Why Choose Organic Skin Care?

Organic skin care and beauty products are hugely popular at the moment, and to understand why, it's useful to know a bit more about what organic actually means. Organic farming is a method of farming that severely restricts the use of pesticides and insecticides, instead using more traditional methods and crop rotation to keep pests away and natural fertilizers to encourage the crops to reach their best.

By using ingredients grown organically, you can be sure that they have been grown with minimal chemicals so they themselves won't contain anything they shouldn't! This is particularly important when you know that a significant proportion of the products we put on our skin enter into our body.

Even better, when a company makes organic skin care products it usually means that they do not include any of the additional ingredients we'd rather avoid such as parabens and SLS. But beware the unethical brands who just use the "organic" name which doesn't mean it really is organic. Tobe sure, look for a certification logo such as the Soil Association.

In addition to the benefits to your body, organic is better for the environment. The farming methods are more eco-friendly and sustainable than other farming methods meaning a lower carbon footprint as well as using fewer petrochemicals.

So all in all, you can see why we're such big fans!

Hot for June!

New in store - the fabulous [A'kin] range...

[A'kin] natural hair, skin and body products are made from the finest ingredients and are free from sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.

And they're all ingredient-rich, vegan, and use certified organic ingredients where possible. So get your hands on some today!

The Path to Perfect Skin

How on Earth is featured in this month's edition of Yoga Magazine! It's a great article (and that's not being biased!) by Katy Morton on getting the best skin and the benefits of organic skincare products.

Shona, the founder of How on Earth, is featured with her top tips on cleansing, keeping the skin bacteria-free and being wary of products like lipstick that we ingest.

There's also advice on some of the best products for different types of skin including our very own Weleda Wild Rose Cleansing Lotion, Pukka Organic Rosewater Toner and suki balancing day lotion.

Visit Yoga Magazine for more information and to find out how to get your copy!

Winter Skin Care Favourites - Weleda Skin Food

If you suffer from dry or chapped skin anywhere on your face or body, you'll be pleased to know How on Earth is now stocking Weleda Skin Food.

Featured at London Fashion Week in September, Skin Food was in the exclusive goody bags for the models, designers and attendees. Its huge celebrity following includes Rihanna, Janey-Lee-Grace and Sophie Ward.

Shona asked me to test it out and I have been mightily impressed, as have my mum and ten year old daughter! I especially loved using on my hands and elbows.

Skin Food is developed to be a deep penetrating skin repair cream, either smoothed onto your body until absorbed, or gently patted onto your face. This amazing cream forms a fine protective barrier against the ravages of winter. As soon as you open the tube, the wafts of chamomile, calendula and wild pansy start to soothe. Key ingredients included lanolin, which is cleverly chemically similar to our natural skin oil, sebum and rosemary, which revitalizes dull complexions.

Amazingly Weleda Skin Food was first introduced in 1926 (!!). It's having a huge comeback, with endorsements from models, singers and actresses. Thank goodness the secret is out now and my hands may survive the winter.

£5.95 for 75ml at How on Earth, it is suitable for vegetarians and comes in a 75ml recyclable aluminium tube - green in more ways than one!

Posted by Kate L.

Winter Skin Care Favourites - Barefoot Botanicals SOS Range

Barefoot Botanicals SOS organic skin care products are rich in natural ingredients that moisturise, soothe and calm dry, irritated, and cracked skin.

Originally designed for people suffering from eczema and psoriasis (so are perfect for those with sensitive skin), these are 100% natural, gentle products that work wonders on anyone with damaged or dry skin.

Review: Barefoot Botanicals SOS Rescue Me Face & Body Cream

A How on Earth bestseller, this face and body cream is a one-stop wonder for rescuing sore or chapped winter skin. It comes in two sizes, the 50ml is perfect for fitting in your handbag so you never need be without it.

marieclaire.co.uk says: "A fantastically rich, hydrating cream that is the perfect soothing antidote for very dry skin. Delivers a huge dose of essential fatty acids to hydrate stressed out skin and also contains calming herbs including evening primrose oil, burdock and chamomile to relieve irritation. Fab for dried out winter skin but also a summer essential for easing insect bites and sun scorched skin." £9.95 for 50ml.


Review: Barefoot Botanicals SOS Lifesaver Moisturising Bath Oil

Forget about bubbles for your bath, pour in some of this super-hydrating bath oil for a truly indulgent soak. Containing a mix of botanical oils including jojoba, sunflower, starflower and evening primrose, this moisturising bath oil will soften and protect the skin.

And take time to experience the full aromatherapeutic effects of the neroli, chamomile, lavender and Himalayan cedarwood which are known to relax body and mind.

Gentle enough for babies, children as well as adults with sensitive skin. £19.95 for 200ml.

