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Choosing eco-friendly products to clean your home and laundry isn’t just better for the environment, but it could even save your life! Regular cleaning products may be great at killing germs and cutting grease but this comes at the expense of health and environment – the array of harsh, toxic chemicals and additives we are now exposed to via the sprays, polishes, wipes, bleaches and cleaning fluids have been linked to a host of problems ranging from mild allergies to cancer. Many of the ingredients used in regular products are known carcinogens and irritants, and such chemicals can build up in the system and take years to develop into a serious illness – so is our clean-conscious lifestyle heading us into future disaster?

Many people say they would choose eco-friendly products but they don’t believe they clean as well as their usual brands. The answer is now at hand with a great new range of truly safe and ethical cleaning products which shatter this myth to smithereens. The Bio-D range of cleaning and laundry products is now available at online organic lifestyle store buyOrganics. With this biodegradeable, SLS free, natural range of house cleaning products, not only will you get the job done in no time, but you can be safe in the knowledge you haven’t harmed your own health or that of the planet in the process! They are all allergy tested and contain no animal products – and it goes without saying that they haven’t been tested on animals too (which most regular products have been). Raw products are mainly from renewable sources and all packaging is recyclable.

The chemical industry launches around 1000 new chemicals a year – which seems crazy in this day and age when we’re trying to cut down the risks of pollution in our air, water and bodies. Young children whose systems are not as developed as adults’ are particularly at risk – cancer is now the leading cause (alongside accidents) of death in children aged 5 to 9, and the asthma rate in Canada, for example, has increased in recent years around 400%. Ingredients allowed in our cleaning products include denatured ethanol (in antibacterial sprays for example) which can cause respiratory irritation; spray polishes contain silicones, butane gas and propane; and glass cleaners usually contain glycol ethers – chemicals which have been linked to reproductive problems.

Bio D products are the best all-round solution for safe, ethical cleaning – and results are as effective as regular products and are a particularly good choice for homes where there are babies, young children, expectant mothers, pets, allergy sufferers (such as eczema and asthma), and people undergoing chemotherapy who need to limit their toxin intake. The laundry powder and liquid are especially useful for these vulnerable groups. All products are safe and perfect for use in homes with cess pits and septic tanks.

These eco-conscious products are also friendly on the pocket – good news with the current economic climate – with products ranging from just £1.89 to £4.00.

BuyOrganics is an online organic lifestyle store dedicated to a healthy lifestyle and the future of the planet, with attention to customer service, fast delivery and product quality and integrity.
Full range of Bio-D Products at buyOrganics:

Bio D Washing Up Liquid (£1.89)
Kind to hands, the waterways and won’t kill the fishes!!

Bio D Toilet Cleaner (£2.49)
The smallest room will never be the same again - gets rid of smells, stains and even limescale.

Bio D Glass & Mirror Cleaner (£3.04)
Streak and smear free and not a cough or splutter to boot!

Bio D Laundry Washing Liquid (£3.84)
Safe for you and your washing machine – not to mention the dolphins!

Bio D Washing Powder (£3.05 for 1kg)
A little goes a long way with this concentrated powder

Cleaning has never been more fun or more healthy!

For all the gorgeous natural organic skincare and beauty products we sell I can still say that looking beautiful, and having radiant blossoming skin is something that also needs to be created from the inside out.

To have beautiful skin that radiates health:

Start with clearing negativity from your life. Write a list of all the good things in your life and what you want in your life and concentrate on it everyday. Let negative feelings go by exercising regularly, and create more faith in your life. Yoga is great for doing both. Love makes us glow, so by emanating a feeling of love for all people and all things we create a lot of positive energy in ourselves.

Detox your body, not through any extreme measures, things like fasting don’t suit everyone and can be quite detrimental to some. The key to good health is balance in all things. Make sure you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Stop smoking if you do, cut down on caffeine such as coffee and tea, and also moderate alcohol. These things cut down your blood circulation and the release of toxins from your body.

Eat plenty of fruit and veg, organic if possible, and cut down on meat. If you can’t eat your vegetables, then drink them in the form of smoothies which make sure that not too much of the precious fibre is lost from your system. Fruit and veg contain all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs to keep the body healthy.

Get plenty of beauty sleep as that’s the time your body renews itself.

Have a diet rich in probiotics or take a supplement if necessary; this will ensure your gut stays as healthy as possible therefore ensuring toxins are released from the body and nutrients absorbed. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to your skin. Also make sure your bowel movements are regular if you want your skin to stay clear.

Have a facial once a month, or alternate with a massage every other month, if funds are short. This regular attention to your face and body will help the body detox toxins and will also get rid of stored negative energy.

buyOrganics recommends Cavalliert Beauty who provide amazing Holistic Natural Facials as well as a complete consultation on your lifestyle and skin.

There has been recent debate over whether we should use sunscreens at all or if staying in the shade and covering our skin is better, since sunscreens are becoming higher and higher in factor – containing strong chemicals and additives in order to do increase protection – ingredients which could even themselves be considered harmful to human health. buyOrganics looks at the risks of sun exposure AND the products we use in the belief that we are protecting ourselves, and suggests that the ONLY true way to ensure health on the outside and the inside is to use organic sunscreens.

