I hope you enjoy it?

©Actual Organics 2012

©Actual Organics

I love putting on a clay mask.  I have used mud from New Zealand, when I lived there, Canada, Australia, you name it and mud is detoxifying for the skin, rejuvenating and tones the skin.  I find I feel my skin is more taught when I have put [...]]]> Do you clay/ mud mask your face?

I love putting on a clay mask.  I have used mud from New Zealand, when I lived there, Canada, Australia, you name it and mud is detoxifying for the skin, rejuvenating and tones the skin.  I find I feel my skin is more taught when I have put on a mask and having rinsed it off given my face a good massage with some oil my skin looks youthful and radiant, seriously!

You don’t need to go and have a facial to benefit from a clay mask.

Unlike the woman in this picture I do not advise smiling when you have a mud mask on!  The mud will crack and it will get messy.

Top tips for a good mask:

• Use a fan brush to put the mask on

• Lie on the sofa or your bed, putting your feet up on the pillows and relaxing.  Taking ten minutes OUT.  Don’t read, don’t chat on your phone, just do nothing.  Rest.

• Choose a wash cloth/ flannel that you don’t care about, not the brand new cream one that matches your bathroom, as it will get dirty, brown or green depending on the clay you are playing with!

• Wash off with a wash cloth that you have soaked in warm water, cover your face and allow the mask to absorb the water.  Don’t scrub away at your face to remove it, gently use a wet cloth to remove.

• Tone the skin with a spritz or a skin conditioner with aloe vera

• Then massage the skin for five minutes, you don’t have to be a massage therapist, don’t worry just rub in some oil like La Bella Figura Moroccan Gold and do what feels good.

• Set an intention for this ritual.  Loving and nurturing your skin.  Don’t be critical and notice the laughter lines, set that aside (magazines ARE airbrushed so relax!) and care for your skin.

• Enjoy it.  This is a time to care for you.  Radiant women need to look after their skin and setting aside time to do a clay mask is vital ‘me’ time.

You may notice that your pores look more refined, it can help reduce blackheads and generally improve the circulation in your skin, depending on what clay you use.  There is green clay, pink clay and white clay as well as many other colours with varying properties such as drawing, rejuvenating, re-mineralising etc.

I have a few clay masks and use them depending on how my skin feels.  If I have a few spots then I use green clay, if I want to tone my skin but it feels dry I use a white clay.  Clay masks can be good on bee stings and also if you have a splinter.  I had a splinter in my thumb which I put some mask on and it really helped to draw it out, it didn’t magically pop out obviously but definitely helped speed the process.

For acne, green clay can be helpful, use daily for two weeks, to get the skin really waking up.  Having had acne for over ten years, I can’t believe I did not come across this simple to use technique.  It is also important to avoid synthetic chemicals on troubled skin and to use a conditioner and moisturiser that has ingredients designed to calm inflamed skin.

Get your mask on!

You can buy masks online and I found New Directions Aromatics (they have stores in the UK, US, Australia and Canada) that looks like you can get bulk clay for a good price.  I am going to order through them when I finish my current mask that I bought at a trade show.

Have you used a mud or clay mask?  Did it help your skin?  Having read this are you keen to try a clay mask?

This awesome titled book “Slow Death By Rubber Duck” is co-authored by Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith and it is [...]]]> You are invited to an exclusive event up in Whistler, British Columbia on 23rd February, 2012

Discover the #1 Mistake Women Make That Keep Them Stressed Out, Exhausted And Looking Older Than They Are

This awesome titled book “Slow Death By Rubber Duck” is co-authored by Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith and it is an international bestseller translated into Korean, French, Polish and Swedish.

The good news is that you can come to Whistler next week and meet Bruce, hear him discuss the ways that you can improve your skin and health through reading labels.

Ask yourself:

What if you were using products that were actually making your body work harder, causing unnecessary aging and yet what if there was a simple way that would not only help you look and feel great but benefit others?

Come along and learn what you don’t know about skincare and cosmetics and take home a guide that will ensure you only spend money on quality ingredients in future.