Winter Skin Care Favourites - Weleda Wild Rose Intensive Facial Oil

The winter season can be really stressful on your skin - from the harsh cold temperatures and wind outside to drying central heating warmth indoors, there's no wonder it needs special attention. So we're putting together some of our top picks for the winter months.

First, one of my absolute favourites. I wasn't too inclined to try it at first as I usually find oils too greasy to use on my skin but after a couple of uses, I was hooked! Unlike many oils, the Weleda Wild Rose Intensive Facial Oil is rapidly absorbed into the skin, leaving a soft finish, and a gorgeous, relaxing scent. My skin feels really nourished and hydrated afterwards.

How to use it: Best used in the evening after thorough cleansing and toning - break open one of the capsules and dab the contents over your face and neck, massaging it in softly. Apply gently around the eyes. If there's any excess oil after a few minutes, remove with a cosmetic tissue. There's no need to use any additional products such as a night cream.

What Weleda says about it: "Wild Rose Intensive Facial Oil supports the natural renewal processes of the skin; it increases the skin’s natural resilience and elasticity, reduces the feeling of dryness or tired appearance and the signs of premature ageing are reduced. The skin feels smooth and supple."

I would really recommend using it daily for a couple of weeks if your skin feels out-of-condition and then maybe a couple of times a week throughout the winter. Ideal for use after a face masque when it will provide amazing nourishment for deeply cleansed skin.

Extra tip: Wrapping the face in a warm, damp cloth for a few minutes can increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

£12.95 for 30 capsules.

Top 5 Ethical Gift Sets for Christmas

Started planning your Christmas list yet? We've picked our favourite gift sets to help you on your way...

See our full range of Ethical Christmas Gift Sets.

Certified Organic Cosmetics - New In

We're pleased to announce another brand has passed our exacting ethical standards so is now available at howonearth.co.uk!

Make-up is more than colour at Nvey Eco, it is a philosophy of harmony through the interaction of nature and creativity to deliver organic cosmetics that nourish, protect, condition and energise your skin, while delivering exciting colour for a natural everyday radiance. Even better, it's one of the few cosmetics lines to be fully certified organic! Certified under the Organic Food Chain (OFC) and the Australian Government, it combines luxury with sustainability.

The organic concealer was voted best concealer at the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2008: "I've always assumed there's not much difference between concealers, but this has definitely proved me wrong - it's the best one I've ever come across, and is great value! I found it easy to apply as it goes on as a cream, but then blends into a fine, velvety powder. It covers blemishes and shadows brilliantly without looking 'cakey' or flaking, and the morning application didn't need touching up until lunchtime. It's especially long-lasting when set with powder. The compact mirror is also really convenient!"

As always, it's cruelty-free, and doesn't contain any of the questionable chemicals such as parabens, SLS, mineral oil, DEA etc. It's also talc-free, GM free and the packaging is made from recycled materials. All in all, we're very impressed.

Follow the link to find out more about Nvey Eco Organic Cosmetics.

100% Organic

Just arrived at How on Earth!

The fabulous Balm Balm family has just got bigger, and we've got all of the new members for you. On top of the 100% organic lip balms, there are now face balms, hand balms, foot balms and baby balms.

The three different scents available means there's one to suit everyone - Rose Geranium for the romantics, Fragrance Free for sensitive skins and Tea Tree for those needing a pick-me-up.

Have a look at the full range: Balm Balm.

Love Your Planet, Choose Organic

That's the message of this year's Soil Association Organic Fortnight - Love Your Planet, Choose Organic.

For the next two weeks, individuals, businesses and communities will be hosting events to raise awareness of the environmental, health and social benefits of organic production. So look out for any local events you can join in - whether it's organic tastings, trying your hand at organic gardening or celebrating the benefits of organic skin and body care.

Organic fact for the day: Organic production it is beneficial for the planet, because on average UK organic farming uses 26% less energy per tonne of food produced. This is mainly due to the non-use of fertilisers, which are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in agriculture and the single largest source of nitrous oxide emissions in the world.

So choose the planet-friendly option, and go organic! And don't forget to visit us at How on Earth - we've got hundreds of organic products on our site, including many Soil Association Certified ranges. And for more information or to find events in your area, see the Soil Association website.

New Pai Organic Cleanser

If you're already a fan of Pai skincare, you'll love this new cleanser. And if you're not, you should find out what you're missing!

Pai is one of our favourite brands. The creams are gentle on the skin without being greasy and so fresh they're usually made to order. Plus they're organic, UK made, vegetarian and cruelty-free, so there's not much more we could ask for.

The Pai Camellia & Rose Cleanser is a gorgeous addition to the range. Camellia oil has been used in Japan for centuries as a skin cleanser and conditioner. Packed full of omega 3 and vitamins A, B, C & E, it is the ultimate skin tonic. And rose helps skin to retain moisture. Its rejuvenating and restorative properties make it particularly beneficial to lacklustre or damaged skin.

