Monday, July 15, 2013

People For Plants Face Oil Review



With my blossoming penchant for face oils and a passion for organic argan oil products, it goes without saying that as soon as the new People For Plants Face Oil was available I would be one of the first to get my hands on it. 


The People For Plants Argan, Pomegranate and Milk Thistle Face Oil is an elegant combination of certified organic nourishing oils, skin healing botanical extracts and potent herbal antioxidants.  Deceptively rich, this face oil is best applied to moistened skin, with the organic macadamia oil making this formula so much more nourishing than using just organic argan oil alone. The smell of this oil is that only of the natural oils, making it suitable for those sensitive to fragrances or essential oils. Fabulous for dry skin, this is definitely great for those who spend their winter days in air conditioning or whose skin needs a natural moisturising boost.

At well under thirty dollars, this little bottle of liquid gold will keep your skin moist, nourished and hydrated during the winter months, it also works a treat as a long hair oil boost for long locks.

People For Plants is a new Australian Organic skin care range that is currently being promoted by Jamie Durie. The brand boasts a bevy of natural skin care products containing certified organic ingredients, the range is free from your usual gamut of chemical nasties including parabens, sulphates and propylene glycol, plus they are Australian made and cruelty free. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Natural Henna – Information For Beginners



For some people, trying henna for the first time may seem a little scary, but using natural henna in your hair is actually really simple, rewarding and a bit of fun. 


Using natural henna for colouring hair has been around for centuries, Natural Henna is a great alternative to modern chemical hair colours, it actually coats the hair, conditioning and protecting each hair individually. Unlike some chemical hair colours, henna does not damage or strip your hair, it adds colour to it and of course is the best way to colour your hair without chemicals.

As with all hair colours, it is suggested to do a patch test to ensure that the colour is suitable for your needs, I would suggest doing this with some hair from your hairbrush a couple of days before your henna day. To find out what colour to expect from your henna mix a ½ teaspoon of the powder with a tiny amount of hot water and the hair from your hairbrush, leave for a few hours, rinse and observe.

Once you have chosen your henna colour, (view our Colora Henna Colour Chart here) it is best to set aside a good few hours to apply your henna. In winter especially, I would suggest doing it in the afternoon so that you can have a sit out in the sunshine and make best use of the time that you will be sitting, relaxing and letting the henna do its thing. Good things take time, so have a good book, some emails to catch up on, some journaling to do or maybe just enjoy a glass of wine. Enjoy having some relaxing time in your back yard or balcony with a dollop of henna on your head; it sure beats a couple of hours in a salon with smelly chemicals.

Remember that henna is a naturally derived hair colour, it looks like greenish brown ground up herbs, mixed with water is looks like chocolate cake mix and it has a wonderful earthy smell. Be prepared - henna also will colour anything that it comes into contact with, so make sure that you cover your floor with newspaper, wear some old clothes, use some old towels and most importantly use gloves. It is also a good idea to use some pawpaw ointment around your hairline to prevent the henna colour from staining your skin. It is a good idea is to have someone to help you with colouring your hair, a friend with a sense of humour and some skill with applying hair colour will make the process easier and more fun, but is not essential.

Just like everyone has their own secret recipe for making spaghetti bolognaise, using the same basic ingredients, the same goes for using henna, everyone has their own little tips and tricks, it all just comes down to experimentation and experience. View our How To Apply Henna article for a step by step guide and practical suggestions for applying henna for the first time.

As a cautionary note, it should be mentioned that if you consider colouring your hair with henna, you will need to grow out the colour as it is quite difficult to remove once it is on. Choose your henna colour carefully, use our Colora Henna Chart to find the best colour for your hair, it makes sense to say that trying to colour light blonde hair with black henna will produce some discouraging results Рthink before you henna. Also, for those with more than 20% grey hair, it is advised that you use the Colora Henna Cr̬me as this has added coverage for greys. Lastly, as henna will coat and not strip your hair, do not expect henna to lighten your hair, you can only go darker and healthier with henna.

Overall, henna is by far the most natural way to colour your hair, it also conditions and strengthens your hair so it is excellent for long hair or those wanting to grow out a shorter style. See our How To Apply Henna article next week for a step by step guide and practical suggestions for applying henna. 

