How permaculture principles have been secretly in action over 21 seasons of progress Transformational change 5 years ago I noticed a call-out from Transition Cam & Dursley in our local paper. They were seeking volunteers to help transform the space at the back of a local community venue, The Chantry Centre. This week I visited…
The Essential Guide to making your own Rosewater Rosewater is a fundamental in skincare, as an ingredient it crops up in many blend it yourself recipes and it can be used on its own when cleansing, toning, bathing and refreshing. It’s even a calming and restorative cure for a headache. So rosewater is a staple…
St Brigid rolls out her great green mantle … Spring is a time of unfurling. Even before the new leaf buds open to reveal their brightest greens, unseen stirrings are happening underground. Whenever the days seem bleak, I think of the secret preparations being made, the stored energy being drawn on and the promise of…
Sparkling eyes show health, interest and perhaps a little mischievousness Ideally, eyes should be shining, happy – it’s bright, twinkly eyes that fascinate and captivate us. How often, instead do we find ourselves managing with cloudy, reddened, puffy eyes and bags or shadows? The strains and stresses of every day, especially staring at computer screens and…
Cool approach to deodorant Have you considered taking the opportunity of this period of cool weather to make the change to a natural deodorant? Changing your deodorant – a relied-upon, daily weapon – is a BIG deal. Even if you’re fairly prolific about the choice of brand on the stick/spray/roller that you use, it’s another…
A world of inspiration How do you clean your face? It’s something we do day-in, day-out, often without much thought. Such a simple act, it’s incredible how many different ways there are around the world for getting clean. Clean up your act Whatever you were taught when growing up, and whether you followed that advice…
Turning to nature for our skincare ingredients we find offerings from all corners of the world, skin secrets waiting to be discovered and deployed. But are the real benefits to be found closer to home? Exotic ingredients are curious and, by definition, different and unusual. They excite and entice, but do they also present a…
Marshmallow in skincare Marshmallow is a wonderful ingredient to use in skincare, such as this Marshmallow Hand Cream recipe. You can read more about its skin-loving properties here. It’s a star ingredient in Field Fresh Skincare’s award-winning Marshmallow Dream Cream. This has a double dose of marshmallow: it starts with a marshmallow infusion which is…
Marshmallow for skincare Let’s get the picture straight right away. We don’t suggest getting a packet of fluffy sweets and pounding them into your skincare. The marshmallow we talk about is the beautiful, tall hedgerow and countryside plant. Characteristically pink, trumpety blooms. Large, rounded (slightly hairy leaves). A tall straight stem, full of the mucilage…
Gems spring underfoot While your eye may be drawn upwards to bright young leaves and enchanting blossom, it’s worth checking out what’s underfoot for your spring skincare. There were 8 real spring gems on my recent walk, but only half of them were things I’d use in skincare – can you guess which 4? 1.…