Also new to How on Earth are the Pai Lip Balm Gift Set and the Pai Eye Cream Lip Balm Gift Set - have a look out for these if you're on the hunt for the perfect gift.

Try before you buy

We know one of the things that's frustrating about buying skincare online is that you can't get a good feel of the products - in a store you'd probably open the bottle, dab some on your skin, take a good smell, have a read of the packaging...

So we've done our best to make it easier for you and can now offer many of our ranges in handy-sized sachets for you to try. And many of them are even free when you place an order with us!

Follow the link for more details: Ethical skincare samples.

In the press - The GIN Lady

The GIN Lady - don't you just love the name? In case you were wondering if we'd somewhat strayed from our obsession with all things eco and gone down the path of early afternoon drinking, don't worry, we haven't quite got there (yet)...

The title comes from the blogger, Nicola, being "under the influence of Green, Independent and Natural brands, people and news." So, away from the alcohol and back to the marginally less fun topic of our Pukka Organic Rosewater which she reviewed this week. And she even went a step further than us with our testing and tried it on her rice pudding. Yes, it's that pure you can actually eat it, so no need to worry about putting it on your skin.

Her review: "I love Pukka teas for their taste, ethos and approach to business. So when I found their toner on the lovely new beauty site, How On Earth, I decided to give their toner a whirl. A fabulous move!

I am forever spritzing my face with this beautifully simple concoction. It freshens me up immediately. It also relaxes me.

Pukka’s organic rosewater is purity in a bottle. Get this: It's distilled from roses grown at a high altitude to optimise essential oil content; The roses are hand picked at dawn to protect their valuable aromatic oils from evaporating in the sunlight; They are gently steam-distilled to optimise its wonderful fragrance. Yep, it smells delicious.

So delicious I highly recommend eating it. For something different, pour a splash into a drink of water.... so refreshing. Or add some to rice pudding... divine. We couldn't drink from a bottle produced by the mainstream giants, now could we? "

What more can we add to that? For more eco-news and product tips, have a look at Nicola's fabulous blog: The GIN Lady.

5 Top Skin Care Tips

1. Moisturise. And not just your face - the neck, elbows, heels and hands shouldn't be neglected. They may not be the first to be noticed, but if they're not looked after, it'll show. Don't be persuaded into buying a specific product for each area though - a good balm will work wonders on elbows, hands and heels and you can use the same moisturiser for your decolletage as you do on your face.

2. Always protect yourself from the sun. We all still love the healthy glow we get from a suntan, but we also know about its long term damaging effect. Use a good sunscreen and stay out of the midday sun.

3. Don't forget to cleanse your face properly in the morning - many of us (and yes, I'm as bad as anyone at this!) hurry through the morning routine and whilst we know that it's the ultimate skincare sin not to remove make up at night, we don't really worry so much about cleansing in the morning. But during the night the skin has time to breathe and it's natural detoxifation processes take place so the surface of the skin needs to be thoroughly cleansed before putting on any moisturiser or make up.

4. Try and keep your hands and products clean. This avoids contamination and delays products going off and if you are using natural products with minimal preservatives this is especially important.

5. Look after yourself - no smoking, not too much alcohol and good nutrition and exercise can do as much for your skin as any products.

Trilogy Skincare - New In

In case we didn't have enough fabulous brands, we've found another fantastic one for our ethical beauty fans!

Like all our ranges it has high levels of natural ingredients and doesn't contain any SLS, parabens, mineral oil, formaldehyde or other 'nasties'. So why do we think it deserves How on Earth's ethical approval?

Many reasons: Firstly, none of their ingredients, formulations or products are tested on animals, only willing humans. Their ingredients policy also means that all products are free from nanoparticles, GM ingredients, palm oil and there are no synthetic colouring or fragrances so even though the ingredients listing includes parfum, you don't have to wonder what kind of concoction is hidden beneath.

As to Trilogy's eco side - all the contents and packaging are biodegradable and the company has recently shown their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by becoming carbon neutral, certified by CarboNZero. We know it's not ideal that the products are made in New Zealand, but we appreciate that they are brought over to the UK by sea freight, not air.

To top it off, the amazing Rosehip Oil is certified organic and is sourced from a fair trade farming co-operative in Africa.

So we think we can trust Trilogy's sustainability mantra: Maximum effect on the skin, minimum effect on the environment. And we haven't even started on why they're so great for your skin! Find out more at Trilogy skincare.

Click here to buy Trilogy products.

Get gorgeous hands in ten minutes!

This only takes ten minutes and can be done while you're watching tv so there's no excuse! And, except for in deepest, darkest winter, our hands are one of the few parts of the body that are always on show, so it's worth taking care of them.

Firstly, remove any old nail polish with cotton pads or buds.