The most damaging aspect of the sun’s rays is its radiation – invisible to the human eye but the cause of cell mutation on and beneath the surface of the skin, which is how cancer develops. UV radiation is the single most important cause of skin cancer, especially when overexposure results in sunburn and blistering. This radiation is broken down into three main types: A, B and C. It used to be thought that UVB radiation was the main culprit when it comes to melanoma as UVB damage is visible in the form of sunburn, but in recent years research has discovered that UVA radiation penetrates deep beneath the skin and these cells are the most vulnerable and the hardest to treat should they mutate. UVA radiation is also the cause of wrinkles, so if you want to retain your youthful complexion the advice is simple – stay out of the sun altogether!

Slapping on factor 30, 45 or even 50 may seem like a good idea but recently it has been proposed that the more sunscreens we use, the more protection we feel we have, meaning we stay out in the sun longer, thus increasing our risk of sun damage and the chance of developing skin cancer. This disease is now rapidly on the increase, with 9,000 cases being diagnosed in the UK every year, and one of the reasons it is thought this is the case, is strangely, that we are using more and more sunscreens!

There are three forms of skin cancer – all of them caused by sun damage. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas are the least life-threatening, but melanoma is highly aggressive and is in fact one of the most aggressive types of human cancer there is and risk is higher in areas where there are high levels of ambient UV – such as Australia and New Zealand, where it is the most common form of cancer.

Sun worshipping is big business – there are literally hundreds of different brands and types of sunscreens on the market, all with several different levels of SPF (sun protection factor) which the bemused consumer is supposed to be able to calculate according to their skin type and how long they intend to keep reapplying the cream. And in fact, there is very little difference between a factor of 15 and 30 – apart from the level of preservative ingredients in the product to keep it fresh. Using a higher factor sunscreen in order to not have to keep replenishing it is, according to Cancer Research UK, one of the surest ways to increase your cancer risk – all these high factor creams lull us into a false sense of security, encouraging us to stay out longer in the sun so long as we keep on applying those creams.

Sunscreen products themselves also contain a host of manufactured chemicals in order to provide UV protection, but there are natural and organic alternatives available – these will contain microfine zinc or titanium dioxide which provide both UVA and UVB protection, and is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Sunscreen products by Miessence, Essential Care and Green People give great sun protection as well as containing safer ingredients.

Most regular sunscreens and self-tan products also contain a host of other known irritant and sensitizing ingredients such as phenoxyethanol – which is also present in most sunscreen products and, which is actually on the list of preservatives approved – although restricted - by The Soil Association.

Preservatives are necessary in cosmetic products in order to inhibit the growth of bacteria once jars and bottles are opened. They are particularly important in products which contain oil and water as these will go rancid after air exposure, unless preservatives are present. Preservatives work by killing bacteria cells – but can also do the same to skin cells, which is what gives them their toxicity. The higher protection factor a sunscreen has, the higher levels of the ingredients in the product which can go “off” – hence the occasional requirement for phenoxyethanol, says the Soil Association, which allows them even in some of their certified organic products.

An excellent compromise comes from Sonia Kalia-Sagoo, founder and director of Buy Organics Ltd, an online organic store which stocks only the safest organic sunscreens as certified by The Soil Association:

“I love the sun and I’m always out in it given the chance. However, when it’s hot I always keep in the shade and keep well-covered. Having just come back from visiting family in India I made sure that my 4 year old daughter was wearing full sleeve bamboo T shirts and leggings all day long. This amazing fabric not only kept her cool, but it also has UV protective qualities. For the skin that is exposed just apply a small amount of Green People or Essential Care organic sunscreen.”

However, there is a flip side to all the public hype surrounding shade and sunscreens. Whilst we’re told sun exposure is bad for us, in fact, we do need regular amounts of natural sunlight in order to produce and maintain vital supplies of Vitamin D. This vitamin is easily produced by 15-20 minutes a day of sunshine on our faces, arms and legs – preferably without sunscreens which can also inhibit absorption. Research has also shown that obtaining a tan, particularly in our childhood and teenage years could actually help protect against some diseases such as prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis.

What a dilemma! If we stay in the shade and slap on the sunscreens we could be covering our bodies in toxic chemical ingredients which can enter the bloodstream, let alone the risk of vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, how do we protect ourselves from the equally unpleasant effects of overexposure such as cancers and premature ageing?

It seems that when it comes to the sun, along with most things in life, moderation is the best option, and nothing on earth feels as good as the gentle rays of the sun warming our faces and bodies.

Labels: buy, lotion, natural, online, organic, protection, screen, sun, sunscreen

Newborn babies can start life as they mean to go on with purely natural organic products plus new mums can heal quickly and stay naturally gorgeous the organic way!

Pregnancy and coping with a newborn baby can now be safe and natural all the way with buyOrganics’ updated and improved Mother & Child store. New branded range additions for mother, newborn and child include MAMBINO ORGANICS and EARTH MAMA ANGEL BABY skincare products. buyOrganics also continues to stock best selling Soil Association certified products by ESSENTIAL CARE, ESSELLE and EARTHBOUND ORGANICS as well as many other brands.

This revamp of the acclaimed buyOrganics site is part of the company’s socially responsible commitment to providing women with the safest, most natural care for themselves and their babies during and after birth, with the longterm view of encouraging women in the mainstream to choose more natural products as the norm.

