An Evening with Tata Harper at Being Content-Review

An Evening with Tata Harper at Content Beauty
Last night Being Content hosted a skincare event with natural skincare legend Tata Harper. It was a lovely, intimate event with Tata, as she visits London to promote her product line.
Tata is incredibly approachable and personable, she gave us a mini facial using her product line, advising us on the best products to suit our individual skin types. The evening was well organised by Being Content's Imelda and her team and we were given beautiful skin cleansing juices by Radiance Cleanse. Seriously yummy juices and I left feeling very pampered!

Tata's story....
Tata is Columbian by birth but has spent many years living inbetween New York and Vermont (where she runs an organic farm and produces all her own products on her farm). Tata got into the organic skincare 'movement' when her step father was diagnosed with cancer, his consultant at the Mayo clinic advised him to cut as many toxins as possible out of his life, this included personal hygiene products. Tata started to help him with this and then started to help herself and her young family too. It was through doing this she realised there was a gap in the market- there were no high end, effective, pure, natural skincare brands available. Tata was an avid 'La Prairie' user and realised she needed to create an equivalent that was 100% natural.
Tata explained how people thought she was mad wanting to create her own skincare line, but through diligence (and a fair bit of investment I would imagine!) Tata worked with a team of experts for 5 years on R&D to create her line using a mixture of ingredients grown on her farm in Vermont and sourced from around the world. Her skincare line was born. She appears to have been on an inspiring journey and, I sure as hell am grateful for her endeavours after spending years myself searching for effective, beautiful, organic skincare products after suffering with health problems...so a big thanks to Tata! Her products are vegan, no animal testing and are certified by EcoCert.

The Verdict...
The mini facial consisted of the following products:

Refreshing Cleanser 125ml £60
This was a gentle, cream cleanser. We used this to remove our make up and freshen up at the start of the facial. The cleanser uses Willow Bark, Pomegranate (powerful antioxidant ) and French Clay (cleanses pores).  Lovely product, I loved the light consistency and it really felt like it was getting all the London grime off my face!

Regenerating Cleanser 125ml £65
This is a great product. I think it's similar to the refreshing cleanser (above) but this is more of an exfoliator with Apricot seed powder, Grapefruit and Radish Root Extract. It was highly effective, to me it felt deeply cleansing and it made my skin feel clean and fresh. Highly recommend this one!

Resurfacing Mask 30 ml £42
Wow! What a heavenly face mask! Tata came round and put this on us with a brush. It is a clear gel, feels incredibly light but soon tightens into a peel. You should leave this mask on for about 30 mins to get the full benefits. I think this would be easy to use at home and eliminates those dull and blemished skin cells. This mask uses White Willow (gently exfoliates, controls sebum levels and helps combat ageing with anti inflammatory properties). We removed it with hot muslin clothes. It left my skin feeling fresh, smooth and radiant!

Aromatic Stress Treatment 5ml £64
A rollerball aromatherapy treatment to carry in your handbag. Tata put this on our wrists and neck. The smell was gorgeous- Linden Blossom, Rose Otto, Frankincense and Neroli. The oils are very therapeutic, calming and great for stress and anxiety but for me this is the weakest product, and, with a training in aromatherapy I think the price tag £64 for 0.17oz is too expensive.

Hydrating Floral Essence 125ml £68
Another favourite of mine... this hydrating mist feels light and moisturizing as well as toning. It improves skin hydration without clogging the pores. It contains Hyaluronic Acid, which pulls moisture into the skin and helps retain that moisture. It also contains Beet Root Extract, which helps minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkes associated with ageing. White Willow helps regenerate skin cells. It smells of Jasmine and Rose. Imelda (Being Content) and Tata both said this is a popular product with make up artists and can also be used as a fixative.

