Purity Organic Skincare Anti-aging Serum & Mask has won the News of The World’s Fabulous Eco-Beauty award for Best Anti-Aging Cream. Fabulous said “It’s hard to believe that this ‘facelift in a jar’ cream isn’t more expensive. Packed with rosewater to tone and fatty acids to prevent aging, it claims to knock 10 years off you instantly”. If you want to see the full article, you can view it on the press cuttings section.

We have only just launched the entire brand and we are thrilled at winning this award when the products are just hitting the shelves.
 
Now, we didn’t actually claim that it would knock 10 years off anyone’s face, but we are delighted and proud that the panel loved the formulation and the results. The reason why its such a “fabulous” product is that the Serum & Mask acts as a powerful treatment to boost your skin\'s natural regeneration process.  It’s key ingredients include Sweet Almond Oil and Aloe Vera, which are combined with Cranberry Seed Oil, which is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, which all help to repair the skin and assist with moisture retention.  The Rose Water tones the skin and the antioxidant Vitamin E improves and protects the look and the feel of the skin. 
 
Purity Organic Skincare Anti-aging Serum & Mask is Ecocert certified, with 98% of the ingredients of natural origin and 95% of the ingredients are processed from organic farming.  
 
We recommend you apply a thick layer, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 10 minutes and either rinse off with warm water or leave on the skin overnight for an extra intensive boost.
 
For the next three weeks the entire brand is on a 33% off promotion, so take advantage of the offer and buy the Serum & Mask for only £6.02.
 

Purity Organic Skincare believes that keeping your skin healthy is vital, not for just beauty reasons but to help it to continue to function well – and it has some very important jobs to do.

Skin maintains the temperature of your body, it senses heat, cold, contact and pain. Skin expels waste matter through your sweat and it maintains your water balance in bodily fluids. It protects you from dirt, microbes and chemicals and the elements.

If we look at the structure of your skin in more detail we can show you how it functions and why it’s important to use natural and organic skincare products, such as Purity Organic Skincare to support and enhance these functions.

There are three layers of skin, the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis (fat layer). Each layer performs specific tasks and each layer contains cells which are responsible for all the important tasks we mentioned earlier - maintaining temperature, sensing environmental changes, excreting and generally protecting you.

Now for the science bit – we will try to make it more interesting than your last Biology class!

The Epidermis: the Outer Layer

The epidermis protects the dermis, which is where most of the really important processes occur. The epidermis has 5 layers, the lower-most (closest to the dermis and living cells) is the basal layer. New basal cells called keratinocytes are continually reproducing. Once produced, they slowly migrate to the surface over a three week period until they stiffen-up and form the protective 5th layer. Then they are called the stratum corneum and are eventually shed. In certain areas which need more protection, like the hands and feet, the keratinocytes are very thick.

The epidermis is what we see and what we associate beauty with. Ironically these are the layer of dead keratinocytes that the body is ridding itself of. We spend our lives trying to make dead cells look healthy and youthful!

The lower basal layer is not only a hothouse of skin cell reproduction but is also protective in a different way as it protects against harmful UV rays. It is full of cells called melanocytes which produce melanin and this produces skin pigment which contributes to skin colour but functionally filters out UV rays.

Throughout the whole epidermis there are Langerhans cells which play a roll in detecting and dislodging foreign substances, thereby protecting against infection and allergies.

Purity Organic Skincare believes that keeping the epidermis balanced and beautiful is key to having a healthy, happy life. We believe that putting nasties on the epidermis just simply can’t be good for the epidermis and at the very least can disrupt its functionality and that’s why we don’t and we encourage you to do the same.

The Dermis: the Middle Layer

The dermis is full of living cells and this is where most of the activity occurs. Most cosmetics and skincare products do not penetrate through the epidermis to the dermis. Purity Organic Skincare believes that if the epidermis is functioning well, then it protects the dermis allowing it to function well. If your epidermis is full of chemical nasties then the dermis could become vulnerable and may not function well, opening you up to potential health problems. Taking a closer look at the dermis we can understand how this could happen.