Join

Bruce Lourie, co-author of international best-seller Slow Death by Rubber Duck
& Joanna Runciman

Buy Tickets online $27

where you’ll discover:

How to choose effective skin care from the vast array available in stores
What you can do to avoid harmful ingredients when washing your face or cleaning your teeth!
Take home your guide to what’s toxic & what’s not.

Thursday Feb 23rd 2012
~
6pm start
(finishes 7.30pm)
at

~
Whistler Museum & Archives
4333 Main Street, Whistler
(kindly providing a cash bar).

Buy Tickets online $27

All proceeds go to Environmental Defence’s Just Beautiful Campaign

(Bruce and I are donating all our time to raise money for this event.  The other person that I must thank is Janet Patterson at Environmental Defence Canada, she did the online ticket page and has been a HUGE support- she is a complete star!)

Buy tickets online!

We look forward to seeing you there, bring a friend, a notebook and an open mind.

Learn more about the Just Beautiful Campaign

So how did it get to shops [...]]]> Traditionally called Saint Valentine’s Day 14th February was about honouring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine.  It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending handmade greeting cards (known as “valentines“).  [1]

So how did it get to shops being filled with red and pink sparkly things, perfumes, lingerie and frankly pretty much everything ‘Valentine’s’ for a month just after Christmas?

We seem to have come a long way from that traditional celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day, where handmade cards were written, to the modern day mass produced consumerism that sees shops adorned and in-boxes full of buy this and buy that.

I like the idea of writing a hand written card which costs nothing except the time to write it.  What would you say?

I also like the idea of not just racing out and buying something for one day why not show your loved one that you love them everyday?

Spending money doesn’t make something better and very often the heavily marketed items can hide toxic truths.

What is really in your Valentine’s Day perfume?

Many Valentine’s Day perfumes and bath products, that I looked at recently, actually contain harmful synthetic chemicals, carcinogens even, that I would not want to be given any time of the year let alone Valentine’s Day.  These synthetic chemicals are things like parfum, petrolatum, dimethicone, 1,4-Dioxane and fragrance, so be sure to read the article on perfumes to find out why you really want to avoid these to ensure you are not paying for pollution in your products! 

If you really want to give perfume, and I must admit it is nice, then there are some companies that are making certified organic perfumes without synthetic chemicals and they are:

Nothing Naughty Naturals

Nothing Naughty Naturals have just started to stock Fiori D’Arancio Organic Eau de Parfum which is sugar alcohol and organic essential oils.  Currently there is 20% off at the moment and free shipping in Canada ($12 off shipping to the US) when you spend over $80. I have not tried the perfumes but I do know that they are certified organic and are without the usual perfume nasties such as phthalates and parfum.

Neal’s Yard Remedies

I currently am using a nice scent, given to me by my lovely sister for Christmas, that is made by Neal’s Yard Remedies.  It is frankincense, bergamot, neroli, lime, vetiver and despite being strong after initially spraying it, I really love it.  It is a very classic English scent.

I do know that La Bella Figura are bringing out a perfume at some point but I am not sure when.  Their products are superb and so that is worth keeping an eye out for.

Miessence also make certified organic perfumes and as a lifestyle member you get 20% off products for life with a $150 or £100 order.

Love is the answer

I am not advocating you buying perfume for Valentine’s Day, far from it, however if you were going to anyway then there are three brands that you know you can now buy without toxic phthalates, parfum or fragrances in the ingredients.

Maybe you give presents but still your partner wonders if you really love them?  Or they say ‘You never help me’.   If that is the case, I suggest reading

“The 5 Love Languages”

Why?
It is a great book and one that shows you how to effectively show love without missing the mark.   You might be a words person and they might be a time person (you’ll know what I mean when you read the book).  This might be a good present to yourself, read the book by Valentine’s Day and then ask what are you going to give?  The answer may surprise you as it may just be folding the washing or saying you look beautiful.

What will you give?