Repairative Moisturizer 50ml £80
Tata gave me the repairative moisturizer as my skin is dry. I think using this with the Replenishing Nutrient Complex is a solid way to protect your skin all year round. It felt silky soft and hydrating. It is full of 'good stuff'- Safflower improves moisture retention and preserves the skin barrier without clogging the pores, Omega 9 from Jojoba oil. It has rose, geranium and Spanish Lavender and soothing cocoa containing anti oxidants.

Restorative Eye Cream 15ml £72
Lovely eye cream. It feel, light and nourshing for such a sensitive area of your face. It uses very gentle ingredients including calendula, borage and carrot seed and buck wheat and arnica to help reduce puffiness.

Replenishing Nutrient Complex- 10ml £36  *STAR  BEAUTY BUY*
Favourite product of the evening. This is a rollerball serum. It feels so nourshing and smells amazing! It is full of vitamins, anti oxidants, fatty acids. It contains Alfalfa extract (high in vitamins A, C, D and E) which protect from enviromental conditions that can cause damage. The borage oil in it contains Gamma Linolenic Acid.

Tata Harper products are available at http://www.beingcontent.com/

For more information on Tata Harper http://www.tataharperskincare.com/

Radiance Cleanse Juices http://radiancecleanse.com/

'Sprout' The organic skincare brand taking NYC by storm!

Recently I discovered a brand called 'Sprout' it was founded by two New Yorkers Adina and Adam. Adina spent years trying out different products to sort out her problem skin and eventually a friend gave her a handmade skincare product recipe book and the rest is history...
She and Adam started making all their own products by hand and each product uses a maximum of 5 ingredients. The ingredients are organic, vegan and ethically sourced. 
I tried the Sprout shea butter cream, it comes in a glass jam jar with some funky branding. I liked it- it felt nourishing, like a balm, it was very soothing for my try elbows and knees! It made me feel good to buy a brand that gives back to the community and each pot has a a little label stating the person's name who handmade the product, which is a lovely, personal touch.
I appreciate this brand and how it's grown in such an organic way but I'm not sure it's sophisticated enough to produce effective face products and I'm not sure if that's the direction the founders are looking to take it, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Current trends show that the consumer at the moment is overwhelmed by the vast ingredients and chemicals in modern skincare and is craving simplicity. This brand certainly fits the bill!
However, for me as much as I love the brand I felt the price point was too high. $32 for a jar of shea butter is pretty pricey, I think it needs to come down a notch.
I really admire Adina and Adam and think this is a great line of products. Sprout has had rave reviews-here are a few:

 

"I just heard about this small, Brooklyn-based company that is only 1 year old and got so excited about what they do. Everything owner and founder Adina makes is completely natural and is made up of ingredients that you can find at the supermarket (or rather, the organic green market). It’s the way it should be, made once a week in small batches, using glass jars and supporting local, sustainable farms."

"…an eco-friendly and affordable detox (for your skin).

Here is a video by Sprout Founders:

http://vimeo.com/39515104

Have you tried Sprout products? Do you like them? let us know your thoughts :-) 

Today's organic beauty buy is....

Suvana Paw Paw & Honey Lip Balm £7.99
I'm a big fan of this lip balm, I was introduced to it a few months back and I've been using it ever since! It is expensive but it's a 25g tube so you get a lot of lip balm & it lasts for ages! It doesn't contain any petrochemicals and 98.1% of the ingredients are organic. It's not tested on animals.
It feels very nourishing and glossy on the lips and is fragrance free. It contains papaya, honey, beeswax and carrot oil.
I like the packaging too (brightens up my day!) 7/10.
www.suvanabeauty.com

Organic moisturizers- affordable & cool!

There is a general consensus that organic beauty products are very expensive & only high earners can buy them. I think we should dispel this myth! Other than making beauty products yourself (which is super cheap and good fun!) I wanted to share some of my favourite affordable organic face moisturizers. That look fab on your bathroom shelf and feel great to use and are reasonably priced.

