Mad Dogs and Ice Plants..

What do mad dogs and Ice Plants have in common?  Well, like Englishmen they go out in the midday sun.  

The plant’s generic name 'Mesembryantheumum' derives from the Greek words ‘mesemria’ meaning midday and ‘anthemon’ meaning flower.  Like the plant’s German name Mittagsblume (noon plant) this is a reference to the flowers, which only open when there is strong sunshine.

Unlike me (anything over 20°C I’m erupting in prickly heat rashes), and the majority of Englishmen (I’m not sure about mad dogs), Ice Plants have an amazing ability to survive in sunny, dry conditions.  They do this by virtue of their succulent leaves, which are covered with glistening fluid reservoirs, giving the appearance of being covered in ice crystals.  

As an ingredient in skin care preparations the healing powers of this plant help address itching, pain, swelling and redness.  For this reason it is used within another fabulous Dr. Hauschka product that I have been reaching for during this sunny spell: After-Sun Lotion

Following exposure to sunshine this product is incredibly cooling and soothing; it has a beautiful fragrance and a smooth consistency which is easily applied and easily absorbed-  I have tried various others which have left me looking like antipasto (think chargrilled pepper covered in oil!).

Alas I’m unable to comment on whether it helps maintain a tan (I’d give snow white a run for her money in the paleness stakes), but it works better than anything else I have ever tried at calming my reactive skin. 

The Beauty of a Bluebell Wood

If I were Julie Andrews singing about my favourite things, Bluebell woods on a bright, sunny day would definitely be included in my list (although this might wreak havoc with the kitten/mitten rhyming scheme).  With their vibrant, intense colour and heavenly scent, they seem to sing to the soul; their beauty can lift even the heaviest of hearts.

Another name for Bluebells is “Wood Hyacinth” and this put me in mind of the new range of clothing from Liv in a beautiful hyacinth shade. Especially so when I saw their “True Blue” feature in this month’s copy of the Elysia Newsletter (a copy of which can be requested from the contact us section of the Liv website).

Liv somehow manages to pull off chic sophistication with comfort and a conscience.  My favourite is the Puck Dress (a name which although I know is named for the beautiful Worcestershire surroundings of the Eylsia headquarters, still puts me in mind of A Midsummers Night’s Dream -there is definitely something cheeky and magical about it!)

Scent of the Pine

Whilst listening to Nina Simone “Feeling Good” one of the lyrics reminded me of a product that I have not used for a long time, but which definitely promotes the feel good factor -Dr. Hauschka Spruce Bath.

This is a wonderful product made using the essential oil of Norway Spruce needles and it is suitable for all skin conditions.

Sizes Available

150ml @ £17.11 It is also included in the trial size bath care kit (along with Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary & Sage baths) which retails @£12.77

Ingredients

Sulfated Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil, Glycerin, Picea Excelsa Leaf Oil, Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Chlorophyllin-Copper-Complex (Cl 75810) Note: these ingredients are produced either by biodynamic or certified organic agriculture whenever possible, or are wild-harvested.  Further details are available on the ingredients page of the website.

The trouble with pine fragrances is that they have been somewhat hijacked by the household cleaning industry and tend to conjure up images of toilets, disinfectant and floor mops – not really a sexy image for a skin care preparation!  Worse still, as is the case with Lavender, the synthetic version is nothing like the genuine article but harsh, overpowering and one dimensional. The commercial perfume market requires consistency of aroma, which to me is a shame because the subtle differences between crops grown in varying locations, soils and weather conditions imparts a certain magical je ne sais quoi, breathing uniqueness and life into every bottle.

Spruce Bath is also a product that suffers somewhat from not sounding particularly glamorous.  We are often told that less is more, but that doesn’t seem to be reflected in the products on offer, even fabric conditioner seems to considered dull unless it contains two tropical orchids, lotus blossom infusion and extract of diamond (I’m exaggerating of course, but I’m sure you get the picture!). 

So why choose the seemingly dull Spruce Bath?  For me it captures the regenerating essence of a walk in a forest, where the air is clear and you can breathe calmly and deeply.  If you consider that trees are the lungs of the planet it is not surprising that essential oils derived from trees have a deep affinity and action on our lungs.  This is a good choice of bath when you are suffering from a cold, as it clears congestion. It is also excellent for when you feel uptight and stressed. Like the roots of a tree, it can be anchoring and grounding; like the branches it can be uplifting, so is a good choice both to awaken the senses and to help restore a sense of calm.  For me it is somewhere between Lavender, which is deeply sedating, and Rosemary which is deeply invigorating.  The aroma is truly beautiful and full of character (unlike some toilet cleaners I could harpic on about).