The dermis has various different cells - subcutaneous insulation cells, blood vessels/capillaries, sweat glands, collagen fibres, erector muscles, and hair follicles. These cells form a thick layer of fibrous and elastic tissue made mostly of collagen, elastin and fibrillin which gives skin its flexibility and strength. These cells have specific functions:

• Nerve endings sense pain, touch, pressure and temperature.
• Sweat glands produce sweat in response to heat and stress, the sweat is composed of water, salt and waste, and as it evaporates off the skin, it helps cool the body and rids the body of toxins and waste matter.
• Sebaceous glands secrete sebum into hair follicles. Sebum is oil and keeps the skin moist and soft and is also a barrier to foreign particles.
• Hair follicles help temperature regulation by trapping air i.e. when your hair stands on end if you are cold it allows air to become trapped at the follicles which helps form a layer of insulation.
• Blood vessels provide nutrients to the skin and regulate your body temperature through their expansion and constriction either releasing or retaining heat.

The Hypodermis / Subcutis / Fat Layer: the Lower Layer

The fat layer is a protective layer of insulation which cushions muscles, bones and inner organs against shocks, and at the same time acts as an insulator and source of heat. It contains "lipocytes," which produce lipids for the subcutaneous tissue to actually make the fat layer. There are fat cells contained within every living cell held together by fibrous tissue, these are called mitochondria and are powerhouse cells. The fat cells are produced, used for insulation and then can be broken down by the mitochondria to provide heat. Who said all fat was bad!

Although Purity Organic Skincare doesn’t affect either the dermis or the hypodermis, it is important to understand that keeping your epidermis healthy is crucial for the dermis and hypodermis to function optimally and keep you in top form!

DID YOU KNOW?

OATS are one of natures only anti-bacterial cleansing ingredients that are capable of effectively cleansing your skin and leaving it wonderfully moisturised. It would be near impossible to synthetically create such a perfectly functioning multi-tasking ingredient. At Purity Organic Skincare we love using collodial OATS in our Facial Cleanser, which make it an ideal wipe-off cleanser with no need for added water.

HOW OATS WORK

Function 1 - a gel forms when powered oats are put into water (our formulation has just enough water for this to happen), so that when the cleanser is applied to skin it forms a barrier so no moisture is lost.

Function 2 - between the barrier and your skin are particles (they naturally occur in oats) that act like soap and bind to unwanted dirt, bacteria and toxins and naturally transport them to the gel barrier.

Function 3 - the barrier transports the unwanted dirt, bacteria and toxins to the outside of the barrier and away from your skin, without removing any moisture. The barrier residue that remains on your skin also acts to prevent any of these unwanted particles from binding back on your skin.

THE SCIENCE

The Oats we use at Purity come in a powdered form allowing them to disperse in liquid formulations. The powder, called colloidal oats when added to water forms a gel containing 10-18% protein, 60-64% polysaccharides (sugars), and a mixture of lipids approx 7% (fats), enzymes, saponins (natural soap), vitamins, flavonoids and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors(natural anti-inflammatory).

When this gel is applied to the skin it forms a hydrophilic (water liking) film made from polysaccharides and proteins. In addition the lipids form a barrier to boost the skins water retaining properties -- this is why colloidal oatmeal is so moisturising. The carbohydrates in the film are amazing as the humectant properties attract water from the outside of the film but once the water is inside the film i.e. between the film and your skin then the water cannot escape back out due to both this humectant property, and the lipid barrier. The film also allows only toxins out activity and blocks toxins from coming in.

Once the water is trapped between the film and your skin it is trapped by colloidal starch which is the magic ingredient of oats. The colloidal starch is made of the sugars and proteins. These sugars and proteins have a unique ability to attract, absorb and retain large quantities of water. This is the second reason why Colloidal OATS are so moisturising for the skin.

