​Wearing makeup isn’t that fun when you have acne-prone skin. No matter how long it took you to apply everything, your makeup seems to just slide off of your face and ends up highlighting your problem areas.
 
And this is where wearing a good primer can help you out.
 
You see, primers aren’t just for keeping your makeup stay in place longer. They are also helpful in creating the perfect canvas for your makeup.
 
They can fill in large pores, soothe redness and even out your skin tone so that your makeup can look extra flawless. Some primers can even help mattify the skin so you don’t end up looking like a greaseball by half of the day.
 
In addition to using the right primer for your skin type and being more picky with the makeup products you use, you also have to pay close attention to how you’re caring for your skin. Makeup can only temporarily conceal your blemishes but proper skin care can help make sure you don’t get more acne spots.
 
One great way to start is to be more aware of the things that can trigger your acne. To help you out, here’s an infographic to help you out.
 

Known Effects, founded by Ainsley Schumacher from Byron Bay,  is a one stop online marketplace which brings together businesses who share the same ethical values when it comes to health, beauty, fair trade and sustainability.  From beauty, food, fashion to home decor.  

They also stock two of my favourite brands, Sonia Orts Botanical Alchemy and TMF cosmetics, I love these!! my top two natural beauty lines!  The TMF lipsticks are amazing! highly pigmented and gorgeous. I have the lipstick in Kate and the gloss in Perry.   I have the Sonia Orts alchemic pack, which is my absolute favourite organic skincare, I use it every day. 
​
The jewellery is stunning, I am eyeing off the Daxia Somed earrings, so beautiful!   

I can see that every item on Known Effects has been so carefully chosen and the artisans and creators of these products have put there heart and soul into them.   

Get to know Amy and the reasons behind Known Effects in the interview below :) 

​What is KNOWN EFFECTS?  

​KNOWN EFFECTS is based on the ‘KNOWN EFFECTS’ of consumerism.
 
We wanted to create a community that supports businesses both small and large that are making positive changes to the way business is done. We have built an online marketplace that will become a one-stop ethical shopping platform. We are focused on creating a community filled with like-minded people from all areas from artisans, makers, fair-trade advocates to those who are driving the way in sustainable lifestyle products and living. KNOWN EFFECTS want to see small ethical businesses grow and we are driven to work with each brand to make this happen.
​
Our vision is to create awareness for consumers about the KNOWN EFFECTS of ethical consumerism, along with changing the buyer pattern to adjust how businesses do business and making conscious choices in purchasing more sustainable, longer life-cycled products. We will be doing this through community and social events, v-logging, live chat's, educational talks and travel, spreading the word about what KNOWN EFFECTS is and that we are here to support and grow small ethical businesses.

What motivated you to establish KNOWN EFFECTS

​​In our travels around the world in our early 20’s, naïve to say the most, we were confronted with atrocious working conditions in some countries we had visited. When we started to look further into the process of how clothing is made in manufacturing companies and we were incredibly disheartened to learn the answer that that ‘bargain’ $3 shirt was actually only possible because of horrendous working conditions, next to nothing pay rates, child labour….these kids would have been the same age as my children now and I look at them and couldn’t imagine having to put them into that environment. Everything about some of these places made us angry, sad but motivated in wanting to make a difference.

Then KNOWN EFFECTS was founded, in 2015. In this time we had taken every step we could to gather as much research and talk to many businesses to evaluate if people needed this type of marketplace in their lives and lucky for us this was definitely missing. In 2016 we started to build the KNOWN EFFECTS marketplace from the ground up.

Our motivation is that the reality is no-person or business is perfect but if we combine our knowledge, experience, failures, achieved goals and grow together so we can help each other reach the same end goal of more ethical & sustainable businesses, products making fair-trade priority on the larger scale and pushing the larger companies to be responsible for their products, including all of their workers and environmental impact.​

​
​From ingredients to packaging, have you noticed to shift in consumers favouring natural and organic products over others to achieve a more sustainable life?

​Packaging is one of our worst enemies. As consumers we buy a product we want but don’t put much thought into the packaging because we just want what is inside, no real thought about way happens when we throw the packaging away. Annie Leonard quoted that “There is no ‘away’. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere”. She is right, it has to go somewhere, and that place is into our earth, to undeveloped countries that don’t have the resources or capacity to handle the rubbish, into the air we breath and the ocean we are surrounded by. This ‘away’ is slowly coming around full-circle and will impact us all if we don’t take control, educate and enforce changes.