Having a baby can be a daunting prospect and every parent wants the best for their child – all the buyOrganics products are safe, natural and respectful for the environment. Embrace an eco-friendly start to your babies’ life with organic cotton and bamboo clothing, organic cotton buds and pads by SIMPLY GENTLE, organic baby bedding, mattresses and sustainable wooden cots from PROLANA and ABACA, organic baby sleeping bags, sustainable wood cots, biodegradable organic baby wipes and maternity pads by NATRACARE and the most comprehensive, natural soothing products for baby’s medicine cabinet including organic eczema creams, scalp treatments and post-partum remedies – all completely organic and with ancient soothing and healing properties. Babies will have the trendiest, most eco-friendly bottoms around with the buyOrganics selection of non-disposable nappies in gorgeous colours and the softest fabrics – bamboo and organic cotton – with washable liners, are all available.

MAMBINO ORGANICS skincare products include for mother: Mommy Time Organic Body Wash, Oh Baby Belly Butter, Youth Glow Omega Face Complex, Kissable Lips Moisturiser, Moisture Me Body Toning Oil, Calendula Olive Nipple Butter and for Caesarian section patients – the incredible C-Section Regenerative Scar Therapy treatment. These products contain naturally healing and soothing ingredients which are 100% certified organic, including lemon balm, which fades skin discolouration and helichrysum oil, which promotes skin healing. Also the ancient Sea Buckthorn Oil used since the 8th century to improve skin elasticity, hazelnut, pomegranate and evening primrose oils, all valued for toning and smoothing skin, olive oil for natural nourishment, shea butter and avocado oil to enrich and meadow foam wax, a totally natural moisture barrier.

Many babies quickly develop skin complaints such as eczema and cradle cap, usually due to overuse of synthetic soaps and baby products, but choosing organic products will ensure natural drying, softening and healing remedies for precious new bodies.

EARTH MAMA ANGEL BABY is a 100% organic range of products suitable for pregnant women and newborn babies, which contain no parabens or phlalates or artificial ingredients, and which contain natural healing and soothing properties. EARTH MAMA includes a range of herbal teas with magical properties such as the Morning Wellness blend, Peaceful Mama blend, Heartburn tea and Third Trimester tea. The EARTH MAMA New Mama Bottom Spray and Bottom Balm is formulated for the post-partum perineal area, and the Natural Stretch Oil helps with stretch marks. The Labour Ease Massage Oil and Labour Oil are must-haves for every expectant mother’s hospital kit.

The store also includes a range of beautiful, ethical gifts for new mothers and babies – perfect for relatives or work colleagues as a gift.

BuyOrganics stocks only organic, ethical and environmental products, conducts its own stringent environmental policies and is a member of the Ethical Junction.

For more information see the Mother & Child buyOrganics store at www.buyorganics.co.uk

In the beginning months of life, it is best not to bombard a baby with tons of toiletries and products. They truly don’t need lots of baths and toiletries.
Most doctors agree that about twice a week is usually enough. Plain water will do just fine most of the time, with baby wash or shampoo reserved for when the need arises and for the bits that need it. Their skin is delicate and significantly more permeable, in fact about 5 times thinner than ours. Cleaning can strip their delicate skin of its essential body oils. There seems to be a fallacy that until you have lathered the body with soap that the skin won’t be clean, and its total nonsense. Babies and young children don’t need tons of products in the bath. Baby lotion and baby powder aren’t really necessary either. Warm water and a good organic or pure natural baby massage oil or lotion is all that is needed, along with a balm for the bottom to prevent nappy rash. When you do need baby skin care products, if you stick to simple pure natural and organic products you should find that their skin will remain naturally soft and supple as they grow.

The growing trend in production and sales of organic and natural toiletries is as a result of the alarming facts about the truth behind baby and children’s skin care products and toiletries. Ian Taylor, of Green People, established by a woman who wanted to soothe her own daughter's eczema, says their baby washes and lotions simply "avoid any ingredient that can irritate the skin and all unnecessary synthetic chemicals ".

The escalating use of unnecessary products in the name of hygiene could certainly be doing our children's skin more harm than good. Warm water, for instance, is all that's needed to keep most babies clean. But Dr Michael Cork, consultant in dermatology at Sheffield Children's Hospital, recently published a paper showing that our consumption of products such as bubble baths, lotions, oils, talc, wipes and even baby perfumes has shot up in recent decades. As up to 20% of British children are now affected by eczema at some stage in their life, compared with fewer than 5% during the 1950s, there is, Cork says, "strong accumulating evidence suggesting that the rise in eczema and the increased use of such products are linked". The best guidance for helping children with eczema naturally is to keep them well moisturised with organic and natural eczema creams such as Essential cares Ultra Rich or Soothing Salve, Repair Lotion or Earthbound Organics Chickweed and Calendula cream. Give only lukewarm baths as hot water can dry out and aggravate the skin further. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products in the home such as eco friendly washing up solutions on their clothes such as unscented Aquaball, and Miessence’s Bio Pure Probiotic Cleaner. Get your child checked for allergies and food intolerances and pay a visit to a nutritionist on guidance with diet. Keep them well hydrated and the house clean and free of allergens such as dust mites.

