Posted by Wendy in natural skin care, News & views | 0 Comments

When is a coconut, not a coconut!

Where's the coconut?

Following my last blog post, ‘You’ll approve of this Mum‘, here’s the list of ingredients taken from the label of a jar of coconut body butter, ‘with coconut oil’, given to my daugher as a Christmas present.

Alongside each ingredient is a description from the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.

As well as several which raise real health concerns, I was amazed to find a large number associated with Animal Testing and Animal Cruelty. A contradiction to the manufacturers claim on the label; ‘AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING’.

Posted by Wendy in natural skin care, News & views | 0 Comments

You’ll approve of this Mum – or would I?

Happy New Year!

As the festive season draws to a close, I’m sure most of us will be left with a fuzzy feeling of warmth and gratitude for all the gifts we shared.

My daughter was given a lovely gift box (bought at a well know high street body care store), containing ‘Coconut Body Butter’ – with coconut oil . It looked very natural (packaged in a hessian covered box with coconut prints, and filled with wood wool). But is seems that this was far from the truth!

Coconut oil is one of nature's delights

I couldn’t help but take an interest, as my daughter slathered on the body butter, filling the room with the smell of coconut. “You’ll approve of this Mum”, she said.

Intrigued, I tried some on the back of my hand, and having a nose for natural smells, I suspected that this wasn’t the smell of natural coconut. After washing my hands, the smell of coconut still lingered on my skin (despite having used a lemongrass hand soap)! This prompted me to look at the label.

On the underside of the tub in thirteen languages were the words: ‘Coconut Body Butter, for Normal to Dry Skin. Keep in a cool place.’ But where was the ingredients list? Ah ha!! It took me a while to realise that it was a ‘peel back’ label.

Posted by David in News & views | 0 Comments

Botanicals Natural Skin Care supports Make-A-Wish

It’s been a busy spring bank holiday at Botanicals.

We were asked a couple of weeks ago if we’d like to support the Make-A-Wish charity, by donating gifts for the annual Summer Ball at Blenheim Palace, which takes place on 12th June.

Make-A-Wish is such a worthwhile cause. It grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life threatening illnesses. The charity is hoping to raise £400k at the event, all of which will go directly to the charity.

So we’ve been busy filling bottles – 300 of them! We’ve called them our ‘little bottles of joy’

We’re also donating 10% of orders made in June from supporters of Make-A-Wish to the charity. To join us, simply type ‘wish’ at the checkout, and 10% of what you spend will be sent directly to Make-A-Wish.

Click here to view the Make-A-Wish website. (Charity Registration Nos. 295672/SCO37479)

Posted by Wendy in News & views | 0 Comments

Health concerns over secret ingredients found in cosmetic fragrances

Last week was ‘National Allergy Week‘; an initiative to draw attention to the growing problem of allergies.

Allergies may often be associated with food intolerance, but according to a newly published report, ‘fragrance’ is now considered among the top five allergens in North America and Europe, and is associated with a wide range of skin, eye and repository reactions.

A new study of popular fragrances commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that the perfumes they analysed contained an average of 14 chemicals which were not listed on the label, and that among these ‘secret ingredients’ were petrochemicals, hormone disruptors, compounds known to trigger allergies, and others never tested for their safety.

Posted by Wendy in Feedback & reviews, News & views | 1 Comment

Is extra dry skin linked to thyroid problems?

Why do so many women suffer from extra dry skin? Recent studies have shown that as many as one in 50 women (and one in 1000 men), develop thyroid problems at some time in life. And that around 80% of these are caused by an under-active thyroid; a condition known as hypothyroid.

This slows down metabolic function, which can lead to skin becoming extra dry and irritated. Hair and scalp can also be affected, with symptoms such as dry and brittle hair, dry and itchy scalp, and even hair loss.

Although treatment for an under-active thyroid is generally straightforward, the extra dry skin conditions can often remain. Sally (above right) recently joined the Botanicals team. She was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid at the age of 31. In the hope of helping others, Sally has offered to share her story:

Posted by Wendy in News & views | 0 Comments

Botanicals natural skincare wins Awards for Excellence

We are absolutely thrilled to have won two awards in this years Soil Association Organic Awards!

The awards, announced on Sunday at the Natural and Organic Products Europe Show at Olympia, were presented to businesses that have “set the highest standard for innovation, quality and commitment, within the organic health and beauty industry”.

The awards were for: Best Organic Facial Product: Rose & camellia cleansing melt and Best Organic Body Care Product: Mint & tea tree foot balm. We were particularly proud to be the first company ever to win awards in two categories in the same year.

Wendy holding the two trophies with (from l to r) Sarah, Sally and Lisa.