​Interestingly, even the 45 – 65 age bracket demonstrate a consumer awareness surrounding the importance of purchasing ethical, natural and/or organic products. It is not only the younger generation who are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of chemicals in our foods, beauty products etc. The shift to purchasing natural and organic products has stemmed from consumers becoming aware of marketing loop holes surrounding product labelling and this education has driven some consumers to properly consider what they are buying, putting into or on their bodies and back into the environment. 

​For businesses we understand that creating sustainable products can be a major shift in an already made process however when we join forces and give each other guidance we can start to feel confident in making changes to our production to become sustainable, even when it starts with packaging.

How is stocking a brand on KNOWN EFFECTS more sustainable than running their own physical store or online store?

​I have personal experience in running both a physical and online store. The main downfall of physical stores is the overheads that are associated with brick and mortar set-up. From electricity to rubbish – a bricks and mortar store has a much higher negative impact on the environment than an online store that lives and breathes in a digital world. Instantly, an online store is more sustainable to our environment than a physical one.

​Some new and established businesses are confused and overwhelmed by the digital landscape and struggle to create an online shop that not only functions correctly, but isn’t costly to create and will be visible on search engines to the online shopper. This is another reason that brands like to align to KNOWN EFFECTS as we take care of all this of this in-house. We set up your store and even have an in-house social media expert to help grow the brand online by engaging directly with specific target consumers 
 

How have KNOWN EFFECTS established a sense of community?

​A community is important to KNOWN EFFECTS, like a large family that all have common interests and goals. The KNOWN EFFECTS community is not just the KNOWN EFFECTS brands (sellers) we are a community filing up with other businesses that are striving in the same direction, we are people who want to really make a difference and know that by creating a community will make a much stronger impact, this is what makes our KNOWN EFFECTS community so exciting.

​We have started growing our community, networking and talking to other bigger businesses on things we can do and plan for in the future to spread the word about Ethical & Sustainable consumerism. We have recently created a Facebook page for Makers & Designers to have a positive forum for business to grow their businesses by asking questions, posting DIY videos, lessons learnt from mistakes, all the areas small businesses can feel secluded in and unsure on where to approach their questions, we created a non-judgemental forum.

How does aligning with KNOWN EFFECTS increase consumer reach for businesses operating within their first 6 months?

​​Aligning with KNOWN EFFECTS helps brands find and connect with their ideal customer through networking events, social media, traditional media coverage and more. We provide that extra hand every business needs to reach out to more potential unfound customers. We find this helps businesses, particularly in their first 6-months of trading, as new business owners are too busy to wear every hat from accounting, to marketing, to sales – so we are able to partner with them escalate the process of engaging consumers and take the stress of sales and lead generation out of the first 6-months of operation. This is how we are supporting and growing small Australian businesses.

Talk us through the different types of brands that KNOWN EFFECTS supports

​The brands we support under KNOWN EFFECTS range from handmade organic clothing, homewares, sustainable timber products (they grow their own trees!), Eco- home improvement products, food, vegan make-up, organic skincare – the works! 

​In addition, KNOWN EFFECTS would not be sustainable without an up-cycled category for brands who have the talent to turn things that are heading to landfill into some new, exciting and useful. This further allows us to support sustainable brands and create a hub for consumers to purchase new and reinvented sustainable items.
 
Talk us through the process; if a new sustainable Australian brand wishes to align with KNOWN EFFECTS, what criteria do they have to meet to be eligible?

​​KNOWN EFFECTS is application based and product assessed. Unlike other marketplaces that tend to get out of hand with the grey area of ‘Handmade’ we have created an application with a few simple questions upon becoming a vendor via our website. These questions give us an insight into the brand to make sure their core values align with KNOWN EFFECTS and our community. We require all brands to subscribe to World Fair Trade Organisation guidelines and our internal sustainable requirements are that if a product claims to be sustainable, we require information into the life-cycle of the products, materials used and product creation process in order to ensure the products is safe to be promoted via the KNOWN EFFECTS platform. We have a ZERO plastic policy, as one of our biggest goals at KNOWN EFFECTS is to eliminate all plastics in business and we require our brands encompass this same ideology and move toward a plastic-free world.
 