Happy hennaing!


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Natural and Organic Fragrance Free Products



Unscented Skincare
When you start to delve into the world of fragrance free or unscented products you might find that instead of finding your skincare or haircare products have less ingredients in them, they may actually have more ingredients in them. In some instances, what you will find is that many main stream commercial products disguise the fragrances or scent of a particular product by using addition chemicals to mask the odour. Obviously for people who have chemical sensitivities or allergies, this can cause more problems due to the increased exposure to chemicals. It makes sense, with the wealth of chemicals, toxins and pollutants in our environment today, it is no wonder that so many of us are trying to reduce our chemical and toxin exposure in our home environment.

Finding truly unscented and fragrance free products that are both natural and chemical free can be challenging, which is why at Down To Earth Organics we have created a separate category for those who want to reduce their chemical exposure and use natural unscented products in their home.

Unscented and fragrance free products can be useful in many different situations: mums and bubs tend to be a little more sensitive to scents. Many essential oils are not suitable for pregnancy, breastfeeding and newborns – fragrance free skincare products provide an easy solution to caring for baby’s sensitive skin. People with topical skin sensitivity can also benefit from using unscented or fragrance free products, using fragrance free laundry detergent and dish washing detergents can also be great for those with dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema (but doesn’t necessary get them out of doing the dishes!). Some medications can put additional stress on the body and the immune system, people undergoing chemotherapy or other drug treatments may find fragrance free skincare and cleaning products a useful substitute for chemical laden products.

Another advantage to natural unscented skincare and hair care products is that it gives you the flexibility create your own personalised natural products, this is great for people with a creative flair for using essential oils. You can create your own individually scented natural skincare product with organic essential oils, without the fuss of creating a whole new product from scratch.

Natural and organic fragrance free and unscented products are also a great solution for the whole family; it can eliminate the necessity to purchase a separate skincare or haircare product for everyone in the family, so everyone is happy!

To check out our range of natural and organic unscented and fragrance free skincare, haircare and cleaning products go to Down To Earth Organics – Your One Stop Natural andOrganic Shop.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Best Natural & Organic Skincare Products for Under $25



Kosmea Rose Hip Oil
A common misconception with natural and organic skincare is that you have to spend big bucks to get a great skincare product. Fortunately, at Down To Earth Organics we have put together a group of our five favourite natural and organic skincare products under $25 - tried, tested and loved by us, in no particular order:

Sanctum Soothing Cream Cleanser in a generous 150g tube this subtly sweet scented cleanser will keep your skin clean and refreshed for ages. A great cream cleanser for sensitive skin, dry or mature skin, the formula is simple, effective and non-drying, so you don’t need to layer on your moisturiser afterwards. 

Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil 20mL, this wonderful healing oil, with it’s natural earthy scent and warm amber colour is a great addition any skincare routine. Only a few drops massaged into moistened skin before bed gives you glowing dewy skin in the morning. Add a drop or two to your favourite natural moisturiser for extra nourishment for your skin, works great for scar healing too.

Avalon Organics Daily Moisturizer Lavender 50mL, this silky smooth moisturiser is a surprising winner in our eyes. With somewhat humble packaging, this natural face moisturiser is light and non oily and best compared to your favourite cream coloured blouse – classic, goes with everything and great for any occasion. 

Renew Purifying Facial Exfoliant 150mL, with it’s unique bamboo extract and invigorating botanical extracts, this facial exfoliant earns extra points from us for ingenuity. Perfect for skin that tends to get a little more oily, yet gentle enough for sensitive skin as a once to twice weekly treat. 

Sukin Antioxidant Eye Serum 35mL is another one of Sukin’s great economy buy natural skincare products. When it comes to value for money, this eye serum has much to offer. Really a cross between an eye gel and a serum, this soothing and cooling formula is great for tired eyes, after a day sitting at a computer monitor or a night out on the town. Light and silky, this is eye formula can be compared to some of it’s more expensive counterparts, and still come out on the top of the pack.

