One of my favourite customers contacted me to say that she couldn’t see the sale in the Parlour when she was about to place her order today. Oh dear, it seemed I got the timing off by a whole 24 hours!! Not good!
Well, as a way to give my wonderful customers some more time to enjoy the sale I’ve done two things:
The sale is still on but I’ve extended it until 6am Tuesday, 19th August
There’ll be another great sale from 6am, Tuesday, 19th August until Midnight Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August. Spend just £10 to qualify for a 10% discount!
This way, not only do you have a little more time to make up for my boo-boo over this weekend, but you’ll also have a little something to carry you through the Bank Holiday weekend.
In terms of anti-aging, the importance of sun care is far too significant to overlook as a major cause of skin aging is subtle, continuous sun damage.
Professor Griffiths a dermatologist of Manchester University said “The majority of anti-aging skin products are actually aimed at the effects of sun exposure, not how our body naturally ages. If I had to pick just one product it would be suncream.”Professor Griffiths also said that some of the more visible signs of aging such as deep set wrinkles would not occur until our eighties were it not for sun damage.
Applying sun care creams and oils doesn’t only protect the skin from burning and/or cancer, but it also helps with other problems too.For lighter skin, sun care enables a more even tan and can prevent unwanted sun-freckles.For darker skin, sun care is a fantastic preventative measure for hyperpigmentation and blemish scarring.
Simply apply your sun cream ten or so minutes after applying your favourite moisturiser.Take care to cleanse, tone and moisturise each day and night to avoid clogged pores.
Nature’s Parlour has a range of sun care and insect repellents from a company called Caribbean Blue which are all natural and have an invisible zinc oxide base rather than the traditional chalky white zinc used in other sun creams.So, whether you’re going abroad or enjoying your sunshine in the UK, be sure to protect yourself and your family with Caribbean Blue’s natural sun care range.
I firmly believe that being pampered is a necessity – not a luxury. It adds balance to a busy lifestyle and keeps you going. It adds to your quality of life and is important enough to be scheduled as an unmissable appointment with yourself.
A long time ago, I promised I’d have a massage and a facial once a month as a way of saying “thank you” to myself for working hard. I don’t go out for a monthly facial any more, I’m more than happy to do them at home for myself and will go out for one on special occasions. I still enjoy regular aromatherapy massages with blends to reflect my mood depending on whether I need to be invigorated or relaxed.
You can do your own facial using your favourite products. A facial needn’t be a complicated process and could be bumped up a notch by listening to some music whilst spending some extra time on your face. This could mean that you might just shape your eyebrows take care of your, er, moustache ;o), have a face pack and or exfoliate, apply a serum, etc. Make it about spending some quality time with yourself.
Pampering should never be a monetary concern though, always remember that you can do it regardless of your budget or income. For years one of my favourite ways to pamper has been a good old soak in the bath whilst listening to music! I often listened to my sister’s tapes whilst soaking in the bath as a youngster.
I started to explore different music genres (yeah, whilst still in the bath, LOL) and would periodically time it so that I could listen to radio plays or the Book at Bedtime on Radio 4.
I enjoy my bath with blended oils and bubble baths (or Epsom salts), candles and lots of filtered water (or chilled white wine!) – whilst listening to relaxing music or a guided meditation. I insist on having this kind of bath at least once a week to give my life balance.
In leaner times, I’ve simply thrown lots of salt into the bath and soaked whilst meditating in silence (had to save on the electricity!!).
After a good soak, spend a little time massaging yourself with your favourite oil blend. In a relationship? Hand over the massage oil and let your partner do your massage for you!
Besides soaking in the bath, a great way to pamper yourself is to go and sit in a green area just to gather your thoughts. This might be your local park, or green. You may have to travel a bit so you could make an outing of it – just take a flask of hot tea/cocoa or a bottle of water so that you can sit there comfortably for a little while. By the way, you’d be amazed at how much comfort and joy you can get from simply sipping your favourite hot drink from a flask whilst outdoors – honestly, I tell no lie!
…and then there’s meditation…ah, meditation! A free vacation to your favourite destination any time you like. It’s worth learning how to do it so take a course or read up on it. Information on meditation and various techniques are freely available on the internet.
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:
those who wish to become lighter for racial/socio-economic reasons
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
NB. “Hyperpigmentation” is increased melanin production (eg, spot scars, melasma). Hyperpigmentation should not be confused with “hypopigmentation” which is a reduction in the production of melanin (eg, vitiligo, albinism).
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.
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
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.
