My Hauschka Year 2015

Dr Hauschka
clay mask application

The beginning of the year is a good time to take stock of one’s health and skin, so during January and February I generally offer “Spring clean your skin” facials – an hour-long deep-cleansing treatment, with steam and clay mask application, and also discuss tips for eating well to maintain a great complexion. Skin is deep cleansed with a gentle steam and clay mask application.

During March, I promoted Dr Hauschka Facial Gymnastics – "keep fit" for the facial muscles. These can really make a tremendous difference to one’s looks, by smoothing fine lines, increasing the tautness of the facial contours and improving the complexion. Generally, three lessons are advised, though often clients like to come back for a refresher. I teach Facial Exercises both individually, and as a group session, and also via Skype. Contact me for further details: jane@theorganicbeautician.com or enlarge the picture for an easy to learn exercise.

On April 28^th, I attended a makeup training day in London with the amazing Karim Sattar, Dr Hauschka's make-up artist. Not only did I gain lots of brilliant tips, which I was able to put into practice recently, at a photoshoot I was involved in, but I was able to catch up with fellow Estheticians, which is always a great pleasure, as well as educational. Karim is an inspiration to us Dr Hauschka Estheticians, and an absolute mine of information and wisdom on make up and the Dr Hauschka products. He is also an ex Steiner-school pupil, like me!

Gardens at Wala, Germany

In May I was lucky enough to be one of a small party of British Estheticians to visit Wala, the HQ of Dr Hauschka, where the products are conceived and created. The gardens exude peace and tranquillity and the lectures were a fascinating insight into why specific plants are chosen as well as details about eco standards and fair trade projects. I was so happy to visit as it has been on my bucket list for years, and I also had the opportunity to oil my rusty German a little.

June was a busy month for facials and I also was asked to do treatments at a retreat for pregnant women. (www.retreatyourself.co.uk) The Dr Hauschka treatment is particularly wonderful during pregnancy: it is safe for mother and baby, as all the ingredients are pure and organic, and the soothing footbath is perfect for swollen feet and ankles. The peace and tranquillity engendered makes it a lovely mini break for tired pregnant women.

Every Dr Hauschka Treatment
starts with a footbath!

July saw an increase in bookings for the Foot Treatment, as clients got their toes ready for summer: feet fit for flip-flops! It is always a pleasure to pamper feet, as they work so hard for so little reward, that the difference after a treatment is quite marked; as one client said “It’s like walking on air now!” However, every Dr Hauschka Facial Treatment also starts with a footbath, to help the client relax, and to stimulate the circulation. In the Summer, this is refreshing and in the winter gives some much needed warmth and pampering 

Skin consultation via Skype

In August I did my first Skype consultation. This is brilliant for clients who want a personalised consultation and advice, but live too far away from an Esthetician.  I do Radiant Skin sessions via Skype, as well as consultations, so if you fancy booking one, please email me:

jane@theorganicbeautician.com I also teach Facial Exercises via Skype, though ideally the client comes for the first session to my salon, and the follow up sessions are Skyped!

September is #OrganicSeptember, according to the Soil Association, and for the last few years, I have offered free consultations, which include a practical cleansing session, and I also talk about Dr Hauschka's Organic skin care and make-up. This really raises awareness of the unique Dr Hauschka approach, and helps convert many people to organic skincare, so it’s great for the environment, too. In October I did the (Organic) make-up for an Artisan wedding shoot at the beautiful Owlpen Manor. Harriet, Stroud's Organic Hairdresser did the locks and I did the looks, so it was all organic, and I was able to use some of the cosmetic tips from the April Make-up day. I was also shot - Marie Antoinette style - to reflect the use of flowers in the products I use (not the amount of cake I suggest people eat!) The gorgeous dresses were created by COCOA COUTURE of Cheltenham, an exclusive couturière boutique.

