You’ll never look at ecz-easy (or your salad) in the same way again!

Chickweed

The latin name for this beautiful plant is Stellaria media: stella means star in latin, and in this instance refers to the tiny white flowers that the plant produces. The flowers open when the sun shines, but close at night, or when the sky is overcast.

I love this little plant, which is a common weed in much of Europe and North America. Although it thrives in wasteland, farmland and gardens, one of the places I notice it most often is at the base of roadside trees in urban areas.

I strongly recommend chickweed as a salad base (when picked from an unpolluted source!) as it is delicious and highly nutritious: it is rich in Vitamin C, Beta carotene (Vitamin A precursor), Vitamins B (B1, B2, B3), Bioflavonoids (rutin), Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acid, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Phosphorus and Selenium. It also contains triterpene saponins,
phytosteroles, and mucilage.

You can also take chickweed internally as a herbal infusion or tincture: these can help treat rheumatism, constipation, or urinary infections, and can cleanse your blood by expelling toxins. Of course, I recommend you see a professional herbalist before starting any course of treatment.

Traditionally, chickweed has been used to treat a variety of skin complaints such eczema, psoriasis, erysipelas, ulcers, nappy rash, contact dermatitis and minor skin wounds. I have chosen to use chickweed in Inlight products, such as Ecz-easy, is for its demulcent (soothing) quality, due to the presence of mucilage, and also its ability to reduce itchiness and speed up the healing process, due to its high saponin content.

Ecz-easy, like all Inlight products, is the result of traditional wisdom combined with the latest production techniques to create the perfect diet for your skin. Chickweed (so called as it is a favourite food of chickens) is an essential part of what makes Ecz-easy so effective, so I for one think that this wonderful plant deserves a more worthy name!

Dr Mariano Spiezia
Inlight Organic Skincare

Ever wondered why your hair is so full of body after a dip in the ocean?

Every day can be a day at the beach with John Masters Sea Mist! This 100% natural unique sea salt spray gives hair the same extra body, wave and curl enhancement it has after a day at the ocean. The inclusion of certified organic Lavender oil helps to protect the hair from becoming dry and brittle.

Ever wondered why your hair is so full of body after a dip in the ocean?
Sea salt adds fantastic natural texture and volume to limp and lifeless hair and enhances natural waves and curls. John Masters Sea Mist Spray can also be used to combat oily hair and freshen your style whilst imparting a clean, fresh lavender scent .

How to Use:

• Use any time you want the beach or volumised look.
• Use after shampooing & conditioning.
• For curls and waves spray onto hair
• Leave in and style.
• For a volumising effect spray close

Top Tip:
Use John Masters Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor after washing to keep hair silky smooth and in optimum condition .

What are Jelly Nail Polishes?

Jelly nail polishes are semi-sheer with a unique, ultra-buildable formula. Not only are the Zoya 2012 Gloss Collection shades extremely versatile, they have a super glossy, high-shine finish. They can be worn alone or layered to create an endless variety of custom colors.

Have jelly nail polish but not sure how to wear it? Here are some ideas...

1. Wear the sheer jelly glosses alone for a subtle wash of color. Build color (3-4 coats), to a full-coverage finish that adds depth and darkness to the shade. (source: Gotham Polish)

2. Layer Jellies over metallic or glitter polishes to create a variety of unique colors.

3. Layer over an opaque base in a similar shade or white for intense, vibrant color.
    (source: Makeup Withdrawal)

4. Create a "Jelly sandwich" - Great option for those who like the semi-sheer look but are not a fan of visible nail line (VNL). Layer one coat of jelly followed by a coat of glitter or flakes, topped off with another layer of the jelly polish. This gives the effect that the glitter is "floating" in between the layers. (source: Makeup Withdrawal)

Check out the new Zoya Gloss Collection and if you have any of your own tips, let us know?
(source: ZoyaNail Polish Blog)

Kimberly Wyatt with her BM Lip Gloss

Bm Lip Gloss is Cruelty Free & Natural

Silver Award for Barefoot SOS Body Cream

Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream received a Silver Award for Best Body and Hair Care Product at the inaugural FreeFrom Skin Care Awards 2012.

Held in association with The Green Beauty Bible, the Awards were designed to celebrate skin care manufacturers creating products which exclude as many allergens, chemicals, fragrances and artificial additives associated with many modern day skin and health problems.

The FreeFrom Skin Care Awards were held at The Allergy and FreeFrom Show at Kensington Olympia in May and organised by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, editor of the Foodsmatter.com websites, and Alex Gazzola, deputy editor of Skinsmatter.com and a health writer specialising in allergies.

Barefoot’s Hero Product was shortlisted from 160 products before being awarded a Silver Award. Judges’ comments about Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream included:

“The product easily absorbed into the skin: it sinks in easily within a minute or so leaving the skin very soft and protected. Fresh lemony smell. Very fresh, clean and pleasant fragrance. Cooling on application and cooling on irritated skin. Clear labelling, no nonsense packaging. Very impressive.”

