Leading a healthy lifestyle by following the rules of a good diet and attending Pilates and yoga classes are no longer enough to compete with the endless demands of our modern world. One of the most important and often neglected organs of the body is the skin, so while eating right and exercising well all contribute to a sense of well- being don’t forget that your skin needs some attention too!
Looking at the skincare trends raised by celebrities, products fawned over by product gurus and environ- mentally friendly advocates and recommendations made by well-known dermatologists from the media, the organic and natural skincare trend certainly hasn’t lost its popularity.
Why Organic Skincare?
Skin is our largest organ and it absorbs what we put on it! Most organic products do not contain harmful chemicals such as sulphate and paraben and they use botanical and organic ingredients instead. It helps to reduce side effects for those with sensitive skin and allergic reactions to normal skincare products.
Not only are they gentle and nourishing for your skin but organic products are mostly environmentally friendly. This includes being free from animal derivatives and against animal testing and using recyclable packaging material.
Sukin, Akin and Al’chemy are accessible and affordable organic skincare ranges with natural botanical ingredients found at most pharmacies and health food stores.
Sukin, 250ml Botanical Body Wash RRP $7.95
One of Sukin’s award win- ning products is their Botanical body wash. It is a sulphate-free cleanser, containing an infusion of German chamomile, aloe vera, yucca and lavender, enriched with rosehip, avocado and jojoba oils. This body wash cleanses without striping the skin of its natural oils. Aroma-therapeutic oils of tangerine, mandarin, vanilla and lavender help to stimulate and refresh your senses. It has very low foaming, thus it does not dry up your skin and in fact, it gently cleanse with moisturising effect. It is a good and safe product for daily use.
A hydrating body lotion is definitely the way to go after showering to make sure your skin is well moisturised, soft and glowy. Sukin’s hydrating body lotion is enriched with an infusion of aloe vera, nettle, horsetail and burdock com- bined with rosehip, avocado and jojoba oils to moisturize dehydrated skin and improve elasticity. Sukin body range is formulated to restore natural balance of moisture to the skin.
Supermodel, Miranda Kerr supports organic products with her organic range, Kora Organics.
“The Kora Organics products are not tested on animals but tested on me! And they don’t discriminate – they are suitable for women and men, children and babies” – Miranda Kerr
KORA Organics is made from plant derived and certi- fied organic ingredients. Their special ingredient is noni, which helps to provide a po- tent anti-oxidant to protect from environmental damage and lifestyle. Other ingre- dients include macrobiotic salts sourced from the Pacific Ocean, Australia rose quartz crystal, energised water rose hip oil and vitamins A, C and E complex.
“The Kora Organics prod- ucts are not tested on animals but tested on me! And they don’t discriminate – they are suitable for women and men, children and babies,” says Miranda Kerr. It has premium organic ingredients and it is environmentally friendly with its recyclable packaging and it is also animal loving.
Our favorite pick outs are the Exfoliating Cream, Hydrating mask, Balancing Rose Mist and the Rejuvenat- ing Foot Balm, which is also one of Miranda Kerr’s travel essentials.
Kora, 90ml Cream Cleanser RRP $44.95
Kora Organics special ingredient:
Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is a tree native to Pacific Islands and Tahiti. It’s been used in Poly- nesia for over 2000 years for its beneficial properties and is thought to help a whole host of health issues plus boost energy and improve skin condition. It’s very high in Vitamin C, an- tioxidants and can help reduce free radical damage. Noni is a macronutrient and is also indig- enous to Australia; grown wild, it’s known by Aboriginal people as bush tucker. It was first in- troduced to Miranda as a drink by her grandparents when she was twelve. Miranda swears by Noni, which she uses everyday; and believes that its nutritional properties give her the energy she needs and helps keep her skin in fabulous condition.
A’kin’s Unscented 24 Hour Pure Moisture is made especially for sensitive, allergy prone and fragile skin. Rich with natural anti-inflammatory actives such as Vitamin B5, bisabolol (chamomile), vipers bugloss oil (also a highly concentrated source of omega 9, omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids) and healing Vitamin E, it soothes, comforts and deeply moisturises your skin.
A good choice for sensitive skin is Al’chemy’s Unscented “Very Gentle” Shampoo that is made with certified organic ingredients, natural botanical actives and gentle cleansers, blended in a pH neutral un- scented formula. It goes well with the unscented wheat-free conditioner, which helps to create shine and healthy glow the hair.
Another local organic brand is Grown. They have a hand wash and hand cream that are gentle and smell refreshingly good. The sweet orange, ce- darwood & sage hand wash is a gentle gel with skin softening active ingredients that leave skin thoroughly cleansed, re- freshed and soft. It has coconut oil and fennel seed that gently emulsify dirt and grime. Sweet almond oil boosts the skins lipid content and preserves moisture levels. Pot marigold provides flavonoids to leave the skin calm and soothed.
The Vanilla and Orange Peel hand cream is a non-greasy formulation of moisturizing active botanicals that naturally soothes and softens dry, un- dernourished hands and cu- ticles. It is full of antioxidants such as grape seed, wheatgerm and rose hip oil that protect against free radical damage and boost the skin’s natural protective function. Rose hip and camellia seed oil increase the skin lipid content, which helps to restore moisture levels and enhances the skin’s natural moisture retaining capability.
Grown Body Cream, 500ml Mandarin & Rosemary Leaf RRP $49
For those who want more exclusive organic skincare treatments used in a spa, Endota Spa offers a range of organic skincare facials and products. Their organic facial menu is tailored for every skin and the organic day spa facials use all-Australian ingredients. They have different type of treatment facials to address skin issues and soothing aro- matherapy facials to relax the mind and soul.
Their wide range of organic spa skincare products include Kakadu Plum Face Mask, an active organic clay mask for oily to normal skin. Kakadu plum is a far northern Austra- lian fruit famous for containing more vitamin C than any other natural plant ingredient.
Endota Spa Organic, 90ml Kakadu Plum Mask
RRP $55
Looking outside of Australia, a beautiful natural skincare range from New Zealand, Trilogy uses certified organic rosehip oil and other natural ingredients and the the energising face lotion is certainly one of the top picks. This is a fresh, light and easily absorbed moisturizer, which helps to firm skin, boast mois- ture levels and reenergize the skin. With vitamins A and E, certified organic rosehip oil and antioxidants, it helps combat signs of ageing and leaves skin looking radiant and refreshed, feeling soft and breathing freely. It also has a rich ‘herby’ fragrance which gives it a natural scent that reflects the green country of Aotearoa.