November and December are generally busy with facials, as people naturally want to look their best during the festive season, and a good professional facial can not only help with giving the client radiant skin, but can be a much needed rest among the hustle and bustle that is prevalent at this time of year. A Dr Hauschka facial treatment is for life, though, not just for Christmas!

I have also been preparing for the pop-up Salon I’m opening in the New Year, in COCOA COUTURE in Cheltenham, which I’m really looking forward to. It’s a beautiful room - Rococo style - in a fabulous location, nestled below COCOA’s beautiful silk wedding and ball gowns. Here’s a picture of some the creations, from the photoshoot in October. (I am on the far left at the end of the table. Despite the corset, or perhaps because of it, it was one of the most comfortable dresses I've ever had the pleasure to wear!) www.cocoacouture.co.uk 

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY CLIENTS AND READERS! 

See you in 2016!

Why should you have a facial?

There is simply no substitute for a professional facial treatment. 

After one, your skin will look clearer and cleaner, and will glow with health, you will gain a better understanding of how to care for your skin properly, and which products will optimise its health;you will also feel incredibly relaxed. Your circulation will be stimulated, which will give your complexion a lovely rosy glow, and your lymphatic system will be encouraged to help with internal cleansing, too, which can have a positive influence on the immune system. Good facials can even save you money, as you won’t need to cover your glowing skin with lots of makeup!

So why don’t more women “treat” themselves to this more regularly? It amazes me that women will spend a lot of money on a dress or shoes, or a hair do, but neglect their skin. Skin is so visible: hair can be tied back, clothes can be changed, but, unless you wear a burqa, your skin is always on show, and how it looks will impact either positively or adversely on your confidence, so investing in it is both logical and sensible.

Optimum facial treatment would be once a month, because our skin follows the lunar cycle, and the time it takes for a skin cell to travel from the basal layer of the epidermis, to the top layer – the stratum corneum, is approximately 28 days. However, every three months is another option, particularly if you are keen on the Dr Hauschka Classic Treatment which takes two hours; this enables the skin to have support at the change of seasons, and keeps it looking beautiful and feeling healthy. Some of my clients have a Classic facial every quarter and have a one hour treatment in the months in-between, whereas people with skin conditions such as Rosacea or acne are better off coming in more regularly, initially, until their skin improves.  

For more information, please contact jane@theorganicbeautician.com

Dr Hauschka's stance on animal testing.

I was asked today after a treatment about Dr Hauschka's stance on animal testing, and I was astonished!

I knew that Dr Hauschka didn't and don't test on animals, otherwise I would not be using the products on myself or clients, but when I came to look for the information about this, it was hard to find. When I visited the Gardens at Wala, in May this year,  where many of the medicinal plants are grown, we were again told that there is no animal testing, so I wonder why there is no statement on their packaging? 

Anyway, I tracked the information down on their website, and here it is: 

Statement on animal testing

Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics are manufactured at WALA Heilmittel GmbH. WALA Heilmittel’s experience of using natural substances to provide natural care through the biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants extends back to 1935. The responsible and sustainable development of our products is something that has been at the core of Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics ever since the beginning, back in 1967. Today we are proud to continue to carry this philosophy forward.

Naturally, this means that no animal tests have ever been carried out either by or on behalf of Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics since our founding in 1967.

While Dr. Hauschka has always foregone animal testing, the EU Cosmetics Regulation represented a decisive step forward for animal welfare in the entire cosmetics industry: As a result, tests on animals for cosmetic products and the raw materials required to create them have been completely banned in the EU since 11 March 2013. This is a legally binding ban, i.e. all cosmetics manufacturers within the EU must comply with this legislation.

To produce Dr. Hauschka’s natural cosmetics, we rely on traditional raw materials of natural origin and the highest quality - raw materials which are also often used in the food industry. There is sufficient evidence to support the tolerability and effectiveness of the various plant extracts, oils or waxes we use.  Furthermore, we also commission independent institutes to perform dermatological testing of new cosmetic products on human volunteers prior to launch. These confirm the high tolerability of our products.