Finally there are Saponins and Flavonoids which operate between your skin and the gel barrier. Saponins are a natural cleanser/soap and can absorb and transport dirt from the skin. Flavonoids are anti-oxidant, and as compounds have been shown to act as antibacterial.

So share the news that Colloidal OATS are one of natures best cleansers. Due to their natural properties they provide a unique and natural moisture barrier whilst at the same time allowing the removal of dirt, bacteria and toxins magical!


OATS IN PURITY ORGANIC SKINCARE

We celebrate the clever and multiple powers of Collodial OATS in our Conditioning Cleansing Lotion. The OATS are able to help gently break down and effectively remove all traces of make-up including mascara and the general dirt and grime the skin accumulates throughout the day. Our formula is 98% natural and 83% organic, ECOCERT approved and available from Superdrug stores and www.superdrug.com priced £4.99 for 150ml.
 

I have almost used up my free sample. I thought it was really good. It had a nice texture which disappeared into my skin without leaving any greasy residue. Excellent. I would definitely recommend it.



Many thanks for the sample.

Pat Jeffery



Hi,


I recently received a sample for a Purity Organic Facial Moisturiser, and I would just like to say that I was very impressed. I really enjoyed using it, the cream was great smelling and left your skin feeling soft, but not in the slightest bit shiny or greasy, which is very rare for facial moisturisers. Also, it was very comforting to know that I could pronounce all the ingredients used to make the cream - none of this hydro-cyclerine-amphetamine nonsense! It was lovely to use a product made with natural ingredients, knowing that you weren’t subjecting your skin to a load of chemicals, and that you weren’t damaging the environment.



Thanks again

Caitlin Hanrahan

Hi Quentin


I found this moisturiser really softening on my skin and I will be getting some to use this winter. I think it would be too heavy for my skin in summer and when I get monthly oily breakouts but it was very calming when my skin was feeling dry and sore from having been out in the cold then in central heated places, out in the cold and back in the warm again.



Thank you for the chance to try this and I will recommend it to friends.


Honey Mckinley
 
 

Organic products have been a passion of mine for years. After completing a bachelor of Commerce, I went to work for Mary Langham at Wholefood - one of the first organic farmers in Britain and a founder member of the Soil Association. It was during this period that I realised how inaccessible organic produce was on the high street through lack of availability and often being priced more than the average person could afford. Organic skincare was not a viable option for most people – I vowed to change that.

Motherhood shortly beckoned and my desire to use organic products - cleaning products, food, haircare and skincare - became increasingly important, but finding affordable options was still hard. So in 2002 my mission began to bring intelligent, sustainable, affordable organic beauty to each and every one of us. The concept of Purity Organic Skincare was born.

When I started the development of the products, it was clear that the cosmetic technology in the realm of organics wasn’t as advanced as it is now, so it was tricky to create products that I felt were right. However, over the last seven years immense progress has been made in the formulation arena, and superb natural ingredients that have real and measurable skin benefits are now available and certified organic.

We use a wealth of natural ingredients in our hard-working formulations including Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Collodial Oats, Cranberry Seed Oil, Aloe Vera, Coconut, Avocado and Rose and our entire range is on average 98% natural and 82% certified organic. Purity Organic Skincare consists of seven products, including a cream cleanser and facial wash, an exfoliating scrub, moisturisers for day and night, and two anti-ageing products – a clever multi-purpose serum/mask and an anti-aging moisturiser.

One of my main objectives of creating this brand was to break through the elitist barrier of organic skincare. I wanted my brand to be easy to find and affordable. That is why Superdrug was such an important choice of stockist for us and why our prices are from £4.99 - £8.99. We are actually the first organic skincare brand to be stocked in Superdrug, and I feel this shows that an understanding of the benefits of organic is now more widely understood.

My dream has finally been realised.

Christmas is about celebrations and giving and enjoyment, about parties and fun and laughter and all things that add joie de vivre to life. At Purity Organic Skincare we embrace all things Christmassy but try to do so in a sustainable and caring way with a consideration for the world around us. Above all we try not to be too worthy or preachy: theres plenty of time for that during the obligatory January detox! 