The healthiest baby and child skin care products you will find are those that are genuinely natural and organic. They will contain only the bare minimum of ingredients made of pure organic essential oils that are safe for using on babies skin, and natural emollients such as Shea butter, beeswax or natures oils such as almond, borage, or olive oils. If a skin care product features water in its formulation it must have some natural preservative system to prevent nitrosamines developing. Look for baby skin care products with a gentle natural system such as herbs and essential oils. Natural preservative systems that have been used for centuries include honey, sugar and alcohol. Plant extracts can also be used such as rose, cinnamon, cloves, calendula and vanilla. To prevent fast spread of bacteria natural processes are allowed by the Soil Association such as heat treatment, removing oxygen through vacuum packing and ensuring low water content. Some chemical preservatives are also allowed by certifying bodies such as the Soil Association such organic acids and grain alcohols.

A product that contains a minimum of 70% organic ingredients and no GM or petrochemical products is good enough to be organic through the Soil Association. Other certifying bodies have different criteria but they are all very similar.

Particularly good for babies are pH balanced healing herbs such as Chamomile and Calendula Oil which have anti-inflammatory properties and anti-microbial properties, whilst also stimulating cellular regeneration.

Other excellent skin friendly therapeutic healing herbs in baby bath soaps and washes, baby lotion and baby massage include: Almond Oil, Coconut oil, Apricot oil, Wheat germ oil and Borage oil: this is one of the riches sources of gamma linoleic acid, it also contains important vitamins and minerals. Not only does it nourish and hydrate the skin, but it also helps in cell regeneration. Avocado oil is another goodie. It is a soothing and calming oil, easily absorbed by the skin and scalp and is a good source of vitamins A,D, E, amino acids and sterols. Sea Buckthorn is massively popular in natural and organic skin care products for babies. This incredible oil contains 190 nutritional compounds including vitamins E, C, A, K, B1, B2, folic acid, Carotenoids, Flavonoids, Sterols, Stanols, Polar Lipids. It has a 1:1 ratio of the rare Omega 7 fatty acid as well as Omegas 3 and 6. Its earliest use was in Tibetan medicine in the 8th Century. Sea Buckthorn contains unique anti ageing properties and cell and tissue regenerative qualities making it suitable for a wide variety of skin conditions.

Children these days, it seems, are all too keen to grow up quickly in so many ways, but one highly alarming and possibly health hazardous way in which young teenagers are hastening towards their adult years is through their use of personal care products. It is a horrifying fact that the majority of cosmetics, skin and hair care products on the market contain ingredients which are allergens, hormone disruptors and neurotoxins, and with children every day exposed to on average 27 different personal care products which have not been found safe (according to the Environmental Working Group), there is much to worry about. Puberty is a very challenging time for the growing body, hormonally, and it is at this precise time where the body is developing and changing at an exaggerated rate, that the less noxious substances entering the bloodstream through the skin, the better, particularly as this is the time where in particular girls, are trying out new personal care products and cosmetics on a regular basis.

Children’s skin is 30% thinner than adults, and does not reach maximum thickness until around age 20, so well after the teenage years when girls in particular but increasingly boys, experiment with all sorts of cosmetics and other products. Teenagers use these products in a bid to form a sense of identity, fit in with their peers and to toy with different “looks”, meaning that their use of potentially hazardous products is high. And even more worryingly, children are starting to try out cosmetics at an increasingly young age. A recent report found that 80% of 11-14 year olds wear lip colour – but did you think about the effects of lipstick ingestion? According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the average woman who wears make-up will EAT about 4 pounds (that’s 1.81 Kg) of lipstick during her lifetime via drinking, eating and kissing. Last year, several very popular lipsticks (including those by L’Oreal and Cover Girl) were found to contain levels of LEAD – linked to a range of unpleasant side effects – higher than the recommended limit set by the FDA.

Makeup is not the only area where less should definitely be more, particularly when it comes to growing children. A staggering 58% of girls regularly wear perfume by age 14, which seems crazy with fragrance one of the top five allergens in existence. “Tweenagers” (children aged between 9 and 16) are increasingly visiting spas and tanning salons, having makeover parties, and having treatments such as waxing, hair dyeing and nail extensions. Hair removal company Nair recently launched a product, Nair Pretty, aimed specifically at this target audience, and other cosmetic companies are cottoning onto the lucrative tween market, which is estimated at £82 billion worldwide. Most of these products contain suspect ingredients, even those formulated for children’s skins which are marked as being “gentle”, “non-irritating” and even dermatologist approved.

There are products available to buy which teens and tweens use, such as hair dyes and shampoos which can contain lead and petroleum by-products, and even placenta, which is added for its deep conditioning properties – however this substance is so chock full of hormones that it has been claimed is responsible for breast growth in toddlers! . But there is hope – apparently girls over 15 listen to their mothers and follow their example, often using the same brands and products they do.

We’re not suggesting that growing children and teenagers shouldn’t be able to experiment with beauty products and express their identities through their appearance – simply that all of us need to pay more attention to the ingredients in the products before slathering our bodies with nasty chemicals.

There are so many wonderful organic skincare products and organic cosmetics available which would be infinitely more suitable for teenagers! The good news is – they are all pure luxury for adults as well, and so you won’t have any trouble setting a good example by using them yourself! Here at buyOrganics we have picked what we feel to be the best of the best:

BUYORGANICS’ TOP RECOMMENDED ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS:

Lipgloss – Nvey Eco’s Lip Lustre – several colours including a Nude and two shimmers

Lipstick – Green People’s beautiful moisurising lipsticks contain organic coconut, cupuacu and jojoba oil

Foundation – Nvey Eco’s Organic Moisturising Liquid Foundation – perfect for young skin with a dewy finish and 100% organic ingredients

Loose powder – Miessence’s Organic Mineral Foundation Powder – beautiful light reflective powder which contains organic rose essential oil

Mascara – Miessence’s Organic Mascara in Pure Black gives luscious, thick – but toxin-free lashes!

