souksouk
little green magazine
July 2013 Issue #4
The Royal Fever Issue
- Using minerals - Green eyed - Beat cellulite - Yoga lowdown - Greenwashing -
Editor’s
letter
It’s summer holiday season, it’s Royal baby time, we finally have sun! What’s not to love? We wanted to dedicate this issue in a few little ways to the most famous birth on the planet right now, so look out for Royal and baby themes in our Purple palette (pg 3), Cleopatra-inspired honey and milk bath (pg 8), Queen of the Night essential oil Jasmine (pg 7) and our profile of natural beauty entrepreneur come trainee midwife Darcey Croft (pg 12).
We’ve even made you a Little Green Beauty Buying Guide to pop in your wallet, making it easier than ever to make better choices when buying beauty products.
This month we also cover one of the issues closest to our hearts, and yes, under our skin... Greenwashing. We take a look at this deceptive and destructive practice, how it poses a threat to our beloved natural beauty industry and what we can do to fight it.
We hope you enjoy our July issue. Until next month...
02 / E d i t o r ’ s L e t t e r
And last but not least, we all love a new health habit, so check out page 6 for our lowdown on Yoga. Here we explain your Iyengar fom your Bikram and give you a fool-proof guide to a simple sun salutation.
Love, Victoria x
For all our terms and conditions please visit our website www.souksouk.co.uk All photography Shutterstock unless otherwise stated Cover photo by Chris Brock
- Hot Hot Hot #Blog Love Blog, book, DVD box set... To be honest, we love everything about Tara Stiles, New York-based Queen of Yoga. Even Deepak Chopra is full of admiration for her unique style of practice. She Rules. tarastiles.com
VitaBella Spa Treatment in a Box Made in Italy, this facial in a box includes a face mask and anti-aging cream which work to increase skin hydration by up to 20%, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Aloe Vera gel and argan oil combine to reduce inflammation and provide antioxidants. Hibiscus seed proteins act as a natural exfoliant and wheatgerm oil stops the skin from drying out. £25 myvitabella.co.uk
Dr Hauschka Spring Collection Trio
We are loving this limited edition trio palette by Dr Hauschka. Rose pink, nude and chocolate mineral shadows are cased in a stunning metallic compact. Almost too pretty to use! £27 planetorganic.com
The Royal Palette: Purple Lily Lolo shadow in Deep Purple £5.29 lilylolo.co.uk
Zoya nail lacquer in Carly £10.50 zoya.com
Barefaced Mineral shadow in Butterfly £8 barefacedbeauty.co.uk
Inika Organic pencil in Purple Minx £13.50 inikacosmetics.co.uk
H o t H o t H o t / 03
-Trending
now-
Going green all-over is a fresh summer take on the smokey eye. Here’s how to do it. 1. Pick two or three complementary shades of green shadow. 2. Using a broad brush, sweep the lighter shade across the whole lid up to the brow. 3. Apply the darker shade to the socket line and around the lash line, top and bottom, building toward the outer corner. 4. Take a third - ideally bright or neon -shade and dab it along the lid from the inner corner outwards. 5. Sweep a little of the bright shade along the bottom lashes to highlight. 6. Finish with green or black mascara 04 / T r e n d i n g
now
MU A Tips
Watch our Get the Look vids at souksouk.co.uk
5
minute masterclass
Mineral
f o u n d at i o n
Mineral foundation has lots of benefits but many of us are still unsure of how to use it. Here’s our fool-proof guide...
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Pick the right shade for your skin colour. Apply different shades to your jawline and the right one will simply disappear into your skin. Tip some of the powder into the perforated tray or into the lid then roll your kabuki brush around to coat it. Tap off any excess powder then apply all over the face in firm circular movements for good coverage.
The Best of the Bases
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For a lighter coverage, sweep lightly downwards over the face. Finish with a concealer in the same shade and a finishing powder if you fancy.
