20% off or 10% off?…you decide – but hurry, the sale ends Bank Holiday Monday!

20% Sale: Friday, 15th August – Sunday, 17th August. Spend just £20 to qualify for a 20% discount on the contents of your shopping basket.

What’s the best kind of product you can use to aid against ageing skin? You might be surprised to know that sun cream is your best defence, read here to find out why.

Pampering is a necessary way to add balance to your busy life. For user friendly tips and suggestions read on…

Hyperpigmentation, liver spots and dark scars are common amongst people of all races and can cause varying degrees of distress for the the individual; from “not bothered at all about it” to “I really, really need help getting rid of this”.

The treatment of these conditions come mainly in the form of creams and soaps that are applied topically to the affected areas. Sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that and this is where the taboo comes in.

These creams/soaps are called, bleaches, lighteners, whiteners or brighteners and are often used for something other than treating marks on the skin. In certain cultures the creams are used because having a lighter skin (ie looking more like a white person) is seen to be more beautiful. The products have caused controversy when they contain dangerous ingredients such as hydroquinone and mercury and yet are still used in order to look whiter.

In Asia and Africa sales of lightening creams and soaps are a multibillion dollar industry and openly recommend use in order to look whiter so that the user can have a “better life” (see below).

Lightening also has class issues too. In hotter countries if you are darker skinned, it’s often assumed that you do manual outdoor work, where as if you are lighter skinned it’s assumed that you have a more “professional” better paid office job.

It is the opinion here at Nature’s Parlour that the creams serve two separate and distinct markets to a greater or lesser degree:

1. those who wish to become lighter for racial/socio-economic reasons
2. those who would like treatments for hyperpigmentation/blotchy skin/uneven skin tone/liver spots/freckles/eczema scars/dark scars, etc

We do not wish to judge those from group 1, however, we are currently in the process of sourcing creams and soaps specifically for people from group 2. Our priority when researching these products will always be: Is it safe? Is it natural/organic? Would we in the Parlour use it (depending on skin type)? Would we recommend it to our friends and family? Some of the packaging of the products we’re currently looking at would attract those from group 1, but we reiterate that we would sell those products based on their suitability for those in group 2.

We will not be considering creams with hydroquinone, mercury, parabens, petrochemicals, or with PEG (polyethylene glycol in its varying forms). For the soaps we will not be considering anything containing SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) either.

Do you have scars you’d like to get rid of? Would you like to know which creams are safe and natural/organic? Do you know someone who could benefit from a natural/organic treatment for hyperpigmentation but wouldn’t know where to find them or would be too embarrassed to ask? Would you prefer to get rid of your scars rather than wear foundation to hide them? Would you like advice on how to use such creams so that your scars go but your complexion remains the way you’d like it to be? Perhaps you have freckles and would like to know if these products can remove or fade them?

We are aware that this is quite a sensitive topic and would like to remind people who take part in this discussion that we encourage people to remain polite whatever their view is; criticism must remain constructive and impersonal; abusive posts will be removed. Whatever your take is on this, we’d like to hear from you.

Yours naturally,

Xina

Do you want to look after your skin but you’re not really sure where to start? Well, good quality natural or organic products are your first step

After that, you have to think about when to carry out your routine. Twice a day is your best bet; once in the morning and again either just before you retire for bed or when you get home from work – especially if you’re the type who’s way too tired to thing about anything but your pillow at bed time.

Here are your simple routines. There’s one for the morning and a choice of two for the evening depending on whether your prefer to use facial wash or cleanser.

Morning routine:

• use a facial wash to cleanse your face
• moisturise
• 10 minutes or so after your moisturiser has settled, apply a small amount of sun cream and then your make-up (if you wear it)

Evening routine (a)

• use a cleanser to clean your face and remove your make-up (if you wear it)
• use a toner to remove any final traces of cleanser and/or make-up
• dry your face and apply your favourite moisturiser. You can use a specific night cream which is heavier and more moisturising than your day cream, which is designed to be lighter under your sun cream and make-up

Evening routine (b)

• use a facial wash to clean your face and remove your make-up (if you wear it)
• using a toner is optional if you’re certain you’ve removed all make-up and rinsed thoroughly. Some of you may prefer to use toner if you find that make-up moves into your hairline when washing it off
• dry your face and apply your favourite moisturiser/night cream

Additional tips:

• Include your neck and décolletage into your routine. Your skin in these areas will look better for it as the years go by
• A holistic approach to your morning routine would be to imagine your cleaning your sleepiness away in preparation for the new day; and in the evening, you could imagine you’re washing your work stresses away and preparing for a peaceful evening or restful sleep
• Back your routine up with some exercise and a diet packed full of fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of water. This will not only do wonders for your skin, but will improve your general well being.

What do you think of this routine? Do you have one that you’ve used for years or are you going to take the plunge and start with this simple one? What ever your take on this, we’d love to hear from you.

Yours naturally,

Xina