We all love to see the sun, but it can wreak havoc with our hair, making it dry, brittle and straw-like. Add in a holiday with a dip in salty sea water, or even a gentle swim in a chlorine-filled pool, and the damage to your hair can be severe.

Natural is best when it comes to hair treatments.

But reaching for a chemical-based shampoo, conditioner or treatment for damaged hair, that promises to ‘moisturise’ and ‘hydrate’, can often exasperate the problem. Whilst a treatment for damaged hair can often mask the problem, the underlying condition will usually remain, meaning that the product has to be re-applied – often daily.

Petro-chemical based hair care products can be drying and irritating to the hair and scalp, causing a vicious circle to occur. (Our hair feels extra dry and brittle, so we slather on the moisturising shampoos and conditioners in blissful ignorance that these may themselves be contributing to the condition.)

Hair care products, like the food we eat, should provide nourishment and repair. The body is built to respond to nutrients found in our natural environment, so why should the hair be any different? If we believe nature knows best, we should be looking for products that contain natural botanicals to nourish the hair and promote the growth of new follicles.

Healing herbs and botanicals can restore damaged hair to natural health. A natural herbal shampoo allows herbs to be absorbed directly into the hair and the scalp, encouraging the hair to grow and repair itself.

Rosemary and nettle are two of the most useful herbs for damaged hair, and are the two key ingredients used in Botanicals natural shampoo and organic hair spritz.

Rosemary has been used as a hair tonic in folk medicine for centuries. It has a stimulating action on hair follicles encouraging hair to grow. And Nettles, rich in vitamins A and C, plus several key minerals and lipids, have also been used since ancient times for their hair restorative propeties.

To claim a free sample of Botanicals natural shampoo, simply select from the ‘try before you buy’ menu at the checkout after making any purchase.

More hair care tips coming soon!

'A miracle cure' said May about our natural foot balm.

May, from Dunblane, had suffered with skin problems on her feet for many years; a common complaint for people with diabetes. She had tried all sorts of ‘prescribed’, and ‘over the counter’ products, but explained that nothing had been able to help: “My feet were in a terrible state, dry and cracked, and I’d been very worried about getting foot ulcers – which can lead to serious complications” explained May.

Beauty therapist, Rosemary McPherson, who had treated May for three years, recommended Botanicals: “I was very concerned about May’s feet, and suggested she try Botanicals foot balm, which we use in our pedicures. When I next saw May three weeks later, I was amazed! Her feet were transformed. The skin had become soft, with no more cracks”.

“I can only call it a ‘miracle’, reported May. I’m so pleased to have found a product that works, that I want to let other people who have similar foot problems know about it”.

Botanicals products are different than conventional foot creams because they are made using only natural and organic ingredients. Our award winning foot balm contains 100% active ingredients – including shea butter (a natural butter from Africa), and organic cold pressed oils – so it’s very skin softening. It also contains pure essential oils – chosen for their natural antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, and natural vitamin E – which is a powerful anti-oxidant.

But what we leave out is equally important. We don’t use chemicals, synthetic additives or petroleum based ingredients in our creams, as these can be drying and irritating to the skin. It’s so rewarding to have such fantastic evidence that natural is best – and to reinforce our message that nature really does know best.

If you have dry skin on feet, try our “miracle cure” natural foot balm.

Give your feet some much-needed TLC.

Summer is here (well almost). And If you’re typical of most of us, you’ll be looking at your dry, cracked heels, and realising that your feet are in urgent need of some serious TLC.

Botanicals Natural Skin Care has the perfect solution to transform your neglected tootsies, into perfect pampered feet – ready for the summer season’s strappy sandals and flip flops.

Lisa Whitehead, consultant therapist at Botanicals, offers some tips on how to create perfect sandal ready feet, with a Botanicals home pedicure ritual:

“You will need a large bowl or foot spa filled with warm water, some soft towels, and some gentle music,” explains Lisa.

• Firstly, sprinkle Botanicals Himalayan mineral crystal foot soak into the warm water and allow to infuse. The crystals are divinely fragranced with an infusion of organic essentials oils. As well as softening the hard skin they will revitalise the feet with essential minerals.
• After soaking, scrub away all the dead skin cells with Botanicals lemongrass foot scrub.
• Rinse off the scrub, and dab the feet dry on a soft towel.
• Next, apply a few drops of organic cuticle oil to soften the cuticles and revitalise the toe nails.
• Now rub in Botanicals award winning natural foot balm.
• (If you have a willing partner, get them to massage your feet and lower legs with Botanicals specially blended organic massage oil.)
• Finally put your feet up for half an hour and let the feet treats work their magic, while you have a cup of herbal tea!

Botanicals Natural Skin Care, winner of two coveted European awards this year, prides itself on producing natural, organic and ethical skin care, all of which is certified by the Soil Association.

Mint & tea tree foot balm, Best Organic Body Care Award Winner, is part of Botanicals range of foot pampering treats.

You can try Botanicals award winning foot balm for free here.

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)

We’ve had our first review on YouTube – and it’s a resounding thumbs-up for our Rose & camellia organic face care gift set. Professional make-up artist, Katherine has her own YouTube channel called wildkatmakeup. In her 10 minute video clip, Katherine says that the products have “become pretty much a life-saver” for her.