What are the added bonus benefits of a brand aligning with and stocking on KNOWN EFFECTS?

​​We want every business to succeed, our first priority is to make sure all our brands have the help and guidance they need so we have implemented a Brands first process where we check in with all our brands to keep up to date, help out where we can, offer advice where we are fit to do so and the one thing we love doing with our brands is brain storming. We know it can be hard on your own and sometimes feel secluded so we have been doing some email brain storming to help our brands grow in the direction they want to go. The benefit is that brands that are serious about ethically made products are surrounded by other brands that have the same drive and passion.

What are the added bonus benefits of consumers purchasing goods via KNOWN EFFECTS?

​The added benefits for consumers purchasing from KNOWN EFFECTS is the knowledge that every product in our marketplace is 100% ethically made and by purchasing via KNOWN EFFECTS consumers are supporting small businesses and most importantly, the environment around them. Furthermore, most of our brand give back to charity too - further instilling a sense of community that cares. Consumers can also get involved in the community at KNOWN EFFECTS and become an advocate for striving toward a world that is fair, ethical and sustainable.

Ainsley, tell us a little bit about yourself. What drives you? What life experiences lead to the decision to launch KNOWN EFFECTS? Do you subscribe to a sustainable way of life?

​​I reside in Byron Bay, NSW with my amazing family. We are coastal people with compassion for this planet we all share. This is where my drive comes from, my family & our environment. I want to help create a world where it will be clean, safe and a place that is supportive of creatives, designers & makers  - not money hungry corporations that only have the dollar in-mind. I can start with my family by teaching our children the importance of keeping our environment and natural resources safe, the bigger picture of shopping local and supporting small businesses and sharing and showing their knowledge with their friends as they grow.

​Small businesses drive me. Small business owners’ ideas, passions and how they create their products really excites me. I want to help businesses grow ethically and as sustainably as they can. I feel I am in my comfort zone when I am brain storming with brands on how we can be even better at what we do and how we can get it all out to the world, it’s what made me want to create a marketplace more so than my own product and label.
Our home life is quite environmentally friendly however we are always challenging ourselves to be better, coming up with alternate ideas where we can to make less of a negative impact on the environment. It has kind of become a competition when one of us thinks of something; the other has to go that one bit better – we are always thinking about ways we can become more sustainable.

Why should consumers opt for natural, organic, sustainable products over others?  

​The reason for choosing natural, organic, sustainable products over products that aren’t are for our own benefit, our environment and the future of our planet.
 
When we choose products that have ingredients that have been sustainably made we are benefiting ourselves by putting less harmful chemicals and nasties onto and into our body, this varies from beauty products, food, clothing to sanitary products all which are quite often made with harmful ingredients.
 
When products are made sustainably you are purchasing a product where the environmental impact has been at the forefront of the brands business plan. Not only do sustainable products have a positive impact of the environment but it may also reduce long-term costs to the consumer through stronger, more durable materials.
 
What is harmful about purchasing a product that is not deemed sustainable? (Sweat shops, workers being paid fairly, product testing methods etc)

​‘There is nothing sexy about wearing an item that was made by a child’ - Jennifer Nini
I could talk about this topic without an end, it’s the topic that started KNOWN EFFECTS on it’s mission to make change. We have never been perfect, we still (and I’m sure always will) make mistakes but what we have learnt is to slow down in our purchasing and think before we buy.

​In a nutshell, when a product is not sustainable it effects the maker, businesses, the consumers & the environment. The makers are those who are employed by manufacturing or factory companies to make the products. Most face unethical working conditions resulting in a never ending cycle of poverty, child workers, wages below the living costs, health and safety risks and no restriction on working hours – and these are only a handful of ethical standards that aren’t met or followed by some manufactures. In many cases this has resulted in employee suicide.  Purchasing products that are not sustainable keeps these cycles going.

I am fascinated by these products from Sonia Orts Botanical Alchemy. Using only natural and organic ingredients alongside ancient tools, precious stones and phases of the moon, this skincare system is unlike any other I have tried. They also make my skin feel unbelievably smooth.  

According to the ancient Spaniards, the world was composed of four basic elements, earth, fire, water and air. These energy forces manifested and sustained psychical life in the universe.  The human body was also governed by these elements.    