“I am delighted Barefoot SOS was recognised for this new award and that the judges spoke so highly of our clear and concise packaging which was rebranded last year. The rebrand has elevated us into the natural skincare solution market and it’s good to see consumers are recognising the benefits of using products which are free from synthetic chemicals,” said Lindsay Dancaster, Barefoot SOS brand manager.

Barefoot SOS has been offering relief for eczema sufferers for over 17 years and the FreeFrom Skin Care Award adds to its growing list of achievements in 2012. Barefoot SOS won the ‘Best Eczema Range’ in the Natural Health and Beauty Magazine Awards 2012 for the second year running. It also picked up a Silver at the Bizziebaby.co.uk Awards for its SOS Daily Rich Body Lotion and the SOS Barrier Hand Cream won ‘Best Hand Therapy Cream’ in the Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream is an intensively rich and nourishing cream combining Chickweed and Burdock extracts to comfort and soothe, Macadamia and Evening Primrose Oil to deeply moisturise, Organic Sulphur (MSM) to replenish dry skin and Neroli and Chamomile essential oils to nurture the skin.

Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream is available in a 50ml size priced at £9.95 and 100ml at £17.95.

Rose - The Multi-Tasker

The rose is one of the most popular flowers in the world and the symbol of love, passion, and tenderness. The word rose comes from Greek rodon (red) and its colour is said to have come from the blood of Adonis, the god of beauty in the Greek mythology.

Ornamental roses have been cultivated for millennia (there is evidence from 500 BC) and the birthplace of cultivated Roses was probably Northern Persia. From here they spread across Mesopotamia and Palestine to Greece and then to Southern Italy. According to Horace and Pliny, the Romans used rose blossoms lavishly during nuptial events, banquets and royal ceremonies. Roses were scattered at feasts in the paths of victors, or beneath their chariot-wheels, and adorned the prows of war-vessels.

Rose contains tannins (tonic and astringents), flavonoids (quercitrin), anthocyanins, plus a volatile and very special essential oil: to make 1 gram of it you need 2000 rose flowers.

In the past, rose infusions have been used externally to treat ulcers (vulnerary), as mouthwashes or as eye drops and internally to clear catarrh and enteritis. By infusing rose petals with honey you create “mel rosatum” (honey with rose) which can be used to treat inflamed gums in babies during teething or as a boost for the immune-system.

Rosehips contain high levels of Vitamin C, and the British Government encouraged people to make Rosehip syrup during World War II, when other sources of Vitamin C were scarce.

The fragrance of roses can help depression, insomnia, nervous tension, stress, frigidity, and headache. Applied externally, rose extract/oil is excellent for treating wrinkles, broken capillaries, mature and sensitive complexions, and for dry skin.

Finally, I believe that rose opens the heart allowing love to flow, and helps to dissolve fears, allowing you to face life with courage and positivity.

Source: Dr Mariano Spiezia

Browse the fabulous Inlight Skin Care range creted by Dr Mariano Spiezia

Toxic Nail Polish Report

Reports about toxic nail polish containing toxic chemicals have gained widespread reactions from companies, medical groups and citizens.

The report by Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) had said that despite marketing nail polish as ‘free from unsafe chemicals’, most brands in fact contain these chemicals.

Chemicals like dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and formaldehyde are together called ‘toxic trio’ and are a health hazard to some 121,000 nail salon workers in California. The State of California describes DBP and toluene as ‘developmental toxins’ and Formaldehyde as a carcinogen.

“This report shows that these companies are knowingly peddling tons of toxins without even an ounce of scruples,” Miriam Yeung, director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum said. “Not only are they including dangerous chemicals in their products, but they are outright lying about it. Most disturbing is that the cosmetic industry continues to be almost completely unregulated- the FDA still does not have the power it needs to keep consumers and salon workers safe.”

For the study, the investigators randomly collected 25 brands of nail polishes that are only available at salons. They later checked these samples for ‘toxic trio’ and found that 10 of the 12 products that advertised to be free of toluene actually had significant levels of the chemical. Four of the products had dangerous levels of toluene.

Of the seven products that claimed to be free of all three dangerous chemicals, five contained either of the three chemicals.

The remaining 13 products that did not make any claim of being toxic free contained toluene but the level was significantly lower than the products that claimed to be ‘non-toxic’.

“In a fetus, there’s felt to be greater susceptibility to the effects” said Dr. Kenneth R. Spaeth, the director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center’s Department of Population Health at North Shore University Hospital.

"Physically, I can tell after eight or ten hours working, the chemicals give you very bad headache and affects you mentally. My eyes itch. My nose itch. But as soon as I walk outside the salon, I feel much better. I hope the state government think about this and make it by law that if you say 'no' and you have it, they have to have punishment or penalty." Tina Bui, a manicurist in Marin County for 17 years told Associated Press.

Nail Polish Company Zoya was one of the two brands that came out ‘clean’ in the study. “Today, Zoya nail Polish and Treatments remain committed to a proactive approach to developing quality, toxin-free products,” a Zoya spokesperson said in a statement.

DTSC said that women who work at the salons, many of whom are young Asian Americans, are more vulnerable to these chemicals as they work in rooms that have poor ventilation.

Source: Medicaldaily.com