References:

[1] Wikipedia

Let me share with you, I thought I slept well.

I’d go to bed, fall asleep and a few hours later (maybe seven or eight) wake up and usually had coffee [...]]]> Humans are a bit like squirrels; active during the day and sleep at night and don’t hibernate, but what if you are not sleeping?

Let me share with you, I thought I slept well.

I’d go to bed, fall asleep and a few hours later (maybe seven or eight) wake up and usually had coffee (after a glass of water of course- just to make myself feel better) with my breakfast.  Then I raced about all day until I fell into bed tired.  I did not fall asleep in the day and never thought I had sleep issues.  (I will write about how I gave up coffee without headaches or feeling cranky another time.)

My illusion bubble of sleeping well was burst when I started to sleep earthed, some call it grounded.  I now sleep so deeply that I did not hear the crowd of Australian’s celebrating Australia Day last week- think loud (I only know as my husband was furious, and awake).  I wake up with oodles of energy each morning, feeling refreshed and looking rested, I feel more clear headed too.

What is all the fuss about sleep?

Sleep is a habit and one worth getting addicted to, within reason of course!  Sleep is when the body detoxes, and simply put the liver starts to clean things out from about 10.30pm, after which time your body wants to be asleep, even if your brain says ‘party’ or ‘must work’ or ‘just one more check on Facebook.’

You and I both know that sleep is something that, in recent years, has fallen by the wayside, been pushed aside in replacement of TV, online games, random browsing the internet and staying up late doing stuff.

What is the impact of all this over stimulation?

Judging by our reliance on sleep medication, the impact is fairly dramatic.  According to the Canadian Community Health Survey CCHS in 2002, an estimated 13.4% of the household population aged 15 or older—that is, 3.3 million Canadians—had insomnia.

This concerns me.  I know how awful I have felt having been to bed late but insomnia is constantly having a disrupted sleep or lack of falling asleep.  Here’s the thing, you need sleep!  No sleep- big problems.  Is it little wonder that sleep is a billion dollar pill popping industry?  Curiously so are the energy drinks and pain killer markets too, could sleep be a missing link?

My latest discovery I feel embarrassed about as I wonder why I didn’t think of this before?

What is earthing?

When I heard about earthing I thought, yeh, yeh, just another product that I can buy that clutters up the house.  I did nothing about it for two years.

However, at a conference in November, it was $80 for two mats and I bought them.  I thought about it for a while and realised this totally stands to reason, we have lost our connection to the earth; we have carpet, rubber soled shoes, endless technology and often we sleep on the second floor of the house, or higher if you live in a block of flats.  Think about it when did you last walk about in bare feet for any length of time?

I also read the book “Earthing” by Clint Ober- an easy, fascinating read but back to the earthing mats; I started to use it in early December.  I put it in the bed, at my feet and have been using it for a couple of months now.  I have actually just ordered the bed sheet as the earthing mat does get a bit crushed as I turn over but it still works for a simple, cost-effective solution, the mat is also great when sitting reading or standing ironing, it can also be used as a hand rest to ground me when working on the computer.

Apart from sleeping like a log (where did that phrase come from?) I feel more connected, my feet feel more connected to the earth and as a result, I don’t slip about on the ice which is handy as we have lots here in Winter.   I am more peaceful and I feel my brain thinks quicker- I know, it is really wild.  In essence, I feel great.  Oh, and I ski better too!

Just give me sleep.

Maybe you are well aware and feel drained having not had enough sleep last night, the night before and the night before that? Maybe it has been months even?  Or maybe you, like me, think you get good sleep but are not really feeling as lively and energetic as you feel you could be?  Maybe you’d be happy to settle for just 5% more energy?

So what if you have tried everything?

Part two will discuss electronics why they need to be in one mode, and one mode only, for sleep.  I will talk about magnesium, massage, palming and fresh air and in the mean time, have a read about earthing, and do one thing for me… get grounded; walk barefoot on the beach or go hug a tree, seriously you’ll thank me for it, well unless there is a squirrel up the tree who pounces on your head!