Sonia Orts Botanicial Alchemy have harnessed these energies and created with loving care this rather mystical and powerful skincare line.

The alchemic facial protocol is a four step skincare system created to support the body’s natural rhythm while refining skin and balancing the mind using natural elemental energies.

I have always believed that the mind and body are connected and feel we should try to stay as connected to the earth as possible, even with our beauty products.    All are completely organic and natural. 

​Purifying Powdered Radiance Mask (fire)

​This stunning crushed pink mask contains zeolite mineral, a master of detoxification which draws out toxins and heals skin and pale pink Australian clay, which is soothing and helps to brighten pores and protect against skin pollution, it also helps to draw out nasties.

Also containing the antioxidant properties of delicate rose petals, which provides soothing and cooling relief to irritated skin.

Sambuccus Nigra (elderbery) extract is another ingredient, which I drink for it’s antioxidant benefits, so to see this in skincare is an added plus!
 
Fucus Vesiculosus is another ingredient, which is a seaweed also known as bladderwrack.  I drink this seaweed in my smoothies, as it is one of the best seaweeds for health and now it’s in my skincare!  it improves elasticity and is an amazing ingredient.

Contains Kaolin clay, Quartz and Iron to make this a stunning and calming mask, it really does make my skin feel radiant.

​​Aqua Serum Elixir (water)

I can hardly find the right words to describe this outstanding elixir!  It contains the fragrant, relaxing and toning properties of organic rose hydrosol.

Indigo Naturalis extract is what gives this it’s stunning natural blue colour. A plant used by herbalists to treat inflammation, treatment for skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.  It’s actually been used in China for centuries to treat skin ailments.   Once again I’m stunned at seeing this wonderful ingredient in my skincare!
​
The elixir contains the following  Alchemical Gems:  Aqua aura, this is quartz that is gold-infused, becoming an alchemical crystal! Physically Aqua Aura is reputed to help with stress-related illness and immune system issues helping you build a strong protective skin barrier.   The synergy of the quartz and gold combine to bring about a new crystal of intense energy and power.  Tanzine aura - a high vibration crystal which regulates pineal glands and hormonal balance. 

Blue Sapphire, one of my favourite gems- releases mental tension and unwanted thoughts.  ​

​Featuring the botanical extracts such as sacred lotus, iris and gingko biloba. A silky smooth serum to be used at night time, it is moisturising, non-oily and helps to renew skin. It is anti-ageing and improves firmness and elasticity.    

I love this serum!   I like how it's non oily, but still manages to keep my skin feeling intensely hydrated.  Straight after application my skin feels tingly and then so smooth and soft.  

Whipped Hydrating Cream (air)

This whipped cream is one of the most beautiful creams I have ever experienced. The texture of the cream is so creamy and soft.

Abyssinian seed oil is a feature ingredient, it's a natural seed oil that comes from the mustard plant. A very unique ingredient as it has a structure unlike any other oil, is highly resistant to oxidation and contains omega 6 and 3.

Sweet almond, aloe vera, carrot infused oil and blackcurrent seed oil are also contained in this deeply moisturing cream.

​Also contaning Sonia Orts own alchemic natural scented essence which features myrrh and frankincense.   No wonder this luscious cream smells so heavenly.    To be used in the mornings to keep skin hydrated during the day.

If this were the only skincare range I could use I would be happy with this.    I love the care and wisdom which is behind these natural beauty products.   From the earthy ingredients, to the glass jars and labels with the elemental symbols and the overall ancient wisdom behind these products.   

I also like how using these products helps me to slow down and enjoy the experience, mixing the powders up and creating a nice little ritual for myself.   This is what natural beauty is all about.  

​Available at Sonia Orts Botanical Alchemy.

No Pong deodorant paste, I love this natural deodorant. I’ve been using original No Pong for quite a while and now that they have come out with the new bicarbonate free No Pong, I'm even more impressed.

This new bicarb free deodorant is designed for people who are sensitive to bicarbonate in deodorants.  This is also low fragrance, so  it's really great for those with super sensitive skin.