So, there you have it, five beautiful natural and organic skincare products that won’t break the bank. Look fabulous and keep your skin clean and healthy – naturally.

Check out our full range of natural and organic skincare products at Down To Earth Organics – YOUR ONE STOP NATURAL AND ORGANIC SHOP.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Managing Dry Winter Skin With Natural Moisturisers

Weleda Skin Food


Cool dry air, hot showers and indoor heating can wreak havoc on skin that tends to dryness. Finding a good natural moisturiser for dry skin can be a challenging, but over the years I have tried some great nourishing moisturisers that do a wonderful service for my somewhat challenging skin. 

Two of our best natural moisturisers that I have found for hydrating and nourishing skin are Weleda Skin Food and A’kin Unscented Replenishing Body Moist; both high on my favourites list in the winter months. The WeledaSkin Food is one of those products that has actually been around for quite some time, just a quick glance through the ingredients: lanolin, beeswax and almond oil you can tell that this product packs some serious emollient punch. For me the Weleda Skin Food is a fabulous treat for dry hands, especially after a day out in the garden, for a real treat use it at night on your hands with a pair of cotton gloves over the top to really help with the softening qualities of this natural moistuiser.

The A’kinUnscented Replenishing Body Moist is packed full of fantastic nourishing ingredients like organic avocado oil, certified organic shea butter and Australian macadamia oil – almost good enough to eat. While one of the bonuses of this A’kin moisturiser is that it is Australian, this natural unscented formula is also great for sensitive skin and also if you want a moisturiser that won’t overpower the scent of your preferred fragrance. I have found this product really suitable if you tend to get dry skin on your legs after shaving, a great all rounder really, and because it is unscented it is a suitable moisturiser for men too.

Naturally, minimising hot showers and using indoor heating only when necessary can reduce the environmental triggers contributing to dry winter skin, and it helps to keep your energy bills down too!  Also, make sure that you are nourishing your body from the inside out by staying well hydrated, if you find it challenging to drink water in the winter months you can substitute with herb teas.

Visit Down To Earth Organics to view our full range of Natural Body Moisturisers.

Monday, July 15, 2013

People For Plants Face Oil Review



With my blossoming penchant for face oils and a passion for organic argan oil products, it goes without saying that as soon as the new People For Plants Face Oil was available I would be one of the first to get my hands on it. 


The People For Plants Argan, Pomegranate and Milk Thistle Face Oil is an elegant combination of certified organic nourishing oils, skin healing botanical extracts and potent herbal antioxidants.  Deceptively rich, this face oil is best applied to moistened skin, with the organic macadamia oil making this formula so much more nourishing than using just organic argan oil alone. The smell of this oil is that only of the natural oils, making it suitable for those sensitive to fragrances or essential oils. Fabulous for dry skin, this is definitely great for those who spend their winter days in air conditioning or whose skin needs a natural moisturising boost.

At well under thirty dollars, this little bottle of liquid gold will keep your skin moist, nourished and hydrated during the winter months, it also works a treat as a long hair oil boost for long locks.

People For Plants is a new Australian Organic skin care range that is currently being promoted by Jamie Durie. The brand boasts a bevy of natural skin care products containing certified organic ingredients, the range is free from your usual gamut of chemical nasties including parabens, sulphates and propylene glycol, plus they are Australian made and cruelty free. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Natural Henna – Information For Beginners



For some people, trying henna for the first time may seem a little scary, but using natural henna in your hair is actually really simple, rewarding and a bit of fun. 


Using natural henna for colouring hair has been around for centuries, Natural Henna is a great alternative to modern chemical hair colours, it actually coats the hair, conditioning and protecting each hair individually. Unlike some chemical hair colours, henna does not damage or strip your hair, it adds colour to it and of course is the best way to colour your hair without chemicals.

As with all hair colours, it is suggested to do a patch test to ensure that the colour is suitable for your needs, I would suggest doing this with some hair from your hairbrush a couple of days before your henna day. To find out what colour to expect from your henna mix a ½ teaspoon of the powder with a tiny amount of hot water and the hair from your hairbrush, leave for a few hours, rinse and observe.