£5-off special offer

We’re currently offering £5 off the gift set reviewed by Katherine. It includes a 50g pot of our award-winning, deep cleansing melt, a 50ml hydrating skin tonic and a 10ml dropper bottle of our organic facial serum. There’s a choice of two types: rose & camellia and chamomile & mandarin, depending on your skin type.

Click here for more information: Botanicals organic face care gift sets.

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.

According to the report, most fragrances – whether in personal care products, expensive perfumes or household products (like laundry detergent and air fresheners) – are concocted from any number of the 3,100 stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry. And which all too often, never appear on any label.

You’d be right in thinking that you’re protected from such exposure by Cosmetics Safety Law (which legislates that cosmetic products must be labelled with a list of ingredients). But what you may not realise is that the law has a large loophole, allowing manufacturers of fragrances to keep what they claim to be ‘trade secrets’.

Powerful branding and aggressive advertising – targeted not just at women, but increasingly at men and teenagers – is persuading us to buy into the illusion that an exotic fragrance will give us greater sex appeal.

What is ‘Not so Sexy’ (the name of the report), is that the same fragrance chemicals are being associated, not just with allergies, but also birth defects, low sperm counts, ADHD, thyroid disease and even cancer.

Click here to read the full report (Acrobat .pdf).

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:

“Although the medication I was prescribed controlled the thyroid imbalance, it didn’t help with my skin, hair and nails – which had become extra dry and very uncomfortable,” explained Sally.

“I spent a lot of time and money searching for products to ease my skin condition, but nothing seemed to work. That was until a friend introduced me to Botanicals Natural Skin Care.

“To my complete and utter amazement, from the first time I used the products, my skin, hair and nails felt soft and supple – like I hadn’t seen them in years. I am now of course, completely hooked on them and wouldn’t use anything else.”

But the story doesn’t end there:
“Shortly after trying Botanicals products, a job came up the company, and I jumped at the chance to apply. I consider myself very fortunate. The improvement in my skin has given me a real confidence boost, plus I also have a lovely new job.

“Having worked for Botanicals for some months now, and seen how the products are developed and made, I have such belief in them that I’d like to help spread the word to others who may be searching, like I did, for natural skin care products that really do work.”

Sally’s extra dry skin problems are typical of so many women. But the unanswered question is: What is causing one in fifty women to be affected in this way?

Could there be a link between thyroid disorder and the endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals like phthalates found in most artificial fragrances and musks – and used unknowingly by the majority of women in their daily lives?

Tips on extra dry skin treatment coming soon.

We’re so confident you’ll enjoy our two, award-winning products that we’ve made a batch of complimentary samples for you to try for free.

Our Rose & camellia cleansing melt won ‘Best Organic Skin Care’, and our Mint & tea tree foot balm won ‘Best Organic Body Care’, in the recent Natural & Organic Awards, held at London’s Olympia. (We’re particularly proud because it’s the first time one company has won both awards.)

The ‘try me’ duo contains a 5g pot of each award-winning product which will last for four to five applications. (We do have to restrict these to one set per customer, and also make a small charge to cover post and packing of £1.95.)

If you’d like to try the products, please order soon to avoid disappointment. (And do tell your friends.) We’re absolutely sure you’ll enjoy using them as much as we do making them.

Click here for more information and to obtain your free samples: Botanicals free ‘try me’ duo.

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.

Best of 65 entries

The products were shortlisted from 65 entries – including all the well know brands – by a judging panel made up of industry professionals (including ‘beauty gurus’ Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey). They were then trialled over a two week period by a group of independent testers.

The Soil Association’s Trade Director, Finn Cottle said: “The standard of submissions for this years awards was higher than ever, which is a reflection of the high standards of quality achieved within organic products.

Organic consumers expect quality, innovation, provenance and integrity from the products and services which they enjoy, and these award winners answer their needs on all accounts.”

“For consumers and businesses alike, the awards, now in their fifteenth year, have become a benchmark for organic excellence, highlighting the imaginative and successful way in which individuals and their companies are contributing to the resurgence in organic products.”

Click here to read the Soil Association’s press release.

Not all organic personal care products are what they seem. Natural Health Ranger, Mike Adams, has brought us news from America about a protest which hopes to bring change to the way ‘organic’ personal care products are labelled,

The American based Organic Consumer’s Association (OCA) held the protest outside the largest annual trade fair of the natural and organic products industry. The purpose? To expose dishonest or misleading ‘organic’ brands.

Members of the OCA picketed the Expo, mocking mislabelled ‘organic’ products with creative graphics, while distributing leaflets to educate the public about the lack of regulation in the organic personal care marketplace. Mike filmed the protest and put it on YouTube.

‘Coming clean over organic labelling

Through it’s ‘Coming Clean’ campaign, the OCA is boycotting what it calls ‘cheater brands’ – products that use the term ‘organic’ and yet are not organic. Many of which are sold in the UK.

In America – as in Europe – the word ‘organic’ is not regulated on personal care products as it is with food. The OCA believes that unless a product is certified by a recognised third party, it should not be allowed to use the term ‘organic’ in the product label.

Due to this lax regulation, there are many personal care brands that use the word ‘organic’, and yet (unless certified), may contain a host of petrochemical compounds and potentially toxic additives.

The National Organic Standards Board in America is actively lobbying Government to formally regulate product labelling, to ensure that any use of the word ‘organic’ on a personal care product is backed up by third-party certification to recognised organic standards.

If you are concerned by the mis-labelling of organic and natural personal care products, please leave a comment, and pass this blog post on to your friends.