A few of the reasons I love this deodorant are - It doesn’t sting after shaving. It lasts all day long, through an enormous amount of racing around at work and all the way through to yoga class in the evening.   I even think it would last longer than that, but I haven’t tested an all nighter yet!  It also doesn’t stain my clothes.  I've been wearing it heading into this hot Gold Coast weather, have worn it for a swim in the ocean and it's kept me dry, No Pong is also water resistant!

One of the key ingredients to keep your pits dry in the bicarb free formula is diatomaceous earth and it really works!   Diatomaceous earth is almost perfectly pH neutral, meaning it won't irritate skin that is sensitive to acidic or alkaline levels. It also has odour eliminating properties, I can vouch for that!

The main reason I stopped using mainstream deodorants was because of the extremely toxic ingredients such as mercury, which has been linked to alzheimers disease and parabens, which have been linked to breast cancer. Not to mention a few other dangerous ingredients - PEG 20, propylene glycol and triclosan. This is also very important for pregnant and breast feeding mothers, as these toxins are passed through into the bloodstream, into the breastmilk and to the baby.    

The founders of No Pong, Chris Caley and Melanie McVean have spent a lot of time researching and developing, what I think is the perfect natural deodorant.   You can read more in my interview with them here.

I love the packaging, it’s a cool looking recyclable tin.  The paste is easy to apply, just a small dot on fingers and it smooths onto skin easily.   

Here are the full ingredients, as you can see, all completely natural, certified organic and good for you - 

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Magnesium Hydroxide, Diatomaceous Earth, Beeswax, a reduced concentration of fresh, gender neutral, proprietary blend of 100% pure, certified organic essential oils consisting of Orange Sweet, Vanilla, Lemongrass, Cedarwood Atlas, Bergamot, Lime, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Geranium.

Proudly Australian made and suitable for all members of the family.  It allows skin to breathe and sweat naturally, at the same time keeping you smelling sweet.

No Pong is available online.
​

Enbacci Skincare are an international skincare brand from Melbourne. Their lovely and effective products use fruit stem cells to improve skin growth and regeneration. Skin stem cells are found in the epidermal layer of skin, ultraviolet radiation affects the ability of skin stem cells to regenerate skin, this is where Enbacci comes in to save the day (or your skin), by utilising fruit stem cells to counteract the skins ageing process.

The 3 step Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating system use grape stem cells.  The grape stem cells are extracted from a cultivated grape of the Gamay family (the type used in red wine), sourced in France. This variety of grape was selected, as they are very high in anthocyanin, which are powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers.    

Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser

The Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser is a gentle and mild cleanser which effectively removed the oil from my skin, leaving it feeling squeaky clean.   I use cleansers twice a day and was pleased with the balance it gave to my combination skin.  It also smells very refreshing.    

Containing camelia flower (green tea), which is full of antioxidants and also contains nourishing moisturising properties.   Apparently it was a secret beauty ingredient of the Geishas!  
​
Also containing the wonderfully healing aloe vera plant and grape stem cells.

​

Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Essence 

I love the scent of this essence, it uses a fine mist dispenser to disperse the essence and to me it smells like fresh cucumbers, which I love.   I don't think it contains this ingredient, maybe it's the green tea which makes it smell so good, but I love it, it's so cool and refreshing.

A natural astringent, which is alcohol free.   It tones and balances skin.  It left my skin feeling very smooth.  I just sprayed in on and let it sink in.  It helped to remove impurities and minimise the appearance of lines.  It kept my skin from looking and feeling tired.  It  also preps skin for better absorption of the Enbacci creme.

Containing witch hazel (one of my favourite natural astringents), soothing aloe and green tea leaf extract and grape stem cells.

​Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Essential Crème

This creme rehydrates and replenishes skin.   The consistency is nice and light, but very effective in moisturising my skin.  I don't really like thick facial moisturisers, so this one is perfect for me. It's oil free and glides on smoothly. 

Containing aloe and green tea and grape stem cells.  Also full of vitamin C to promote collagen. 

It left my skin feeling silky smooth and smelling like a dream. 

 By: Neve 

So, conventional wisdom (and the movies) had you believing that you'd glow during pregnancy; that you would be shining radiantly as you blissfully glided about your day. Instead, however, you're feeling bloated and nauseous, you are constipated and have hemorrhoids, and your skin, far from glowing, is itchy, dry and may have developed a 16-year-old's acne.

What gives?
 