Once you have chosen your henna colour, (view our Colora Henna Colour Chart here) it is best to set aside a good few hours to apply your henna. In winter especially, I would suggest doing it in the afternoon so that you can have a sit out in the sunshine and make best use of the time that you will be sitting, relaxing and letting the henna do its thing. Good things take time, so have a good book, some emails to catch up on, some journaling to do or maybe just enjoy a glass of wine. Enjoy having some relaxing time in your back yard or balcony with a dollop of henna on your head; it sure beats a couple of hours in a salon with smelly chemicals.

Remember that henna is a naturally derived hair colour, it looks like greenish brown ground up herbs, mixed with water is looks like chocolate cake mix and it has a wonderful earthy smell. Be prepared - henna also will colour anything that it comes into contact with, so make sure that you cover your floor with newspaper, wear some old clothes, use some old towels and most importantly use gloves. It is also a good idea to use some pawpaw ointment around your hairline to prevent the henna colour from staining your skin. It is a good idea is to have someone to help you with colouring your hair, a friend with a sense of humour and some skill with applying hair colour will make the process easier and more fun, but is not essential.

Just like everyone has their own secret recipe for making spaghetti bolognaise, using the same basic ingredients, the same goes for using henna, everyone has their own little tips and tricks, it all just comes down to experimentation and experience. View our How To Apply Henna article for a step by step guide and practical suggestions for applying henna for the first time.

As a cautionary note, it should be mentioned that if you consider colouring your hair with henna, you will need to grow out the colour as it is quite difficult to remove once it is on. Choose your henna colour carefully, use our Colora Henna Chart to find the best colour for your hair, it makes sense to say that trying to colour light blonde hair with black henna will produce some discouraging results Рthink before you henna. Also, for those with more than 20% grey hair, it is advised that you use the Colora Henna Cr̬me as this has added coverage for greys. Lastly, as henna will coat and not strip your hair, do not expect henna to lighten your hair, you can only go darker and healthier with henna.

Overall, henna is by far the most natural way to colour your hair, it also conditions and strengthens your hair so it is excellent for long hair or those wanting to grow out a shorter style. See our How To Apply Henna article next week for a step by step guide and practical suggestions for applying henna. 

Happy hennaing!


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Natural and Organic Fragrance Free Products



Unscented Skincare
When you start to delve into the world of fragrance free or unscented products you might find that instead of finding your skincare or haircare products have less ingredients in them, they may actually have more ingredients in them. In some instances, what you will find is that many main stream commercial products disguise the fragrances or scent of a particular product by using addition chemicals to mask the odour. Obviously for people who have chemical sensitivities or allergies, this can cause more problems due to the increased exposure to chemicals. It makes sense, with the wealth of chemicals, toxins and pollutants in our environment today, it is no wonder that so many of us are trying to reduce our chemical and toxin exposure in our home environment.

Finding truly unscented and fragrance free products that are both natural and chemical free can be challenging, which is why at Down To Earth Organics we have created a separate category for those who want to reduce their chemical exposure and use natural unscented products in their home.

Unscented and fragrance free products can be useful in many different situations: mums and bubs tend to be a little more sensitive to scents. Many essential oils are not suitable for pregnancy, breastfeeding and newborns – fragrance free skincare products provide an easy solution to caring for baby’s sensitive skin. People with topical skin sensitivity can also benefit from using unscented or fragrance free products, using fragrance free laundry detergent and dish washing detergents can also be great for those with dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema (but doesn’t necessary get them out of doing the dishes!). Some medications can put additional stress on the body and the immune system, people undergoing chemotherapy or other drug treatments may find fragrance free skincare and cleaning products a useful substitute for chemical laden products.

Another advantage to natural unscented skincare and hair care products is that it gives you the flexibility create your own personalised natural products, this is great for people with a creative flair for using essential oils. You can create your own individually scented natural skincare product with organic essential oils, without the fuss of creating a whole new product from scratch.

Natural and organic fragrance free and unscented products are also a great solution for the whole family; it can eliminate the necessity to purchase a separate skincare or haircare product for everyone in the family, so everyone is happy!

