My Affair with Antipodes Scientific Organic Beauty Skincare Range

It all started rather innocently about a year ago after I had run out of my regular eye moisturiser. We had just introduced a few organic skincare products from New Zealand brand Antipodes Scientific Organic Beauty at Down To Earth Organics and I thought it would be good to try one of these new products myself. I decided to try the Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream and was immediately taken by the texture and luxury of this product, not only was it smooth and hydrating, but it didn’t irritate my temperamental skin and seemed to keep on working all throughout the day.

It wasn’t long after trying the Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream that I sought out my next product in the Antipodes range. I had run out of my regular natural moisturiser with SPF and so too had our shelves at Down To Earth Organics. I had a kayaking adventure to plan for in the next few weeks and I was without a moisturiser with sunscreen,  so I found a perfect excuse to invest in the Antipodes Immortal Performance Plus Moisturiser with SPF15. Over the years I had tried several similar natural moisturisers with SPF, and while finding them effective, I rarely found a natural product that I really enjoyed using. The Antipodes Moisturiser with SPF15 definitely ‘ticked all of the boxes’: it was light enough to wear under make up, effective enough to keep me from getting scorched on my kayaking adventure and gentle enough not to flare up any skin issues. It was around this time that I realised my relationship with Antipodes Organic skincare products was really starting to go ‘somewhere’.

My next investment was Antipodes Natural Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser, a decadent and charming cream cleanser that would be suitable for even the fussiest skin. I have since used this cleanser once or twice daily and have found this product treats my sensitive skin with humble respect without compromising on effectiveness.

My new found interest in Antipodes Organic skincare products however, has not gone unnoticed by my partner, he is beginning to see a pattern with my choices of skincare products, and the shiny amber glass bottles with green labels are ever so quietly starting to take over our bathroom. Of course I have plans for my future relationship with Antipodes Organics skincare; it won’t be long before I will need a new night cream and facial exfoliant, so the Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator will be closely followed by the Avocado Nourishing Night Cream in the next few weeks. Although I have had my eye on the Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum, it will be some time before I work through my current fabulous serums, so that part of the affair may have to wait until next year!

To view our range of Antipodes Scientific Organic Beauty Skincare range, go to:
Down To Earth Organics
Your one stop natural and organic shop

Sukin Sunless Bronzing Gel Review

Always the guineapig for self-tanners, I am the first to admit that while others were in the queue to get their tan-able skin, I was busily stocking up on freckles and fair skin. It seemed obvious that when we discovered Sukin was bringing out a sunless bronzing gel, I would have the most suitable pasty legs to trial the new self tanner in house at Down To Earth Organics.

For the last ten days or so I have been sporadically using Sukin’s new Sunless Bronzing Gel. The first thing to notice with the packaging is the relatively short list of ingredients and lack of chemical nasties such as artificial and synthetic fragrances, EDTA, parabens and animal derivatives. Also as an added bonus, Sukin Sunless Bronzing Gel is100% Australian owned and made and 100% carbon neutral!

When using the gel, the first thing that I noticed was the consistency, likely due to the high aloe vera content, it seems a little more runny and glossy than other self tanners that I have tried. While this does take a little to get used to, it actually makes even application a little easier. Sukin has also added a couple of essential oils to the formula giving it a nice pleasant citrus-y smell.

Although I am no expert, I have found that building a tan slowly with several applications works best for me so I don’t end up splotchy or streaky. I found with this product that two light applications within a few hours worked best for my skin to achieve a light tan, a third application can get quite a rich darker colour, which would really be up to personal preference.

The aloe vera in this formula also makes the application quite soothing without being sticky, and I can imagine in the warmer weather this will be quite therapeutic on a hot summer day. After a week of using this Sukin self tanner I found the colour would fade without streaks or blotches and once daily application seems to keep the colour looking natural without going overboard.

The overall colour of this self tanner also seems a bit darker than some other products that I have used, perhaps due to the caramel ingredient in the formula, I didn’t find this to be too much of an issue with light applications, and actually had the advantage of making the product go that much further.

For cost and value, at well under $20 this is a bargain, 200mL should last me through a greater part of the summer, and the soothing moisturising properties of the gel makes it so much more enjoyable to re-apply after showering. Definitely a great buy for those wanting an Aussie tan without the sunburn.

To find out more details about our Sukin Sunless Bronzing Gel, visit
Down To Earth Organics – your one stop natural and organic shop.

Spirulina - An Introduction

Some may call me a veteran on spirulina, others may just say I'm a bit 'green', either way I have been using this glorious green stuff in some form for nearly 20 years! Often referred to as a blue-green algae, spirulina is technically a cyanobacteria or a blue coloured bacteria, but, unlike other forms of bacteria, spirulina contains chlorophyll and uses the sun as an energy source in a similar way to plants and algae.

Historically, spirulina is believed to have been consumed as a food source by the Aztecs until the 16th century and also grown in Central Africa. Today spirulina is grown and harvested in many locations throughout the world in alkaline lakes, given the correct conditions it is fast growing and relatively easy to harvest.

Spirulina is considered to be one of the most nutritious and concentrated food sources on the planet, a majority of the interest in spirulina is around it's natural protein content. Often containing around 60% bioavailable, easily absorbable plant based protein, spirulina is considered to be a  much better source of protein than most animal forms of protein, including red meat.

However, it is not just the amino acid profile (proteins) that make this whole food remarkable, spirulina is also abundantly rich in minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids. It is this unique combination of nutrients that categorizes spirulina as a 'superfood' in our western society, a nutritional saviour in third world countries, and a nutrition-packed food for astronauts and earth dwelling humans alike.