How to use?

How to use

Add 1-2 teaspoons to your bath water. There is no need to add a base oil. Keep the bathroom door closed, stopping the aroma from escaping, and envelope yourself in the invigorating aroma. Get into the bath (it must not be too hot), relax and breathe in deeply!

Tips

Use in a footbath

I find this is a wonderfully refreshing start or end to the day.

As part of your cleanse

Add a few drops to the water for washing your face, again morning or night.

After showering

After washing yourself, soak a flannel in the warm spray, put a few drops of Spruce Bath onto the flannel and rub it over your body, inhaling the aroma.  Do not rinse off.

So go on, take time to see the wood for the trees and please give Pine Bath a whirl…..

“Stars when you shine

You know how I feel

Scent of the pine

You know how I feel

Yeah freedom is mine

And I know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

And I'm feeling good”

The Mask Crack'd from side to side...

“The mask crack’d from side to side;

I think I’ve left it too long!” cried

The Lady of Scrubalot”

I’ve already documented how I abused the cleansing cream, but I think the abuse of masks is more common. I remember my friend once telling me that she liked “to feel that tightening, drying sensation”, so that she knew “it was really working”.  We all tend to want to see some proof that a product is having an effect; largely mistrusting anything that has a simple, gentle action. It puts me in mind of the following quote from J K Rowling’s The Half Blood Prince (No, I’ve not flipped out, quoting from Harry Potter in a beauty blog…honest!)

“Harry did not ask how Dumbledore knew. He had never seen a wizard work things out like this, simply by looking and touching; but Harry had long since learned that bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than expertise”

True, some magnificently scary effects can be achieved by leaving a mask until it dries and flakes and contorts your face, a brightly coloured mask combined with hennaing your hair can send unwanted callers screaming into the night.  However, with regards to achieving something beneficial for your skin, take a leap of faith and try Dr.Hauschka’s Cleansing Clay Mask, it will give you glowing results, and is well worth the extra time involved in mixing it up yourself.  

So here is what you need to know..

Sizes Available

90g jar @ £24.51 Refill pack @ £19.15 Trial size of the mask available in the Daily Face Care Kit for oily skin (the kit retailing at £16.09)

Ingredients

Loess, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch Note: these ingredients are produced either by biodynamic or certified organic agriculture whenever possible, or are wild-harvested.  Further details are available on the ingredients page of the website.

Retailers	Direct from Dr. Hauschka via the website (for which you can earn loyalty points : )
	Via a Dr. Hauschka esthetician (again can earn loyalty points : )
	John Lewis and other licensed retail outlets (which you can locate using the Dr. Hauschka website store locator)

I must admit, when I first opened up the jar to see the contents I was a little disappointed -over £20 for something that looks like I’ve dug up and dried from my own garden and they haven’t even bothered to make it up for me?!?  But this is now something I love about the mask, and in fact the whole range, it is about rhythm, taking time, finding something that works for you as a whole- not just about slapping on face mask pêle-mêle

To make the Mask

Mix one rounded teaspoon of mask with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water and a splash of Facial or Clarifying Toner Author’s note: go easy on the water!  It is always possible to add some more, but not so easy to undo having created a mud soup. You can of course increase the quantities of clay mask, but you end up with entirely more than you need and waste your precious product.  One jar will last a longtime, so easy does it.

Frequency of Use

The instruction leaflet states once to twice a week, but I use it fortnightly.  See how you go and what works for your skin

Application

Apply after cleansing with Cleaning Cream and/or after using Dr. Hauschka Facial Steam Bath.

How long to leave?

·      Oily, impure skin leave for 10 to 15 minutes ·      Dry or normal skin leave 5 to 10 minutes ·      Sensitive skin 3 to 5 minutes Rinse off thoroughly using warm water (a sponge can also help to remove the product). Don’t let the product dry out (see tips below)

Tips

If you feel you’re cracking up…

Spritz a small amount of Facial or Clarifying Toner onto the mask if you feel it is drying out.

Dry/Sensitive Skin

2 Pumps of Cleansing Milk can be added to the Clay Mix

Oily skin

1 Pump of Moisturizing Day Oil can be added to the Clay Mix

Special Treat

I have found that making up the mix with Rejuvenation Mask and no water works really well for me.