1.) Skin Blossom Nourish Organic Moisturiser by Skin Blossom Size: 50ml £7.25 
A light moisturiser for sensitive, combination, oily and normal skin with Jojoba oil, Shea Butter and Aloe Vera to deliver nutrients, hydration and protection. Made with 88% organic ingredients. FOR COMBINATON, OILY, NORMAL AND SENSITIVE SKIN .
At Skin Blossom they believe everyone deserves beautiful, healthy skin and hair. That’s why they create effective natural products using the finest organic ingredients, without the high price tag. You can be assured of the integrity of their products as they are all certified by the Soil Association and registered with the Vegan Society. The range is 98.85% natural & free from harsh ingredients like SLS,SLES, ALS, Phylates, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM, PEGS, Silicones, synthetic colour & fragrance,Petrochemicals, Urea, DEA, MEA, TEA, GLYCOLS and GM ingredients.

2.) Organic Surge. Super Intensive daily moisturizer. Dry skin. £8.99 Nourishes, conditions and rehydrates dry skin. For skin that needs an extra surge of moisture this intensely hydrating cream is packed with natural humectants for the ultimate boost to restore dryness. Organic Rose Geraniumessential oil is key to restoring skin balance and reviving a dull complexion. With the additional benefits of Aloe Vera to repair, sooth and moisturize.

3.) Lavera Q10 moisturising Cream. £12.95. Nourishing Jojoba oil, moisturising Aloe Vera gel and regenerating coenzyme Q10 work in harmony to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

4.)Barefoot Botanicals SOS Rescue Cream. £10.50 This rich, steroid-free cream blends omega-rich Borage oil, Shea Butter and evening primrose oil with potent herbal extracts includingCalendula, burdock and Mahonia to soothe irritation and rehydrate seriously parched skin. With a calming aroma of French Lavender,Chamomile and orange blossom, it provides welcome relief to skin in distress.

5.) Avalon Organics Lavender Ultimate Moisture Cream. 50ml £7.99 This daily moisturizer is made with organic Turmeric, Arnica and Calendula to soothe redness plus superb antioxidant protection from Grape Seed Polyphenols, organic White Tea and Vitamins C & E.

Increase in cancers & fertility problems may be caused by chemicals in skincare.

After my own health problems this research by the European Environment Agency (EEA) is very interesting. The sooner we ban EDC's in this country the better. Denmark are the first country to ban the use of them.

Chemicals which disrupt the hormone system – also known as 'endocrine disrupting chemicals' (EDCs) – may be a contributing factor behind the significant increases in cancers, diabetes and obesity, falling fertility, and an increased number of neurological development problems in both humans and animals, according to a review of recent scientific literature commissioned by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

 Image © Stephen Begin

Scientific research gathered over the last few decades shows us that endocrine disruption is a real problem, with serious effects on wildlife, and possibly people. It would be prudent to take a precautionary approach to many of these chemicals until their effects are more fully understood.

EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade

Chemicals which can potentially disrupt the endocrine system can be found in food, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, household products and cosmetics. In recent decades, there has been a significant growth in many human diseases and disorders including breast and prostate cancer, male infertility and diabetes. Many scientists think that this growth is connected to the rising levels of exposure to mixtures of some chemicals in widespread use.

"Scientific research gathered over the last few decades shows us that endocrine disruption is a real problem, with serious effects on wildlife, and possibly people", EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said. "It would be prudent to take a precautionary approach to many of these chemicals until their effects are more fully understood."

The Weybridge +15 (1996-2011) report on endocrine disruptors was launched at Brunel University outside London today. It is the result of an international workshop that evaluated the findings of the last 15 years of research. The report follows the 1996 Weybridge report and associated workshop, where the problem of EDCs was first comprehensively discussed by regulatory authorities and scientists together. 

Reasons for scientific uncertainty

The report shows clearly that there is strong evidence of harm from EDCs in some wildlife species and in laboratory studies using rodent models for human health. However, the effects of EDCs on humans may be more difficult to demonstrate, due to the length, cost and methodological difficulties with these types of studies – so wildlife and animal studies may be seen in some cases as an early warning of the dangers.  

