INSPIRED ORGANICS

Thank you Mary for this lovely feature on your blog.

 

Here in the UK, I found Shea Butter Cottage, a Fair Trade small business stocking organic and natural skincare ingredients to make your own. Here you can buy pure Pomegranate Seed Oil, for creating your own skincare. Founder, Akua Wood originally from Ghana, also runs Cioccolatina, an organic skincare company that also adheres to fair trade principles. She has some truly unique products like the Baobab Soap, the likes of which I haven't seen anywhere else! Or the new Chocolat Massage Melt! (well you know me and my penchant for chocolate!)

The Cioccolatina site is so full of goodness you really have to see for yourself. Akua has whipped up a fabulous variety of skincare products also including the Ohema Body Spray with the exotic scents of Jasmine, Patchouli and Rose essential oils (30ml £7.00). Check it out and support small business and fair trade principles!!

SPICES - NOT JUST FOR CURRIES

I have a basic rule when preparing curries – onions, tomato, garlic, ginger, coriander, etc. There is something magical about spices. Some are said to be aphrodisiac! However, these spices have medicinal values not only in the tummy, but on the skin. Did you realise that the humble tomato is a great source of Lycopene - the most common carotenoid in the human body and one of the most potent carotenoid antioxidants. Naturally acidic with a rich source of vitamin C, it helps to brighten up dull skin by absorbing excess oil. Garlic is great for infections, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and coriander is a refreshing herb for the skin.

I often get asked for facial masques for oily problematic skin so I came up with this recipe which makes 200g of dry masque:

72g Sea clay

32g Fuller's earth

25g Kaolin

20g Tomato powder

20g Lemon powder

10g Coriander powder

10g Garlic powder

10g Turmeric

1g Tea tree essential oil

Mix all your dry ingredients and add the tea tree essential oil. Stir well to incorporate and store in an air-tight container. Content may settle so you would need to shake it before use to break up any clamps of clay mix. To use: mix a tablespoon of the clay mix with enough warm water (or warm water + a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice; warm water + a tablespoon of fresh tomato juice (no UHT)) to make a thin paste – gently massage onto the face and leave to dry for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Use twice a week.

DISCLAIMER:THIS INFORMATION MAY HELP THE READER UNDERSTAND HOW TO MIX CERTAIN INGREDIENTS FOR PERSONAL USE BUT IN NO WAY SHOULD THE ABOVE BE CONSTRUED AS CLAIMS MADE BY SHEABUTTER COTTAGE AS TO THEIR PERCEIVED MEDICAL BENEFITS. SHEABUTTER COTTAGE CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SPECIFIC USE OF THIS AND DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY ARISING.

GET SOME HEAT DOWN YOUR THROAT.

As a Ghanaian, I am used to spicy food and went through a culture shock when I moved to UK. Fortunately, I live in Reading which is home to most of my favourite food ingredients.

I wrote this recipe for an American soaping pal last year and have re-written it with minor changes - enjoy.

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NEW PRODUCTS

We have recently introduced new products to our range of products.

Fancy a face mask for that oily skin? Why not try blending some sea clay, tomato powder and lemon peel powder. Wash your hair and body with authentic African Black liquid soap and make your dry skin supple with a drop of Peruvian organic sacha inchi oil

 

 Learn more

BRACING

I had been stuck at home for 3 days with my daughter who was not feeling too well, so it was such a relief when I "gained" freedom to get back to work on Friday and pack some orders.

We headed off South for the weekend and could not believe it when I found myself on the beach on a February afternoon!!!! It was cold, blustery and tiring with sand on my face. At least I had lots of fresh air to clear the cobwebs - especially when you live in Reading. It was such a relief to stumble upon Vesuvio for a cup of coffee and a nice piece of tiramisù (won't you if you had been walking for about a mile?)

A visit to Honeybrook proved more than we bargained for when we came across this chap.