Shaving Brush it on..

The mask can be a little bit messy, a shaving brush is a really nice way to apply it to your face.

It might not be the most flashy of products, but it is a wonderful product that leaves skin feeling nurtured and vitalized.

From Zero to Hero ...Cleansing Cream Review

For those of you who are not acquainted with the miracle of Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream, here is an overview of some key information:

Sizes & Cost

50ml tube @ £15.06 10g trial size @ £3.15

Retailers	Direct from Dr. Hauschka via the website (for which you can earn loyalty points : )
	Via a Dr. Hauschka esthetician (again can earn loyalty points : )
	John Lewis and other licensed retail outlets (which you can locate using the Dr. Hauschka website store locator)

Ingredients

Water/Aqua, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Meal, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Alcohol, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricara) Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract Note: these ingredients are produced either by biodynamic or certified organic agriculture whenever possible, or are wild-harvested.  Further details are available on the ingredients page of the website.

As I mentioned in my opening post, the time I first encountered Cleansing Cream, I firmly belonged to the Brillo Pad school of exfoliation and mistook it for a scrub!  Brillo Pad lovers have no time to read instruction leaflets ; )  

Do I hear some of you protest that £15.06 is a tad pricey considering I didn’t even stop to find out what the product was?  Well without mentioning any names, in the past I had happily parted with higher sums in the hope of achieving skin perfection.  Thankfully, for both my bank balance and my mental health, I had never reached the levels of spending demonstrated in the recent BBC3 documentary “Botox Britain: Your face in their hands” Dermal fillers, acid peels and injections are scary on a level I never achieved; one lady interviewed felt there was something fundamentally wrong with her face if she were able to move an eyebrow!

Anyhow, if I were asked to rate the Cleansing Cream at that time, I would have raised both eyebrows and given it a big fat zero, the texture was far too smooth (I liked to feel the action of my exfoliants as layers of dead skin were sloughed away) and the tube didn’t last me longer than a week. 

Thankfully I had the opportunity to rediscover the product when I was in the right frame of mind to treat my skin with respect.  The ‘Press and Roll’ action helped calm me down and I slowly began to see and feel my face as a part of my whole body, rather than a disjointed collection of independent problems.  It really leaves your skin feeling amazingly clean and soft, without any tightness, oiliness or aggravation.   

Please take the time to read the instructions and incorporate them into your life, you skin will thank you for it!!

Instructions	·   Use morning and evening. ·   Mix Cleansing Cream to a smooth paste by adding water in your hands and apply thinly to warm, damp skin (I have found that approx. 10pence size amount is perfect) ·   Work in gently using a pressing, rolling motion (for details see below) ·   Rinse off using warm water and finish with a cool muslin compress.
Press & Roll	Work down your face and from the centre outwards. Gently press the preparation onto your skin then roll your fingers off, lifting them away from the centre of your face. There is no need to rub, scrub or use rotary movements as this can damage and stretch the outermost layers of your skin. Repeat the press and roll movements working down your face twice for normal skin conditions, once only if you have sensitive skin, more if you have oily skin and blemishes. Video Demonstration
Gently does it!!!	Cleansing Cream has grains of nut in it but it is NOT an exfoliant, and you must not scrub with the product. Scrubbing only tears off skin cells that may not yet be ready to come off, thus encouraging sensitivity and other adverse reactions. The Cleansing Cream encourages the skin cells to slough off more effectively, so your skin still glows and looks healthy without needing to rub. Enjoy the rhythmical pressing and lifting movement!
Muslins	Using a loosely wrung out warm muslin compress relaxes the skin and softens the walls of the pores allowing deep cleansing to be achieved. The skin's own functions are also stimulated. A cool muslin compress applied to the skin after cleansing closes the pores, expelling any remaining impurities, leaving you with a clearer complexion. By using a clean muslin every time you wash your face, you will prevent cross-infection occurring. The muslins can be washed in a hot wash to kill bacteria
	These retail at £4.34 each, again from any of the Retailers listed previously

Some Useful Tips ….

Morning Uplift

Try adding Lemon Bath to the water in the morning, for a really refreshing uplifting cleanse

Nighttime Wind Down

Try adding Lavender Bath to the water in the morning, for a relaxing, calming cleanse

SOS	I have found that Sage Bath is really excellent to soothe my skin when it is in need of extra TLC

Mix it up

Mixing Cleansing Cream with a little Cleansing Milk (and then using press & roll action) creates a beautifully textured paste that smells divine.