Eyeshadow/Eyeliner – Nvey Eco’s eyeshadow singles and cake eyeliner contain chamomile and antioxidants and come in a range of colours

Blusher/Bronzer – Miessence’s organic mineral bronzing powders and blushers do not clog the pores and give a healthy colour which truly is healthy!

Cleanser – Miessence’s Purifying Facial Cleanser is ideal for teenage skin, soothing oily and problem skin naturally

Toner – Earthbound Organics Orange Blossom Water – wonderfully gentle for oily skin, this toner is simply pure organic orange blossom water!

Moisturiser – Miessence’s Purifying Organic Moisturiser is a light lotion with organic extracts of Echinacea, plantain, calendula, witch hazel, tea tree and lemon myrtle which soothe inflamed complexions without blocking pores

Shampoo/Conditioner – Green People’s range of organic shampoos are perfect for all the family – try their no scent or natural vitamin shampoo and conditioners for healthy hair that shines!

Hair Styling – Miessence’s Shape Natural Organic Styling Gel is great for boys and girls to style wet or dry hair – moisturising and nourishing the hair whilst providing medium hold

Body Wash – Ecosopia’s unscented hand and body wash is ideal for sensitive skins and can be used by all the family.

And especially for teenage boys …. starting to shave can be irritant and stressful to young boy’s skin – the perfect solution is Eselle Organics’ Razzmatazz Shave/Aftershave Oil – which can be used as a pre-shave softener as well as an aftershave treatment. It softens and protects the skin as well as containing healing and soothing properties.

All these organic skincare products are available at www.buyorganics.co.uk

Not only will these organic skincare products be kinder to your growing child’s body and overall health – but the companies producing them are all certified to the highest standards meaning their production and distribution methods are respectful of the environment as well as our own bodies, and are generally not tested on animals, with many containing no animal ingredients.

NVEY ECO ORGANIC MAKEUP – TOP SHADES AS CHOSEN BY TEENAGERS!

The Nvey Eco organic makeup range is perfect for teenagers as it contains no nasty additives, is 100% organic and not tested on animals – all considerations young girls experimenting with makeup for the first time should bear in mind. The top colours and products in this range were chosen by a poll of teenagers as the best for getting the look they wanted – and here they are:

Erase Concealer – Neutral & Medium

Mascara – Black

Cake eyeliner – Black

Lipstick – shades 370, 359 & 365

Eye Shadow – 150, 151, 152,155, 156, 159, 160, 165, 166 & 168

Powder Blush – 953, 955 & 957

Lip Gloss – Nude, Cristal & Amour Rose

"When it comes to chemicals we know may do harm," says Greenpeace's Mark Strutt, "then, as a parent, why would you chance it?

Although it can seem like a very small decision, one of the most important choices you’ll make is what kind of skin care and hair care products you are going to use on your newborn babies and growing children. Being the start of their life, and having newly arrived from the warmth and security of the womb, an onslaught of harsh skin cleansing agents disguised cleverly with pretty baby perfume is ‘not’ surprisingly the best choice for your little one.

Your decision of picking something branded but full of artificial and synthetic chemicals and perfumes because of enticing Buy One Get One Free Offers or fancy packaging and advertising can greatly affect your child’s health and wellbeing. It may seem like a good idea at the time ‘ what everyone else uses’ or ‘they sell it so it must be fine’, but clinical research shows us that the impact has deeper implications.

The average one-month-old baby is bathed four times and shampooed three times every week, according to University researchers. Yet newborn skin is slow to mature, and the outer layer is highly permeable and sensitive to chemicals. In fact it’s 5 times more permeable than our skin.

"Until they are six months old, infants lack a blood-brain barrier to prevent blood-borne toxins entering the brain: low-level exposures that would have little or no effect on an adult brain can sabotage a foetal one." EWG (WEN)

Most of us assume that the chemicals we put on our babies and children daily, in the form of powders, wipes, lotions or shampoos, have been thoroughly tested and regulated, and are safe for even the smallest bodies. This is technically correct: all the ingredients within any toiletry and cosmetic product are subject to EU regulations and testing. But some toxicologists, and many environmental groups, believe such tests are inadequate.

Your average baby "hygiene" product contains a complex mix of chemicals to make it froth, slide or bubble, as well as various fragrances, preservatives and colours. A current U.S report in clinical paediatrics has revealed that 75% of newborns suffer rashes during the first few months of their birth. Suspected factors contributing to this include the very products that cosmetic and toiletry pharmaceutical companies assure us will soften, clean and moisturise our baby and child’s skin. They say that “Newborn skin is relatively more permeable to topically applied agents than adult skin. Therefore, the risk of systemic toxicity is much greater in newborns.”

