Category Archives: Organic Products

Apr 17 2012
8 Comments
Organic Products

before & after :: skin

Hello & welcome back! Apologies for the lack of updates over the past week, my lovely mother was visiting {over 20 hours away from her home} so I made the most of the special time of having her here with our little family. She’s an amazing lady who I’m constantly learning from! Alas, she has gone home & now I must get busy to distract myself from missing her too much!

I hopped on the computer whilst my little man napped & uploaded photos from my cameras for the past week. There were a few cheesy smiley ones of me & then my bub, but what got me was the radical change in my skin. I knew it was improving since quitting sugar & moving to organic skin/health care, but I actually hadn’t stopped to document the before & after. I didn’t think I was at that point yet. But today, I find myself ready. WOW. That’s exciting, as I battled terrible pigmentation whilst pregnant & was racking my brain on how to fix it.

Here is the before.

I took this photo before a microdermabrasion session {which I unfortunately reacted to, due to my sensitive skin} I booked on one of those coupon sites for an absolute bargain. I had heard about it & thought I might trial it out. This was taken in August 2011. I remember it pained me to take this photo of my skin, but I thought it might be beneficial in the future. It’s not a photo for the pool room & the pigmentation {in hindsight} was definitely not as bad as I imagined in my head, but I was self conscious about the change in colour on my face. I think because our face is the first part of us people see & I had been lucky enough to have fairly good skin, up to now. I also had people regularly ask if I had been crying, due to the pigmentation starting on the top of my cheeks & like the typical pregnancy pigmentation, it caused a mask type effect ~ leaving a whiter looking part below my eyes. I was using any old products at the time & not paying particular attention to what I was putting on my skin or in my body. Although I was probably drinking enough water. I’m always drinking water!

Here is the after.

This was taken April 2012. I didn’t take this as scheduled ‘after’ shot, but I think it’s so appropriate as my expression is of much importance as well. Happy to take a shot first thing in the morning after being woken by my bub? What has the world come to?! I could probably have taken a photo in the same position as the first, but I think the whole random realisation that my skin is where I would like it to be, is just totally captured by this unplanned shot. I’ve got freckles, I’ve always had them, but my pigmentation is pretty much gone. My skin condition has improved dramatically. I can’t remember the last pimple I had. I contribute this to focussing on my body & what it needs. I quit sugar & moved to a more organic/whole foods diet. I completely upturned my old skincare & makeup routine & moved to certified organic products.

For those interested, here are the details of my current skin care routine:

1. Miessence Balancing Cleanser
2. Miessence Probiotic Skin Brightener
3. Miessence Balancing Skin Conditioner
4. Miessence Balancing Moisturiser

I also use Miessence Rejuvenessence Facial Serum every night & Miessence Soothing Mineral Mask 1-2 times per week.

The above routine is just for my face, but here’s a couple of other hot tips ~ I also dry body brush morning & night which I highly recommend & I use certified organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil as a deep moisturiser when I need it. Both amazing. Oh & worth mentioning ~ I don’t get any salon treatments, which saves money!

Anyway, I just thought I’d share this particular little journey on my blog. It sounds shallow & vain perhaps, to focus on a small thing, but I’m being totally honest with myself these days & I was very self conscious of the pigmentation on my face. And I’m so over the moon that I’ve been able to do something about it. It’s not world peace, but I think if you can improve your self esteem, there’s no saying what you can accomplish! I hope this helps if anyone else is feeling the same about a similar skin concern. I’d recommend drinking enough water, cutting out processed food, looking into your nutrition & swapping chemicals for organic products. It’s all easy & exciting and to tell you the truth, I wish I had started this whole journey much sooner than I did! Better to prevent than cure…

Big love,

Nikki

xxx

PS: For full transparency & honest disclosure, since researching organic products & skincare, I’ve decided to become a Miessence Independent Representative as their products stood out so highly to me upon comparing reviews. They were the world’s first certified organic skincare company & their products are certified organic to food standards. Yep, you can eat them if you want! I’ve purchased all products I use from my own finances. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit my Miessence online store or contact me for more information. Here’s to a beautiful, natural, vibrant & toxin-free future!

