vitamins. Also they taste delish. The recipe for that is in my book - The Skincredible Journey. (In fact there are lots of suggestions in there, now I come to think of it!)

If my lunch looks particularly pretty, I do put it on Instagram on occasion, so that might give you some ideas. 

So, that's my 'Five a Day' done by lunchtime today, and I'll be having asparagus, aubergine, green beans and chard with my supper.

Why make such a song and dance about vegetables?

Well, not only are they good for your health, but they're good for your skin (and hair and nails) so eating more of them is a GOOD THING in general.

Do you have any super salad recipes? I'd love to see or hear them.

In the meantime, have a Radiant day!

A simple way to get great skin

Sometimes the old ways are the best. Many moons ago, my mother told me to use a warm cloth before cleansing and a cool one afterwards. 

The first was to increase the circulation and open the pores, the second one to close the pores. 

But seriously, what would my mother know? 

I ignored that advice, until I started using Dr Hauschka, and found that the good doctor also advises warm and cool compressing, as a great way to gain and maintain radiant skin. I've now been doing it for twenty years, (And, Mama was right, of course!)

With new research about the skin's 'dew point' and added knowledge about the Lymphatic system, and how that needs to be healthy if our skin is to look radiant, we can see that this old fashioned skincare practice is a brilliant way to look after our skin and keep it looking and feeling more youthful and vibrant. 

Compress with a warm cloth, splash off cleanser then use a cool compress to close pores

How to compress:

• Fill the sink with warm water. 
• Add a few drops of your favourite Bath Essence*
• Place the compress in the water. 
• Wring it out and wrap the cloth over your entire face, including the chin and jawline
• Hold the cloth to your face for half a minute, and enjoy the delicious aroma
• Repeat, then apply your cleanser 

After rinsing off your cleanser, wring out the compress in cool water, and reapply for a few moments. 

This contrast in temperature between the initial warmth and the cool compress stimulates the lymphatic system, meaning that wastes in the tissue fluid are more efficiently removed.

It also helps to activate the arrector pili muscles in the pores, stimulating them to contract and remove any dirt and stale oil lurking in the pores.  

Don't make the mistake of using Essential oils - they will not dissolve in water. Use a proper Bath essence, like the Dr Hauschka ones.  

*Which bath essence is best?

• Moor Lavender Calming Bath Essence is great in the evenings, to promote a good night's sleep, and used any time for sensitive skin
• Rose is balancing and lovely for sensitive skin, and a pleasure for anyone who appreciates the glorious scent
• Sage is ideal for oily, blemished skin and helps balance hormones
• Lemon & Lemongrass is fab for morning awakening 
• Spruce is superb, if you have a cold or hayfever, and also in autumn and winter 

Need more advice? Click here for more info http://bit.ly/lookingforradiantskin