The Benefits
It doesn’t need synthetic chemicals It offers natural SP15 It doesn’t sink into the pores so it’s great for blemish-prone skin
Don’t forget the kabuki brush! £29.99 bellapierre.co.uk
Clockwise from top left: Bellapierre £34.99 bellapierre.co.uk / UNE Beauty £9.99 unebeauty.com / Lily Lolo £12.49 lilylolo.co.uk / Inika £27.50 inikacosmetics.co.uk
M a s t e r c l a s s / 05
N e w H e a lt h H a b i t
Yoga: The Lowdown Have you ever wished for an exercise plan that strengthens the muscles of the body and the mind? Well, look no further. A study by the Wayne State University in Detroit has found that practising Hatha yoga not only calms the mind and eases stress levels, it can also boost memory and concentration. But if you’re new to yoga, where do you start? There are different types of yoga but Hatha is the most common style and often the foundation upon which other styles are developed. It involves performing a variety of poses and moving calmly between them using meditative breathing. One of Yoga’s most famous pose combinations is the Sun Salutation. There are different combinations of Sun Salutations so we’ve outlined a very simple version for all the newbies out there. It doesn’t matter how quickly you perform the poses, it is more important to focus on the breath so make sure you’re aware of your breathing as you move through the combination.
Tools of the Trade If you’re just starting out you only need the most basic item: a yoga mat. It will help firmly plant your feet so you don’t slip around.
Step by step: Sun Salutation Start by taking a deep breath, stretch your arms above your head and lean backwards slightly
06 / N e w H e a lt h H a b i t
As you breathe out, fold forward and hold your feet or ankles, keeping your legs straight
Step both feet back and lower yourself into the plank position. Beathe gently in and out
Know your yogas Hatha
Traditional basic postures combined with meditative breathing
Vinyasa Flow
Continuous movement through the basic poses synchronised with breathing
Ashtanga A form of power yoga combining the postures with strength building
Iyengar
Based on Ashtanga and uses props to focus on body alignment
Bikram
A series of 26 poses practised in a hot room to keep body temperature raised
Kundalini Focuses on meditative breathing, chanting and poses to awaken root chakra energy
Lower yourself to the floor then keeping your elbows at your side bend upwards and backwards, breathing in to stretch the chest and back in Cobra pose
Breathing out, uncurl your body and push up onto your feet, aiming your bottom to the sky and letting your head hang low for Downward Dog
Return to a Standing Forward Fold. Breathe in and walk both feet towards your hands and fold over into another forward bend. Breathe out
Take a deep breath and slowly uncurl into another back bend, then return to standing normally
N e w H e a lt h H a b i t / 07
Supersize This
Honey
Cleopatra famously bathed in honey and milk so take a tip from Egyptian Royalty and sweeten up your beauty regime
Since pre-Biblical times, honey has been considered valuable for boosting fertility and treating complaints such as insomnia, mental health and even facial twitches! These days honey is mostly known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, being often used to soothe sore throats and coughs. It is also said to help defend against allergy symptoms such as hayfever. Honey is commonly used in face masks and moisturisers as it can ease redness and acne; and can also be an effective hair treatment. For yummy honey treats we like the Bee Lovely range by Neal’s Yard Remedies. which contains organic honey and raises money to support the campign to save our bees. Nealsyardremedies.com.
08 / H o n e y
Relaxing milk bath Mix together a handful of dried, ground lavender flowers, 100ml milk and 100g honey, then pour bit by bit into warm running bath water. You could also use the mixture as a scrub by massaging it into your skin before taking a long soak in the bath.
The Essentials
Jasmine
- Indulge yourself with a little Queen of the Night Traditionally one of the flowers most associated with romance, Jasmine is used as a decorative and spiritual symbol across the world. The Jasmine flower has petals so delicate it is normally processed as an essence, rather than an essential oil, but it works in much the same way. Jasmine flowers are normally picked in the evening when the petals open as the fragrance diminishes after sunrise. This is where it gets it’s title of ‘Queen of the night’. Jasmine is widely used in India as decoration and a religious symbol, and in China where it is commonly consumed with green tea. It has myriad benefits when used as an oil for massage and localised treatment, as a perfume or room fragrance and when consumed as a tea.