Bubble bath, shampoos, baby talc, petroleum jelly, massaging oils and lotions are the most commonly sold baby skincare products

As a Parent we urge you to stop and read the labels of supermarket and chemist baby skin care products. Amongst them you may find a barrage of ingredients such as synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, highly allergenic and irritating preservatives including quaternium 15, imidazolidinyl urea, and Propyl parabens, PEG, Tea, Mea, Phthalates, and Petrochemicals which are also irritants and used in many baby toiletry products. All of these chemicals are absorbed through your babies delicate skin into their pure uncontaminated bodies. Also, most of these chemicals may have been tested on un-suspecting animals and deemed safe, however many may be contaminated with formaldehyde, 1,4 dioxane and nitrosamines ( known carcinogens!) and have multiple uses as plasticisers, or heavy duty cleaning detergent, engine degreasers, car wash detergents and floor cleaners.

Dr Michael Cork, consultant in dermatology at Sheffield Children's Hospital says "some detergents can break down the skin's natural barrier, so that it allows other irritants and allergens - such as house dust mites - to penetrate, and if you took away such factors as harsh shampoos and bubble baths for babies and children, you could prevent vast numbers of children being affected by eczema ".

Dr Vyvyan Howard, a toxicopathologist specialising in foetal and infant growth at the University of Liverpool, says that: "From the day they are conceived, our children are exposed to a soup of chemicals, most of which would not have existed when our grandmothers were in the womb. "There are, he says, around 70,000 chemicals currently in commercial use, with about 1,000 new ones added each year. To test just the commonest 1,000 toxic chemicals in unique combinations of three would require at least 166m experiments, ignoring the need to study varying doses. In other words, we really don't know what all these chemicals may be doing in our children's bodies."

Scientists are concerned that some of these chemicals can "bioaccumulate" (be stored in your child’s body),"Most children have measurable levels of at least 300 groups of chemicals in their bodies, taken in through food, household or garden chemicals, cosmetics and even the air they breathe," Dr Howard says. This process may even start in the womb: "Most of these chemicals cross the placenta or may be passed to the newborn via breast milk." But no one knows for sure if they’re dangerous, but some so- called "gender-bending " chemicals can, it seems, disrupt the human endocrine system (our hormones).As the rates of hormone-dependent cancers (such as breast or prostate) are rising, some toxicologists believe there is a link.

Baby massage isn’t the latest craze to hit our fad-hungry society; we’ve known for many years that not only does it help with the all-important mother/baby bond (particularly in cases of post-natal depression for example, where bonding is often one of the biggest issues), but also with many common problems such as colic, reflux, sleep, teething and crying problems. It’s even been proven to be a factor in enhancing brain development and more importantly, in healing conditions such as eczema. A daily massage can be easily incorporated into part of the all-important bath-bed routine or as a regular relaxing diversion during the day to help at naptime, and is often just as rewarding and relaxing for the mum or dad giving the massage.

However what you may not know is that what you use to facilitate the massage is just as important as how you actually do it!

Choosing organic massage oils and baby products is the main way of ensuring your baby isn’t exposed to the many harmful ingredients present in run-of-the-mill baby products. 100% organic products such as Earthbound Organics and Essential Care’s baby massage oils will not only ensure paraben, synthetic chemical and toxin-free products for baby’s precious newborn skin, but also the healing properties of the organic essential oils they contain. Esselle’s Sweet Organic Baby Oil contains Sea Buckthorn oil, which has been used since the 8^th Century in Tibet to treat a range of skin conditions. All these products are available on-line at www.buyorganics.co.uk

One of the reasons baby skin complaints such as eczema and nappy rash are on the rise, is the increased use of allergenic and sensitising ingredients in skin care products and washing detergents, chemicals in disposable nappies plus of course the pesticides present in non-organic cotton clothing which can remain in the fabric even after several washes. A good way to cut down your child’s susceptibility to conditions like eczema and even asthma is to ensure organic clothing and skincare products wherever possible and wash using eco-friendly washing products – which is also better for the environment of course!

So, you’re armed with your organic massage oil, and baby’s wriggling around on a soft, clean (preferably organic cotton!) towel in front of you (on the floor please – not on top of a raised surface – you’ll have to watch your back but it is possible!) what on earth do you do next? Here’s our quick and easy step-by-step guide to baby massage – the simple Six Step I Love You massage…

Pour the organic baby massage oil you’ve chosen onto your palms and rub together to warm both your hands and the oil – you can sing or talk to your baby whilst you do this and look into his eyes to increase that one-to-one bond (and distract him from rolling over before you begin to massage!).

Step One: Use two or three fingers to trace the letter “I” on the right side of his abdomen, starting under his ribs and stopping at the hip, with a firm but gentle pressure.

Step Two: Stroke from left to right across baby’s abdomen forming the long side of a sideways “L”.

Step Three: Use a short downward stroke on the right side of baby’s stomach, completing the “L”.

Step Four: Begin the last letter, an upside down “U” by stroking up from baby’s hipbone on the left side of his tummy.

Step Five: The middle of the “U” is made by moving your fingers along the top of baby’s tummy.

Step Six: Finish the massage with the other side of the “U” with a final downward stroke on baby’s right side.

You can repeat this as often as you like until baby falls asleep, you get arm or back ache, or you’ve both had enough!!

Use the organic massage oil after baby’s bath too to seal in moisture and keep skin smooth and free from dryness and nappy rash. It will also be good for your hands!