Plant your garden

“life is too short for drama, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly”

How To Plant [...]]]> I was sent this on email and it was so wise and beautiful I had to share.  I am not sure who originally said it, so apologies for not being able to attribute it to you.

Plant your garden

“life is too short for drama, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly”

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you come to the garden alone, whilst the dew is still on the roses.

enjoy nature

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING ,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS :

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE   THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.   THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU  SOW.

I find that resolutions often leave me feeling rubbish come February or the end of January when I have not achieved them.

Slowing down is my intention for 2012, spending time doing the peaceful things of life, not getting swept up [...]]]>

Do this feel familiar?

Resolutions?  Good intentions? Gym membership? Eat less? Achieve more? Do this, do that- AGGHHH!

I find that resolutions often leave me feeling rubbish come February or the end of January when I have not achieved them.

Slowing down is my intention for 2012, spending time doing the peaceful things of life, not getting swept up with the craziness of the modern world.

These top five tips will help you create more radiance in your life. 

1. Get more sleep.  Go to bed earlier, turn your cell phone off at night, (buy a new nightie or pjyamas if the old one is tatty) but just make sure you get to bed.  Rest, rest and rest!
2. Read ingredients.  Ask yourself, what am I really eating?  Don’t believe the claims on the box- grab my food questionable ingredients card & get savvy in 2012.
3. Slow down.  Smell the roses metaphorically speaking.  Take time to be without the busy-ness of life.
4. Wash less.  I’m not advocating you become a soap dodger but is washing your hair everyday really needed?  Less is more, the more you wash the more you’ll likely want to wash, oh and the more lotion you will need!  Adding epsom salts to your bath or turning the heat down on the shower helps your skin from getting too dry.
5. Palm your eyes.  Stress and tension can make your face ‘look’ older wherein fact it is merely muscle tension.  Palming can greatly reduce the tension in your eyes and relax your face.

So in a nutshell these tips are what will could very well help your radiance this 2012.

What are your New Year Resolutions? Don’t be shy, I’d love to hear.

Most information campaigns or television programmes say “Eat less and exercise more to lose weight” in part that is correct but when they use the [...]]]> Weight is big business, making a lot of companies and individuals oodles of money through helping you to lose weight; pills, diet programmes, cook books and eat only vegetables retreats.

Most information campaigns or television programmes say “Eat less and exercise more to lose weight” in part that is correct but when they use the word ‘eat’ I would use the words ‘absorb’.  You can’t just look at what you eat to get a picture on your weight, you have to look at your environment too.

What do I mean by absorb?

You come into contact with calories everywhere; even some teas now have candy cane in them, what happened to the good, old fashioned, Earl Grey or Yorkshire tea?  Anyway, these calories can be in your food, but usually they are ‘chemical calories’ (a term coined by Dr Paula Ballie-Hamilton in her book The Detox Diet) and later called ‘obesogens‘ by Bruce Blumberg.

These CHEMICAL CALORIES are the key in the obesity & weight issue but where are they hidden?

This list may horrify you, consider yourself forewarned:

• Air fresheners: synthetic chemicals abound in these in home or office stinkers!
• Cleaning products:  Often have many synthetic chemicals, why else do they have a poison control number in case your child drinks it?
• Perfumes and colognes: anytime you see ‘fragrance’ on a label, or ‘parfum‘, it can hide a mass of undisclosed ingredients many of which are synthetic chemicals, or chemical calories!
• Washing liquids and dryer sheets- contain synthetic chemicals (unless you are choosing a genuinely eco-friendly brands) and traces of these are then in the fibres of your clothes, (you know how some powders make you itch and others don’t?).  You wear clothes next to your skin all day & night!  Clean washing doesn’t smell of flowers or happy meadows!
• Sofa, furniture coverings and new electronics. That new computer ‘smell’ is often brominated fire retardant or PBDE- not something you want to breathe in or absorb.  Allow a new TV or computer to be plugged in for a week or two in a room with an open window before using it.
• Skin care products and make up- you likely know by now, if you read my blog regularly, that skin care and make up can be a battle ground of toxins.  Yet did you know that these toxins can accumulate in your body and make you fat?  Perhaps another reason to clean up your life in 2012?