We would like to share some of our suggestions to help you make Christmas even better this year and we would love to hear yours so please email us and tell us all - quentin@purityorganicskincare.com and we will post an online help-list for all.

We like Organic Food the recent research by the Food Standard Association showed higher levels of some beneficial nutrients in organic compared with non-organic foods. In organic vegetables the research recorded 53.7% more beta-carotene which is believed to help protect against heart disease and cancer as well as 38.4% more flavonoids, 12.7% more proteins and 11.3% more zinc than intensively farmed, genetically modified (GM) produce. By living an organic and sustainable lifestyle, you can avoid chemicals and synthetics, as well as support and nurture our beautiful and diverse wildlife. A box of fresh, organic and in season food is a wonderful gift two of our favourites are the organicdeliverycompany.co.uk and abelandcole.co.uk 

We like Organic Beauty for the same reasons we dont like to eat pesticides, we are not keen to put them on our skin either, hence we created an organic skincare range certified by Ecocert and at a price everyone can afford. OurPurity Anti-Aging Serum and Mask gives the best mini-facial mask in a jar we have found for pre-party prepping and works as a pick-me up for post-party recovery. Simply cleanse away all that party make-up with our cream cleanser and apply in a thin layer of the serum before you turn-in. The cranberry seed oil rich in omega 3,6 and 9 and sweet almond oil will work its magic as you sleep. Priced just £8.99 at superdrug.com.

We like locally sourced and seasonal food to ensure you minimize your impact on food miles and unnecessary packaging. Its good to support local growers and eating seasonally is best for your health.

We like to know where our turkey comes from so check out its provenance with a good local butcher or buy online from the wellhungmeatcompany.com which only sells responsibly farmed meat and also do great gift boxes for lovers of all things carnivore.

We dont like food wastage: by planning your meals in advance and shopping with a list to avoid over-buying. Get creative with any left-over delights: check out new cookbook Spooning With Rosie which revels in leftovers! Dont forget your composter or wormery, they love an out-of-date treat!

We like Fair Trade especially from our friends at fashion label People Tree, pioneers of Fair Trade and sustainable fashion for women, men, children and babies. Their clothes are stylish and affordable and made to the highest Fair Trade and environmental standards. They offer a great gift service too, perfect for Christmas shopping.

We like Green Christmas Trees! www.pinesandneedles.com uses British trees from sustainable forests - less air miles means reduced emissions and increasingly they are switching to organically-grown trees as believe pesticides can upset the balance of fragile ecosystems.

We like to recycle cards and paper at Purity Organic Skincare we are dab hands at recycling cards and paper you just need to remember to open presents with a little care as opposed to ripping them open in eager anticipation! We also make sure we recycle all packaging protecting presents that can be every bit helps.

And we like to recycling unwanted gifts talking of recycling, remember to take all unwanted or un-needed gifts to your local charity shop, someone else is sure to be thrilled with your presents.

We like to give charity gifts we like to give donations to favourite charities on friends and families behalf at Christmas and to shop from charity websites and buy much- needed essentials for people abroad a few favourites are a gift of goats or cows and essential educational gifts, check out savethechildren.sandbag.uk.com; goodgifts.org

Merry Christmas to All from Purity Organic Skincare

We love your feedback whether its positive or negative and always take on board all your comments. Our priority is to constantly imrpove our products, so that you can enjoy the best facial care products that we can produce.

Hi, thankyou very much for the sample I recieved, I was so pleased to try a real honest and simple product. I have had really sensitve skin since giving birth to my 3rd child but this product didnt leave me blotchy like everything else. I\'ve already been out to buy some. If you need any testers for new products, I\'d be very interested!!

Regards Sarah

Although we only launched in Superdrug in July we’ve clearly made an instant impact as we have taken the much coveted Silver award in the Best Organic Launch category.

We are all tickled pink!

The result ... they can\'t get enough of it!