The health benefits of this wholefood spirulina are many, in brief, spirulina is a great food source for vegetarians, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly. Spirulina is great for balancing blood sugar levels, beneficial in Type II diabetes and associated cardiovascular issues. It is supportive for brain function, liver, eyes and immune system. Spirulina is also of benefit for those with cholesterol issues, excess weight or low energy.

Ultimately, a daily dose of spirulina is a great equivalent to synthetically manufactured nutritional supplements, for those travelling or with less than optimal diets.

See our full range of spirulina here at
Down To Earth Organics - your one stop natural and organic shop.

Hungry For Change DVD Review

Hungry For Change - Your health is in your hands.

This latest release DVD from the makers of “Food Matters” is informative, educational and entertaining. For many who already lead a natural, healthy lifestyle, the information contained in the DVD will confirm and cement your views on healthy eating. However, for a majority of people who have veered off the path of healthy living, this film provides insightful information on how commonly consumed processed ‘foods’ are contributing to the declining health in western countries.

As with their previous documentary “Food Matters”, “Hungry For Change” encompasses a combination of interviews with health professionals & testimonials from health advocates, intertwined with the fictional tale of an average woman living a standard mainstream life. We follow the journey of this woman who, for all intents and purposes is living a normal life, however is not feeling optimal health due to her less than healthy lifestyle choices.

Specifically, this film looks at weight loss (or weight gain) issues and addresses the influence of diet drinks, monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame, artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners in processed foods and how they are influencing the overall health of western society. During the course of the documentary, suitable alternatives to processed foods are provided to encourage the viewer to take greater responsibility for their own health and to move away from the marketing incentives of denatured processed foods.

Snippets of wisdom from health experts like Dr Alejandro Junger, Joseph Mercola and Dr Christiane Northrup are seamlessly intertwined with interviews with healthy eating advocates such as Jon Gabriel (“Gabriel Method”), Kris Carr (“Crazy Sexy Diet”) and Australia’s own Joe Cross (“Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”). Refreshingly, there are no products that are being marketed, no brands being pushed and no gimmicky sales pitches.

Ultimately, “Hungry For Change” is the kind of documentary that you will go back to and watch a few times, just to refresh your passion and motivation for living a healthy life and choosing nutritious foods. I would recommend this film for anyone who feels that they have lost sight of their health/weight/life goals and needs some gentle persuasion to refocus their journey towards a healthy & happy life.

For the month of August 2012 www.downtoearthorganics is selling this latest DVD Hungry For Change at 20% off the recommended retail price. Get your copy here while we still have stock!

Down To Earth Organics – your one stop natural and organic stop

How Supermarkets Are Regaining Control Over Consumer Choices.

While many of us do our best to ensure that a majority of our purchases are local, ethical and environmental, ultimately, finances and necessity (read convenience) overtakes our cynicism and we end up buying our organic chickpeas from a major supermarket chain.

If we rewind a few decades to the 1950s and beyond, consumers had little or no choice when it came to consumable items; the store keeper chose the brand and allocated a price for our purchases. This relationship between the consumer and store keeper all changed when somewhere in the 60s when the supermarket was introduced and consumers we permitted to browse the isles for products. Consumers could themselves select what they wanted, a turning point in the control of consumer choice.

These abundant choices continued through to the present day where we no longer use a basket to carry our groceries, we need a tank sized trolley to cart our purchases to our self-serve checkout. We have endless choices for any item that consumes our attention and we well and truly have control of our choices. Or do we?

Our supermarket roller coaster ride has been spent for many of us with our eyes wide shut. While some may have been quietly hoping for the dynamic range of choices to be minimised (do we really need an entire isle dedicated to soft drink?), for some of us we are now becoming cognisant to the fact that we really have not been in control of our choices for some time now.

Like the evil sister that quietly studies and entices our boyfriend until she finally covets his affections right under our naive nose, supermarkets have been studying our purchases (loyalty cards), understanding our preferences (stocking organic chickpeas) and providing us with incentives to spend more (how many times have I spent $28 on groceries and found myself disappointed that I didn’t spend enough to get my fuel voucher?).

How could we not have seen this coming? Obviously there have been some big monopoly decisions that have occurred in order to manipulate the general course of events, but I suppose it really started when some of the big guys realised that the idea of a supermarket or no label brand was attractive to the consumer. I remember in the 80s when the supermarket brands were originally shelved near the ‘Homebrand’ and ‘Black & Gold’ budget brands, until that is, they did their research and realised that there was more money to be had in eliminating competitors’ brands from the shelves and stocking their own products.

For me, this really all came to crisis point when I realised that the organic chickpeas that I had been unashamedly purchasing from a major supermarket chain was no longer available. I tracked down my cherished brand of organic chickpeas at a local independent grocer, only to find that their price was more than double what I had been purchasing them for. I also realised that a huge majority of natural and organic ‘healthy alternatives’ that you could previously purchase in supermarkets have been replaced with identical supermarket products. Granted, these products may well come from the same farms and be manufactured in the same factories and simply packaged differently, who really benefits here?

Being both a consumer and a small business owner myself this really made me realise that some of my purchases as a consumer were not in line with my beliefs as a small business owner. As we grow and learn, each of us begins to understand the value of how even our smallest purchases influence our global economy. Ultimately it is up to us as consumers to support small independent businesses, to allow ourselves to sustain and relinquish control of our choices and enable small businesses to remain as an integral part of our economy. As I learn to make more conscious and aware choices with buying natural, organic and local products from independent small business I hope this will somehow influence others to do the same.

Choose natural, choose organic, choose local.