While catching up over a cuppa this morning with a lovely friend of mine and chatting, as we do. about skincare...ageing..moisturiser etc. My friend asked "how do I know if my products are actually worth what I'm spending?"  The answer in many cases with massive cosmetic companies might be 'NO' as much of the cost of each product is contributing towards massive advertising campaigns, glitzy and copious packaging, manufacturing cost etc....makes you wonder?   The difference with small batch, artisan production is enormous. Firstly we just don't do huge advertising campaigns, we try our best to spread the word using social media, leg work and the network of our own happy customers. Secondly we have much smaller food chains, no factories, less staff. Thirdly...speaking for ourselves...we use minimal packaging in our attempts to remain ethical. We don't believe that the customer should be paying for boxes or cellophane or unnecessary leaflets full of promotion. 
The money our customers spend on our skincare products is paying for honest, organic ingredients in sufficient quantity to 'make a difference'......no bells and whistles....just honest to goodness skincare.

so we've been playing in the bath this week!....with our lovely new selection of bath milk bombs. 
Instead of just using mineral salts (very restorative, muscle soothing and detoxifying) and essential oils (therapy for just about everything!...calming, rejuvenating, cleansing, toning....mother natures medicine!) We have been adding ground up botanical elements to boost our bombs with potent plant power.  Moroccan rose buds (we sourced these last year in Essaouira from a fabulously crazy herbalist) and English chamomile flowers, Lavender from our home county here in Norfolk and Mint...and Lemon Verbena....and Green tea.   This gave us gorgeous fragrant bath bombs with healing benefits and a pretty bath but it wasn't enough!...MORE! we cried....and so we added Hymalayan pink crystal salts (some of the purest elements you can find.....and then we added coconut milk powder to soften your skin and make a madly marvellous milky bath fit for Cleopatra herself!   The end result of our chemistry is a range of bath bombs unlike any known to woman or man....softening, luxurious, delightfully fragrant and pretty as a picture....we hope you will love them as much as we do. xx

Himalayan pink crystal salt is hand mined from the salt lakes which were once buried beneath lava in the mountains. Some of the purest and most mineral rich salts on earth.
The trace elements and minerals Himalayan pink crystal salt contains have super health benefits for us including the relief of muscle cramps and stress, cleansing of toxins and lowering of blood pressure....to mention but a few. We have blended nourishing coconut milk powder with Himalayan crystal salts and Dead Sea salt and blended two gorgeous bath milk soaks for the most luxurious, soothing and relaxing bath ever. Sandalwood amyris and neroli make for a decadent and exotic experience in our 'delicious ' bath milk soak while pink grapefruit, mandarin and may chang create a vibrant and uplifting bath to put some zing in your soul! ....Happy Bath Time !

So...here is my latest beauty page for North norfolk living magazine!  I have to say that I'm very proud to be invited to take part in this fabulous publication...being an honorary Norfolk Lass...well I've lived here for more than 20 years now so I think I could be excepted as a local?
the magazine spreads the news of exciting events and wonderful producers and artisans around the Norfolk coast from delicious deli's to creative crafters and fabulous fashionistas....wellies n all!!
I hope you'll take a peek at this months Christmas edition and all of the gorgeous gift suggestions and, who knows....we might tempt you to visit Norfolk for a spot of festive shopping?
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In love with the Danish word / concept of 'hygge' (cozyness and together with old friend-ness eating home made cookies and watching old movies around the fire-ness) its cocoa and slippers and walking in the snow...the stuff of happiness and homeliness and.....I love it. In a world where we all seem intent on disconnecting you've gotta love an idea thats all about connection.
​What better place to start than a mug of 'around the fire' tea from www.hyggetea.com

Check out our three pretty shades of lip & cheek balm! Ruby Rocks is a gorgeous deep shade of claret, Sugar Baby is a beautiful blush of cherry red and Rosy Posy is a cute pale pink frost. All tinted with natural ingredients and packed with butters and oils to soften and protect your lips & cheeks.
​And all only....£8.00 www.ethicaskincare.com 

At ethica we love to re use and re cycle. We package all of our orders in the material our ingredients arrive in and also the boxes and we are always delighted when our lovely customers help us too. Big thank you to Julie from Port St William for sending back her bottles for re use....you're our champion for this week!

100 years ago (how is that possible?!) the pillar of fashion & beauty journalism that is 'Vogue' was founded. The magazine that is part of any style loving girls history and part of British life as we know it is a century old and my..my..doesn't she look as fabulous as ever!  It goes without saying that when they asked if ethica wanted to be included in the March edition of Vogue we couldn't say no....so...look out for the beauty pages in the beautiful centenarian that is, for many, the holy grail of fashion bibles....ethica in Vogue!!!.....we are quietly leaping about with joy here!!

very quick note today as have been at it all day (working!) ... a note on the benefits of Turmeric:
a simply amazing anti inflammatory when treating inside and out...and yes, i have tested it several times on un removable splinters found on both self and himself....simply blend a teaspoon of the wonder spice with olive oil and lavender oil and apply...wrap in cling film.  The pain will leave very quickly and the inflammation will dissipate soon enough to surprise you.....give it a go!...warning...skin will be tinted yellow for a day or so!...its worth it.