Next you'll need to thoroughly moisturise your hands and nails. You might like to try one of our eco hand creams such as Barefoot Botanicals' Rosa Fina Hand Cream or Weleda's Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream. You may also want to use a separate product for your cuticles such as Burts Bees' Cuticle Cream. Once softened, using a cuticle stick, gently push back the cuticles.

Assuming your nails aren't so long as to need cutting, shape them to your preferred shape using a double-sided emery board. Use the more abrasive side of the board to start with until the nails are roughly the right shape, then switch to the softer side to smooth off the edge. Then spend a few minutes shining the nails with a buffer. You'll be surprised how shiny they can look without any polish.

Many of us would love to have long nails, but our lifestyles (jobs, children, housework etc.) make it impractical. Focus on taking care of your hands and nails regularly rather than worrying about them being the ideal length.

If you have the time, you can then apply nail varnish. But consider when you're next likely to be able to spend the time to redo the polish - well-shaped, healthy, shiny nails are far preferable to 4-day old polish which is starting to look chipped and cracked. Plus, nail varnish normally contains masses of the chemicals many people are trying to avoid. If you are going to use polish, try a brand called Suncoat which is one of the least toxic on the market.

Try and do this once or twice a week to keep your hands and nails looking gorgeous - we promise you'll notice the difference. And if you're forgetful, try associating a particular program with getting your nail kit out - you'll be done before the ad break!

Marie Claire Goes Green

For one month only, Marie Claire are joining us eco warriors by putting the spotlight on the growing ethical fashion and beauty market.

We're a little disappointed that ethical products are only featured as part of a "special edition", but mostly we just think it's really positive that such mainstream magazines are recognising that the "eco" choice doesn't have to represent a compromise anymore; on style, quality or effectiveness.

As we hope our readers already know, being green and gorgeous is absolutely possible these days. Our website has masses of ethical beauty products to choose from but for ethical clothing options, have a quick look online. Adili, People Tree and Gossypium are a few of my favourites but there are lots more so skip the Primark £1 t-shirts this weekend and go for a longer-lasting fix that will actually have benefited the people who made it. You'll look and feel fab we promise!

For more details and some of their hot picks and celebrity favourites, see our Marie Claire article or pick up a copy of their green issue - it's all wrapped up in a paper bag...

Suki Pure Skin Care

As seen on Oprah!

Suki natural skin care range is the creation of Suki Kramer. Driven by a desire for high end products and her own skin sensitivities (she grew up with severe eczema), she developed her own line of natural skin care products.

The result is a line of pure, holistic, effective and gentle formulas that combine the best botanical remedies with scientific innovation, made for all skin conditions but with sensitive types in mind. And all 100% natural!

Passionate about pure, natural skin care, Suki formulations never contain any of the following: Aluminium or ammonium ingredients, benzoates, benzyl alcohol, colorants, DEA, DMAE, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrance, imidazalidol urea, laureth family, parabens, PEG, petroleum, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, propylene glycol, talc.

And if all that wasn't good enough, the company sources from fair trade, organic, biodynamic processing and local whenever possible. They choose to use only biodegradable ingredients that do not harm the environment, rather than toxic ingredients like petrochemicals. And of course, all cruelty-free.

See the full range of Suki natural skin care at How on Earth.

Pai Organic Skincare

We're over the moon to have found this fantastic range. Voted Number 1 organic beauty product in Grazia magazine, this is what luxury skin care should be about.

Meaning 'goodness' in Maori, Pai products are all freshly prepared with the purest plant-based ingredients. Free from parabens, phthalates, sls and other nasties, the products are all Soil Association certified so you know they're as pure as they come.

Plus they're all handmade in the UK and beautifully packaged - what more could you want?!

Follow the link to discover the range: Pai Skincare

Spring sale and new natural make up range

There are a few exciting things going on at How on Earth at the moment. We’ve got absolutely loads of new ranges coming over the next couple of months, so we’re having a spring clean to make some space for the new stock which means some great special offers! For more details, follow the link: How on Earth Sale.

The first of our new ranges is the ultimate in mineral cosmetics - the Suki Color range. 100% natural and certified cruelty-free, Suki skin care products are some of the cleanest available on the market - no SLS, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, just full of gentle, natural and active ingredients for healthy skin. Whilst the prices are higher than your Boots No7 range, we believe they're worth every penny. Like the skin care, once you’ve tried the range, we're pretty sure you'll become addicted!

Plus, most of the cosmetics products have multiple uses – the eye cream definers can be used as eye shadow or liner, and the concealer can also be blended with a moisturiser to make a great foundation - if you're like me and always fill your handbag to bursting, one less thing to carry is a definite plus! You can find the full range at Suki Color.

There's also a great YouTube review (independent I might add!) if you'd like to see how well they work.