If you have all the icky pregnancy side-effects just listed, then poor you! You're having an uncommonly tough pregnancy. What's not unusual, though, is developing sore or uncomfortable skin.
 
Fear not.
 
Here come five super-easy, natural tips to manage your skin and keep it comfortable.

Demand a Daily Massage - 

​Prolonged stress is intimately connected to many of our bodily functions, often in negative ways. For example, cortisol, the 'stress hormone' may increase the amount of oil produced by your skin, leading to acne. Other skin conditions are caused by autoimmune problems which, again, can be triggered by stress.
 
Karen Mallin, PsyD, of the University of Miami, is a lecturer in psychiatry and dermatology. She notes that "The mind and skin are connected on many different levels ...  Psychodermatogy is a [growing] field that addresses the impact of an individual's emotion as it relates to the skin."
 
You've got a strong case, so convince your partner to whip out the organic coconut oil and give you a daily back rub.
 
Maximise Your Sleep - ​

​​Blood flow to your skin increases as you snooze. Get a good sleep and you're more likely to wake up with a healthy complexion. The problem is you can never guarantee eight hours sleep during pregnancy. Those pesky trips to the toilet, or the sheer awkwardness of getting comfortable despite your bump, make it a bit hit-and-miss.
 
To give yourself a fighting chance, try burning some lavender essential oil. Don't go for the cheap stuff which is often just perfume. Instead, treat yourself to some pure, organic lavender oil.
 
Next, invest in a decent pregnancy pillow. This can be a lifesaver. Even if you previously tried and didn't get along with one, take another look. There are many different shapes and sizes, so it's worth finding one that works best for you and your bump. I've written a whole guide on pregnancy pillows and how to choose the right one if you'd like to learn more!

Drink plenty of water - 

​Yup, you knew this one was coming! And, no doubt, you are well aware that during pregnancy it's important to stay hydrated. I won't labor the point here (excuse the pun), but will quickly mention that our skin is about 65% water and, put simply, skin cells function best when they are properly hydrated. This leads to healthier-looking skin. Another reason to keep on top of your fluid intake during pregnancy.

Stretch marks -

​As your boobs and belly grow, you may find that you develop stretch marks. Try not to worry too much. Firstly, if you read around, you'll soon discover that most guys don't mind them. More than that, many men find them sexy. (Not that I'm advocating self-esteem and body image based on what men think!) There are also lots of natural ways to reduce or avoid stretch marks altogether.
 
If you're into DIY, then try mixing organic coconut oil, coconut butter and shea butter together. You'll need to warm them up first. Then add a few drops of Vitamin E and organic lavender oil. (Heck, if you make enough of this, then you can use it for your daily massage, too.)
 
If, on the other hand, you want to save time and keep it simple, then there are some conscientious companies making decent organic stretch mark creams.

Eat Dark Leafy Greens -
​
​These wonder foods contain beta-carotene along with lutein, potassium, fiber and folate. This is great for all sorts of things, but in terms of your skin, the folate is an important nutrient for repairing DNA. This helps to keep your skin looking great.
​
There You Have It. Pregnancy is a wonderful time but comes with some niggling side-effects. Give these five tips a shot and, hopefully, bad skin won't be one of them. In fact, with a little help from your surging hormones, you may even attain that elusive "pregnancy glow".
 
Neve blogs at WeTheParents.org where she seeks to bring out the humour in parenting and gets nerdy researching and reviewing the gear that mums and dads (apparently) need. You can also catch her on Facebook and Twitter.
​

Clean & Pure lip balms are exactly as they say, clean and pure. They are beautifully nourishing and are 100 percent natural.
 
It can be hard to find a lip blam which is completely natural, but still keeps lips soft and hydrated.    The problem with most commercial lip balms is they can contain some very nasty ingredients. I for one don’t want to be placing these toxins on my lips and ingesting them, especially when there are wonderful alternatives like Clean & Pure, which contain only natural and unprocessed Australian ingredients.   These natural ingredients are also alot more effective as they contain skin-loving enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins.
 
The founders of Clean & Pure, Mark and Melanie Chapman, created their range of natural products after Melanie experienced excema, so they set out to find healthy alternatives.  After using only natural and pure ingredients on herself, the excema disappeared.     

All lip balms in the range contain 6 ingredients or less and are made locally in Queensland. 