Every time I read some media article or personal campaign geared towards saving the Planet, I cringe at the over generalisation! Sometimes I think people are so mislead or mis-communicated too. The real ‘thing’ that needs saving in my opinion is not really the Planet, it’s us the Human Race and life as we know it! Not only will we wipe ourselves out if we carry on as we are, but our wildlife will go before us, if we don’t reverse what we are doing. Time memorial shows us that the Planet has been through cataclysmic change and come through the other side just fine, Mother Earth may have had to wipe out the Dinosaurs or create an Ice Age to get through, but she’s still fine and dandy. The Planet will adjust itself to all the destruction we are causing, either through global warming, changing weather patterns or more natural disasters.

For every action we take there is a reaction, either negative or positive. This is where the issue of Social Responsibility comes in. It is everyone’s responsibility, not just the educated few to help preserve the environment we live in. What I mean by that is the water for drinking and bathing that we take for granted, the heating that keeps us warm in the winter, the energy that transports us by car, plane, train or bus to where we want to go, the weather that allows us to live safely without natural disasters and enjoy a pleasurable outdoor existence, rivers that don’t flood and destroy our homes, beautiful wild habitats and animals for us to marvel at: This is what people are trying to save! Can those of you who say you don’t care about green issues, really not care about these things? Would it bother you if hurricanes and flooding affected your home constantly? Would it bother you if food and water and fuel were too expensive for you to afford? Without your home comforts would you be happy? Until now, this has been a plight suffered by people far away, but it is threatening western suburbia now, so will you still not sit up and take note?

Now more than ever we need a sense of community that extends beyond just our family and friends, but to our KIND. Instead of fighting wars we should be uniting to work together to preserve our environment, not by overpowering nature, but by working with it.

Now it’s not possible for everyone to become completely Green. Unless you resort to living in a hut in the forest with no heating and running water and killing your own food, you really are not doing our environment any favours. We really cannot begin to wipe out the industrial revolution! So lets start by getting REAL! Everyone even me, is a hypocrite in some form or another. We can none of us be perfect, and it’s about time that the Green Perfectionists got off their high horse and actually admitted to the fact that they are not perfect either! I am not and I don’t expect you to be.

It is however important to do what you can as much as you can. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY means you too! Here’s the low down on how everyone can start doing their bit on being a little bit more responsible. It may be simplistic when the problem is in fact much larger, but hey…everyone has to start somewhere.

1. Turn off your computers and lights at work when you leave, if your companies policy is to leave them on, challenge them
2. Recycle everything you can at home and at work
3. Plant at least one tree in your lifetime – more if you can
4. Don’t keep the Tap on when you brush your teeth
5. Put the lights off when you leave a room
6. Switch off plugs when electrical items are not being used.
7. Get a low petrol consumption car, thick curtains, a fuel efficient boiler and home insulation – it’ll be better for your pocket too!
8. Car pool if you can
9. Think about the products you buy, don’t buy the cheapest or the best marketed, buy the ones that have caused as little pain and suffering to animals and the people making them, and as little environmental damage as possible
10. If you are in a business, look at how you can change your product or service to make things better for our future – eg, in your use of resources or materials.
11. Switch to green electricity.
12. Switch to environmentally friendly nappies
13. Don’t get the supermarkets bags for life that are made out of plastic – it’s the same garbage, just with you for longer, get the hemp ones or cloth ones that biodegrade.
14. Don’t buy degradable it’s a scam only buy BIO –Degradable!
15. Swap one or two meals a week to non-meat based – plant based diets are much less intensive and use far less energy, as well as the cruelty aspect. Apparently a vegan driving a 4x4 is still using less energy than a meat-eater who uses only a bicycle!
16. Do continue to have fun and live life to the full
17. If you have a dream fulfil it! Even if it’s something not socially responsible, make sure you make up for it in some other way.
18. If you think you’re doing good, it’s likely that you are.

Now even if you can only start with a few things on the list, it’s a start. Your list maybe totally different. Make your own. Not everything is possible for everyone all the time. But sometimes is better than never at all. We all have to accept the fact that some people will never care, but if you do that counts. You have the time to integrate these things into your life, make it before it’s too late!

Spelt Snake Maternity Pillows and Breastfeeding Moons

Pregnancy is a joyous time but can also be physically demanding! As your baby grows, your posture will inevitably change to compensate for the baby’s weight. Getting out of bed, picking things up, doing exercise and getting some sleep all need to be renegotiated. Clever organic pillows can be a world of help, doubling up to snuggle baby in later.

Pillows are a must for support during pregnancy. Organic maternity pillows are versatile and practical without being pumped full of petrochemical synthetic products to keep their shape. The spelt fillings sound and smell naturally therapeutic too. Women used to sleeping on their backs before pregnancy will suddenly find that it’s not such a good idea to lie on their back for long periods as it will restrict blood flow and may end up causing faintness. The best position to be in is on your side (as this increases the blood flow to your placenta) with a pillow or two placed between your knees and another under your bump. Alternatively you can use a sausage shaped organic maternity pillow from Made in Water, which means you only need one pillow to reposition, making it easier to turn over. The Spelt Snake organic Maternity Pillow will also support you whilst sitting in bed when the hollow of your back will need support. The uses don’t stop there, as it can be rolled into a baby nest with a clever lambswool cover on for making a soft a cosy pod for baby to lie in - all in all a very versatile pillow!

