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Pure Beauty 8687 views
The bridal beauty market is awash with products claiming to make us look prettier and younger on the big day with glowing, photo-perfect complexions. But often these claims come at a price – namely the amount of chemicals and unnatural substances that go into the manufacture of the make-up and which ultimately ends up on our skin.
Tried and tested
The UK Government has strict regulations surrounding the sale of cosmetics, and chemical manufacturers are required to provide safety information on all their products before they can register them.
But aside from the chemicals that are in the lipsticks, face creams, blushers and other cosmetics that litter our bathroom cabinets, there are an estimated 2,500 chemicals that we’re exposed to in everyday life.
So with organic products now being widely available, should we be trying to cut down on the chemicals we put into our skin and go for more ‘natural’ options?
Go organic
Certified organic skincare products are made using only natural ingredients that aren’t tested on animals. They don’t contain any of the nasties common in many health and beauty products, such as sodium lauryl sulphate, parabens, lanolin, synthetic fragrances, colourants, petrochemicals or any unnecessary synthetic additives. And they often look and smell better too.
Unfortunately there are no strict regulations governing the sale of organic health and beauty products, and there is no legal requirement to show any kind of certification symbol, so a company can label or describe a product as organic even if they only contain tiny amounts of organic ingredients.
If in doubt, always look for the Soil Association logo, which means that the brand has been independently checked and produced to the highest standards.
Where to start
The Boots Botanics range, for example, now includes a number of products that contain 90% certified organic ingredients. I love the organic Lip Balm (£3.99), Rosewater Toner (£3.99) and Nourishing Body Oil (£4.99), which absorbs straight into skin and leaves it feeling silky soft.
Neal’s Yard Remedies follow the strict standards set by the Soil Association and put its symbol on all organic products. My favourite is the Organic Wild Rose Beauty Balm (£22) – a lusciously rich cleansing and moisturising treatment that is wonderful when smoothed over the face for a deep facial experience. It comes with a muslin cloth and smells divinely of lavender and rose.
Spiezia Organics uses only 100% organic products that are rich in natural and beneficial ingredients. Try the Lemongrass and Marigold Body Scrub (£35), which contains organic oils and butters that smooth and moisturise, while exfoliating and buffing the skin. It has a delicate lemon fragrance and its gorgeous blue jar is not only recyclable but it’ll look great on your bathroom shelf!
Liz Earle is another natural skincare favourite who has been selling organic beauty products before anyone even knew what they were. The gentle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (£11.50 for 100ml), has become a huge favourite around the globe and is great for giving skin a soothing massage and deep clean.
The websites below all offer a wide range of natural beauty and hygiene products:
Organic Address Book
elave www.elave.co.uk
Green People www.greenpeople.co.uk
PureNuffStuff www.purenuffstuff.co.uk
Avea www.avea.co.uk
Primavera www.primavera.co.uk
Tints of Nature www.tintsofnature.co.uk
Your verdict
mands11980 on the chatroom says, “I use Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which is absolutely amazing. I would really recommend it – you can really notice your face feeling much fresher and softer.”
Bride-to-be xrheax says, “I’ve found some organic products smell better than their non-organic counterparts. But I do think they’re quite expensive and sometimes I’m not sure whether to believe a product when it says it is organic…”
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