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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has just released its guide to safer shopping. They looked at pesticide residue on fruit and vegetables and have come up with the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15. A little statistic from them makes one realise how big an impact choosing “cleaner” food can make. From EWG: Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day from the Clean 15 list rather than from the Dirty Dozen can lower your pesticide intake by up to 92 percent! What a huge impact.

This link outlines the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

There are other ways to reduce your pesticide intake (please comment and add any ideas you have as well):

• Going organic where you can. While this can seem like a stretch on the budget, if you at least choose some organic produce you will be making a difference.
• Washing your fruit & vegetables with a mild unscented Castile soap. Pesticides are fat soluble and so more residue will be washed away if you use soap and water rather than just water.
• Grow your own – even if it is just some herbs, rocket and cherry tomatoes – this is the start of a lovely summer salad

Please comment if you have any other ideas for reducing pesticide intake from foods.

Following on from my last update, I had the two BCCs removed from my face about a month ago. I decided to get them cut out rather than use Black Salve (otherwise known as Cansema). I would probably have tried the Cansema had the BCCs been on my body but I felt a bit precious about risking this on my face as this product does have a risk of keloid and non-surgical scarring. So to surgery I went. I must say the whole process was simple but unsettling. I felt very relieved the cancers were cut out but at the same time wondered why they formed in the first place particularly as I have spent my life being careful to minimise sun exposure. Even more unnerving was the thought that more may develop.

Well its now a month later and the scars have healed up. I am applying all the good things including TSB Skin Smoother at night and Minerelle Vitamin C in jojoba oil (this product is in testing at this stage but due online very soon). I really think it has made a significant difference but due to the face the scars are on my face, I was not prepared to leave one without treatment as a placebo. No, I am far to vain for that level of dedication! Now that they have healed I have stopped worrying about more developing – I do all that I can to prevent them – wear natural sunscreen (Devita Solar Body Block when out in the full sun and Devita Solar Protective Moisturiser during the day), wear a hat, eat good food (most of the time) and generally look after myself but if anyone has any other ideas I would love to hear them. PS I am also using my phone as a hands free just in case it had anything to do with the development of the BCCs.

The photos below show the healing process to date.

Day 1

After 1 week - stitches removed

After 2 weeks

After 3.5 weeks

Related Articles

• Skin “hot spots” – skin carcinoma, dermatitis or what?

I have been meaning to write an article about just what “organic” means for ages and ages. I am really pleased to say now I don’t have to as Pure & Green Organics just sent me this neat video about the topic that is easy to understand and cuts out the jargon – love it! Watch the video below:

View all of the certified organic range from Pure & Green Organics

Winter is such a great time to get into using blush. Blush can give you that “just flushed after exercise look”. I must stress this is not the beetroot look I get after running rather a dash of colour on your cheeks that makes you look healthy and full of life. I adore wearing blush but hold back a little as I also like strong lipstick colours. The combination can be a bit 80’s so I avoid really bright lipstick when applying blush. Now don’t be put off, this is a peculiar quirk of mine based on the colours I like, not a hard and fast rule. A little blush with bold lipstick is fine; just don’t go over the top.

Applying blush can bit a bit tricky but there are some failsafe guidelines that can make your technique foolproof.

Blush Colour

Firstly you need to choose a blush colour that suits your skin tone, either from a warm or a cool colour palette. Basically if you have a cool undertone, choose pink or mauve tones. If you have a warm undertone, choose apricot or sienna tones. Some examples are:

Cool Undertones – pinks, mauves and plums

Ere Perez Lip Balm - Harmless

Minerelle Rose Blush

Warm Undertones – apricot, earthy tones and even yellow based reds particularly for mediterranean skin tones

Lavera Natural Apricot Powder Rouge

Ere Perez Cream Balm - Happy

For more about how to work out your skin undertone read “How to choos the right coloured makeup”

Face Shape

Next work out the shape of your face and decide where to contour the blush. Some key tips on this:

• For rounder faces (like my own) contour the side of your face along the cheekbone (not under them)
• For longer, thinner faces, try applying the blush to the apples of your cheeks, as it may help to fill your face out

Use a good blush brush. The effect you achieve when applying any makeup is based on the quality of your materials, both cosmetics and good brushes. A blush brush with a full head is ideal.

Eco Tools Bamboo Blush Brush

Blush Types

Choose the type of blush that will suit your skin. There are few different types of blush formulation that you can choose from:

1. Powder Blush – generally good for all skin types, but best for normal, oily and combination skin and those wanting long lasting colour.
2. Cream Blush – these are great for anyone with normal, dry or dehydrated skin as it is generally quite moisturising. It gives a glow to the cheeks, making the area look slightly luminous. It is best to apply cream blush with your fingers.
3. Tints & Gel Blushes – these are lovely for a touch of colour but they do dry fast and can look streaky if applied over foundation. The trick is to apply it to your fingertips rather than directly onto your cheek and blend it in quickly.
4. Shimmers – give your cheekbones luminosity and a light gleam, they are great for night-time. You don’t have to restrict the use of a shimmer to your face. Dab them on your forehead or even the inner corners of your eye. Avoid any dry or areas with laugh lines as the shimmer will just accentuate them.