To check out our range of natural and organic unscented and fragrance free skincare, haircare and cleaning products go to Down To Earth Organics – Your One Stop Natural andOrganic Shop.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Best Natural & Organic Skincare Products for Under $25



Kosmea Rose Hip Oil
A common misconception with natural and organic skincare is that you have to spend big bucks to get a great skincare product. Fortunately, at Down To Earth Organics we have put together a group of our five favourite natural and organic skincare products under $25 - tried, tested and loved by us, in no particular order:

Sanctum Soothing Cream Cleanser in a generous 150g tube this subtly sweet scented cleanser will keep your skin clean and refreshed for ages. A great cream cleanser for sensitive skin, dry or mature skin, the formula is simple, effective and non-drying, so you don’t need to layer on your moisturiser afterwards. 

Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil 20mL, this wonderful healing oil, with it’s natural earthy scent and warm amber colour is a great addition any skincare routine. Only a few drops massaged into moistened skin before bed gives you glowing dewy skin in the morning. Add a drop or two to your favourite natural moisturiser for extra nourishment for your skin, works great for scar healing too.

Avalon Organics Daily Moisturizer Lavender 50mL, this silky smooth moisturiser is a surprising winner in our eyes. With somewhat humble packaging, this natural face moisturiser is light and non oily and best compared to your favourite cream coloured blouse – classic, goes with everything and great for any occasion. 

Renew Purifying Facial Exfoliant 150mL, with it’s unique bamboo extract and invigorating botanical extracts, this facial exfoliant earns extra points from us for ingenuity. Perfect for skin that tends to get a little more oily, yet gentle enough for sensitive skin as a once to twice weekly treat. 

Sukin Antioxidant Eye Serum 35mL is another one of Sukin’s great economy buy natural skincare products. When it comes to value for money, this eye serum has much to offer. Really a cross between an eye gel and a serum, this soothing and cooling formula is great for tired eyes, after a day sitting at a computer monitor or a night out on the town. Light and silky, this is eye formula can be compared to some of it’s more expensive counterparts, and still come out on the top of the pack.

So, there you have it, five beautiful natural and organic skincare products that won’t break the bank. Look fabulous and keep your skin clean and healthy – naturally.

Check out our full range of natural and organic skincare products at Down To Earth Organics – YOUR ONE STOP NATURAL AND ORGANIC SHOP.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Managing Dry Winter Skin With Natural Moisturisers

Weleda Skin Food


Cool dry air, hot showers and indoor heating can wreak havoc on skin that tends to dryness. Finding a good natural moisturiser for dry skin can be a challenging, but over the years I have tried some great nourishing moisturisers that do a wonderful service for my somewhat challenging skin. 

Two of our best natural moisturisers that I have found for hydrating and nourishing skin are Weleda Skin Food and A’kin Unscented Replenishing Body Moist; both high on my favourites list in the winter months. The WeledaSkin Food is one of those products that has actually been around for quite some time, just a quick glance through the ingredients: lanolin, beeswax and almond oil you can tell that this product packs some serious emollient punch. For me the Weleda Skin Food is a fabulous treat for dry hands, especially after a day out in the garden, for a real treat use it at night on your hands with a pair of cotton gloves over the top to really help with the softening qualities of this natural moistuiser.

The A’kinUnscented Replenishing Body Moist is packed full of fantastic nourishing ingredients like organic avocado oil, certified organic shea butter and Australian macadamia oil – almost good enough to eat. While one of the bonuses of this A’kin moisturiser is that it is Australian, this natural unscented formula is also great for sensitive skin and also if you want a moisturiser that won’t overpower the scent of your preferred fragrance. I have found this product really suitable if you tend to get dry skin on your legs after shaving, a great all rounder really, and because it is unscented it is a suitable moisturiser for men too.

Naturally, minimising hot showers and using indoor heating only when necessary can reduce the environmental triggers contributing to dry winter skin, and it helps to keep your energy bills down too!  Also, make sure that you are nourishing your body from the inside out by staying well hydrated, if you find it challenging to drink water in the winter months you can substitute with herb teas.

Visit Down To Earth Organics to view our full range of Natural Body Moisturisers.