The Green Familia » Lifestyle

Holistic Essentials from Ayurveda Pura

Jo — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:08:45 +0000

Holistic Essentials is a new Ayurvedic skincare range from Ayurveda Pura formulated to the true principles of Ayurveda, the ancient holistic health system of India.

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to health through a method that comprises diet, Yoga, massage, detoxification, herbal remedies, and meditation. The term Ayurveda is taken from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. Ayurveda is prevention oriented and treats the root cause of a disease rather than just the symptoms and in certain instances Ayurveda has been found to improve not only a person’s health, but also their well being, behaviour and state of mind.

In Ayurveda, everything in the Universe, including you, is made up of five elements: fire, water, earth, air and space. The unique combinations of these elements form three body-mind types (Doshas): Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of us has one or more dominant Doshas. The secret of good health and radiant beauty is to identify and balance your specific Doshas.

In line with the core principles of Ayurveda, Holistic Essentials contains products for these three body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. You can discover your body type by completing and submitting the short questionnaire on the Ayurveda Pura website here.

Drawing on years of Spa experience, the Ayurveda Pura range was developed by a team of Ayurvedic and skincare experts, led by Dr Deepa Apte, a fully qualified Indian medical doctor, a qualified Yoga teacher (specialising in Hatha Yoga and the Sivananda tradition) and a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Ayurveda Pura is a range that offers the essence of true balance and the newly launched Holistic Essentials products will help to beautify you externally and enhance your inner wellbeing in a manner tailor-made just for you. The products are expertly prepared by hand in the UK with only the purest natural ingredients, free of SLS, artificial perfume, parabens and petrochemicals, and animal products.

TGF Rated Review: Jack n’Jill Children’s Toothpaste and Brush

erica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:57:44 +0000

What is it? Jack n’ Jill toothpaste and toothbrush.

Who is reviewing it? My 4 year old son.

Set Up It’s an all natural, hypoallergenic toothpaste with organic ingredients, and with packaging that’s minimal, recyclable and BPA Free. It’s a similar story with the toothbrush as it’s made of primarily from cornstarch, so that it’s biodegradable and recyclable.

In Use The cute design of the toothbrush was popular from the outset. It’s easy for a young child to hold and use. My son has been using it for a few weeks now and it’s still looking good.

The first time he used it, my son found the taste a little strange, I think because he is used to minty toothpastes. However, since then it’s been popular and having tasted it myself I can say that it’s a pleasant strawberry taste (there are other flavours available too).

Any Negatives None. I haven’t tried recycling the toothbrush yet so can’t comment on this aspect. You need to snap off the head and compost the body of the brush. The bristles are made from nylon which is recyclable, but you’d need to check in your are to see whether their are local facilities for this in place.

Price and Availability Both products are available online with the toothpaste priced at £4.99 for 50g and the toothbrush at £3.49.

Overall A good quality toothbrush and toothpaste that my son has enjoyed using.

Rating 5/5

JASON’S Pure Natural Calming Lavender Lotion for Mother’s Day

Jo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:21:38 +0000

Have you been wondering how to pamper your Mum on Mother’s Day? By the way, it is on Sunday 18^th March this year.

The healing benefits of Lavender are well known, and it has long been used in skin care products as a natural remedy for a large variety of ailments to help calm, soothe and balance the skin. JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body Lotion is the perfect gift for every Mum. The hand and body lotion leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple for a youthful appearance whilst smelling of luscious Lavender. The Lavender aroma is known for its ability to help bring the heart and mind into balance.

Whether you’ve got a busy, working Mum who needs to unwind after a stressful day, or whether your Mother works hard around the house and needs something to revive her spirits and moisturise her skin, JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body is just the thing to make her day.

Comprising a silky texture, this hand and body lotion will smooth and nourish the skin, leaving a light scent of gentle and luscious Lavender. Delivering deep and long lasting hydration to the skin, the Lavender lotion contains the key active ingredients of Vitamin C, E and Kukui Nut Oil promoting balanced skin.

The award winning JASON brand is devoted to using only natural resources. There are no artificial colours or animal by-products, the packaging is bio-degradable and packaged in recycled and/or recyclable containers and all products are certified vegetarian. The company has been established since 1959 when it was formed with the aim of distributing professional and natural beauty products to the Hollywood movie studios. It has now grown into a leading global brand for people who look after themselves and their families from head to toe the natural way.

You can purchase JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body from their website here.

Breathing Space – A Magical Spring Retreat for Women

Jo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:19 +0000

Do you need a bit of Breathing Space? Maybe you need a bit of time to get away by yourself, or with other female friends, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Finding somewhere you can go can be a tall order, but Breathing Space offers the perfect place for women who want to recharge and escape.

Breathing Space is a converted barn, set in the heart of rural Norfolk, set up by Mags Sorrell with the idea of offering a special retreat for women where they can relax and find themselves.