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Mar 29 2012
6 Comments
Organic Products

the organic swap :: self tan

Time for another Organic Swap! This time it’s self tan. I know this is one beauty product that divides the masses, but personally I like a little glow on myself & I was very interested in finding a certified organic option as it is a product that is applied to such a large quantity of skin & our skin absorbs anything we put on it into our bodies. I was keen to make this organic swap, even though I have been a fan of my old version for many years. However, due to my awareness about toxic chemicals & the undeniable benefits of certified organic products, this swap was necessary.

Organic Swap | OLD | Monne Tanning Serum | 110mL | $19.95 RRP

// DESCRIPTION //
“A unique formula incorporating moisturising extracts combined with self tanning properties and a built-in bronzer gives visible and immediate colour to the skin. Naturally tans your skin on contact without drying or irritation. Monne gives the most natural looking tan possible and is suitable for the face and body. The organic pigment will not permanently stain your clothing or bedding. Of course once you have your first shower it will not come of at all. The colour can last for up to one week, depending on how you look after it and moisturise every day.“

// INGREDIENTS //
Water (aqua), ethoxydiglycol, glycerin, dihydroxyacetone, isopropyl palmitate, stearyl alcohol, propylene glycol, PPG-20 methyl glucose ether distearate, steareth-20, dimethicone, xantham gum, phenoxyethanol, diazolidinyl urea, bosabolo, PEG-100 stearate, methylparaben, magnesium aluminium silicate, polysorbate 60, fragrance (parum), CI 14700, CI 42090, CI 19140.

// PROS //
Gorgeous colour. Long lasting. Lots of use per bottle. Australian made & owned.

// CONS //
Need to wear gloves to apply as it’s a dark pigment. Irritates my eczema at times, especially on my hands if not wearing gloves. Can’t seem to locate in shops, but can buy online & get posted. Unsure about safety of ingredients as multiple potentially harmful & toxic chemicals are used including petroleum derivatives, ‘Diazolidinyl urea’ which has been established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology) & potent carcinogens are generated during the manufacturing process of a number of ingredients in the product.

Organic Swap | NEW | Eco Tan ‘Invisible Tan’ | 150gm | $34.95 RRP

// DESCRIPTION //
“Invisible Tan is an organic moisturiser that nourishes your skin without any synthetics or toxic ingredients. Simply apply it to clean skin and watch it turn into a beautiful rich honey tan. You can sleep in it without staining your linen as it is clear to apply. Wake up with a rich brown tan. Apply it before work and by 5pm you are ready for your night out with a beautiful glamorous tan. It has a lovely soft note of Roseflower. Suitable for face & body.“

// INGREDIENTS //
Water (aqua), dihydroxyacetone, glyceryl stearate, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, potassium cetyl phosphate, xantham gun, lecithin, tocopheryl acetate, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract, plargonium graveolens (rose geranium) oil, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, sambucus nigra fruit extract.

// PROS //
Certified Organic by the Organic Food Chain. Luscious moisturiser. No streaks or tinting of clothes. Doesn’t irritate my skin. A little goes a long way. Develops into a beautiful, very natural looking tan. Australian made & owned. Can buy online as well as purchase at many local stockists ~ I found multiple options in my area to buy my bottle.

// CONS //
The time to apply, if you were in a tanning rush. Need to apply night before or in the morning for the tan to develop.

// SWAP OVERVIEW //
There seem to be a few good ingredients that cross over between the two ~ perhaps that’s why I’m happy with the colour of both. There are a lot of ingredients that really worry me with the old version, as much as I love the colour & the fact they are also Australian made/owned. {Here is a list of some common toxic ingredients if you would like to investigate a little further yourself.} I love that the new version is certified organic, causes no harm to animals, made in Australia {QLD to be exact!}, is extremely moisturising, doesn’t irritate my skin & was initially created out of necessity for the creator’s sister who was suffering from cancer & wanted a natural tanning alternative with no hidden nasties. Necessity is definitely the mother of all invention & I’m loving this beautiful Eco Tan moisturiser that develops into a beautiful light honey glow tan. Would definitely recommend this lovely, organic product.

Have you made any organic swaps recently? Let me know!

I’ll update with another swap very soon!