In the last 10 years, risk assessment and regulatory frameworks for dealing with EDCs have been created and screening procedures have been developed to test chemicals for endocrine disrupting properties. There are still lots of factors that make the risk assessment process difficult. Chief amongst these is the fact that these chemicals can affect early development of, for example, the brain, reproductive, immune and metabolic systems in detrimental ways that are often invisible until several years or sometimes decades after exposure.  

Scientific understanding is further complicated because mixtures of similarly acting EDCs in combination may contribute to an overall effect, whilst each of these chemicals alone may not cause harm. These factors make it hard for scientists to identify thresholds of exposure below which there are no effects.

However, there is a large body of evidence linking chemical exposure to thyroid, immune, reproductive and neurological problems in animals, and many of the same or similar diseases and disorders have been observed to be rising in human populations. Both animals and humans may be exposed to these chemicals in the environment, or via water or the food chain where the chemicals can build up.

Possible effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals

• The link between some diseases and EDCs is now accepted. For example, exposure to oestrogen or to oestrogenic EDCs is an accepted risk factor for breast cancer, endometriosis, fibroids and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women.
• Breast cancer rates are increasing in almost all industrialised countries. The majority of these cases are due to lifestyles and environmental exposures, rather than specific genetic factors.
• Some EDCs may also cause low quality semen.  Detailed reviews of current knowledge show clearly that human male reproductive problems are increasing in many countries. There are large regional differences in semen quality. In some European regions approximately 40% of men suffer from reduced fertility while in others it is less than 10%
• Laboratory studies show that the reproductive systems of a broad range of vertebrate species, for example polar bears and fish, and some invertebrate species such as some snails and oysters are susceptible to EDCs.
• Some studies have linked EDCs to thyroid disease. Thyroid cancer rates have increased by between 5 % (Switzerland) and 155 % (France), particularly in women, children and young adults.
• Several studies have also linked exposure to some EDCs with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder and diminished cognitive function in children. However, more work is needed in this area to confirm or refute theories involving the wider sphere of EDCs in modern commerce
• There is a trend towards the earlier onset of puberty in girls, which may be influenced by EDCs.
• Some persistent endocrine disrupting substances, such as DDT, TBT and PCBs - now banned or restricted in their use - have been shown to cause catastrophic declines in mollusc, seal and bird populations in some parts of the world as a result of their effects on reproduction. Scientists are concerned that many chemicals that are still in modern commerce also affect the human reproductive system. 

Yann Vasnier: The mystery of perfume

Great video for anyone interested in perfume and how to go about creating perfume. Yann Vasnier is on of the best in the business, he works on commercial brands and he uses synthetic chemicals. However, there are lots of helpful tips and I like his story. His passion for fragrance creation is contagious!

Thought of the day...

"The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years." Audrey Hepburn 

Today's star organic beauty buy is....

Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream £24. www.paiskincare.com

What a lovely face cream! It smells and feels so gentle and silky. Perfect for highly sensitive skin, this cream is alcohol and irritant free & organic. It is high in Omega 3,6,7 & 9. Both Chamomile and Rosehip have restorative, revitalizing properties. Probably one of the best organic moisturizers I've tried, within a few days my skin is glowing and the dry patches feel less inflamed. It is very good for people with skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, rosacea.
I also love the packaging and how the ingredients are listed really clearly- you can see from the 'get go' there are no nasties in it. It's very gentle. The product is 78% organic. Not tested on animals and is Vegan. Love it! 9/10

Roman Chamomile. Why is it so good for your skin?

It's not uncommon to find ingredients that you would normally consume listed on the package of a skin care product. Take Roman chamomile, for example: The word "chamomile" usually conjures up images of a comforting, steaming mug of tea, but it's actually something that can help your skin look great, too.