Lina M - "They\'re great!"
Victoria Skerier - "Exfoliator is amazing"
Rebecca Chandler - "Serum feels great"
Betty Adewole - "I love the packaging"
Lottie - "Cleansing lotion is great"

Purity Organic Skincare is the affordable organic that delivers gorgeous skin; it\'s made in Britain, from an average of 98% natural ingredients and a minimum of 70% of organic ingredients.

Purity Organics is the skincare choice of London\'s top New Faces

Purity Organic Skincare is available at Superdrug and online priced from £4.99 to £8.99. Purity Organic Skincare includes a Facial Wash, Conditioning Cleansing Lotion, Facial Exfoliator, Facial Moisturiser, Anti-Aging Moisturiser, Anti-Aging Serum and Mask and a Regenerating Overnight Moisturiser.

Purity Organic Skincare is made from Sweet Almond Oil, a superb moisturiser and softener, Aloe Vera to soothe and protect, Coconut to soften and moisturise, Cranberries for their Omega 3,6,9 properties, Ceramide 3 to moisturise and protect and Rose, Oats, Beeswax and Avocado to soothe and condition.

http://whimbiscuit.blogspot.com/2009/12/exude-natural-radiance.html

Please support Soil Association\'s quest to have parliament ban the use of neonicoltinoid pesticides. Please click on the Soil Association link below and sign up to their petition to be presented to Hilary Benn, the UK\'s Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to follow 4 other European countries and ban the use of neonicotinoids.

http://apps.soilassociation.org/Bees/Register.aspx

Here are some basic facts:
There is evidence that pesticides like neonicotinoids cause mass hive deaths, with additional causants being cited as pollution and GM crops being contributors.

Large numbers of chemical contaminants are being found in beeswax and pollen often at very high concentrations.

Italy, Germany, France and Slovenia have all banned the use of neonicoltinoids.

This is only the start of stopping the devastation. There is a long road to recovery. Here are some further solutions.

Organic farming is a solution which the Soil Association supoorts and details can be found on their site:
http://www.soilassociation.org/Whyorganic/Welfareandwildlife/Wildlife/Bees/tabid/417/Default.aspx

Also for further information please see the trailer and release information for the recently released film the \'Vanishing of the Bees\': www.vanishingbees.co.uk

HOW TO WIN THE LOVELY BEE NECKLACE!
Purity Organic Skincare and Kate Halfpenny want to give you the opportunity to WIN A BEE NECKLACE. Dannii Minogue wore the lovely Bee Necklace on the X-Factor and it\'s also been worn by Emilia Fox. We are offering the chance to win a silver and a gold necklace and both can be seen on Kate\'s website http://www.halfpennylondon.com/jewellery.php

Simply click through to our entry form at www.purityorganicskincare.co.uk/competitions/bee-necklace.php and you\'ll be entered into a prize draw. The competition will be open until the end of January or when the Soil Association petition is submitted.

Finally don\'t forget to try Purity Organic Skincare, and if you have already, please tell you friends and family about us!

All our products are ecocert certified and sell at most major Superdrug stores and online. We are affordable too with prices ranging from £4.99 - £8.99

Terms and conditions

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/the-ten-best-face-masks-1849787.html?action=Popup&ino=5

http://www.productplacementtheblog.com/?p=597

What a great start to the New Year. Thanks to everyone at PP for their support and recognition.

You have only until 7th Feb to submit your potentially prize winning Marmalade! What\'s wonderful about this competition is that an 11year old girl\'s valentine marmalade inspirational

recipe is now a Tiptree Marmalade! The website is so appealing and many of the benefits go to the local Hospice at Home Service in Cumbria.

Maybe next year we should sponsor a Purity Marmalade!

