Spring is a great time to clean out the bathroom cupboard and take a close look at those chemicals you no longer want to burden your body or the environment with.
There is an exciting back-to-basics revival happening, as we learn more every day about the chemical era we are now moving out of – and the dire consequences to our bodies and the earth. Some women smear up to 100 different chemicals into their skin every day – and then don’t expect it to impact on their health…
I love to see some clever young girls mixing up natural goodies, rediscovering the old wisdom some of our mothers and grannies still taught from the days when you concocted cures from your back garden. At our home we often find healthy foods, like oats, honey, bananas or avocados suddenly disappearing from the kitchen – only to discover my 13 year old daughter with the stuff on her face. Yes, the awareness is rubbing off after all!
artificial ingredients freak out your skin
Luckily in our family I was allergic to chemical cosmetics from the start. Now I see this is the case with my daughter too. Her skin reacts immediately if it’s not only fed pure, natural ingredients which one would feed oneself. This is a condition which is increasingly common nowadays, because of the increase in the use of artificial fragrances, parabens (preservatives) and too high sunscreens in face creams.
Jean Franklin from Herb Afrique tells me that a face cream should not have a sun screen factor higher than 15, as this also indicates how high the chemical content is. And the sunscreen factor in body creams should be limited to 25. That’s why Herbafrique have produced a 4-in-One Sun Resque Gel, which doesn’t only protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays, but also prepares your skin for the sun, acts as a natural insect repellent and soothing after sun treatment. It must be because of the cucumber extracts, peppermint oil and other cooling ingredients.
Five lucky readers can win a tube of Sungel by correctly answering the questions at the end of this story and sending them to Jean at sales@herbafrique.com.
natural & organic: what more could you ask for?
Nowadays it is so easy to avoid what is not good for you. There are a number of excellent natural ranges around and some are even manufactured in SA. I was excited to find Herb Afrique, which is not only made of entirely natural ingredients, but they are organic too. Jean Franklin is a member of the Herbal Association of SA and has been studying the use of herbs for health and cosmetics for most of her life. Out of this wisdom she created a natural cosmetics, supplement and herbal remedy range from plant extracts which soothes and heals, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.
“Herbafrique, which hails from the Cradle of Mankind, was founded in 2005 by a research and development team to provide the finest scientifically founded herbal products in South Africa,” says Jean. “Only the most natural African organic ingredients and the highest standards of manufacturing have gone into these biological and natural products.”
Jean’s intention is to develop an awareness that there is an alternative to orthodox medication. “I present to you 100% natural creams which contain no mineral oil, aqueous, petrochemicals, parabens, artificial fragrance or colourants. These feather light moisturising/nourishing creams are made from Olive oil and Beeswax, preserved and stabilised with Vitamin E, citrus extracts and Rosemary oil.
gentle on all skin & nutritious too
“Even in the manufacturing process, the oils are never heated. These creams contain strong anti-oxidising properties, which make them perfect for the most sensitive and hypo-allergic of skins. By mixing olive oil and Beeswax together, these creams are more nutritious and more absorbent to the skin. Appropriate herbs have been added for their respective actions.”
Now is the time to allow nature to take care, naturally…
As far as I’m concerned the less products on the shelf, the better, so I was chuffed to find a 3WayGel, which serves as a soap, a shampoo, a baby bath, a skin normaliser, bubble bath and a facial cleanser.
I also like the idea of the Skin Resque cream (Nature’s 911), which cures burns, stings, bites, warts, allergies, acne, cold sores, wounds, prevents scarring and even cures eczema. The magic cure-all ingredient might well be the Bulbinella, which is a plant I sourced about 30 years ago to cure a family member’s Psoriasis. Since then it has travelled with me everywhere to be used when needed – straight from the garden.
allow nature to heal you
For all aches and pains the Muscle Resque helps with swelling, blood flow, inflammation, pain, is a disinfectant and stops scarring. Most of us know the powerful healing properties of ingredients like MSM, Comfrey, Arnica and Gotu Kola so this would be another good healer to have in-house.
There’s literally a range for every skin type, as well as a special Clear Skin Kit, which is of interest to teenagers who battle with pimples or acne. Get some help during these difficult years and be beautiful the natural way.
THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE
“Doctor, I have an ear ache”
2000 BC Here, eat this root
1000 BC That root is heathen, here say this prayer
1805 AD That prayer is superstition, here drink this potion
1940 AD That potion is snake oil, here swallow this pill
1985 AD That pill is ineffective, here take this antibiotic
2012 AD That antibiotic doesn’t work anymore, here eat this root…..
(author unknown)
Here are the questions for you to answer to win a tube of Sungel from Herbafrique – find the answers on their website:
1) What insect does Herbafrique use?
2) What is the cream base of Herbafrique’s facial products?
By Elma Pollard
For more info, go to:
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