Get your  flip- flop feet ready for the sunshine with Botanicals Award Winning ‘Feet Treats’

With the recent Easter sunshine you’d be forgiven for thinking that Summer is already here . 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 before being put anywhere near a pair of flip-flops, let alone those strappy sandals!

Botanicals award winning natural foot Care has the perfect solution to transform your neglected tootsies, into perfect pampered feet. Our natural foot scrub ( Anti-aging Beauty Bible award winner) is perfect to exfoliate your feet, followed by our natural foot balm ( Natural & organic awards winner) your feet will be positively pampered. But that’s not all – for a daily treat you can now use out NEW natural foot lotion to keep your feet in tip top condition.

To launch our NEW natural foot lotion, simply order our  foot scrub and  foot balm together,  and we’ll send you a trial size bottle our NEW  foot lotion for FREE !

Offer ends 31st May 2011.

Organic natural foot care offer is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

Beauty Bible Foot Care Winner

Have you heard that our lemongrass & tea tree foot scrub from our natural foot care range has made it into the Beauty Bible?

Beauty Bible gurus, Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey, have released a brand new book, The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible, and our foot scrub has been announced as winner in the foot care category.

Some comments (from independent testers):

‘Loved this product and the lemongrass smell and smooth scrub texture, refreshed wonderfully and reduced soreness; a week in and feet were noticeably smoother’

‘feet felt wonderfully revived after a long day walking and standing; longer term it helps my hard(ish) skin’

‘smelt like Lemsip, worked well and skin feels revived and soft’

‘easy to apply, if a little messy, you can feel the cleansing salt crystals; very refreshing, reduced swelling and tenderness, left feet soft, clean and incredibly pampered – a real treat for the feet: love it!’.

Uniquely formulated and fabulously fragrant, our all-natural foot scrub is made with Himalayan mineral crystal, Dead Sea salt, organic shea butter and exotic oils.

Statistics show that 43 per cent of people suffer from dry hard skin on their feet. Which at best can prove unsightly and embarrassing. And at worst can cause cracking of the skin, leading to infection. As you get older, your skin becomes even dryer, so a regular foot care routine is essential for the maintenance of healthy feet.

Our all-natural foot scrub

Botanicals foot scrub is very easy to use. It is super concentrated (containing no water) so a little goes a long way. Simply remove a blob with the fingertips, and massage into your feet, concentrating on larger areas of hard skin, such as hard-working heels and the balls of the feet.

The scrub contains Himalayan mineral crystals to break down and slough away hard skin cells, and organic shea butter to soften and plump up the skin underneath, revealing visibly softer skin after just one application. It is easily washed off with warm water, and because it’s water soluble, leaves no greasy residue.

Like all our natural skin care products, Botanicals natural foot scrub is certified by the Soil Association. It’s also great value. (A jar will last several months if used weekly.)

Botanicals foot care is Beauty Bible winner. is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

Do you dream of having fresh new skin again?

We recently came across this song called “New Skin” and decided it would be fun to create a short video to go along with it.

Enjoy your new skin!

Do You Want New Skin? is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

For those who read my earlier blog post: ‘When is a coconut, not a coconut! I thought I’d show you how easy is to make ‘real’ coconut body butter, that feels and smells delicious. (It’s even good enough to eat!)

Real coconut butter is easy to make

I love pure virgin coconut oil. It is one of the best natural ingredients you can use on your skin and hair.

Coconut oil penetrates the skin’s deeper layers helping strengthen the underlying tissue, leading to more youthful looking skin. It has amazing skin softening and moisturising properties, and is rich in natural antioxidants, (helping reduce skin-damaging free-radicals).

You can also use it as a pre-wash conditioner for softening dry and damaged hair.

Virgin coconut oil is semi solid at room temperature, but readily melts to a liquid when warmed (but don’t heat in a microwave).

Here’s my recipe. (It also makes a fabulous lip balm.)

To make 100g, all you will need is:
80g organic virgin coconut oil*.
20g organic cold-pressed vegetable oil (apricot kernel, grape seed or jojoba).
One natural vitamin E capsule.
100g sterilized jar or tin with air tight lid.