There is now a film out called “Programmed to be Fat” by Dreamfilm (Canada) this is exciting stuff as the message is getting more mainstream rather than merely those on the fringe talking about it.

If you want the low down on what toxins you could avoid, and I highly suggest you do, then check out Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith’s book called “Slow Death By Rubber Duck” a scary but fascinating read all about what skin care, toothpaste, plastics and many other things are exposing you too.  Ignorance isn’t an option, learn today!

Do you avoid chemical calories? Have you heard the term obesogen or is this all new to you?

Americans spend $450 billion dollars each year on Christmas! [1]  That is a lot of money by any standards.  I was astounded how it could be that much but I suppose once you have a tree, oodles of food, endless decorations and vast quantities of presents for family and friends, then all adds [...]]]> HOW much?

how much did I spend?

Americans spend $450 billion dollars each year on Christmas! [1]  That is a lot of money by any standards.  I was astounded how it could be that much but I suppose once you have a tree, oodles of food, endless decorations and vast quantities of presents for family and friends, then all adds up.

Yet are we missing the point?

What exactly is in all these presents being given to your loved ones?

There is no denying that presents are wonderful to receive but as scrooge-like as I may sound I have to say there are some presents I really would not want!

Much of what I have seen in the shops or catalogues seems more like needless plastic rubbish, toxins, pollutants and general wanton consumption.  I am not alone in this view either, David Suzuki also feels that our consumption is a serious issue for us and our planet.

Scented candles

The vast majority of scented candles are far from the pretty pictures on the box.  Most are paraffin candles with synthetic chemical fragrances, which bear in mind are being burnt in winter with no windows open!  I am not sure these are presents but maybe more closely related to hazards?

Paraffin candles tested by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) [2] emitted above excess cancer risk levels for formaldehyde, as well as dioxins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and harmful particulates.  I am not sure that I want to be given scented candles.

There are some fabulous alternatives; beeswax candles, that are the more traditional candle, which are naturally negative ion producing- they clean the air.  Beeswax candles smell good but without the toxin synthetic chemicals.

Perfumes & bath oils

I would not give a perfume or bath oil as many in the mainstream shops are scented with parfum or fragrance.  This is a red flag on the toxin front, fragrance can be a hiding place for many hundreds of synthetic chemical substances that by law do not have to be listed on the label.  [3] The perfume industry says just listing ‘fragrance’, on the label, is to protect their secret formulas but I would rather have certified organic or organic essential oils in my bath, wouldn’t you?

Some other present ideas, for under $30!

What's in your make up bag?

Detox the make up bag – There are some great brands of non-toxic, synthetic chemical free lotions and potions, I have a list on my products page.

What is the big TOXIN fuss anyway?  Why do you need to watch what you use on your skin, learn more with my latest CD

Beeswax candles – they burn nicely, smell good and are toxin free.  Soy candles also work well but I’d avoid paraffin candles!

A day trip somewhere.  You likely have more ‘stuff’ than you want in your home, so what about a present that is an experience rather than something to put in a drawer or hide until you feel better about later giving it away?

Make your own balms – they are very easy; a little shea butter, a little coconut oil and some beeswax & essential oils.  If you can’t face making your own thankfully Kirstin from Be Clean Naturally has made a great belly balm that I use on my cuticles.

The gift of traditional health knowledge- A subscription to the Weston A Price Foundation, an organisation dedicated to sharing the voice of traditional health and real food.  For $40US or $50US if you live anywhere else in the world you’ll get four journals a year packed full of food information and research much of which might surprise you.

What presents are you giving this Christmas holidays and why?

References

[1] http://www.Adventconspiracy.org

[2] http://www.epa.gov/

[3] http://environmentaldefence.ca/campaigns/just-beautiful/glossary/fragrance