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Mar 22 2012
2 Comments
Organic Products

the organic swap ~ exfoliation

OK ~ this Organic Swap is probably one of my best/worst, depending on which way you look at it. Best; because it’s a fabulous swap to have made, results are significantly better & the certified organic ingredients are beneficial & absolutely fantastic. Worst; as the ‘old’ was such a chemical-filled disaster that I’m a little ashamed/nervous to admit that I have previously recommended it. Onwards & upwards though, and I have definitely found the perfect certified organic swap for this product. There is a silver lining!!

I initially looked into an exfoliating product that could help with the pigmentation that got out of control during pregnancy ~ I wasn’t regularly using one before as my skin is sensitive to the granules in most standard exfoliating products. I tried microdermabrasion with a significant reaction & so wanted to try a home product before looking into any further salon treatments. I was feeling quite self conscious about my pigmentation.

Organic Swap | OLD | Olay Regenerist Thermal Polisher | 125mL | $20 RRP

// DESCRIPTION //
“Take daily cleansing to a new level with Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher. This unique self-heating treatment combines the power of micro-crystals, emollients, glycolic acid and Regenerist’s exclusive Amino-Peptide complex to give you professional mini-peel results in 10 days.“

// INGREDIENTS //
PEG-4, Magnesium Sulfate, PEG/PPG-300/55 Copolymer, Polyethylene, Stearyl Alcohol, Dioleoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Behenyltrimethylammonium Chloride, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Alcohol, Methylparaben, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Hexylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides, Carnosine*, Glycolic Acid, CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 42090 (Blue 1)
*Amino Peptide

// PROS //
Smooths the skin surface/texture. Very affordable. It heats up so it ‘feels’ like it’s ‘working’ & doing something. It’s Olay, a brand I’m sure a lot of people are familiar with through the generations. It doesn’t use much abrasion {granule-wise} which is great for more sensitive skin.

// CONS //
Firstly, it really aggravated my eczema on my hands from the heating up reaction with water. Secondly, everything {in hindsight} unfortunately. I can’t pronounce hardly anything & gee whiz, that list of ingredients scares the hell out of me. It feels good to be informed & to be learning about what’s in products, but I can’t believe I’ve so rarely checked the ingredients listing before now. Talk about naive! A few worth pointing out ~ multiple petroleum derived ingredients; potential carcinogenic ingredients; synthetic colours from coal tar & the list goes on.

Organic Swap | NEW | Probiotic Skin Brightener | 100mL | $56.60 RRP

// DESCRIPTION //
“Probiotic bacteria ferment organic whole grains and legumes to release nutrients and create a naturally occuring, extremely mild, lactic liquid which is known to restore and protect the skin’s acid mantle, lighten and brighten the complexion, improve photodamaged skin, exfoliate dead skin cells for a smoother, less-wrinkled appearance, help break down impurities, whilst bringing moisture, clarity and vitality to the skin.“

// INGREDIENTS //
Organic lactic acid from naturally fermented ~ certified organic wheat grain, certified organic agave, certified organic adzuki beans, certified organic soya beans, lactobacillus, certified organic vanilla planifolia (vanilla) fruit extract.

// PROS //
This works!! My skin has significantly improved in only a small amount of time & I feel confident to wear much less makeup. It’s gentle & can be used morning & night. It does the job naturally. I can understand all ingredients. It is an Australian made certified organic product that is made with no heat, so all ingredients are as pure, potent & beneficial as possible. Product goes a very long way ~ could definitely share with multiple people!

// CONS //
It is more expensive than the ‘old’ product.

// SWAP OVERVIEW //
I’m so glad to have made this swap! The Probiotic Skin Brightener is double the price, but you only need two pumps of the liquid onto a cotton ball, compared to a glob of the Thermal Skin Polisher on the fingertips. I don’t have any irritation from the new product & am thankful for no longer having the eczema irritation caused by the old product. I’m thankful to learn of an organic product that can assist repairing my pigmentation. I’m feeling a lot more confident with my bare face thanks to this new {swapped} step in my skincare routine.

Here is a list of some common toxic ingredients if you would like to investigate a little further yourself.

Have you made any organic swaps recently? Let me know!

I’ll update with another swap very soon!

PS: For full transparency & honest disclosure, since researching organic products & skincare, I’ve decided to become a Miessence Independent Representative as their products stood out so highly to me upon comparing reviews. They were the world’s first certified organic skincare company & their products are certified organic to food standards. Yep, you can eat them if you want! I’ve purchased all products I am reviewing from my own finances. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit my Miessence online store or contact me for more information. Here’s to a beautiful, natural, vibrant & toxin-free future!