As a manufacturer of high-quality certified natural cosmetics, WALA Heilmittel GmbH is particularly committed to ethical responsibility. Within the scope of the biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants and our controlled organic Demeter farming, we treat animals and our planet in a humane, sustainable and responsible manner.

In addition, the majority of Dr Hauschka products are also suitable for vegans! So I hope this clears that little conundrum up!

Ayurvedic Breast massage for health

So, we have reached the end of “Breast Cancer Awareness month” (though I think most of us are already aware of Breast Cancer, unfortunately) and we have seen the usual pink-washing by cosmetic companies, who perhaps assuage their consciences by making a small donation to cancer charities, rather than by changing the ingredients in their products. The Breast Cancer Fund says that we need to “re-think the pink” and many women seem to be getting justifiably annoyed by this sort of hypocrisy and are looking for better ways to care for themselves.

The problem is that many of the ingredients used by mainstream cosmetic companies, such as Phthalates, lead, parabens, triclosan, to name a few, are not compatible with our skin and nervous system and are also considered by the Breast Cancer Fund to be actively dangerous. For example, studies link phthalates with early puberty in girls, which is itself a precursor for some female reproductive cancers. The food we eat is not necessarily helping, either, as the introduction of hydrogenated fats caused a leap in the incidence of breast cancer. Seems like butter is better, after all!

We all know that prevention is better than cure, and if there are things we can do to lessen our risk, then that is surely a good way forward? Some specialists advise not to wear underwire bras, or at least not wearing them to bed, as they could cause lymph blockage. Exercise, eating well, (organic, locally-produced food, with organic meats and lots of vegetables, especially cruciferous ones) and not overdoing alcohol, coffee and tobacco are no-brainers, but there is another technique that few people in the west are aware of and that is breast massage; it seems that breast massage is a good means of flushing toxins out of the body and the breasts, as it is likely that a build-up of toxins could lead to an increased chance of developing cancer. If we consider that the breasts are comprised of dynamic, changing, living tissue then it makes sense that nurturing them would have a positive effect on them and perhaps also our own state of mind

According to Ayurveda, massage can keep the breasts healthy and toned and some people think that it might even change their size. Maggie Tisserand, for example, recommends a blend of rose oil in jojoba to tone and decrease their size, whereas geranium and ylang-ylang are reputed to increase them! I would recommend the use of pomegranate oil, castor oil or sesame oil, as that is what is traditionally used in India, Breast massage can stimulate healthy natural lymphatic drainage and aid the elimination of waste, as well as increasing circulation and therefore the delivery of nutrients to the cells, and regular massage of the breasts also enables us to be intimately acquainted with their shape, so any changes that might occur are noticed very quickly.

We need to stop obsessing about the shape of our breasts and how they compare to the ludicrous pictures that we see in the media, and start to consider that healthy breasts are themselves beautiful, whatever they look like. Massaging them can help us to gain acceptance of our own unique beauty and help us to nurture ourselves. The remarkable Susun Weed says “we cannot nurture others fully or well unless we also nurture ourselves.” Self-care of the breasts, the potent symbol of femininity motherhood and the goddess is a good place to start and great for health too.

Organic September

Are you happy with your skin or do you feel it needs some tlc? Are you getting the most out of the products you are using? Would you like some advice about your skin? 

Organic September is a campaign run by the wonderful Soil Association to encourage us all to do good things for ourselves and the planet by trying something organic, and I am supporting this by offering *free* skin health consultations during September, so if you fancy coming along for a chat about your skin and learning a quick, easy and efficacious way to care for your skin then please get in touch: 

jane@theorganicbeautician.com or 07961 224560

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.

Dr Hauschka skincare: for beautiful skin at any age

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! 

Warm compress with organic muslin

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. 

If you would like to talk about your skin concerns, please contact me: http://www.theorganicbeautician.com/organic-beautician-contact

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.

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! 

          

                          www.theorganicbeautician.com