Method:
Melt the coconut oil gently, by placing it in a container, into a bowl of hot water.
When melted, dry the container to make sure that no water droplets get into the oil.
Blend the melted coconut oil and the chosen vegetable oil together.
Squeeze the vitamin E into the liquid stirring well.
Pour the liquid oils into the jar and leave to set.

Enjoy!

*Organic virgin coconut oil can be bought at most good health food shops, but if you have difficulty sourcing it locally, you can also buy it online from the Botanicals shop.

Free recipe: ‘Real’ Coconut Body Butter is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

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’.

The smell of coconut is overpowering (even before you take the lid off). But as you’ll see from the list, the fragrance isn’t from coconut! (The official name for coconut oil is cocos nucifera.)

Aqua (Water)
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Skin conditioning agent. Can cause skin irritation. Suspected to be an environmental toxin.)
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter.)
Glycerin (Humectant. Can be animal or vegetable-based.)
Theobroma cocao (Cocoa butter.)
Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier. Considered safe in cosmetics.)
PEG 100 Stearate (PEG stands for polyethylene glycol. Considered toxic. Skin irritant at very low doses. Tumour formation at moderate doses. Reproductive effects at high doses.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Cetearyl alcohol (Emulsifier. Considered safe in cosmetics.)
Lanolin Alcohol (From the oil glands of sheep. Used as an emollient and emulsifier. Human skin toxicant.) CONCERNS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
Parfum (Synthetic fragrance.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Methylparaben (Paraben preservative. Strong evidence of being a human skin toxicant and hormone disruptor.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Propylparaben (Paraben preservative. Strong evidence of being a human skin toxicant and hormone disruptor. Also evidence of wildlife and environment disruption.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Xanthan gum (Thickener. Considered safe in cosmetics.)
Benzyl alcohol (Preservative. Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Disodium EDTA (Stabilizer. Evidence of neurotoxicity and as a hormone disruptor.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Benzyl benzoate (Used to improve the stability and odour characteristics of fragrance. Possible human immune system toxicant. Associated with hormone disruption. Wildlife and environmental toxicity.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Coumarin (Fragrance chemical, included in EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances list. Well-recognised as consumer allergen. Known human immune system toxicant. Cancer hazards suspected.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Butylphenyl Propional (Fragrance chemical, included in EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances list. Persistent or bio accumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans. Hormone disruptor.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic soda. Skin irritant at very low doses. Organic system toxicity and neurotoxicity at very low doses.) TESTED ON ANIMALS.
Caramel (Artificial colourant. Considered safe at limited use.)

If you have similar concerns about what’s in the products you are using, leave a comment below. I’m sure you’ll find Skin Deep Cosmetics Database a really useful tool. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let me know and I’ll always try to help.

When is a coconut, not a coconut! is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

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.

I peeled back the label to reveal the ingredients list. But guess what? No mention of coconut oil! (The official name for coconut oil is cocos nucifera.) But at least there were the reassuring words (in capital letters): ‘AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING’.

Still curious, I decided to check out the ingredients on 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. ( I have listed all the ingredients here with a description of each ingredient taken from the Skin Deep database’, highlighting the ingredients which, according to ‘Skin Deep’ have actually been tested on animals. I think you’ll agree that it makes very interesting reading!)

So, back to the elusive coconut oil. Surely it would be against the law for a company to state ‘with coconut oil’, if the product doesn’t contain any. And if there is no coconut oil, where does that highly pungent smell of coconut come from? Here’s my explanation.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (the second ingredient listed), although highly refined, is actually a derivative of coconut and glycerin. I can only assume that this is what has been termed as ‘coconut oil.’ (It is completely odourless.)
The coconut smell (that doesn’t wash off) is 100% synthetic. Not only that, my guess is that it’s made with fragrance compounds – ‘Coumarin’ and ‘Butylphenyl Propional’ – that are on the EU Banned and Restricted Fragrances list as hormone disruptors.

The reason I felt compelled to write this blog post is two-fold.

Firstly, that I believe we should all be able to make informed choices. Most of us don’t have a knowledge of chemistry to understand what is in the products we buying. But we don’t expect the manufacturer to lie to us either.