Health benefits of Jasmine Tea #1 Jasmine tea is bursting with antioxidants so it can help protect red blood cells from free radicals
Jasmine Enriching Cream £21 nealsyardremedies.com
#2 When blended with green tea, jasmine is said to promote weight loss due the combination of caffeine and antioxidants
Jasmine Falls Relaxing Body Moisturiser £23 bodhi.uk.com
#3 If you need to calm your nerves, drink some jasmine tea! The sedative properties of jasmine help with relaxation and stress relief
Indulge yourself
Harmonically Made Pure Sambac Jasmine Essence £61 intelligentnutrients.co.uk
J a s m i n e / 09
Jasmine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, and is often in wedding bouquets. Burn 5-6 drops of oil to fragrance a room Mix 3-4 drops with a carrier for a highly fragrant soothing massage oil.
Menstrual problems This essence can be used to relieve period pains and fatigue, regulate menstruation and menopause. Mix 3-4 drops with a carrier oil and massage into the abdomen Burn 3-4 drops in a diffuser to calm the senses 10 / J a s m i n e
for
Healing wounds
Jasmine has antiseptic and disinfectant properties making it effective for treating wounds, scars and cracked skin. Mix 2-3 drops with a carrier oil and massage into the affected area
Insomnia
Its calming, sedative properties can help to quieten the mind for a more peaceful sleep. Run 6-8 drops into a warm bath Mix 3-4 drops with a carrier oil and massage into pressure points

Aphrodisiac
Use Jasmine
Skin SOS
- Cellulite 101 Cellulite is one of the biggest issues when it comes to harbouring negative feelings about our appearance. And everything from liposuction to miracle creams claim to help banish it. But is there really a cure? Cellulite is a layer of fat beneath the skin pushing against connective tissues which causes the skin to form the orange peel look we all know. It is more common among women who are overweight although it can still be visible in slim women and occasionally men. Most experts agree there is no definitive ‘cure’ for cellulite and that even the most expensive lotions and potions can only mask the effect temporarily. But not all is lost, there are ways to help beat the bulges and they include a plain, back-to-basics approach to simply managing your health. Fair skin can emphasise lumps and bumps so disguise them with a little self-tan.
Diet
Cut out processed foods and saturated fats and stick to a healthy diet of good oils, lots of vegetables, pulses, fresh meat and fish. Cut down on the caffeine too, to perhaps just one cup of coffee a day.
Circulation
Poor circulation can increase your chance of having visible cellulite. Spend 5 minutes body-brushing before your morning shower and get regular exercise. We also like Weleda’s Birch Body Scrub £9.50 and Birch Cellulite Oil £19.95 for massaging and stimulating circulation. weleda.co.uk
Hydration
Always drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and keep your digestive system moving. C ell u l i t e / 11
- an orGLAMic life With all eyes on this month’s Royal birth, we had a chat with Darcey Croft, founder of Barenaturals, about juggling midwifery training, family and running a successful business. Question number one: How do you do it all?! “I’m very lucky. I know I wouldn’t manage to do a degree and juggle a business if I didn’t have support from my family. I am blessed that they are so amazing and supportive, especially around stressful exam time! I normally get up around 4.30 am. I wake myself up with Barenaturals Herb and Tea Tree Facial Soap and a splash of cold water. A quick walk with my dog Hiro helps me focus on the day ahead and prioritise important tasks. Our natural soap is made every day in our workshop. I prepare the equipment and ingredients to make batches, then while the oils are cooling I take the soap from the previous day out of the moulds and rack it up to begin the curing process. Green beauty is something I’ve always had a passion for. I have an inquisitive mind and from an early age was always making potions and perfumes out of plants and petals in the garden. I could never get those rose petals to smell like my mum’s perfume which only fuelled my interest in how this wizardry worked. I had been closer to the Barenatural truth when I was five, playing with petals and flowers.
Many years later, I reached a pivotal point. Just after losing my father to cancer, I found myself standing in a shop trying to decipher the ingredients of average family bathroom products. The list always seemed so long and half the ingredients I had never heard of. 12 / A n O r g l a m i c L i f e
It was then that I started to ask questions. Beauty didn’t need to be toxic. I had been closer to the Barenatural truth when I was five and playing with my petals and flowers. After this illuminating moment I found it quite difficult to access the natural products I wanted. They do say ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ so I decided to make them myself. I gifted them to friends and family, and received some fantastic, encouraging feedback.