From 23^rd to 25^th March Mags has created a Magical Spring Re-energising Retreat for 8 people including some great therapies and workshops. If you go along on your own you will enter as a stranger but will certainly leave with a group of new friends.

There are an excellent team of professional therapists on hand offering an extensive range of treatments to re-balance and re-energise your body from life-coaching, to yoga, to holistic health treatments, and many more. Have a look at the team of amazing therapists who are available to help you at Breathing Space here.

Bed and breakfast is available all year round at Breathing Space, but there are a whole host of other breaks available. How about Mother and Daughter breaks or pre-wedding pamper breaks? More information can be found on the ‘What’s On Offer’ page. Mags also offers a series of workshops featuring, amongst others, Raw Food or Vibrational Healing.

Breathing Space is waiting to share a little slice of nature with you, offering nutritious food, relaxing, comfortable accommodation and a fun, friendly welcome… giving you the space to be yourself.

For a place to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul, Breathing Space is the perfect retreat.

Worth Your Salt

Jo — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:17 +0000

Salt has often been thought to be bad for the skin, however if your skin could talk it would tell you that, actually, it can do wonders for you. Salt is set to take 2012 by storm as part of a new range of beneficial spa treatments that can help relieve health problems including asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, ear ache, hay fever, eczema and psoriasis

Salt Therapy, otherwise known as Halotherapy named after the Greek word for salt, is a treatment which can help relieve respiratory conditions, skin problems and treat allergies and which has been used in mainstream medicine for a long time. Since the concept of Halotherapy was first published in 1843 by a physician who observed the remarkably low incidence of respiratory conditions in salt mine workers who were regularly exposed to air saturated with saline dust, Halotherapy has become more popular as an alternative treatment.

The Salt Inhalation Room at the Lifehouse Country Spa Resort, set in 130 acres of beautiful grounds in Essex, offers a natural, drug-free way to help relieve certain conditions in addition to providing a relaxing environment for general wellbeing

The Salt Inhalation Room releases salt suspended air particles into the air which creates a hypo-bacterial and allergen-free air environment. As the potassium, magnesium and other minerals in the salt air are breathed in, they travel through the sinus and respiratory systems absorbing moisture, cleansing, clearing mucus and killing bacteria along the way. The salt particles are so small they are not noticeable and are easily inhaled with natural breathing. The principles of salt inhalation are based upon the same effects as a walk along the coast, breathing the ozone, rich salty sea air.

Halotherapy is also great for anyone working with computer screens who are subjected to positive ions which can induce headaches, migraines and feelings of lethargy. Salt therapy is also known to help with insomnia, reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

The Salt Inhalation Room is open to all guests booking a spa day or spa break at the Lifehouse Country Spa Resort. For further information visit the Lifehouse website here.

Get your Glow On Naturally with KARORA Instant Tan

Jo — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:00:29 +0000

Do you think that you are looking a bit pale and pasty skinned now that the New Year has arrived and the holiday festivities have finished? Your budget might not stretch to a holiday in the sun but you want to find a way to achieve that healthy tanned glow in a natural, eco friendly way. Look no further than esteemed Irish brand KARORA, famed for their eco-chic credentials.

The new KARORA Instant Tan for the face, body and legs is the only natural instant tan available on the UK market. It will enhance and hone post-party skin to perfection, leaving you with a sun- kissed glow that will rival any Caribbean tan.

The product is packed full of skin nourishing botanicals to keep your skin smooth and supple. It is easy to apply, leaving no streaks; just a gorgeous bronzed finish that hides imperfections. What’s more the tan is water and transfer resistant, staying put when you want it to, delivering flawless golden skin in an instant that lasts for 24 hours and then washing off.

Forget about pasty, dull and lifeless skin, the KARORA Instant Tan will be your new must-have green product, combining natural and organic formulas with skin firming, anti-ageing and hydrating treatments. You can rest assured that KARORA formulas contain no nasties – no parabens, chemicals, artificial fragrances or dyes. The ingredients include;

Grape Seed Oil – a powerful nutrient and antioxidant, Horse Chestnut Extract – to soothe and minimise the appearance of minor veins and blemishes, Sweet Almond and Macadamia Oil – fine textured, sweet smelling oils to soften the skin, Argan Oil – a signature KARORA ingredient to keep skin intensely moisturised, and Pure Pearl Mineral Powders – to even out skin tone and rejuvenate dull, dry skin for a luminous finish.

KARORA’s Instant Tan is available from KARORA online.

To find out more about KARORA, you can also ‘Like’ them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Top Picks from Jainnisa

erica — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:00:36 +0000

Inspiration for Jainnisa has come from the natural plant and marine ingredients available in Thailand. They’ve put together a pampering range by blending plant extracts and oils.

My pick would be this Soothing Body Souffle. The ingredient list sounds divine with essential oils of blue lotus, frangipani, ylang ylang, tuberose, mimosa and jasmine. There’s also silk extract, rice bran oil, and shea butter to soften the skin. It should smell sublime with all those lovely essential oils. The price is £19.50.