The current range includes -   Vanilla, Pawpaw, Manuka Honey, Tinted Rose, Peppermint and Cocoa Butter.

Clean & Pure Manuka Honey Lip Balm
 
Manuka honey is renowned for it’s healing qualities. When I’m feeling under the weather I put manuka honey in my tea. It's a natural antiseptic and is wonderful at healing dry lips.    

This lip balm combines manuka honey with beeswax, olive oil and vitamin E.   It’s very nourishing to dry skin and helps to heal.  The extra virgin olive oil is derived from the first press of the olive and makes it ultra hydrating.

Full ingredients are - 

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Manuka Bees Wax
• Manuka Honey
• Vitamin E Oil

 ​

I'm very happy I've come across these lip balms.  I found them to be smooth and long lasting and the ingredients are of a high quality, I know I'm doing my lips a favour.

They also taste delicious and are very affordable.

​Available at Clean & Pure.

By: Will

Hair loss affects both women and men of all different ages. It can have a serious impact on someone’s self esteem and confidence.
 
You will probably have seen a lot of adverts or spam emails sent to you about all the different pills and miracle ‘cures’ for hair loss. But it is understandable that putting loads of chemicals in your body can seem really off putting and not the right answer for you.
 
Having hair implants is a serious decision and not one to be taken lightly, and you may want to try other less invasive solutions first.
 
Luckily, there are many natural ways to fight hair loss and even to reverse it. You don’t have to sacrifice one part of your health and suffer the side effects of medication to grow your hair back.
 
These natural remedies are not only less invasive and harmful to the body, but they have proven to have successful results. They will help you to take control of your hair loss and even reverse it, giving you that extra confidence boost every day.
 
Why Does Hair Loss Happen?
 
To be able to understand how a natural remedy might work, first we need to understand a little bit about why hair loss, scientifically known as androgenetic alopecia, happens to us.
 
Put simply, there is a naturally occurring hormone within our bodies called DHT that attacks the hair follicles, slowly causing them to wither and die. When the follicle gets too small it eventually falls out and doesn’t grow back. DHT is a normal and healthy hormone that is created from testosterone, which is why men more than women get pattern baldness. Equally, some men get significantly worse male pattern baldness than others, while some don’t get it at all. It seems to be pure luck and a lot do with what we inherit from our parents that determine the level of DHT that we are born with. The fortunate men born with low levels of DHT never go bald.

Home Made Shampoos
​
First, lets start with what you put on your hair. Shampoos that you buy in shops, some shampoos are going to contain numerous chemicals and preservatives, even some shampoos which claim to be natural. This is not a good choice for people suffering with hair loss. But do not despair as making an all natural shampoo at home is much easier than you would think. It can really improve the hair’s strength and growth. Why not give it a go yourself using the ingredients and directions below.

​Ingredients:

·       Liquid castile soap (1/2 cup)
·       Maple syrup (1 tablespoon)
·       Carrot seed essential oil (5-10 drops)
        Castor oil (10 drops)  

Directions:

​Combine all ingredients in the container of your choice. Mix well, and be sure to mix thoroughly before each use.

When ready to use, pour over wet hair. Massage into scalp for 2-3 minutes, and then let sit for an addition 2-3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm (or, even better, cold) water.
 
 
Essential Oils

Another natural remedy that can be put on hair to promote growth are essential oils. Evidence does suggest that many essential oils, a few in particular, can promote hair growth. They are a simple and inexpensive remedy to add to your hair care routine, and not one that should be overlooked.

​The best essential oils to promote hair growth are:
        
​        Peppermint essential oil ·      
        Rosemary essential oil
·       Blackcurrant essential oil
·       Evening primrose essential oil
·       Pumpkin seed oil
        Tea tree oil

They can all be found at your local drug or health care store.
 
Scalp Massages & Exercises

Not only do scalp massages feel absolutely great, and are very relaxing, but they can even improve hair growth and prevent hair loss.

A good scalp massage encourages the blood flow to increase around the follicle. If there is not enough blood directed to the follicle then then follicle will eventually die. On the other side, a healthy amount of blood flow to the follicle can even cause the follicle to repair itself and therefore the hair will grow back. A scalp massage has got to be one of the most enjoyable treatments of hair loss, and you can always try out several different types of head massage in the name of ‘research’.