- an orGLAMic life I’d also started studying midwidery at Kings College London and while researching for an essay, I found studies which led me to question further the use of chemicals in cosmetics. It was then that I decided to launch Barenaturals, to provide a healthier option in beauty. The issue of chemical usage in cosmetics is being researched as we speak. However, through my studies I’ve come across findings that have strengthened my feelings about the risks involved with chemicals in cosmetics. This only helps to spur me on to make Barenaturals the best it can be and more widely available. My week is split between University lectures and clinical placement. I’m usually in hospital and classes for up to 48hrs a week, leaving a good 120 hrs for family time, Barenaturals and sleep. But that’s about it. Gratefully I don’t have much of a social life at the moment, because I just couldn’t squeeze it in!
In the evening I’ll sit down with family for a noisy happy meal. When the children are asleep my partner David and I sit down and discuss the day, what’s been achieved for the business and what the next goals are. It’s very important to me that part of our mission statement is to promote positivity in the world. We make all of our products with a healthy dose of extra positivity!”
A Family Affair: The whole family is involved in creating BareNaturals products including Darcey’s “mini-me” Dominique.
Darcey’s beauty picks Shampoo £5.35 & Conditioner £5.10 by Faith in Nature. faithinnature.co.uk Superskin moisturiser by Liz Earle £36.25 uk.lizearle.com
A n O r g l a m i c L i f e / 13
Issues
t h at g e t u n d e r o u r s k i n
Greenwashing Not all ‘green’ products are created equal. A lack of regulation means we are continually targeted by brands who want us to believe their products are natural, when they are not. So how can shoppers cut through the hype to make an informed choice?
Greenwashing is one of the biggest issues faced by the natural beauty industry. The term is used to describe the way a product is marketed to give the impression it is wholly or significantly ‘green’, whether that is environmentally-friendly, natural or organic. On closer inspection, the vast majority of ingredients are synthetic.
Brands accused of greenwashing include Boots for their Botanicals range and Little Me Organics, Organix (toiletries), Dr Organic, Herbal Essences and Palmolive Naturals to name a few. With many of these ranges, the inclusion of a tiny proportion of a natural ingredient is enough to warrant a green label. However, on closer inspection the vast majority of the ingredients are synthetic. Unfortunately for the natural beauty industry, there are no strict EU laws to regulate the marketing of beauty products, unlike for food. 14 / I s s u e s
t h at g e t u n d e r o u r s k i n
According to a report by the Soil Association, the Advertising Standards Association (ASA) investigated Boots in 2012 over the marketing of its Little Me Organics Oh So Gentle Hair and Body Wash. The ASA ruled Boots’ advertising was misleading as the product contains less than 5% organic ingredients. Boots haven’t taken any notice of this ruling and still market a Boots-branded facial oil as 100% organic when it actually contains four non-organic ingredients. It is sad that one of our most trusted retailers continues to embark on factually incorrect and intentionally misleading advertising practises. The only true way to determine that a product is organic or natural is if it displays certification from a recognised body on its label. Certification bodies like the UK’s Soil Association, Germany’s BDIH and the United States’ USDA Organic require brands to undergo rigorous examination to ensure a certain percentage of the ingredients are organic.
Know your labels: Use our credit card-sized shopping guide to spot the certification bodies who approve REAL green products Be on your guard for fake labels. Some brands such as Dr Organic create their own stamp which looks like official certification, but isn’t Swot up on your ingredients. Use our shopping guide below. If a product contains a lot of synthetics, it’s not going to be natural. Report wrongful advertising to the ASA and consider boycotting Boots!
Be prepared: Cut out our Buying Guide and keep it in your wallet
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To Do List
Issues
t h at g e t u n d e r o u r s k i n
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Welcome to our world! When green beauty is a passion, which of the hundreds of gorgeous products is a girl to choose? SoukSouk blogger Tania empties out her toiletry bag...
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Living Nature Soft Lights Illuminating Foundation “My first natural
foundation purchase” “Not as eco-friendly but very indulgent”
Tarte Blush and Glow Brightening Luminizer and Cheek Tint
Essential Care Creamy Coconut Cleanser “Gently removes make-up”
Trevarno Organic Day Cream
REN Anti-Ageing Eye Cream
ss o blog t o /
“Rich ingredients, handy little pot!” “Smoothes my dry skin”
Yes To Cucumber Facial Towelettes
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“Super-quick”
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