Check out www.marmaladefestival.com

1) EAT:

Copy our Scandinavian cousins and follow the Nordic diet. Don\'t worry, there\'s no deprivation involved, just seasonal eating that\'s more suited to our climate and better for our waistlines. It\'s high in carbs but the healthy, protein-rich variety like rye and barley, as well as fish, root vegetables and cured meats. Get inspired by the delectable recipes in Trina Hahnemann\'s cookbook, The Nordic Diet. The facts are borne out in the figures. In Sweden obesity levels are as low as 10% in Britain they\'re at 25%. Unlike the Mediterranean diet that\'s had us all eating pulpy, out-of-season tomatoes it\'s based on food that\'s easily grown in colder climates - making it cheaper as well as more environmentally friendly to produce. Cheat with some delicacies from The Scandinavian Kitchen http://www.skandikitchen.co.uk.

Or try top nutritionist Vicki Edgson\'s recipe:
"For a quick lunch take some roll-mops, drain them and squeeze the juice of a lemon or lime over the top (the citrus takes out the fishy smell). Put in a bowl with 3 ozs of low-fat cottage, crème fraiche or cream cheese and mix together with a fork. This can then be used as a filling for a sandwich (rye bread is the best), a wrap or as a dip for vegetables. It\'s full of essential fatty acids and very healthy."

2) DO:

Get outside. At this time of year you\'re probably more familiar with the soft cushions on your sofa than the hard seat of a bike, but hibernate long enough and your bum will start to resemble them. Most of us gain an average of 0.8 lbs over the winter - that\'s 8 lbs in ten years. But staying moderately active easily staves it off. All you need is the right gear. Try www.sweatybetty.com, www.cyclechic.co.uk. Either hop on your bike like the Danes or try some Nordic Walking - one of the world\'s fastest growing fitness activities, www.nordicwalking.co.uk. You may feel silly at first heading out the door with ski-poles and no skis until you realise you\'re burning twice as many calories as walking and toning your entire upper body as well. Plus it\'s much more affordable than the gym or a yoga class, all you need are a pair of trainers and a set of poles. Oh, and the cold makes you burn more calorie - shivering alone uses 400 calories an hour.

3) TREAT:

Crisp, cold air is super-drying for skin. The triple whammy of less actual moisture in the environment, cranked up central heating and scouring wind leave skin desperately dehydrated. The first place you\'ll notice these effects is around the eyes where delicate skin shows moisture loss with increased fine lines. Many of the best ingredients to protect skin in harsh weather are found in plants and flowers from northern climates that have evolved to cope with extreme cold. Cranberry seed oil is one of these, it is the only oil with naturally balanced omega 3 and omega 6, the essential fatty acids crucial to skin health. It\'s also rich in tocotrienol (the fancy name for vitamin E). This powerful antioxidant protects from pollution, UV light and heals eczema and psoriasis. Used in Purity Organics Anti-Ageing Moisturiser , it penetrates skin easily and helps build up its natural defences. For an extra boost combine with Purity Organics Anti-Ageing Serum and Mask - and you\'ll have that healthy, Scandi, winter glow.

4) POP:

A vitamin D pill. The change of seasons can have a marked affect on our mood thanks to light deprivation and about 5% of the population becomes markedly depressed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). This can prompt food cravings for mood-boosting carbs as they increase serotonin production, our brain\'s happy chemical. Low levels of vitamin D also affect the brain\'s production of the hormone leptin, which basically tells our bodies when they’re full or not. It also protects against heart disease and cancer, other sources of vitamin D are oily fish and eggs, but you need 10 mcgs a day to really do the job.

All you have to do is answer the following question.

How many ml of toxic of bleach and chemical dyes goes into making one pair of cotton knickers?
The answer can be found on: \'PANTS EXPOSED: KNOW WHAT\'S IN YOUR KNICKERS\' on www.morethanprettyknickers.com

Email your answer to pantsexposed@purityorganicskincare.com*.

* Terms and Conditions apply

Terms and Conditions for the Pants Exposed promotion
This promotion is to win a single pair of Eco Boudoir pants worth £55. The draw will be made at random by an independent adjudicator. The successful entrant will be notified via the email supplied within 7 days of the promotion closing. By entering the promotion you agree to join the Purity Organic Skincare mailing list.