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Mar 14 2012
4 Comments
Organic Products

the organic swap ~ facial cleanser

OK, so my first official organic swap on Make Bliss Happen is my facial cleanser! I’ve made quite a few swaps recently, but I’ll start with the cleanser as it’s something I use morning & night and something I’ve had trouble with in the past due to sensitive skin & occasional eczema.

I’ve been happy with Dove ‘Cleanser & Toner in One’ & it has been something I’ve come back to time & again since my teens {when it used to be Ponds}.

But I’m cleansing my life of toxins & making the organic swap, so we must part ways.

Organic Swap | OLD | Dove Cleanser & Toner in One | 110g | $7.36 RRP

// INGREDIENTS //
Water, sodium cocoyl isethionate, decyl glucoside, glycerin, peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, glycol stearate, cocamidopropyl betaine, polyquaternium-10, stearic acid, aminomethyl propanol, peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, peg-14m, tetradibutyl pentaerythrityl hydroxyhydrocinnamte, disodium edta, dmdm hydantoin, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance.

// PROS //
It cleanses & removes make up well without irritating my sensitive skin. Made in Australia. Very affordable. Readily available in supermarkets, chemists, Priceline etc. Is a multitasking product & cleanses/tones at the same time ~ therefore time saving.

// CONS //
The ingredients list. Water as the first ingredient & main % of the product. The second ingredient is an anionic surfactant which is also used for things like car washes, garage floor cleaners & engine degreasers. Contains multiple polyethylene glycol (peg) compounds which are potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredients. All the chemicals in the product that get into direct contact with my face & seep into my body through my skin & could be causing long term problems.

Organic Swap | NEW | Miessence Balancing Cleanser | 250mL | $52.45 RRP

// INGREDIENTS //
Organic aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice, purified water (aqua), organic safflower (carthamus tinctorius) seed oil, yucca schidigera extract, organic bitter orange (citrus aurantium) extract, natural gum, organic sweet orange (citrus dulcis) essential oil, organic grapefruit seed (citrus paradisi) extract, organic ylang ylang (canaga odorata) essential oil, organic calendula (calendula officinalis) extract, organic chamomile (matricaria recutita) extract, organic marshmallow (althea officinalis) extract, organic olive (olea europaea) extract, organic st johns wort (hypericum perforatum) extract.

// PROS //
Certified organic product. Made in Australia. The natural & potent ingredients list. Aloe vera as the first ingredient ~ my skin reacts well to this. I can understand what’s in this product. Leaves skin feeling soft & nourished. Smells fresh, real & refreshing. Pump bottle is great to use & I only need 1/2 or less of what I was using per use of my old cleanser.

// CONS //
Need to use twice to remove makeup so takes a little more time than old 2-in-1 cleanser. Need to order online & receive via post. More expensive than old cleanser {although this is more than twice the size – at 100mL conversion it’s not so noticeable & discounts from 20-40% off are available}.

// SWAP OVERVIEW //
I did notice I could easily Google & find the Miessence ingredients but it was extemely hard to find the Dove ingredients online, other than here which lists all the ingredients alternative functions as well as irritation level & safety! Scary! So, I had to type all the ingredients from the product. I’m thinking perhaps I’ll actually individually type out the ingredients list for each swap, as it really opened my eyes that I couldn’t actually pronounce even 10% of the ingredients list! I feel terrible that I just took that for granted & used it on my face, hoping someone out there with a white lab coat at Dove HQ was looking after my wellbeing.

Well, I’m taking responsibility now & I’m actually proud of what’s in my new cleanser. Plus it works, smells yummy & is actually benefitting my skin/body, rather than seeping chemicals into it. I’m excited for this journey ahead!

Have you made any organic swaps recently? Let me know!

I’ll update with another swap very soon!

PS: For full transparency & honest disclosure, since researching organic products & skincare, I’ve decided to become a Miessence Independent Representative as their products stood out so highly to me upon comparing reviews. They were the world’s first certified organic  skincare company & their products are certified organic to food standards. Yep, you can eat them if you want! I’ve purchased all products I am reviewing from my own finances. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit my Miessence online store or contact me for more information. Here’s to a beautiful, natural, vibrant & toxin-free future!