Secondly, I believe that there is enough evidence about the toxic effects of synthetic fragrance, to make manufacturers question their place in personal care products. Why then are chemicals known to be hormone disruptors, being used in a leave on body butter targeted at young women? (If you’re interested in reading more about the dangers of synthetic fragrance, see my earlier blog post.)

If you have similar concerns about what’s in the products you are using, leave a comment below. I’m sure you’ll find Skin Deep Cosmetics Database a really useful tool. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let me know and I’ll always try to help.

You’ll approve of this Mum – or would I? is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

Christmas gifts for everyone

Why not make your friends and loved ones feel truly pampered this year?

Our Christmas collection includes six gorgeous pamper boxes. All handmade, with beautiful recyclable packaging.

We’ve introduced some brand new products, along with some good old favourites and some heavenly winter warmers – all with amazing smells!

The organic pamper boxes, which are all certified by the Soil Association, include;

‘Feet Treats’; An all-natural foot care collection containing all you need for a pampering home pedicure.

‘Winter warmer’ for hands and nails; A trio of treats for winter-challenged hands.

Rose & camellia body care collection; Infused with the exotic essence of pure organic rose oil.

Orange blossom body care collection; Exquisitely fragranced with pure neroli (distilled from hand-picked orange blossoms).

Plus a choice of two face skin care gift boxes; containing a trio of products from our organic facial care range.

There’s something for everyone, and of course it’s all completely natural.

We are aware that everyone’s looking for value this year, so we’ve priced each pamper box under £20. (We’ve also included a £5 gift voucher, making them even better value!)

Take a look to see which one you would like in your Christmas stocking

Christmas Gift Collection from Botanicals is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

Chrismas is coming

Christmas is coming; they say the geese are getting fat,
But here at Botanicals, we never think of that.
For we are busy making organic, natural treats,
Perfect gifts for those you love; for faces, hands and feet.
And just in case the festive rush gets you in a spin,
(Traffic jams and jostling crowds do nothing for your skin!)
Remember, at Botanicals, we can save you time –
Our range of hand-made gifts is available online.

I hope you like our little rhyme

We’ve been really busy in recent weeks with preparations for the festive season, and are finally adding the finishing touches to our 2010 Christmas Collection.

Our theme this year is ‘Pamper‘ (rather than ‘Hamper’). We’ve included some brand new products (all with amazing smells!), some good old favourites, and some heavenly winter warmers.

Why not make your female friends and loved ones feel truly pampered this year?
There’s something for everyone, and of course it’s all completely natural.

Our Christmas Gift Collection will be available from early November. Watch out for details!

Christmas is coming…. is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

We capture the true aroma of plant essences.

Surely, everyone (women and men) go for nice smells when choosing a personal care product. The cosmetics giants know this only too well, and invest millions of dollars in the formulation of fragrance. Unfortunately, this is typically synthetic fragrance, which brings with it the health concerns covered in my earlier blog post about ‘secret ingredients’.

Why then are organic skin care producers seemingly not conscious of the importance of a nice smelling product?

Organic skin care products are made with all things that are good for your skin; natural vegetable oils, butters ,waxes, herbal extracts and essential oils. However, good as they may be for the skin, certain organic extracts, oils and tinctures, have a fragrance that is are more reminiscent of a compost heap, than the bunch of sweet smelling herbs or botanicals from which they originated. (Do you remember as a child, making ‘perfume’ by soaking rose petals in water?)

As a formulator of organic skin care products, I have always had the fragrance of the finished product right at the top of my ‘must have’ list.

Aromatherapy has always played a major part in the development of Botanicals products, which are designed to work holistically (with the person as a whole). This follows my personal belief that beauty comes not only from the care and nourishment of the skin, but also from the emotional benefits of fragrant plant essences.

This doesn’t mean that we exclude certain therapeutic herbs and extracts because of their smell. They are all in there – and in beneficial proportions – but any undesirable smell has either been organically de-odorised, or masked by something equally beneficial, but more pleasing to the nose.

How much does your nose affect your skin care choices? Let me know, (along with anything else you consider important when choosing your daily skin care products), and we’ll send you some free samples of our fragrant smelling Botanicals!

You can contact me via the contact page on the website.

Do organic skin care products really need to smell so bad? is published by: Botanicals natural skin care

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!

Herbal treatment for damaged hair is published by: Botanicals natural skin care