If you want to relax with the tub then perhaps the Sumptuous Bath Elixir from Jainnisa is for you. It’s a pearlescent bath time treat that’s enriched with extracts of blue lotus flower, vitamins and minerals picked out to uplift your senses. Once added to the bath, it transforms into a gently foaming, cerulean blue cleansing water as the minerals in the elixir are activated on contact in the water. It’s priced at £25.

Guest Post: Take Care In the Sun with Natural Beauty Products

Brenda — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:55 +0000

Whether you’re planning your summer getaway or a winter sun break to get away from the bitter cold of home, it’s important to know that sun exposure can cause significant damage to your skin, so it’s always sensible to take precautions. Everybody knows the importance of using sun protection with SPF while out in the sun, but in addition you should care for your skin by using a daily routine including natural beauty products designed to combat the damage caused by the sun.

The sun is a primary cause of premature ageing and can be responsible for fine lines and wrinkles on the face, because it can reduce skin elasticity. UVA from the sun has an ageing effect because it damages collagen, the protein which keeps skin strong and smooth.

It is vitally important to keep skin moisturised by using a good natural cream daily. The sun can make skin feel dry, so restoring the hydration levels of skin is essential day and night. Many natural creams contain vitamins, such as A, C and E, which have an antioxidant effect. The aim of antioxidants for the skin is to counter the effects of UVA exposure and help to promote healthy collagen, meaning fewer wrinkles.

Whether you’re planning a holiday or not, we all like to get out in the sun when we can so it’s sensible to remember, in addition to SPF protection, to take care of your skin with natural beauty products which can help reverse the damaging effects caused by the sun.

Remember that prevention is better than cure and it is never a good idea to have extended exposure to the sun, and you should use a good quality natural cream all year round to maintain the best skin health, not just when you’re going to be out in the sun.

Organic Babies Newborn Hamper

Jo — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:31 +0000

A new baby is very precious and many of us already know that natural products can benefit a baby’s fresh and delicate skin. If you think it is important to take care of your own skin, then it is even more important to make sure that you take care of your newborn’s skin.

Organic Babies have just launched their gorgeous Newborn Hamper. If you haven’t used organic skincare products before, then this hamper is a great introduction especially if you are a new mother. The wicker basket is lined with unbleached cotton and contains top selling lines from the Organic Babies range including:

· Scent Free Mum & Baby Rescue Balm 100ml great for babies with dry skin and for soothing sore cracked nipples before and after breast feeding

· Scent Free Baby Oil 100ml perfect for a bonding baby massage, moisturising cradle cap and keeps mum’s bump supple and soft

· Scent Free Baby Wash & Shampoo 150ml carefully formulated for babies delicate & sensitive skin

· Chamomile Nappy Cream Baby Balm 40ml protects bottoms from the dampness that can lead to nappy rash

· Soft and Cuddly Organic Cotton Bib with a cute picture of Budsie or Organic Babies mascot.

All products are mild, gentle and suitable from birth although Organic Babies recommend that only water is used for the first month of baby’s life.

Organic Babies products are suitable for little ones that may be prone to eczema, skin allergies and psoriasis. It is important to try to limit a baby’s exposure to harmful chemicals, so scent free products are ideal.

The Newborn Hamper would also make a fantastic gift for someone that is about to have, or has just had, a baby.

The Newborn Hamper is available from Green People, one of the biggest names in organic beauty in the UK. Their extensive range includes shampoos, face creams, sun lotions and body washes.

A New You in the New Year with Style

Jo — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:02 +0000

It’s the start of a New Year and many of us have made resolutions to get fit, become healthier and make changes to our lives in 2012. If you are looking for a ‘new you’ now is the time to tune into The Style Network on Sky channel 253.

This is the channel aimed at women who are looking to empower themselves through programmes that focus on women’s issues including fashion and beauty items. Tune in for the latest celebrity fashion and style tips, and marvel at some of the ‘Before Meets After’ transformations.

If you are stressed after the Christmas chaos that seems to have left your home in a total mess, there are plenty of programmes which offer advice that can help take the trauma out of returning your house to an oasis of tranquility, calm and order.

Maybe you are planning on getting married this year. Congratulations, but do make sure that you watch out for the programmes that showcase weddings, whether they feature celebs or beautiful brides from next door, there are sure to be some good ideas that you could incorporate into your special day.

‘I’m every woman’ – is that you? Yes? Well then it’ showtime every day. Check out your favourite style icons, watch the ‘Before meets After’ makeovers, and let your beauty shine through by incorporating some of the things that you learn from the experts. Look out for some of your favourite home grown UK style gurus such as Gok Wan as well as professionals from further afield.

How-to and lifestyle information all on one channel! Make a note of the number, 253, and the next time you are channel surfing on Sky tune in and you will no doubt become hooked. If you want to transform your life, your look, or your home, be sure to watch the Style Network.

Watch a video about Style here.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.