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Mar 08 2012
3 Comments
Health & Wellbeing, Motivation & Inspiration, Organic Products

Why I am going organic {again}

When I found out I was pregnant, I went crazy with researching & learning about baby products, health & our environment. I scoured hundreds of different cloth nappy articles/forums/shops & eventually found the right fit for us. I had organic bamboo cloth wipes handmade for us. I gathered natural organic products to use on our newborn’s perfectly untouched baby skin. I got vintage & organic clothes for him. I pre-washed his outfits, nappies, wraps in organic washing liquid. I purchased organic bio degradable disposable nappies for the ‘just in case’ times. I used organic products on my skin, which was really reacting to the pregnancy. I read beautiful books & warm stories from earthly goddess type mamas. I ate good foods & nourished myself & my growing baby boy. I was happy, euphoric actually, and felt at one with myself & the Universe.

But a lot of my good will & practices went to the wayside when I found myself moving home, once when Leo was 6 weeks {& I was still recovering from my c-section} & again when Leo was 6 months old. Money has been tight. Financially we’ve struggled & it has probably been the main stress on us & our little family. I’ll admit, I’m frugal & fantastic at it. It’s not hard as I love thrift stores, markets & good ol’ bargains. But, it became an issue for me, when I was knowingly compromising our health & wellbeing by going for the supermarket ‘dollar dazzler’ of the week. Look, we have still been eating well {& probably very healthily to a lot of people’s standards}; I’ve still been using the cloth nappies/bamboo wipes 90% of the time; I’ve hardly purchased any clothing or ‘unnecessary’ items ~ so wastage & simplifying have definitely been under control. But my battle with myself has been knowing, if I could afford to spend a little more on our groceries, that without a doubt ~ I’d go for the organic option. It’s sad that they cost more & that pesticide treated produce & chemical filled cleansers are cheaper ~ but it’s a fact of reality in this day & age.

But if not now, when?

I’ve recently had a massive recalibration & have really looked into myself & focused on what makes me happy & what feels right to my true self. I want to be a great mother, a loving wife & I want to nurture our little family to the best of my ability. I don’t want unhappiness in our lives {that I have control over} & in the same effect I don’t want toxins or chemicals on our skin or in our foods that could be detrimental to our health. I want to be informed. I want to be able to be able to pronounce the ingredients on any product I may purchase. I want to support the local community. I want to embrace my online community & my love of blogging. I want to keep following my passions that I’ve been lucky enough to call my businesses. I want to keep following my bliss to lead a soulful, vibrant, healthy, passionate existence at one with nature.

My goals are as follows ~

• Read, research, learn, experiment
• Replace my household cleaners with non-toxic, natural alternatives
• Replace my skincare routine with organic products
• Replace my makeup with organic products
• Get my herb & veggie garden going strong
• Continue to recycle & reduce waste
• Continue using cloth nappies & wipes for Leo
• Do majority of grocery shopping at local farmers markets
• When I do shop at the supermarket, go for the least processed products
• Save for a Thermomix {more on this soon!}
• Keep saving on electricity where possible
• Purchase clothing in natural fibres / support independents
• Get even more creative in the kitchen & supercharge our meals
• Continue with my yoga practise to centre myself & keep this mental clarity

There’s a whole lot more spinning around in this freshly invigorated brain of mine {oh mate, quitting sugar has been a godsend} but let’s just start with this list & progress from there. I’ll take it one step at a time and go gently & kindly with myself. It’s a magical time!

So, in overview, I want natural. I want real. I want to know that things that are going into my body or onto my skin {our largest organ} are doing something GREAT for me, rather than actually doing damage to myself & to wherever it ends up after I’ve had a shower at night.

I’m going organic baby, and I’m going all the way this time!

Got any hot tips to share with me? I’d love to hear from you!

I’ll just leave you with this for the time being ~ my book haul of the day from the local library. Knowledge is power, yeah?

PS: Happy International Women’s Day! My librarian gave me these stickers ~ I thought they were very fitting for today’s post, don’t you?

PPS: THANK YOU to all those who have connected so far via commenting, Facebook & Twitter ~ big big love!!

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