The Roman chamomile plant is a small plant with grayish-green leaves and small white daisy-like flowers. Some people use its dried flowers in teas for a calming effect [source: National Cancer Institute]. This is the form of chamomile you may have seen in the spice or herb section of your local grocery store.

When Roman chamomile flowers undergo steam distillation, an essential oil forms. If you check the label of some of your skin care products, you are likely to see this oil -- perhaps just listed as "chamomile" -- listed among the ingredients. It is widely used in this way [source: University of Maryland Medical Center]. Experts believe that, when used topically in products like skin cleansers, Roman chamomile oil can help reduce dryness and itching, which may make it effective in treating conditions like eczema [source: Mesfun, University of Maryland Medical Center].

Some research has shown that Roman chamomile oil also acts as an antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory -- meaning it can soothe irritated and inflamed skin and reduces redness [source: University of Maryland Medical Center]. So products containing chamomile may work well on cuts and sores, as well as skin cracks, insect bites, bruises and perhaps even sunburns [source: Mesfun]. Some people use chamomile in aromatherapy, too, but there's not a lot of hard proof that it works in these cases.

Today's star organic beauty buy is....

Cow slip soothing hand cream by Cowshed 300ml £16

A recent winner in the Elle Beauty Awards, this is a fantastic hand cream. It's pretty organic but not 100% I'm afraid. It contains some wonderful essential oils- peppermint, sweet orange, spearmint and may chang. These oils soothe irritated, dry skin. Have strong antibacterial properties and discourage the formation of wrinkles. I kept a small one on my desk at work and it kept my hands feeling lovely as well as releasing a invigorating aroma when you need an afternoon pick me up after starring at a computer for too long! I give this product a 7/10.

How safe are your skincare products? Find out here.

Just found this brilliant website. If you care about your skin and want to learn more about the products in your bathroom cabinet and whether or not they are toxic or harmful in anyway take a look.

EWG is a founding member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Skin Deep helps fuel and inform this nationwide coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, women's, environmental and consumer groups working to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the health and beauty industry to phase out the use of dangerous chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives. More than 1,000 companies have joined the effort by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to produce safer products and publish safety data.
EWG obtained detailed information on these products from online retailers, manufacturers, product packaging, and, to a lesser extent, through other methods described below. In most cases the information we obtain includes a brand name, product name, directions for use, warnings, ingredients, package/advertising text, and indications (cosmeceuticals).

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Today's star organic beauty buy is....

Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk. Weleda £9

With autumn coming I felt the need to have a hot, soothing bath using one of my favourite products. I put a cap full of the bath milk in whilst running the bath and it smells amazing. Invigorating, warming but gentle on the skin. I think this is a fab product. Only downside for me is the clunky, green bottle which doesn't exactly feel very glam... Come on Weleda you need an update...we're 2012 now! Overall thumbs up 7/10

Sandalwood Essential Oil.

Sandalwood trees are found in India, with the main cultivation in the southern states. It has been used for thousands of years as a powdered form of incense and is an important Ayruvedic medicine.

In perfumery it is an excellent fixative and the woody scent lasts for ages. It has a strong, earthy smell that I love but needs to be mixed with lighter note such as rose, jasmine or bergamot so its not too heavy.
In cosmetics Sandalwood has been used for centuries. It has emollient and anti-inflammatory properties and is extremely soothing for very dry skin. It is also midly astringent so can be used on oily skin too. My favourite Sandalwood is the Nourishing Face Oil by Aromatherapy Associates £39.

Natalie Portman swears by Pai Skincare

LoveLula.com: PRESS | Natalie Portman swears by Pai Skincare: In Tatler's October issue, Natalie Portman spills her beauty secrets - and who wouldn't want to know how the Oscar-winner stays so beaut...

Why is honey amazing for your skin?

A natural moisturiser packed with antioxidants, honey is a sweet treat that can make a big difference to your skin. 