Breastfeeding can also put a strain on your back. Without adequate support behind your back and under baby, you can end up unduly hunched over especially if you are tired and feeding through the night. If you are feeding baby lying down in the night the spelt snake organic maternity pillow can be used to prevent baby from rolling off the bed (although it’s not advised for baby to sleep in bed with you, it can be used as a temporary precaution). If you prefer to breastfeed whilst sitting up, then organic pillows such as the moon shaped Lambswool Nursing Pillow will help you to sit up straight whilst feeding, preventing backstrain. The moon shaped pillow is not as bulky as the maternity pillows and shapes around your body easily. By placing baby on the pillow to breastfeed, baby will be raised to meet your breast so you don’t have to hunch.

Back care should continue after pregnancy. Ligaments are more pliable during pregnancy so heavy lifting should be avoided. Toddlers don’t always understand this! Neither do we all have a butler to carry home our shopping! Get toddlers to climb onto a chair or sofa before you pick them up and divide your groceries into even weights for carrying one bag in each hand. If you do need to lift something the ideal lift position is to bend from the knees into a squatting position (without twisting and not from the back) and hold the object being lifted close to you as you then stand and straighten up.

Regular exercise during pregnancy can help you maintain fitness and strengthen back and pelvic muscles ready for childbirth. Gentle swimming, walking, cycling, aqua natal classes, pilates and yoga classes are excellent choices. Yoga and pilates will help calm everyday stresses and strengthen core muscle groups. Yoga especially will help you bond with baby and teaches useful birthing techniques. Try reputable and specifically trained organisations such as Birthlight yoga for classes in your area. With all forms of exercise, make sure your teacher is qualified and has experience.

After pregnancy all these forms of exercises can help get your body back into shape without causing undue strain. It takes time for the body to recover after childbirth, although in Western cultures many women are up and about immediately, usually due to lack of help and support. In Eastern traditions, women are encouraged to let their body heal properly before they take on undue strain. Mothers are also encouraged to eat pure traditional mixes of foods that are considered warming for the body, such as dates, gram flour, raisins, cardamoms and nuts. Cleaning and household chores are handed to other family members, which also avoids unnecessary exposure to chemicals during lactation. Body massage is also considered an important part of healing, whilst gentle yoga helps mother’s body return to full strength.

All products available at www.buyOrganics.co.uk The Organic Lifestyle Store for Shopping as it Should be!

For the deep greenies amongst us it is always great to hear the words “fair trade” and “organic” in everyday conversation and in the media, as it is a clear indication that ethical awareness is becoming more of a mainstream priority. Popping down to the shops for a bag of bananas or clicking on-line for clothing or cosmetics has never been so easy yet so fraught with eco-guilt - despite certifications it is easy to wonder if some producers are simply jumping on the latest green PR bandwagon. Seeing logos on our produce such as the Soil Association and Fair Trade is certainly instrumental in ensuring good practice as well as informing and encouraging even the most cynical consumer to choose fair trade and organic products over their standard counterparts, but it is equally vital for us to know that we are really buying what is best for man and planet.

The organic movement was pioneered over 60 years ago by The Soil Association and the Fairtrade Foundation 18 years ago. Both organizations and their certifications are now seen in everyday use in supermarkets and on mainstream products. Organic farming prohibits the use of certain toxic pesticides and fungicides, and the farming methods themselves are less aggressive in nature for both the land and its workers.
The Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) which has 21 members and has been largely responsible for stopping exploitation of thousands of workers across the globe. Their certification covers small farmers, ensuring they receive a fair price for their produce, as well as workers on larger plantations and factories so they receive decent basic wages and have employee rights, plus health and safety and environmental standards.

Sonia Kalia-Sagoo of organic on-line store www.buyOrganics.co.uk makes the point, “Fair trade is an important concept for ensuring that as human beings, we treat the people who provide us with our goods with the integrity and the treatment they deserve. I believe that organic products also do this as most are grown in line with fair working laws. Organic production however takes fair trade a step further by ensuring that manufacturers, growers and the end user are also released from exposure to chemicals that can injure health. It further stops the unnecessary pollution of ground water and poisoning of animals. By growing and producing products in harmony with man and nature and not against it, integrating fair trade and organic produce should be the primary choice for shoppers globally.”

Workers involved in growing key imported commodities benefit from being certified fair trade, but choosing organic as well ensures they receive a higher standard of health and safety. Non-organic bananas are the second most sprayed crop in the world; cotton the first, with the World Health Organisation estimating over a million deaths every year from cotton pesticide poisoning, and something many people are unaware of as they buy up clothing made from un-organic cotton, which is also less likely to be fairly traded. Another area fast embracing both fair trade and organic principles is cosmetic ingredients such as shea butter and essential oils, where companies are catering more and more for the organic marketplace as well as striving towards fairly traded ingredients, to keep consumers happy about not only what they put into their bodies, but on them as well.

To forge ahead, the only way is surely a strong and positive union of both fair trade and organic movements with common ideals, striving for a world where whatever we put in and on our bodies has only positive implications for ourselves, workers, manufacturers and ultimately the planet.

The last fifty years have seen a massive explosion in the introduction of toxic chemicals into our environment. These chemicals were originally intended to enhance our lifestyles. Why then are we left wondering if instead of enhancing our lives, we have actually been polluting our bodies, our reproductive health, as well as our children's health rather than enhancing it?

Just looking back to my mothers childhood brings home how recent all the synthe