In the words of the bible (corinthians 13) and then via the translation of the goddess Joni Mitchell 'although I speak in tongues of men and angels I'm just sounding brass & tinkling symbols without love'

Anti ageing as a title is a bit of a miss nomer I believe, as ageing is inevitable!
The key is making it look good for as long as possible and having realistic and achievable goals (for those without the cash or stomach for surgery that is).
The best approach has to be an general love of self and care of what we have been given.....wise man once said....'love yourself and then you can love others'
Firstly and perhaps obviously feed your body & thereby your skin with super foods
like broccoli, oily fish, fruit,seeds, grains,nuts and leave the processed stuff on the shelf, then drink gallons of fresh water (luke warm not ice cold as your stomach & spleen will welcome it).
If a healthy diet is the only thing you adopt you will see & feel results.
Theres more......a good and simple skincare routine WILL improve your skins appearance, texture and tone provided it is a routine.  Cleanse & nourish your skin twice a day and it will show...facial oil concentrates like ethicas 'My Precious' with 12 specially blended essential & plant oils is fabulous.  If you are going out protect your skin with a sunscreen too as over exposure is proven to increase the deterioration of skin layers.
Exercise to bring inner peace as this will appear on the outside and get some aerobic action going to increase the circulation to organs, muscles & skin.....a brisk walk every day or a bike ride will do well.
So...you dont need expensive products, gym memberships, personal trainers or a macrobiotic chef........just a little love & time spent on YOU......happy easter from ethica

Borage....or star flower oil (borago officionalis)  is a herb that thrives in the Uk but is originally a native of the sunny Mediterranean the leaves are edible and you'll occasionally find them along with the pretty blue flowers floating in your Pimms.
Borage is mainly grown for the oils extracted from its seeds which is a good source of GLA Gamma Linolenic acid which in turn is rich in fatty acids (the good ones) Omega 6.
Omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids necessary for human health.   Along with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function, as well as normal growth and development. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, regulate metabolism, and maintain the reproductive system.
Borage oil is one of the 12 essential plant oils used in 'my precious' facial oil concentrate from ethica

Over the next few weeks, in the spirit of knowing what is in your skincare product, I am posting an a to z of essential oils, many of which are used in our fabulous ethica skincare range.
A is for Argan
Argania Spinosa is the tree from which argan oil is harvested, the kernels of the nuts to be precise.  This is an endangered tree and is protected by UNESCO and the Berbers used to harvest and grind the kernels to extract the oil and use it for cooking.
Argan oil contains tocopherol (vitamin E), phenols, carotenes, squalene, and fatty acids, (80% unsaturated fatty acids)The main natural phenols in argan oil are caffeic acid, oleuropein, vanillic acid, tyrosol, catechol, resorcinol, epicatechin and catechin.
Cosmetically speaking Argan oil is a great moisturiser and particularly useful for dry, dehydrated or flaking skin and is one of the 12 essential plant oils used in ethica 'my precious' facial oil concentrate.

Today is the first day of Spring....this may be hard to believe for those of you who are up to your earrings in Snow....but there it is.

As we grow older Brows and lashes tend to become more sparse and although this may not seem like such a big deal.....it can be quite concerning, eyebrows frame the face and add definition while lashes add to our appearance of femininity.
I received a call from a worried client who had lost a section of her eyebrow post child birth and was naturally concerned. Now there are several possible causes including hormonal imbalance  or thyroid deficiency which will come to light in time, but meanwhile the problem remains.
There are many and varied new lash serums on the market, mostly derived from a discovery relating to glaucoma treatment....the drops being used to treat the condition caused patients lashes to grow considerably.  These serums can be very effective on lashes and on brow too and although results take about 6 weeks to appear the products are a worthwhile investment.
Meanwhile there are pencilling techniques and the new stencil and powder kits that can be used to give great results for thinning brow and those who have lost patches or entire brows for various reasons.....I'll be posting an instructional video over the weekend.....keep your eyes peeled!

Can my last post really have been a 'merry Christmas' message!
Moving house and all that it involves along with four cases of the flu and suddenly we are into March, the snowdrops are out and the birds are singing.
Been working on a new facial exercise routine to delay the inevitable (or is it?) loss of facial muscle tone and can been seen on most care journeys grimacing and gurning like a thing possessed despite the possible effects it may have on oncoming drivers (all in the name of beauty research) and will reveal the results when I've given it a fair crack....although it feels firmer after only  a week!