According to the Ecologist-Organic French beauty specialist, Melvita, is the latest brand to recognise the benefits of honey with the launch of the Apicosma range, which employs a ‘3-Honey Complex’ based on thyme, orange blossom and acacia honey. According to Dr Elizabeth Devilard, a molecular biologist who helped develop the range, honey can make a big difference to dry, delicate skin. ‘The results show that the 3-Honey Complex instantly replenishes lost nutrients,’ she says. ‘It actually thickens the dermal and epidermal layers.’ And she’s not the only one to sing honey’s praises. Camilla Goddard, the brains behind urban beekeepers, Capital Bee, says it can also help tackle problems such as hay fever. ‘Honey definitely helps with hay fever,’ she says. ‘It’s a traditional remedy but I’ve found that raw [unpasteurised] honey with pollen really helps.’

Honey’s hygroscopic properties make it especially useful as a moisturiser, and not just as part of a cream. Honey baths can do wonders for dry skin, while a sticky mixture of honey and olive oil can give hair a softening boost. Because honey is a powerful antiseptic, it also works brilliantly in homemade scrubs. Mix it with ground almonds and oatmeal for a gentle, low cost exfoliator. But even if you don’t have time to whip up your own products, you can still get stuck in. We put five fabulous honey products to the test.

Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream, £8.69
While all honey has healing benefits, Manuka honey has all the useful enzymes found in regular honey, plus a couple of extras. Number one among them is glucose oxidase, an acidic anti-bacterial responsible for Manuka’s enhanced powers of healing. All of this is why Dr Organic’s Manuka Honey Rescue Cream really lives up to its name. Great for dry and older skin, the high Manuka content means that it’s also brilliant at banishing skin conditions such as eczema. Better still, it smells wonderful and contains only the sort of ingredients you want on your skin – and none that you don’t.
Find out more: www.drorganic.co.uk

Organic Surge Lemon and Honey Happy Soap, £2.54
Made by a Fairtrade co-operative in the foothills of Mount Kenya, all the profits from Organic Surge’s Lemon and Honey Happy Soap  go straight back to the community that made it. Formulated using a mixture of essential oils, honey and calendula petals, its uplifting fragrance and skin-smoothing results will leave you in an excellent mood. Better still, it’s ultra-affordable and gentle enough for everyone.
Find out more:www.bathandunwind.co.uk

Balance Me Shiny Clean Shampoo, £10.25
Honey’s moisturising properties come into their own with Balance Me’s shampoo and conditioner. Along with honey, the shampoo is packed with soothing (and gorgeous smelling) jasmine, cleansing grapefruit and scalp-boosting black pepper. What’s more, unlike with conventional shampoos, there’s no surfactants or chemical cleaning agents, and it’s also 100 per cent sulphate and paraben free. Best of all, it left our tester’s locks glossy, clean and smelling wonderful.
Find out more: www.balanceme.co.uk

Melvita Apicosma Ultra Nourishing Body Balm, £20
The winning combination of royal jelly, cocoa butter and the unique ‘3-Honey’ complex has made Melvita’s Nourishing Body Balm one of the best body creams around. Part of the new Apicosma range, our testers reported instant results with skin left soft, smooth and sweet-smelling, with even cracked heels and dry elbows showing improvement. While it doesn’t contain honey from Melvita’s London bees, it does make use of honey produced close to the company’s Ardèche base, all of which is organic and ethically harvested.
Find out more: www.melvita.com

Neal’s Yard Honey and Orange Facial Scrub, 14.80
Along with Melvita, Neal’s Yard Remedies is a company that has form when it comes to bee-saving campaigns and honey-based products. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, they’ve turned honey-based beauty into a fine art and the Honey and Orange Facial Scrub is no exception. Not your average scratchy scrub, Neal’s Yard’s effort uses gentle rice powder to tackle impurities, while honey and orange flower essential oil soothe and soften. Our tester reported brighter, smoother skin after one use.
Find out more: www.nealsyardremedies.com