Healthy living
Anti-ageings
Organic beauty products
It's not all brown rice and sandals - organic beauty treats look, smell and work great. The new generation of organic beauty products look and smell heavenly - and leave you looking like an angel too
</p>According to reports the chemicals we apply to our skin are absorbed directly into our bodies - as much as 2kg a year per person from cosmetics and toiletries alone. <p>Cosmetics are also becomingly madly high-tech, with Nasa scientists developing creams and beauty labs dedicated to researching complex ingredients.
This is all lovely for youth-seekers, but sometimes one longs for the simple life. And when a nasty allergic encounter with an eyeshadow a few weeks ago left me with watering, eczema-swollen eyes, I finally decided it was time to look at alternatives.
I have been pleasantly surprised and excited. It's rare to get me raving about beauty products, but rave I shall about two organic brands.The first is Green People.
At first I resisted, thinking the name boringly worthy (too brown) but then I tried their Organic Femme Cleanser (£17.95) for mature or dry skin, and was hooked.
First, the scent; it's neroli, ylang-ylang and jasmine, with true jasmine coming through most strongly.
I love jasmine, which is said to lift the spirits and combat depression. It is a thick cream which you smooth across the face (the eye area too, it removes even waterproof mascara brilliantly and with no sting). Then wipe away with a Femme Facial Cloth (£9.95) dipped in warm water.
My skin is dry, so I am always on the hunt for a really effective product that smells great too. Green People's Body Butter (£14.99) is brilliant.
A thick ointment, rich in jojoba and hemp oil (finally, I am a convert), the Stimulating Butter is scented with rosemary, and the Soothing with sandalwood. It sank in fast and kept my skin happy all day long, but may be too rich for some.
In which case, try Femme Body Oil, £19.95, for mature skin, a good, light oil scented with ylang ylang, jasmine and mandarin. Used with the heavenly scented Sugar Scrub, £14.99, my skin was in heaven. Truly, these three put the luxury into organic.
Both the Femme Cleanser and the Body Butter are rich in omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, not only healing for the skin, but to the body and mind.
Research has shown a strong link between low levels of Omega 3 and depression. I take massive doses daily. Wonderful, then, to be able to slap it on my skin too. I'm all for products that make you feel happy as well as look gorgeous.
They are all approved by the Organic Soil Association; this is important, as non-organic crops contain traces of pesticides. Dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe says there is evidence that these can damage the skin.
Another line approved by the association is Spiezia Organics, developed by Dr Mariano Spiezia and his wife Loredana.
Dr Spiezia practises holistic medicine at the Walsingham Clinic in Truro, Cornwall, and together with Loredana, developed a skincare line that manages to be both cosmetic and therapeutic.
I particularly love their Organic Night Cream, £34.80, which smells and feels divine - and loves my skin - pepped up with Organic Night Time Extra (£30) when I feel a little lacklustre and lined around the eyes.
I also use a quick wipe of the Floral Skin Toner (£26) when my skin feels grubby. It smells delicious and contains no alcohol, which is one of the worst things for the skin.
Finally, their Calendula Ointment (£15.75) is brilliant. I used it after recent surgery, and on my daughter, who suffers from eczema. It soothed and healed us both beautifully.
Another great skincare line is Lavera, from a German skincare company founded by Thomas Hesse, after his own problems with the skin condition neurodermatitis.
I was thrilled to discover these pure products. Not only is the Sun Sensitiv Self Tanning Lotion (£10.95) free from irritants, it is the best self-tan I tested in a line-up of 20 products.
I shall be using it all summer, together with the Sun 20spf Anti-Age sunscreen, £12.95, because, if you use only one anti-ageing product, do be sure it's a sunscreen. It's the best possible thing for your skin.
The next best thing is to use a good moisturiser, and the Faces Liposome Intensive Cream, £13.45, with jojoba and wild rose, is excellent for dry and mature skin. It's quite rich, so perhaps better at night.
Because I love to look healthy, in the mornings I am using Dr Hauschka Toned Day Cream, £21, a light, tinted moisturiser that produces a fabulous golden glow.
Also a German brand, Dr Hauschka creates the 100% natural products loved by celebrities. I was keen to test their make-up.
I particularly like the Eyeshadow Novum Solo 01 (£12), which is pale gold and lightly irridescent, very good for brightening up the eyes.
And while I normally hate anything frosted on anyone over the age of 21, I am a fan of Lipstick Novum 05, £14, which has a hint of pink and just a touch of pearl.
And my super-sensitive eyes are perfectly happy with Lavera Trend Sensitiv Mascara No 2, £8.90. I've been wearing it with a kohl-like smudge of Lavera Trend Sensitiv Eyeliner No 2, £5.25, a soft pencil in a lovely smoky blue.
And, finally, some of the most delicious eyeshadows I've seen come from Comfort & Joy, a tiny family-run company which uses mineral pigments rather than the traditional wax and talc base.
The shadows are pots of irridescent powder (£10.50) in a range of gorgeous, rich colours.
Written by Sally Brampton
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.