There is a reason this is one of the 11 Hero Products listed on the Dr. Hauschka website, it is flipping fantastic!! (for all sexes, ages and skin types).  You would be very hard pushed to find a better cleanser with such gorgeous ingredients, amazing results and a reasonable price tag. Pure magic!!!!!

Chic Chicks at Easter

Another fantastic completion on Twitter this Easter with the opportunity to win not one, but two stunning pieces from Liv’s brand new SS11 collection!  If you haven’t ever checked out Liv's website, it is definitely worth doing so if only for the cuddliest towels and robes around! Saying this, their clothing really is incredibly stylish and produced using 100% GOTS certified organic and fairly traded cotton (GOTS stands for Global Organic Textiles Standards, if like me you where thinking GOTWHATNOW?)

Their Spring Sale is also still on and I managed to snap up a beautiful little black dress for under £40…I digress, back to the competition in hand, which also features a stunning dress, the Bow Book Dress in a delicate cornflower shade, a dress that feels good in every way.

They are also offering the chance to win another classic summer piece in the form of the striped design Kington top (in chalk)


All their pieces are made with such an incredible amount of care and love; this Spring/Summer collection takes inspiration from Liv's Worcestershire surrounds.  As part of the Elysia company, Rush Farm is a working biodynamic farm in Stockwood, it is the home to Liv & Dr.Hauschka UK (they organise a series of volunteer days each year, which I can't recommend highly enough...sorry, I digress again and will post about that another time!)

So how to enter?

Join @Livchik on Twitter and answer the following question with an @mention followed by the answer and then the item you’d like to win followed by the hashtag and LIVCHIK.

Question: What is the name of the Limited Edition piece from Liv’s SS11 collection?

The answer is on their website, please do check it out.  Their products are fantastic!

Example answer format: @Livchik “the answer” Kington Top #LIVCHIK Question:

This competition is open to UK addressees with 1 winner per item. Closing date 30th April 2011 and two lucky winners will be picked on 3rd May.

Easter Tweets!

From Monday 18th April, there is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands on some gorgeous Dr Hauschka products by taking part in their Twitter Easter Egg Hunt.

There are 5 (very generous) prizes in total; each would be a total joy to win – either for yourself or as a special Easter 'Tweet' for a friend or loved one.  They are as follows:

1 Lavender Eggstravaganza - the complete Dr.Hauschka SS11 Lavender Dreams Limited Edition make-up set worth over £100.

2 Rose Eggsclusive - a Dr.Hauschka rose set including Rose Body Oil, Rose Body Moisturiser and Rose Day Cream, worth over £70.

3 Eggspert Hero - three of Dr.Hauschka’s all-time favourite heroes, Translucent Bronze Concentrate, Cleansing Cream and Lavender Bath, worth £57.

4 Melissa Eggsact - a special Dr.Hauschka cleanse, tone and moisturise set featuring Melissa Day Cream - the newly launched day care for sensitive combination skin - worth £50

5 Midnight Eggspress - a selection of Dr.Hauschka bespoke night care products including Cleansing Milk, Cleansing Cream and Facial Toner, worth £47

The Egg Hunt takes place on Easter Sunday (April 24^th). So how do you take part?

Firstly you need to join the Dr Hasuchka team on Twitter @LoveHauschka

Then follow the clues that will be tweeted each day from Monday 18th, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, to locate 5 eggs which will be hidden in and around the Dr.Hauschka website.  The hints for the eggs’ whereabouts will appear each day in the prize order listed above (i.e. on Monday 18^th hints will be given to the whereabouts of the Lavender Eggstravaganza prize, on Tuesday 19th hints will be given for Rose Eggsclusive etc.)

Gather the clues over the course of the week and then work out where each egg will be hidden in time for the Easter Sunday Hunt.  The eggs will NOT be placed onto the website until clues for all 5 eggs have been revealed, so you will have plenty of time to work it out (or find someone who can! ; )

And once you have successfully located the eggs?

@mention  Dr Hauschka (@LoveHauschka) on Twitter with the name of the egg, the page where it can be found, followed by #DRHEE. For example: @LoveHauschka eggspert hero www. drhauschka.co.uk/home #DRHEE.

Over the course of the coming weeks I will be posting entries about some of the products given away as prizes

Happy Hunting x