​Eliminating Allergies
 
Next we need to think about what we are putting into our bodies. Everyone knows the old adage ‘you are what you eat’ and it is certainly scientifically proven that what we eat affects how we look and how we feel.
 
The reason that the hormone DHT causes hair loss is because it causes an immune reaction against the actual hair follicles. It mistakenly causes our bodies to attack our own hair as it wrongly thinks it is a foreign invader.
​
This is the same process that occurs when we have food allergies. Allergy reactions from food result in the body becoming ultra-sensitive to what it believes is a foreign invader. Not only can food allergies cause untold digestive problems, but they can directly cause the rate of hair follicle miniaturisation to increase.
 
There are many different groups of food allergies and some of the most common are dairy and gluten, although there are many others that you may have never even suspected.
 
There are simple ways to test for food allergies and it is always recommended to speak with your local doctor about your symptoms and suspected allergies.  
 
Natural DHT Blockers
 
There are ways to block DHT from being produced. One of the very best natural DHT blockers you can take is Pumpkin Seed Oil (PSO). PSO is made from pumpkin seeds (no surprises there) and its success is down it producing an enzyme called 5AR that blocks DHT from being produced. Therefore the hair follicle is safe from the damage DHT causes.

Pumpkin seed oil is one of the most effective DHT blockers as it starts working from the inside after being taken orally. This allows it to target 5AR at the source, and prevents DHT buildup from even occurring on the scalp.
 
Microbiome Health
​
The human body is full of naturally occurring levels of bacteria, and keeping the balance right is key to a healthy body, also called microbiome health. We are still only just finding out how important a healthy microbiome is for our overall health as well as our hair health. Unfortunately, due to our modern world and our increased use of hand gels, bacteria killing cleaning products and chemically altered foods, our environment is now impacting our microbiome health.

An unhealthy microbiome has been shown to cause inflammation and also increase hair follicle sensitivity to DHT.
​
To cure hair loss naturally you will need to stop triggering these autoimmune problems and decrease inflammation as much as possible.
 
Mesotherapy (aka Microneedling/Dermarolling)
 
Mesotherapy is a physical treatment where tiny needles are put into the scalp. More commonly known as microneedling, it is a drug-free hair loss treatment that has had significant and proven results for hair regrowth.
 
The tiny needles break the surface of the skin but the procedure should not be painful or cause scarring. The puncture wounds then begin being repaired by our body. As the healing process takes place, this stimulates collagen production. This then leads to the production of new skin cells which contain new and (in most cases) healthy hair follicles.

Alkalisation

​We spoke briefly about microbiome health above, but there are other ways that the body balances itself and this is through our acid and alkaline levels. The foods we eat affect these levels, and a diet with lots of grains, dairy and meat causes the body to become more and more acidic. If the acidic level becomes too high, the enzyme 5AR also mentioned above becomes more aggressive and DHT levels in the scalp go up leading to hair loss.
 
One way to reduce our acidic levels is to eat less acidic foods to shift the body back into its natural alkaline state, although you should always consult a health care professional when considering any significant dietary changes.

On the other side, when your body is alkaline (its optimum state) then the enzyme that produces DHT in the exact part of the scalp where male pattern baldness occurs is inhibited.

This mean lower levels of DHT and remember that no DHT means no hair loss, great!
​
As we can see, there are many very effective natural remedies that should be tried before anything more invasive should be considered.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wow, what a lovely surprise these products from Glamourflage turned out to be!  As  a long time lover of all things retro and vintage, when I checked out their gorgeous 50’s style website, I couldn’t wait to receive my Hola skincare products.​

Glamourflage is a Melbourne based company founded by Imogen Day, she has combined natural based products with vintage style and they are gorgeous.   The packaging is amazing.

HOLA upholds the philosophy “The most simple and effective ingredients, brings you the most natural and healthy skin care”.

​HOLA Seaweed Moisturising Eye Cream

A high performance moisturising eye cream, enriched with seaweed extract.    It has a smoothing and tightening effect under the eyes and also has that soothing ultra cool feel. Offers intense hydration and helps to lighten dark circles under eyes.

Although these aren’t 100 percent natural, they do contain some very high quality herbs and natural ingredients which have been carefully chosen for their skin firming and healing properties.   

Available at Glamourflage.