Blush Application

Firstly, prep your face by applying your moisturizer and foundation. Blush needs to be applied over both of these. Then:

• For powder blush, tap into your blush compact and tap again to remove any excess (usually only an issue for loose powdered blush). For cream, gel or tint pick up a little colour on your middle finger.
• Smile! This makes the apples of your cheeks pop out and either gently apply the blush to the area. Sweep backwards to the temple and blend the colour – try to sweep in one direction. Buffing or going around and around in circles can damage your brush and cause streaks. If you want to increase the intensity repeat the process.
• If you are using a cream blush, blend into your cheeks using your middle and ring finger starting at the roundest portion and moving lightly up your cheekbone towards your temple.
• If you think you have applied a bit too much colour, apply a little translucent powder will calm it down. With cream blush, blot back the colour with a tissue. With liquid tints the only way to take back the colour is to wipe back with a moist cloth or baby wipe and start again…so best to start light and build up rather than apply to heavily at first.

If you have any application tips you can recommend, let us know. We would love you to share the blush love!

I have to admit I am a bit lackadaisical when it comes to using a toner every day. If it is in front of me, I use one under my moisturizer but if it isn’t I don’t go searching. This is in contrast to Mary and Caitlyn, our Vitale beauty therapists – they both swear by toners and use them religiously. May I also add they both have gorgeous skin! So when the Dr recently told me to keep the scars on my face moist, I added in the use of a toner first under the healing oils to deliver extra moisture, with might I add, excellent results! Since then I have been using a toner daily.

There are three categories of toner so it is important to make the distinction between them: traditional toners, astringents and fresheners.

Traditional toners are used to restore moisture to the skin. They are ideal for those with normal to dry or dehydrated skin as they contain moisturizing ingredients, herbal extracts and essential oils. They do not contain alcohol, which can reduce moisture and oil content in the skin and potential cause irritation. Examples of traditional toners are:

Remedica Hydra Mist – this amazing looking and smelling product is an active hydrator, moisture retainer and lipid-acid mantle restorer. The effectiveness of this product is due to a complex synergism between antioxidants, essential oils, vitamins and of the natural water binder Lecithin (humectant) which attracts water molecules from the atmosphere and helps bind these molecules to the skin. These actions are exactly what are needed for dry, dehydrated or damaged skin.

La Mav Refining Toner – again excellent for normal to dry or dehydrated skin this toner contains loads of slow ageing ingredients which when used under the La Mav Wrinkle Smoother, layer nutrients and enhance their effects.

Astiringent Toners contain alcohol based (or ethanol) in some form, which has the effect of tightening pores and removing oil. The natural & organic skin care industry moved away from this type of toner a long time ago however, you can still get the pore tightening, cleansing and refreshing effect from other ingredients used in toners that are suitable for normal to oily skin. I will also add that I think toners are excellent and often overlooked for very oil and acne-prone skin. They can deliver a light layer of healing and oil minimizing ingredients without the congestion issues that are sometimes found with moisturizers. Acne prone or oily skin is surprisingly often quite dehydrated. Yes you can have oily but dehydrated (low water) skin. So delivering moisture to oily skin is essential.

Examples of toners for oily or acne-prone skin include:

Third Stone Botanicals Cedarwood Toner – this product delivers concentrated hydration to skin after cleansing just when it needs it and before acid mantle returns which is the best opportunity to lock in extra moisture. The cedarwood essential oil helps to balance out oil production.

Devita Cool Cucumber Toner – well this just smells divine for a start but it also contains chamomile to soothe irritated skin and natural fruit acids to help clean out and tighten pores.

Fresheners are a category of toners that are used for…well exactly that, freshening up your face on a hot day or resetting your mineral makeup, cleansing off makeup at the end of the day or just adding that extra bit of moisture when you look and feel tired or your skin is dehydrated. Based on floral waters, they give much needed moisture but without the drying effects of water (ironic isn’t it but one of the most drying thing we do to our faces everyday is wash with water!).

Treasured Earth Gardenia & Honeysuckle Rehydrating Mist uses rose and lemon myrtle floral water to refresh and rehydrated skin. It also includes the purifying qualities of Iceland Moss so is excellent to help cleanse skin after makeup removal.

For best results use toners twice a day, morning and night after washing your face. One or two sprays is usually enough.